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Port arrival times
- Thread starter kasey1988
- Start date
sweetpee_1993
Well-Known Member
You can select anything. It doesn't matter. You won't be held to it or anything if you're taking Disney's transfers in.
Disneyfalcon
Well-Known Member
If you were on transfers from the airport and wanted to go early I would pick early so you'll get a lower boarding number. From WDW however, by the time you arrive they should be in open boarding and your boarding number won't matter.
So do what Kelly said, pick anything! Maybe even a later time to save the early ones for people that are scrambling to get one.
So do what Kelly said, pick anything! Maybe even a later time to save the early ones for people that are scrambling to get one.
DVC4bestvacations
Well-Known Member
on our first two Disney cruises we stressed about getting a low boarding number. Last time we used the DCL transportation from AKL to the port. We arrived late in the process and were able to go right on board. I liked that much more than sitting in the terminal for an hour or more waiting for our number to be called.
Disneyfalcon
Well-Known Member
11:15 is probably the earliest, 11:30 is most likely.
Ariel484
Well-Known Member
I agree with @Disneyfalcon - we had the earliest PAT in late July and boarding group 2 - we boarded at 11:30.
ChuckElias
Well-Known Member
Our last cruise in January, we had boarding number 2 and didn't board until about 11:50.
DISNEY FANTASY
Well-Known Member
Different home ports different cruises have different embarkation times, and a ship just needs to come in a few minutes late for a domino effect to cascade.
Port Canaveral was on at 11.15 most times boarding card 1, Bsrcelona was 11.40 Bosrding card one, Chuck beat me by a second in Vancouver.
Port Canaveral was on at 11.15 most times boarding card 1, Bsrcelona was 11.40 Bosrding card one, Chuck beat me by a second in Vancouver.
jaklgreen
Well-Known Member
What was strange is we used Disney transportation from the airport our last trip and they still gave us a very high boarding number. It was the last group. So I said something to one of the cast members who are in charge of the boarding and he thought that was crazy and he just let us board with the first group.
Disneyfalcon
Well-Known Member
Assuming you are talking about a recent cruise, the boarding number is tied to the port arrival time you pick during the online check-in process. So if you pick a late arrival time (or didn't pick one), you get a high boarding number.
jaklgreen
Well-Known Member
Assuming you are talking about a recent cruise, the boarding number is tied to the port arrival time you pick during the online check-in process. So if you pick a late arrival time (or didn't pick one), you get a high boarding number.
I understand that but for us, we were told that since we were using Disney transportation not to bother with a port arrival time since we had no idea what time we would arrive. So they gave us a late boarding time when we got there. But they brought us very early and then expected us to wait there hours to board. That just does not make sense at all. If we are using there transportation and have no control over our arrival time then our boarding number should reflect what time we arrive at the port not some random time you pick online.
ChuckElias
Well-Known Member
I've never personally used the Disney transportation for Port Canaveral. So I can't tell you if your experience is the "norm". But if you expect to use the DCL bus next time, my recommendation would be to simply pick the earliest arrival time that you can get. If you get there in time to get aboard early, great. If you get there after your arrival time, you haven't really lost anything.
Disneyfalcon
Well-Known Member
Gotcha. People on Disney transfers didn't used to have to worry about those times at all and were told that. When they changed the way it worked, not everyone got the message. For people transferring from the resorts their arrival time won't really matter because they generally won't get there until open boarding (where boarding numbers have already been called) has begun. If you're transferring from the airport you could get there really early if you board an early bus so those boarding numbers will make a big difference.
PolynesianPrincess
Well-Known Member
Us too! We actually hired a private transfer in February for about $20 more per person than waiting around for the DCL transfers. It was worth it to us to get there as early as possible. I think we ended up with boarding group 3 or 4.
dumboflyer
Well-Known Member
On our last cruise, we used DCL transportation for the first time (our 9th DCL cruise). It will be the last time. It was VERY expensive and very inefficient. For our group of 13 we are going back to private transport. It's about half the price and we pick when to go.
For anyone using private transport, strongly encourage you to read up on companies. We've used 4-5 different ones, and their quality has varied widely (driver safety/courtesy, punctuality, safety seats for children, etc). Best one we've used is Cocoa Beach Shuttle Co.