Ahoy, Sterling!
Thanks for stopping by the Moms Panel with your question.
My family likes to drive to the port when we cruise. We're from Alabama, and it's about a 9-10 hour drive. We've always enjoyed arriving the night before we cruise, staying at a hotel in Port Canaveral, then being one of the first to board on our sail date. Disney cruises typically depart around 4:30pm, with an "all-aboard" call for passengers at 3:45pm. I'd hate for you to drive down on the day of your sailing and cut it too close! Passengers are able to board the ship beginning at around 12:30 or 1:00pm, which gives you extra time to explore the ship and get a bite to eat at Cabanas buffet before you set sail. (Sometimes we even take a dip in the pool on our first afternoon aboard!)
There are plenty of hotels to choose from in the Port Canaveral area, some of which feature a "Park and Cruise" option. For a minimal fee, you can leave your car in a secured lot at the hotel and they provide transportation to and from the ship before and after your cruise. We have used "Park and Cruise" on all of our cruises, and really enjoyed using the service. We've had great experiences with Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn and Suites in Cocoa Beach. I've also heard good things about the Radisson Resort at the Port.
If you'd like to drive to the port and use their parking facility, Port Canaveral parking fees can be found
here. Port Canaveral features a nice, secured parking deck with 24-hour surveillance.
Hope this information helps! Please let us know if we can answer any other planning questions before you set sail.
Have a magical day! - Diane W.