DCL Terminal, Is There Dedicated HC Seating?

[keishashadow]

Hesitant to post on cruise board & risk starting a ruckus, figured i'd ask here jik anybody can enlighten me first.

Have been reading many posts regarding the very slow embarkation process @ the DCL terminal and getting nervous. Never had a problem in the past finding a seat in the terminal to await boarding number if we arrived early enough. Now, that appears to be no longer the case.

I have condition that makes it difficult for me to stand steadily for long periods of time & additional vision issues (do have HC placard & ID card). I'm concerned I may run into situation where I am forced to stand for hours waiting to board. FYI, I didn't request a HC cabin as I'm able to navigate the shower just fine.

Does anybody know if currently there is a dedicated HC seating area available?

It's my understanding that once you pass through security if you do find wildly long lines you'd be unable to leave (as in go sit in the car until the lines do wane) and are effectively stuck waiting to board.

 

[pls5286]

Hi. The only reserved seating DCL has in the terminal is for concierge services. If you get to the port when it open at 10, you will be one of the first in and through security, assuring you of a seat. Once through security, you cannot leave the terminal. Boarding starts between 11-1130 and tends to go rather quickly thru the numbers and by 12:15-12:30 everyone in the terminal is usually on the ship. If you arrive after that, you should be able to clear security, check in, and go right on ship, eat and go to your stateroom which opens up at 1p. I hope this helps.

I too cannot stand for long periods of time, so we will be arriving at 10a to get to the terminal early to give the kids time for character interaction, and to watch cartoons in the terminal.

 

[mdvlprof]

Best bet is to get there early. I didn't notice any HC seating.

 

[keishashadow]

Thank youdidn't think it opened until 10:30 am

 

[twinmum]

Hi. The only reserved seating DCL has in the terminal is for concierge services. If you get to the port when it open at 10, you will be one of the first in and through security, assuring you of a seat. Once through security, you cannot leave the terminal. Boarding starts between 11-1130 and tends to go rather quickly thru the numbers and by 12:15-12:30 everyone in the terminal is usually on the ship. If you arrive after that, you should be able to clear security, check in, and go right on ship, eat and go to your stateroom which opens up at 1p. I hope this helps.

I too cannot stand for long periods of time, so we will be arriving at 10a to get to the terminal early to give the kids time for character interaction, and to watch cartoons in the terminal.

Hello! We cruised on the Dream a few weeks ago - our experience was similar. We were about the 15th family through security, so had plenty of seating options. One of our twin sons (age 12) uses a walker/wheelchair, and he just stayed in his w/c. Interestingly, we had spare seats beside us (only my other son took a seat as my hubby and I took some time to explore the terminal), as if people were giving my son extra room! Between our arrival and 11:45 when boarding started, the terminal became VERY busy, with people sitting everywhere, lots of kids on the floor etc. Navigating through this mass of people was difficult to say the least. We had boarding #4, and as soon as we got the sense boarding was going to begin (family of the day being announced) we started to make our way from our seats to where you board the ship. Unfortunately, it seemed like everyone else in the terminal had the same idea, making it even more congested. I was worried I'd nip someone in the heels with the w/c. If mobility is anything of a challenge for you, I'd be sure to make your way to the entrance in good time - maybe explain your concerns to a CM who might have a better idea of the exact time boarding will start? I'd also recommend choosing a seat closest to that entrance.

Have a wonderful cruise!

 

[keishashadow]

twinmum - never thought of aiming for seat near entrance, thank you

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Getting there early is like............... doing what hundreds of your fellow cruisers are also doing. If space and not standing around too long are that important, I'ld rather look into arriving at the port "later" instead of early. This way you can just check in and walk on board. If you aim for the period where the first boarding rush has boarded and before the busses from WDW arrive, you'll have the best of both worlds. Seas of space and no need to hang around but also boarding timely enough that you can still properly enjoy some of the things the ship have to offer before the safety drill starts.

 

[keishashadow]

There's been several threads re recent cruises wherein posters stated they arrived early (for their assigned time selected during online checkin) & still received boarding passes that didn't allow them to board until 12:30 - 1:30 pm. Apparently, the new system isn't being adhered to by many guests or enforced by DCL and boarding passes are being handed out regardless of assigned arrival time.

 

[dclfun]

You can also call DCL and request temporary assistance at the pier. This will allow you to use one of their wheelchairs for embarkation only which will guarantee you a place to sit both in the queue line and afterwards. Otherwise, I'm with goofieslonglostsis and would arrive a bit later vs. earlier. There is no place to sit close to the boarding area as all the seating is along the other side of the terminal. I hope you have a great cruise!---Kathy

 

[keishashadow]

oh, that is great info to know, thank you.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . I'm with goofieslonglostsis and would arrive a bit later vs. earlier . . .

1) I agree.
2) We have taken several cruises with four different cruise lines.
3) We prefer to get there during the last hour.
4) Everyone else has already fought their way on board.
5) We see
. . . hardly anyone, if anyone, in line to check-in
. . . a few people, if any, waiting to get through ID machines
. . . a few people walking the boarding ramps
. . . hardly anyone fighting down passageways with carry-ons
. . . lots of employee smiling faces, becasuse the crowd is done
6) And, we still have ample time for a late lunch before sailing.

NOTE:
We think of cruising as a time to unwind and veg-out.
We don't start the trip by fighting crowds just to get on board.

 

[maggie blossom]

Are you cruising n the Dream?

We just got off the Magic yesterday, still sad about having to get off.

The port terminal was crowded but not unbearable. I had wheelchair and crutches we easily found seats in the port. As boarding started the masses moved closer to the entrance. When our number was called we slowly moved with the crowds. When people saw the wheelchair they stopped and let us go. Other people never saw the wheelchair and just pushed ahead. We found that the whole trip, some people went out of their way to be helpful and others ignored and did their thing.
CMs go out of their way to be helpful.

On the Magic there were very few times when it felt crowded and hard to move in wheelchair.

I wouldn't hesitate to go again. I worried alot before we sailed about whether we should even go. I would go again tomorrow if I could.