1st time on DCL...Lots-o-questions!!

[TDERadulski]

DH, DS and I will be on our first Disney cruise in a few weeks! We can hardly wait!!
My father will be driving us to the port from his home in North Florida, and the trip should take less than two hours.
What time can we get checked-in and start boarding the ship? We would like to get there as early as possible, so that we don't keep my parents from being able to do some other things that day.
Also,what do we do with our luggage once we arrive at the port? Do we hold it with us until we check-in, or is there a drop off point for bags?

Thanks for any help you can give us!!

- Tara

 

[AnnMorin]

Boarding usually takes place around noonish, sometimes we had to wait until 1:00 another time it was 11:45 and the other two were around 12:30 or so. I would get to the port around 10:30 or 11:00 so you can get in line. There is a place to check your bags when you arrive at the port, there are porters waiting to take them from you, keep a day bag with valuables, medicine and a change of clothes, your bags won't get to your stateroom until the afternoon.

 

[TheWog]

if you arrive between 10:00 - 10:30 you can drop your bags at the tent across the street and wave good bye to your parents. You can then cross the street and get in line for entrance to the terminal. It usually opens around 10:30 or so. You will then check-in and wait for the ship to open for boarding around noon or so. Have fun.

 

[disneysooz]

Wear swimsuits under clothes or pack in your day bag so you can swim in the near empty pools after a yummy lunch!

 

[Pansy]

Thanks all for answering questions, it really helps newbies like me who can't think of all I want to ask