Complete your embarkation paperwork online before you get to Port Canaveral. Go to Disney Cruise Line's website anytime after your final payment, up until three days before your cruise. This will save time during the check-in process.
If you have children, sign them up for the kids' clubs online. Doing it after you board the ship could land you in a long line.
If possible, arrive in the Orlando area the day before your cruise. If your flight is delayed or canceled and you miss the ship, you're responsible for meeting it at the next port. If you don't have trip insurance, it will be at your own expense. Even if you're insured, you'll be inconvenienced and miss part of your vacation. You can stay in the Orlando airport area or near Port Canaveral. Reasonable hotel rooms are available via Priceline and Hotwire.
Consider private transportation to the ship rather than using Disney's buses. If you have more than two people in your party, a private town car or limo may be cheaper. It also allows you to choose your pickup time rather than potentially wait in line for a bus. If you stay in the Orlando area the night before, you can be picked up right at your hotel instead of returning to the airport to meet the Disney buses.
Get to the port by 10:30 a.m. It usually opens between 10 and 10:30, and passengers are given embarkation numbers based on their arrival time. When the boarding process starts, usually between 11:30 a.m. and noon, passengers are called in groups based on their numbers.
