How to get an Early PAT

[DHCruise]

Hello DisBoards,

I wanted to get some verification. Our check-in is coming up soon. I read somewhere that there is a "trick" to getting an early PAT. Instead of filling out the check-in information properly and carefully, they said to just put in whatever (invalid passport numbers, etc. ), to get through the whole process. Then after you select your PAT and it's confirmed. Go back and fix/correct all the info. Is that even possible?

Also, we booked through Costco, i'm assuming I can still do My On Line Check in on the actual Disney Cruise site correct?

Thanks for all the help thus far forum. I greatly appreciate it.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hello DisBoards,

I wanted to get some verification. Our check-in is coming up soon. I read somewhere that there is a "trick" to getting an early PAT. Instead of filling out the check-in information properly and carefully, they said to just put in whatever (invalid passport numbers, etc. ), to get through the whole process. Then after you select your PAT and it's confirmed. Go back and fix/correct all the info. Is that even possible?

Also, we booked through Costco, i'm assuming I can still do My On Line Check in on the actual Disney Cruise site correct?

Thanks for all the help thus far forum. I greatly appreciate it.

Yes, you can do your own online check in.

The possibility of getting an "early" PAT depends on how many are left when your window opens. It's quite likely that someone checking in at 75 days out will have 10:30 slots still open. Or not.

But, yes, it's quicker to the PAT page unlocking, if you just go with the default answers (or gibberish); birth certificate instead of passport; using cash to back up your account (not a credit card); arriving by car (instead of airline). Then you can "correct" any errors later.

The DCL website only recognizes that you've entered something not whether the information makes sense.

 

[WINTER]

What is PAT

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What is PAT

PAT = Port Arrival Time.

When you do your online check in, you select at Port Arrival Time as part of the process.

 

[DHCruise]

But from what it sounds like, you choose your PAT after you've filled out everything else (passport number, etc) So does the enter bogus info first, just to get to the point where you can select your PAT not true/valid?

 

[yorkieteacher]

I just did this for two rooms (you have to do it separately, even if you book/pay for them both!) I began at 12:01am our earliest allowed on-line check-in day because this is our first cruise and I knew others were already booked. I didn't put jibberish, but I did check "use cash" and "use government issued birth certificate" which I later went back and edited. Even though I booked through a TA, I was able to modify the information I entered myself, although I have seen on these boards that others have had to go through their TA to modify. It also helped that we are driving to the port, which I heard is what you should first put regardless in order to get to the pick your arrival time part quicker. We got the second offered arrival time of 10:45-11:00; the first, 10:30-10:45 was gone, I am sure from people who have cruised DCL before and were able to do the online check in earlier. IT went very quicly and I was done by 12:10. I am pasting a good link that helped me Good luck!

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/201...ning-port-adventure-reservations-made-simple/

 

[shelldub]

When I did my check in about a month ago all my information was already entered so I just skipped it all anyways.

 

[wcw57]

someone needs to add PAT to the acronym sticky, methinks

 

[lanejudy]

But from what it sounds like, you choose your PAT after you've filled out everything else (passport number, etc) So does the enter bogus info first, just to get to the point where you can select your PAT not true/valid?

You are correct that you cannot just skip to the PAT page of the online check-in, you must go through each of the pages and enter/save some information. You can get to the PAT page a little quicker if you enter defaults and plan to go back later to update your info. HOWEVER, whether or not early PAT times are even available is dependent on how many returning cruisers have selected early PATs prior to your online check-in date. There may or may not be early PATs available even if you move through those pages quickly. So... no guarantee the suggestion to move through the check-in pages quickly will get you the earliest PAT, but it might help. (For reference, on our first cruise I didn't do online check-in until sometime that afternoon -- well past midnight! -- and still got the earliest time.)

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[bethy]

You are correct that you cannot just skip to the PAT page of the online check-in, you must go through each of the pages and enter/save some information. You can get to the PAT page a little quicker if you enter defaults and plan to go back later to update your info. HOWEVER, whether or not early PAT times are even available is dependent on how many returning cruisers have selected early PATs prior to your online check-in date. There may or may not be early PATs available even if you move through those pages quickly. So... no guarantee the suggestion to move through the check-in pages quickly will get you the earliest PAT, but it might help. (For reference, on our first cruise I didn't do online check-in until sometime that afternoon -- well past midnight! -- and still got the earliest time.)

Enjoy your cruise!

I just randomly learned of this yesterday - 34 days before cruising . I had checked in at 12:01 on the first possible day - or so I thought. But I jumped straight to PAT and Palo Brunch with the intent of entering the other stuff later. I thought I had 11:30 PAT's for both our connecting rooms but it turns out I had none at all! And strangely, I was still able to secure 11:30 for ONE of our rooms but could only get 1:00 for the other one. Our travel party is a nuclear family of 5 with young children. Is there any chance they might let us all board with the earlier boarding number or should we not even bother. It's our first cruise and only a 4 nighter so I wanted to be early on the ship. Sigh. Live and learn.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I just randomly learned of this yesterday - 34 days before cruising . I had checked in at 12:01 on the first possible day - or so I thought. But I jumped straight to PAT and Palo Brunch with the intent of entering the other stuff later. I thought I had 11:30 PAT's for both our connecting rooms but it turns out I had none at all! And strangely, I was still able to secure 11:30 for ONE of our rooms but could only get 1:00 for the other one. Our travel party is a nuclear family of 5 with young children. Is there any chance they might let us all board with the earlier boarding number or should we not even bother. It's our first cruise and only a 4 nighter so I wanted to be early on the ship. Sigh. Live and learn.

Your boarding number (which you receive at check in at the port) is tied to your PAT. DCL requests groups that have two different boarding numbers, who wish to board together, to board when the highest number is announced (so, in your case with the later PAT group).

That being said, by 12:30-12:45, Open Board is generally announced, and anyone holding any boarding number may board.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

But from what it sounds like, you choose your PAT after you've filled out everything else (passport number, etc) So does the enter bogus info first, just to get to the point where you can select your PAT not true/valid?

Yes, you must enter SOMETHING in all the spaces on the first pages for the PAT page to "unlock".

As to what to enter, if you cruised before some of the information will already be there. If not, it's typically quicker to enter "paying in cash" instead of taking the time to enter credit card info. Same for entering that you will be using birth certificates, instead of entering all the passport info. Also quicker to enter "arriving by car (or private transportation)" instead of having to enter all airline info.

Once you've selected your PAT, you can go back and change any information that you want. Up until 3 days prior to the cruise.

 

[DHCruise]

Thank you all for the tips!!! I will be trying this out very soon

 

[DHCruise]

FYI, I was able to get a 10:30a PAT with the tips I received here. Thank you again Disboards!

 

[Muskegon78]

What is the earliest time they assign?

 

[DHCruise]

I believe 10:30a is the earliest. But I could be wrong. This is my first wrong, so hopefully someone can confirm this

 

[Weedy]

Since the terminal doesn't open until 10:30 I think the earlist PAT is 10:30.

 

[martiniglassesforme]

What is considered a good PAT? We got 11:30-12:00 and I thought that was good. Now I'm thinking we should be prepared for long lines? Anyone know?

 

[Weedy]

What is considered a good PAT? We got 11:30-12:00 and I thought that was good. Now I'm thinking we should be prepared for long lines? Anyone know?

The port is at its busiest time at 11:00 right before they start boarding the ship at 11:00-11:15.
Once they start boarding it goes very fast. So if you show up closer to the 12:00 time the terminal should be less crowded.

 

[Micki NJ]

I know I am late to the party and OP already got their PAT, but thought I would post if it helps others.

I didn't stay up to check-in at midnight - did it the next morning around 10AM ET and all the 10:30-11:30 PATs were still available. This is my first cruise, so I did it at 75 days. Our cruise is Nov '15 - 4 day on the Dream - if that makes any difference. Got my Palo dinner and my excursions with no issue as well. I was expecting it to be like making ADRs or FP+s - be there ON THE DOT or you miss out, but it really wasn't all that stressful.