Online Check In for the August 9th Cruise (Update in 1st post)

[CamColt]

Since some of you have been asking, I wanted to give a little update about how check in went for us 8/9 Dreamers.

At exactly midnight the link to check in was online. The first step for Guest Information was different than usual. It now requires you to upload a photo of each guest's Citizenship Documentation and basically a headshot...what is usually taken at the port. This would have been nice if we knew about this to have the photos ready to go and not be worrying about them at midnight.

We could skip that step and go to the Onboard Account and Travel Plans, however it would not let you go to Port Arrival Time or Cruise Contract. PAT was my main reason for doing this at midnight. Well, in true Disney fashion, the website did not work and would not accept the photos. Myself and many others in my group spent hours and hours doing this over and over and over. Most tried different browsers, phone/computer, etc... It was basically a nightmare. I don't know how many actual hours we tried as we did try to get some sleep in between, but it finally worked around noon today. I'm seeing reports of people spending 3- 4.5 hours straight trying.

Now the other new thing to me was Platinum Guests are now required to choose a PAT. In the past they got the message they didn't need it and were automatically given Boarding Group 1 at the port. So, we chose the earliest time there 1:00 and with that we were given Boarding Group 3. Again, this is different as usually Boarding Groups are given on the card you get at check in upon arrival.

It seems even for some of the first ones to get it to work hours before me (like 5:00 am) still only saw 1:00 as the earliest. However PATs go through at least 4:00. I'm not sure if there was a 4:30 as I was so flustered at that point, but I definitely saw a 4:00 somewhere there. So that to me says they are not on the same timetable as usual. Not only would everyone need to be on board before 4:00, but Boarding Group 3 is usually called before noon. Arriving at the port at 1:00 doesn't add up. So, basically I have no idea what that means. We will wait some more to see if any info is given on a schedule for embarkation day.

I should also add there was no mention of vaccinations anywhere in the process.

If you have any questions feel free to ask.

***Edited To Add...About 36 hours after completing the online process we got our email saying our information has been "reviewed and verified". I have seem reports of people getting their pictures denied and needing to resubmit some, but we did good. Phew!

***Another update…our on board time is now 5:45 which would imply we will be sailing later, so the later arrival times make a little more sense. Also the sea day which was the last day has been changed to the first day.

 

[cvjw]

On the UK cruise, cabins didn’t open until 4:00, so the later PAT arrival times go along with that.

 

[skoi]

Thanks for the information. Is the option to use a birth certificate and other form of picture i.d. gone? Oldest Son is waiting for his passport renewal to go through-- he sent it more than a month ago and paid for it to be expedited. Our two youngest's took over two months earlier this Spring, so I'm a bit worried. Of course, we're on the Fantasy in mid-September, and who knows whether we'll be sailing.

Edit to add: and ugh, having to pick a port arrival time as platinum. I'll be up til midnight again that night, if we're on.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Interesting… thinking out loud-

wondering if the delayed PATs are to give more cleaning time between ?

In the past it seems like it was usually a gap of less than 2 hrs between last off and first on? This gives closer to 4 (assuming a 930 last off like a 130 first on?

wonder how lunch factors into that as a 2 pm PAT /230 boarding time/3pm lunch backed up to a main dining seating..

wonder if sail away time will be later?

heck if we get a 2ish PAT my kid could go to school (8-12) and still make it on time

 

[CamColt]

Thanks for the information. Is the option to use a birth certificate and other form of picture i.d. gone? Oldest Son is waiting for his passport renewal to go through-- he sent it more than a month ago and paid for it to be expedited. Our two youngest's took over two months earlier this Spring, so I'm a bit worried. Of course, we're on the Fantasy in mid-September, and who knows whether we'll be sailing.

Edit to add: and ugh, having to pick a port arrival time as platinum. I'll be up til midnight again that night, if we're on.

You can choose the type of citizen documentation. After uploading the pics it does say "pending approval", so I guess if it wont work they would let you know. (I'm crossing my fingers now)

 

[CamColt]

Interesting… thinking out loud-

wondering if the delayed PATs are to give more cleaning time between ?

In the past it seems like it was usually a gap of less than 2 hrs between last off and first on? This gives closer to 4 (assuming a 930 last off like a 130 first on?

wonder how lunch factors into that as a 2 pm PAT /230 boarding time/3pm lunch backed up to a main dining seating..

wonder if sail away time will be later?

heck if we get a 2ish PAT my kid could go to school (8-12) and still make it on time

That's what I'm thinking. And even though we have no guests getting off before us, they probably want to see how the timing will actually work out when they do have to turn over the ship. Unless they give us a nice bonus for being the guinea pigs with this check in thing and let us on nice and early!

I do think the lifeboat drill may be different/virtual, so they could save time there but I have no idea what to think about timing for lunches and actual sail away.

 

[jrapps]

Thank you so much. Sorry you had so much trouble.

I have the same question as another poster, can you use a birth certificate? We sent our passports in for renewal and have not yet gotten them back

 

[UVAWahoo]

Thank you for the long awaited information of how online check-in will work. Do we need to upload a copy of our passport or just a headshot picture or both? Any specifications for the upload, such as, it has to be a JPG file that is < 20 MB or something like that? Thanks! and I am glad you were able to finally get everything working.

 

[n2mm]

Seems to me some of this info, esp. passport uploads could be done in advance. When I book, dcl knows I have a passport as it prints out on my confirmation, so why not send the upload in earlier. hopefully Things will get tweaked.

 

[CamColt]

Thank you so much. Sorry you had so much trouble.

I have the same question as another poster, can you use a birth certificate? We sent our passports in for renewal and have not yet gotten them back

Yes, I am going to change the wording in my post to reflect that. Sorry about that!

 

[CamColt]

Thank you for the long awaited information of how online check-in will work. Do we need to upload a copy of our passport or just a headshot picture or both? Any specifications for the upload, such as, it has to be a JPG file that is < 20 MB or something like that? Thanks! and I am glad you were able to finally get everything working.

You need both photos, so 2 per person. And no, I didn't see any specifications.

 

[CamColt]

Seems to me some of this info, esp. passport uploads could be done in advance. When I book, dcl knows I have a passport as it prints out on my confirmation, so why not send the upload in earlier. hopefully Things will get tweaked.

Yes! And as someone who cruised 2 years ago, I know they have this information on file as they scan the passport and take our photo. That made it extra frustrating knowing they already have all this!

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Yes! And as someone who cruised 2 years ago, I know they have this information on file as they scan the passport and take our photo. That made it extra frustrating knowing they already have all this!

but how many people could’ve lost/replaced the docs they have on file or look different enough from the pictures its irrelevant? I guarantee my kid looks completely different 2 years later

its probably just easier to have everyone update their info fresh than having people verify/update or just clicking ok when it’s not..

 

[DCLMP]

Yes! And as someone who cruised 2 years ago, I know they have this information on file as they scan the passport and take our photo. That made it extra frustrating knowing they already have all this!

I suspect you’ll hear something Monday on the protocols. It’s just about too late to tell people they’ll have to be vaccinated or purchase insurance. My guess would be rapid Covid tests and masks? They seem to be charting a course different than their competitors.

 

[jrapps]

For anyone who checked in already, if you have kids does it make you or let you reserve time in the kids club?

 

[icc2515]

To me this seems like true 2021 Disney. Let's give them less for the same price. Upload your own documents, take your own photos, and get on the ship later. Sure the documents is not that big of a deal, except that CamColt had to spend 12 hours trying to do it. I mean my off time is wirth a lot of money, I'm sure everybody else's off time is very valuable too. Then take the few hours later that you can get on the ship. This is time that you are being charged for, but not getting.

 

[Disneyloverliz]

I’m confused...I’m taking this ability to checkin as a good sign...yes? Does this mean they’re sailing? I cancelled my September cruise and rescheduled for may. I hope this is the start of cruusing!

 

[CamColt]

but how many people could’ve lost/replaced the docs they have on file or look different enough from the pictures its irrelevant? I guarantee my kid looks completely different 2 years later

its probably just easier to have everyone update their info fresh than having people verify/update or just clicking ok when it’s not..

Very possible. I know we have had times though when they have looked at the computer and looked at us and didn’t even take a new pic. If it worked I wouldn’t have even cared just the fact it didn’t work over and over, yet I know they have this info.

For anyone who checked in already, if you have kids does it make you or let you reserve time in the kids club?

Sorry, we are 2 adults. Hopefully someone else can answer that.

To me this seems like true 2021 Disney. Let's give them less for the same price. Upload your own documents, take your own photos, and get on the ship later. Sure the documents is not that big of a deal, except that CamColt had to spend 12 hours trying to do it. I mean my off time is wirth a lot of money, I'm sure everybody else's off time is very valuable too. Then take the few hours later that you can get on the ship. This is time that you are being charged for, but not getting.

Some people are still trying.

I’m confused...I’m taking this ability to checkin as a good sign...yes? Does this mean they’re sailing? I cancelled my September cruise and rescheduled for may. I hope this is the start of cruusing!

We hope it’s a positive sign but have not been told anything official.

 

[skoi]

You can choose the type of citizen documentation. After uploading the pics it does say "pending approval", so I guess if it wont work they would let you know. (I'm crossing my fingers now)

Thanks. Of course, we would go ahead and check everyone else in except him if we had to in order to get a decent arrival time. He's an adult and I told him to get his renewal done MONTHS AGO when we had to wait four months to even get an appointment for our two teenagers.

 

[n2mm]

but how many people could’ve lost/replaced the docs they have on file or look different enough from the pictures its irrelevant? I guarantee my kid looks completely different 2 years later

its probably just easier to have everyone update their info fresh than having people verify/update or just clicking ok when it’s not..

I agree kids change, though it’s ok with passports that they are every 5 years with kids. My granddaughter was 3 in her PP picture, but 7 getting on a cruise. Both my adult daughter and I renewed our state ID/DL online last year keeping the exact same picture, so we will have our DL ID picture for 10 years, which we both love!