avoid on-board "scramble"

[MNrae]

I've been reading about the "scramble" to make reservations for Palo & Spa. Is this still necessary since you can make res on-line? Are the on-line res new? Do you know how far in advance you can make res? If we are able to make all of our res on-line, is it still necessary to get on board right away? I don't want to miss out!! Our flight doesn't arrive into Orlando until 12pm. Are we pushing it?

Also...I hear about people changing their "dinner rotation". Is one rotation better than another? Is it possible to change? If we're trying to make Palo reservations, what rotation do we want to miss or do you just get what you get?

So many questions with more to come. The boards really do help. Thanks to all!

 

[Dreamer04]

Hi. Welcome to the DIS!

Since the opportunity to book Palo and Spa appts online is rather new, only a few have posted regarding them. I saw one posat that said, basically, that all was fine. Their Palo and Spa ressies were all in place.

As far as the dining rotation, some people like to have formal night in Lumiere/Tritons. Or Pirate Night in Parrot Cay. Also, some cruisers consider Animators Palate a not-to-be-missed dining experience. So, knowing their dining rotation helps them plan when to reserve Palo, arrange sitters in Flounders and such.

As far as what to miss-it depends on when you are travelling. On the four night, you repeat a resturaunt, so most would arrange Palo for the repeat night. Unless the repeat night was Pirate night. On the seven night, you repeat all the resturants. And one of them, you'll visit 3x! Again, it helps to know your rotation.

Arriving at 12PM, theoretically, is fine. But if there is a delay, they you could run into trouble. Unless you booked through DCL. They've held the ship for those people.
If it is at all possible, I would change my flight to the day before. Book a one night stay in a 3 star hotel through priceline. You'll get to the port earlier, get onboard earlier, start your vacation sooner and once onboard, you can head to where they are making dining changes and straighten out your rotation.

Sorry about all the typos. Hope this helps!

Ursula

 

[the kabuki]

1st time cruiser here going in Jan 06 so my opinion might not be worth much, but I have to say that I'd be too worried about missing the ship if my flight was scheduled to come in at noon, wow that might be cutting it close. If something mechanical goes wrong, or anything to delay the plane you might miss the ship. I'd come in either way earlier in the morning or the night before.

 

[windermerejudy]

I think you are going to be tight even if you arrive on time as the plane arrives at 12:00, long tram ride/walk to luggage arrive there 12:20 Luggage arrives 12:40 find transportation and board 1:15 earliest , drive to port arriving 2:15, check in and go through customs, onboard 3:00----that is if everything goes smoothly. All aboard is at 3:45 with boat drill at 4:00

Besides quite honestly you are missing out on a whole day that you are paying for. We always arrive at port early in morning and board as soon as they allow. Then you have the whole day to enjoy pools, drinks, band, bugget,...sometimes even unpack if your luggage is deliverd early enough.

I know that once we were worried we were not going to get our luggage before dinner so that we could change. It came with 1 minute to spare. I would imagine that is all relative to when you board.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Our flight doesn't arrive into Orlando until 12pm. Are we pushing it?

If you make online Palo and spa reservations, you'll be fine in those areas, even if you board later than most other passengers -- but only if you actually board!

Keep in mind that flights are often delayed. The reason can be weather, mechnical, congestion at the departure or arrival city, traffic flow, late arrival by the aircraft at the departure city, and even crews arriving late. Also, flights are cancelled for various reasons, and passengers are rebooked onto later flights.

If you have a connection, the risk is much worse. If you arrive at the connecting airport with even a moderate delay, you can miss your connection and wait many hours for the next flight to Orlando on your airline.

Most likely, your aircraft will arrive at noon, if that's when it's scheduled, give of take 10 for 15 minutes either way. But how much of a chance are you willing to take? How would you feel if you arrived at the dock after the ship has sailed?