what time to arrive at the ship?

[camomom]

what is a good time to arrive at the ship?? I would not mind waiting for 1/2 hr to 45 min to greet characters and see the ship model, but with 4 smaller kids traveling with us, don't want them to get too antsy before we board. Is boarding time noon? we will be on the 3 night cruise, boarding on a thurs after labor day. i need to set transportation time from our resort (pop century) and not sure what time we should be picked up there. i understand it is hour and a half drive. thanks!

 

[Jillpie]

We were coming from the BW Villas in April the morning of our cruise. We arranged our ride at 9:30 am. It took an hour to arrive at the port. The time from then on, just flew by. We stood in line for about a half an hour after checking in and boarded the ship about 11:30 am. You want to be early to enjoy that lunch buffet!! Save your appetite that morning, there's so much to eat.

 

[buster478]

It is not bad to get there early. I would be in line waiting to board by 11am. You can have someone hold your spot in line and the other can take the kids around the lobby. There are videos to watch, the model ship, characters, a small restaurant. I don't think you will get too antsy waiting. There is also an outside overlook by the restaurant to watch them load and also get a couple of pictures. We love getting on the ship as soon as it opens so we can hit the pool, look around the ship, hit the buffet, etc. Now I am getting excited for our 10-06 cruise. It will be our third.

 

[camomom]

we should try to arrive at the port at 11am, then do the check in stuff, then go onto the ship around noon? is that right? little confused if you mean to be there at 11am or earlier. how long does it take to check in luggage, fill out any necessary paperwork, etc? then you wait in line to board while family members hang around? thanks for your help. need to tell our driver what time to pick us up at pop century. be picked up at 9:30am to arrive at port at 11am?

 

[lbgraves]

It will take you an hour tops to get from WDW to the terminal...and we only go the speed limit. We get there ASAP. The terminal normally opens at 10:30. The kids love looking at the ship's model, going out on the deck to look at the ship itself, and watching the videos on the tvs.

 

[captaincrash]

If you get aboard early...

.... you may want to reserve your Palo reservations AND baby sitting arrangements IF you have an infant - otherwise just leave the older kids in the club. Reservations go pretty fast.

 

[mamalle]

it took like a hour from wdw and we got there around 11:25. the line was already long to board and I went over to check us in while dh stayed in line to see goofy with dd. than they hung out in the cafe while I registered the kids. It all took about a hour and by then there was no line to board and we walked right on. dh told me just to wait that it would happen- he had no desire to stand in that long line with the two kids and he was right.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

We arrived around 10:30 and it was perfect....lines were easy...everyone was too excited to get bored or antsy. By the time the ship was ready for boarding...the line snaked around the terminal. I would suggest getting there early enough that you have a front of the line spot or else get there about half an hour after boarding so that long line is gone and you can walk on easier. The line moves quickly...but I personally don't like being at the end of the line...they just "seem" to take longer.


There is plenty to do - as everyone has pointed out - and you can swap people in line to hold your place.

 

[crisi]

The line does snake around the terminal by the time the ears open, but clears in about 20 minutes, boarding goes fast - they scan your KTTW cards and check your ID and you are on. So if you don't want to stand it line, you can get there about 11:30, check in (takes maybe 5 minutes if there isn't a line and all your paperwork is filled out), watch cartoons, see characters, check out the ship model. Watch the ears open, and then watch a few more cartoons while the line clears and stroll on the ship. With online Palo reservations and spa reservations now, there isn't a mad reservation rush.