Kids' Club Registration w/ new system

[aidanht]

I already have registered my children on-line . . . does anyone know what I will have to do when we board? I've read many threads here about registering the kids while waiting to board, but I'm wondering if that has changed at all since the on-line reservation system started.

Actually, if someone could walk me through exactly what happens from the time you arrive at port (we are parking our rental car there) to the time you get on the ship, and anything you must do upon boarding, I would be very grateful!

Also, it seems like the consensus is to arrive at the port at 10:30. Is that correct? Should we arrive even earlier to give us time to park?

Any other random advice for a first-time cruiser with kids aged 11, 8, and 7 would be welcome, too. You guys are such a wonderful source of information!!!!!

Thanks!!!!!

 

[jel0511]

First off, the only reason to arrive at 10:30 is to line up early. With all the on-line registration, Palo and Spa Ressies available, really no reason to do so. You'll end up waiting in line until they allow boarding, usually around Noon. The on-line registration just allows you to not fill out the form on-board. I didn't pre-register before boarding, just did it once on board. I went to the clubs, and they printed their wristbands out there. They just confirmed they were pre-registered and reverified my password. That's it. We got on board this last trip at 1:30PM and that was perfect. No waiting around, just walked on board after turning in my documents. Now, that was GREAT!!!

 

[aidanht]

Lori,

Thanks! So you arrived at the port at 1:30 and were able to walk right on the ship without waiting? Did you go straight to the club to register your kids, or do that later? What about lunch?

 

[DVCDawn]

I registered my kids online prior to our trip over the 4th of July. All you have to do on embarkation day then is pick up your pager. (The Navigator in your room lets you know where.) We didn't pick ours up until after we ate lunch and went swimming. It was a breeze.

Also, the reason for getting to port early, I think, is to board as soon as they let you (which was 11:45 AM for our cruise) and start your vacation right away. They don't allow you into your stateroom until 1:00, but if you board at noon, you can have a nice lunch and take care of details like picking up your kids club pager and be ready to start relaxing and having fun by 2:00. A little tip: the pool gets really crowded as the day progresses, so swim early!

DVCDawn

 

[frank2271]

So what everyone is saying is: If I already have my Palo ressie, my son is pre-registered, my spa ressies and my excursion ressies are all made then I shouldn't worry about getting to the port at 10:30? From what I'm reading it sounds like I'd be better off getting to the port after 12:00 and going right to the pool and buffet. Then later after we have kicked off our vacation and started relaxing I can go to the kid's club and pick up the beeper and wrist band.

Does this sound right?

Frank

 

[Bopperdoodle]

If you arrive too early you have to wait in your car in the parking lot until they let you drive up and drop off your luggage. Then you can go park your car. You go in and have your carry on stuff x-rayed and you walk thru a metal detector. Then you go up the escalader (? I'm terrible at spelling) and go to your left to turn in your documents ect. You can then go to the opposite side and get your pager and wristband or do that later. Once they let you board the ship, have your KTTW card and your drivers liscence ready. Someone will ask you for those upon entering. Then they will want to take your picture. Then they will announce your arrival and plenty of CM's are standing there to help direct you to where you want to go. They usually send you to the left to go eat.

Hope that helps. I like to know what to expect also.

 

[deedz]

We actually flew in late the night before (snow delay) and ended up sleeping late missing the shuttle, and it ended up being just fine! We enjoyed a buffet breakfast at the Radisson, then took a cab to the Ship. Once there around noon, we saw barely a line, had pics taken with Minnie and the only thing I wish I did longer was taken a better look at that Ship Model in the Lobby! Once you get off the ship and realize how accurate all those minatures were, its truly worth taking that second look! GO SLOW, and enjoy every moment because its over so fast! Once we got on board they escorted us to Parrot Cay for lunch (which we didn't want because we just had breakfast buffet), so we declined and explored the ship! We got a fancy drink in that Disney Cruise Line Cup (1st Souvenir of the day) and walked up by the pools, headed inside and our staterooms were ready to go in! We had Champagne and petit-fors waiting (definatley worth it) and the view from our Balcony was great. Before long we were pulling out of port, and watched the Dolphins swimming alongside the Ship.

Obviously I can't wait to do it again, this time 7 night!

 

[logan1_2000]

Deedz, just out of curiosity, did you book a 7 nighter while on board your Wonder cruise? Your post sounded like so many of us who began our DCL experience on a 4 nighter and immediately realized how quickly it all flies by and how the 7 night is what we really need to do to enjoy it even more.

 

[Vanvmom]

We registered on line, then picked up our wristband and pager while waiting in port (saved time and lines later). It was a good time filler while waiting in port (and realistically we were only waiting around less than an hour).

 

[disneyagain]

We arrived at the port (via rental car) around 10:15 on our July 04 cruise. We waited in a lot across from the terminal until 10:30. They then moved us all across to the terminal, we gave our names at the 1st booth and I believe showed our drivers licenses. DH then pulled right up to the curb, we checked the luggage, DS, DD and I got out and went through security and up the escalator to the terminal..WOW it is BEAUTIFUL :thewave:
DH parked the car in the secure lot and was back over and up to the terminal in 5 minutes. We walked over to the CM and made sure our paperwork was in order and then we went up to the CM to actually check in and get our KTTW cards. It was probably 11:00 or 11:15 at this point and we had no wait in any lines, except the 10:15 to 10:30 until they opened up the terminal area. We spent the rest of the time, checking out the ship from the balcony and looking at the model. Then the characters came out for pictures. Next thing you know it's 12:00 and we're boarding

Disney does the waiting thing so well.....Just like the rides in the theme parks..when you use the fastpass, you sometimes miss the theming, that really makes it a disney ride, not just an amusement park ride. The terminal is all part of the cruise experience, so don't rush right through it, enjoy it!

The anticipation and excitement makes the time just fly by....

Our plan is to get there again at 10:30, this time I'll pick up everything I need for the kids clubs, right there in the terminal.

Just a little over 3 months to go.....

 

[cruisinthecarribean]

Do they charge to park? How much?

 

[DVCDawn]

FYI...

If you're afraid that your kids will be bored in the terminal, never fear. As previous posters have said, it is beautiful to look at and there are some character appearances. Also, there are plenty of couches surrounding TVs that are running classic Disney cartoons (not movies).

DVCDawn

 

[lbgraves]

Parking is $10 per day paid in advance.

 

[mecook]

In regard to parking for $10/day, it is paid at the time of arrival and they don't take credit cards.....just cash or travelers checks.

In regard to kid's club beepers, I just went there on the first night (alone while DD and DH were feeling ill) and picked up a pager.

If you aren't sure they'll even be going, just wait until first time you take them. You won't waste the time and having to return it on the last night too.