PORT ARRIVAL TIME WINDOWS ... ? enforced

[steves100]

Not waiting 2 hours from 9-11. Its the people who are there at 9:00 with no arrival time. From previous posts theses people will be last to board.

I have a really bad feeling about boarding on our 8-14 cruise. We have 11:00 arrival, still not sure what time to arrive I think 10:30.

Steve

 

[Henlady]

I have a really bad feeling about boarding on our 8-14 cruise. We have 11:00 arrival, still not sure what time to arrive I think 10:30.

Steve

If, as stated, the port does not open until 11:00, and you arrive at 10:30 you won't be able to get "into" the port area until 11:00. You may or may not even be able to access the parking garage untill 11:00.

 

[Makayna]

If, as stated, the port does not open until 11:00, and you arrive at 10:30 you won't be able to get "into" the port area until 11:00. You may or may not even be able to access the parking garage untill 11:00.

Yeah, but I would still plan to be there 30 minutes ahead of time. Any number of things can slow you down, such as traffic, an accident, kids needing to go stop for a bathroom break, someone left something somewhere and you need to go back and get it, etc... Planning to be there 1/2 hour ahead of time is just plain smart. If they can't get in, they can't get in. But better to PLAN to be there a little ahead of time because you NEVER know what's gonna happen.

 

[DVC4US]

If, as stated, the port does not open until 11:00, and you arrive at 10:30 you won't be able to get "into" the port area until 11:00. You may or may not even be able to access the parking garage untill 11:00.

Our port arrival time still says 10:30-11 so I plan on being there sometime between 10 and 10:30. The one thing I told concierge the other day was that it would not be fair to people driving their own cars if the parking garage and the terminal both open at 11am. This would mean people parking in the garage would be penalized for driving their own cars.

 

[nitrame]

I have to admit this whole thing frightens me as imagine a mass of humanity and no one even the cast members understanding the rules. The worst part is the only notice was on the cruise docs however we checked in prior to the change and got a 10:30 am arrival time. I didn't even notice the notification about the port arrival time until I read here and I went back to look at it and it was in small font....REALLY.

My biggest concern is we have 2 children 4 and 7. Where is the bathroom?

Our usual method of doing this is to rent a car and Dad drops the crew off and then drops off the rental car and comes back and meets us. Usually we have either checked in or made it through security.

 

[karajeboo]

I think that PoohJen answered my question. It looks like you can do online check in once your cruise is paid for and you have entered your booking window for excursions and Palo. Is this the case? If so, it sure stinks for first time cruisers. Not only do they get the bottom of the barrel (if any) of online reservations for things like Palo and Remy, but now they can't even get to port early to see if they can book them onboard. We are Gold members, but are bringing 3 cabins or others with us that are first or second time cruisers with DCL. We are starting to get very discouraged on ever getting reservations for Palo or Remy on our Fantasy cruise next year. Plus we will likely have to wait till 1:00 or later to get to port because we have so many first time cruisers. I love DCL, but I am beginning to wonder if we should look into a Celebrity cruise. Since we are all adults, we really want reservations at Palo and Remy. Wonder how likely we will be able to get reservations for 8 at those restaurants...

Yes, and it is this inequity that is really the issue. UNLESS DCL will only be allowing so many people to book each time 'window' at 120 days, 105, 90 etc. (You know, like the CLAIM they do for Palo reservations)



P.S. Jen, it was actually 3:46am MY time! This is what happens when you "accidently" go to bed at 5:30PM.

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We had the earliest check in time for our first cruise AND we secured our first choice for Palo. So there is no discrimination here.

 

[CruiseLover73]

We had the earliest check in time for our first cruise AND we secured our first choice for Palo. So there is no discrimination here.

That's good to hear. I've been worried about check in time and Palo reservations because it's our first Disney cruise.

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

Our port arrival time still says 10:30-11 so I plan on being there sometime between 10 and 10:30. The one thing I told concierge the other day was that it would not be fair to people driving their own cars if the parking garage and the terminal both open at 11am. This would mean people parking in the garage would be penalized for driving their own cars.

Good point! We will be driving our own car.

 

[dawne98]

JUST great now I just want to know HOW LATE CAN YOU GET ON THE SHIP? I think my family and I are going to try to be the last family on the ship so we don't have to wait for anything lol so what are we going to miss if we do that? also who has done that (to be the last family to get on the ship?

 

[lbgraves]

I My biggest concern is we have 2 children 4 and 7. Where is the bathroom?

The closest bathroom is in the terminal. There was nothing out in the parking lot years ago and when we were out their due to a full cold inspection delaying the terminal opening for almost 2 hours, DD was close to going in the bushes as the parking lot was a mess where we were lined up waiting for the terminal to open. I may have read that there is a bathroom in the new garage, but not certain about that.

 

[kritter]

Our port arrival time still says 10:30-11 so I plan on being there sometime between 10 and 10:30. The one thing I told concierge the other day was that it would not be fair to people driving their own cars if the parking garage and the terminal both open at 11am. This would mean people parking in the garage would be penalized for driving their own cars.

Did Concierges tell you that you still had that arriaval time? They are telling me the earliest time we can arrive is still 11:00!!

 

[geoffrey]

so how does this affect port upgrades?

 

[lbgraves]

If DCL enforces the arrival times, which they are going to have to since the PA is the one saying this has to be done, then port upgrades will be still be available first come first served, once you check in...which is going to be based on your port arrival time. With the Dream pretty much sold out for a while, there aren't going to be many upgrades available, if any.

 

[Makayna]

Is this only the Dream that the port arrival times are being enforced or all ships?

 

[glassslipper2004]

For those of you who have DH drop you, then return a rental car and take the shuttle back, do you have him drop you at the time you think you can get in (say 11) - then what does he do when he returns - can you check in without him? Can he get inside and join you? Does he need to keep some kind of documentation with him to show that he is legitimately able to cut the line and come in and join you?

 

[cwdefouw]

The closest bathroom is in the terminal. There was nothing out in the parking lot years ago and when we were out their due to a full cold inspection delaying the terminal opening for almost 2 hours, DD was close to going in the bushes as the parking lot was a mess where we were lined up waiting for the terminal to open. I may have read that there is a bathroom in the new garage, but not certain about that.

There IS a bathroom in the Parking Garage. Very near the walkway to the terminal on the ground floor.

 

[DVCconvert]

There IS a bathroom in the Parking Garage. Very near the walkway to the terminal on the ground floor.[/QUO


You'll have to wait to your appointed time to use it.

 

[lbgraves]

There IS a bathroom in the Parking Garage. Very near the walkway to the terminal on the ground floor.

Thanks! Will have to remember that for our next cruise out of PC, by which time they will hopefully have this mess straightened out.

 

[lbgraves]

For those of you who have DH drop you, then return a rental car and take the shuttle back, do you have him drop you at the time you think you can get in (say 11) - then what does he do when he returns - can you check in without him? Can he get inside and join you? Does he need to keep some kind of documentation with him to show that he is legitimately able to cut the line and come in and join you?

Well, since this new system isn't in effect yet, I can only guess based on how the checkin at the gate has been done in the past. DH dropped us and the luggage at the curb in January then parked the car across the street. After giving the luggage to the porters, you get in line to check in with the CM there. You will need to give them your DL or PP so they can confirm who you are and will check off your name on the manifest. That list will probaby have the assigned port arrival time now and you will only be approved to go through the gate to the terminal if your time has passed. You can then proceed through security and get in line to check in. You will need your DH's PP or BC to do this. Your DL needs to keep his DL to show as ID when he is lined up to check in with the CM at the gate, then will go through security and join you upstairs. Since his arrival time will be the same as yours, he should be able to get in the line being cleared at that time. He will then join you in the check in line or go to the CM you saw to get his KTTW card and have his security picture taken, if there isn't already one in the system.

 

[ibouncetoo]

There IS a bathroom in the Parking Garage. Very near the walkway to the terminal on the ground floor.

You'll have to wait to your appointed time to use it.

(...or maybe not so... if you are showing up before 11AM when the garage opens)

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