Changes to Port Arrival Time

[WanderlustNZ]

Hi all,

I'm cruising on the Fantasy in just over a week and I just logged in to check all was okay with my plans. When I went into my PAT I noticed that the increments had changed from 30mins to 15mins and some earlier times (from 10:30) had opened up. I was happy about this as I was able to bring my PAT forward a bit. However, I have a couple of questions.

Has anyone else noticed the same changes? I'm hoping this is not a glitch.

Also, I am catching DCL transport from the airport and was planning to get to the airport about 9am. Do you think this will work well with my new PAT of 10:30-10:45?

Thanks everyone.

 

[Bear3412]

Hi all,

I'm cruising on the Fantasy in just over a week and I just logged in to check all was okay with my plans. When I went into my PAT I noticed that the increments had changed from 30mins to 15mins and some earlier times (from 10:30) had opened up. I was happy about this as I was able to bring my PAT forward a bit. However, I have a couple of questions.

Has anyone else noticed the same changes? I'm hoping this is not a glitch.

Also, I am catching DCL transport from the airport and was planning to get to the airport about 9am. Do you think this will work well with my new PAT of 10:30-10:45?

Thanks everyone.

I haven't heard of the 15 minute increments. Sounds good to me.
Are you saying there is/was a PAT of 10:30am online that you were able to choose?
That is a first for my ears. Of course what does the 11am PAT mean when everyone shows at 9:30 to try for upgrades anyway.

It doesn't matter if it is a glitch. Print it out and show the PC port authority you are allowed in at 10:30. JK. Your good. Especially considering you are taking DCL transport from MCO early am.

Since you are taking the DCL transport from MCO you may actually arrive in terminal prior to port opening to the general public. You will "generally" will not have to wait to enter port if you arrive early. You enter, checkin, check for upgrades, receive your boarding #, and wait to be called. Easy peasy.

If you are on the first DCL bus from MCO the above will apply. IIRC the first bus leaves at 9:15-9:30. Check in at MCO opens at 8am though. And odds some pax are a bit anxious as usual, so ...

HTH and Good Luck

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I haven't heard of the 15 minute increments. Sounds good to me.
Are you saying there is/was a PAT of 10:30am online that you were able to choose?
That is a first for my ears. Of course what does the 11am PAT mean when everyone shows at 9:30 to try for upgrades anyway.

It doesn't matter if it is a glitch. Print it out and show the PC port authority you are allowed in at 10:30. JK. Your good. Especially considering you are taking DCL transport from MCO early am.

Since you are taking the DCL transport from MCO you may actually arrive in terminal prior to port opening to the general public. You will "generally" will not have to wait to enter port if you arrive early. You enter, checkin, check for upgrades, receive your boarding #, and wait to be called. Easy peasy.

If you are on the first DCL bus from MCO the above will apply. IIRC the first bus leaves at 9:15-9:30. Check in at MCO opens at 8am though. And odds some pax are a bit anxious as usual, so ...

HTH and Good Luck

Thanks Bear3412

Yes I have picked a time of 10:30 - 10:45. This goes against everything I have read, hence the reason I am wondering if it's a glitch.
I like your advice. I'm going to print the page now.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Hi all,

I'm cruising on the Fantasy in just over a week and I just logged in to check all was okay with my plans. When I went into my PAT I noticed that the increments had changed from 30mins to 15mins and some earlier times (from 10:30) had opened up. I was happy about this as I was able to bring my PAT forward a bit. However, I have a couple of questions.

Has anyone else noticed the same changes? I'm hoping this is not a glitch.

Also, I am catching DCL transport from the airport and was planning to get to the airport about 9am. Do you think this will work well with my new PAT of 10:30-10:45?

Thanks everyone.

When you take DCL transport to the ship, your PAT really doesn't matter as far as arriving at the port. Passengers just arrive when they can and will be admitted to the terminal when they get there. Are you flying directly from "down under," or will you have already cleared customs before flying into Orlando?

After you arrive at the airport and get on the bus, it will take about an hour for you to get to the port, depending on traffic. Because you're arriving on a DCL bus, you won't be kept waiting to enter the terminal if you're early, and no one is penalized if they arrive a few mins late. (unless the ship has already sailed.)

When you check in at the port you will be given a boarding number, and since you have such an early PAT, you should receive a low (early) boarding number.

If you are delayed (late flight, slow customs, etc) and boarding has already begun, chances are you will be allowed to board soon after you finish checking in.

 

[Bear3412]

This time slot may be only for those on DCL transfers from MCO.
Did you happen to book airfare thru DCL too?
If so, that would explain it to me, as they are omniscient then.
If not then .... great.

As implied, a lot of folks can be checking-in at MCO first thing at 8am, so ... plan accordingly.

Enjoy

 

[Bear3412]

Didn't even notice OP is coming from NZ. They should definitely make up some special early PAT for these pax IMO. Especially if coming in country that day/previous night. Yay DCL.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

When you take DCL transport to the ship, your PAT really doesn't matter as far as arriving at the port. Passengers just arrive when they can and will be admitted to the terminal when they get there. Are you flying directly from "down under," or will you have already cleared customs before flying into Orlando?

After you arrive at the airport and get on the bus, it will take about an hour for you to get to the port, depending on traffic. Because you're arriving on a DCL bus, you won't be kept waiting to enter the terminal if you're early, and no one is penalized if they arrive a few mins late. (unless the ship has already sailed.)

When you check in at the port you will be given a boarding number, and since you have such an early PAT, you should receive a low (early) boarding number.

If you are delayed (late flight, slow customs, etc) and boarding has already begun, chances are you will be allowed to board soon after you finish checking in.

Thanks so much for your advice.
I will already be in Orlando and will travel to the airport in the morning. It seems a bit silly to have not booked private transfers instead, but my son loves buses, and I think the DCL bus (with it's little movie) will add to our experience.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

This time slot may be only for those on DCL transfers from MCO.
Did you happen to book airfare thru DCL too?
If so, that would explain it to me, as they are omniscient then.
If not then .... great.

As implied, a lot of folks can be checking-in at MCO first thing at 8am, so ... plan accordingly.

Enjoy

We didn't book air through DCL. Also up until today I was seeing half hour increments starting at 11am.

I'm wondering if this is a recent change DCL has made to all cruises? Will take a snapshot of the screen I'm seeing and try and post it tonight (it's evening here in NZ).

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Didn't even notice OP is coming from NZ. They should definitely make up some special early PAT for these pax IMO. Especially if coming in country that day/previous night. Yay DCL.

I like your thinking.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Edit to my post: I added a screenshot of what I am seeing in the Disney website, however I thought I better take it down and ask first if I am breaching any copyright laws by doing this? I know you can't publish other people's photos on the dis, but what about screenshots of websites?

 

[Bear3412]

Thanks for the screen shot confirmation.

I feel for the port employees now. More pax arriving even earlier. Perhaps another example of how DCL adapted their policies to reality.

It's just interesting the circle/cycle of the port crowding.
At first, too crowded wait outside- So everyone showed up early so they wouldn't have to wait outside.
Introduce PAT. Many still show up early to try for upgrades, or ignored the PAT.
Now folks will show at 8:30 am trying to get in.

Needless to say we are right back at the beginning. Crowed in am.
For those that don't do crowds, or happen to book a cabin in advance they are comfortable with, may I recommend a PAT of say 12:20 - 12:40. You will avoid all the crowds and this madness.

Good Luck to All

 

[Prose]

We do not have DCL transfers, and I was able to move our PAT to the 10:30am slot. I wonder if boarding will begin any earlier - I would doubt it since they still need the turnover time.

 

[jmb912]

I was able to book my PAT time at midnight for my Thanksgiving cruise coming up. I was offered times in 15 minute increments starting at 10:30! I was pleasantly surprised after what I've read here for availability. This is our first Disney cruise. I took a 10:45 slot. We are traveling from AOA by limo. So I guess this is a new thing!!

 

[CruiseGirl71]

We will also be arriving at the port without Disney transfers and I was able to snag the 1030-1045 time slot. To me, that's an upgrade from the 1100-1130 time slot I had previously! It maks me so happy to see that Disney continues to make an effort improve their processes.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

We were on the Dream from 9/1-5. We stayed at the Hyatt MCO the night before embarkation, and our experience was that everything happened earlier than is the "norm" (as reported here). This is what we experienced (copied and pasted from my TR):

We left our room at about 8:25 to head downstairs to the DCL transportation area. I knew we wouldn't be the only ones there, but I was surprised to see about 25 people in the seating area near the DCL desk. A couple of CMs came out and started getting things set up at around 8:40. Within a few minutes, a line had formed. By 8:50 we had checked in for the bus and moved to the waiting area. We boarded the first bus at 9:00 and pulled out by 9:05. The bus arrived at the DCL terminal at PC at 9:50, but we had to wait on the bus until about 10:10 because they were not ready for us in the terminal.

The passengers on our bus were the first to enter the terminal. When we arrived, there was a handful of people milling around outside. I'm guessing that they were let in right after us, but I'm not positive. [ETA: I have since learned that those who were waiting outside were not allowed into the terminal until 10:30.] We had no wait to check in.

Maybe they were trying out the earlier times before officially implementing the new PAT intervals?

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Thanks for all of your feedback. It's great to hear that this isn't a glitch, but rather something that now seems to be the norm.

I'm beginning to wonder if I should bring my airport arrival time forward half an hour to 8:30.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

Thanks for all of your feedback. It's great to hear that this isn't a glitch, but rather something that now seems to be the norm.

I'm beginning to wonder if I should bring my airport arrival time forward half an hour to 8:30.

I would if you hope to be on the first bus. The buses run constantly, though. Judging from the number of people behind us in line and the steady stream arriving to check in, I'm guessing the second bus left MCO within 10-15 minutes of the first.

 

[1BabyForBec]

Thank you for the head's up!! At the 75 day mark I was only able to get an 11:30 PAT. I just changed it to 10:30...woo hoo!

 

[mom4fun]

Does anyone know if this is only for Pc or for Miami also?

 

[disneyeveryyear]

Thanks for the info. We are on the DVC Member cruise on 9/29 and I had an 11:00 check-in. I just went into the system and updated it.

We are staying at the Hyatt at MCO the night before so we plan to be on the first bus out in the morning.