Drop off passengers at Port Everglades?

[strawberry_sorbet]

Hello!
Looking for any recent experience on this - We plan on dropping off passengers (includes seniors and young children) at Port Everglades a little before PAT, then one driver will return car at rental drop off then return to terminal. Hopefully driver returns on time for PAT and we all check in together.
Is this possible ? I understand we won't be allowed inside until PAT , so it is OK if we have to wait outside (assuming its a nice sunny morning). We would rather not bring entire party with us to car rental, then use shuttle - just a lot to deal with especially with seniors and their limited mobility, etc.
I am reading conflicting experiences - some say no, some say yes, there will be queues outside anyways for people who arrive too early.
Any recent experiences?
Thank you in advance!!

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Hello!
Looking for any recent experience on this - We plan on dropping off passengers (includes seniors and young children) at Port Everglades a little before PAT, then one driver will return car at rental drop off then return to terminal. Hopefully driver returns on time for PAT and we all check in together.
Is this possible ? I understand we won't be allowed inside until PAT , so it is OK if we have to wait outside (assuming its a nice sunny morning). We would rather not bring entire party with us to car rental, then use shuttle - just a lot to deal with especially with seniors and their limited mobility, etc.
I am reading conflicting experiences - some say no, some say yes, there will be queues outside anyways for people who arrive too early.
Any recent experiences?
Thank you in advance!!

We have never arrived too early, so I can't speak to that. I would however, think dropping them off maybe 15 minutes early would be fine. We did have a major delay last year and ended up standing in the garage area for hours in long winding ques however. Please note that there are very, very few benches for your seniors if they cannot stand for long periods. Maybe you could just plan on meeting up inside the terminal when your driver returns and checks in.Just make sure the driver has their Port Arrival form and Passport with them.

 

[strawberry_sorbet]

We have never arrived too early, so I can't speak to that. I would however, think dropping them off maybe 15 minutes early would be fine. We did have a major delay last year and ended up standing in the garage area for hours in long winding ques however. Please note that there are very, very few benches for your seniors if they cannot stand for long periods. Maybe you could just plan on meeting up inside the terminal when your driver returns and checks in.Just make sure the driver has their Port Arrival form and Passport with them.

Is it possible for us (passengers) to check in at PAT, then driver comes back and checks in alone ? Or do we have to check in all together? For some reason, I thought we all had to be there as we are one party. Obviously I don't know how long it would take for the car rental return and ubering back to the port, but assuming one hour in between. If we can check in separately (but wait to board together), that would be great!

 

[stkgator]

You can arrive and drop off both passengers and luggage at any time. However, you won't be able to enter the terminal prior to your PAT. The drop-off area is completely covered, so you don't have to worry about rain, but it is outside. I've always had an early PAT, so I've never had to wait to enter the terminal, but there always seems to be a considerable number of passengers waiting outside for their PAT.

So, no need to worry about dropping off your passengers and luggage before your PAT, returning the rental car (FYI: Avis is located just outside the port gate), taking the rental shuttle back to the terminal, and then entering the terminal to check in as a group

 

[strawberry_sorbet]

You can arrive and drop off both passengers and luggage at any time. However, you won't be able to enter the terminal prior to your PAT. The drop-off area is completely covered, so you don't have to worry about rain, but it is outside. I've always had an early PAT, so I've never had to wait to enter the terminal, but there always seems to be a considerable number of passengers waiting outside for their PAT.

So, no need to worry about dropping off your passengers and luggage before your PAT, returning the rental car (FYI: Avis is located just outside the port gate), taking the rental shuttle back to the terminal, and then entering the terminal to check in as a group

thank you so much! this helps a lot! It took me a while to realize there is an AVIS near the shuttle as the name of that location is not so clear at all! But that is what we are using!