Changes to Port Arrival Time

[PrincessShmoo]

I would if you hope to be on the first bus. The buses run constantly, though. Judging from the number of people behind us in line and the steady stream arriving to check in, I'm guessing the second bus left MCO within 10-15 minutes of the first.

The busses at MCO depart when full or every 20 minutes, whichever is first.

 

[mhconley]

Thanks - I just grabbed 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM!!! I had 11:30 AM -12:00 PM. Woo-Hoo!

Martin

 

[Melcoug93]

Thank you! I just changed our PAT to 10:30!

 

[Weedy]

We were on the Dream from 9/1-5. We stayed at the Hyatt MCO the night before embarkation, and our experience was that everything happened earlier than is the "norm" (as reported here). This is what we experienced (copied and pasted from my TR):

We left our room at about 8:25 to head downstairs to the DCL transportation area. I knew we wouldn't be the only ones there, but I was surprised to see about 25 people in the seating area near the DCL desk. A couple of CMs came out and started getting things set up at around 8:40. Within a few minutes, a line had formed. By 8:50 we had checked in for the bus and moved to the waiting area. We boarded the first bus at 9:00 and pulled out by 9:05. The bus arrived at the DCL terminal at PC at 9:50, but we had to wait on the bus until about 10:10 because they were not ready for us in the terminal.

The passengers on our bus were the first to enter the terminal. When we arrived, there was a handful of people milling around outside. I'm guessing that they were let in right after us, but I'm not positive. [ETA: I have since learned that those who were waiting outside were not allowed into the terminal until 10:30.] We had no wait to check in.

Maybe they were trying out the earlier times before officially implementing the new PAT intervals?

What time did they start boarding the ship?

 

[tweis]

I'm curious if they will start boarding earlier or if all these people with the 10:30 PAT will just be sitting there along with everyone that chose the 10:45, 11:00, 11:15, etc. PATs. Unless they are going to start boarding earlier it just seems like there will be a whole lot of people sitting in the terminal waiting.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I would if you hope to be on the first bus. The buses run constantly, though. Judging from the number of people behind us in line and the steady stream arriving to check in, I'm guessing the second bus left MCO within 10-15 minutes of the first.

Thanks Lisa Lisa. I will try to get to the airport earlier. Thanks also to PrincessShmoo for the extra info. (I'm on the iPad app so can't do multiple quotes).

"You're welcome", to those who managed to change their time to an earlier one. I'm so grateful for all the useful info and 'heads-ups' I have received here on the DIS, I'm pleased I could help out with some info of my own for a change.

 

[tivo4me1]

Not yet seeing the earlier PAT's available as an option for the Wonder's cruise from Galveston on 9/28.

 

[tweis]

Not yet seeing the earlier PAT's available as an option for the Wonder's cruise from Galveston on 9/28.

This may be a Port Canaveral only type thing.

 

[3dog2kidmom]

"You're welcome", to those who managed to change their time to an earlier one. I'm so grateful for all the useful info and 'heads-ups' I have received here on the DIS, I'm pleased I could help out with some info of my own for a change.

THANKS from me too! I changed my 11 to a 10:30 for our Christmas cruise on the Dream

 

[ThinkTink1]

No glitch!!! I know that for an absolute fact! Those PAT are only going be available for Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy right now so the Magic and Wonder will still have half an hour increments starting at 11AM.

 

[treehawk529]

Just changed mine to 10:30

 

[collectoraholic]

Does anyone know if this is only for Pc or for Miami also?

I'm guessing it may be only for PC, as I just checked my parents Galveston booking and the earliest time is 11:00-11:30.

Then I checked out Miami booking, but since we're Platinum, it doesn't show any time options since we can get there and get on whenever we'd like.

If anyone w/ Galveston or Miami can comment on their PAT, that'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

Galveston still shows 11 as earliest.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Miami still shows 11 am as the earliest as well.

 

[CruisingSarah]

How does this PAT thing work? I'm not sure I remember having it on our previous cruises but they were from Barcelona and Vancouver.

If you get one of these really early PATs, say 10.30 then what is the likely boarding time? I don't want to get there and then just wait for a long time in the terminal.

Are people who arrive too early turned away until their designated time?

If we took an early one and then couldn't make it on time does that cause a problem?

I don't know whether to stick with my original time of 12.30 and hope to be there kind of in between the early and late rushes, or go with one of the new very early PATS in the hope of getting onboard early and getting a Palo ressie. But then I guess the dining requests desk may only be open set hours anyway?

Thanks

 

[Kommando K]

I just switched our time to 10:30. Woot! I'm thinking that the crowds in the terminal would be better served if they can take more time getting everyone on board. The rooms still won't be ready until 1pm, but the common spaces are actually readied the night before after everyone's "tucked" in for the night. So the common areas should be ready for guests.

 

[Weedy]

sorry double post

 

[Weedy]

How does this PAT thing work? I'm not sure I remember having it on our previous cruises but they were from Barcelona and Vancouver.

If you get one of these really early PATs, say 10.30 then what is the likely boarding time? I don't want to get there and then just wait for a long time in the terminal.

Are people who arrive too early turned away until their designated time?

If we took an early one and then couldn't make it on time does that cause a problem?

I don't know whether to stick with my original time of 12.30 and hope to be there kind of in between the early and late rushes, or go with one of the new very early PATS in the hope of getting onboard early and getting a Palo ressie. But then I guess the dining requests desk may only be open set hours anyway?

Thanks

What we don't know yet is if they are going to start boarding the ship earlier now that they have moved up the PAT's. Right now boarding starts about 11:45. Your boarding # is tied to your PAT. So if they keep the boarding time at 11:45, I suggest you picking the earliest PAT and getting there at 11:30ish (Disney doesn't care if you get there late.) by the time you finish your paper work your boarding number should be called. FYI they
Platinum Cruisers and Concierge first usually boarding #'s 1 and 2 then the rest will be assigned by your PAT.

You are right about the dining desk. It is located on the ship so if boarding doesn't start until 11:45 it doesn't pay to get there earlier.

Keep an eye on these boards and people will post if they change the time you can get on the ship.

 

[CruisingSarah]

What we don't know yet is if they are going to start boarding the ship earlier now that they have moved up the PAT's. Right now boarding starts about 11:45. Your boarding # is tied to your PAT. So if they keep the boarding time at 11:45, I suggest you picking the earliest PAT and getting there at 11:30ish by the time you finish your paper work your boarding number should be called. FYI they
Platinum Cruisers and Concierge first usually boarding #'s 1 and 2 then the rest will be assigned by your PAT.

OK thank you for that advice. Is your boarding number definitely tied to your PAT and not to the actual time you arrive at port?

I will choose the earliest time and hope to get there then, better that than to have a late time, arrive early and not be able to do anything about it.

 

[Meghatron]

OK thank you for that advice. Is your boarding number definitely tied to your PAT and not to the actual time you arrive at port?

Yes, otherwise there is no point to having a PAT system at all.

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