question on check-in

[blrem]

You're right, PAT and Boarding Group are 2 different things. However the boarding group is tied to the PAT. You select a PAT then the boarding group is assigned. There is no ability to select a boarding group.

So ultimately one must still select a PAT when taking DCL transfers from MCO. PAT does not come into play with regards to boarding the bus, though boarding group # (which is tied to the PAT) will impact the timing of boarding the ship.

Hi all -
First time cruising with the Wish and staying at Disney prior. Are you saying that if we take the DCL bus to the terminal directly from a Disney hotel we are staying at, we will be able to take the first bus and will be allowed to board the ship pretty quickly after arriving to Port Canaveral!? And our boarding group time doesn’t matter? And is it then also true that taking a Disney bus from mco eliminates that “perk” of being allowed on the ship soon after the bus arrives and instead does still rely on boarding group? We thought we would take a rental car to port Canaveral after our Disney stay and maybe stay over in port Canaveral the night before. But we already know we have an issue we need to get to guest services about once onboard so we really want the earliest boarding time possible. Would it then be better to remain a thr Disney resort that last night and take their DCL bus so we could get an early boarding group and not have to wait once at the terminal, regardless of what boarding group we actually had received?

Thank you to anyone who can clarify this by experience!

 

[lanejudy]

Are you saying that if we take the DCL bus to the terminal directly from a Disney hotel we are staying at, we will be able to take the first bus and will be allowed to board the ship pretty quickly after arriving to Port Canaveral!? And our boarding group time doesn’t matter? And is it then also true that taking a Disney bus from mco eliminates that “perk” of being allowed on the ship soon after the bus arrives and instead does still rely on boarding group?

Correct. I assume it sounds like you already did online check-in and selected a PAT. If you switch to DCL transfers that should automatically update for you. You will receive a notice from DCL the day/evening prior to embarkation with details about what time to meet for the bus from your resort. No guarantee of early arrival but usually before boarding begins. Boarding typically begins around 11:30/11:45am. DCL transfer passengers from WDW do get a lower boarding number than one you’d get tied to a PAT. I think concierge and pearl cc board before resort bus guests.

 

[blrem]

Correct. I assume it sounds like you already did online check-in and selected a PAT. If you switch to DCL transfers that should automatically update for you. You will receive a notice from DCL the day/evening prior to embarkation with details about what time to meet for the bus from your resort. No guarantee of early arrival but usually before boarding begins. Boarding typically begins around 11:30/11:45am. DCL transfer passengers from WDW do get a lower boarding number than one you’d get tied to a PAT. I think concierge and pearl cc board before resort bus guests.

Thank you - this was very helpful!

 

[mmouse37]

If you are Concierge or taking DCL transportation just know you can also just check in the morning after online check in starts because you won’t need to worry about a port arrival time. Most people are on there right at midnight because everyone else is jockeying for the earliest port arrival time.

Pearl does not need to pick a PAT either. This is a new perk for Pearl.

MJ

 

[ThinkTink1]

Pearl does not need to pick a PAT either. This is a new perk for Pearl.

MJ

Which of course I am turning in my upcoming cruise luckily I’ll still get a good check in time being platinum