7-night E. Caribbean, Port Canaveral: flight times?

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We are brand new not only to DCL but to cruising at all! I noticed the following on Disney's site re: flight times...

"Please allow ample time for all your travel connections. We recommend the following flight-time guidelines:

--- Latest arrival time to Orlando International Airport on Embarkation Day: 1:45 p.m.

---Earliest departure time from Orlando International Airport on Debarkation Day: 11:30 a.m."

Curious what cruising vets do wrt flight times? What works best for you? Why?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are brand new not only to DCL but to cruising at all! I noticed the following on Disney's site re: flight times...

"Please allow ample time for all your travel connections. We recommend the following flight-time guidelines:

--- Latest arrival time to Orlando International Airport on Embarkation Day: 1:45 p.m.

---Earliest departure time from Orlando International Airport on Debarkation Day: 11:30 a.m."

Curious what cruising vets do wrt flight times? What works best for you? Why?

We prefer to arrive early, early in the morning on embarkation day (if we can't come in days prior to the cruise).
And debarkation day try to get flights around 3-4 pm.

Because flights can be delayed/cancelled for a variety of reasons, we prefer to have some "wiggle room" in our arrival time. If we fly in the day of the cruise, we take the red-eye flight the night before, getting us into MCO around 6 am. And, on debarkation day, any number of things can delay getting off the ship (not arriving in time, back customs/immigration screening, traffic/road work enroute to airport).

 

[over50visits]

Disney is giving excellent advice based on hundreds of cruises and thousands of cruisers. We consider that a minimum, and have never tried to cut it that close. I've read a lot of people who like to arrive the day before, just so they won't worry. I've even read some who book redeye flights! Whatever. Trust Disney to give good advice, add your own padding, and enjoy. Nothing wrong with arriving at the port as early as you can (given your PAT) and getting off the ship in a leisurely manner.

Of course, if you use Disney to book your air package, you don't have to worry, they will make sure it works for you. It may cost a bit more, but consider that peace-of-mind insurance.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Thanks so much @PrincessShmoo and @over50visits!! I am definitely the type of person who would much prefer to wait around and have extra time than rush AT ALL. I definitely am a fan of wiggle room!

Do you all know the earliest we can get on board? And can we expect to get right into a stateroom when we do, or we have time to hang around some before that? I think I remember people saying they spent time at the pool prior to the 3:45pm "be on board by" time...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks so much @PrincessShmoo and @over50visits!! I am definitely the type of person who would much prefer to wait around and have extra time than rush AT ALL. I definitely am a fan of wiggle room!

Do you all know the earliest we can get on board? And can we expect to get right into a stateroom when we do, or we have time to hang around some before that? I think I remember people saying they spent time at the pool prior to the 3:45pm "be on board by" time...

Boarding generally begins around 11:15-11:30. Rooms are not available until about 1:30 on most cruises.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Boarding generally begins around 11:15-11:30. Rooms are not available until about 1:30 on most cruises.

Thank you so much -- so helpful!!! What do you generally do between your early arrival and the 11:15ish boarding time? Hang around the port? If so, what's that like?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thank you so much -- so helpful!!! What do you generally do between your early arrival and the 11:15ish boarding time? Hang around the port? If so, what's that like?

The terminal has a few bench seats, and a few photos of DCL history, as well as a model of the Magic. And some video running on a few monitors. There's also a vending machine room with snacks for purchase. And (if they're working) a couple of pressed penny machines.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Thank you so much -- so helpful!!! What do you generally do between your early arrival and the 11:15ish boarding time? Hang around the port? If so, what's that like?

The earliest Port Arrival Time is 10:30. Once you've gotten through security and checked in, you really don't have that much time to hang around. The cruise when I had a PAT of 10:30 and actually arrived a few minutes before 10:30, I just had a seat and read a book for about 45 minutes until my boarding number was called. My last cruise, I had a PAT of 10:30 but didn't make it to the port until around 10:50 (despite my best intentions). By the time we got checked in, they were already calling our boarding number and we walked right on.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

The earliest Port Arrival Time is 10:30. Once you've gotten through security and checked in, you really don't have that much time to hang around. The cruise when I had a PAT of 10:30 and actually arrived a few minutes before 10:30, I just had a seat and read a book for about 45 minutes until my boarding number was called. My last cruise, I had a PAT of 10:30 but didn't make it to the port until around 10:50 (despite my best intentions). By the time we got checked in, they were already calling our boarding number and we walked right on.

Thanks! Just to make sure I understand... were you assigned a PAT of 10:30 somehow, or is this just when you were planning on arriving? Was that a PAT assigned by Disney because of booking their transportation to/from the airport? Again... total newbie here... sorry for the quite-possibly-stupid questions!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Thanks for those pics, @PrincessShmoo -- gives me a great idea of what to expect!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Thanks! Just to make sure I understand... were you assigned a PAT of 10:30 somehow, or is this just when you were planning on arriving? Was that a PAT assigned by Disney because of booking their transportation to/from the airport? Again... total newbie here... sorry for the quite-possibly-stupid questions!

You select a PAT during your online checkin, which for new cruisers is at 75 days out. The time I arrived prior to 10:30 I was riding DCL transfers from the airport. I'd flown in that morning, arrived shortly before 9:00, and made it onto the first bus from MCO to PC. The second time, we were dropped off at the port by family. I'd selected a 10:30 PAT with intentions of getting there at 10:30, but the family member dropping us off wasn't as concerned with making it to the port by 10:30.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

You select a PAT during your online checkin, which for new cruisers is at 75 days out. The time I arrived prior to 10:30 I was riding DCL transfers from the airport. I'd flown in that morning, arrived shortly before 9:00, and made it onto the first bus from MCO to PC. The second time, we were dropped off at the port by family. I'd selected a 10:30 PAT with intentions of getting there at 10:30, but the family member dropping us off wasn't as concerned with making it to the port by 10:30.

Ah, I see!! Thanks so much. Thanks to all of you for being so patient with my newbie questions! I'm a WDW vet, know A BIT about DL, but am TOTALLY out of my element here! LOL!!