August 16, 2011, Disney Dream - Part 3

[lisare]

Just got off the phone concierges, such a nice women who called me about my letter regarding terminal opening time.

This is the "low-down" on the terminal opening time. She told me that if you show up before your port arrival time you will be told to go and wait in a holding area until your assigned time. They will have a list of names and arrival times. No one will be allowed to arrive before 11:00 am. If you do you will be put into the holding area. No exceptions. Due to the security.

You will only be allowed to board at your assigned time.

How big is the holding area? It'll probably be very crowded no matter how big it is.

 

[kritter]

How big is the holding area? It'll probably be very crowded no matter how big it is.

Not sure I did not ask. But she told me that the port arrival times will be strickly enforced. They will have a check-list with everyone's names and arrival times listed on it.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Just got off the phone concierges, such a nice women who called me about my letter regarding terminal opening time.

This is the "low-down" on the terminal opening time. She told me that if you show up before your port arrival time you will be told to go and wait in a holding area until your assigned time. They will have a list of names and arrival times. No one will be allowed to arrive before 11:00 am. If you do you will be put into the holding area. No exceptions. Due to the security.

You will only be allowed to board at your assigned time.

By "arrive" do they mean at the main check point to enter the port area, the parking garage, or the actual terminal?

How are they going to manage this w/ shuttles from hotels and rental car agencies if the time screening is at the main port check point? You could have multiple families with varying check in times in the same shuttle!

Our original plan was to drive over to the port in the van, unload me, the kids and all our stuff...then have dh drive back to CI&S, park the van and take the shuttle back.

I would rather the kids not ride on the shuttle w/o booster seats so we opted for this plan but if we hear a lot of issues w/ getting in and out I may opt for the shuttle and worry like a freak the entire drive.

(I need to share that I'm a volunteer, certified CPST - Child Passenger Safety Technician so the very thought of my kids riding w/o booster seats make me sweat just thinking about it!!)

 

[kritter]

By "arrive" do they mean at the main check point to enter the port area, the parking garage, or the actual terminal?

How are they going to manage this w/ shuttles from hotels and rental car agencies if the time screening is at the main port check point?

Our original plan was to drive over to the port in the van, unload me, the kids and all our stuff...then have dh drive back to CI&S, park the van and take the shuttle back.

I would rather the kids not ride on the shuttle w/o booster seats so we opted for this plan but if we hear a lot of issues w/ getting in and out I may opt for the shuttle and worry like a freak the entire drive.

(I need to share that I'm a volunteer, certified CPST - Child Passenger Safety Technician so the very thought of my kids riding w/o booster seats make me sweat just thinking about it!!)

The main check point, and the check point to enter the terminal and that there will be CM's outside checking names and arrival times. DCL buses will only board earlier times first and then later buses with later arrival times. There will be lists with names and assigned times on it. She kept telling me if you arrive before your time you will be put into a holding area. Not sure where that would be but you will not be allowed to go in before your assigned time. She said when they check you off before you go into the terminal if it is not your time you will be sent away until your time.

 

[Minniemouse07]

The main check point, and the check point to enter the terminal and that there will be CM's outside checking names and arrival times. DCL buses will only board earlier times first and then later buses with later arrival times. There will be lists with names and assigned times on it. She kept telling me if you arrive before your time you will be put into a holding area. Not sure where that would be but you will not be allowed to go in before your assigned time. She said when they check you off before you go into the terminal if it is not your time you will be sent away until your time.

I wonder how the shuttles from the local hotels will work though...Disney doesn't have any control over who boards them when??


So if my time is 11:30 that means I can't pass through the front gate until then or I can't enter the terminal until then?

 

[kritter]

I wonder how the shuttles from the local hotels will work though...Disney doesn't have any control over who boards them when??


So if my time is 11:30 that means I can't pass through the front gate until then or I can't enter the terminal until then?

I asked that about the shuttles and she said those guests would have to wait in this holding area.

Yup, 11:30 means you can't check in at the front gate until then. Then you can go through security and upstairs into the main terminal area..

I agree this all sounds a bit confusing and I explained to her that I was upset that I was not notified of this change and she told me that our cruise documents had been mailed out on JULY 1st and should be arriving any day now!!

 

[Minniemouse07]

Sigh...I think we will just take the shuttle then.

If you see a woman running around in the terminal w/o a head on her shoulders it will be me...because my head is going to EXPLODE when my kids are riding to the terminal w/o their booster seats!

 

[kritter]

Sigh...I think we will just take the shuttle then.

If you see a woman running around in the terminal w/o a head on her shoulders it will be me...because my head is going to EXPLODE when my kids are riding to the terminal w/o their booster seats!

Christine,

I am the same way with my kids and booster seats....Check with the hotel they may have booster seats in the shuttle buses!!

 

[gfolchick]

Any idea how they're going to handle guests who did not check in online, therefore have no boarding time assigned?

FYI, my reservation still lists 10:30 am-11 am...

And, I still have not gotten a response from DCL (other than the Auto Reply that they've received my email and someone will get back to me followed by an advertisement for their ships) and some have you have gotten 2 replies.

Members of our traveling party all have different check in times:
we're 10:30-11

Parents/brother 11-11:30

Friends 11:30-12 and 12:30-1 (two cabins but had originally only checked in one cabin, time changed when he realized he needed to do both)

Friends #2 12:30-1 pm (had not checked in prior to me complaining about change in port arrival time)



At this point there is nothing we can do but wait and see how messed up the arrivals are beginning Aug 2nd. They have 2 weeks and 4 cruises to sort it out before us. I can't imagine where the holding area will be, can they use the customs/luggage area if it's been cleared by the earlier sailing?

 

[sdchickie]

I guess we'll be hounding the Aug. 2nd cruisers with arrival questions! I do hope they get this all sorted out before our cruise. I wonder if my cruise docs will say a later time since my time online is still before the terminal opens. I also wonder if they will let you park and stand outside if your printed out paperwork says 10:30 on it?

 

[kritter]

Any idea how they're going to handle guests who did not check in online, therefore have no boarding time assigned?

FYI, my reservation still lists 10:30 am-11 am...

And, I still have not gotten a response from DCL (other than the Auto Reply that they've received my email and someone will get back to me followed by an advertisement for their ships) and some have you have gotten 2 replies.

Members of our traveling party all have different check in times:
we're 10:30-11

Parents/brother 11-11:30

Friends 11:30-12 and 12:30-1 (two cabins but had originally only checked in one cabin, time changed when he realized he needed to do both)

Friends #2 12:30-1 pm (had not checked in prior to me complaining about change in port arrival time)



At this point there is nothing we can do but wait and see how messed up the arrivals are beginning Aug 2nd. They have 2 weeks and 4 cruises to sort it out before us. I can't imagine where the holding area will be, can they use the customs/luggage area if it's been cleared by the earlier sailing?

She told me anyone who did not check in online will be assigned the latest boarding once they arrive!!

She also told me anyone who still has 10:30 will be changed soon they are still in the process....

 

[kritter]

I guess we'll be hounding the Aug. 2nd cruisers with arrival questions! I do hope they get this all sorted out before our cruise. I wonder if my cruise docs will say a later time since my time online is still before the terminal opens. I also wonder if they will let you park and stand outside if your printed out paperwork says 10:30 on it?

I asked that too about my paperwork that is already printed she said it my new time is 11:00, and that my final paperwork which will arrive in a few days will reflect the new times.....She told me she was going to call me back tomorrow. Any questions anyone wants me to ask??

 

[disfaninca]

Wow! Sounds like it is going to be frustrating! I hope because they haven't changed our check in time from 10:30 yet, they don't put us at 12:00 or later because all of the 11:00 and 11:30 time slots are getting filled up. I hope they will be fair about it!

 

[gfolchick]

I asked that too about my paperwork that is already printed she said it my new time is 11:00, and that my final paperwork which will arrive in a few days will reflect the new times.....She told me she was going to call me back tomorrow. Any questions anyone wants me to ask??

Are the Disney transfer buses originating from the airport leaving later?

Any thoughts on whether the boarding time will change (official 1 pm but starts 11:45-12 pm)?




If this speeds up our check-in process and gets us on the boat faster with minimal wait times it will be a good thing, however, changing port arrival times that THEY asked us to select 45 days ago STINKS!! I have to re-think my arrival strategy (shuttle from car rental agency vs. drop off luggage/people and hubby returns car). I'm thinking we'll all need to stick together to be safe, but afraid of backlog at car rental agency for shuttle now too. I hope they plan on having extra castmembers/security on site for the chaos that is sure to happen for those unaware of the changes, especially if they don't online check in, arrive early and are told to return hours later.

 

[hmansure]

So much talk about this 30 minute arrival time change! I predict that everyone will get on board and have the most excellent of times This little bump in the road will be long forgotten and I'm sure DCL will have everything running efficiently.

 

[hmansure]

I've just found this thread with PICS of DCL FOOD !!!!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=886187&page=108

If you scroll down and then go to next page ... there is food from the DREAM !!!!!! Enchanted Garden and such !!

So ... yummy !!!!!!!! laura

Thanks for posting! I'm so rumbly in my tumbly now

 

[kritter]

Are the Disney transfer buses originating from the airport leaving later?

Any thoughts on whether the boarding time will change (official 1 pm but starts 11:45-12 pm)?




If this speeds up our check-in process and gets us on the boat faster with minimal wait times it will be a good thing, however, changing port arrival times that THEY asked us to select 45 days ago STINKS!! I have to re-think my arrival strategy (shuttle from car rental agency vs. drop off luggage/people and hubby returns car). I'm thinking we'll all need to stick together to be safe, but afraid of backlog at car rental agency for shuttle now too. I hope they plan on having extra castmembers/security on site for the chaos that is sure to happen for those unaware of the changes, especially if they don't online check in, arrive early and are told to return hours later.

She told me that the buses will be departing with families who have the earlier times earlier then the later times later!!

 

[kritter]

Wow! Sounds like it is going to be frustrating! I hope because they haven't changed our check in time from 10:30 yet, they don't put us at 12:00 or later because all of the 11:00 and 11:30 time slots are getting filled up. I hope they will be fair about it!

It is soo frustrating!!

 

[RanCan]

 

[disfaninca]

It is soo frustrating!!

It is, but maybe they are trying to fix their flawed system. I am going to think positively and assume that's why they are doing this.