Help me with online check in - a couple of questions!

[MrsInsG]

Hi All-

I promise I really have looked for some of this information, but some of my questions have not been answered (that I can find).

I am silver CC and will be able to make my selections in about two weeks. As fate would have it, the family and I will be in WDW at the time our cruise selection opens up. Not only that, we'll be at an after hours event the evening prior (when I can log in and enter my passport info, etc.) Here are my questions:

The only thing I am interested in scheduling is Palo brunch and *maybe* the Magan's Bay excursion in St. Thomas. I would like to arrive at the port around noon, so I'm not pressed for an early PAT, either. I thought about bringing my info to the after hours event, sending dh and kids off to play, and finding a quiet spot to enter my info. Is that necessary? I mean, would you do that if you were in my place and only wanted the Palo brunch? Would it be reasonable for me to wait until I get back to the hotel to enter all of my info, even if it is a little after midnight?

Also, do I need to register my tween and teen for the kids club that night, or are they guaranteed a space anyway, and I can complete that info later?

Lastly, Palo brunch on a 7 day eastern - what days is it offered? Do you have a preference of one over another?

Many thanks for your help and advice!

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Palo brunch is offered only on sea days. While the Eastern has more sea days than the Western, it will still be in high demand. As a Silver CC member, there's a lot jumping at the reservations before you. With the updates to the app, you can do this all on your phone now (if you choose). I'd take the 15 minutes to do the check in and attempt to reserve a Brunch time ASAP. My recommendation, take it for what it's worth

 

[BCV23]

You do not need to even begin checkin before booking Palo, etc.. As long as you are paid in full, you can book anything available as soon as your window opens. For our October cruise, I've booked Palo brunch and dinner, a cabana and an excursion but have yet to do online checkin.

With the recent upgrade to the AP, you should be able to try to book Palo on your phone while in the park. Have fun.

 

[Mommb]

Also, do I need to register my tween and teen for the kids club that night, or are they guaranteed a space anyway, and I can complete that info later?

If your kids are over 12, you don't need to register them at all -- they will be automatically on the list for Edge and/or Vibe. For kids 3-12, you will need to register them sometime before they visit the Oceaneer's Club/Lab, to indicate who is authorized to pick them up and whether they are authorized to sign themselves in and out. That doesn't need to happen before you register for onboard activities, though. If you were able to book them on the cruise, they are guaranteed a spot -- Disney Cruise won't let kids book once they reach the maximum potential capacity for the Club/Lab.

 

[g_ppetto]

You can enter a lot of your check in information the evening before your window opens. I think it was 7pm or 8 pm Eastern time the system allowed me to do the check in. Scheduling activities could not be done until midnight. I had to try... The evening check in really took a lot of the pressure off of the midnight festivities. We did this through a web browser, not the DCL app.

I would recommend visiting the DCL web sites on your phone, prior to visiting WDW, to see how the pages display. You may need to enable the 'view desktop mode' in your browser. It will also give you a chance to test your log in and bookmark the pages for quick access later.

There is still a chance to book Palo brunch even if none are available online. The Navigator you receive when you check in at the port will have information regarding where to go for dining reservations, tastings, etc. Take a look at some of the Navigators posted online for a similar cruise to get a feel for where the information is located on the Navigator.

 

[Weedy]

Because you’re Silver most of your information will already be listed in the reservation. You should be able to book your Palo reservation without putting in any information. If anything needs to be updated (address, passport number) you can go back and do that another day.
Palo brunch is served on “sea days” you should be able to login to your reservation and see the itinerary for your cruise

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Brunch really is best done at open for check-in. Magen's Bay likely won't fill fast, and if it does, is so easily done on your own I'd not panic anyway.

 

[BCV23]

Hi All-



Lastly, Palo brunch on a 7 day eastern - what days is it offered? Do you have a preference of one over another?

Forgot to answer about Palo brunch. On Eastern Caribbean cruises, Palo is usually offered on day 2,3 and 6. If you will be on the Fantasy that would be Sunday, Monday and Thursday.

You can enter a lot of your check in information the evening before your window opens. I think it was 7pm or 8 pm Eastern time the system allowed me to do the check in. Scheduling activities could not be done until midnight. I had to try... The evening check in really took a lot of the pressure off of the midnight festivities. We did this through a web browser, not the DCL app.

I would recommend visiting the DCL web sites on your phone, prior to visiting WDW, to see how the pages display. You may need to enable the 'view desktop mode' in your browser. It will also give you a chance to test your log in and bookmark the pages for quick access later.

There is still a chance to book Palo brunch even if none are available online. The Navigator you receive when you check in at the port will have information regarding where to go for dining reservations, tastings, etc. Take a look at some of the Navigators posted online for a similar cruise to get a feel for where the information is located on the
Navigator.

Lots of good advice but I just wanted to reiterate that it is not necessary to complete nor even begin online checkin before booking activities, etc.. You only need to be PIF, signed into your account, and of course within your booking window.

 

[MrsInsG]

Thank you to all who took the time to respond! I appreciate these boards because people are so willing to help one another. You have set my mind at ease, and I am so looking forward to taking another step toward this cruise!