Disney Cruise Line Planning Tips: Transfers, Boarding & More
- Anna Wildish
- 8 hours ago
- 7 min read
This summer, my family had another Wildish Adventure aboard the Disney Destiny—and she quickly became one of my favorite Disney ships and one of our favorite cruises ever!
I’ll be sharing all about the cruise itself in a separate post, but before we get to the fun, let’s talk about something that can make or break the beginning of your vacation: embarkation day.
There’s nothing quite like walking onto a Disney Cruise ship for the first time. You’re excited, the vacation you’ve been planning is finally here, and you’re ready to start making memories. But there are a few things you can do before you ever set foot on the ship to make that first day feel relaxed instead of rushed and stressful.
In this post, I’m taking you along for our actual embarkation day on the Disney Destiny—from where we stayed the night before to getting to the port, boarding the ship, and what we did once we stepped aboard.
Keep reading for helpful Disney Cruise Line planning tips and to learn why this is one of the ways I recommend starting your Disney Cruise vacation.
Planning Tip #1: Fly In the Day Before
We flew into Fort Lauderdale the day before our cruise. This is a huge must-do no matter where you are sailing from: fly in the day before your ship leaves!
I know, it can be tempting to save a little money and book that early-morning flight on embarkation day. But please don’t do it!
Flights get delayed. Bags get lost. Weather happens. Disney Cruise Line won’t hold the Disney Destiny at the port because your flight is running 3 hours late. She has places to go and magic to make!
Arriving the day before gives you a much-needed buffer and lets you start your vacation without the stress of watching the clock (or frantically refreshing your airline app!). Instead, you can wake up the morning of embarkation rested, relaxed, and ready to head to the ship.
Trust me—missing the ship is NOT the kind of vacation adventure you want to have!
Planning Tip #2: Stay at one of Disney’s Contracted Hotels
For our night before the cruise, we stayed at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina.
Was it nice? Yep. Was it fancy? Nope. Was it terrible? Definitely not.
It was a perfectly comfortable hotel with a great harbor view, comfortable beds, and close proximity to the cruise port.
But honestly, the hotel itself wasn’t the most important part of our decision.
What mattered most was that it was one of the hotels Disney Cruise Line works with.
Why is that such a big deal? Because staying at a participating hotel gave us access to Disney Cruise Line transportation to the port on embarkation day.
And this is exactly the kind of little detail that can make a vacation feel so much easier.
Instead of waking up the morning of our cruise and worrying about finding an Uber, figuring out parking, hauling our luggage around, or making sure we got to the port on time, we simply followed the Disney process and let them handle the transportation.
Basically, we went from “Where are we going and how are we getting there?” to “Just tell us where to meet you, Disney.”
And if you’re anything like me (aka an anxious traveler), eliminating that kind of vacation-day stress is worth its weight in gold.
Planning Tip #3: Take Disney Transfers to the Port
Disney Cruise Line transfers are a MUST for me.
Some people may disagree with me, and that’s okay. But after experiencing embarkation day firsthand, I’m even more convinced that taking Disney transportation to the port is one of those little extras that can make a BIG difference.
One of the biggest perks? Disney transfer guests can be among the first groups called to board the ship.
And that was absolutely our experience!
When we checked into our hotel the night before, we also checked in with Disney Cruise Line. They had a table set up right in the hotel lobby, where we received our boarding assignment.
In true Disney fashion, our boarding assignment was a character, not a number.
That same character would be both our bus assignment AND our boarding group.
Bonus tip: The next morning, our luggage was collected bright and early by bell services. Once you hand over those bags, you won't see them again until they're delivered to your stateroom several hours later.
It is important to keep your passports, IDs, travel documents, medications, and anything else you absolutely need with you. Do not put them in your luggage.
I highly recommend putting your swimsuit in your carry-on, too!
That way you can change into it and start enjoying the pools while you wait for your stateroom to be ready. Why waste precious cruise time when you could already be in vacation mode?
Okay, back to our embarkation day story. Around 10 a.m., we headed down to the bus at our assigned time, boarded, and set off for the port.
When we arrived, I noticed people arriving by other means of transportation lined up inside the parking garage, waiting to be allowed into the port area.
Not us!
We hopped off our Disney bus and cruised right inside to wait for our turn to enter the check-in area.
There were two lines at this point. One was for us regular folks who took Disney transfers, and the other was for Concierge guests.
Concierge guests are basically treated like Disney royalty. They have their own check-in process, their own waiting area, and they get to board before everyone else. (I dream of the day I get to experience Concierge!)
The rest of us waited a short time to check in. Our travel documents were verified, our MagicBands were linked, and then we were welcomed into the port waiting area.
From there, it was simply a matter of waiting for our boarding group to be called.
Concierge had their own waiting area, and, as expected, they were the first to board.
But then came the part I was waiting for...
They started calling the characters!
Those of us who had arrived via Disney transfers were able to board the ship before many other guests.
THIS is one of my favorite moments of the entire cruise.
Walking up that gangway toward the ship. Seeing the crew waiting to welcome you. Hearing your family's name announced as you step aboard. Waving hello to Mickey and Minnie.
That's when it hits you: WE'RE ON A CRUISE!
The vacation has officially begun—and there is nothing quite like that feeling.
Planning Tip #4: Choose Where You Go First Wisely
You made it! You’re on the ship! Now what?
If you followed my advice and took Disney transfers, you’ll likely be among the first guests onboard—which means you have a pretty awesome problem to solve: What do you want to do first?
My answer is easy: EAT!
On the Disney Destiny, we had a few lunch options. We could grab a buffet at Marceline Market, enjoy a sit-down lunch at one of the sit-down restaurants (I think it was either Lion King or 1923), or head straight to the Haunted Mansion Parlor for some drinks and spooky Disney vibes.
Obviously, we chose the Haunted Mansion Parlor.
And let me tell you, I became OBSESSED with this place during our cruise. But as much as I loved it, my recommendation for embarkation day is actually to head to 1923 or whatever sit-down restaurant is open for lunch.
After the excitement of getting onboard, getting your bags handed over, and navigating all the check-in craziness, it’s really nice to sit down, take a breath, and enjoy a good meal.
Plus, the sit-down restaurants can fill to capacity. Being one of the first groups onboard gives you a huge advantage when it comes to getting a table.
Once you've eaten, it's time to officially switch into vacation mode.
Head up to the pool deck, change into that swimsuit you wisely packed in your carry-on, grab a drink, let the kids hit the pools, and start exploring the ship.
Your stateroom probably won't be ready quite yet, but that's okay!
You’re on a Disney Cruise. You have a whole ship to explore.
After all the planning that goes into a Disney Cruise, embarkation day is the moment when the vacation officially becomes real.
And Just Like That…The Cruise Has Begun!
Embarkation day can feel a little overwhelming, especially if it’s your first Disney Cruise. There are flights to coordinate, a hotel to choose, transportation to arrange, luggage to manage, check-in procedures to navigate, and a whole lot of excitement happening at once!
But with a little planning, it doesn’t have to be stressful.
For us, flying in the day before, staying at a Disney-approved hotel, and taking Disney transportation to the port made the entire process feel easy and seamless. We were able to get onboard early, enjoy lunch, explore the ship, and start our vacation without worrying about the logistics.
That’s also what I strive to do for my clients. I don’t just help you book a Disney Cruise. I help you figure out all those little details that can make the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling completely prepared.
Because you’ve worked hard for this vacation. You shouldn't have to spend it stressing about the details.
Have you been on the Disney Destiny? What was your embarkation day like? Share in the comments!
Whether you're dreaming of Disney, Universal, a cruise, or an all-inclusive escape, I'm here to make the process simple, stress-free, and fun. As a Travel Advisor with Magical Vacation Planner, I'll help you create a vacation that's perfectly tailored to your family.
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