Porters on Embarkation Day

[Betzfamily]

I know the porters will be busy getting cruisers off the Dream, but how early will they accept your luggage when you arrive at the terminal. I want to arrive between 9:00 and 10:00 to save my spot in line, but don't want to have to hold all my luggage.

 

[DisneyDream2B]

bump

 

[SnowWhite2]

You will have to unload your luggage on the sidewalk and wait for the terminal to allow incoming passengers. At that time, the porters will come to get your luggage and you will be free to go into the terminal.

Just a warning, you may not be able to get close to the terminal prior to 10 am. Most days they make you wait in the parking lot.

 

[noahdove]

I had to select a time of arrival at the Port. Will we have to wait to board if there are others that just come with the hopes of boarding early? I am confused with this. Thank you, this is our first cruise and I don't want problems to start our vacation.

 

[corky441]

Remember for every person that has checked in online there are probably even more that haven't. They will arrive at the port whenever they choose to.
Picking an arrival time is for Disney's benefit so they can spread out arrival times and schedule their employees accordingly.
Arrival time does not equate to boarding time or position

 

[kcashner]

In the past, they wouldn't even allow an incoming car into the port area (the area controlled by the port authority) until 10; the goal was to get all the exiting passengers out before the newbies came in. I do understand that you can now get as far as the parking lot early (used to have to stay across the street), but you won't get to the terminal. The terminal isn't even scheduled to open until 10:30, although in reality it typically opens between 10 and 10:15.

Bottom line--it will open when ready. The rush to be the first person in the terminal is overplayed on the boards. Many people will get the ressies that were held back from on line booking, not just the first person in. I've been on a cruise where I was literally the first person in the terminal (we were doing a B2B) and there were NO upgrades available. I've also arrived at 11:30 and found that I could still purchase an upgrade if I desired. It just depends on how full your cruise is!

But, to answer your original question, as soon as the word is given that incoming guests may enter, the porters will take your luggage as you are allowed to approach the terminal.

 

[truck1]

If you arrive too early, security will tell you to come back at a designated time. Usually 10. 930 seems to work well for arrivals.
At that time the unload is winding down, and there is at least 1 if not 2 porters on the curb, with a large luggage cart to take bags. If you drive yourself, they may make you wait in the lot, or they will hold you at the gate prior to opening the terminal. Depends on how well things are going.

As far as check in times, they will not hold you to that. If you arrive earlier or later, they will not tell you go stand in a corner. Theyll check you in at what ever time. In all honesty, there are some people that will have say a 1pm time, that get there at 10, because they are taking a private shuttle from a resort, or from the airport, and they cant get the 2 times to match.

 

[Ello]

We'll be driving from Georgia and parking at the terminal. Has anyone done this before and how does it work? I assume it's kind of like airport parking where we'll need to get our luggage to the check-in area?

 

[chefbart]

we arrived about 930 and they were taking luggage at the curb we parked and rolled our luggage was less than 100 ft from where we parked. so no worrys its not that far. we had alot of luggage between two of us. we stood at gates for a little while and they opened the terminal shortly after 10.