Ahoy there, Kathryn, and welcome to planDisney! You’ve picked the perfect time of year to set sail, so I’m glad you thought to stop by for help thinking through your travels.
Disney Cruise Line recommends
booking your departing flight on debarkation day no earlier than 11 AM out of Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport. You’ll likely arrive in Port Everglades around 7 AM, but then you’ll need to wait for the ship to clear customs before anyone can get off. Guests will then be called for debarkation according to the
luggage tags you’re given in your stateroom the night before.
You can choose the express walk-off option if you wish to keep all your luggage with you, but this can be challenging since the elevators are quite busy on that final morning. I also prefer enjoying a leisurely breakfast without having to find a place to set my suitcase down in the dining room.
I will tell you that I love sailing in and out of this port because it’s so convenient to the airport; it’s only about a fifteen-minute ride when traffic is flowing smoothly. In fact, I even schedule my departing flight later in the day so I can eat at some of my favorite restaurants in
Fort Lauderdale. Did you know you can also schedule
Port Adventures for both embarkation and debarkation days?
I hope this sheds some light on your upcoming trip. If you need any more insights or think of any other questions before your trip, I hope you’ll sail back to us here at
planDisney!
Embrace the magic,
Sami