Confusion about Port arrival times and Embarking..

[devine5829]

So I'm confused.

If I want to get on board as early as i can onto the Dream at Port Canaveral, what time should I arrive at the port? Are we waiting outside on the curb until they let us in? What time will they let us in the terminal??

 

[jdb in AZ]

So I'm confused.

If I want to get on board as early as i can onto the Dream at Port Canaveral, what time should I arrive at the port? Are we waiting outside on the curb until they let us in? What time will they let us in the terminal??

When you do your online check-in, you'll be assigned a port-arrival time.

 

[dreamcruiser]

When you do your online check-in, you'll be assigned a port-arrival time.

To add to this, if you have checked in online early enough, you can choose the earliest port check in time (11:00 to 11:30). No, you should not have to wait on the curb, but depending on your time of arrival and whether or not the terminal is already overcrowded, you might be denied entry until your actual check in time. Some have reported being able to enter the terminal BEFORE 11:00, but your entrance into the ship depends on your boarding time.
Hope this helps...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So I'm confused.

If I want to get on board as early as i can onto the Dream at Port Canaveral, what time should I arrive at the port? Are we waiting outside on the curb until they let us in? What time will they let us in the terminal??

As PP said, when you do your online check-in you will select your Port Arrival Time.

The port opens at 11:00 so the earliest Port Arrival Time slot is 11:00-ll:30 am. When each slot fills up, it will be blocked on your check-in window.

If you arrive earlier than your selected Port Arrival Time, and the terminal is full (as it well may be for the earlier times), you may be asked to wait until either your actual Port Arrival Time or until the terminal is less busy. Even if you are able to enter the terminal earlier than your Port Arrival Time, I will point out your actual boarding number (which you will receive when you check in at the port) is tied to your Arrival Time. So it is possible you may be allowed into the terminal early, however, you would probably see others (who arrived at their correct Arrival Time) boarding before you will.

 

[devine5829]

I do have the 11:00am arrival slot but we want to get on the ship as early as possible. How many people have an 11:00am time?

So do they open the terminal at 10:30 or exactly 11? If we get there at 10-10:30 will we be waiting outside the terminal??

 

[Zandy595]

The terminal opens at 11:00am. Sometimes you can get in a little earlier, but not before 10:30am. They usually start boarding around 11:45am, but platinum and concierge are let on first.

We had an 11:00-11:30 PAT, got there at 11:30, were given boarding #3 and were let on the ship as soon as we finished our check-in. We were at Cabanas before noon.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I do have the 11:00am arrival slot but we want to get on the ship as early as possible. How many people have an 11:00am time?

So do they open the terminal at 10:30 or exactly 11? If we get there at 10-10:30 will we be waiting outside the terminal??

I've read that, occasionally, some people were getting in at 10:50 or so. But they pretty much don't let new arrivals into the parking structure until, at the earliest, 10:40 - 10:45.

 

[DisneyOHFan]

So do they open the terminal at 10:30 or exactly 11? If we get there at 10-10:30 will we be waiting outside the terminal??

We got there at 10:30 (because we didn't know how long it would take to get there) and we weren't allowed into the parking lot were asked to leave and come back at 10:45.

 

[devine5829]

We have to drop a rental car off. My husband would drop up off at the terminal then go to drop the car off and we will wait for him. Does anyone know how long it will take for him to drop it off at Thrifty? I guess he could drop us at the terminal at 10:00 and we will have to wait outside until he gets back. Is it safe to wait there?

 

[DisneyOHFan]

We couldn't even get in at 10:30 for my husband to drop us off (he had to return a rental car to). So we just all went to Budget and took the shuttle over.

 

[4butlers]

We have to drop a rental car off. My husband would drop up off at the terminal then go to drop the car off and we will wait for him. Does anyone know how long it will take for him to drop it off at Thrifty? I guess he could drop us at the terminal at 10:00 and we will have to wait outside until he gets back. Is it safe to wait there?

We did this and it took DH forever to get back on a shuttle. We waited for him in the terminal. Next time, we will just stay together to drop off the rental car and take a shuttle back together.

 

[mmouse37]

We have to drop a rental car off. My husband would drop up off at the terminal then go to drop the car off and we will wait for him. Does anyone know how long it will take for him to drop it off at Thrifty? I guess he could drop us at the terminal at 10:00 and we will have to wait outside until he gets back. Is it safe to wait there?

As mentioned you will not be able to get into the terminal (or parking area/drop off area) until a bit before 11:00 am so DO NOT get to the port at 10:00...they will turn you away.

MJ

 

[ppiew]

On 3 DREAM sailings, even when the terminal opened, the earliest boarding was 11:45 AM , 12Noon and 12:10AM No need to rush. No wait time once in terminal. Platinums and Concierge and second leg of B2B board first. Also the Aquaduck didn't open until close to noon and CABANAS didn't open until 11:30AM