How early can you get to the port?

[rya]

Does anyone know the earliest time that you can get to the port? Also, we got transfers thru disney to get to the port, How early do buses start leaving the airport?

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

You can get there as early as you want, but they won't let you in before 10:30 am.

I imagine the busses don't start leaving the airport until sometime around 9:30, but I cannot say for certain.

 

[prymsu]

when I stayed at the Hyatt at MCO the first bus was at 9:30 a.m., and I was on the first bus.

 

[Bobski5150]

If you get to the terminal at 10:30 and they do not let you board until 12:00 (or later), what is there to do?

I've read that you can check out the model, watch some Disney movies/cartoons, however, if you do that, don't you lose your place in line and is that enough to keep toddlers entertained for 1.5 hours?

Do they take your paperwork when you get there at 10:30 so when boarding time arrives, you just walk on the ship?

Thanks.

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

You cannot board until the ship is ready for boarding, which is sometime after noon usually. I don't remember the official boarding time.

So yes, if you arrive at the terminal at 10:30 you can get all of your paperwork taken care of and then you'll need to hang around for a couple of hours until they start boarding the ship.

There is usually a rather long line that snakes around the terminal area - however, once boarding starts the line actually moves fairly quickly.

In addition to the things you mentioned, they usually have a character or 2 that the kids can greet (Minnie I think).

While our family usually stayed together in line, I think it's acceptable for one family member to hold the line position and the rest of the family can do other things (at least from what we observed).

 

[shelly3girls]

There is also a snack shop. It seemed important to get in line early so that you can be the first to eat. The line at lunch can get quite long for the buffet. We wanted to be the first to eat so that we could get to Palo's, Flounders, the spa, etc. and be first in line. We were also able to get an upgrade at a reasonable price since we were one of the first to arrive. It also did not seem to be a problem for one parent to stand in line while the other walked the kids around and entertained them.

 

[Bobski5150]

Thank you for the quick responses.

We are planning our "boarding strategy". With a 3 year old, standing in line for 1.5 hours wasn't an option for us. If we can take turns entertaining him while the other holds our spot in line, that would work.

Thanks again!

 

[PAGirl]

If I understand, at 1030 you can get in the port, do your paperwork and then you hang around to board the ship, right? I'm trying to figure out what you have to do to "board the ship" - more paperwork/lines??? or is it just an "open the doors and enjoy".

 

[shelly3girls]

There is a long line that forms. You will procede through the Mickey door where they will check your ID again and your KTTW card (which I think they scan). Then you walk a little farther where they take group pictures of everyone. Even if you don't want a picture you have to wait your turn to walk through. After the picture you are then free to walk onto the ship where you will be announced and greeted.

 

[Minnee]

What time can we get into our cabin?

Thanks

 

[Michelle]

Cabins are available between 1:00 and 1:30 usually. The official boarding time is 1:00 but they generally begin boarding around 12:15.

We used to always get to the port early but have discovered that you board MUCH more quickly if you arrive around 12:45 or so. By that time boarding has begun, there is NO line for check-in (or a very short line) and once you're checked in you just walk right onboard and don't have to stand in line. We then go straight to do Palo and spa reservations and then enjoy lunch.

 

[atigeg]

It seems like the norm is definitely for one or two family members to hold the place in line while the others ander around checking out the model, seeing the characters, watching cartoons, etc. It is also very pleasant to go outside on the overlook area where you can look at the ship (and where smokers can grab a cigarette, since the terminal building in non-smoking). Hubby loves to get a coffee at R.E. Fresh's, while I like the flavored steamed milk. Boarding is so much faster now that they moved the x-rays and metal detectors so you go through them before entering the port building instead of right before you get on the ship.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[ppiew]

You are certainly right about quicker boarding with close to 1PM arrival! The early birds (10:30am) arrivals stand around, walk around , sit around, stand in line, etc. Check in is so quick and simple that it leaves a LOT of time waiting. With small children this year, I think we will arrive about 12:30 - 1 PM. That group got on board the most quickly last year. (as some fellow cruisers told us) We have never waited at Topsiders/Beach Blanket for lunch and never waited at Parrot Cay, so that is a non issue. The ressies scramble isn't any where near the problem it used to be either. Later actually works out better in getting your luggage too. After all it ain't gonna leave without ya!!!!!!

 

[atigeg]

For us, the wait never seems long (of course, I wouldn't mind arriving later, but hubby is worse than a kid...he has to be there as soon as he can!). But it seems like the minute we enter the terminal building, time jumps into that fast-forward-vacation-mode and we are boarding the ship in no time...unfortunately, it seems like we always have to disembark too quickly too.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[shelly3girls]

I could be wrong but I think the wait at lunch is due to the precautions disney is taking to prevent virus from spreading. While at any buffet last week, we were not allowed to touch anything on the buffet. You had to go through the line asking servers for each thing you wanted. This seemed to slow the line down alot! It does make sense to me though to just each lunch after making reservations at Palo's and the spa.

 

[goofygal1975]

It'll be just my son and me on our cruise. So if we got there at 1030am, and looked around for awhile, watched tv, is there really a long line starting around 11 or 1130? I just wanted to be able to look around a little before getting in line.

Can you see the TV/Movie area from standing in line? Thanks for the info!!

 

[disneykins]

Barb,
I know what you mean. We got there about 9:30 one trip and the ship hadn't finished unloading yet so they told us to leave and come back later. LOL. I think we went for coffee and came back and just waited in the parking lot for them to let us in. We'd rather sit around in the terminal than at the hotel.

 

[ppiew]

The line DOES look intimidating by noon, but as soon as they begin to board it moves VERY quickly. It always has amazed me that they can get 2500 people on so very fast! I don't remember seeing the TV from the line, most people are sitting on the floor, etc. There really isn't a lot to do in the terminal - look at the inlaid floor map - see the model of the ship - not too much else, so you do have time on your hands, but it passes quickly. The actual 'check in' time is very brief - just a couple of minutes at the most. Very efficient.