actopp1017 Posted October 9, 2013 #1 Share Posted October 9, 2013 We are staying the night prior at the Resisdence Inn Cape Canaveral and will be using their shuttle to take us to the cruise port as we will be leaving our vehicle at hotel. Do I need to coordinate with the hotel when I get assigned a boarding time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ducklite Posted October 9, 2013 #2 Share Posted October 9, 2013 When you do your online check in with DCL they will give you a port arrival time. Give this to the hotel and they will give you a departure time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DISNEY FANTASY Posted October 9, 2013 #3 Share Posted October 9, 2013 We are staying the night prior at the Resisdence Inn Cape Canaveral and will be using their shuttle to take us to the cruise port as we will be leaving our vehicle at hotel. Do I need to coordinate with the hotel when I get assigned a boarding time? I think it's worth asking them, some hotels run at certain times only some first come first served, some to one ship only ie go carnival dream not fantasy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actopp1017 Posted October 9, 2013 Author #4 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Thank you! We are traveling with my patents under a different reservation number ( different cabin) but we booked all together. I'm guessing they will get the same time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DISNEY FANTASY Posted October 9, 2013 #5 Share Posted October 9, 2013 (edited) No they may not, they have to be on the same reservation to ensure you have the same pat. Hopefully it will work out but if you have your pat and they are on their own reservation and have to book their pat then they may end up different. You can always call Disney and ask if they can come with you on your pat. Edited October 9, 2013 by DISNEY FANTASY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Scrapnana Posted October 9, 2013 #6 Share Posted October 9, 2013 If your assigned time is 12:30 and you show at 12:00 will they really turn you away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DISNEY FANTASY Posted October 9, 2013 #7 Share Posted October 9, 2013 If your assigned time is 12:30 and you show at 12:00 will they really turn you away? It's health and safety if the port building , the terminal is full then technically yes, there is a limit to the number of people that can be held. In reality, at that time boarding should have started and if the port can accommodate them, then they will but they might get a boarding card with a number that's later then cruisers arriving at their allocated pat. I haven't read any issues but at some point if a ship is late in it could occur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moki'smommy Posted October 9, 2013 #8 Share Posted October 9, 2013 If your assigned time is 12:30 and you show at 12:00 will they really turn you away? They won't turn you away, but they may keep you waiting outside for 10-15 minutes depending on how crowded (or not) the terminal building happens to be. At 12:00, boarding will have just started and the terminal will be emptying rapidly. The terminal arrival time system was started when the newer, bigger ships were launched because the fire marshal limits the number of people allowed in the terminal at any time. If you show up at your window, no problem. And, there is no such thing as a 12:00 time. You have a window of 12:00-12:30 or 12:30-1:00. Showing up at 12 with a 12:30-1:00 window will not get you on the ship any sooner because your boarding card number is tied to your scheduled arrival time and will be issued by the computer when you check in. Whether a guest shows up 2 hours early or at the scheduled window, they will get the same time. As to boarding....starts about 11:45 (although recently we've seen it as early as 11:15. If you show up at your scheduled time, your wait after check in will be very minimal or nothing. You wait till your number is called, then board. About 1:00 or 1:30, a CM will announce "open boarding" which means they are finished with the number system and guests can now board as soon as they have checked in. This will occur when the human backlog in the terminal has all boarded. So...way too long an answer to your question. If the terminal is crowded, you may be held for a few minutes before entering. Once boarding has started, this is not an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actopp1017 Posted October 13, 2013 Author #9 Share Posted October 13, 2013 When and how do you receive your boarding time from DCL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bear3412 Posted October 13, 2013 #10 Share Posted October 13, 2013 (edited) When and how do you receive your boarding time from DCL? Boarding time/# is received during checkin at port, but it is based on your port arrival time (PAT) that you choose during online checkin at 75 days out for newbies not booked concierge level, regardless of your mode of transportation. The earlier your PAT the earlier your boarding # regardless somewhat of your actual arrival time at port. http://disneycruiselineblog.com/2012/09/online-check-in-port-arrival-time-dining-port-adventure-reservations-made-simple/ HTH Edited October 13, 2013 by bear3412 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moki'smommy Posted October 13, 2013 #11 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Note that guests using DCL transportation, platinum and concierge level guests are not required to select a terminal arrival time and are welcomed into the terminal whenever they get there. Other guests will select a terminal arrival time when they do their on line check in. The remaining available times will be shown and the guest can then select one. It is NOT a problem if you arrive later than your time--say if your flight is late or whatever. DCL has that figured into their system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DISNEY FANTASY Posted October 13, 2013 #12 Share Posted October 13, 2013 When and how do you receive your boarding time from DCL? First complete online check in to get a port arrival time. Then boarding time depends on your port arrival time, and when you turn up to that, and how embarkation is going at that time, if you arrive say post 12.30 it could be fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurukthemal Posted October 13, 2013 #13 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Hopefully, none of this is redundant. From what I recall you actually pick your port arrival time and it is not "assigned" to you. If you can I would pick the earliest time available because you will basically have the whole ship to yourself. It is important to pack swimwear things like that in a carry-on bag because you will not have access to your room. However, if you do you will have complete access to your "private" Jacuzzi and Pool for at least one hour or so.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DISNEY FANTASY Posted October 13, 2013 #14 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Hopefully, none of this is redundant. From what I recall you actually pick your port arrival time and it is not "assigned" to you. If you can I would pick the earliest time available because you will basically have the whole ship to yourself. It is important to pack swimwear things like that in a carry-on bag because you will not have access to your room. However, if you do you will have complete access to your "private" Jacuzzi and Pool for at least one hour or so.:) Yes you pick a time subject to the availability of the slots and previous choice of people being able to book before you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retire2cruise55 Posted October 13, 2013 #15 Share Posted October 13, 2013 If not already suggested...go online and see if the "new" 10:30 PAT is available when you do your check in. It's nice to be one of the 1st on the ship...less crowded and your vacation has started! Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DISNEY FANTASY Posted October 13, 2013 #16 Share Posted October 13, 2013 If not already suggested...go online and see if the "new" 10:30 PAT is available when you do your check in. It's nice to be one of the 1st on the ship...less crowded and your vacation has started! Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Yes good idea they changed them to 15 minute slots a bit back and some snagged new earlier slots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scary1 Posted October 14, 2013 #17 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Definitely coordinate with your hotel to get you there on time. After you go through the pre set time of arrival ours was at 11:00 AM, you get a slip of paper with a boarding zone on it, Think getting on a plane when they call everyone in zone A,B,C etc. Ours was Zone 8, when we arrived they we calling Zone 3. We were on the ship before Noon. So that process didn't take very long. If you want to speed it up even further ask to skip the Pre Board picture line after you go through the Mickey Ear'd tunnel. The line was very long and you will have tons of photo opportunities on the ship, skipping the first one probably saved us close to an hour. with 2 impatient little ones that was time well saved Once you get aboard the ship you cannot get into your room until 1:30pm. So bring a swimsuit or go find something to do until then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trekker954 Posted December 30, 2013 #18 Share Posted December 30, 2013 We really wanted to board with one of the first groups and start exploring as this will be our first Disney cruise. But when I was filling out my online checkin, the earlier than 11:45 were shaded out (meaning I could not select the times between 10:30 and 11:30. I guess it could have been worse (later), so it is what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted December 30, 2013 #19 Share Posted December 30, 2013 We really wanted to board with one of the first groups and start exploring as this will be our first Disney cruise. But when I was filling out my online checkin, the earlier than 11:45 were shaded out (meaning I could not select the times between 10:30 and 11:30. I guess it could have been worse (later), so it is what it is. No worries. The actual boarding doesn't begin until 11:15-11:30, with Open Boarding (anyone holding any boarding number can board at this time) generally occurring by 12:30 at the latest. You should be onboard by 1:00 (probably earlier). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trekker954 Posted December 30, 2013 #20 Share Posted December 30, 2013 No worries. The actual boarding doesn't begin until 11:15-11:30, with Open Boarding (anyone holding any boarding number can board at this time) generally occurring by 12:30 at the latest. You should be onboard by 1:00 (probably earlier). Well that doesn't sound good. If my Boarding time is scheduled for 11:45, I certainly expect to be allowed on board by then. I can understand giving past cruisers and such the 11:15 (although the first offered was 10:30); but if I show up at 11:45 I wouldn't be happy to be sitting there until 12:30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna_In_India Posted December 30, 2013 #21 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Well that doesn't sound good. If my Boarding time is scheduled for 11:45, I certainly expect to be allowed on board by then. I can understand giving past cruisers and such the 11:15 (although the first offered was 10:30); but if I show up at 11:45 I wouldn't be happy to be sitting there until 12:30. I don't believe you get a "boarding" time. You get a check-in time at which time you are assigned a boarding group number. We were assigned 10:30 check-in and they do not even let you into the building 1 minute before 10:30. After security we checked in and were assigned boarding group 2. We boarded the ship at 11:30. We had enough time to pick up my daughter's bracelet for the kid's club (I had pre-registered her online) and have photos taken with both Mickey and Minnie (separately). Boarding goes very fast though...My daughter was swimming by noon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted December 30, 2013 #22 Share Posted December 30, 2013 (edited) Well that doesn't sound good. If my Boarding time is scheduled for 11:45, I certainly expect to be allowed on board by then. I can understand giving past cruisers and such the 11:15 (although the first offered was 10:30); but if I show up at 11:45 I wouldn't be happy to be sitting there until 12:30. What you selected during your online checkin is a Port Arrival Time. That's the time you plan to get to the port to check in. Your PAT is tied to the actual boarding number you get when you check in. Earlier PAT = lower boarding number; later PAT = higher boarding number. When boarding begins the first groups to board are the Concierge guests and Platinum Castaway Club members. Then boarding numbers are announced, about every 5-10 minutes depending on how quickly the line goes. Once the boarding number being announced catches up with the number being issued at checkin, Open Boarding is announced. At that time anyone holding any boarding number can board. Generally this happens around 12:15-12:30. As PP said, once boarding begins, it goes pretty quickly. If you had been able to get the 10:30-10:45 PAT window, you would have been waiting 45 minutes to an hour to board. Arriving at 11:45 and boarding at 12:30 - still only a 45 minute wait. If you want no wait, then I'd suggest you plan to arrive around 12:30-1:00. Edited December 30, 2013 by Shmoo here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moki'smommy Posted December 31, 2013 #23 Share Posted December 31, 2013 When we arrived at 10:15 on DCL bus, they allowed ONLY those of us on the bus into the terminal. Others had to wait till bus load got thru, then they opened the terminal for them. As noted, the time you choose is a terminal arrival time, NOT a boarding time. Boarding generally starts about 11:15 (this is a relatively recent change; used to be 11:45). As above, first is "family of the day," then concierge, then platinum, then by numbers. Time in the terminal varies, but 45 minutes in not unreasonable to check in (depends on line length....). You can choose to do kid check in at the terminal or wait till on board. "Sweet spot" for no waiting is in the 12:30-1:30 range. This time has usually no lines and open boarding--no wait! If you arrive after 1:30, you will encounter the bus traffic from WDW and again, have lines and waiting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trekker954 Posted December 31, 2013 #24 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Okay, thanks. Now I understand how Disney works this terminal. We have no kids, just adult daughter and myself. What time does the buffet open for lunch on embarkation day? I eat breakfast around 7 a.m. will be starving by 1. We'll be overnighting in Melbourne, so I'll just drive up A1A instead and take our time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ducklite Posted December 31, 2013 #25 Share Posted December 31, 2013 The buffet is open as soon as you board. Autocorrect responsible for most typos... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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