Port Arrival Time & Boarding number

[Tigggrluvr]

Noob here too...how much is the DCL bus from our WDW resort?

 

[SRUAlmn]

The first day can be hard with little ones.
So a few questions and answers
Are you coming from a Disney Resort using Disney Transportation?
That may not work for you because only one bus pick up per resort usually around 11:30-12:00.
Are you driving yourself or taking private transportation?
This way you will pick a Port Arrival Time. At Port Canaveral the earliest PAT is 10:30-10:45.
They usually start boarding the ship 11:15-11:30. The earlier your PAT the lower your boarding number. They usually have everyone waiting onboard around 12:30-12:45.
Are you driving from the Orlando/WDW area to the port?
It’s about an hour drive and everyone needs to be onboard by 3:30.
As far as a quiet place to nap maybe one of the bars they will be open and a little quiet but no place to lie down and other people may come in and it won’t be dark.
Have a fun cruise. I’m always amazed at how well the little ones do. There is so much excitement they seem to run until they pass out

Will your little ones sleep on the bus? Even if you had early boarding, you won't get your room until 1:30pm, so that's after nap time. What about taking umrella strollers that they could sleep in while you do all the boarding and have lunch? Go to a restaurant instead of Cabanas for lunch, as it will be quieter.

Thank you both! We will be driving from S.C. we’ll probably have to stay in a hotel near the port the night before so we won’t be using Disney transportation. I was asking in another thread about strollers and was told that you don’t see them at all (which made me nervous because I feel like we’ll need one?) Is it acceptable to use a small one?

 

[Dug720]

Noob here too...how much is the DCL bus from our WDW resort?

$39/person each way. And you need to make those reservations no later than 3 days before embarkation.

 

[Dug720]

Thank you both! We will be driving from S.C. we’ll probably have to stay in a hotel near the port the night before so we won’t be using Disney transportation. I was asking in another thread about strollers and was told that you don’t see them at all (which made me nervous because I feel like we’ll need one?) Is it acceptable to use a small one?

You can, but... The halls are very narrow. When housekeeping carts are out there may not be room to get by with an open stroller. And the elevators are crowded. Just be aware of that. And the stroller must be stored in your stateroom.

 

[SRUAlmn]

You can, but... The halls are very narrow. When housekeeping carts are out there may not be room to get by with an open stroller. And the elevators are crowded. Just be aware of that. And the stroller must be stored in your stateroom.

Thank you! With little ones it’s so hard to think that far ahead because they can change so much. He’s only 1.5 now and was a late walker so we’re still working on staying with us, not running into the street, all the fun stuff, haha! It’s hard for me to envision him almost a year from now and if he’d be able to handle the walking and staying with us! If we do end up taking one it’ll be a super compact one for sure!

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Thank you! With little ones it’s so hard to think that far ahead because they can change so much. He’s only 1.5 now and was a late walker so we’re still working on staying with us, not running into the street, all the fun stuff, haha! It’s hard for me to envision him almost a year from now and if he’d be able to handle the walking and staying with us! If we do end up taking one it’ll be a super compact one for sure!

I haven't cruised on DCL, but we took our first cruise when my youngest was 2 years 9 months. We did not use a stroller, and was glad we did NOT take it. He was able to walk most of the way, and it was easier to carry him when he was too tired than dealing with a stroller.

If you get a state room mid ship, that will help. We took elevators for everything when he was with us, which helps. While the ships aren't that small, you can still walk from end to end in a few minutes at the most. And, it's not like you'll walk end to end, and then back again. You'll walk from one location on the ship, to another, and very rarely will the walk be end to end. Very rarely will you be walking more than a few minutes at a time.

The most walking you do will be embarkation day, when you are trying to explore the ship. You can still do this with a 2.5 yr old, just take it slowly, and stop to look at things if needed. There are plenty of places to sit and rest.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I haven't cruised on DCL, but we took our first cruise when my youngest was 2 years 9 months. We did not use a stroller, and was glad we did NOT take it. He was able to walk most of the way, and it was easier to carry him when he was too tired than dealing with a stroller.

If you get a state room mid ship, that will help. We took elevators for everything when he was with us, which helps. While the ships aren't that small, you can still walk from end to end in a few minutes at the most. And, it's not like you'll walk end to end, and then back again. You'll walk from one location on the ship, to another, and very rarely will the walk be end to end. Very rarely will you be walking more than a few minutes at a time.

The most walking you do will be embarkation day, when you are trying to explore the ship. You can still do this with a 2.5 yr old, just take it slowly, and stop to look at things if needed. There are plenty of places to sit and rest.

Thank you so much! He’s super active so I think he’ll be happier walking around, too, just makes me nervous because (right now) he’s still learning how to listen and be safe and stay with us, so being on a ship full of strangers makes me nervous Hopefully in the months between now and then it will get better! As for the stroller, what about getting off at ports? Would it be needed then? Also, our room is midship and very close to the midship elevators, so we shouldn’t have much long/room hallway walking if we did end up taking one.

 

[BlueRibbon]

Does anyone have recent experience with getting an early PAT then adding ground transportation from MCO? I remember reading in the past that it doesn't always ensure that you get the earlier boarding time.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Thank you so much! He’s super active so I think he’ll be happier walking around, too, just makes me nervous because (right now) he’s still learning how to listen and be safe and stay with us, so being on a ship full of strangers makes me nervous Hopefully in the months between now and then it will get better! As for the stroller, what about getting off at ports? Would it be needed then? Also, our room is midship and very close to the midship elevators, so we shouldn’t have much long/room hallway walking if we did end up taking one.

As for ports, it depends on what you do. If you take DCL sponsored port adventures, you won’t have far to walk to get to the departure point. And then it depends on what the excursion is.

We had two ports. One was Carnival’s private island,which didn’t need one. The other was Atlantis, and he was able to walk around there without a problem.

 

[SRUAlmn]

As for ports, it depends on what you do. If you take DCL sponsored port adventures, you won’t have far to walk to get to the departure point. And then it depends on what the excursion is.

We had two ports. One was Carnival’s private island,which didn’t need one. The other was Atlantis, and he was able to walk around there without a problem.

Thanks! Good point! I guess we’lll have a better idea as we get closer and know what our port plans are. Thanks again!