Intro: we are first timers on DCL (but Diamond members of RCCL) so this was a very diff cruise experience for us. MH, myself and DD (4). I do some side-by-side comparisons throughout of SCL vs RCCL, so bear with me! Its all we know!

Transportation: We purchased transfers from Art of Animation to the port. We opted to not have the hotel collect and transfer our bags, as MH doesn't like the luggage to be out of sight. No biggie. We just carried it on the bus with us and it was collected at the port. The bus ride was about an hour from WDW to sport Canaveral.

Embarkation: It only took us about 5 minutes to get through security. As luck would have it, we were escorted to the Concierge check-in area since there was no line there. We had our keycards in about 5 minutes and we were on-board! You enter into the main atrium and as you enter they announce on the PA system, "Let's give a warm Disney welcome to the XXXXX family!" followed by applause by a receiving line of staff. DDs initial reaction: "This is SO.AWESOME." (I cried a little, lol) Read more