Ahoy, Vera!
Thanks for cruising by the Disney Parks Moms Panel site and sending in a question. It's great to hear that you'll be on a pixie dusted vacation out on the high seas in October 2016. Are you and your family members looking forward to spending
Halloween on the High Seas? There's nothing else out there that can compare to how Disney Cruise Line celebrates holidays and special themes onboard. It is absolutely going to be an epic vacation!
Taking Disney Cruise Line's ground transportation either from one of the Disney Resorts or from the MCO Airport, is the most convenient way of getting to the port to embark on your cruise vacation. If you are staying at a Disney resort hotel on your pre-cruise night, you can expect a reminder letter in the evening -- it will include simple instructions about baggage pickup from inside your hotel room for the following morning (usually around 8am). The letter will also remind you of the meeting time and venue for your group pickup from your hotel. There will be Disney Cruise Line cast members available that morning -- they'll usually be around the lobby area - or nearby. They'll gather cruise guests staying at your same hotel, and everyone boards the DCL motor coach at the same time.
For the past few cruises that my family has taken, our bags have been picked up right at 8am (don't forget to attach the special DCL luggage tags). Then our meeting time has been around 11am to 12noon. Since it is in the late morning, you'll be glad to know that once you get to Port Canaveral, you'll usually get to the check in counters quickly - and also board immediately after with very little waiting time. I wouldn't really worry about choosing a boarding time, since you'll be arriving via a DCL motor coach.
I hope this helps, Vera. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.
~ Dolly