Port Everglades DCL transfer - earlier boarding group?

[sammykster]

We are cruising out of Port Everglades for the first time in August. We are booked at the Marriott which is one of the partner hotels. I know when we did the MCO Hyatt last year we got a preferred boarding group for using the DCL transfers - do they do that in Fort Lauderdale? It would be cheaper to do the Lyft and plan to do that back to the airport but would be wiling to pay the premium if we can get on quicker since it's only a 4 day! It is only the two of us so not a huge premium price but wondering on others experiences...

Thanks!

 

[cymru3]

We're cruising out of FLL in August too, and we booked DCL transportation from the Hilton Marina. We were told we'd get a preferred boarding group by our travel agent.

 

[yowcruiser]

This is not port specific, this is Disney Transportation specific. When using Disney Transportation, you do not get to choose a Port Arrival Time and you are automatically assigned a boarding group after Pearl/Concierge, but ahead of what I will refer to as "non-preferred boarding". What this means is that you'll tend to have a boarding group between 3-6 depending on the ship and how busy it is.

 

[ljhayes]

This is not port specific, this is Disney Transportation specific. When using Disney Transportation, you do not get to choose a Port Arrival Time and you are automatically assigned a boarding group after Pearl/Concierge, but ahead of what I will refer to as "non-preferred boarding". What this means is that you'll tend to have a boarding group between 3-6 depending on the ship and how busy it is.

For Port Canaveral this is only true if you are getting picked up from a resort (including the MCO Hyatt). If you get picked up at MCO you do still choose your PAT. I don't know for sure if this holds true at other ports though I suspect it does.

 

[Henlady]

As Platinum I checked in for our cruise at midnight. We are using DCL transportation from Ft Lauderdale airport to port. We were automatically assigned a PAT of 11:30, boarding group 6. In the past I don’t recall getting a PAT with disney transfer and normally a boarding group of 2 or 3.

 

[sandiedvc]

As another data point— We are Pearl and NOT using Disney transportation at FLL. We were given Boarding Group 2. Our PAT is 10:45 to 11am.

 

[meremac]

As Platinum I checked in for our cruise at midnight. We are using DCL transportation from Ft Lauderdale airport to port. We were automatically assigned a PAT of 11:30, boarding group 6. In the past I don’t recall getting a PAT with disney transfer and normally a boarding group of 2 or 3.

We are not using DCL transportation and I got the same PAT and BG. I'm Gold CC and I checked in right at midnight for our cruise out of FLL.

 

[Henlady]

We are Platinum, checked in at midnight with DCL transfer from FLL to port everglades and were assigned PAT 11:30-11:45, boarding group 6.

 

[dreamer17555]

When taking DCL transport from the airport you normally have to select a PAT. In my experience you only get the low boarding group with DCL transportation when coming from a DCL serviced hotel (Hilton Marina, B Ocean, Etc)

 

[Beachbummer]

We are cruising out of Port Everglades for the first time in August. We are booked at the Marriott which is one of the partner hotels. I know when we did the MCO Hyatt last year we got a preferred boarding group for using the DCL transfers - do they do that in Fort Lauderdale? It would be cheaper to do the Lyft and plan to do that back to the airport but would be wiling to pay the premium if we can get on quicker since it's only a 4 day! It is only the two of us so not a huge premium price but wondering on others experiences...

Thanks!

Did you use the DCL transportation from the Marriott and did that give you an earlier boarding group? If so, what time did they pick you up from the hotel?

 

[Beachbummer]

We're cruising out of FLL in August too, and we booked DCL transportation from the Hilton Marina. We were told we'd get a preferred boarding group by our travel agent.

Same question for you: Did that give you an earlier boarding group by using the DCL transportation? If so, what time did they pick you up from the hotel?

 

[PAGA2003]

Did you use the DCL transportation from the Marriott and did that give you an earlier boarding group? If so, what time did they pick you up from the hotel?

We just did DCL transfers from the Marriott. The bus picked us up from the hotel at 1045 and we were Boarding Group 4.

 

[Donna3271]

FWIW.... I checked in at midnight (Platinum) Private transfer. !0:45 PAT and group 5 boarding.

 

[dreamer17555]

FWIW.... I checked in at midnight (Platinum) Private transfer. !0:45 PAT and group 5 boarding.

Thanks for sharing this. With a similar PAT and a BG only one number lower than transfers I will save the money

 

[auntlynne]

As Platinum I checked in for our cruise at midnight. We are using DCL transportation from Ft Lauderdale airport to port. We were automatically assigned a PAT of 11:30, boarding group 6. In the past I don’t recall getting a PAT with disney transfer and normally a boarding group of 2 or 3.

For Port Canaveral this is only true if you are getting picked up from a resort (including the MCO Hyatt). If you get picked up at MCO you do still choose your PAT. I don't know for sure if this holds true at other ports though I suspect it does.

You are arriving by plane that day? And indicated on your check-in?

Do you think your plane’s arrival time has anything to do with your assigned PAT?

 

[Beachbummer]

We just did DCL transfers from the Marriott. The bus picked us up from the hotel at 1045 and we were Boarding Group 4.

Those are very good numbers! Since the port is only 15 minutes away, was there a wait to embark on the cruise or was your boarding group called quickly?

 

[Beachbummer]

Thanks for sharing this. With a similar PAT and a BG only one number lower than transfers I will save the money

Well I'm a first time cruiser, so I would LOVE to get that PAT and BG. Especially since I will likely not be able to sign up for any desired onboard activities ahead of time. I assume I will need to request the waitlist for a Remy brunch and a drink tasting as soon as I get on board.

 

[dreamer17555]

Well I'm a first time cruiser, so I would LOVE to get that PAT and BG. Especially since I will likely not be able to sign up for any desired onboard activities ahead of time. I assume I will need to request the waitlist for a Remy brunch and a drink tasting as soon as I get on board.

Do you mean Palo Brunch? You will have no issue getting Remy.

 

[Beachbummer]

Do you mean Palo Brunch? You will have no issue getting Remy.

Remy Brunch. Palo menu is not as appealing to me. And I hope that's the case. But it's my understanding that the brunches (both Palo and Remy) are usually the 1st to go. We're doing a 5-night sailing no the Dream. And it may be our only Disney Cruise (canceled 3 others before and during Covid and had to convince my husband to do this one before my oldest ages out of the kids club).

 

[PAGA2003]

Those are very good numbers! Since the port is only 15 minutes away, was there a wait to embark on the cruise or was your boarding group called quickly?

There was a delay with boarding on our sailing due to a Coast Guard inspection so we didn't boarding until 1200. There is a very large waiting area though with plenty of seating. I can't remember when we finished checking in...somewhere between 1115-1130 I think. Very fast process once off the bus. We were escorted to a line with hardly any wait.