PAT - different times

[RockyMtns]

Hi,

We made our ticket reservations last night, but we had five rooms linked, so I had to book each room separately. We received a boarding time of 11:30am, but my sister and parents received a boarding time of 12pm. Since we are family, will they let us board together at 11:30am? Or, do we need to wait and board with them at 12pm? We all have matching shirts so we want to board and take pictures together.

We also have friends linked to our room. What's the policy on that one?

Thanks in advance!

 

[disboardlover]

There are no guarantees, as far as I know. However, if you try to check in at one counter, or adjacent counters, they might give the Noon time boarders an earlier boarding group to match your number.

On our recent cruise, a family in our party checking in next to us had a later PAT and was going to get boarding group 12, I think. However, even without us asking, the cast member checking us in (a supervisor perhaps?), told the other member to change our friend's boarding group to 3, which we had already received.

In any case, a half hour difference in PAT should not make much of a difference in terms of when you can board, so it should be okay even if you board a little later to stay together.

 

[anricat]

Once they start boarding, it goes really quickly. I would just arrive at 11:30 all together and get your boarding numbers. Those with 11:30 will get earlier ones, but not by much and probably not enough to make a huge difference. On our last cruise, we were with some (new) friends that we had met through the DIS and they were Platinum so they got on first and then we had boarding group 9. Boarding began at 11:45 and they got on board and saved us a table for all of us for lunch and we were boarding just before noon so basically 10 or so groups in 15 minutes. It goes quickly.

 

[Dug720]

If you are unable to get the same boarding group, you are asked to board with the highest number if you want to board together.

But as others have said, once it starts boarding goes pretty quickly.

 

[KristiMc]

The time you selected is not your boarding time but the time you should arrive at the terminal. You will receive a boarding number when you checkin at the desk.

 

[phinz]

I've heard of people just using the lowest boarding number for their entire party.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I've heard of people just using the lowest boarding number for their entire party.

They can try but normally my understanding is that they need to wait for the highest boarding number rather than the lowest.

 

[phinz]

They can try but normally my understanding is that they need to wait for the highest boarding number rather than the lowest.

I'm well aware of this, but that doesn't change the fact that numerous people have said they managed to board as an entire group with the lowest boarding number.

 

[RockyMtns]

Ok, thanks everyone! We'll just show up at 11:30am and see which boarding group we all get when we check-in.

 

[melvin1970]

We are going on our first cruise so can some one tell me where I would find our PAT time?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are going on our first cruise so can some one tell me where I would find our PAT time?

When you do your online check in (for first time DCL cruisers that's 75 days out from the cruise), one of the pages is the Port Arrival Time selection process.

 

[melvin1970]

When you do your online check in (for first time DCL cruisers that's 75 days out from the cruise), one of the pages is the Port Arrival Time selection process.

Thanks!

 

[phinz]

Be aware that many of the earlier PATs will be gone by the time you check in. It's just the nature of the beast.

 

[JW9DVC]

You can all go together. Just show the boarding number that you have that's lowest. Only fair that a family should be able to enter at the same time and should not have to wait.

JW

 

[Dug720]

You can all go together. Just show the boarding number that you have that's lowest. Only fair that a family should be able to enter at the same time and should not have to wait.

JW

Per Disney's statement, parties with different boarding numbers who wish to board together are asked to board with the HIGHEST number group. Not the lowest.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Per Disney's statement, parties with different boarding numbers who wish to board together are asked to board with the HIGHEST number group. Not the lowest.

 

[scgustafson]

You can all go together. Just show the boarding number that you have that's lowest. Only fair that a family should be able to enter at the same time and should not have to wait.

JW

While it is fair that they can all board together, it is not fair for those to board ahead of others with better numbers, so per DCL policy, board with the worst number in the group.

 

[JW9DVC]

While it is fair that they can all board together, it is not fair for those to board ahead of others with better numbers, so per DCL policy, board with the worst number in the group.

Great. Do as you please.

 

[JW9DVC]

Per Disney's statement, parties with different boarding numbers who wish to board together are asked to board with the HIGHEST number group. Not the lowest.

Great. You can do that if you please.

 

[scgustafson]

Great. Do as you please.

You are absolutely right, I will do as I please which is act in accordance with the established policies and not being a snowflake who is only thinking of myself.