What time is the earliest you can board?

[DIZZNY]

Search is down and I can't find this info anywhere. I'm sorry if this has been asked. We have never cruised before.

I am considering booking a 4 day cruise after the marathon in January 2005. I figure I should finish by 10:30. If we took a town car to the port, would we be really late boarding compared to everyone else and lose out on dinner and spa reservations?

Oh, this is on a Sunday and is the 4 day cruise.

 

[LAMPSKIES]

11:45 a.m I've been told is the Magic and Wonderful times.

 

[kcashner]

The counters open at 10:30 for check in. THe "ears" open at 11:45 to begin boarding. Boarding continues for a couple of hours, and many of the DCL bus transports don't even leave the parks till after noon.

 

[airbusdrvr]

Last January we were on the Wonder and for some reason the "Ears " didn't open until 12:30 . The line was all the way back to the escalators and starting to loop back .

 

[alexandrew]

I've heard that recently DCL started embarkation earlier....1130-1145.....great news considering how short the 3-day is

 

[rae519]

Don't even ask what time some of us get there to stand in line - every minute I have on the ship is worth the hour I stand in line waiting to board!!! It's just worth it!!!!

I'd like to see them do something different with their embarkation other than que - maybe a number system like airlines use seat numbers for boarding. At least that way people can walk around the area!!

Probably most of this would be "cured" if we could reserve Palo when we make our final payment - rather than RACE there like crazy people to get those few and precious reservations for dinner, high tea and brunch! Very hard to "do it all" and for what we pay, there should be a better way to do it than have us act like nutcases!!!

Rae

 

[DIZZNY]

Thank you for all your responses. I really appreciate it. I think we should be fine. I think we should make it in a decent amount of time as long as I do not hit too big of a wall during the run.

 

[jgalecpa]

DIZZNY

on the 12/20 magic we arrrived at the terminal at 10:25 and it was already opened.

We were about 50 people back in line and they started letting us on the ship around the 1130-1145 mark.

We were on by 12 noon.

jim.

 

[macbaby]

...what time would you have to arrive to be the first group to board?

 

[Ladygator]

DIZZNY, My DH and I are planning on running the half marathon next January and also are contemplating taking the 4 night cruise. I just contacted DU for a quote. Maybe we'll see you there!

 

[kcashner]

The first to board are the concierge level passengers and "special needs" people. So, you'd have to pay to be in that group. The terminal opens at 10, the counters at 10:30. So, to be first in the general group, I guess you'd have to be at the terminal at 10ish to be one of the first in line for check in.

While these are the "official" times, there is a little variation. The terminal will open when security is ready for it to open. This is usually 10, but may be a little later. The counters supposedly open at 10:30, but may be a few minutes earlier or later. The "ears" used to have a scheduled opening at 12, now at 11:45....again, a little earlier or later depending on how quickly the ship cleared and disembarked on the previous voyage.

Am I missing something? After 9 voyages on the Magic, I'm not sure why you are so eager to be standing in line quite so long. We like to board early, but don't make a big deal about being REALLY early, and have had no problems with reservations. Most of the reservation places don't open till 1 officially, about 12:45 really.

 

[DIZZNY]

Thank you all for your replies.

My main concern about getting there at a decent time is to get the reservations for Wendy's tea party, Palo's, and Spa. I have since learned about the concierge services and reservations and about the ?Romance package that may help to make reservations earlier.

Ladygator,

I am running my first marathon FEB 15th in Austin, TX. Depending on how that goes will determine if I sign up for 2005's WDW marathon. So far, so good, though. I thought a cruise would be an excellent retreat instead of walking around DW during the days following the run. I hope to see you there!

 

[DutchsMommy]

DZZNY - You mentioned the concierge services in your previous post. Just FYI that concierge is only available to Cat 1-3 travellers. I know because I have been lusting over a Cat 3, 1 bdrm for our Feb 2005 cruise, however the cost difference btwn Cat 3 and Cat 4 was approx $2000 and unless I win a lottery I can't justify that. Just wanted to make sure you knew that.

Best of luck on your marathon!

 

[mmouse37]

Don't worry about making Tea with Wendy ressie on the first day. They are not done on the first day....they will make a notice of when to pick up tickets in your Navigator. I think we picked up tickets on Sunday for Tues or Wed tea. The tickets to Tea with Wendy are on a first come, first service and if they tell you to be there at 9:00, people are lining up at 8:15...FYI.

MJ

 

[Daisy-J&D]

I have a couple of related questions (save an extra thread).

1) I'm not sure what I should do. I'm going to be at WDW for 3 nights, 4 days before the cruise - day 4 is day 1 of the cruise. I'm not going to be able to go to the parks that day so I thought I'd hang around the pool and relax in the morning. Do you think I'll regret not rushing to board? I've never stayed at a WDW resort so it's probably at par with my excitment to go on the cruise.

If I don't want Palo reservations, have no children and am not interested in the Spa would boarding later be a better idea?

2) When we return on Sunday, what time are you officially off the boat (I guess need to be off the boat). Would it be reasonable to drive down to Miami that day? (Side note, any idea how many hours that would be?)

Thank you so much in advance.

~ Jaime