What Do You Do Before Boarding?

[VoiceGuy07]

I would love to hear what y'all do the morning of your Disney Cruise. Some head over on the bus but many head over to Port Canaveral in their cars and explore Cocoa Beach.

Before some cruises we've stopped at Ron Jon Surf Shop to do some quick shopping, some we've had breakfast at Grills Tiki Bar, and have also stopped once at Sunrise Diner (which was awesome).

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I count the seconds and stare at the clock! I don't think I could stand to do anything else!

 

[Nmoody1]

I sit waiting for the bus... think how ridiculous it is that if you stay at a Disney resort the bus picks you up later than what time first check in opens.... it would be nice to be there first as you are already coming from a Disney resort.

But I do enjoy the bus ride... I sit there and play the games and watch the videos. at the resort we always get a leisurely light breakfast in anticipation for the mamouth food piles we'll be eating onboard!

 

[dagwoodZZ]

This was our 1st DCL cruise. We had a 10 hour drive so we arrived a day early and took advantage of the Country Inn & Suites park and cruise package. This allowed us to stay for about the same price we would have paid for parking anyway.

We got there at supper time so we ate at Rustys seafood bar. They had happy hour and a live band that was family friendly. It was also outdoors with a view of the carnival ships. Fantasy was still out to sea.


The shuttle picked us up at 10:30 and had us 1st in line at customs that morning. Waiting to board was our longest wait. But getting on ship early was worth the wait.

 

[ChuckElias]

1) Go to sleep around 1:30 am, b/c I'm too excited to sleep.
2) Wake up around 7 am.
3) Wake everybody else up at 7:05 am.
4) Ignore epithets (and any other objects) hurled by those just awakened.
5) Load the car by 8.
6) Pull out of driveway at 8:45
7) Stop at Dunkin Donuts for mandatory coffee.
8) Drive to port!!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Sleep as long as possible. Breakfast. Arrive at port via car by 10:30. Sometimes we make time to go by the liquor store, ATM, and top off the gas tank if needed before hitting the port.

 

[ChuckElias]

Sleep as long as possible. Breakfast. Arrive at port via car by 10:30. Sometimes we make time to go by the liquor store, ATM, and top off the gas tank if needed before hitting the port.

We may stop for wine on the way to the port on our next cruise. Publix will be closed by the time we get back to the house after Kona Kafe and fireworks.

 

[Phonedave]

I am at the port as early as possible - there is no time before hand. Last cruise we were the second family to enter the cruise terminal when it opened.

-dave

 

[jme]

Last cruise we flew in a day early, arriving at night (so weird as we usually take the first flight in at like 6am), and drove a rental from airport to port, staying at the Hampton Inn, utilizing their stay & park package. We drove around Cocoa Beach a bit and ate dinner at a Chili's I think because it was late and most places were closed or closing. Went to bed (or tried to) and woke up to eat some of their complimentary breakfast (make your own waffles, fruit, cereals etc.)
Then stood around for the first shuttle to port. It felt like we would get there pretty early but the shuttle had to turn around for a guest that missed another hotels shuttle. Then they dropped off for every other cruise line first... so I was kind of bummed we got to port later than I wanted, but the lines moved fast and we had a pretty short wait once inside. We were on the ship by 11:30-12:00.
First stop? Cabanas for those waiters walking around with the welcome aboard drinks

 

[rick3236]

Living in Orlando we leave the house around 8 AM. We will stop for coffee and a light breakfast (we know that we will be gorging ourselves for the next few day so we go light) and are at the port by 10:00 AM - 10:30 at the latest. We normally park at the port. We prefer to park there for convenience, it is worth the extra money to be able to walk straight to the car after the cruise. We did the off site parking once and did not care for the delay in waiting for the shuttle.