Port Arrival Times

[fairytalelover]

I just did the online cruise check in and got the 10:45am-11:00am check in time. I was wondering if this means that we have to arrive at this time. What if we happen to arrive later for some reason? And how does the DCL bus know that we need to be there by this time so they know when to pick us up from our resort?

 

[AngelDisney]

There is no problem if you arrive later. However, they may not allow you into the terminal if you arrive early on a high crowd day.
Bus from the resort usually arrive around 1 pm. If you want to be at the port early for your PAT, you may need to arrange your own transportation.
Have fun planning!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

There is no problem if you arrive later. However, they may not allow you into the terminal if you arrive early on a high crowd day.
Bus from the resort usually arrive around 1 pm. If you want to be at the port early for your PAT, you may need to arrange your own transportation.
Have fun planning!

Fully agree.

 

[clten]

DCL buses from the resorts typically have only one pick up time per resort -- they don't have multiple times based on your PAT. At the pp said, if you are taking the DCL transfer from your resort, expect that you will not arrive to the port until 1-2pm. Pick-up from your resort is typically 11:30-12:30 and you may have to stop at other resorts before heading to the port.

For our trip in May, our resort pick-up was at 12, some of the people filled the first bus so they headed right to the port from the resort. We were the first people on the 2nd bus from our resort so we made 3 other stops before heading to the port. So from our resort, we all had a pick up time of noon and some of them arrived shortly after 1; the rest of us arrived much closer to 2.

If you are definitely going to use the DCL bus from the resort, I'd change your PAT so that someone driving to the port early can get a lower boarding group number. You'll be able to board as soon as you check in at the port.