DCL transfers to get a better PAT

[WB1971]

Has anyone booked DCL transfers from MCO to Port Canaveral only to avoid the midnight checkin and to get an early PAT? Any issues if you book the transfer and then drive yourself to the port? Frustrating to be Platinum Castaway and not able to get an earlier PAT or boarding number. Thinking it could be worth $90….

 

[lanejudy]

Only transfers from the MCO Hyatt or WDW resorts get the automatic assignment of PAT. Guests booking Transfers from MCO still need to select a PAT.

 

[SL6827]

Need to pay for the transfers and a Disney resort. Does Disney get a kick back from the Hyatt?

 

[auntlynne]

Need to pay for the transfers and a Disney resort. Does Disney get a kick back from the Hyatt?

You don’t have to book your hotel stay from Disney. If you can find a discount on the room, even better. So I’m guessing no. Maybe the other way around.

 

[auntlynne]

There is nothing I have to do on the ship that is worth paying for an extra hour or two. The more I cruise, the more appealing it is to arrive a little later with shorter check-in lines and General Boarding (no sitting around Terminal 8, attractive Disney bubble that it is).

Are you sailing Concierge and wanting to start the special treatment? Or just “Too Excited to Sleep” and want to get to the fun? Just curious, no shade. Maybe I’m missing out on something. (Edit: just realized Concierge gets BG1 or 2, so probably not.)

I’m not sure I have not been awake at 11 pm Central Time to do my check-in. But I’m a night owl and would also rather be asleep on Boarding Day instead of rushing to wait at the port.

There might be an issue: Parking garage opens 10:15 or 10:30.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The more I cruise, the more appealing it is to arrive a little later with shorter check-in lines and General Boarding (no sitting around Terminal

I find this true whether DCL or other cruise lines.

 

[dkis4nu]

You don’t have to book your hotel stay from Disney. If you can find a discount on the room, even better. So I’m guessing no. Maybe the other way around.

Only transfers from the MCO Hyatt or WDW resorts get the automatic assignment of PAT. Guests booking Transfers from MCO still need to select a PAT.

I don’t think that’s true anymore. We just checked in a couple of weeks ago & were automatically given a PAT. We just have a regular transfer from MCO, not MCO Hyatt.

dk

 

[elsawasajedi]

Need to pay for the transfers and a Disney resort. Does Disney get a kick back from the Hyatt?

you get a florida discount right? and the ability to not have to fly places?

yes. things sometimes are different for different circumstances.

 

[Girl of the South]

I think it’s the hype from forums like this. If one had never found this and maybe others, one would take their time for checking in. Agree the perceived “perks” of getting on a little early are overblown.

 

[elsawasajedi]

I think it’s the hype from forums like this. If one had never found this and maybe others, one would take their time for checking in. Agree the perks of getting on a little early are overblown.

for us it's worth it. If I have to pay for transportation anyway I'd rather it be more expensive, be under Disney's control so if something goes wrong I have a single belly button to reach out to, and it comes with the perk of getting on with concierge so I can snag an adult dining reservation maybe and start my vacation earlier vs waiting around in a terminal. we were on the 5th sailing of the wish in August 2022 and being able to take pictures of the kids on deck without crowds was awesome. others may disagree/have different preferences but that's us.

 

[SL6827]

you get a florida discount right? and the ability to not have to fly places?

yes. things sometimes are different for different circumstances.

Nope. I wish I got a FL discount. North GA does not qualify.

 

[auntlynne]

for us it's worth it. If I have to pay for transportation anyway I'd rather it be more expensive, be under Disney's control so if something goes wrong I have a single belly button to reach out to, and it comes with the perk of getting on with concierge so I can snag an adult dining reservation maybe and start my vacation earlier vs waiting around in a terminal. we were on the 5th sailing of the wish in August 2022 and being able to take pictures of the kids on deck without crowds was awesome. others may disagree/have different preferences but that's us.

You do have reasons for being early. And can articulate them. Yes! I often wondered why the rush. With the Concierge conveniences, it also makes more sense.

 

[sirpengy]

I don’t think that’s true anymore. We just checked in a couple of weeks ago & were automatically given a PAT. We just have a regular transfer from MCO, not MCO Hyatt.

dk

Same with us. I did this last week and we were assigned an early PAT of 10:45 - 11am and boarding group number 3. We are Gold castaway and regular transfer from MCI.

 

[WB1971]

There is nothing I have to do on the ship that is worth paying for an extra hour or two. The more I cruise, the more appealing it is to arrive a little later with shorter check-in lines and General Boarding (no sitting around Terminal 8, attractive Disney bubble that it is).

Are you sailing Concierge and wanting to start the special treatment? Or just “Too Excited to Sleep” and want to get to the fun? Just curious, no shade. Maybe I’m missing out on something.

I’m not sure I have not been awake at 11 pm Central Time to do my check-in. But I’m a night owl and would also rather be asleep on Boarding Day instead of rushing to wait at the port.

There might be an issue: Parking garage opens 10:15 or 10:30.

Not concierge, and don’t they automatically get boarding group 1? We like to get to cabanas before it’s crowded, and get our lunch in with time to do other things on day one, that’s motivation to get on early. No shade on anyone who prefers to arrive later. On a long cruise, not a big deal, feels more important on a short one given limited hours afloat. Mostly just annoyed that pre-Covid Platinums had essentially open boarding. I live in Eastern time, work long hours and try to get to the gym at 6am. Midnight is out of the question most nights!

 

[auntlynne]

Not concierge, and don’t they automatically get boarding group 1? We like to get to cabanas before it’s crowded, and get our lunch in with time to do other things on day one, that’s motivation to get on early. No shade on anyone who prefers to arrive later. On a long cruise, not a big deal, feels more important on a short one given limited hours afloat. Mostly just annoyed that pre-Covid Platinums had essentially open boarding. I live in Eastern time, work long hours and try to get to the gym at 6am. Midnight is out of the question most nights!

Sounds like we both know our own selves!

I’ve heard others say they had an early Boarding Group, printed their Boarding Pass then changed something and ended up with later PAT / BG. But then showed the original earlier time pass and were not told it was invalid.

Since you can cancel transfers until about 3 days out, it seems you could sign up for them, print your pass, cancel transfers and save the $90. It is a work-around. I think there are QR codes on the pass, but maybe that doesn’t show PAT when scanned.

I can’t remember if they just looked at our pass when BG was called or if they scanned it. Or maybe just relied on all of us waiting for number to be called?

 

[mmouse37]

I thought Platinums got early Boarding Groups again. I am Pearl so get an early boarding group automatically but I thought Platinums did also.

MJ

 

[Perrypooh]

Only transfers from the MCO Hyatt or WDW resorts get the automatic assignment of PAT. Guests booking Transfers from MCO still need to select a PAT.

You do not need to pick a port arrival time if going through MCO or MCO Hyatt for the cruise transfers.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I'm trying to figure out the best way for us to get as early a PAT/BG as possible. In the past I've done midnight check in and it worked out pretty well...last time we walked on the ship at noon. Not really sure what I want to do this time. I would really love to hear some thoughts on this. Currently, I have a rental car booked from MCO to Port Canaveral. We fly in late on a Thursday night for a Saturday cruise. So we will want a car for all day Friday but I'm toying with the idea of not driving to the port. We could return the car Friday night and stay at the Hyatt or somewhere near by. We could also just return the car early Saturday morning and get the bus right after. We are only silver status if that matters.

My reason for wanting to get on the ship as early as possible....my DD. She's a crew member and has free time until 2 or 3pm. We just want to have every minute we can with her.

Also, since we have never done the bus thing...how late in the game can we add the bus? Could I do online check in and see what I get , then add the bus to improve the PAT/BG?

 

[Girl of the South]

It might improve your PAT but not your BG? Can your daughter leave the ship and meet you?

 

[petrola]

It might improve your PAT but not your BG? Can your daughter leave the ship and meet you?

What is the difference between port arrival and boarding group? Are they supposed to coincide? We just got BG1 for Port Everglades - but the PAT is 11:45-4:30. I called DCL to ask what time the terminal opens and they said they don't know - but maybe either 10:30 or 11:15? so I'm totally confused...