First Time Platinum Cruiser

We will be going on our first cruise as platinum in November. Does platinum get to sit in the same area as concierge while waiting to board? Just curious.
There is a small waiting area in the check in space that, basically, anyone can wait in:
pc 2014 platinum concierge check in 27036a P1030875 Stitch 1500.jpg

There is a Concierge waiting area just outside this space (like behind you, if you're standing where the first picture was taken) that's only for Concierge:
pc 2014 concierge lounge 27039 P1030893 Stitch 1500.jpg
 
I truly wish DCL could do more than an automated message over the loud speaker that tells guest to sit and wait for their boarding number. People don't listen to that. They would need people standing around the entrance enforcing it, but Disney doesn't want to ruffle feathers, so the crowding continues.
Also, in The Walt Disney Theater, the same voice with the message not to save seats is pretty much useless. I had a woman behind me once shooing people off as she held a whole row for The Tangled Show for her family and she just kept saying " I have a large family". She held that row for 45 minutes and not one person challenged her as I was praying they would.


I had a couple of people try to save an entire row in front where we planned to sit. The father was a real jerk and was telling his family it was our fault they could not sit together....... then the wife who showed up 20 minutes later told him that you cannot save seats......
 
It does get a bit chaotic at boarding time. I am not Platinum or even concierge, but i wonder if the did a "Pre-Boarding" of these guests, that way there would be no numbers that could sneak by. Perhaps it could be setup something like an airline gate with different Queues that feed onto the ship... instead of the herd mentality. Doesn't seem like rocket science does it?

The concierge guests board before they start calling groups. They go through a door in the concierge area, not through the mouse ears.
 
We will be going on our first cruise as platinum in November. Does platinum get to sit in the same area as concierge while waiting to board? Just curious.
Yes, they do, provided there are any seats left available.
 

I had a couple of people try to save an entire row in front where we planned to sit. The father was a real jerk and was telling his family it was our fault they could not sit together....... then the wife who showed up 20 minutes later told him that you cannot save seats......
I really don't "get" this whole idea of people saving seats in the WD theatre. You are in a theater to see a show, not to talk to those around you. Really, what difference does it make if a group of 12 all sits together in the same row or not? It makes absolutely no sense to me. It's not like you are not seeing and talking to these same people at dinner and all over the ship. If someone is late to the show, then it is their responsibility to find their own seat.
 
I really don't "get" this whole idea of people saving seats in the WD theatre. You are in a theater to see a show, not to talk to those around you. Really, what difference does it make if a group of 12 all sits together in the same row or not? It makes absolutely no sense to me. It's not like you are not seeing and talking to these same people at dinner and all over the ship. If someone is late to the show, then it is their responsibility to find their own seat.

I have absolutely no issue if 12 people want to sit together.

Show up and get in line early, with all 12 people.

Go to where there is room, and sit.

Where an issue arises is where 1 or 2 people show up early, try to block off 12 seats for a group that only shows up moments before the show or movie starts.

Its the same people who come up on deck at 6AM or so and put shoes, etc on all the seats by the pool, only to show up at 10 or so (if ever) and expect the seats to be there waiting for them.
 
Eww. I really don't see the need to refer to people as vermin, especially when their only fault is standing a bit in the way as they wait for boarding. :confused3

It's a common phrase used for those in the airport who hang around the gate waiting for their turn when they are in some late group number, but standing up right by the entrance 30m before the plane even boards. Annoying...

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Gate Lice
 
When we are in the port we are normally getting pictures with either Mickey or Minnie, so by the time we're done taking pictures it's time for us to board.

I just walk past the crowds near the gate waiting for their number, everyone is just excited to board.
 
I will be boarding as a first time platinum in San Juan. I’ve never been to San Juan. How is the boarding there? Pretty easy? Do they have a concierge area for platinum guests like they do at PC?
 
Last time we went, there was a queue area to the ship entryway roped off, Disney-style. When our number was called, we went to the end of the line. There was no pushing through crowds at the entry. Now our PAT was 11:15, so we'd waited through a few numbers. Maybe those crowds had been let on already? Anyway, it was crowded, but not crazy. You're going to be on a ship with all these people, so you'd think people would want to be nice.

As an aside, I kept seeing the people who were in front of us in line and in the photo area all week. The dad was very tall and had an unusual mustache, so I knew it was him. It reminded me that you never know who you're going to see again, so be nice. :)
 
It's a common phrase used for those in the airport who hang around the gate waiting for their turn when they are in some late group number, but standing up right by the entrance 30m before the plane even boards. Annoying...

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Gate Lice
There are a lot of "common phrases" in Urban Dictionary that I would never say out loud or be allowed to write on Disboards.
 
I think the trouble with DCL preboarding is there isn't a specific place to stand for your number, and since people are eager, they want to make sure they are ready when their number is called. But this can crowd out the people that are supposed to be boarding. It's a bit like the line at the deli counter, but with hundreds of people. I was on a different cruise line that had sets of seats numbered 1 -10 so that at least 10 groups of people could sit in those seats and go up as their number was called. Once group 1 was called, that became the place for group 11 to sit, etc. This allowed people to have a place to be so that they knew they'd be OK when it was their turn without being in other people's way.
 
We are first time Platinum and like to drag our three small suitcases on with us, but have never boarded early. Anyone do that through the crowds? And can we drop our bags in front of our cabin?
 
We are first time Platinum and like to drag our three small suitcases on with us, but have never boarded early. Anyone do that through the crowds? And can we drop our bags in front of our cabin?
Not too bad getting through the crowd. But you have to keep your bags with your until cabin is ready at 1:30.
 
We are first time Platinum and like to drag our three small suitcases on with us, but have never boarded early. Anyone do that through the crowds? And can we drop our bags in front of our cabin?
You can't get to your stateroom until 1:30. So you'll be dragging your bags with you until that time, if you board earlier than that.
 
Just off the Dream today, Platinum. My friend and I were nearly the first on the ship on Monday! People had gathered NEAR the opening, but not crowding us out! The best thing about that was getting a window seat in Cabanas!

This time I asked for the bottle of sparkling wine to be brought to the dining room. Usually, I am with my DH, and we would order cheese platter and enjoy it with the wine on our balcony. This was a cruise with a friend, and we would be doing what we wanted in afternoons, not necessarily together and it worked out very nicely.
 

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