First Time Cruisers-Check-in Experiences

[PriorPrincess]

I tried to do a search to see how the online check-in is working for first time cruisers. Has there been anything that you have been closed out of? Trying to gauge how much time I will need to spend the first day waiting in lines to sign-up for meet and greets, brunch and Disney Jr. breakfast. Thanks!

 

[Poosdarling]

Hi, I would love to know too, if anyone has any advice. I will be flying in from NY and will need to leave my house at 6am and arrive in FL by 10am. Guessing can probably get to the docks around 11am. Just had a baby, but not bringing him with us and will need to find somewhere quiet to pump. Not quite sure how this will all pan out but hoping to be able to get into our room around 12 or 1.

 

[ghtx]

Hi, I would love to know too, if anyone has any advice. I will be flying in from NY and will need to leave my house at 6am and arrive in FL by 10am. Guessing can probably get to the docks around 11am. Just had a baby, but not bringing him with us and will need to find somewhere quiet to pump. Not quite sure how this will all pan out but hoping to be able to get into our room around 12 or 1.

Well you definitely won't get to your room before 1:30, since even if you are on the ship, staterooms aren't ready until 1:30. I'm not sure if they can make an exception if you need to pump.

Also, if your flight is landing at Orlando at 10am, I don't think that you will make it to the port by 11am. You'll have to get your luggage, pick up your car, etc.

 

[krazystain]

We're a first time family and just did our check in at midnight on Sunday. I'm an uber-planner, so I had a list of priorities for booking and I was able to book everything I needed on the days/times I had hoped for. We booked Palo dinner, nursery time for my 14 month old (they let us book 18 hours vs 10 that I was expecting -- I'm not sure if that is new or not?), Disney Jr breakfast, and both Frozen and Princess meet and greets. We are not planning on any excursions, so I can't speak to those. I know that the Cabanas on Castaway Cay were booked prior to our window; and Palo brunch was also sold out at midnight.

I've heard a lot of feedback that the website can be buggy at online check-in times, but lucky for us, everything was smooth. I logged in right at midnight and it took me about 45 minutes after I triple checked everything and we got an 11am PAT.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Hi, I would love to know too, if anyone has any advice. I will be flying in from NY and will need to leave my house at 6am and arrive in FL by 10am. Guessing can probably get to the docks around 11am. Just had a baby, but not bringing him with us and will need to find somewhere quiet to pump. Not quite sure how this will all pan out but hoping to be able to get into our room around 12 or 1.

Good luck on a same day flight. Lots of views on this site on whether that works well. I'd never try it.

If you land at 10 you will be lucky to get to ship by noon depending on your method of transportation. It's a 45 minute drive to port. Luggage takes quite a while at Orlando airport. I've waited anywhere from 15 min to 30 min. I haven't taken Disney bus to ship so if you are doing that and just letting them bring your luggage you might be able to get there a little earlier depending on how long it takes for bus to load up.

And unless you are concierge rooms are not open until 130. Depending on your boarding number you should be on ship by 12 30 if not earlier.

If you really need to pump I'd suggest you use a bathroom facility at airport while waiting for bags. Or once you are on ship there are quiet restrooms on decks 3 and 4 if you go to either end of ship away from the middle where everyone congregates.

Since you aren't bringing a child you may not be saving milk but as an FYI the cabin fridge barely keeps stuff cool and never cold.

 

[Quellman]

Hi, I would love to know too, if anyone has any advice. I will be flying in from NY and will need to leave my house at 6am and arrive in FL by 10am. Guessing can probably get to the docks around 11am. Just had a baby, but not bringing him with us and will need to find somewhere quiet to pump. Not quite sure how this will all pan out but hoping to be able to get into our room around 12 or 1.

[/QUOTE]
Ask at the nursery area. I can't find my "Small World" flyer for everything related to the under 3 crowd, but they certainly should have some good ideas. I have found some quiet areas up near the movie theater on embarkation day, you may also be able to find a quiet spot in one of the adult areas, like Skyline on embarkation day.

If you really need to pump I'd suggest you use a bathroom facility at airport while waiting for bags. Or once you are on ship there are quiet restrooms on decks 3 and 4 if you go to either end of ship away from the middle where everyone congregates.

Atlanta Airport has installed some feeding pods between some of the gates. I don't know how good they are at soundproofing, but it could be more modest, and not a bathroom. I assume the flight is direct, so maybe MCO has something similar that could be used prior to leaving the secured area.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I tried to do a search to see how the online check-in is working for first time cruisers. Has there been anything that you have been closed out of? Trying to gauge how much time I will need to spend the first day waiting in lines to sign-up for meet and greets, brunch and Disney Jr. breakfast. Thanks!

Things like the Princess Gathering, Frozen Meet & Greet, Character breakfast are bookable during the online check in process now. I haven't heard of anyone not being able to book one during that process.

Brunch can be an issue, if you are on a cruise with limited sea days. But, if you can't book it right away online, just keep checking back, as some people book "just in case" and then cancel before the penalty date. And DCL does hold back some reservations for booking onboard. Just check the Navigator you get in the terminal as to where/when this will be. When I've had to go the dining changes on embarkation, I think the longest I've waited was about 5 minutes, most times I just walked right up.

 

[CamperMomma]

Is the character breakfast available on every cruise, or just longer ones? Wading through all the check-in stuff now trying to find it for our 4 night

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is the character breakfast available on every cruise, or just longer ones? Wading through all the check-in stuff now trying to find it for our 4 night

I believe it's still just on 7 night and longer cruises.

 

[mmouse37]

We just got off the Fantasy on Saturday. We booked the character breakfast online during online check in. We had a group of 37 total on the cruise with many children, some as young as 1. The 1 year olds loved the characters from afar but not up close. 2 of the 3 1 year olds started to get scared when the characters came in for a photo.

Mickey did make an appearance even though it was a Disney Junior breakfast. It did feel rushed and the food was not good...at least the pancakes. They were very dry. I think everything must be plated ahead of time to save time. We would go again for the kids but I would eat first at Cabanas next time or try the eggs.

MJ

 

[CamperMomma]

Thanks, shmoo!!