No check- in at the airport

[n8tivecaligirl]

Ok at the port. Yes at the airport you ONLY pick up the bus. Once you get to the port you check in. We were on bus 1 second in line at port for castaway club and got boarding number 4. Port is not busy (yet). Check in at the airport was closer to 9. Then we got to the port just after 10 and were first in the port. Everything went smoothly.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

Ok at the port. Yes at the airport you ONLY pick up the bus. Once you get to the port you check in. We were on bus 1 second in line at port for castaway club and got boarding number 4. Port is not busy (yet). Check in at the airport was closer to 9. Then we got to the port just after 10 and were first in the port. Everything went smoothly.

Thank you for posting. So you got your boarding card at the airport, right? I'll be curious to find out what PAT you had and what time you actually boarded the ship.

Have a great cruise!

 

[n8tivecaligirl]

No we only got our bus boarding card, we had first PAT and they are running slow so I doubt we will be on time.

 

[LV Disney Fan(atic)]

So if getting to the terminal just after 10 am with a PAT of 11 am gets you boarding number 4, who is getting boarding numbers 1-3?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So if getting to the terminal just after 10 am with a PAT of 11 am gets you boarding number 4, who is getting boarding numbers 1-3?

I know that #1 is Concierge. And I think #2 is Platinum.

It's my understanding that each window in the PAT system (11:00-11:30 for example) has X amount of each subsequent number before the next number is assigned. So, say, a PAT of 11:00-11:30 will have 25 #3s and 25 #4s, 11:30-12:00 would have (maybe) 25 #5s, etc. So within a specific window there may be 2 or 3 boarding numbers. How they may be assigned, maybe to who actually gets to the checkin window first?

 

[woody73]

What's the highest boarding number? One time I received #12.

Woody

 

[momof2minnies]

Hate to say it but we had 17 one time. We were early to the port back before PAT were assigned and we went through and checked in, probably should have been about #3 or 4 but the guy forgot to give us a number.I went back to ask for one,he was disgusted and just grabbed a number off a mess of papers on the counter, I was not happy but evidently he felt better.


Linda

 

[lbgraves]

I have seen them issued in the 20s.

 

[IWannaBeAMousketeer]

I know that #1 is Concierge. And I think #2 is Platinum.

It's my understanding that each window in the PAT system (11:00-11:30 for example) has X amount of each subsequent number before the next number is assigned. So, say, a PAT of 11:00-11:30 will have 25 #3s and 25 #4s, 11:30-12:00 would have (maybe) 25 #5s, etc. So within a specific window there may be 2 or 3 boarding numbers. How they may be assigned, maybe to who actually gets to the checkin window first?

I think the number you are assigned within your PAT might have to do with when you completed online check in. I had the 11-11:30 PAT and got to the check-in desk around 11:25. I was issued Boarding Number 3, but my friend at the next window received 5. She also had an 11-11:30 PAT but had checked in a day or so after me.

 

[MagicMe]

Bummer, I just did this last September when cruising with my mom and loved it. It was so easy to stay at MCO, check in at the airport and then just relax heading over to the port knowing I already had everything done. Yes I paid more to stay at MCO but it was convenient. And transfers for two versus car rental was a wash.

Now I'm back to thinking that I'll just stay at the port and sleep in longer before heading to the port. I can get a cheaper room, spend about the same to rent a small car for the day (as two transfers) and at least when I stayed at a hotel near the port they offered breakfast!

 

[bmahokie]

I may have missed this in a previous post, but does anyone know if you can still leave your luggage in your Hyatt room and have it transported for you to the ship? That was a great perk in my opinion. Signing up for an as early as possible PAT online when allowed and then riding the Disney bus from MCO and then checking in at the port doesn't bother me, and quite frankly I always thought it was a little unfair to be able "override" that by checking in at the airport and getting a much better number than your PAT would normally call for. But if the luggage perk is gone then I agree - staying at the Hyatt the night before and paying those prices and then having to basically do all of your check-in, including carrying all of your luggage around, is hardly worth it. Stay at a port hotel and put the savings towards some more boat drinks!

 

[mmouse37]

I may have missed this in a previous post, but does anyone know if you can still leave your luggage in your Hyatt room and have it transported for you to the ship? That was a great perk in my opinion. Signing up for an as early as possible PAT online when allowed and then riding the Disney bus from MCO and then checking in at the port doesn't bother me, and quite frankly I always thought it was a little unfair to be able "override" that by checking in at the airport and getting a much better number than your PAT would normally call for. But if the luggage perk is gone then I agree - staying at the Hyatt the night before and paying those prices and then having to basically do all of your check-in, including carrying all of your luggage around, is hardly worth it. Stay at a port hotel and put the savings towards some more boat drinks!

The luggage service from the Hyatt should not be affected. Even before the airport check in was in play the Hyatt and DCL worked together to transport your luggage if you stayed at the Hyatt the night before your cruise and took DCL transfers. I doubt that has changed....just the actual checking in for the cruise at MCO has changed.

MJ

 

[robhawk]

On our Magic cruises in 2003-2004 this is how it worked. When we go in February it will be like old times so it won't seem like we are missing out.

 

[bmahokie]

The luggage service from the Hyatt should not be affected. Even before the airport check in was in play the Hyatt and DCL worked together to transport your luggage if you stayed at the Hyatt the night before your cruise and took DCL transfers. I doubt that has changed....just the actual checking in for the cruise at MCO has changed.

MJ

Great point oh esteemed Moderator about the luggage service being in play before the airport check in option was around. Makes sense - thanks!

 

[n8tivecaligirl]

Yes the MCO hyatt luggage has not changed. It worked smoothly.
Next time I will stay near the port and sleep in. Paying the $$ for the hyatt and getting downstairs early didn't seem to be that great of a "deal".
We were on the first bus and did get into the port first though, so there were no lines yet. But still had boarding #4. They called #1 FOD #2 Concierge #3 ? #4 all within 5-7 minutes so we didn't wait long.

 

[kindman]

I have a question then. Tonight the window opens for our cruise and we never used to worry about PAT because we have always stayed at the MCO Hyatt and used the Disney transport. Now that they aren't checking in at airport do I need to select a time? For example if I take the first bus over but have a late PAT will I be stuck waiting at terminal or does taking the transfer get you whatever number once you check in at port.
Thanks

 

[robhawk]

You still need to get your time thru on line checkin.
I am glad we did ours that way because a couple weeks later they changed it!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have a question then. Tonight the window opens for our cruise and we never used to worry about PAT because we have always stayed at the MCO Hyatt and used the Disney transport. Now that they aren't checking in at airport do I need to select a time? For example if I take the first bus over but have a late PAT will I be stuck waiting at terminal or does taking the transfer get you whatever number once you check in at port.
Thanks

Your boarding number is tied to your PAT. It will be the same number regardless of when you check in. With DCL transfers you will be able to enter the terminal whenever you get there, but your boarding number will be the same as if you arrived at your selected PAT.

Yes, you need to select a PAT during the online checkin process.

 

[kindman]

Thank you for answers. If wasn't for the board I would have just selected latest time to not take a spot from somebody else. That would have been awkward explaining to fam.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thank you for answers. If wasn't for the board I would have just selected latest time to not take a spot from somebody else. That would have been awkward explaining to fam.

If you're using DCL transfers from MCO, prior to about 2 weeks ago, that would have the the correct choice. When checkin for the cruise was being done at MCO, your boarding number was issued there, regardless of PAT (so a lower number). Now, however, since checkin is back at the port, the boarding number is tied to your PAT, so selecting the earliest time will get you the lowest number available at that time.