Online Check in vs boarding

[momto2girlsLA]

I have a check in time of 11-11:30 for my Oct cruise. I am unclear on how this all works once I get to the terminal. Will I get a boarding number then and be able to get on or should I arrive before 11am to get a better chance of getting a better boarding number? I will be traveling with a 4 1/2 year old, 6 year old and my parents who are in their early 70's plus my DH. We plan to eat lunch on the ship so would love to get on board sooner rather than later (but will have snacks with me in case of a long wait).

Right now my hotel shuttle is scheduled to pick us up at 10:30 (from Ron Jon Resort in Cocoa Beach) - should I make that an earlier pick-up?

 

[disneydreamer82]

Your boarding number is in correlation with your port arrival time. Your pickup time is perfect.

 

[MKRuns 26]

The terminal does not open till 11. I would not arrive earlier, if you do then you may be asked to return at you proper arrival time or wait outside of the gates till your arrival time. As for the boarding number that is linked to your arrival time and the CMs will give you your boarding number at the check in line. Hope that helps and have fun on your cruise.

 

[TDluvsDaisy]

Just this past June I had an arrival time of 11 to 11:30. We arrived on time, signed in quickly, got the kids signed in to the kids club and then joined the long line to board the ship. Our boarding number had already passed but there were many people with numbers that had already passed.

That said we were on the ship within 25 minutes of getting in the long line and enjoying a buffet lunch by 12:20pm.

 

[Zandy595]

We had an 11-11:30am port arrival time for our Dream cruise last October
Our parking stub says 11:26am
They had already started boarding by the time we entered the terminal
We got boarding #3 at check-in, which they had already called
Walked right on the ship and were sitting at a table in Cabanas at 11:52am

 

[momto2girlsLA]

Just this past June I had an arrival time of 11 to 11:30. We arrived on time, signed in quickly, got the kids signed in to the kids club and then joined the long line to board the ship. Our boarding number had already passed but there were many people with numbers that had already passed.

That said we were on the ship within 25 minutes of getting in the long line and enjoying a buffet lunch by 12:20pm.

Thanks for all the great responses. I feel better with my shuttle time now.

Question with kids club - do I check them in/sign them in on the ship or in the terminal. I will do the online registration before we leave so wondering what else I need to do for part either in the terminal or on the ship. I think I remember reading to go to the club to get them bracelets and check it out that 1st day but anything else I need to do?

 

[BAT]

What about late check in at port? We booked late so our port time is 1-1:30. Should boarding and check in go pretty quickly by then?

 

[TDluvsDaisy]

Thanks for all the great responses. I feel better with my shuttle time now.

Question with kids club - do I check them in/sign them in on the ship or in the terminal. I will do the online registration before we leave so wondering what else I need to do for part either in the terminal or on the ship. I think I remember reading to go to the club to get them bracelets and check it out that 1st day but anything else I need to do?

I would get the bracelet in the in the terminal. Once we got to the club to drop off our son he was ready to go. To have to wait to get the bracelet on and stuff on the ship would have been torture for him. Not to mention he got to breeze right in. They usually have at least 2 or 3 people doing sign in.

 

[momto2girlsLA]

I would get the bracelet in the in the terminal. Once we got to the club to drop off our son he was ready to go. To have to wait to get the bracelet on and stuff on the ship would have been torture for him. Not to mention he got to breeze right in. They usually have at least 2 or 3 people doing sign in.

Great to know - THANK YOU! I know my girls will be so excited about everything. We just got their pirate costumes yesterday and they just can't wait to wear them.

 

[wendyoconnor]

What about late check in at port? We booked late so our port time is 1-1:30. Should boarding and check in go pretty quickly by then?

You won't have any lines and everything will go very quickly. I don't mind the later check in time, it means our stateroom is ready and we can go drop off our carry ons before we go to lunch.

 

[disneymom3353]

Im so excited I just want to get on asap

 

[NAB]

Thanks for all the great responses. I feel better with my shuttle time now.

Question with kids club - do I check them in/sign them in on the ship or in the terminal. I will do the online registration before we leave so wondering what else I need to do for part either in the terminal or on the ship. I think I remember reading to go to the club to get them bracelets and check it out that 1st day but anything else I need to do?

If you do the check in on line it goes pretty quick because you are in the system. So you could go either place. Remember the pass word you used though because that is what they will ask you for in the check in line.

Yes all the clubs are open on the first afternoon. You can check out everything on the boat that afternoon. Even people that don't have kids that age can check out the clubs. They are pretty cool spaces to explore. Ours moved up and we still wanted to see the new space on the Fantasy.

If you think the line is too long in the terminal or they call your number I would do it on the ship. We saw councelors just sitting in the Lab waiting with bracelets and no one there.

 

[Seamama]

I've been following this thread cause we have our first cruise coming up too and I have lots of questions...

I have a 1pm check in but can get there much earlier. I've already done online kids club registration and am wondering if I get their bracelets before we've even checked in? Thanks!

I would get the bracelet in the in the terminal. Once we got to the club to drop off our son he was ready to go. To have to wait to get the bracelet on and stuff on the ship would have been torture for him. Not to mention he got to breeze right in. They usually have at least 2 or 3 people doing sign in.

 

[NAB]

I've been following this thread cause we have our first cruise coming up too and I have lots of questions...

I have a 1pm check in but can get there much earlier. I've already done online kids club registration and am wondering if I get their bracelets before we've even checked in? Thanks!

I'm thinking not , they have to swipe your key to the world card to bring up your information. Not sure why you would want to stand in that line first with out checking in first since you don't have to do it in the terminal at all. You can still check in early if you get there before the time but you may get a higher bording number.

 

[Seamama]

You can still check in early if you get there before the time but you may get a higher bording number.

Oh wow, I didn't realize that. Our plane should come into the aiport (about an hour from the port) at 8:30am. So it's ok if we try to check in at 11am, even though our scheduled time isn't till 1pm? Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Oh wow, I didn't realize that. Our plane should come into the aiport (about an hour from the port) at 8:30am. So it's ok if we try to check in at 11am, even though our scheduled time isn't till 1pm? Thanks!

If you arrive at the port earlier than your selected Port Arrival Time (unless you're doing DCL transfers) and the terminal is busy (as it well may be at an earlier time), you may be asked to wait until your PAT. I will point out that your actual boarding number is tied to your (already selected) PAT. So, even if you are allowed to enter the terminal early, you will receive the same boarding number that you will receive if you arrived at the correct time. You will see others arriving after you (at their correct PAT) boarding before you do.

If you are using DCL transfers from MCO to port, the above is moot. You will enter the terminal at whatever time your transfer bus arrives from the airport.

 

[Seamama]

I will point out that your actual boarding number is tied to your (already selected) PAT. So, even if you are allowed to enter the terminal early, you will receive the same boarding number that you will receive if you arrived at the correct time.

That's very helpful, thanks! I was wondering about that b/c I didn't think it'd be fair to other people if I got there early and was allowed to board early too since I had selected a later time in the first place.

Ok so to make sure I understand: Getting there early is a risk b/c we may not be able to get in the terminal but what does that mean? Where would have to wait? This is our very first cruise ever and we're very excited about it being Dinsey. Assuming we got in the terminal early and had to wait a few hours, we don't mind- we're just planning to soak up the whole experience!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

That's very helpful, thanks! I was wondering about that b/c I didn't think it'd be fair to other people if I got there early and was allowed to board early too since I had selected a later time in the first place.

Ok so to make sure I understand: Getting there early is a risk b/c we may not be able to get in the terminal but what does that mean? Where would have to wait? This is our very first cruise ever and we're very excited about it being Dinsey. Assuming we got in the terminal early and had to wait a few hours, we don't mind- we're just planning to soak up the whole experience!

You would have to wait outside the terminal. I think, maybe, there is a shaded area in the parking garage, but still outside the terminal.

 

[zstyles]

So I guess people should say WHICH port they are talking about when posting questions...there are more than one...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So I guess people should say WHICH port they are talking about when posting questions...there are more than one...

Yes, that's true. However, OPs signature notes they are going on the Dream. So, probably, PC.

Different ports/terminals have different procedures regarding PATs & actual boarding number issuance.