PAT question

[Bumbling Bee]

Just a quick question: I've signed up for a 10:30 port arrival time in the online check in. Since that option was available, do I automatically get that arrival time, or will they tell me what time I get? If so, when?
Thank you!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Just a quick question: I've signed up for a 10:30 port arrival time in the online check in. Since that option was available, do I automatically get that arrival time, or will they tell me what time I get? If so, when?
Thank you!

You have selected your Port Arrival Time. That's the window during which you expect to arrive at the port. Once there you check in. Your PAT is tied to the actual boarding number you get when you check in at the port. Around 11:15-11:30 boarding begins with Concierge guests, followed by Platinum Castaway Club members. Then boarding numbers are announced. Just as a guess, I'd say that you have a good chance of a low boarding number (#2, 3, or 4). That would most likely put you boarding by 11:45-12:00 at the latest.

 

[DisneyJulieZ]

Thank you so much Princess Shmoo, for that great explanation. We also have a PAT of 10:30 AM (our 1st Disney cruise!), and so we're trying to get a handle on when we'll actually be on board the ship...and how the whole process works, actually!
We're hoping to be on by 11:30-ish...(in an early boarding number group--like #3 or so?)....hopefully that's reasonable!

Another slightly related question:
There are 12 of us in our group (4 different staterooms).
8 of the 12 of us have a 10:30 AM PAT...then my brother and his 3 kids have a 10:45 PAT. Is that going to present a problem in any way, for us to board together or be in the same boarding group? :-(
I'm hoping we'll all be allowed to enter port/check in/board together in the same boarding group!

 

[Bumbling Bee]

Thank you so much Princess Shmoo, for that great explanation. We also have a PAT of 10:30 AM (our 1st Disney cruise!), and so we're trying to get a handle on when we'll actually be on board the ship...and how the whole process works, actually!
We're hoping to be on by 11:30-ish...(in an early boarding number group--like #3 or so?)....hopefully that's reasonable!

Another slightly related question:
There are 12 of us in our group (4 different staterooms).
8 of the 12 of us have a 10:30 AM PAT...then my brother and his 3 kids have a 10:45 PAT. Is that going to present a problem in any way, for us to board together or be in the same boarding group? :-(
I'm hoping we'll all be allowed to enter port/check in/board together in the same boarding group!

Are your reservations linked?

 

[wilma-bride]

If the worst comes to the worst, just board with whichever group has the highest boarding number and then you can all board together.

 

[DisneyJulieZ]

Yes, our reservations are linked. Hopefully that will help our cause?!
Hoping we don't have to watch a whole boarding number go by that we COULD have been in, just for the 4 in our group of 12 that have a 15 minute later PAT.

 

[NHDisneyFan]

The low boarding numbers go by quick, it's not going to be an issue of waiting 30+ minutes for their group to be called. This really is the small stuff, don't sweat it. You have early PATs and you'll be on the ship in time for a huge, relaxing lunch.

 

[DisneyJulieZ]

WOOT! Thank you NHDisneyFan!

 

[WIFamily]

When we went on the Fantasy, we got 10:30 PAT, we're Silver CC, and we got boarding number 2. My boys were the first in line to go on the Aqua Duck and we had the pick of the pool area tables outside of Cabanas.

 

[DisneyJulieZ]

That's awesome!! Hopefully we'll get an experience somewhat close to yours, WIFamily!