Online Check-In For Dummies

[Gina]

Hopefully I'm not a total dummy... lol.. And I know this has been brought up a gabillion times... But I am kinda confused. All this online check in stuff was completely different last time we were in on DCL.

It says I can begin check-in on 11/17. All I care about is having the earliest possible port arrival time, and getting on the earliest possible bus to WDW on our Disney day. I'm in the Central time zone. What time do I need to do what on late Friday/early Saturday?

Thanks so much!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hopefully I'm not a total dummy... lol.. And I know this has been brought up a gabillion times... But I am kinda confused. All this online check in stuff was completely different last time we were in on DCL.

It says I can begin check-in on 11/17. All I care about is having the earliest possible port arrival time, and getting on the earliest possible bus to WDW on our Disney day. I'm in the Central time zone. What time do I need to do what on late Friday/early Saturday?

Thanks so much!

The day your window opens at midnight Eastern time you can book excursions/adult dining/spa/nursery/cabanas/wdw bus times. Online checkin begins at 3:00 am the same morning (that's where the Port Arrival Time is).

All this is dependant on whether the DCL website is being cooperative or not. Some people have reported not being able to access their reservations until later in the morning.

One note, you must log into the site AFTER midnight. If you are already logged in, hitting "refresh" won't work, the website still thinks it's whatever time/date it was when you logged in.

 

[Gina]

The day your window opens at midnight Eastern time you can book excursions/adult dining/spa/nursery/cabanas/wdw bus times. Online checkin begins at 3:00 am the same morning (that's where the Port Arrival Time is).

All this is dependant on whether the DCL website is being cooperative or not. Some people have reported not being able to access their reservations until later in the morning.

One note, you must log into the site AFTER midnight. If you are already logged in, hitting "refresh" won't work, the website still thinks it's whatever time/date it was when you logged in.

Exactly what I needed!! Thanks!

 

[TJDisneymama]

and another dummy question -- what exactly comes up, different check in times and you just select whichever one you want? But then I've read numerous times on here that it doesn't even matter what your check in time is.......

 

[RedxPanda]

It is tied to your boarding number. If you plan on trying to board the ship as early as possible, an earlier time will help you beat more of the early crowd on board.

If you are arriving later in the afternoon, it most likely doesn't matter much because it will be open boarding.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

and another dummy question -- what exactly comes up, different check in times and you just select whichever one you want? But then I've read numerous times on here that it doesn't even matter what your check in time is.......

When you are doing your online checkin, one of the pages is the Port Arrival Time. There are several different options listed: 11:00-11:30; 11:30-12:00; 12:00-12:30; etc. Any that are greyed out are full. You must select a PAT in order to complete your online checkin.

The PAT is moot if you are using DCL transfers. If you use the transfers, you will enter the terminal when the bus gets there, regardless of the PAT you selected. That's one of the perks.

 

[TJDisneymama]

When you are doing your online checkin, one of the pages is the Port Arrival Time. There are several different options listed: 11:00-11:30; 11:30-12:00; 12:00-12:30; etc. Any that are greyed out are full. You must select a PAT in order to complete your online checkin.

The PAT is moot if you are using DCL transfers. If you use the transfers, you will enter the terminal when the bus gets there, regardless of the PAT you selected. That's one of the perks.

ok, got it. But that's not really a perk if you want to arrive early and instead have to depend on DCL to get you there. And from what I've read, they (the buses coming from the resorts) don't usually get to the port very early after having to pick up at several resorts.

 

[chemnerd09]

When you are doing your online checkin, one of the pages is the Port Arrival Time. There are several different options listed: 11:00-11:30; 11:30-12:00; 12:00-12:30; etc. Any that are greyed out are full. You must select a PAT in order to complete your online checkin.

The PAT is moot if you are using DCL transfers. If you use the transfers, you will enter the terminal when the bus gets there, regardless of the PAT you selected. That's one of the perks.

This is going to be a dumb question, but do you still pick a PAT if you are using DCL transfers since you said earlier about needing to choose a PAT to complete the check-in? Is it one of those pick any of the times just to pick one since it won't matter once you get there?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is going to be a dumb question, but do you still pick a PAT if you are using DCL transfers since you said earlier about needing to choose a PAT to complete the check-in? Is it one of those pick any of the times just to pick one since it won't matter once you get there?

Yes, you must select a PAT in order to complete the online checkin. Pick any time you wish, as it won't matter what it is if your arriving at the terminal via DCL transfers. I would point out that you might consider selecting a later time, leaving the earlier times available for those to whom it matters.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

ok, got it. But that's not really a perk if you want to arrive early and instead have to depend on DCL to get you there. And from what I've read, they (the buses coming from the resorts) don't usually get to the port very early after having to pick up at several resorts.

Well, it's a perk if you wind up having to select a late PAT because all the early ones are taken. Generally the DCL transfers from WDW arrive about 12:30-1:00. Although it could be later. For some people that's early enough, especially on vacation, as they don't really want to be up with the sun rises.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Ha! We're up at 5 am, vacation or not, lol. So we"ll be anxious to board as soon as we can.

Sent from my SCH-I405 using DISBoards

 

[chemnerd09]

Yes, you must select a PAT in order to complete the online checkin. Pick any time you wish, as it won't matter what it is if your arriving at the terminal via DCL transfers. I would point out that you might consider selecting a later time, leaving the earlier times available for those to whom it matters.

Thanks for the advice. We will probably pick whatever is late afternoon. Does your online check-in depend on your cruising status like first time and if you are staying concierge?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for the advice. We will probably pick whatever is late afternoon. Does your online check-in depend on your cruising status like first time and if you are staying concierge?

Your online checkin window opens the same day as your excursion booking window:

Concierge/Platinum CC member - 120 days out
Gold CC member - 105 days out
Silver CC member - 90 days out
First time cruiser - 75 days out.

 

[chemnerd09]

Your online checkin window opens the same day as your excursion booking window:

Concierge/Platinum CC member - 120 days out
Gold CC member - 105 days out
Silver CC member - 90 days out
First time cruiser - 75 days out.

If you are a first time cruiser but are staying concierge which window would you have? Sorry for all the questions, but this will be our first cruise and I want to get all the info before we actually start doing this.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Your online checkin window opens the same day as your excursion booking window:

Concierge/Platinum CC member - 120 days out
Gold CC member - 105 days out
Silver CC member - 90 days out
First time cruiser - 75 days out.

If you are a first time cruiser but are staying concierge which window would you have? Sorry for all the questions, but this will be our first cruise and I want to get all the info before we actually start doing this.

Concierge and Platinum CC members both have 120 day window.

 

[chemnerd09]

Concierge and Platinum CC members both have 120 day window.

Thanks again. These boards have been great in answering all my questions and we still have a bit to go before our cruise.