How are they doing?

[mostyn17]

With the MAgic in CA. now, I was just wondering how the checkin process was and loading and unloading luggage? We were on one of the cruises that stopped in Ft. Lauderdale (thanks for Fran) lol and it was horrible. Huge lines, no one knew what they were doing. With CA not being there "home port" how are they doing? Is it easy like it is in Florida?

Thanks for your replys.

Travis

 

[Debogan]

With the MAgic in CA. now, I was just wondering how the checkin process was and loading and unloading luggage? We were on one of the cruises that stopped in Ft. Lauderdale (thanks for Fran) lol and it was horrible. Huge lines, no one knew what they were doing. With CA not being there "home port" how are they doing? Is it easy like it is in Florida?

Thanks for your replys.

Travis

I just got off the Magic last Saturday and although I have never cruised out of Port Canaveral, I can say I thought it was extremely smooth. We got there early, were given a boarding pass for group 1, walked on the ship soon after noon.

Getting off, the breakfast times were staggered (6:45 Lumiere's, 7:15 Parrot Cay, etc,) depending on where you ate the last night and which seating. I think the last group ate at 9 am. When you entered the restaurant you got a character sticker and then had breakfast. When your sticker was called, you gathered your stuff and walked off. There was a line to show your documents, then you went to get your luggage.


We had 7:15 breakfast, our group was call first to leave from our restaurant, we had birth certificates not passports, and we were in the car leaving the terminal at 8:30.

 

[pppiglet]

We also never cruise out of PC, but our June 11th went real smooth. We had last breakfast 8:55 and were off the ship by 10:15, thru the terminal and customs by 11:15 and home by 12:00. We had passports. Getting on the ship was no problem either.

 

[DisneyTart]

We also never cruise out of PC, but our June 11th went real smooth. We had last breakfast 8:55 and were off the ship by 10:15, thru the terminal and customs by 11:15 and home by 12:00. We had passports. Getting on the ship was no problem either.

I understand breakfast is stagered...but what if you don't eat breakfast. What time are you required to be out of your cabin?

 

[Debogan]

I understand breakfast is stagered...but what if you don't eat breakfast. What time are you required to be out of your cabin?

You have to be out of your cabin by 8. And they told us that even if you weren't going to eat breakfast, you needed to go to the restaurant when assigned just to get your sticker

 

[cruiseletters]

To disneytart, My family was on the june 25 cruise and they told us even if you didn't choose to have breakfast in your designated restaurant you still would need to go there and get your stickers for your group from your servers that morning. Then you could go to topsiders or just hang out on the ship until your sticker charactor was called over the ships intercom. I was on the dcl last june 2004 in pc and I personally thought that checking in and debarking from the west coast cruise was easier, the terminal that dcl is using feels much larger and consequently your not bumping into everyone while trying to get your luggage. They've done a very good job at planning this out.

 

[pppiglet]

We had to be out of our room at 8:30. We stayed til 8:30 and watched all our friends leaving the terminal from our verandah!

 

[LiserAnn]

I just got off the Magic last Saturday and although I have never cruised out of Port Canaveral, I can say I thought it was extremely smooth. We got there early, were given a boarding pass for group 1, walked on the ship soon after noon.

I'm curious...how early did you get to the port? Also, is it true that to get into a boarding group, only one family member has to be present (along with appropriate IDs of family members)? I'm thinking I might be able to leave the kids with DH back at the hotel room and have them join me a little later. I hear there's not really much to do for little ones and the waits can be long.

Thanks in advance for the info!

Lisa

 

[pppiglet]

I'm curious...how early did you get to the port? Also, is it true that to get into a boarding group, only one family member has to be present (along with appropriate IDs of family members)? I'm thinking I might be able to leave the kids with DH back at the hotel room and have them join me a little later. I hear there's not really much to do for little ones and the waits can be long.

We got to the terminal at 10 and we were boarding group 4. I stayed in line with all our info and passports, docs and the DS & DH just waited for me in some comfy chairs. They didn't open the check in lines til 10 or 10:15 when we went.

 

[Debogan]

I'm curious...how early did you get to the port? Also, is it true that to get into a boarding group, only one family member has to be present (along with appropriate IDs of family members)? I'm thinking I might be able to leave the kids with DH back at the hotel room and have them join me a little later. I hear there's not really much to do for little ones and the waits can be long.

Thanks in advance for the info!

Lisa

We got there at about 9:30. Yes, I think you could go alone and get checked in. They will only allow one person in the checkin line anyway. as I think about this, the only problem I could see would be whether they would let your family up the escalators without any evidence they were going on the cruise. I don't remember anyone asking to see anything at that point but they do tell you at the curb that no one is allowed in the terminal except passengers.

Maybe someone else out there has more info about that.

 

[Eeyorefan12]

We got there at about 9:30. Yes, I think you could go alone and get checked in. They will only allow one person in the checkin line anyway. as I think about this, the only problem I could see would be whether they would let your family up the escalators without any evidence they were going on the cruise. I don't remember anyone asking to see anything at that point but they do tell you at the curb that no one is allowed in the terminal except passengers.

Maybe someone else out there has more info about that.

We were also on the 6/25. My DH went across the street with a friend to return a rented car (apparently a two-person job) while I went in to check us all in. It didn't occur to me until I walked inside that he might need his tickets and passport to get past the guard at the door! I talked to the guy and he was very friendly about it...said he'd "remember" and let my hubby (and our friend) in when they got there. I just asked DH what they had to do and he says they just told their story and the guard did let them in. That got him up the escalators and then he called me on his cell so we could connect. Problem was, he still had to show his drivers' license to get his KTTW card--the check-in person wouldn't give it to me without that. That was a bit frustrating because we had to wait extra time for that particular agent to be available and we had already been called for boarding.

Otherwise, as others have said, baggage handling and boarding seemed very smooth.

CB

 

[LiserAnn]

So, based on all this, do you experienced West Coast cruisers think I should have my family come early with me, or do you think we'd be OK with me being the "advance party" and them joining me a short time later (DH and I both have cell phones, I might add)? I promise I won't hold anyone accountable if it turns out differently than your experience, I'm just trying to get an idea of what to do....my 3 year old is my main concern (newly potty trained, boredom, eventual melt down-you moms all get the horrid picture, I'm sure)

Thanks!

Lisa

 

[calmom]

I called Disney and "they" told me that all parties need to be there because of security reasons. Sounds like they make exceptions, probably depending who is working that day. It seems to make sense to me that everyone would need to be present. However, I like you, would prefer not to take our 2 year old and wait around for so long. With the situation in London, I imagine at least for the next couple sailings they might have a little more security than normal. I'll ask this Saturday for you when we check in. Lisa

 

[Eeyorefan12]

I'd like to point out something I haven't seen mentioned. Except for the excitement of wanting to get aboard the ship as soon as possible (and having the fun begin!), there is really no reason to feel you have to be "early"--unless there are things you'd like to book that you weren't able to do online. Boarding is generally from around 12 noon to 5 p.m.--no sooner. You cannot have access to your room until 2 p.m. so, once you're on board, the main things you do are eat, make reservations if you need to, and explore. If you've made online ressies for Palo and childcare, etc., then you're down to eating and exploring.

The majority of passengers seem to arrive between 10 and 11 a.m. (according to the check-in people I spoke with) but even Disney will tell you that checking in after 11:30 is just fine and even suggested. We know of people who got to the dock at 10:00 and boarded about 12:30. Our friends arrived at 11:15 and boarded about 12:45. But we met another family who were delayed at the airport, checking in at about 3 p.m. and literally breezed on board--no lines at all!

I guess I just wanted to give another viewpoint. Yes, we got there kind of early and yes, we milled around in a crowd until what seemed like forever. We were full of excitement and adrenaline but it still can seem like forever, even with Chip and Dale there to take photos with. Since we already had our Palo and excursion ressies, we really didn't need to be there that early. Just another idea to consider. I remember those toddler days quite well!

CB

 

[LiserAnn]

That's an interesting perspective. What's more interesting to me is each cruise has seemed to be different. There were other threads where West Coasters complained they came later and they had to wait forever, that it was really bad! (These were people who were groups 14 or so.) Go figure.