Online check in time

[Lynzer4]

i know I have seen it but I can't seem to find it now.... what time does online check in open. Is if 6am or midnight?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

i know I have seen it but I can't seem to find it now.... what time does online check in open. Is if 6am or midnight?

Midnight Eastern is the official time. But there are times when people have been able to book port excursions, Palo/Remy, spa appointments, etc, at midnight, but not complete the actual online check-in part which gives you the PAT until later. It happened to me once. I was able to book my Palo reservations and my DD's BBB appointment right at midnight, but it was about 12:40am EST before the online check-in link finally appeared

 

[mischief32]

I was able to able to book port excursions at a bit after 12am but I could not get the check in screen til about 6am. I still got a 10:30 PAT and I was a first time cruiser

 

[PrincessShmoo]

While the "official" time for both the online checkin and excursion booking windows to open is midnight, Eastern time, it's not unusual for one or the other window to be delayed. Or, even, both.

 

[Elizakapeka]

I booked with a TA, can I do check in or do I have to let her do it?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I booked with a TA, can I do check in or do I have to let her do it?

Either way. Most people do their own check in, but you can give the info necessary to your TA for then to do it. Unless they don't offer that service.

 

[Dug720]

What I discovered is that as soon as I booked an excursion, the check-in window opened up. So even if you're not going to take it, try booking it - you can always cancel after you have checked in - to see if that works.

 

[Elizakapeka]

Either way. Most people do their own check in, but you can give the info necessary to your TA for then to do it. Unless they don't offer that service.

the reason I ask it because I used to be able to see the screen that showed the different check in dates but now I cant see it so I figured the system wouldnt let me do it?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

the reason I ask it because I used to be able to see the screen that showed the different check in dates but now I cant see it so I figured the system wouldnt let me do it?

The DCL site won't allow you into the check in process, or excursion booking process until your window actually opens. Your reservation indicates when that window opens. When you open your reservation, it should look like this (window opening date on right side):

 

[GoofyKidd]

This is our first time on a DCL cruise in about 14 years-so everything has changed considerably.
What all will I need to do/choose when I do online check in?
I read here about PAT-I think that's the time you choose to get in line to board the ship? How many time options are there to choose from & why would I choose an earlier time over a later one? We are flying in the night before so we can arrive whenever.
I just don't want to be doing this at midnight and a whole bunch of questions come up that I don't know what to choose.
Thank you!

 

[Dug720]

In order to select your PAT you have to complete the check-in up to that - ID form, form of payment, who is responsible for payment, how arriving, etc. THEN you get to select your PAT - which is the time you are to arrive at the port...and your Boarding Group - which will be on a card you are given when you check in - is tied to the PAT.

Some people want to be on board as early as possible, or they have to be checked out of their pre-cruise hotel by a certain time, or for whatever reason they select an earlier PAT. If you truly don't care, select a later time and arrive later - reportedly around 12:30 usually it goes to open boarding so anyone with any number can board after that.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is our first time on a DCL cruise in about 14 years-so everything has changed considerably.
What all will I need to do/choose when I do online check in?
I read here about PAT-I think that's the time you choose to get in line to board the ship? How many time options are there to choose from & why would I choose an earlier time over a later one? We are flying in the night before so we can arrive whenever.
I just don't want to be doing this at midnight and a whole bunch of questions come up that I don't know what to choose.
Thank you!

Once your online check in process is completed (and by that I mean all fields are filled in) the Port Arrival Time page will unlock. There are several windows and you'll select which one is the time you are planning on arriving at the terminal.



As noted, arriving around 12:30 is the "sweet spot" as it's after the masses have boarded who wanted to be "first on", and before the buses start arriving from the resorts. Open Boarding has generally been announced around that time, and you'll board as soon as you check in.

 

[Elizakapeka]

The DCL site won't allow you into the check in process, or excursion booking process until your window actually opens. Your reservation indicates when that window opens. When you open your reservation, it should look like this (window opening date on right side):



thank you princessShmoo! You are always so kind and helpful to us newbies. It looks just as described, somehow I missed that.

Not sure why my reply is in the blue box with your quote? Im so bad at this lol

 

[minnie4ever]

Does it matter what Port time arrival to choose if you are on a DCL bus from the resorts? I believe we are at the mercy of the DCL buses as to when we arrive at the port?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Does it matter what Port time arrival to choose if you are on a DCL bus from the resorts? I believe we are at the mercy of the DCL buses as to when we arrive at the port?

Generally it does not matter. The only caveat being that your boarding number is connected to your PAT. The buses from the WDW resorts usually begin arriving at the port around 12:30 and by that time, the crowds have cleared from the terminal and open boarding has begun. That means any boarding number can board and your PAT doesn't matter. But if boarding is delayed for any reason, then the boarding number you receive might become important and an earlier PAT can get you a lower boarding number.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When you quote a post, if you type your reply before the final QUOTE (with the [/ ] brackets around it), the reply will be within the quote.

 

[minnie4ever]

Generally it does not matter. The only caveat being that your boarding number is connected to your PAT. The buses from the WDW resorts usually begin arriving at the port around 12:30 and by that time, the crowds have cleared from the terminal and open boarding has begun. That means any boarding number can board and your PAT doesn't matter. But if boarding is delayed for any reason, then the boarding number you receive might become important and an earlier PAT can get you a lower boarding number.

So I should choose the earliest PAT that I can just in case?

 

[Dug720]

So I should choose the earliest PAT that I can just in case?

In case you decide to not take Disney Transportation? If you want.

If you know for sure you are taking Disney Transportation and/or arriving later in your own method, the IMHO polite thing to do would be to select a later PAT and leave the earlier times to someone who knows they are getting there early. By about 12:30 they are usually on Open Boarding anyway.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

So I should choose the earliest PAT that I can just in case?

If you know for sure you are taking Disney Transportation and/or arriving later in your own method, the IMHO polite thing to do would be to select a later PAT and leave the earlier times to someone who knows they are getting there early. By about 12:30 they are usually on Open Boarding anyway.

I agree with Dug. If you are sure you are taking the DCL transportation from the resort, I'd select a PAT of 12:00 or 12:30 and leave the earlier PATs for people who will be arriving at port earlier.

 

[Elizakapeka]

When you quote a post, if you type your reply before the final QUOTE (with the [/ ] brackets around it), the reply will be within the quote.

thank you shmoo!