I feel silly but....

[DWillowBay]

Can someone explain boarding to me? This is our first cruise. We are staying at WDW on property the night before our Monday morning 4-day Dream Cruise. When should we plan to arrive in port? There's a parking garage, right? ...and then they assign us a boarding time based on ???? and where do we go to check our luggage and wait for our boarding time? I'm sorry...I know this is very elementary, but the logistics elude me! TIA!

 

[Dug720]

When you do your online check-in (75 days before you embark for a first time cruiser) you will select a Port Arrival Time (PAT). That is the time you *should* plan to arrive at the port. You will be assigned a Boarding Group which is based on your selected PAT and NOT the time you get there. Meaning if you select a 12:00pm PAT but arrive at 10:30, you will very likely see people who arrive after you but at their PAT boarding before you.

You leave your luggage with a porter who will put it onto carts that are put onto the ship.

You go into the terminal and complete the in-person check-in and get your Key To The World (KTTW) card, a Navigator, and then you can sit and relax until your Boarding Group is called.

Once your Boarding Group is called, you join the line, scan onto the ship with your KTTW card, get a boarding picture taken, get announced, and walk on board.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When you do your online check-in (75 days before you embark for a first time cruiser) you will select a Port Arrival Time (PAT). That is the time you *should* plan to arrive at the port. You will be assigned a Boarding Group which is based on your selected PAT and NOT the time you get there. Meaning if you select a 12:00pm PAT but arrive at 10:30, you will very likely see people who arrive after you but at their PAT boarding before you.

You leave your luggage with a porter who will put it onto carts that are put onto the ship.

You go into the terminal and complete the in-person check-in and get your Key To The World (KTTW) card, a Navigator, and then you can sit and relax until your Boarding Group is called.

Once your Boarding Group is called, you join the line, scan onto the ship with your KTTW card, get a boarding picture taken, get announced, and walk on board.

 

[Weedy]

It's a little over an hour drive from WDW to the port.
The earliest Port Arrival Time you can get is 10:30-10:45.
The parking garage opens at 10:00.
The terminal opens at 10:30.
They usually start boarding the ship 11:15-11:30.
The terminal is crowded and there are lines to board until about 12:30-12:45 at this time they go to an "open boarding" meaning no lines you check in and walk on.
Here is a picture of the port area. The parking garage is on the right of the photo the terminal on the left. You pull into the area at the top of the photo and will drop your bags with the porters. You should have the luggage tags on your bags and should keep a small day bag with you with bathing suits, sunscreen, Passports, birth certificates. Then pull into the garage.. remember where you parked.
They start serving lunch at 12:00, the pools open at 12:00. Cabins are ready at 1:00. Luggage usually arrives in your cabin 4-5pm.

 

[Dug720]

Cabins are ready at 1:00. Luggage usually arrives in your cabin 4-5pm.

It was 1:30 on the Magic last week - sometimes it varies a little. I know it can happen that late, but for whatever reason I've always been lucky in that very shortly after getting into my cabin my cabin host knocks on the door with luggage so I am completely unpacked and settled in before Muster.

 

[DWillowBay]

Thank you SO much for all the information. I feel so much more informed now. Many, Many thanks!!

 

[PurplePencil]

It was 1:30 on the Magic last week - sometimes it varies a little. I know it can happen that late, but for whatever reason I've always been lucky in that very shortly after getting into my cabin my cabin host knocks on the door with luggage so I am completely unpacked and settled in before Muster.

Cabins are ready at 1:00. Luggage usually arrives in your cabin 4-5pm.

Agree with @Dug720 Rooms open at 1:30, and on my Dream cruise last month, all but 1 luggage arrived before muster

 

[kiford]

Note that, regardless of when you board, your room won't be ready until 1:30 pm so you'll have to carry your carryon around until then. There's places you can go (eat lunch, cafe, on deck, around pool) if you have to wait but my advice is to either book your PAT later (open boarding when anyone can board regardless of boarding number tends to be about 12:30 or so) or make sure your bag isn't too big and heavy to lug around for a couple of hours. There's also not a lot of seating space in the terminal so if you're going to have to wait, you may have to stand for a bit.

 

[com_op_2000]

... should keep a small day bag with you with bathing suits, sunscreen, Passports, birth certificates...

Other things to keep in your carry on bag:
Any and all liquids include wine, beer, shampoo, etc
Medicines
Change of cloths, in case your checked bags do not get to you before dinner
Any electronics
Cameras (Always keep at least one on-hand at all times when moving around the ship)