CC Platinum - Check-in and Early Boarding?

[Hieatt]

Are Castaway Club Platinum members still able to check in at the Concierge check-in desk and get a flexible boarding time? We are considering booking a last minute 3 night cruise and know we’ll be at the back of the line for most things… have a good option to fly in the morning of the cruise, and don’t want to fly in the night before if we will get a high boarding number and won’t be able to board early. When I logged in to the CC site it doesn’t show the Platinum CC members get any higher priority for check in, which is the reason for my question. Thanks.

 

[axfather]

you can't check in early as Plat. Check-in is no longer a tale of two cities.....

 

[MomOTwins]

If you have bus transfers booked with DCL, your PAT is irrelevant, if you even get a PAT--seems inconsistent... some people with DCL transfers on our cruise got a PAT while we and many others had the PAT selection "greyed out." Regardless, whether or not you got a PAT, if you arrived on the Disney buses, you just went straight through to screening and the boarding immediately after you cleared. PAT only matters if you are arriving by car or private transportation.

 

[Kwami]

And to answer the more general question: No. Platinum CC members currently have to check in and get a PAT like all other non-concierge guests. That particular Platinum perk is currently suspended because of Covid safety protocols.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We've cruised twice since pandemic, PC & Miami, and both locations enforce the PAT. Just mentioning in case some felt compelled to arrive early. We saw people being told to come back at their proper PAT window.

 

[mmouse37]

We've cruised twice since pandemic, PC & Miami, and both locations enforce the PAT. Just mentioning in case some felt compelled to arrive early. We saw people being told to come back at their proper PAT window.

We saw the same on our September Dream cruise. Cars/people turned away if arrived early.

 

[Hieatt]

Thanks all. Helpful to know. May sway us to use DCL transfers.

 

[Cheburashka]

Thanks all. Helpful to know. May sway us to use DCL transfers.

Even if you use transfers, you still get a boarding group number. I checked in online right at midnight with DCL transfers for my January cruise, and still got boarding group 5. Probably won't delay boarding by much but just fyi.

 

[axfather]

I am curious though....I think there is a loophole for disney bus transportation from the airport unless I read that incorrectly....what about GOPort bus transport...folks on that bus would also have various port arrival times...just wondering how they would police for that or if they do...

 

[MomOTwins]

I am curious though....I think there is a loophole for disney bus transportation from the airport unless I read that incorrectly....what about GOPort bus transport...folks on that bus would also have various port arrival times...just wondering how they would police for that or if they do...

They would be like uber and private car drop offs—if you arrive early, you have to wait outside until your PAT. The difference with the DCL bus is they escort the entire bus to the tent area upon arrival and so you bypass the PAT checkers.

 

[Kwami]

Even if you use transfers, you still get a boarding group number. I checked in online right at midnight with DCL transfers for my January cruise, and still got boarding group 5. Probably won't delay boarding by much but just fyi.

But, this is also not consistent. When I checked in about a week after opening, I got no PAT and boarding group 2.

Anyway, I don't think it matters. Disney doesn't want you idling around the terminal. When you get there on the DCL bus, they'll process you and get you on board as soon as they can.

 

[MomOTwins]

But, this is also not consistent. When I checked in about a week after opening, I got no PAT and boarding group 2.

Anyway, I don't think it matters. Disney doesn't want you idling around the terminal. When you get there on the DCL bus, they'll process you and get you on board as soon as they can.

Correct, same with me. You are supposed to get no PAT and BG 2 if you are booked on DCL transfers but it is glitchy and nobody knows why that is true for some people but not others. Regardless, in practice the bus people board right after concierge.

 

[Cheburashka]

Regardless, in practice the bus people board right after concierge.

Depending on the number of passengers, the boarding group number can make a difference, because of the immediate welcome show. They can't just let everyone board at once due to that, because it requires small groups. So boarding group 5 vs. 2 could be significant, especially as numbers increase. My sailing seems pretty packed (only verandas left to book & a big social media group), and I suspect that's why it happened, and it's likely to be more of an issue going forward as capacity increases than it was in the past with the super low numbers they had in the fall.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Just back from a 3 night. When we (finally) go the all clear to proceed DCL was hustling us to board. The "gatekeeper" on the entrance to the walkover bridge didn't check anything, just had us go on through. When we got to the Platinum check in desk there was a family in front of us, the concierge was idle, so he checked us in. 30 seconds later, we were in the terminal. This was a Military cruise so our boarding group was 12 and the big board said group 10. DW headed to the bathroom while I idled to the Ears. The doorwarden there said, "go ahead and board." DW got a text, and then we hustled through the ears only to wait 20 minutes on the brow as they sent us through a dozen or so at a time for a...'show'...with Mickey & Minnie . The point is, DCL was nearly shoving us onboard (except for the ridiculous show). It was, by far, the easiest check in we've had once we cleared COVID testing.

 

[shananigans]

Are Castaway Club Platinum members still able to check in at the Concierge check-in desk and get a flexible boarding time? We are considering booking a last minute 3 night cruise and know we’ll be at the back of the line for most things… have a good option to fly in the morning of the cruise, and don’t want to fly in the night before if we will get a high boarding number and won’t be able to board early. When I logged in to the CC site it doesn’t show the Platinum CC members get any higher priority for check in, which is the reason for my question. Thanks.

We stay at the airport Hilton the night before our cruises and the Disney luggage folks said to us “if you are arriving on a Disney bus, your PAT is irrelevant.” This held true, however, it just meant longer time sitting at the terminal as they called groups 1-3, 4-6, etc. We got through the testing quickly but didn’t board any earlier than our scheduled boarding group time.

 

[MomOTwins]

We stay at the airport Hilton the night before our cruises and the Disney luggage folks said to us “if you are arriving on a Disney bus, your PAT is irrelevant.” This held true, however, it just meant longer time sitting at the terminal as they called groups 1-3, 4-6, etc. We got through the testing quickly but didn’t board any earlier than our scheduled boarding group time.

Both times I took DCL bus transfers this past year (first port canaveral second miami) I was assigned a 10:30 PAT and boarding group 2. If taking a DCL bus and you get a later boarding group, I would call and see if they can fix it to group 2.

 

[shananigans]

Both times I took DCL bus transfers this past year (first port canaveral second miami) I was assigned a 10:30 PAT and boarding group 2. If taking a DCL bus and you get a later boarding group, I would call and see if they can fix it to group 2.

That’s good to know - thank you!

 

[Akck]

Both times I took DCL bus transfers this past year (first port canaveral second miami) I was assigned a 10:30 PAT and boarding group 2. If taking a DCL bus and you get a later boarding group, I would call and see if they can fix it to group 2.

We’re taking DCL bus transfers and have the 10:30 PAT and boarding group 4 for our May cruise. I have no problems with 4, as it may be only a 10-15 minute additional wait.

 

[mmouse37]

I booked transfers for our Magic April 7th cruise as I wanted to get to the port early. We had boarding group 2 and arrived via bus from the EB hotel about 10:30-10:40 ish. We were let right in and tested but had to wait until noon to board. Concierge first, then family of the day and then boarding group 2. I am Platinum and was directed to the regular check in line, not allowed at Concierge check in line.

MJ

 

[Rob1872]

DW got a text, and then we hustled through the ears only to wait 20 minutes on the brow as they sent us through a dozen or so at a time for a...'show'...with Mickey & Minnie . .

Yeah, they will let you skip the show if you say you are not interested, but you still have to wait to get on the ship in order to say, "pass".