PAT time range enforced?

[Beaker314]

Are there any consequences to getting to the port after your Port Arrival Time (such as showing at noon for a 10:30 time)? If not, is there any reason not to just pick the earliest time possible? In the past we have over-thought things and tried to figure out the exact time we expect to get there based on breakfast, packing, getting a uber/shuttle, etc, but if we know that we can be there any time after our PAT then we won't stress about being "on time" (although knowing us we will be there a few minutes before the time anyhow because that is just how we tend to roll)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Are there any consequences to getting to the port after your Port Arrival Time (such as showing at noon for a 10:30 time)? If not, is there any reason not to just pick the earliest time possible? In the past we have over-thought things and tried to figure out the exact time we expect to get there based on breakfast, packing, getting a uber/shuttle, etc, but if we know that we can be there any time after our PAT then we won't stress about being "on time" (although knowing us we will be there a few minutes before the time anyhow because that is just how we tend to roll)

The PAT is really a "no earlier than....." time. You can arrive anytime after that.

 

[happycamper47]

The PAT is really a "no earlier than....." time. You can arrive anytime after that.

But DCL does say you may have a longer wait as those arriving at their assigned time could get priority.

Guests arriving after their scheduled time may be delayed and asked to wait behind those arriving at their scheduled time.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

But DCL does say you may have a longer wait as those arriving at their assigned time could get priority.

Guests arriving after their scheduled time may be delayed and asked to wait behind those arriving at their scheduled time.

Hmmm....that's a change, then. They used to say "Guests arriving BEFORE their scheduled time....." And that's how they used to handle it, if you arrived at or after your PAT, you just got in line to get in. If you arrived prior to your PAT, you had to wait UNLESS there was no line, then you could go in.

Maybe it has to do with the numbers of passengers arriving at any given time for testing.

 

[Kwami]

Maybe it has to do with the numbers of passengers arriving at any given time for testing.

Right. The whole point of PATs is to spread out arriving passengers and prevent long lines. That's especially true these days with Covid-19 and testing requirements. Disney really wants you to arrive when you're scheduled to arrive because that makes things easier for everyone.

 

[Drfate102]

We just did the Magic out of Miami and it did not seem like they cared about PATs as people just kept showing up. But I could be wrong.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

In Nov we had an 11 am PAT, arrived at 12 something, cleared about 1245 had car issues that got us to check in about 130 and onboard about 2 it was zero issues

 

[HiStitch626]

We just did the Magic out of Miami and it did not seem like they cared about PATs as people just kept showing up. But I could be wrong.

We had a different experience. We arrived by taxi at about 10:20 for a 10:30 PAT and joined the line. When the doors opened at 10:30 all the families with 10:45 or later PATs had to step aside. They were actively checking and there was one man who was arguing with the security guard that he should not have to wait because his family got there at 9 "before anyone else".

I do not know what would have happened if we had arrived later.

 

[mmouse37]

We just did the Magic out of Miami and it did not seem like they cared about PATs as people just kept showing up. But I could be wrong.

Wow...we just cruised on the Magic on Jan 22nd and they were strictly enforcing PAT's. We arrived at 11:40 for our 11:00 am PAT and had to wait along the wall outside until our PAT was called. It actually was not called until about 11:10. The people ahead of us had an earlier PAT. People who showed up were directed to the appropriate place in line based on their PAT. Also, people seemed to be self-governing the line. New people would ask "what's your PAT" and based on answers moved to the right place in line. There were a couple of port people sitting at a desk outside who were telling people where to wait as well. And, yes, we did have to show our PAT form a few times so they could check our arrival time.

MJ

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Wow...we just cruised on the Magic on Jan 22nd and they were strictly enforcing PAT's. We arrived at 11:40 for our 11:00 am PAT and had to wait along the wall outside until our PAT was called. It actually was not called until about 11:10. The people ahead of us had an earlier PAT. People who showed up were directed to the appropriate place in line based on their PAT. Also, people seemed to be self-governing the line. New people would ask "what's your PAT" and based on answers moved to the right place in line. There were a couple of port people sitting at a desk outside who were telling people where to wait as well. And, yes, we did have to show our PAT form a few times so they could check our arrival time.

MJ

That line for us was basically mass confusion. We were assigned an early PAT, I think because my mother-in-law was staying in an Accessible stateroom, but our flight was a little bit late and we arrived around 1:00 for an 11:30 PAT. Nobody gave us any indication where to go, so we did what we thought we were supposed to do and went to the back of the line. Only after a decent amount of time observing did we figure out that CMs at the front of the line were asking people what their PAT as and letting people whose time had come through. It almost seemed like it wasn't really a line, it was just the only space that was under that overhang and therefore in the shade.

Once we got inside, it was basically a mad dash through security and COVID testing. It was FLYING in there.

 

[mmouse37]

That line for us was basically mass confusion. We were assigned an early PAT, I think because my mother-in-law was staying in an Accessible stateroom, but our flight was a little bit late and we arrived around 1:00 for an 11:30 PAT. Nobody gave us any indication where to go, so we did what we thought we were supposed to do and went to the back of the line. Only after a decent amount of time observing did we figure out that CMs at the front of the line were asking people what their PAT as and letting people whose time had come through. It almost seemed like it wasn't really a line, it was just the only space that was under that overhang and therefore in the shade.

Once we got inside, it was basically a mad dash through security and COVID testing. It was FLYING in there.

I agree that the line was confusing and the only shady place but we were told (when asked) to get in the line. I did feel the people in charge should have done a better job of meeting each new party and directing them where to go. There should be signage on that wall. I think the people outside were not Disney people. Arriving guests who saw the desk would ask about the PATs. The people manning the desk were not proactive in directing people where to go but did call out the next PAT when it came up and told people to move forward.

MJ

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I agree that the line was confusing and the only shady place but we were told (when asked) to get in the line. I did feel the people in charge should have done a better job of meeting each new party and directing them where to go. There should be signage on that wall. I think the people outside were not Disney people. Arriving guests who saw the desk would ask about the PATs. The people manning the desk were not proactive in directing people where to go but did call out the next PAT when it came up and told people to move forward.

MJ

I think part of our problem was that we arrived in a bus, which parked pretty far down to the right of the entrance to the building, so we were already positioned down towards the end of the line when we got off. I didn't even realize there WAS a desk at first, because we didn't walk past that area.

 

[HiStitch626]

I think the people outside were not Disney people.

This is true. There may be officers occasionally outside, but POM is not cast members.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

In Nov we had an 11 am PAT, arrived at 12 something, cleared about 1245 had car issues that got us to check in about 130 and onboard about 2 it was zero issues

So there was no direction to "go to the back of the line" since you were after your window?

We arrived at 11:40 for our 11:00 am PAT

Did you mean arriving at 10:40?

CMs at the front of the line were asking people what their PAT as and letting people whose time had come through.

That's more in line with how things "used to be".

 

[happycamper47]

i think everybody is overplaying some of this since it also depends on the passenger count for each cruise on how things will proceed. Also a lot depends on which Port you are sailing out of. Since Canaveral has a much higher percentage of DCL employees, vs Port contractors things are obviously more consistent and better organized since they only do DCL. Just my opinion anyway.

 

[mmouse37]

So there was no direction to "go to the back of the line" since you were after your window?

Did you mean arriving at 10:40?

That's more in line with how things "used to be".

yes. You are correct. It was 10:40 am