Information on Boarding Numbers

[cruising dis]

The earliest time on the Disney website that we could select for check-in was 1pm but I had thought that was just a formality.

We arrived at the terminal around 9:45am and we waited outside the terminal until 10am. There was about 30 people in front of us in line.

We were directed to the Castaway Club line since we had cruised with Disney before (which was a lot shorter at that time - actually just us).

When we got to the nice lady who was doing the check-in, here is what she said "There's no way I'm giving you that number, here you go" and she gave us boarding #3.

The reason I'm mentioning this is that I just read another post by someone who said they arrived at 10am and got #13 to board which in combination with what our check-in lady said, kind of confirms that the boarding #'s they are handing out are based on the time you select on-line NOT the time that you arrive at the terminal.

Just thought I'd throw that out there and see if anyone else had a similar experience?

 

[mom2brooke76]

I had picked the first available check-in time (10:30-11:00), and received a 3 as well.

 

[TgrFans]

How many days in advance do you "check in" on-line?

 

[TinkBell10]

If they are basing boarding numbers on the time you selected during on-line check-in, it could be another perk for returning cruisers. On-line check-in opens earlier for castaway members, so the earlier times are available then. I'm a gold member, and my earliest check-in time was 10:30-11:00--that was 90 days before sailing. It sounds like those who do their check-in closer to the sail date are not having the option of the earlier check-in times.

 

[SeptBride]

A couple of weeks ago we got to the port around 10:30, and we were given #22. The CM who checked us in was rushing because she was going on a break. She actually had forgotten to give us a number until I asked as we were walking away. (She also did not give us a navigator or map, I asked for it later at the information table.) I didn't know how big the groups were or how bad the wait would be, I though it was fine. It was our 3rd cruise and we wanted to get onboard early to have lunch and explore the beautiful new ship.
I had the feeling that other people were walking in and getting on the boat, but I wasn't policing anything and was trying to keep my DH happy. They finally got to #20 so we walked up the entrance. When another couple (who said they were in group #27) inquired at the entrance about the boarding numbers, the CM told them it had to do with when they paid off their cruise - the sooner you pay the earlier you will get on the boat. I thought clearly that should have nothing to do with it! Our group was finally called (and I noticed when we were in the picture line that the couple who were in group #27 somehow had gotten ahead of us!) We didn't board until 1:30.
I didn't know how bad it would be or what I could have done in the situation , I was trying to put on a happy face, and I had "packed my patience". But it started vacation off on a negative tone.
At dinner we found out that our table mates arrived at 11am and were in group #8.

 

[Disneyholic]

If they are basing boarding numbers on the time you selected during on-line check-in, it could be another perk for returning cruisers. On-line check-in opens earlier for castaway members, so the earlier times are available then. I'm a gold member, and my earliest check-in time was 10:30-11:00--that was 90 days before sailing. It sounds like those who do their check-in closer to the sail date are not having the option of the earlier check-in times.

I'm glad I found this thread. It used to be that check-in didn't open up so early & you didn't pick a check-in time. I just went & did mine and got a check-in time of 12-12:30. We will probably go to port earlier depending on how we feel after our drive down from Pennsylvania Friday into Saturday. We got a hotel room at Melbourne right at the ocean & considering we are going Memorial Day Weekend I think we were lucky to get a room & a decent price. Since checkout for the room isn't till 11 we may spend some time walking the beach & eating a leisurely breakfast.

Thanks!

 

[SeptBride]

I forgot to mention that I had originally selected a 10:30-11am port arrival time. When I was going through all check in info and confirming details the week before vacation, I selected port arrival time again to view. When I clicked it, it now had the early times unavailable. It must have deleted out the original entry and now just left later afternoon arrivals available?
I immediately phoned Disney and explained the problem, and the rep told me that the time selected did not matter, this was something they were trying out, but no one would hold me to the late arrival time. I was relieved, but now I wonder if that is what caused the in-a-rush CM to give us #22?

 

[sorul82?]

I had picked the first available check-in time (10:30-11:00), and received a 3 as well.

What time did you arrive at the port?

 

[mousejunkie98]

I've been told by DCL, and had this confirmed by recent Dream cruisers, that your boarding number is based on the port arrival time you select when you do your online check-in. If your time is, for example, 12-12:30 and you arrive instead at 10:00, they're not going to turn you away but you're not going to get one of the early boarding numbers (unless of course you are lucky enough to get a CM who takes pity on you and gives you a lower number). Your boarding number is assigned by the computer based on when you do your online check-in and what port arrival time you select.

 

[Mmketeer]

Good gracious, I can't wait to see what my experience will be in 29 days. LOL! I hope I am as lucky as Cruising Dis (I guess that means I am not getting my hopes up for getting boarding group #2 like I got last time). I'll be posting and updating the Disboards as I sit at the terminal.

 

[Nissan_Rogue_Squad]

My situation was that I totally spaced doing the online check in. My Bad! So when I did do the check in the earliest time I had available was some where around 1 pm.

When we arrived at PC was around 10:30-11 AM. We were able to easily get into the terminal and when we received our boarding number we got #5. I didn't think much about it since I figured there was probably only 5 or 6 boarding numbers and thought we'd be there for a while. All-in-all I think we were only waiting for about 20 minutes before our group was called.

Now on another note, and this is my little rant/pet-peeve...
We didn't rush towards the door when they started boarding but it seemed everyone else did. So when our number was called it almost took us 5 minutes to get through all the people that were just standing in our way to get to the door.
All I can say is NICE! and this was so crowded we were having a difficult time keeping an eye on our DD5.

I just wish some CM's would have done something about that when the crowds started getting a little too thick.

</rant>

Jason

 

[mom2brooke76]

What time did you arrive at the port?

We arrived at 10. Our tablemates arrived at 9:15 and were the first people to check in after the b2b's and they got #5. I'm not sure what arrival time they chose.

 

[maryliz]

Now on another note, and this is my little rant/pet-peeve...
We didn't rush towards the door when they started boarding but it seemed everyone else did. So when our number was called it almost took us 5 minutes to get through all the people that were just standing in our way to get to the door.
All I can say is NICE! and this was so crowded we were having a difficult time keeping an eye on our DD5.

I just wish some CM's would have done something about that when the crowds started getting a little too thick.

</rant>

Jason

It reminded me of those people that block the Fastpass entrance at an attraction because they are there 10 min before their actual FP time.

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

hmmmm....we were planning to select an arrival time of 12:00. What would that translate into for boarding time with this new system?
We scheduled HappyLimo to pick us up at 10:30, but I am thinking we may want to change that.
Our original plan was to wait until the first rush was over, then get there before the busses arrive from WDW. I think my plan is not going to work with the new system...

 

[Evans Family]

I'm glad I found this thread. It used to be that check-in didn't open up so early & you didn't pick a check-in time. I just went & did mine and got a check-in time of 12-12:30. We will probably go to port earlier depending on how we feel after our drive down from Pennsylvania Friday into Saturday. We got a hotel room at Melbourne right at the ocean & considering we are going Memorial Day Weekend I think we were lucky to get a room & a decent price. Since checkout for the room isn't till 11 we may spend some time walking the beach & eating a leisurely breakfast.

Thanks!

What happens if you don't pick a time online?

 

[Disneyholic]

What happens if you don't pick a time online?

No clue since I didn't even know I could do this at paid in full date. My PIF was in early March at 75 days out. I could have PIF at 90 days but like to keep my money a little longer.

Maybe someonelse will come along & help you out.

 

[lisa702]

We sailed on the 3/24 Dream and when I did our online check in the earliest available arrival time was 11:00 to 11:30. We arrived at 10am and were given boarding number 7. Others behind us recieved 5. We waited patiently and boarded about 12:30 I think.

 

[sorul82?]

We sailed on the 3/24 Dream and when I did our online check in the earliest available arrival time was 11:00 to 11:30. We arrived at 10am and were given boarding number 7. Others behind us recieved 5. We waited patiently and boarded about 12:30 I think.

Do you happen to know if those behind you had an arrival time of 10:30-11:00?

 

[ESN]

Also seems like DCL is trying to give preference to returning cruisers as well as those who use the DCL transfers

In most posts - folks using DCL transfer from MCO are gettting very low boarding numbers

Makes it hard for our group and others like us - we have 3 families traveling together - all at different CC levels - so can do online checkin at various dates.

Seems like we will be boarding at different times - even though we are carpooling together to port ?

 

[atinkerbellmom]

It can't have anything to do with when you pay off your vacation. We did not pay ours off until the 75 day mark at 11:00 at night. I just forgot. In my case it would have been #35.... We got 15 arrived to the airport at 10:30 and checked in and picked an 11:30 arrival time.

Everyone in the check in line with me at the airport in front and behind me on my bus got the same boarding number. We got to the port and found people who had been there since 10AM and thy had #22. Who knows..... Ours worked for us. We usually get to port between 11 & 11:30 and usually get #11 or #12, so #15 was not too far off. They were boardind #11 when we arrived.