Online check in today for 1st time cruiser....

[DisneyNDecember]

Okay, I need my Dis Buddies guidance.....
I just did online check in for my first cruise today- Dec 7 Disney Dream cruise.

I had read lots of information in the past few months & I have information saved that said if you are flying into MCO the day before your cruise & staying at the hotel inside the airport/Hyatt MCO, that when you do the online check in, that you are NOT supposed to select a "Port Arrival Time" when you complete the online check in if you using Disney Bus Transport.

Well.......... Here lies the question. I HAD to choose a "Port Arrival Time" for the Online Check In to continue to the final steps that allowed me to conclude the online check in.

I chose 11:30-11:45 since we are staying at the Hyatt MCO & also utilizing Disney Bus Transport to Port Canaveral. I figured since the Disney buses start leaving at 10:00 am from the airport & it takes 60 minutes to get to the port.... was choosing 11:30 to 11:45 as a "Port Arrival Time" okay?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Okay, I need my Dis Buddies guidance.....
I just did online check in for my first cruise today- Dec 7 Disney Dream cruise.

I had read lots of information in the past few months & I have information saved that said if you are flying into MCO the day before your cruise & staying at the hotel inside the airport/Hyatt MCO, that when you do the online check in, that you are NOT supposed to select a "Port Arrival Time" when you complete the online check in if you using Disney Bus Transport.

Well.......... Here lies the question. I HAD to choose a "Port Arrival Time" for the Online Check In to continue to the final steps that allowed me to conclude the online check in.

I chose 11:30-11:45 since we are staying at the Hyatt MCO & also utilizing Disney Bus Transport to Port Canaveral. I figured since the Disney buses start leaving at 10:00 am from the airport & it takes 60 minutes to get to the port.... was choosing 11:30 to 11:45 as a "Port Arrival Time" okay?

The busses from MCO start running at 9:00 (more or less). If you arrive at the port earlier than your selected PAT via DCL transfers, you will be allowed to enter the terminal once you arrive there.

If your online check in process asks you to select a PAT, you should pick a PAT. It matters not if it actually matches up to when you arrive at the port (if using DCL transfers).

The "not selecting PAT when staying at the Hyatt MCO" thing only applies IF you booked your Hyatt reservations through DCL, not if you booked the Hyatt yourself.

 

[DisneyNDecember]

Thank you, so it sounds like I am okay then. Thank you so much !!!

 

[over50visits]

I chose 11:30-11:45 since we are staying at the Hyatt MCO & also utilizing Disney Bus Transport to Port Canaveral. I figured since the Disney buses start leaving at 10:00 am from the airport & it takes 60 minutes to get to the port.... was choosing 11:30 to 11:45 as a "Port Arrival Time" okay?

Everything you're saying here is right. You don't sound like a first time cruiser, sounds like you're an old hand!!! You did well; catch the DCL transfer when you feel like it (10 would be a good choice), arrive at the terminal, walk right in, and with the port arrival time you chose you'll likely have a very good boarding number and will be aboard before you know it.

 

[lizabu]

You did fine. It won't matter what PAT time you choose. When you take the bus you can check in once you get there.

 

[DisneyNDecember]

Everything you're saying here is right. You don't sound like a first time cruiser, sounds like you're an old hand!!! You did well; catch the DCL transfer when you feel like it (10 would be a good choice), arrive at the terminal, walk right in, and with the port arrival time you chose you'll likely have a very good boarding number and will be aboard before you know it.

Thank you !! Lots of great info from you guys is helping me tremendously.

I feel like a "old hand" in regards to Disneyworld planning, but not cruise planning.... I am an obsessive planner & have been going to Disneyworld once a year in December since over 10 years now.

The one thing I am noticing & having to adjust for on this cruise is that you really do not need to do much planning. Just arrive the day before the cruise, let someone else do the driving for you (DCL transfers) & sit back, relax, & just enjoy what is around you. This is our first cruise & it is only 4 nights, so I am not going to try & schedule excursions because you really only have 3 full days on the ship & at sea.....So my son & I just want to sit on the verandah & the adult decks & enjoy the ocean views, the beautiful Christmas decorations on the ship, & of course, the food.

 

[Weedy]

You did fine. It won't matter what PAT time you choose. When you take the bus you can check in once you get there.

You are correct they they can check in when they get there but the boarding# you receive is still tied to the PAT. So if the Disney website promps you to pick a PAT that means you need one.