Disney Cruise Line sails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, aboard both the Disney Dream and Disney Destiny. Cruises depart from Port Everglades, only about 4 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), making this one of Disney’s easiest Florida cruise ports to reach if you’re flying in.
Current Fort Lauderdale itineraries include cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean, with stops that can include Nassau, Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
The main Disney Cruise Line facility is Cruise Terminal 4 at Port Everglades, although some Disney Dream sailings use a different terminal on specific dates. Always check Disney’s terminal information for your exact sailing before heading to the port.
Which Disney Cruise Ships Sail From Fort Lauderdale?
Disney currently operates two ships from Fort Lauderdale: the Disney Dream and Disney Destiny.
| Disney ship | Fort Lauderdale status | Typical destinations |
|---|---|---|
| Disney Destiny | Regular Port Everglades sailings | Bahamas and Caribbean |
| Disney Dream | Regular Port Everglades sailings | Bahamas and Caribbean |
The Disney Destiny began sailing from Fort Lauderdale in November 2025 and continues to use the port for Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries. The Disney Dream also has an extensive Fort Lauderdale schedule.
If the ship itself is a major part of your decision, our guide to which Disney Cruise ship is best compares the fleet beyond just departure port.
Where Does Disney Cruise Line Leave From in Fort Lauderdale?
Disney Cruise Line sails from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
The primary Disney terminal is:
Port Everglades Cruise Terminal 4
1800 SE 20th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Terminal 4 is Disney’s dedicated Port Everglades cruise terminal and features a Finding Nemo-inspired interior.
The Disney Destiny is currently scheduled to embark and disembark from Terminal 4 through September 3, 2027.
The Disney Dream also primarily uses Terminal 4, but Disney has published several dates when the Dream embarks or disembarks at Terminal 2 or Terminal 26 instead. For that reason, don’t automatically tell your driver “Terminal 4” without checking your sailing.
Disney keeps its current terminal assignments on the official Fort Lauderdale terminal page.
How Far Is Fort Lauderdale Airport From the Disney Cruise Port?
Port Everglades is approximately 4 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Disney estimates the drive at about 15 minutes.
That proximity is one of the biggest advantages of sailing Disney from Fort Lauderdale. You don’t have the long airport-to-port transfer involved with flying into Orlando for a Port Canaveral cruise.
Disney describes the trip between FLL and Port Everglades as roughly 10 to 15 minutes, with taxis and rideshare services readily available.
I would still fly into Fort Lauderdale the day before the cruise rather than trusting a same-day flight. A short transfer doesn’t protect you from airline delays or cancellations.
Can You Take a Disney Cruise Transfer From FLL?
Yes. Disney Cruise Line offers paid ground transportation between the airport and cruise terminal, and reservations are required.
Disney currently offers round-trip airport transfers that can be added through My Reservations or the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. One-way and private transfer options may also be available.
Because the port is so close to FLL, I would compare Disney’s transfer price against the live cost of an Uber, Lyft or taxi for your group rather than assuming one option is automatically cheapest.
Where Do Fort Lauderdale Disney Cruises Go?
The main destinations from Fort Lauderdale are The Bahamas and the Caribbean.
Depending on the sailing, ports can include:
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Disney Castaway Cay
- Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
- Cozumel, Mexico
- Falmouth, Jamaica
- Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
- Other Caribbean ports depending on itinerary
Disney’s 2026-2027 schedules include shorter Bahamian trips as well as longer Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale. For summer 2027, Disney lists 3-, 4- and 5-night Bahamas cruises and 5- or 7-night Caribbean options from Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral.
For a broader destination overview, see our guide to where Disney Cruises go.
Disney Destiny From Fort Lauderdale
The Disney Destiny made Fort Lauderdale its homeport when it entered service in November 2025.
Its initial schedule focused on 4- and 5-night cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean, with every sailing including at least one of Disney’s Bahamian destinations: Disney Castaway Cay or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Some Destiny itineraries visit both Disney island destinations on the same cruise.
Disney currently lists Terminal 4 as the Destiny’s Fort Lauderdale terminal through September 3, 2027.
Disney Dream From Fort Lauderdale
The Disney Dream also sails extensively from Fort Lauderdale, including Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries of several different lengths.
For example, Disney’s current schedules include Dream cruises from Fort Lauderdale visiting Nassau, Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay, plus longer Caribbean sailings.
The main thing I’d watch with the Dream is the terminal assignment. Most sailings use Terminal 4, but Disney has specific 2026 and 2027 dates using Terminal 2 or Terminal 26 for embarkation or disembarkation.
Parking for a Disney Cruise at Port Everglades
If you’re driving to Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades operates parking near the cruise terminals.
The Heron Parking Garage serves Terminals 2 and 4 and has more than 1,800 spaces. Terminal 4 can be accessed from the first floor of the garage, while an elevated passenger bridge connects the garage with Terminal 2.
Port Everglades currently charges $35 for up to 24 hours of cruise parking. Rates can change, so check the port’s official parking information before driving.
If your Disney Dream sailing uses Terminal 26, Disney currently directs guests to parking associated with the Palm Parking Garage instead.
Fort Lauderdale vs Port Canaveral for a Disney Cruise
If you’re flying specifically for a Disney Cruise, Fort Lauderdale’s biggest advantage is airport proximity.
FLL is only about 4 miles from Port Everglades. Disney lists Orlando International Airport at roughly a one-hour drive from Port Canaveral.
Port Canaveral has a different mix of Disney ships and itineraries, so I wouldn’t choose a port based on the transfer alone. But Fort Lauderdale can remove a significant amount of ground travel from arrival day.
If you’re comparing the two, see our separate guide to Disney cruises from Port Canaveral.
Should You Stay in Fort Lauderdale the Night Before?
I would.
Being only a few miles from the ship doesn’t make a delayed flight any less risky. Arriving the day before gives you much more margin if weather, aircraft or connection problems disrupt your trip.
Disney currently works with several pre- and post-cruise hotels in Fort Lauderdale, including properties near the airport and Port Everglades. You don’t have to use a Disney-arranged hotel, but proximity to both FLL and the port makes the area convenient for a one-night stay.
Fort Lauderdale Is Now a Major Disney Cruise Port
Fort Lauderdale is no longer just a secondary or experimental Disney departure point. With both the Disney Dream and Disney Destiny sailing from Port Everglades, it is now an established part of Disney Cruise Line’s Florida schedule.
If you’re flying in, the location is especially convenient: FLL is about four miles from the cruise port, and rideshare, taxi and Disney transfer options are available.
For current sailings, start by checking which ship and itinerary fit your dates, then verify your exact Port Everglades terminal before leaving for the ship.
You can see all of Disney’s current Fort Lauderdale sailings on the official Disney Cruise Line Fort Lauderdale page. For the rest of the fleet and Florida departure options, see our guides to Disney cruises out of Florida and where Disney cruises leave from.
