Ahoy there, Suzi! Welcome to planDisney.
Thanks for taking the time to sail by with your question for us. Your Disney cruise is ‘just around the river bend’ and you and your loved ones must be so excited! I’m EXCITED for YOU! When it comes to Disney vacations, I often travel with extended family and there’s usually a large group of us. The way I see it, the more the merrier when it comes to experiencing the magic of Disney!
Port Arrival Times are staggered to manage crowd and ensure a smooth embarkation process for everyone. On my recent cruise onboard Disney Fantasy, my family was traveling with first-time cruisers who would most likely have a different Port Arrival Time as us (since their online check-in occurred days after ours). Instead, all 12 of us opted for one-way
Disney ground transportation so that we would have the same Port Arrival Time and Boarding Group.
If this option isn’t feasible, you can also try changing your Port Arrival Time to better align with the rest of your party. Earlier Port Arrival Times usually fill up the soonest since most Guests are eager to get on the ship to start their vacation. The later Port Arrival Times tend to have more availability. I’ve noticed when we had later Port Arrival Times, we usually spent less time waiting around at the terminal for our Boarding Group to be called. The check-in process is quicker since most Guests are already on the ship.
You can search for a different Port Arrival Time (depends on availability) on the
Disney Cruise Line website or the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App by signing in and accessing your reservation. Click on "My Online Check-In" and then the Port Arrival section, where you initially selected your time. If there is a time slot that works better for you and the other sailors in your group, you can select that time and click “save”.
I wish you a magical sailing next month! If you have more trip-planning questions for us, please feel free to drop by
planDisney again.
Bon voyage,
Kiki