checking in at the port

[Cruisingmama]

I have a question? I am a castaway member but no one else in my group has been before. Will my dh be able to ckeck in with me in the special line? Or does it make a difference if I stay with everyone esle. Is the line for castaway members much faster? Should I go ahead so I can make the Palo resevervations? I did not do Palo last time so I am looking forward to it this time.
and

 

[tstobb]

You can all check in together and you should just choose the shortest line - there really isn't anything special about the Castaway Club line except that it's usually the longest!
You can make your Palo reservations after boarding, not at the Catstaway Club check-in so it really doesn't make a difference for that.

 

[Cruisingmama]

Thanks for your reply. What if we all have seperate cabins? My dh and i have one, my cousin and her dh husband have one and my dd, her dh, and dgs, and dgd will have one.

 

[alexandrew]

Sometimes the Castaway Club line is actually longer....

 

[Cruisingmama]

I don't want to be in line any longer than I have to be!Thanks for your reply!!! Can't wait until Nov.

 

[hydster]

On our 5-1 cruise the CC line was only 3 people long where the other lines were at least 10-15 people long. It was definitely a plus to be able to go to that line and check us in. I'd scope out the CC line and then if it's quicker go to it. As for Palo..if you really want to go I'd suggest being at the Rockin Bar D right when it opens...we were so excited we missed seeing it opened at 12:30 and misread it thinking it didn't open until 2:30 so we didn't get to go....I'd try to be one of the first ones there so you at least have a chance depending on how many REAS and suite reservations are taken beforehand.
Heidi

 

[tstobb]

Originally posted by Cruisingmama
What if we all have seperate cabins? My dh and i have one, my cousin and her dh husband have one and my dd, her dh, and dgs, and dgd will have one.

It depends how they were booked but, in any case, they will check your I.D. when you check in as well as set up charging for each room. If you're all together, you might as well stay together - you can't board right away anyway unless you plan on arriving at the terminal later. We get to the terminal between 10:30 and 11 and boarding isn't scheduled until around 12:30-1 but they do sometimes start earlier.

 

[CM_Mom]

Also, if for some reason you can't get ressies for Palo dinner on embarcation day, book brunch and check back with them later for dinner. We were able to get ressies for Thursday dinner while we were at Sunday brunch. Also, check for cancellations. They do happen.

 

[CoMickey]

We arrived at the terminal at 10:30 am and it was nearly empty. We went right up to a check in agent. We then went to wait in the line and we were the second family to board after the guests with special needs, WISH families and suite guests. I am glad that we did wait in line because the line was quite long when we finally were able to board. We boarded at 11:45 am. Note: Take something for everyone to do while waiting in line. We sat on the floor and watched a DVD on the laptop. The time really did go by fast. We also talked with the other families around us and we ran into the family that was just behind us in line several times on the cruise.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

go with the shortest line. castaway club members are more plentiful on a 7 day so look for the shortest line. i hope this is helpful

 

[Cruisingmama]

We are doing five days at disney beforehand. We will be at AKLand that is where we will be picked up at. I think they pick us up at 11:30 or 11:45. Is that late????? Thanks to everyone for your replies.

 

[tstobb]

It is not late but by the time you arrive at the port, boarding may have begun so the line (it gets to be a loooooong line that snakes through the terminal but it moves quickly once they open up!) may be gone so you can just check in and walk onboard.

 

[Cruisingmama]

That would be sweet. But if you have to wait in line you know it is well worth it. I also decided I want to wait with everyone else. Of the 8 of us I am the only one to go on the Magic before.Could not miss seeing thier faces.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

When we get to the terminal does everyone have to go check in? Would my husband be able to get on the boarding line with our kids while I get on the check in line?

 

[DCLADDICT]

ON ALL OF OUR CRUISES WE HAVE NEVER SEEN A LINE AT THE CASTAWAY CLUB DESK. IN FACT, WHILE I WAS PARKING, MY WIFE WENT AND CHECK US IN AROUND 12:00, AND SHOULD STOOD THERE AND TALKED TO THE REP WHILE WAITING ON ME TO BRING MY DRIVERS LICENSE. THERE WAS NO ONE WAITING BEHIND OR IN FRONT OF HER. THAT HAS BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE EACH TIME. WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THE PORT AT 11:00 SEVERAL TIMES AND AT 12:00, AND NO PROBLEM. OUR CRUISES WERE ALL FULL AS WELL. MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE, TO CHECK IN THIS WAY: WHILE SOMEONE FROM EACH PARTY PARKS, THE OTHER GOES AND STARTS THE CHECK IN PROCESS, THEN THAT PERSON JUST HAS TO COME AND SHOW THEIR ID AND YOU ARE DONE. JUST GO IN RELAXED AND KNOWING THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE AND IT WILL BE A GREAT CRUISE!!:thewave:

 

[mmouse37]

DCLADDICT....you were lucky....on most of our 10 DCL cruises there have always beens lines at the CC desk....each cruise seems to have more and more on that line.

You were lucky.

MJ

 

[tstobb]

Originally posted by DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR
When we get to the terminal does everyone have to go check in? Would my husband be able to get on the boarding line with our kids while I get on the check in line?

Anyone over the age of 18 needs to be there with their ID at check in

 

[Rock'n Robin]

So if DH and my BIL drop us off, we can go ahead and check in and get in line, and then when they come back on the Hertz shuttle they just have to go to the agents and show their IDs, right? Or do we have to wait at the agent desk for them? I know DD#2 was 1st in line after special guests last time and really wants to do it again. She had one CM give her a little Mickey figure and a nice woman CM taught her some tricks as well.
Robin M.