Live From The Fantasy.... Airport Checkin No more` - The DIS Discussion Forums

ps17 · 12-26-2012, 10:07 AM

First time on the Fantasy, and first holiday cruise (and therefore, we are partaking in Fantasy's inaugural Christmas cruise.) This ship and cruise is pretty nice and amazing. The designers got it 90% right with some misses.

Also, airport check in is no more (you can still board the bus early at say 9:30and get into terminal early, not sure if that buys you an early boarding time)

More later in a report...

Let us know if you have any questions. Now off the the beach in Cozumel.....

love280mickey · 12-26-2012, 10:16 AM

enjoy your cruise! I would love to be on a Christmas cruise someday, this coming year we'll do Easter on the Fantasy!

lbgraves · 12-26-2012, 12:05 PM

The change for check in was reported two weeks ago. You do not get an early boarding number with MCO DCL transfers anymore. It is based on the PAT that you selected online.

disneymagicgirl · 12-26-2012, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbgraves

The change for check in was reported two weeks ago. You do not get an early boarding number with MCO DCL transfers anymore. It is based on the PAT that you selected online.

I completely missed that thread. Did they mention the reason? What a bummer!

lbgraves · 12-26-2012, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disneymagicgirl

I completely missed that thread. Did they mention the reason? What a bummer!

Here is the thread that discussed it.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3035494

HappyGrumpy · 12-26-2012, 02:44 PM

At the risk of being disowned, husband and I who have done 4 Disney cruises and have no children are seriously considering a holiday cruise in 2013. We love our family to pieces but this year in 17 years of Christmases with young and wonderful nieces and nephews we felt rushed and never relaxed. Thank God we took off from work today as I am still in PJ'S doing nothing but research for next year. ALL.THAT.SAID.

Has it felt like Christmas on the ship?
Did your family have a tree in your cabin?
Do they have interfaith Christmas Eve Services?

How has the weather been in the ports of call? In May we were on the Eastern Fantasy cruise and the weather was amazing.

Thats all I got for now.
Thanks heaps!

Mtinkerbell5189 · 12-26-2012, 03:04 PM

I am also curious about the no airport check in. Let's say your PAT is 11 but you do not get there until 12:30, will you have the same boarding number as those who did manage to get there t 11? Or will you just have the same boarding number as those who got there at 12:30 and had a 12:30 PAT.

We will be taking DCL buses from the airport, but I picked the earliest PAT time just to be safe and try to get the lowest boarding number. I loved last cruise where we got our boarding number at MCO check in.

Weedy · 12-26-2012, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mtinkerbell5189

I am also curious about the no airport check in. Let's say your PAT is 11 but you do not get there until 12:30, will you have the same boarding number as those who did manage to get there t 11? Or will you just have the same boarding number as those who got there at 12:30 and had a 12:30 PAT.

We will be taking DCL buses from the airport, but I picked the earliest PAT time just to be safe and try to get the lowest boarding number. I loved last cruise where we got our boarding number at MCO check in.

The people with earliest PAT (Port Arrival Time) get the lower numbers. For example if I had a 12:00-12:30 arrival time and arrived at 11:30 I would be given boarding number 18. You have a 11:00-11:30 PAT but arrive at 11:45 would get a boarding number of 8. This is just an example not a guarantee of what number you would get.

Disney has greatly improved the boarding system. They now start boarding about 11:30 and everyone that is waiting in the terminal is on board by 12:15-12:30. With no line they go to "open boarding" people check in as they get to the terminal and just walk on board.

ps17 · 12-26-2012, 07:21 PM

Regarding the PAT, if you board early at MCO, that does enable you to get into the terminal early and skip the crowds - first bus leaves around 9:45ish. It is nice to get into the terminal and check in much before everyone else.

Also, nothing is guaranteed, but when you are there that early, the person checking you in MAY give you some pixie dust with your boarding number. In our case, we did get some pixie dust and were able to board early

As far as holiday cruising goes, it is phenomenal. If you can afford it, do it once. Bring the family - there were a few very large groups - grandma, grandpa and all. The ship is full of Christmas - decorations in the atrium area. Nice tree in the lobby. Christmas music everywhere. Holiday menu (prime rib, turkey, shrimp, along with other great stuff). Families runnig around with Santa hats, gift exchanges - the works.

With regards to service, there was both Catholic and Interdenominational.

Weather is calm and warm. Water temps are fine (will let you know about Castaway later).

OK, off to PALO tonight. Let us know of any other questions....

eemaxx · 12-27-2012, 08:13 PM

We did the Holiday cruise on the Magic last year and it was truly magical! Tons of extra surprises left in your stateroom after dinner. The kids visited Santa in the lobby on Christmas morning and every child received a very nice full size Disney/ Pixar calendar for 2012. Christmas dinner was a formal night and the menu was great. The entire ship was decorated and we even saw a rainbow at sea on Christmas morning! Also, theres nothing like Mickey waffles for breakfast on Christmas! It was wonderful to hang by the pool drinking a beer and wearing my swim suit and Santa hat!

PrincessShmoo · 12-27-2012, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mtinkerbell5189

I am also curious about the no airport check in. Let's say your PAT is 11 but you do not get there until 12:30, will you have the same boarding number as those who did manage to get there t 11? Or will you just have the same boarding number as those who got there at 12:30 and had a 12:30 PAT.

We will be taking DCL buses from the airport, but I picked the earliest PAT time just to be safe and try to get the lowest boarding number. I loved last cruise where we got our boarding number at MCO check in.

Your boarding number is tied to your PAT. So, whenever you check in - you will get the same number.

That's why some people who are permitted into the terminal early will have to wait and watch others who arrive after them (at their correct PAT) board before them.

12-26-2012, 10:07 AM	#1
ps17 Mouseketeer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Eden Prairie, MN Posts: 386	Live From The Fantasy.... Airport Checkin No more` First time on the Fantasy, and first holiday cruise (and therefore, we are partaking in Fantasy's inaugural Christmas cruise.) This ship and cruise is pretty nice and amazing. The designers got it 90% right with some misses. Also, airport check in is no more (you can still board the bus early at say 9:30and get into terminal early, not sure if that buys you an early boarding time) More later in a report... Let us know if you have any questions. Now off the the beach in Cozumel.....

12-26-2012, 10:16 AM	#2
love280mickey Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 405	enjoy your cruise! I would love to be on a Christmas cruise someday, this coming year we'll do Easter on the Fantasy! __________________

12-26-2012, 12:05 PM	#3
lbgraves Little Cinderella's Mommy The bad news is...they are driving me nuts!!! Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 44,784	The change for check in was reported two weeks ago. You do not get an early boarding number with MCO DCL transfers anymore. It is based on the PAT that you selected online. __________________ Lisa Magic: E 11/15/2003, W 12/4/2004, E 12/10/2005, W 12/9/2006, EBPC 8/2008, W 1/8/2011 Wonder: 3N 1/11/2010, Alaska 7/26/11 Fantasy: MV 3/31/2012, E 3/23/2013

12-26-2012, 02:44 PM	#6
HappyGrumpy DIS Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 672	Considering Holiday cruise next year At the risk of being disowned, husband and I who have done 4 Disney cruises and have no children are seriously considering a holiday cruise in 2013. We love our family to pieces but this year in 17 years of Christmases with young and wonderful nieces and nephews we felt rushed and never relaxed. Thank God we took off from work today as I am still in PJ'S doing nothing but research for next year. ALL.THAT.SAID. Has it felt like Christmas on the ship? Did your family have a tree in your cabin? Do they have interfaith Christmas Eve Services? How has the weather been in the ports of call? In May we were on the Eastern Fantasy cruise and the weather was amazing. Thats all I got for now. Thanks heaps!

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12-26-2012, 03:04 PM	#7
Mtinkerbell5189 Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 165	I am also curious about the no airport check in. Let's say your PAT is 11 but you do not get there until 12:30, will you have the same boarding number as those who did manage to get there t 11? Or will you just have the same boarding number as those who got there at 12:30 and had a 12:30 PAT. We will be taking DCL buses from the airport, but I picked the earliest PAT time just to be safe and try to get the lowest boarding number. I loved last cruise where we got our boarding number at MCO check in.

12-26-2012, 07:21 PM	#9
ps17 Mouseketeer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Eden Prairie, MN Posts: 386	Regarding the PAT, if you board early at MCO, that does enable you to get into the terminal early and skip the crowds - first bus leaves around 9:45ish. It is nice to get into the terminal and check in much before everyone else. Also, nothing is guaranteed, but when you are there that early, the person checking you in MAY give you some pixie dust with your boarding number. In our case, we did get some pixie dust and were able to board early As far as holiday cruising goes, it is phenomenal. If you can afford it, do it once. Bring the family - there were a few very large groups - grandma, grandpa and all. The ship is full of Christmas - decorations in the atrium area. Nice tree in the lobby. Christmas music everywhere. Holiday menu (prime rib, turkey, shrimp, along with other great stuff). Families runnig around with Santa hats, gift exchanges - the works. With regards to service, there was both Catholic and Interdenominational. Weather is calm and warm. Water temps are fine (will let you know about Castaway later). OK, off to PALO tonight. Let us know of any other questions....

12-27-2012, 08:13 PM	#10
eemaxx Earning My Ears Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 70	We did the Holiday cruise on the Magic last year and it was truly magical! Tons of extra surprises left in your stateroom after dinner. The kids visited Santa in the lobby on Christmas morning and every child received a very nice full size Disney/ Pixar calendar for 2012. Christmas dinner was a formal night and the menu was great. The entire ship was decorated and we even saw a rainbow at sea on Christmas morning! Also, theres nothing like Mickey waffles for breakfast on Christmas! It was wonderful to hang by the pool drinking a beer and wearing my swim suit and Santa hat!