time to board

[abjennings]

I am sooooooooo excited about my up and coming vacation. I will be staying with friends in Cocoa Beach the night before the DIsney Magic sets sail May 1st. What time would you disboarders recommend we be dropped off and what would be the procedure? First ever Disney Cruise with DH and DS6.

 

[mketting]

If you want to be one of the first on the ship arrive at 10:30. Your friends can drop you right at the terminal. It should be only about an hour or so wait until you board after checking in.

 

[GenieDana]

We like to board ASAP (more hours on-ship). Getting to the terminal early means:

You have first crack at terminal issued stateroom upgrades

You are near the beginning of the line (we were first to board last June...kind of make you feel special as they call your name FIRST)

You get the ressies you want

You are early to request seating time and table changes for the dining rooms, which means the best chances of getting your requests

You can enjoy the pools while they are empty (it won't be like that later in the week)

The picture opportunities are less obstructed with other cruisers

You squeeze a little more time on-ship

You have time to eat lunch at a more leasurely pace (and more than once )

You have more time to unpack before lifeboat muster

A downside is the wait (anticipation) from 10:30 until boarding at noon - but we spend our time well in the terminal.

 

[howardk613]

We have stayed in concierge suites on our cruises so we can get priority boarding without getting there early however we always get there at 10:30. Being there early adds to the excitement and starts the cruise as soon as possible.

 

[crisi]

Unless you want to be one of the first 100 or 200 people to board, there really isn't a reason to get to the terminal before 11:15 (unless you just want to hang). Boarding tends to begin at 11:45. From 11:45 to 12:00, the line is kind of long if you didn't spend time before they opened the ears standing in line. But by 12:10 you can walk right on the ship without much of a line at all. You will have lost 25 minutes of ship time.