How fast do PAT fill up?

[cwis]

Does the terminal have any vending machines?

I've been reading reports saying that while no shops are in terminal, there are some vending machines, that I believe accept cash.

Don't take my word for granted, this is our first cruise, I'm just repeating knowledge I have read on this board!

 

[Quellman]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. As a clarification, I am well aware how PAT work, how they are somehow tied to the boarding number, and that staterooms will probably not be ready until mid afternoon. I was intrigued by the fact early PATs were still available 40 days before the cruise, while at the same time I've been reading “tips” as to how maximize the chance of getting an early PAT (by checking “use cash for incidentals”, filling all the forms with dummy “X” to speed up the checkin process…) This made me believe early PAT would be out of availability faster than Slinky Dash FP+, while in the real world of my cruise, this has certainly not been the case.

Some of it may also have to do with the number of people using Disney transport, Concierge, and Platinum guests. That entire group do not need a port arrival time. They just simply show up. The first few time slots are generally the first to be filled up, particularly from returning cruises (just a guess). The other are people who want to be on the boat as fast as they can, or don't know what time they will arrive, so they select the earliest one in case their plans change.

 

[g_ppetto]

I would think that 'crush of guests' and 'waiting in line' would be necessary to enjoy the full Disney Experience.

 

[daisyx3]

Question...we have an 11 PAT and plan to eat (no kids), don't think anything will be going on that first afternoon other than the DVC thing. If we want to do the aquaduck before things open, is there a changing area or do we have to have suits under our clothes? We've never done it the swimming before.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I've been reading “tips” as to how maximize the chance of getting an early PAT (by checking “use cash for incidentals”, filling all the forms with dummy “X” to speed up the checkin process…) This made me believe early PAT would be out of availability faster than Slinky Dash FP+, while in the real world of my cruise, this has certainly not been the case.

It may be that you just got lucky. Either with not a lot of people choosing early times (some people like later times) or that some times opened up again before you signed in. A lot of people reserve an early time, and then if they make other plans (like DCL transportation) they let their early PAT go. You are right about getting a slanted view of things from these boards (like does everyone arrive a day early and get passports for their infants) but in the case of the PATs, I think the early ones do disappear quickly sometimes, and then reappear sometimes. To be sure, no one feels that PATs go as fast as coveted fast passes. Most of us suggest to reserve key excursions or and even M&Gs before PATs, but still many people feel that it makes sense to get the PAT time quickly and then go back and fill in the other info later. I know when I decided to stay up to get tickets and excursions and things at midnight for my 9 party members, I figures I may as well get PATs too, but I didn't want to bother filling in credit card numbers and passport numbers and flight times at 1 AM, so I put in the placeholder info as advised her and corrected it the next day or so.

If we have a PAT before rooms are ready, what are we supposed to do? Our last PAT was 1:30 and we arrived when our rooms were ready so we went and put our carry on bags away, ate some lunch, and waited for sail away on the deck. What else is there available to take up so much time?
Until recently, I didn't even know navigators were available pre-boarding in the Port, so I will definitely be checking one of those out while we wait of coarse. Where do we get one?

We find that one central parent on the pool deck can sit with the bags while the other play or sign up for things or whatever. One adult usually enjoys the break. Personally, I like to eat at 1:35 right after they call cabins open. Yes, it means you have your bags with you still, but it also means that Cabanas is much closer to empty as others slog down to dump stuff in their cabins. I happened by the cabin decks around 1PM on my way to something else and some of the hallways already looked like a rope drop with people waiting to get to their cabins as soon as they could. So to me, it is a bonus to skip those crowds as well. When we finished our lunch and went to the rooms, the halls were clear, and we still had plenty of time to unpack before sail away and the lifeboat drill.

Question...we have an 11 PAT and plan to eat (no kids), don't think anything will be going on that first afternoon other than the DVC thing. If we want to do the aquaduck before things open, is there a changing area or do we have to have suits under our clothes? We've never done it the swimming before.

Some people spend that time signing up for alcohol tastings or changing dinner reservations. If you want to do Aqua duck, that is great too. As for changing, I think the locker rooms by the Fitness center are already open at that time. Since you don't have kids, that could work for you. (18+) Though wearing them under is a popular option too.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Does the terminal have any vending machines?

There used to be a pair of machines, one drinks and one small snack type items, over by the restrooms. We had to get something out of one once but that was years ago. Never had to go to the restroom there so I'm not sure if they are still present or not.

 

[cwis]

There used to be a pair of machines, one drinks and one small snack type items, over by the restrooms. We had to get something out of one once but that was years ago. Never had to go to the restroom there so I'm not sure if they are still present or not.

Just found out this video from 2017:

It seems the vending machines were still at the exact location you mentionned (skip to 0:53 of the video to catch a short glimpse)

 

[cwis]

Replying to my own question, in case someone finds this thread in the future:

• 40 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 10:45am;
• 30 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:00am;
• 25 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:15am;
• 20 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:30am;
  
• 14 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:45am.

Remember that even if you have an early PAT, boarding may not begin before noon, and you may end up just waiting with everyone else in a crowded terminal until all the guests with a lower boarding number finally board.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Replying to my own question, in case someone finds this thread in the future:

• 40 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 10:45am;
• 30 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:00am;
• 25 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:15am;
• 20 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:30am;
  
• 14 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:45am.

Remember that even if you have an early PAT, boarding may not begin before noon, and you may end up just waiting with everyone else in a crowded terminal until all the guests with a lower boarding number finally board.

Thanks. Anyone know if this is typical or an outlier?

 

[ScooterScott44]

Thank you everyone for your feedback... ...I was intrigued by the fact early PATs were still available 40 days before the cruise, while at the same time I've been reading “tips” as to how maximize the chance of getting an early PAT

Just guessing, but as previously stated PAT is probably more important on the boards then the general public. Concierge will not impact PAT demand at all, there is a set number of rooms for that category and that will not change. A few of the things that might impact the demand for early PAT in my opinion are-

- number of platinums, with no assigned PAT, if there is a higher ratio of this group expect less demand
- more open rooms, may mean people are trying for upgrades increasing demand for early PAT
- more open rooms, less demand for any PAT at this time
- higher amount newer or first time cruisers, many are just accepting any PAT

That is just some observations to add to some of the other points that were raised.

 

[RedSox68]

I hope when they enlarge the port and terminal for the new ships, that they put more seating in! Disney's is the only port I've been to that does not provide enough seating for all the passengers waiting to be called.

 

[kiford]

We never picked an early PAT, although we are typically coming from a WDW resort so it's kind of a moot point. But I don't want to get there early. We arrive well after open boarding so we get to a terminal with no lines, no waiting to board, no waiting for our room to be ready. Not everyone is interested in being the first on the ship or being there early so it's not that unusual that many earlier slots are available even close to the cruise. We're now Platinum so won't need to pick a PAT but we'll still arrive after open boarding.

 

[RedSox68]

We never picked an early PAT, although we are typically coming from a WDW resort so it's kind of a moot point. But I don't want to get there early. We arrive well after open boarding so we get to a terminal with no lines, no waiting to board, no waiting for our room to be ready. Not everyone is interested in being the first on the ship or being there early so it's not that unusual that many earlier slots are available even close to the cruise. We're now Platinum so won't need to pick a PAT but we'll still arrive after open boarding.

Yes, we decided on our next cruise out of PC, we are not going to get there before Noon as we have done so many times in the past. Way too much chaos for us older folks and the lack of seating is a problem for my husband. There are still lunches available if you get onboard after 1 p.m. and I think I would enjoy the room to move around and not be pushed and shoved when numbers are called

 

[ktate82]

We go swimming in an uncrowded pool, and ride the Aqua Duck without a long line. I carry only one shoulder bag with necessities, and leave any other baggage to the porters to deliver to the stateroom. I've never had an issue with leaving my shoulder bag on a deck chair while we swim.

I would second the "less is more" when you have to carry and lug all your carry on luggage. We do one rolling carry on (so no one has to "carry" anything), and it makes things so much easier.

 

[Sunshine2U]

We ended up in line for the terminal to open (waited maybe 30 min) on our last cruise. We woke up at the Port Canaveral hotel around 6 am. With the combination of excitement for our 5yo nephew's first cruise and a lack of anything better to do, we figured we might as well head to port. It was before our PAT but probably not by too much, I honestly don't remember. One thing good about arriving that early is that you can snag some seats.

 

[southerngirl528]

I'm always surprised when people don't like to micromanage everything. THIS is half the fun of every Disney vacation, isn't it?

YES. Yes, of COURSE it is!!! I get a lot of fun out of researching anywhere I'm going and planning. More "bang for my buck", IMO!!

Yup. We had a 10:45 PAT and we were boarding group 5 or 6 or something on our first cruise and we didn't get on until almost noon. Waiting in the crowded terminal with no where to sit with a cranky hungry 3 year old was not my idea of fun.

For those new DCL cruisers, this can be VERY true. The terminal will get very, very crowded before it starts boarding because so many want to arrive really early. There is room to mill around, but very few seats to be found. The model of the Magic is super cool and for details freaks, that can take up a few minutes, and you can get a peek at the ship through the huge glass windows at the rear of the terminal, but other than reading through your Navigator and people watching, and maybe catching a character greeting, there's not a lot to kill time except get more excited about boarding your Disney ship!

Does the terminal have any vending machines?

Yes, but I think it's only 2 or 3?? I believe they are not far from the terminal restrooms? Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Also I think there are a couple of machines in the parking garage as well.

 

[Dug720]

Yes, but I think it's only 2 or 3?? I believe they are not far from the terminal restrooms? Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Also I think there are a couple of machines in the parking garage as well.

I don't know the number, but I've never seen a huge line of people waiting to get something from them, so I'm guessing 2 or 3 (each of drinks and snacks if I remember correctly) is plenty.

 

[Donna M]

I'm the kind that gets the earliest PAT possible. Once, my friend and I even took Magical Express to the airport from our hotel so we could get on an early bus to the port instead of having to wait for the regular bus transfer to the port.

Another time we were at the port garage at around 10:00, or just when they let us in and had a lot of waiting. I'd rather wait at the port since I'm so excited then the hotel. We were the first ones through Mickey's ears, of the regular folk, and there sure were plenty of seats at Cabanas.

Can't wait for our Dec. trip!

 

[cwis]

Replying to my own question, in case someone finds this thread in the future:

• 40 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 10:45am;
• 30 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:00am;
• 25 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:15am;
• 20 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:30am;
  
• 14 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:45am.

Remember that even if you have an early PAT, boarding may not begin before noon, and you may end up just waiting with everyone else in a crowded terminal until all the guests with a lower boarding number finally board.

Keeping track of the earliest PATs for my cruise:

• 40 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 10:45am;
• 30 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:00am;
• 25 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:15am;
• 20 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:30am;
  
• 14 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 11:45am;
• 8 days before cruise, earliest PAT was 12:15pm.

 

[All about me]

If we have a PAT before rooms are ready, what are we supposed to do? Our last PAT was 1:30 and we arrived when our rooms were ready so we went and put our carry on bags away, ate some lunch, and waited for sail away on the deck. What else is there available to take up so much time?

My Plan

12:30 Port Arrival Time
- Get Navigator
- Get two pressed pennies each in Port Terminal (6 different designs)
- Check-in at dedicated Castaway Club member counter
1:00 Board Ship
- Lunch (main dining room or buffet)
- Get beer package or drink of the day
- Explore ship taking pictures at the various venues
- Stop in at Oceaneer Club/Lab's open house
- Stop at Guest services for info on Hidden Mickey Challenge and Pin Trading Event
3:00 Go to cabin (no wait at this time)
-unpack
3:30 Drill
4:30 Sail Away Celebration

It may just be than most people on a Disney cruise enjoy their time without feeling the need to micro-manage everything from their PAT to their spa reservation or the order of their rotational dinings.

Micromanaging??? I'm not micromanaging, I'm 'insuring a quality experience'.