TRAVEL LOG: Day 5-Debarkation – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream
It’s always sad when a Disney Cruise Line vacation comes to an end. On our last morning, we enjoyed a nice breakfast, said goodbye to our server team, and then waited to get off the ship. Getting off the ship, known as debarkation, is not as simple as you might hope. There is a process you must follow. Learn more below.
1 – Plan to Get Up Early
Because the ship will receive new passengers on the same day and the crew needs to turn your room around for the new guests, plan to be out of your room completely by 8:00 a.m. There really is no sleeping in on your last morning. Our breakfast was at 7:00 a.m., so we had an even earlier start to the day. As we mentioned in our Day 4 Travel Log, we had packed the night before, and most of our luggage would be waiting for us when we got to the cruise terminal. But we did have a few things to back up and put in our carry-on luggage. When we left the room at 6:50 a.m., we needed to have everything with us. So, plan on an early morning.
2 – Express Walk-Off is Another Option
If you’d rather get off the ship as quickly as possible, the Express Walk-Off Option may be a great option for you. Rather than putting your luggage out the night before, you keep it with you, and then after 7:00 a.m., once the ship has cleared customs, you’ll be able to walk off the ship with all of your luggage with you. This is a great option if you have an early flight or do not have a lot of luggage to wrangle. Do note that if Disney collects your luggage, you will not be able to access it during this Express Walk-Off window. So, this option only works if you keep your luggage with you.
3 – Early Flights
If you have an early flight and are concerned about making it to the airport in time, do know that all flights before 12:00 p.m. are considered to be early flights by Disney Cruise Line. That means you should be assigned a character that will leave the ship early. However, if you are concerned, then you’ll want to consider the Express Walk-Off option. It’s the fastest way to get off the ship. The morning of our cruise guests using this option were able to leave around 7:20 a.m. We were the fifth (out of nine) group called and didn’t leave until about 9:20 a.m. That’s a big difference if you need to get to the airport at a specific time.
If you have an early flight and want luggage assistance, you need to contact Guest Services for an early debarkation luggage tag. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to Guest Services.
Future cruising tip: if possible, you’ll save yourself a lot of stress if you have an afternoon flight. There is a lot you can’t control, like when you will be cleared to leave the ship and traffic getting to the airport. It’s better to wait at the airport than miss your flight!
4 – One More Breakfast on the Ship
Since we had the time, we had our last breakfast at Animator’s Palate. You’ll have breakfast at the restaurant where you had dinner the night before. This way, we were able to enjoy a more relaxed breakfast and were able to say goodbye to our amazing server team! If you need a quicker option, Cabanas is also open.
5 – Waiting for Your Group to Be Called
This was my fifth time getting off a Disney Cruise Line ship and the longest I’ve ever had to wait. I’m not sure if there were problems we were unaware of, but there were so many people waiting. This time around, we waited about an hour and a half after we ate breakfast. Compare that to the five-minute wait I had in January 2023 to get off the Disney Fantasy. We also noticed that many people with character luggage tags who had not been called were leaving the ship anyway. We were told that if you left before your tag was called, you would not be able to access your luggage. It was all a bit confusing, and there was no indication of what order they would call the characters, so we had no idea if we were next or not. It would be very helpful if Disney let passengers know in what order the characters would be called so that they could at least get an idea of when they might be called. It would be even better if guests got an approximate time for better planning in the morning.
6 – US Customs
Finally, our group was called, and we lined up and left the ship. You’ll need to have your Key to the World cards scanned when you exit the ship. Then, you’ll be directed to retrieve your luggage. Your luggage will be under the corresponding character you had on your tags. The last step is to present yourself to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Again, you’ll need to have proof of citizenship, such as your passports in hand and ready for inspection. If you have something to declare, that form is also required. Make sure your party is together to expedite the process.
7 – Transportation from Port
Disney Cruise Line has great options for guests needing transfers to the nearest airport. You’ll need to purchase these ahead of time. There are signs at the port for whichever transportation option you choose. Lyft or Uber are also an option. We drove, so when we left the ship, we went to our car for the drive home.
8 – More to Come!
We had an amazing cruise and really enjoyed the holiday offerings. Disney Cruise Line is such a great option for guests looking for the magic of Disney outside of the parks! We’re already counting down to the next Disney cruise! We have much more to share about the Disney Dream and Disney Cruise Line, so stay tuned!
Our Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream
Learn about Very Merrytime cruises along with cruise tips and advice in our travel logs below!
Travel Log Articles with Cruise Tips
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Follow Along on Our Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Getting Ready to Sail-Part 1 – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Getting Ready to Sail-Part 2 – Packing for a Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 1-Part 1 of Embarkation Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL DAY: Day 1-Part 2 of Embarkation Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 2-Port Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 3-Castaway Cay & Pirate Night – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 4-Sea Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVE LOG: Day 5-Debarkation – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
Our Review & 13 Tips & Tricks for the Best Very Merrytime Cruise on Disney Cruise Line!
Instagram Story Highlights
Click here for our Day 1 Instagram Story Highlight for photos and videos from our first day!
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Editor’s Note: Disney Cruise Line provided a complimentary Very Merrytime Cruise and special media-specific events during the cruise. However, as always, the thoughts and opinions about Disney Cruise Line contained in this article are entirely our own.