Start your cruise off right...if you can!

[tchrmom]

I thinnk one of the BEST things we did, was to get to the terminal EARLY! The line to board gets enormous! Get there as early as you possibly can!!!! We arrived at around 10:00! We were already #20 in line!

 

[floridaminnie]

I thought they turned you away from the port till 10:30!?!?!

 

[inkkognito]

Was that on the Wonder or the Magic? The Magic's line seemed to start MUCH earlier than the Wonder's.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[tchrmom]

We were on the Magic, and got to the parking area, by 10:00. They were out, ready to start taking bags!

 

[Amzey]

Hmmm.. so should we leave the AKL at 9? We were thinking 9:30, but we really want to beat the rush - would 9 be better or would it be too early?

 

[floridaminnie]

tchrmom I see you are from Tampa. How long did it take you to drive to the port? I live in the Brandon area. Just wondering.

 

[Michelle]

Keep in mind that if you are in line at 10:30 am you will be in line for nearly two hours.

Even though the boarding lines do get enormous you'd be amazed at how quickly they actually move. We've been FAR back in the boarding line and were on the ship within 15 minutes of the time they actually started boarding.

 

[tchrmom]

It is true, that we did SIT in the line for 2 hours......however, we became very good friends with the couple in front of us, and formed a nice friendship with them that lasted the whole trip.

I live in the New Tampa area, but because we were SO excited to start our vacation, Friday night we drove over and stayed at the Cocoa Beach Hampton Inn. It is about 6 miles from the port, but it was $79.00, and we got a "free" breakfast. Friday night....in POURING rain, it took us a little more than 2 hours to get there. Keep in mind we left on a Friday night, and you know how traffic is on 75/4 on that night. Once we were on the toll road, it was very quick and easy!

Leaving the AKL around 9:30 would be fine.........Disney world is closer than I was in Tampa.

Good Luck to all.........and as Webmaster Michelle says....the line does move quickly, I was just a bit TOO eager to start my cruise!!!!!

 

[CamColt]

So does leaving the Poly at 9:45 sound too late to get to the port and be one of the first ones on the Wonder? Maybe I should make it a little earlier. DH will kill me if I change my mind again. Last minute jitters are setting in.

 

[tchrmom]

Camcolt.........
Leaving at 9:45 will be fine. Besides, being further back in line sure beats hubby killing you.....however, I think you will be fine. You will arrive at the terminal, around 10:45 or so.............PLENTY OF TIME!!!!!!

 

[Steffi]

I'm in Brandon too! What a Small World, after all.

 

[tchrmom]

Steffi..........
There is NO such thing as TOO much Disney! I can't wait till seasonal pass holders can go back in August! (But wouldn't want the summer heat!) Do you have annual passes? I'd love to go to a waterpark, but just couldn't justify the additional cost of the pass, just to go to a waterpark....especially since we have a community pool with a waterslide!

 

[DisneyCruiseluvr]

What is the official time that DCL allows people to come on board?

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by DisneyCruiseluvr

What is the official time that DCL allows people to come on board?

The <i><b>official</b></i> time is 1:00pm. The <i><b>actual</b></i> time tends to be between 12:15 and 12:30.

 

[DisneyCruiseluvr]

Thank you for your fast reply Dave! I always see you come to the rescue when someone has a question. I, for one, am very grateful that you share your time and "DCL wisdom" with all of us.