FYI about boarding times

[Disneyfalcon]

Disney is kind of starting to enforce the arrival time you pick.

You can still arrive as early as you'd like, but now the boarding numbers aren't being handed out by order of arrival, you are assigned a number based on what your terminal arrival time is.

This is just being reported for the last couple of cruises, and it could definitely still change. Disney is really tinkering with their system to cut down on the Dream crowds in the terminal.

No matter how this all sorts out, check in online as soon as you are elligible to have the biggest selection of arrival times.

 

[mickeysshoes]

Thanks for info...we sail in August on the Dream...when can I start all my re-boarding paperwork???

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I can't say I didn't see this coming or that it's problematic for me. I think anything that cuts down those wait times in the terminal will be a good thing. Of course I'll be online at midnight when my online check-in date rolls around. Lol!

 

[cmwade77]

FYI, so far this is not what is happening on the west coast. We just got back yesterday from the Mexican riviera cruise and the boarding numbers were being given based on arrival time. I think this is the fair way to do this.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Thanks for info...we sail in August on the Dream...when can I start all my re-boarding paperwork???

You can check in online as soon as your booking window opens for Palo, excursions, etc. As long as you are paid in full. Your date is determined by how many times you've sailed before and whether or not you are in concierge. When you log in to your cruise reservation online it gives you your date.

It actually means midnight Eastern time, the night before. For example, if it says May 29th, you can check in at midnight on the 28th as the day rolls over to the 29th.

Does that make sense? I don't know why I have such a hard time describing midnight!:lol:

I can't say I didn't see this coming or that it's problematic for me. I think anything that cuts down those wait times in the terminal will be a good thing. Of course I'll be online at midnight when my online check-in date rolls around. Lol!

I'm not totally surprised either, although it only solves part of the problem. If people are still allowed to arrive whenever they want there will still be to many people in the terminal. :lol: I expect more tinkering.

FYI, so far this is not what is happening on the west coast. We just got back yesterday from the Mexican riviera cruise and the boarding numbers were being given based on arrival time. I think this is the fair way to do this.

Cmwade is correct, this is only in Port Canaveral so far. I think it could stay that way for a while. The terminal has always been plenty big for the Magic and Wonder. It's the Dream and Fantasy size crowds that don't fit in Port Canaveral.

 

[mickeysshoes]

You can check in online as soon as your booking window opens for Palo, excursions, etc. As long as you are paid in full. Your date is determined by how many times you've sailed before and whether or not you are in concierge. When you log in to your cruise reservation it gives your date.

It actually means midnight Eastern time, the night before. For example, if it says May 29th, you can check in at midnight on the 28th as the day rolls over to the 29th.

Does that make sense? I don't know why I have such a hard time describing midnight!:lol:


Thanks...we are paid in full...I will have to go online and mark my calendar...June something rings a bell but i will make sure!!! cruising is so NEW to me!!!!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Thanks...we are paid in full...I will have to go online and mark my calendar...June something rings a bell but i will make sure!!! cruising is so NEW to me!!!!

Yes, mark your calendar! Make sure you do not log in until midnight. If you log in, even a minute early, it won't work!

 

[mickeysshoes]

June 11th!!! Thank god its a Saturday so it will Friday night I will have to stay up extra late and do my online check in!!! Its maked in my phone!!! Thanks again!! :wave:

 

[Disneyfalcon]

June 11th!!! Thank god its a Saturday so it will Friday night I will have to stay up extra late and do my online check in!!! Its maked in my phone!!! Thanks again!! :wave:

You are welcome!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

June 11th!!! Thank god its a Saturday so it will Friday night I will have to stay up extra late and do my online check in!!! Its maked in my phone!!! Thanks again!! :wave:

The day before my birthday! Cool! Maybe that'll be good luck for a good arrival time.



I wonder if this arrival time/boarding pass # thing will create such a rush to check-in online at midnight that the system crashes???



And, Tammy, you're right...I don't see this addressing the mobs in the terminal itself right now. They have to get it across to people that arrival time won't help you...come at your scheduled time. I thought they'd add a flag to the online check-in informing people the arrival times will now be enforced then start enforcing them by the cruisers who had that flag presented to them. I read where a person who had called twice and was told boarding group #'s were given first-come-first-serve over the phone was given a really crumby group # when she got there super early. All she did was argue a little, talk to a supervisor or something, and voila! Her group got changed from 20-something to 3. Changing the numbers for those who argue won't help. They need to either enforce it or don't without exception. It's the only way. I now see lines of people wishing to speak with supervisors..... :lol:

 

[Disneyfalcon]

The day before my birthday! Cool! Maybe that'll be good luck for a good arrival time.



I wonder if this arrival time/boarding pass # thing will create such a rush to check-in online at midnight that the system crashes???



And, Tammy, you're right...I don't see this addressing the mobs in the terminal itself right now. They have to get it across to people that arrival time won't help you...come at your scheduled time. I thought they'd add a flag to the online check-in informing people the arrival times will now be enforced then start enforcing them by the cruisers who had that flag presented to them. I read where a person who had called twice and was told boarding group #'s were given first-come-first-serve over the phone was given a really crumby group # when she got there super early. All she did was argue a little, talk to a supervisor or something, and voila! Her group got changed from 20-something to 3. Changing the numbers for those who argue won't help. They need to either enforce it or don't without exception. It's the only way. I now see lines of people wishing to speak with supervisors..... :lol:

I totally agree! I have heard one suggestion that you are given your boarding number when you pick your port arrival time. I think that's a great idea.

If I had boarding group #28, I certainly wouldn't arrive early!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I totally agree! I have heard one suggestion that you are given your boarding number when you pick your port arrival time. I think that's a great idea.

If I had boarding group #28, I certainly wouldn't arrive early!

Me either. I'd sleep in. Lol!

Well, if boarding group depends on arrival time given it would make sense to go ahead & issue the boarding group #. Then again, what happens is a bunch of those boarding group people arrive late? Does it throw everything off?

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Me either. I'd sleep in. Lol!

Well, if boarding group depends on arrival time given it would make sense to go ahead & issue the boarding group #. Then again, what happens is a bunch of those boarding group people arrive late? Does it throw everything off?

I'd sleep in too!:lol:

Maybe a little. But it's probably like Fastpass. Even though sometimes people go through crazy late, it doesn't affect the process too much.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Two things to report!

First, on the last cruise Disney gave out boarding numbers the old way. First come first serve once you're in the terminal. So nothing is set in stone yet!

Second, the online check in button hasn't been appearing until 7 am in the morning. So don't panic if you don't see it at midnight! Just check back at 7 am Eastern time.

 

[Phonedave]

Two things to report!

First, on the last cruise Disney gave out boarding numbers the old way. First come first serve once you're in the terminal. So nothing is set in stone yet!

Second, the online check in button hasn't been appearing until 7 am in the morning. So don't panic if you don't see it at midnight! Just check back at 7 am Eastern time.

That just happend to me. My window opened at midnight last night. I was able to book shore excursions at midnight, however on-line check in was not available until I got to work this morning.

I got the 10:30-11:00 arrival time (that was the earliest available)


-dave

 

[sweetpee_1993]

That just happend to me. My window opened at midnight last night. I was able to book shore excursions at midnight, however on-line check in was not available until I got to work this morning.

I got the 10:30-11:00 arrival time (that was the earliest available)


-dave

Congrats, Dave! Great time slot! Whether or not you end up needing it, yay for you! Hope you got all the excursions you wanted at the times you wanted 'em. :wave:

 

[Phonedave]

Congrats, Dave! Great time slot! Whether or not you end up needing it, yay for you! Hope you got all the excursions you wanted at the times you wanted 'em. :wave:

We will be staying overnight in the Port area (not sure where yet, but somewhere close). They just changed my flight all around and now we are getting in to MCO at 4:30 PM, so not much besides eat and sleep in Port Caneveral. So we will be up bright and early to get on the ship.

We are planning on taking it slow on the excursion front this cruise.

We are planning on just wandering around Nassau, and will be brining out own snorkeling gear to Castaway Cay. We may rent bikes or floats there, but those don't require reservations.

The only thing we reserved is parasailing. Something my 9 y/o has been asking for lately, so we will be doing that.


-dave

 

[Disneyfalcon]

We will be staying overnight in the Port area (not sure where yet, but somewhere close). They just changed my flight all around and now we are getting in to MCO at 4:30 PM, so not much besides eat and sleep in Port Caneveral. So we will be up bright and early to get on the ship.

We are planning on taking it slow on the excursion front this cruise.

We are planning on just wandering around Nassau, and will be brining out own snorkeling gear to Castaway Cay. We may rent bikes or floats there, but those don't require reservations.

The only thing we reserved is parasailing. Something my 9 y/o has been asking for lately, so we will be doing that.


-dave

Sounds great! I am putting parasailing on our next agenda too! Parasailing at Castaway Cay. I can't think of amy place I'd rather do it!

Glad you got the early time!

 

[Crush Dude!]

Im going straight from the airport to the ship in Barcelona by disney transport! The cm told me when going by disney transport the arrival times dont apply but if it makes me just pick the first option! Will it be ok???

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Im going straight from the airport to the ship in Barcelona by disney transport! The cm told me when going by disney transport the arrival times dont apply but if it makes me just pick the first option! Will it be ok???

That's correct, the arrival times don't apply if you have Disney transfers. I have heard from some clients recently that even though they are signed up for transfers, it did make them pick a time. Just pick one, and don't worry about it after that.