TRAVELLING TO THE PORT AND YOUR FIRST HOURS ONBOARD
GETTING THERE
If you are sailing from Port Canaveral and are staying at a Disney Resort, you can travel by DCL coaches at a cost of $39 per person each way. You can also get picked up or dropped off to MCO Airport (not Sanford).
Alternatively, you can do one way car rentals with numerous rental firms which work out cheaper normally than parking your car at the terminal. You return the car to Cape Canaveral, but all of the rental firms have transfer buses to take you on the 5 min journey to the Port.
Car parking at the official terminal car park, is $17 per day (so it should be noted you are charged per day your car is in the parking lot. For example for a 3 night cruise you will pay for 4 days of parking).
There are plenty of other cheaper ones nearby as you drive towards the Port ... you can't miss the signs for them!
Dibbers recommend
parkcruise as it seems to be a good price and service.
If you are staying at a Disney resort pre-cruise and don't want to take all of your luggage with you, you are allowed to leave it with Bell Services until you return.
Disney Cruise Line buses (only for Port Canaveral departures)
If you are sailing from any other port, DCL will happily charge to transport you from airport to port. My advice is to seek an alternative as you can normally do it a lot cheaper, especially if there is more than 2 of you.
For Barcelona, try Suntransfers
EMBARKATION
At all ports, they have a system in place to try to ease the congestion often seen before noon in the terminals.
The procedure is that when you complete your online check in (after full payment is made and at your designated check in date), you can then choose a port arrival time (PAT). These range from mid morning through to mid afternoon. The idea is that you choose the time period of when you will realistically arrive (if the time is available). Please do not turn up earlier as you may be turned away, but even if not, you are not assisting DCL with their health and safety within a building (why it was brought in). Ideally, choose a 12:30pm or later PAT and you will generally walk straight into the terminal, check in and be able to board immediately.
(Pre-Covid)!
Once inside the terminal, you can officially check in and get your boarding card number (directly linked to your PAT) and your Key To The World card (KTTW). They'll ask you to complete a health declaration for your party, show your passports and have your photos taken. There will be a line exclusively for silver and gold Castaway Members (those who have cruised with DCL before) and then one for Platinum (11 or more cruises) and concierge guests.
Guests staying in concierge, platinum members, wedding parties and the chosen 'Family of the Day' get to board first. Boarding is very quick so don't panic if you get a card in double figures!
Once you reach the ships entrance, be ready to give your family name to the CM at the gangplank door as he will announce you onto the ship to much clapping and cheering! We tell them our family name is the 'Bankrupt Family' so it's announced as 'Disney Magic, please welcome on board the Bankrupt family'. I really must come up with something funnier than that though! Once you enter the ship, other CMs will be on hand to direct you and explain where you can grab some lunch.:pop:
This is the time, if you're early and have children, that you should strip them down to their swimmers and let them take advantage of the empty pools or slides. One adult can grab lunch from the buffet restaurant while the other watches the children.
LIFEBOAT DRILL
Currently, you need to use the DCL app to complete your muster drill. You go to the designated area for your stateroom (this is on your KTTW card, on the back of your stateroom door and also on the app). At the location, there will be a sign on the wall that you have to scan with your phone. They then also do a voice announcement on all decks before sailaway. You must all complete it and be present.
Pre Covid, we did this:
Everyone has to do it, don't try to avoid it. Around 4pm on EVERY cruise (first day only), you will be expected to make your way to your designated muster station. Each muster station will be a letter, so, for example 'A' may be Walt Disney Theatre. The letter for you and the rest of your cabin will be on your KTTW cards.
You will hear numerous warnings about the drill, so once they start mustering, make your way to your designated station. You
DO NOT need to grab your lifejacket (kept in the wardrobes in each cabin).
Once you get there, a crew member will tick your cabin number off of their list. Any missing will be called out once everyone is in place. If your cabin number is called, just yell that you're there .. they may have missed you turning up!
Bring a book or something for the children as you will all have to stand/sit for the whole time while you're waiting for everyone to turn up. If you have any special needs within your family, speak to your muster person once you get there - the sirens are loud and can sometimes upset children, especially ones that may be on the autistic spectrum. Headphones may be a good bet.
It only takes 30 mins but is vitally important. Please don't miss it.
