In our latest Disney Dream article we’ll look at what happens when you arrive at Port Canaveral, although the procedure will be the same, regardless of whether you’re sailing on the Dream, Magic or Wonder.

Whether you arrive at Port Canaveral by Disney bus, towncar or private car, the first thing you will see is the Port terminal building, dwarfed by the ship behind it.

If arriving by town car, limo, private car or shuttle bus you’ll need to show your photo ID to a Cast Member or security guard before being allowed into the terminal area. Once in there you can hand your luggage over to one of the porters, who will ensure it gets onto the ship. Make sure you’ve attached your DCL luggage tags!

You can then enter the terminal building, where you’ll go through an airport-style security check. Any bags and coats will need to go through the x-ray machine, while you will be required to walk through the metal detector doorway.

Then it’s up the escalators or in the elevator and into the terminal proper. You’ll emerge just between the two white walls shown on this photo below.

The first thing you’ll need to do is fill in a health form, declaring that you haven’t suffered from diarrhea, sickness, or fever in the last few days.

Then it’s time to check-in!

There are two separate lines, one for Castaway Club members, and one for everyone else.

Hopefully, you’ll have completed online check-in prior to getting here, which will save an awful lot of time with paperwork.

Make sure you have all of the necessary forms, ID and passports to show to the Cast Member on the desk. They will then issue each member of your party with a Key to the World card, which not only acts as your room key, but is also used for charging everything you buy onboard to your room, and for ensuring that any photos taken by the ship’s photographers are allocated to the correct folder at Shutters. If you’ve cruised with Disney before you’ll also receive your Castaway Club lanyards. You’ll also get is a “Welcome Aboard” sheet, which will tell you the schedule for the rest of that day, plus a map of the ship on the reverse of it, and finally a card with a number on. This is your boarding number and dictates when you’ll be able to board the ship. The earlier you arrive at port, the lower your boarding number will be and the sooner you’ll get onboard.

Whilst waiting for your boarding number to be called, if you’re there early enough you may find some familiar characters waiting to have their photo taken with you.

If you’re cruising with children over the age of three, you can get in line and register them for the Oceaneer Club / Lab. Even if you’ve pre-registered online, you’ll still need to pick up a pager / wristband. If you don’t have time to do this now, don’t worry, as it can be done onboard later.

Pass your time away by marveling at a replica of the Disney Magic ship, which is cut away on one side to reveal the wonderfully intricate details of everything onboard.

As soon as one number is called, people with the next number start to gather at the entrance gate, waiting for their turn, and it does tend to be a free-for-all with no real queue.

Once your number is called you’ll enter through the giant yellow Mickey ears.

It gets slightly more civilized now, with two lines, and you’ll all be required to have your Key to the World card scanned as you enter.

Every family is invited to have their welcome aboard photo taken. You don’t have to buy the photo, but it’s a nice souvenir. If sailing on the Disney Dream, it’s a good idea to have the photo done as it helps with the process of allocating photos to the correct room folders at Shutters.

Then it’s a short walk across the covered gangway…

… and you’re finally onboard!

A host of Crew Members are waiting to welcome your family aboard, and will announce the arrival of the “XXXX” family with a round of applause, which makes you feel very special and sets the tone for the next few days.

In our next article, we’ll look at what you can expect onboard the ship on embarkation day.