What time should we check in?

[joyfull]

What is the earliest time we can check in? Is there alot that has to be done (paperwork etc.). We would like to board asap....I guess we are somewhat excited! Also where is the best place to have lunch?

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

What time should we check in?

"You can check in any time you like, but you can never leave"<-----guitar riff follows...

 

[inkkognito]

The port opens at 10:30, and the crowd builds much more quickly for the 7-day cruise than the 3 day one. If you want a good spot in line, arrive early and stake one out. Then one person in your party can hold it while the others explore.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Ethelina]

From what I have read on these boards and in the Passporter, the buffet has awesome shrimp that is served (until 2pm I think??) We are planning on coming hungry because we love seafood. Our plan is 11:00-11:15 to arrive and boarding is usually 12:15 -12:30.

Hope this helps
E

 

[ohioMickey]

We arrived at 10:30am and were one of the first families in line for our May 4th 4-day Wonder cruise. The terminal was crowded by 11:30am. Boarding began around 12:15pm. The wait went much faster than we had anticipated. We took turns exploring, looking at the model, greeting characters, and chatting with our "line-neighbors." Even the kids thought the wait was quick and easy. Of course, they had just experienced a 15 hour drive from Ohio to color their perspective.

 

[ivanova]

is there such thing as "too early" to show up at the port???

 

[goodstarr]

OhioMickey,
You say that you got to the terminal at around 11:30.
That's around the same time that I'll be getting there. What time did you actually get on the ship? Did you make Palo or spa ressies?

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

ohioMickey -

We arrived at 10:30am

goodstarr -

You say that you got to the terminal at around 11:30.

Anyone ever play "telephone?"...

 

[jgalecpa]

BD,

How come I'm not surprised you too, know the joys of:

the "sweet smell of colitas, rising up through the air"

[insert further guitar riff here]


Jim

PS

We are all just prisoners here
Of our own device

 

[4cruisin]

"So I called up the captain, please bring me my wine."

 

[4cruisin]

To answer your question, we got to the terminal at 10 a.m. by limo service. Had to wait outside in the parking lot until about 10:30 a.m. Once inside the terminal, our check in was pretty quick and painless. We were the 3rd in line and waited until 12:15 or so when we were allowed to board. My dbil and I were the first ones at the spa to make our reservations, my dh and dsis were 3rd or 4th at Palo for reservations. The wait in line at the terminal was not bad. You get to chat with fellow cruisers and the time goes by quickly.

 

[starwood]

Originally posted by Buckaroo's Dad
"You can check in any time you like, but you can never leave"<-----guitar riff follows...

If only that were the case.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hey starwood.

If only that were the case.

But it IS the case. Heck, we're always "here" (the Dis boards - either on-line or on-thought)... lol!

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Buckaroo's Dad
"You can check in any time you like, but you can never leave"<-----guitar riff follows...

 

[trishy]

Actually, you can get there too early - well, last year they wouldn't let anybody in until 10:00 a.m. - believe it was to allow sad cruisers to leave before the happy cruisers came in.

 

[ivanova]

soooooo leaving Orlando before 9am doesn't make much sense then huh???

 

[caskar]

We were lucky when we arrived at the gate. The guard had made the people in front of us back up and leave. Then I slowly pulled up and asked him if I should park my car or just drive around for a few minutes he said to wait because he thought Disney people were on their way out to start allowing cars in to drop off passengers. So we waited for a few minutes and then the Disney people showed up checked our id against their list and allowed us in. So I guess the answer to your question is yes. We still plan to arrive shorty after 10. We will be driving in from WDW. Should we leave around 9?

 

[Toxicesq]

If you come from WDW on the DCL bus, what time do you get to the port? Do you have any choice as to which bus from WDW you take, or should we make other arrangements if we want to check in on the early side?

 

[ohioMickey]

Originally posted by goodstarr
OhioMickey,
You say that you got to the terminal at around 11:30.
That's around the same time that I'll be getting there. What time did you actually get on the ship? Did you make Palo or spa ressies?

As BD pointed out, we arrived at 10:30am.

We were onboard by 12:30pm. Since we were one of the first ones onboard, we could have headed to the spa or Palo and made ressies with ease. However, our 6 and 8 year olds had other plans for our first day ever aboard a Disney ship...they wanted to be the first ones in the Mickey pool.

We obliged them.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

soooooo leaving Orlando before 9am doesn't make much sense then huh???

If you spend any time on these boards, then surely you have a tremendous affection for anything to do with DCL. I'd rather arrive too early and wait within a plank or two from the ship rather than leave in a timely fashion and chance unforseen delays further than a plank or two from the ship...