Best time to board?

[labdogs42]

We got an early PAT for our upcoming cruise, but then I'm wondering if that's a good or bad thing. What's the "ideal" arrival time? For me, ideal means not crazy crowded and early enough to get on the ship in time to enjoy lunch before being able to go to our rooms. Thoughts?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We got an early PAT for our upcoming cruise, but then I'm wondering if that's a good or bad thing. What's the "ideal" arrival time? For me, ideal means not crazy crowded and early enough to get on the ship in time to enjoy lunch before being able to go to our rooms. Thoughts?

Early the better more time on ship more chance of getting upgrades or ressies for Palo etc. Have an early PAT you can turn up layer and get on quickly, have a late PAT you might be delayed if you arrive early. No downside to early PAT bar time in the terminal.

 

[lanejudy]

If you are sailing out of Port Canaveral, arriving around 12:30pm can be a sweet spot for low crowds. Boarding typically begins around 11:15-11:30, so the early crowds have thinned, but the buses from the resorts haven't arrived yet. Likely you can walk right onto the ship as soon as you check-in or with very minimal wait. If that's not too late for you to eat lunch, the staterooms would be ready at 1:30pm, about the time you finish eating.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Weedy]

They usually start boarding the Dream and the Fantasy 11:15-11:30. The heavy crowds are usually on board by 12:30ish. They usually go to an
"open boarding" (not calling boarding #'s) by 12:30-12:45. So if you got to the port by 12:15-12:30, got checked you should be able to walk on without any or much wait.

The restaurants by the pool, Cabanas (buffet) and Enchanted Garden (buffet/ service) all open at 12:00.

To change dining rotation or Palo/Remy is at 1:00

 

[SuperDry]

bar time in the terminal.

There's a bar in the terminal? That would be nice.

 

[soniam]

There's a bar in the terminal? That would be nice.

That would be awesome

 

[lulucornbread]

That would be awesome

That needs to go on the comment card!

 

[xlxo]

Getting there early....

• you get to enjoy a free meal (that you paid for) before they close around 2pm.
• you get to use the pool and various ship amenities when others are still boarding
• you have extra time to make cruise adjustments (dining) at Guest Services
• is this the time you get tickets to covetted events?

 

[muse7mom]

That needs to go on the comment card!

Please!

 

[Silver Queen]

This past Saturday we arrived at the port shortly before noon and it was already boarding. We were able to walk aboard the Dream as soon as we checked in. The lines for check-in were not long and moved quickly.

 

[tlc1680]

My TA told me to just get there early and not worry about my PAT but quite a few reports say that Disney will not let you board until your PAT. I would prefer to get on board as early as possible to soak up every minute.

 

[Dug720]

My TA told me to just get there early and not worry about my PAT but quite a few reports say that Disney will not let you board until your PAT. I would prefer to get on board as early as possible to soak up every minute.

Your PAT is the time you schedule to arrive at the terminal for check-in. You will receive a boarding number that is tied to your PAT. Let's say you have a PAT of 12pm but choose to show up at 10:30. Assuming you are allowed in the terminal (if it is at capacity with those there at their selected PAT), you will still receive the boarding number you would have at 12:00. And so you will see people who arrived at the same time as you and even after boarding before you once boarding starts.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Your PAT is the time you schedule to arrive at the terminal for check-in. You will receive a boarding number that is tied to your PAT. Let's say you have a PAT of 12pm but choose to show up at 10:30. Assuming you are allowed in the terminal (if it is at capacity with those there at their selected PAT), you will still receive the boarding number you would have at 12:00. And so you will see people who arrived at the same time as you and even after boarding before you once boarding starts.

Yup, your boarding number is assigned when you choose your PAT. That doesn't change regardless of whether you're allowed into the terminal or not. So if you arrive at 10:30am with at PAT of 11:30 then you'll like get a number 2 or 3 and you will still need to wait for that boarding number to be called.

 

[DisneyFanInTexas]

Does anyone know what time the Disney transportation leaves the Hyatt MCO in the morning? Is there an early bus?

 

[mershell]

I'm curious. We'll be taking the Disney bus from MCO. Does the bus leave at a set time or do I get on a bus that corresponds to my check in time at the port?

Thanks

 

[bumbershoot]

Does anyone know what time the Disney transportation leaves the Hyatt MCO in the morning? Is there an early bus?

I'm curious. We'll be taking the Disney bus from MCO. Does the bus leave at a set time or do I get on a bus that corresponds to my check in time at the port?

Thanks

The bus is the exception. It starts to fill then leave as it fills starting at about 9am. If you arrive by bus you just go on in.



We meant to arrive early last week, but ended up getting onboard just as the staterooms opened. Worked out very nicely. Turns out we're a little burned out on cruising right now, and we're ALWAYS burned out on the huge loud sailaway crowds, so we spent some time unpacking (our bags arrived shortly after we got to the stateroom) and organizing, then went at the last minute to get some lunch (entered Cabanas at about 10 to 2).