Embarkation Morning? PAT when driving, what to do that morning?

[Peaseblossom36]

We are driving our trip for the first time ever. I've never needed to worry about getting a PAT before so that will be new to me. We will be at the parks for a few days before so driving from Disney to the port. I was thinking of doing an earlier character breakfast embarkation morning (8am at Chef Mickey's) and then starting the drive to the port since I've seen traffic pretty backed up. If we arrive early will they let us in the parking to garage to park? I don't mind sitting in the car and waiting if needed.

 

[DCL58]

The parking garage at terminal 8 opens at 10:30. You can park anytime after that. You can’t get into the terminal until your PAT though. DCL recently pushed back the PAT’s for people driving to the port. Platinum’s earliest PAT is now 12:00, instead of 11:15.

We cruise multiple times per year and always spend the night before at Disney. We have a nice breakfast the morning of the cruise, and leave for the port around 10:15 or 10:30. We always fill our car with gas when we get to PC and then go to the port.

 

[Peaseblossom36]

The parking garage at terminal 8 opens at 10:30. You can park anytime after that. You can’t get into the terminal until your PAT though. DCL recently pushed back the PAT’s for people driving to the port. Platinum’s earliest PAT is now 12:00, instead of 11:15.

We cruise multiple times per year and always spend the night before at Disney. We have a nice breakfast the morning of the cruise, and leave for the port around 10:15 or 10:30. We always fill our car with gas when we get to PC and then go to the port.

Thank you! Maybe I’ll move breakfast a bit later. Our check in isn't until the end of March and I'm only silver so I'm not anticipating an early time. Might plan so hotel pool time before leaving too, depending on how things go.

I wish we could do the bus but want to be able to start the 20 hour drive home in our own car after

 

[CamColt]

The parking garage at terminal 8 opens at 10:30. You can park anytime after that. You can’t get into the terminal until your PAT though. DCL recently pushed back the PAT’s for people driving to the port. Platinum’s earliest PAT is now 12:00, instead of 11:15.

We cruise multiple times per year and always spend the night before at Disney. We have a nice breakfast the morning of the cruise, and leave for the port around 10:15 or 10:30. We always fill our car with gas when we get to PC and then go to the port.

That's crazy late! Boarding usually begins around 11:45. Do you know what time Pearl is getting? We sailed 2/15 and had 10:45.

 

[DCL58]

That's crazy late! Boarding usually begins around 11:45. Do you know what time Pearl is getting? We sailed 2/15 and had 10:45.

We have 4 more cruises to go before we reach Pearl! I would assume Pearl can just enter the terminal as soon as it opens - like concierge.

 

[Drfate102]

Did I miss which port you are sailing out of? The drive to Port Canaveral is about an hour or so but Port Everglades is around 3 hours.

 

[Peaseblossom36]

Did I miss which port you are sailing out of? The drive to Port Canaveral is about an hour or so but Port Everglades is around 3 hours.

Port Canaveral so about an hour from our resort but we live in the Midwest so about 20 hours back home after.

 

[CamColt]

We have 4 more cruises to go before we reach Pearl! I would assume Pearl can just enter the terminal as soon as it opens - like concierge.

Pearl usually gets automatic 10:45/BG 2 and boarding begins around 11:30-11:45. I’m curious if they are pushing boarding, and everyone back later.

 

[DCL58]

Pearl usually gets automatic 10:45/BG 2 and boarding begins around 11:30-11:45. I’m curious if they are pushing boarding, and everyone back later.

When we sailed the Treasure in late October, we were not allowed into the terminal until after our PAT - we had 3 long lines of people waiting to be let into the terminal with our same PAT. It was a zoo outside.

A CM said DCL was trying to make the inside of the terminal less chaotic by letting fewer guests in at once. This could all tie into that goal.

 

[holula]

That's crazy late! Boarding usually begins around 11:45. Do you know what time Pearl is getting? We sailed 2/15 and had 10:45.

Pearl is still 10.45, I have this for my cruise next week.

I normally do a similar thing to a pp - have a character breakfast around 9.30 and then drive to the port after breakfast. It’s worked well so far and I suspect it will work again in a week!