All Aboard the Brightline Train!

By: Maggie Ballantyne, Team Lead & Travel Advisor
May 26, 2026

If you’ve ever felt like you had to choose between a magical stay at Walt Disney World and sailing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, you’re not alone. For years, travelers (including me) have typically picked one of two options: stay near Disney and sail from Port Canaveral or skip Disney altogether and fly straight into Fort Lauderdale for a cruise.

But now, there’s a smarter and far more seamless way to do both that does not involved any flights! With the Brightline train, you can enjoy a few days immersed in the magic of Disney, then effortlessly travel down to Southern Florida to board your cruise. No rental cars, no stressful drives, no delayed flights; just a smooth, comfortable connection that opens up an entirely new way to vacation by booking a Brightline train ride!

One of the best parts? This is something I can book for my clients, and after experiencing it firsthand, it’s a service I’ll recommend often. It makes sailing out of Port Everglades or even Port Miami incredibly easy, especially if you want to pair your cruise with a stay at Walt Disney World (or Universal Studios) or prefer to fly into Orlando.

For my trip in April 2026, I booked a Premium ticket on Brightline, and while I’ll be putting together a full step-by-step guide for my clients, I couldn’t wait to share a few highlights with all of you:

Access to the Premium Lounge

Now that I have experienced the lounge prior to boarding once, I can never travel with Brightline another way! The Premium Lounge includes:

• Open bar (3 beer options, 3 wine options, soda, water, tea, coffee)

• Elevated snacks & apps like cheese and crackers, veggies and hummus, pasta salad, and even spring rolls (Philly, Buffalo, and classic), plus desserts, candy, and more!

• One complimentary checked bag. Now that certain airlines are not offering this, this perk stood out to me!

• Priority boarding

• Pre-selecting your seating prior to travel

From start to finish, the process was stress free. While the Brightline station in Orlando is located at MCO, it is much less busy and much quieter. Checking a bag took about 10 minutes, and getting scanned in and settled into the lounge took just a couple more.

Extras on the Train

Preboarding and getting settled in my seat before all other passengers boarded was nice. The seats were comfortable and anyone with a Premium Ticket gets their choice of larger seats with more legroom. My single seat had plenty of room to spread out, multiple chargers, and a tray like one on an airplane, but larger.

I knew my ticket included some snack and drink options, but I was surprised with just how many options were available to us! The first time our cabin attendant came around, he had a full cart of about 15 snacks including sweet and savory options ranging from numerous types of chips, numerous flavors of candy, pound cake, pretzels, popcorn, meat and cheese, and more. Then the drink cart came around and there were beer, wine, cocktails, sodas, water, coffee, and tea options available. Following the snack and drink carts, the meal cart came around for lunch, which included a chicken entrée, two sides, and a dessert or a vegetarian option. Following the meal cart, the snack and drink cart came around again! Options were endless for the entire trip and while I did not take something every time the cart came around, it was nice to know that if I wanted something, it was easily available.

Of course, I picked up a few tips along the way and noticed a few small things I’d tweak for my next trip, but that’s part of the experience. It allows me to fine-tune every detail so I can better guide my clients.

With a ticket booked on the Brightline, you’re not limited to one port or one experience. You get the best of both worlds: more cruise options, more flexibility, and the chance to pair theme park fun with a relaxing voyage at sea all in one perfectly connected itinerary.

Ready to plan a vacation that blends the magic of land and the relaxation of sea with every detail, including transportation, seamlessly handled!? I’d love to help you create the perfect itinerary. Reach out anytime at Maggie@wishesfamilytravel.com to get started.

And if you’d like more travel inspiration, tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at my adventures, be sure to follow along on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wishesfamilytravel or on Instagram @Maggie.At.Wishes.

I booked my Brightline train ticket at the consumer rate.