Welcome back, Reenie! I'm so glad to hear that your family will be flying into
Miami a day prior to your sailing. My family and I always arrive a day or two before our cruise just to ensure that an unexpected flight delay doesn't find us missing the boat!
Disney partners with three resorts in Miami for guests who want to stay the night before setting sail. The Conrad Miami, the Marriott Stanton South Beach, and the Four Seasons Miami all work with Disney Cruise Line and their guests to ensure a super easy transition from land to sea and back again. If you book a night at one of these hotels before sailing, you can then take advantage of the optional
Ground Transfers to the port the next morning. Plus, they offer optional transfers from the airport to the hotel when you first arrive! There is a cost per person for the transfers, but having used these in every port we've sailed from, I promise it's the easiest way to begin your cruise vacation, Reenie. I love that when we check in at the hotel, they give us specifics of what time we'll be picked up the next morning. They also instruct us on the time to have our checked luggage ready. Disney then takes the checked luggage straight to the ship for us in the morning, leaving us to enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel before being whisked away to the port. Call the agents at Disney Cruise Line to get price quotes for these resorts and transfers, Reenie, and they can add that to your cruise reservation if you choose to do so.
There may also be other hotels near the port that offer free transfers to the port, if you do an internet search for "Miami stay and cruise". Even though that may save you a few dollars, in my experiences, letting Disney take care of all of the details has always made our cruises the best! Have fun planning!
Marcy