Before boarding the Disney Destiny, we spent one night at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. Since this hotel is only minutes from Port Everglades, it’s a popular choice for cruisers. If you’re considering staying here before your cruise, here’s a look at our experience.
Quick Facts
Stayed: 1 Night
Room: Two Queen Beds with Wraparound Balcony
Best For: Disney Cruise Line & Port Everglades Cruisers
Would Stay Again: Yes
Location
One of the biggest advantages of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina is its location. It’s conveniently located near both Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades, making travel day much less stressful. Many Disney Cruise Line guests choose this hotel because Disney offers transportation directly from the hotel to the cruise terminal. Whether you’re flying in the day before your cruise or driving in, it’s a convenient place to spend the night before embarkation.
The Hotel
As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by the bell staff, who immediately helped us with our luggage. Check-in was quick and easy, and the front desk staff gave us our room keys along with a couple of complimentary bottles of water. After we finished checking in the bellman was asking for our room number so he could bring our luggage upstairs. It was a nice touch and made arriving after traveling feel effortless.
Overall, first impressions were very positive. The lobby was clean, the staff was friendly, and everything felt organized from the moment we walked in.
The Room
We stayed in a two queen bed room with a wraparound balcony facing Port Everglades. One of my favorite parts was the view. From the front of the balcony, we could see the port, while the side overlooked the marina filled with boats. It was nice being able to enjoy both views without leaving the room.
The beds were comfortable, the room was clean, and the mini refrigerator definitely came in handy for keeping drinks cold. The bathroom was spacious and well maintained, and overall the room had everything we needed. We only stayed one night, but I would’ve been perfectly comfortable staying a little longer if our trip called for it.
If you’d like to see the room and balcony for yourself, I’ve included my full hotel tour below.
Hotel Amenities
The hotel offers several amenities, although we didn’t get to experience all of them. There is a nice outdoor pool, but unfortunately we had thunderstorms during our stay, so we never had the chance to use it.
There is also a fitness center, although it was under construction and being renovated while we were there. For food, you’ll find a coffee shop and quick-service market downstairs, along with a full-service restaurant and breakfast buffet. I had eaten at the breakfast buffet years ago during a previous stay and remember it being very good. That said, both the buffet and grab-and-go options can get expensive.
For example, two bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches and a small fruit bowl came to about $43. Personally, I’d recommend ordering delivery if you’re looking to save a little money. There are plenty of nearby restaurants that deliver directly to the hotel, making it an easy and much more affordable option.
Why Disney Cruisers Stay Here
One of the main reasons Disney Cruise Line guests choose this hotel is because Disney offers transportation directly from the hotel to Port Everglades. If you’re planning to use Disney’s transportation, I’d recommend booking your hotel early as rooms can fill up fairly quickly.
There are definitely some advantages to using Disney’s transfers. If you’re traveling with a larger family or multiple generations, you don’t have to worry about fitting everyone and all of your luggage into multiple rideshares. If you’re traveling with younger children who normally require a car seat, that’s another thing you won’t have to worry about on the Disney transportation as it is a huge coach bus.
Another nice perk is that Disney will collect your checked luggage directly from your hotel room. Once it’s picked up, the next time you’ll see it is outside your stateroom onboard the ship, so there’s no need to drag suitcases.
One of the biggest reasons people choose Disney’s transportation, though, is that it typically comes with an earlier boarding group, allowing you to get onboard sooner and start enjoying your vacation. That said, it’s worth doing the math. Because the hotel is so close to both the airport and Port Everglades, paying for Disney’s transportation may not make sense for everyone. If you’re traveling with a smaller group or are comfortable using Uber or Lyft, you may find that staying at a less expensive hotel and arranging your own transportation ends up costing less overall.
You will have a great vacation either way, but because there are many hotels so close to the port, it may not be worth the money to many.
Watch the Full Hotel Tour
If you’d like a closer look at the room, balcony views, and hotel grounds, check out my full video below.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I enjoyed our stay at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. It was comfortable, convenient, and exactly what we needed before boarding our Disney cruise. Between the friendly staff, comfortable room, and excellent location near both the airport and Port Everglades, it’s easy to see why so many cruisers choose to stay here.
Would I stay here again? Absolutely, especially if I planned on using Disney’s transportation or simply wanted a stress-free start to embarkation day.
Looking to learn more about Disney Cruises? Here are some things to know, before you go!
