Check-in Changing to Tiered Castaway Club Status?

[bcwife76]

yes I'm feeling left out too *pout* I want my date to change by 8 days, darn it!!

I just checked for about the 18th time today (no I'm not obsessed, not one little bit ) and my date changed!

 

[Love2Cruise2015]

I just checked for about the 18th time today (no I'm not obsessed, not one little bit ) and my date changed!

When is your cruise as my August cruise still hasnt changed?

 

[bcwife76]

When is your cruise as my August cruise still hasnt changed?

August 8th

 

[lanejudy]

In the beforetimes there was no port arrival time, just boarding number which you were assigned at the check in counter.

PAT was started with the Dream, to control crowds for fire code because the PC terminal was built for the Magic and Wonder with smaller capacity. But PAT was rarely enforced. And yes the boarding groups were assigned at the counter.

do any of you who have been around since the "before COVID times" remember with the staggered system when the earliest that Gold/Silver/1st Timers are usually able to get?

Pre-Covid, online checkin (and PAT) was done at the same time as booking activities. The PATs weren’t always enforced, Platinum and Concierge didn’t need a PAT, neither did those on DCL transfers (from MCO or resorts), and transfers from resorts typically arrived later. So it’s hard to predict how the new staggered checkin dates might impact PAT now.

 

[dreamer17555]

I don’t even know if the data from the pre-Times would count for anything anymore. That’s been several years and people who are extremely loyal to DCL kept sailing, sometimes quite a bit, because there were some good discounts offered in the form of lots of VGT rooms. I have a feeling there are a lot more platinum\pearl cruisers than ever before.

Also, I have a feeling the Disney+ deal appealed to a ton of first time cruisers so there’s going to be a lot more silver cruisers.

 

[Dug720]

My 8/22 sailing is still showing 30. Ditto 2/18.

 

[ILoveMyKellen]

My 7/29 changed to 40.

 

[sadiecatie]

But this raises the question, how can first-timers maximize their family vacations? For example, when we sail in October, I’d hate for my daughter to feel left out when we can’t get her into the Royal Gathering, BBB, etc. because everything is booked up (if it’s for lack of trying, it’s different). I can wait for Palo/Remy if needed but there are many experiences that parents want to make sure they squeeze in while on board. Kiddos don’t understand tiered systems, they just want the magic.

To be clear, I’m not complaining. This is a genuine question.

As a fellow first-timer, I try to remind myself that plenty of people get on the ship without any idea about all the extra stuff available, and they still have a great vacation. I try to view whatever we’re able to book as a cherry on top - the cruise itself has plenty to make it worthwhile.

 

[MomOTwins]

Another thing that can help for first time cruisers getting BBB and Royal gathering is to book a seven night for your first cruise. There are simply more spots available on those sailings because they are longer.

Not sure if that is true--on all four of the 3 night sailings we've been on, there were still plenty of activities to book by the 75-day mark for first timers, whereas on both 7-night sailings and the 5-night sailing we've been on, most things were fully booked at silver (or in one case BEFORE silver). My theory is that there is a higher percentage of first time cruisers on the shorter sailings because they book a short cruise to "test out the waters" and see if they like cruising, without spending a lot of money and vacation time, whereas the longer cruises attract the repeat cruisers who love disney and want a longer cruise to maximize their time on the ship.

 

[Clarkson U]

Okay so my question: my next online check in happens while I am on the ship. Is there any way to do my online check in WITHOUT buying an internet day/package?

 

[o&smom]

We're in the same situation. First-time cruisers getting shafted once again.

We all started in the same place. Remember to keep checking up until your cruise date, and then once on board for anything you were not able to book initially.

 

[o&smom]

But this raises the question, how can first-timers maximize their family vacations? For example, when we sail in October, I’d hate for my daughter to feel left out when we can’t get her into the Royal Gathering, BBB, etc. because everything is booked up (if it’s for lack of trying, it’s different). I can wait for Palo/Remy if needed but there are many experiences that parents want to make sure they squeeze in while on board. Kiddos don’t understand tiered systems, they just want the magic.

To be clear, I’m not complaining. This is a genuine question.

Keep checking up until your cruise date, and go to guest services once on board. We have had good luck getting everything we wanted once on board.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I still swear they hold more back for onboard booking than pre-booking…

We were on a cancelled inaugural Wish last year and rebooked- couldn’t get a Boutique reservation at all- walked in the Boutique the first night and literally had my choice of days/times Pre-Closure we always book late due to Cast Rates and I never bothered to pre-book anything (since it was almost always sold out anyway) only ONCE in like 8 cruises did I not have a choice of days or times on an activity (one Marvel greet on a Marvel day at sea) We don’t do the liquor tastings so they may be an exception but I wouldn’t stress on most activities…

Also odds of kids realizing they are “missing” something is very very low. My kiddo has sailed multiple times and never once realized she was missing activities.. unless you were smack dab in the middle of it you’d never realize it..

 

[lanejudy]

Okay so my question: my next online check in happens while I am on the ship. Is there any way to do my online check in WITHOUT buying an internet day/package?

Last I knew Disney websites have free access onboard DCL. How good the connection will be is anyone's guess, largely based on where the ship is positioned at the time.

 

[Calantha]

Okay so my question: my next online check in happens while I am on the ship. Is there any way to do my online check in WITHOUT buying an internet day/package?

I was going to offer you my phone, since I will have internet on the islands, but realized it would be midnight. Sorry. :-(

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I still swear they hold more back for onboard booking than pre-booking…

We were on a cancelled inaugural Wish last year and rebooked- couldn’t get a Boutique reservation at all- walked in the Boutique the first night and literally had my choice of days/times Pre-Closure we always book late due to Cast Rates and I never bothered to pre-book anything (since it was almost always sold out anyway) only ONCE in like 8 cruises did I not have a choice of days or times on an activity (one Marvel greet on a Marvel day at sea) We don’t do the liquor tastings so they may be an exception but I wouldn’t stress on most activities…

Also odds of kids realizing they are “missing” something is very very low. My kiddo has sailed multiple times and never once realized she was missing activities.. unless you were smack dab in the middle of it you’d never realize it..

I wonder if they make more efforts to accommodate cast members who have to book class minute—based on our 4 sailings in the past year, I would not feel comfortable advising people they could get all (or even most) of the sold out stuff onboard. I think if you are flexible BBB is likely on most cruises but I’ve heard lots of stories of people who cannot get into Royal gatherings or the tea.

 

[AquaDame]

PAT was started with the Dream, to control crowds for fire code because the PC terminal was built for the Magic and Wonder with smaller capacity. But PAT was rarely enforced. And yes the boarding groups were assigned at the counter.


Pre-Covid, online checkin (and PAT) was done at the same time as booking activities. The PATs weren’t always enforced, Platinum and Concierge didn’t need a PAT, neither did those on DCL transfers (from MCO or resorts), and transfers from resorts typically arrived later. So it’s hard to predict how the new staggered checkin dates might impact PAT now.

Thank you! I honestly did not realize... they REALLY didnt enforce anything back then I guess? ^^;

 

[PlutoDisney]

I’m curious how soon this will kick in and if we will see other groups with earlier check in soon. My check in for our Alaska cruise will be next Friday - if this takes effect immediately, pearl cruisers on our sailing could check in early this week.

I just checked my reservation and yes, our check in date has been changed. Originally we were due to check in on May 13th but as Gold member it now says my check in date is May 8th.

 

[holula]

I just checked my reservation and yes, our check in date has been changed. Originally we were due to check in on May 13th but as Gold member it now says my check in date is May 8th.

My September and October cruises have now both changed, but not the December one.

Annoyingly I’ll be on the Wonder when my Dream check in opens now Bur first world problems, right?

 

[Dug720]

Also odds of kids realizing they are “missing” something is very very low. My kiddo has sailed multiple times and never once realized she was missing activities.. unless you were smack dab in the middle of it you’d never realize it..

This. Kids are going to take their cues from the adult reactions around them. If you are saying “I’m so sorry we couldn’t get this. I know it’s ruining your vacation.” then yes, they will start acting like their vacation is ruined.

Ditto seasickness. One cruise I saw kids running and flipping all around the atrium and having NO problems with anything. When they finally came to the character line, their mom was all “Are you feeling ok?” And the kids kept saying “I’m fine!” But the more the mom demanded that they must be feeling sick eventually they shrugged and said “I guess?” And then the mom said “I knew you were going to get seasick. I just knew it.” Given the kids’ activeness and their obvious body language of “let’s give her what she wants” their mom totally put it in their heads.