What time may we board the Wonder?

[hygienejean]

I am just starting to plan for my next WDW trip. It will be this coming October. This time we will do a land/sea vacation! I am so excited as this will be my first time cruising with Disney. I have a couple of questions however....

First, what time are you able to board the ship? What time do you recommend getting on board? Are you able to eat in an onboard restaurant if you board early? (The reason I ask is b/c when my DH and I were on NCL for our honeymoon, they didn't open any food eateries until the ship was underway! We were hungry!.. ..)

What time do the Disney busses pick up the cruisers? Is it one set time? I think I may use Florida Tours if they are more flexible. Not sure though.

I am traveling with a large group of 8 adults and 6 children. Will we all be able to sit together at dinner or will we be split up?

Thank you and I would also love to hear any other advice that you may have for us.

Thank you!!!!

 

[crisi]

Doors usually open around 11:45.

Lunch will be available when you board. Beach Blanket Buffet, Parrot Cay and the fast food windows will be serving.

I believe DCL transportation gets you there generally after 1pm - but I could be wrong.

If you link reservations, they will seat you together - though with a party that large toghether will probably mean two tables next to one another.

Most people on this board like to get on the ship as soon as possible.

 

[disneyohdisney]

Two weeks ago we arrived by car about 10:15; they asked us to wait in the parking lot until they opened the gate to the terminal at 10:30. We were the first car in

The line started to form quickly, and they opened the ship about 11:45. Here's a hint: if you have all of your forms filled out (ALL of them), and removed from your books, you can very quickly pass the first stop and get to the checkin counter.

They will try their best to get you to eat in Parrot Cay, but if you want Beach Blanket you can really go up there (it opens about 12:00) despite their friendly pleadings!

 

[inkkognito]

We were running a bit late on this trip, as we added a last minute grocery stop to our towncar run (Happy Limo was great about my tenth-hour request!). We usually try to arrive a little before 11, but this time we got there by about a quarter after. Pre-board probably started around 11:45 or so. We went right to Parrot Cay to eat and then had to bum around the ship because the staterooms were not ready until 1:30 (sometimes it's a little earlier).
Barb

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

disneyohdisney: Why would you rather eat at Beach Blanket vs. Parrot Cay?

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Hi, DCL buses pick you up at your resort sometime between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. We wanted to arrive earlier, so we used a towncar service.

Ok, I've been meaning to ask about this... disneyohdisney, you mention the friendly pleadings of the CMs encouraging cruisers to dine in Parrot Cay rather than Beach Blanket as soon as you embark. I heard you can go to Beach Blanket if you prefer, so when we cruised this past month, when I was told to go to Parrot Cay, I asked if Beach Blanket was open. The CM reluctantly told me it was and when we headed in that direction, he looked at us as if we had lobsters crawling out of our ears. So I have to ask -- why does Disney prefer to herd us into Parrot Cay rather than Beach Blanket/Topsiders?

DisneyWorldDelight -- I'm not sure why disneyohdisney might want to eat at Beach Blanket, rather than Parrot Cay, but the reason we wanted to eat at Beach Blanket is because we love eating outdoors on the top of the ship when we first embark. It's a neat thing to do. The other reason is because we heard eating at Beach Blanket is faster than dining at Parrot Cay. I think children might appreciate this.

Tink

 

[tiggrbaby]

We got to the port about noon, and skipped the photo (we waited until someone was done and ran through) so we were seated at the buffet by 12:15! We decided on the buffet so we could sit out on deck. We had a table right in the front. It looked out over the water, and NASA was in the distance. We relaxed there for a bit, then went and hung out on deck 10 looking at the pool until we could get into the room. There we ordered frozen Mickeys.

My guess as to why they want you to eat in the restaurant is that the seating area is more confined and easier for them to manage. They also do not have to go as far to hawk the wine packages!

 

[crisi]

The direct restaurants in Disney "crowd management" style. When PC gets full, they start directing to BBB. By the time that fills, PC has emptied again. Its easier to fill the restaurants one at a time and direct people to empty restaurants than to have two kind of full restuarants at 1pm and people unable to find a table.

We perfer PC, I don't like the buffet line setup at BBB (too linear) and I like finding my table, dropping my stuff, than getting my food. Others like BBB for sitting outside - although the outside seating can get full - we never found a table out there at mealtimes. To me there is plenty of sitting outside on the ship - looking at something more attractive than the port. Used to be that pop was only free at PC, you paid at BBB, that has changed.

A third option is to grab pizza or a burger by the pool.

 

[inkkognito]

If you want to see characters, I have definitely seen them at Parrot Cay for the embarkation lunch. Not sure if they go upstairs to Beach Blanket. We saw Chip and Dale at lunch on the Christmas cruise.
Barb

 

[Stimpy]

We prefer Beach Blanket because it's right near the kids pool. After bringing our lunch out to a table near the pool, DS gets a chance to go in the pool and on the slide before all the crowds get there.

 

[jon46]

Its true about the characters we saw Capt Hook in PC, last year. But the cruise this last Dec did not see any in BBB. We were let on the ship at 11:50am. We told the cm we wanted to go to BBB and he put his card in the elevator and got it non-stop to deck 9. John

 

[Beth8266]

I did not realize that there were so many options for embarkation day! I am so thankful for all of you sharing all of this info!! It sure makes organizing our group of 14 easier!!!

 

[B3LM]

They will try their best to get you to eat in Parrot Cay, but if you want Beach Blanket you can really go up there (it opens about 12:00) despite their friendly pleadings!

When we got on-board, they asked us to go to BBB b/c PC was already full. We weren't real thrilled about BBB either.