Disney Dream boarding times.

[janeyb]

I'm looking for a little advice on cruising on the Disney Dream if possible.

We have done the online check-in for our cruise in February and have been given a 12.30pm boarding time. We were planning on getting to the port for 10.30am and waiting a while, thinking that we'd be able to check in from 11am onwards - hoping to enjoy the ship before it got too busy. I understand that state rooms won't be open until at least 1.30pm.

Are these boarding times enforced or do they just give time slots to spread everyone arriving at the same time? Which of course makes sense.

From the many trip reports that I've read, I've never heard anyone mention specific boarding times.

Thanks in advance.

 

[wilma-bride]

Is 12.30 not your check-in time? I thought with the new rules that the times given when doing online check-in were the times that you should arrive at port to check in. Certainly that was the case with the Magic in October.

To answer your question (sort of), boarding normally starts around midday. Family of the Day get to board first, concierge can board as soon as they like and then they board in order of number on your boarding card (given to you when you check in). We had boarding card 3 when we were there in October and were called around 12.20.

The terminal doesn't officially open until 11am now and, as far as I know, neither does the car park so I don't know whether you'll actually be allowed in before then anyway.

 

[wickesy]

The times are port arrival times NOT boarding times. Depending on how you are getting to the port you may not even be allowed in before 11:00.

 

[janeyb]

So sorry for the confusion, yes I meant check-in time not boarding time. I was hoping that I would be able to check in a little earlier than the 12.30 stated so that I would have been able to get into an earlier number boarding group.
Jane.

 

[wayneg]

We last sailed in August just as they started with the new system, I think we had 11:30am time, got there for 10:45am, we had to circle the garage slowly until they opened at 11am.
You might be better reading the cruise forum to see if they are still relaxed about times or they are being strict now.

 

[Laurafoster]

When we sailed on the Magic in October our boarding times were checked prior to being allowed into the terminal. I did see one family being turned away and being asked to return at their correct time (not sure what time they had).

It may have been that we had particularly strict people working there but i would definately check on the cruise forum first.

 

[wickesy]

I have also read at least one example of a family being allowed in before their port arrival time BUT being given a boarding number that they would have been given had they arrived at their allocated time. I think maybe it just depends who is working on the day and how busy it is.

 

[janeyb]

Thanks so much everyone for the replies.

I think we'll just get to PC at our allocated time and play it safe. It won't be such a rush that morning now. OK, OK, I'll admit I'm just too eager to get onboard seeing as it's our first ever cruise!

Jane.

 

[irongirlof12]

If you have young kids, check in and then go to the queue to get a wrist band for them, this can take a while.You migth want photos with mickey et al as well