Live from the PC Terminal 8/2/11

[EDH Family]

It appears we're getting conflicting stories...

 

[Zandy595]

Arrived at the terminal from WDW in our own car. Pulled up about 10:45 and were allowed to unload and go into terminal right at 11:00. Our port arrival time via online check-in was 2:00.

We were thru security and checked in at terminal by 11:30. CM at check-in said she would move us up from boarding group 33 to group 20. They are currently boarding up to group 6.

Has been a VERY smooth experience and now we just hope for good weather!

So much for enforcing port arrival times and keeping the crowds down in the terminal.

 

[CandyMandy]

It appears we're getting conflicting stories...

We are - a traffic jam outside the port while others are boarding in almost record time.

 

[nicolemarie]

We were fully prepared to drive around PC if we were turned away. But since checkout at Beach Club is 11, we decided we'd rather wait around the port than wait at WDW.

The terminal was not a mob scene like I expected, and Group 20 was boarded by 12:30. Things were flowing very smoothly and there were plenty of seats available while you waited.

To specifically answer the port arrival questions, no one even asked about it. At check in, the CM said we "originally" had group 33, but I never saw that written anywhere. (Could have missed it though.)

We never wanted to ignore rules or be those folks who are flamed like crazy, and we never asked for any special treatment. It wasn't even addressed. Hope this helps someone!!

 

[izzinmac]

OMGosh! Can you post a pic? DH will never cruise again if we run into something like that!

Not sure if a link will work.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f....129197590438217.16725.123239874367322&type=1

 

[poohj80]

Not sure if a link will work.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f....129197590438217.16725.123239874367322&type=1

WOW! What a mess! Wonder how DVC4US got in so quickly?

 

[disneymagicgirl]

WOW! What a mess! Wonder how DVC4US got in so quickly?

Yep, that line is a mess. So now people are going to get there even earlier to get in the front of that line, yet sit at the gate waiting for it to open a few mins prior to 11. I am not seeing where this has helped, but then again it is only the first day. It does sound like boarding is going quickly once inside however.

 

[CandyMandy]

Here is the line of cars waiting to get into the port (note the shuttle service van with the attached UHaul trailer, I guess DCL cruisers really do pack on the heavy side, eh?)

 

[jham]

We boardewd the DCL bus at 11:30, arrived at port with no traffic issues at all at 12:40.the terminal had a few people milling around and getting character photos. we were given a boarding card listing boarding group as "open" we walked right on and were getting photos taken by 1:00. now we're having lunch at cabanas! it has been a very smooth experience from our perspective. they are switching nassau and sea days due to emily.

 

[poohj80]

We boardewd the DCL bus at 11:30, arrived at port with no traffic issues at all at 12:40.the terminal had a few people milling around and getting character photos. we were given a boarding card listing boarding group as "open" we walked right on and were getting photos taken by 1:00. now we're having lunch at cabanas! it has been a very smooth experience from our perspective. they are switching nassau and sea days due to emily.

Glad you have had such an easy experience. That's what I like to hear!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Here is the line of cars waiting to get into the port (note the shuttle service van with the attached UHaul trailer, I guess DCL cruisers really do pack on the heavy side, eh?)

I wonder what time all this traffic was then? Sounds like aiming for a noon arrival might be perfect!

 

[poohj80]

I wonder what time all this traffic was then? Sounds like aiming for a noon arrival might be perfect!

I'm trying to figure out what road this is. Is it the drive leading up to where you turn left into the terminal?

 

[DSquare]

I'm trying to figure out what road this is. Is it the drive leading up to where you turn left into the terminal?

Same here. I thought all the roads leading in were two-lanes each way and in the pic it shows one lane in and two lanes out.

 

[izzinmac]

Same here. I thought all the roads leading in were two-lanes each way and in the pic it shows one lane in and two lanes out.

They have been working on the inbound (east side) drawbridge and have rerouted in and out traffic on the normally outbound lanes

 

[DMMarla07860]

I'm confused how they are working things from reading this, thank god I'm not cruising soon.

 

[mesaboy2]

I'm trying to figure out what road this is. Is it the drive leading up to where you turn left into the terminal?

Same here. I thought all the roads leading in were two-lanes each way and in the pic it shows one lane in and two lanes out.

This looks to be traffic facing southbound on the road going towards the terminal (on the left out-of-frame). SR 401 parallels this road to the west (on the right of pic--guardrails are visible on the far right). Cars at this point have already gone over the drawbridge, gone north on 401, exited to the right to enter the terminal area, looped around, and are now going (or waiting to go) south. The uncovered terminal lot is to the immediate left and the garage is further up on the left, both out-of-frame. Courtesy Google Earth.

 

[Michelle2]

Wow, this looks like a huge headache and an even bigger problem to me. Good thing that I will be leaving out of the Barcelona terminal next....

 

[molarman]

I'm curious about those taking a rental car to the port. Are the car rental shuttles only allowed to start dropping off passengers at 11:00 too? We have an 11:00 boarding on Sunday (yea!) and am wondering about the timing of returning my car.

We arrived at the PC Budget Car Return around 10:15. They had a letter they had received from DCL stating that shuttles were not to arrive at the terminal before 11:00. We were allowed to load our luggage on the shuttle, but the shuttle did not depart for the port until 10:45. We arrived at the port at 10:55. Long line of cars that were orderly being directed into the parking area. We waited in the shuttle drop off line for about 5 minutes. We unloaded in the covered median area and the porters took our bags off the shuttle. We lined up and went through the ID check at the curb. They asked for our stateroom number but nobody asked for our arrival time but it may have been tied to our stateroom number (they keyed in our stateroom to a tablet computer). Next we crossed the street. Went through security and went to the Castaway Checkin line. We waited about 5 minutes and got our KTTW cards. We were given boarding group #5 (and were shocked and happy!!). They had already opened the boarding at 11:30 and were already up to boarding group #3. We waited another five minutes and were on onboard by 11:40. Went to Cabanas for lunch, it opened around 11:55, so we had to wait a few minutes.

The entire process was faster than it has ever been, no stress, no pushing or shoving, no holding area for the early birds. So far the new procedure for port arrival seems to be a great improvement and working (at least it did at 11:00).

Just don't arrive before 11:00 or you will be turned away. Has anybody else notice them enforcing arrival times? Our arrival time was 11:00-11:30 and we followed it , so no disappointments. Now if we can just keep hurricane Emily away!!!

 

[molarman]

Thanks, for the update. Have they mentioned is your itinerary changing due to TS Emily??

All smiles by the crew, no mention of the hurricane. I asked a crew member and she said we would be safer than the crew left at the port--Lol

 

[molarman]

We boardewd the DCL bus at 11:30, arrived at port with no traffic issues at all at 12:40.the terminal had a few people milling around and getting character photos. we were given a boarding card listing boarding group as "open" we walked right on and were getting photos taken by 1:00. now we're having lunch at cabanas! it has been a very smooth experience from our perspective. they are switching nassau and sea days due to emily.

I am onboard now and called Guest Services. They said that "No changes have been made to the itinerary due to Emily. Conflicting stories, huh?