Earliest check in time

[lynnfitz]

Hi first timers here. I know they assign you a time to board after you upload the documents. What is the earliest time you would be assigned? We might rent points and stay at Vero, so just deciding if we should due to distance. Thanks!

 

[mmouse37]

I believe lately it is 11:00 am. You can pick a Port Arrival Time and then you are assigned a boarding group.

It seems that people on DCL transfers from WDW resorts and the Hyatt MCO (not regular MCO transfer guests) are assigned boarding groups 1-4 and do not have to choose a Port Arrival Time.

MJ

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Now there is boarding according to your Castaway status. We're Silver. Did on line check in 3 days earlier than first expected. Our PAT is 11:30, boarding group 8.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Hi first timers here. I know they assign you a time to board after you upload the documents. What is the earliest time you would be assigned? We might rent points and stay at Vero, so just deciding if we should due to distance. Thanks!

Disney’s Vero Beach resort is actually located north of Vero Beach itself and only about 50 miles from the cruise port via the direct route north on A1A, certainly closer than staying at one of the WDW resorts and not much further from the port than the airport locations. We have stayed at VB prior to DCL cruises multiple times, including a Wish cruise in January. We take the scenic drive straight up A1A, drop our luggage off at the port, drive the short distance to drop off our rental car, and take the shuttle back to enter the terminal at our assigned port arrival time. I allow two hours total from the time we leave the resort, since the time it takes to drop off the rental car and ride the shuttle can vary depending on how busy they are at the car rental drop off and how long we wait for the shuttle back to the port. We’ve never been late for our scheduled port arrival time. If we were parking in the garage at the port, I would probably allow 90 minutes.

 

[shananigans]

Hi first timers here. I know they assign you a time to board after you upload the documents. What is the earliest time you would be assigned? We might rent points and stay at Vero, so just deciding if we should due to distance. Thanks!

The earliest I’ve gotten without being concierge is boarding group 5. But we were staying at MCO Hyatt, so that made a difference. Without, we are boarding group 7.

 

[texascutie]

You can drop off your luggage before your PAT? Upcoming cruise is only my second from Florida. This would be great!

 

[auntlynne]

You can drop off your luggage before your PAT? Upcoming cruise is only my second from Florida. This would be great!

You can.

 

[sadiecatie]

If earliest possible boarding time is important to you, I would stay somewhere that you can do the Disney transfers to get you to the port. Seems they are getting there early and reserved earliest PATs. As a first time cruiser, that’s about the only way you’ll get a really early PAT (port arrival time). I’m also a first-time cruiser and just got boarding group 15, 12:30 PAT when I checked in last week.

 

[texascutie]

You can.

Thank you!

 

[RedHead0186]

The earliest I’ve gotten without being concierge is boarding group 5. But we were staying at MCO Hyatt, so that made a difference. Without, we are boarding group 7.

I've gotten boarding group 5 without staying at the Hyatt MCO (just driving to port).

 

[lynnfitz]

ok now another question, sorry! We get the PAT when we upload our documents, what is the boarding group-do you get to the port at your PAT then get the boarding group #, or is the boarding group given to you prior to that? Just wondering what the difference is, thanks for your patience for this newbie, alot easier just to check into a resort, lol!

 

[Mommb]

At the end of the online check-in process, you will select a Port Arrival Time. You can select the earliest available time or a later time. (If you are taking DCL transportation from Walt Disney World, you will not need to select a PAT.) You may not be permitted to enter the port before your PAT. After you select a PAT, you will then be given a Boarding Group number. It’s typically about 10 minutes or less between consecutive boarding groups.

 

[RedHead0186]

ok now another question, sorry! We get the PAT when we upload our documents, what is the boarding group-do you get to the port at your PAT then get the boarding group #, or is the boarding group given to you prior to that? Just wondering what the difference is, thanks for your patience for this newbie, alot easier just to check into a resort, lol!

PAT and boarding group are linked, and you'll get both during online checkin when you upload your documents. PAT is the time you can arrive at port, boarding group is the group for when you actually board the ship. Earlier PATs have earlier boarding groups, later PATs have later boarding groups. If you have an early PAT you likely will have a bit of a wait in the terminal (after they check your documents and you go through security) before your boarding group is called.

For example, last November we had a PAT of 11:15 with a boarding group of 5. I think they let us in the terminal a bit early, but when we got upstairs in the terminal they hadn't started boarding the ship yet. They started boarding maybe 20-30 minutes after we got there, and it was probably about 45 minutes between when we got upstairs and when we boarded in group 5 (though it felt like hours ).

 

[ajluze]

Now there is boarding according to your Castaway status. We're Silver. Did on line check in 3 days earlier than first expected. Our PAT is 11:30, boarding group 8.

Has this recently changed? I thought all castaway status’ checked in at the same time now - 30 days out?

 

[Mommb]

Has this recently changed? I thought all castaway status’ checked in at the same time now - 30 days out?

Yes, this changed within the last few weeks, when the Pearl Castaway Club level took effect. Silver, gold, platinum, and pearl levels can begin check in 33, 35, 38, and 40 days in advance, respectively.

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Has this recently changed? I thought all castaway status’ checked in at the same time now - 30 days out?

Yes, it changed a few weeks ago.

If earliest possible boarding time is important to you, I would stay somewhere that you can do the Disney transfers to get you to the port. Seems they are getting there early and reserved earliest PATs. As a first time cruiser, that’s about the only way you’ll get a really early PAT (port arrival time). I’m also a first-time cruiser and just got boarding group 15, 12:30 PAT when I checked in last week.

I feel really lucky then! We are first time cruisers, so checked in at the 30 day mark and were able to get a 11:30 PAT,boarding group 6! I was thrilled!

 

[kiford]

Has this recently changed? I thought all castaway status’ checked in at the same time now - 30 days out?

Yes, it recently changed. I think it's 40 days for Pearl, 38 for Platinum, 35 for Gold, 33 for Silver and 30 for first time (I may be slightly out with Silver & Gold - I know it's 38 for Platinum).

 

[lynnfitz]

You guys are great! Thanks so much!

 

[sadiecatie]

Yes, it changed a few weeks ago.

I feel really lucky then! We are first time cruisers, so checked in at the 30 day mark and were able to get a 11:30 PAT,boarding group 6! I was thrilled!

That’s great! Yeah, I checked in right away at 30 days and that’s all that was available. Now, it may also depend on the ship/sailing - like if you’re sailing the Wish, it sounds like there are a lot of first timers there, but a sailing with lots of higher CC status people you’ll be out of luck (I’m sailing to Alaska, I would be interested in the club-level demographics of my sailing).

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Has this recently changed? I thought all castaway status’ checked in at the same time now - 30 days out?

Yes, it's been recent. There is a thread about this in the DCL forum. I did on line chat with on DCL website and confirmed it was accurate. I could also see on DCL after logging in that my on lne check in date jumped 3 days earlier. If first time cruising DCL, it remains at 30 days.