If you have a 10:30 boarding time, would you arrive at the port at 10?

[Ned Land]

Does lunch start at 10:30 at Enchanted Garden?

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

It is my understanding that you don't receive a "boarding" time, until you get to the port; however, you receive a PAT (Port Arrival Time) in advance, which is when you should arrive at the port.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Does lunch start at 10:30 at Enchanted Garden?

No, lunch doesn't start until around 12:00 (boarding doesn't begin until 11:30). And, arriving at the port at 10:00 you may not be granted admission since the port/terminal doesn't open until 10:30.

As noted, when you arrive at the port, and do your check in you receive a boarding number (tied to the Port Arrival Time you selected during your online checkin process).

 

[Ned Land]

I just called Disney and the "official" word is that boarding begins at 1. However, we have been on 4 previous cruises with Disney and never boarded this late in the day.

 

[jack87891]

On our cruises boarding started before noon. You'll get a boarding number when you check in it usually goes pretty quick

 

[Maggie'sMom]

You don't get a "boarding time", you get a "port arrival time" or PAT. The earlier your PAT, the earlier your boarding group is. You will get a boarding group number when you check in at the port. Boarding generally begins around 11:15-11:30. My experience was that Cabanas was open for lunch earlier than noon. I think I made it up there around 11:40 and they were already serving. I'm not sure if Enchanted Garden will start serving before noon or not.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I just called Disney and the "official" word is that boarding begins at 1. However, we have been on 4 previous cruises with Disney and never boarded this late in the day.

The official word on most major cruiselines is that boarding begins at 1:00. Haven't been on a cruise yet, that waited that long. It just gives them some wiggle room for those days when there are problems getting the ship ready for boarding earlier.

With DCL, typically, boarding begins around 11:30 with Concierge guests, followed by Platinum Castaway Club members. Then boarding numbers are called. As I said, your boarding number is tied to the PAT you selected during your online check in. You will get the same boarding number whether you arrive earlier or later than your selected PAT. Once the boarding number being announced catches up with the number being issued at check in, Open Boarding is announced (anyone holding any boarding number may board). This generally happens around 12:45 or so.

 

[Weedy]

Your boarding # is tied to your PAT. So you will receive the same # if you arrive at 10:00 or 11:00.
As others have said they don't start boarding until 11:15ish. So it really won't change anything if you show up early.
With that being said we live in Orlando and always get there before 11:00 because we are so excited to start our cruise lol.

 

[USFBullsFan2819]

Just returned yesterday from a voyage on the Fantasy. We had a PAT of 10:30 and got to the port shortly after that time. We're silver Castaway Club members, and received Boarding Number 2!

 

[griffindesign]

What Maggie's mom said. On this last cruise we boarded at 11:15 (boarding group 2, had 10:30 pat). We were in Cabana's before they started serving. They started serving about 11:30.

 

[iambrink]

We just sailed the Fantasy and had a 10:45 PAT. We arrived from MCO about 10:15 and were assigned boarding group 6. We questioned why we received a 6 when we were probably among the first 20 families to arrive and the CM said they have not been able to figure out how the numbers are assigned! who knew! Our previous 2 cruises we had the same PAT and had boarding group 3 & 2 respectively. We upgraded to concierge, so it didn't make a difference, but it is a hard to one to figure out!

 

[Donna3271]

I've been onboard as early at 11:30. We arrive at the Port as early as possible just because my kids are excited!!!

The anticipation is the best part!!!

 

[ptcbass]

No need to rush to be the there early unless you are wanting to see about getting a stateroom upgrade. You are welcome to show up at 10 though. There is usually a line that forms on deck 3 of the parking deck and they will start letting people in around 10:30 am.