Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy: What is a Cruise Transfer?

Guests heading for a Disney Cruise usually have three options for getting to the port. They can drive themselves. They can hire a private car service. Or they can book a Cruise Transfer and let Disney handle the ground transportation. Cruise transfers will take you from the airport or a hotel to your Disney Cruise on embarkation day. And when the sailing is over, a cruise transfer can take you to the airport, or to select hotels for a post-cruise stay.

Cruise transfers are available for Disney Cruise Line sailings from most ports, and can be added up to three days in advance of your sailing. And you don’t have to book the transfer as a round trip going both ways! Depending on your plans, you can book a one-way cruise transfer either to or from the port.

You don’t need to arrange your flights or hotel through Disney to use Disney’s cruise transfers. But you do need to fly into the correct airport or stay in one of the designated hotels.

For Disney Cruises from Port Canaveral, ground transfers are $45 per guest, one way. You can arrange transfers to and from:

• Orlando International Airport (MCO),
• The Hyatt Regency at the Orlando International Airport
• Any Disney Resorts Collection hotel at Disney World.

For other ports, a list of Disney Cruise Line transfers from local airports, with prices, can be found on Disney’s ground transportation page. On that same page, you can find links to the port pages. Hotels listed for pre- and post-cruise hotel stays are the ones that offer Disney Cruise Line transfers for your sailing.

Booking a cruise transfer for your Disney cruise is a bit like hitting the easy button on ground transportation. Press a few buttons in the Navigator app, or call your travel agent, and voilà! Your ground transportation is in order. Disney’s cruise transfers are typically on coach-style buses. Car seats aren’t necessary if you have little ones, and the buses have bathrooms. At the beginning of your cruise, you’ll hand over your luggage before boarding the bus, and you’ll next see it in your stateroom. You’ll even find Disney cartoons and cruise info playing on overhead screens to set the mood as you head for the port.

That convenience does come with some potential downsides. The cost of a transfer is per guest, but Uber and car services charge per car. For larger parties, booking private ground transportation will often be cheaper. It will also depart for the port on your schedule; you don’t get to pick your pickup time when you book a Disney cruise transfer. And, private car services will take you directly from the pickup to the port (or vice versa). Disney’s cruise transfers may make stops for other guests.

Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy is for first-time Disney cruisers looking to learn about the DCL experience. Got a Disney Cruise Line term that you want to see explained? Suggest it in the comments below!