Port Canaveral Embarkation Security Line Tips

[KevinFL]

On our last Disney Cruise we parked at Port Canaveral in the parking deck and waited in a long line within the deck (perhaps level 3) and then after having passports checked walked across a walkway into the terminal 2nd floor. Is there a quicker way in or is this the fastest?
We would like to get in early to try for cabin upgrades on our upcoming trip.
Much appreciated!!

 

[dcassetta]

On our last Disney Cruise we parked at Port Canaveral in the parking deck and waited in a long line within the deck (perhaps level 3) and then after having pasports checked walked across a walkway into the terminal 2nd floor. Is there a quicker way in or is this the fastest?
We would like to get in early to try for cabin upgrades on our upcoming trip.
Much appreciated!!

I think you are likely to have a line whether you go in on the first floor or the third floor when the terminal first opens. It sounds like you're driving to Port. I believe that the people who enter the terminal first are those that are on the first shuttle from the Orlando airport. That transfer shuttle leaves the airport at 9 AM, and arrives at the port terminal before 10 AM. Will doing the transfers be an option for you?

 

[Marc D]

I believe that the people who enter the terminal first are those that are on the first shuttle from the Orlando airport. That transfer shuttle leaves the airport at 9 AM, and arrives at the port terminal before 10 AM.

Indeed. We are early risers so we always end up in the first two busses from MCO. There is a specific entrance on the right side of the terminal and you get to go in immediately, even if the terminal is closed on the other side. You get about a 15 min head start since the first bus departs around 9:30 and arrives at 10:15.

 

[ScooterScott44]

On our last Disney Cruise we parked at Port Canaveral in the parking deck and waited in a long line within the deck (perhaps level 3) and then after having pasports checked walked across a walkway into the terminal 2nd floor. Is there a quicker way in or is this the fastest?
We would like to get in early to try for cabin upgrades on our upcoming trip.
Much appreciated!!

What you described above is the “quickest” way in unless you are on a DCL bus. But the busses are not reliable as the first. We have seen the first busses arrive after they have started letting folks across the bridge from the parking. If you want to try to be first, keep it in your control and don’t trust the bus. The limiting factor driving yourself is you have to wait until the garage opens.

 

[truck1]

Its 6 of 1 half dozen of the other It also depends on who is looking thru the manifest to match names outside. Theres been 1 or 2 times I've taken the book and showed the person how to look things up faster.

The only other way is to go downstairs and in the main entrance on the 1st floor which is basically the same process.

 

[Deb T.]

If you're really determined to get to the port as fast as possible, you could split up and arrive both ways. One of you would have to reserve and pay for DCL's bus from the airport to the port. That person would need to be dropped off early at the airport, like before 8am, in order to be on the 1st bus. Then the rest of the family would drive to the port as usual, park in the garage, and wait on the bridge until the terminal opens. Whoever gets into the terminal first would immediately head to the check-in desk and then the upgrade desk. The 2nd arrival would join the first one, in progress. If you all arrive at the same time anyway and at least two of you are Platinum, you could take it one step farther: one would go to the Platinum check-in desk while the other headed to whichever regular check-in line is shorter.

Good luck and have a great cruise!

 

[ScooterScott44]

If you do try to split your party remember you can only complete check in if your whole party is there. If someone gets stuck on the bus, you will be out of luck.

More often than not the first people through security are those from the queue in the garage deck 3. Busses are next and the last typically is the street level entrance (since those departing are still getting picked up).

 

[ScooterScott44]

one would go to the Platinum check-in desk while the other headed to whichever regular check-in line is shorter.

Good luck and have a great cruise!

For the best chance I agree with this, be flexible.

We are platinum and on our last cruise instead of going down to the desk at the far end, we jumped into the regular line. There were plenty of open positions so there was no wait. Completed check in and we were second in line for the supervisors desk. I feel that the little extra walk and that at least two other platinums were in the concierge line would have cost us a spot. We probably would have still had a shot at some upgrade but those tiny time savings probably helped us get a very nice upgrade.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

If you do try to split your party remember you can only complete check in if your whole party is there. If someone gets stuck on the bus, you will be out of luck.

More often than not the first people through security are those from the queue in the garage deck 3. Busses are next and the last typically is the street level entrance (since those departing are still getting picked up).

I have heard several people report this. This was NOT our experience. In our case, we rented a car so I dropped my family and all luggage off and went to return the car. While I was gone, they went through security, checked in, got their KTTW cards and KTTW photos done. Then, when I arrived, I did the same process by myself. No one had any issue with this. I was done before our boarding number was called so we all boarded the ship together.

I have read many accounts of other people arriving at separate times (like separate flights, etc) and having no trouble checking in separately.

All the best!

 

[ScooterScott44]

Anchors away thanks for that info, when was your sailing date? I agree I have heard the same thing on the boards multiple times so hopefully someone can validate the actual, current policy.

I can say that usually and on our cruise earlier this year this is a non-issue. In 2017 we did have extended family and had to have the party together for some reason. I was too far toward the back of the group to hear any explaination.