Port Arrival (Re-Hashed A Million TImes)

[Tigerman4LSU]

We are going on the Disney Magic in a few weeks. Our scheduled check in time is 12:30. Any advantage on arriving at 10:30? We are okay in waiting longer in line, etc., but want to get on the ship earlier.

 

George

[Tagong]

Our group had 12pm as our boarding/check in time. That said; we arrived around 10:30am and went through security and checked in within minutes. We enjoyed our time hanging out in the terminal until they started calling boarding numbers. We were on the ship by 12:15pm.

[moki'smommy]

Your boarding card number is tied to your PAT. You get your boarding card number at check in.

 

If you show up at 12:00, you can expect to walk right in thru security, check in, and board the ship with little or no waiting.

 

If you show up at 10:30, you can expect to stand in line to enter the terminal, stand in line to check in, and then find a place to stand and wait. There are very few places to sit. While waiting, you can choose to stand in line to register any kids 12 and under for programming and get their bands....but you could do that on board with no waiting. You might see some characters in a MOB SCENE because everyone gets so excited about them. If you are lucky, your boarding number might be called about 11:15....or it may not be called till 12:30.

 

There is NO advantage to showing up at 10:30. If you are determined to show up early, wait till somewhere between 11:30 and 12. This should get you thru check in by the time your number is called, and worst case you have shaved an hour or more off your waiting time.

Edited February 18, 2015 by moki'smommy

[moki'smommy]

Your boarding card number is tied to your PAT. You get your boarding card number at check in.

 

If you show up at 12:00' date=' you can expect to walk right in thru security, check in, and board the ship with little or no waiting.

 

If you show up at 10:30, you can expect to stand in line to enter the terminal, stand in line to check in, and then find a place to stand and wait. There are very few places to sit. While waiting, you can choose to stand in line to register any kids 12 and under for programming and get their bands....but you could do that on board with no waiting. You might see some characters in a MOB SCENE because everyone gets so excited about them. If you are lucky, your boarding number might be called about 11:15....or it may not be called till 12:30.

 

There is NO advantage to showing up at 10:30. If you are determined to show up early, wait till somewhere between 11:30 and 12. This should get you thru check in by the time your number is called, and worst case you have shaved an hour or more off your waiting time.[/quote']

 

I made a type in the above--intended to say that your boarding number might be called about 12:15 (not 11:15). Sorry.

[Madio]

Our PAT is 11:00-11:15. Just completed online check-in today for a June 22 cruise. We thought we would show up a few minutes before 11:00. I see on this board that we will receive a boarding # when we arrive that will be "tied to our PAT #". Don't understand how that works.

[Shmoo here]

Our PAT is 11:00-11:15. Just completed online check-in today for a June 22 cruise. We thought we would show up a few minutes before 11:00. I see on this board that we will receive a boarding # when we arrive that will be "tied to our PAT #". Don't understand how that works.

 

When you check in at the port (not when you arrive), you will be issued a boarding number. That boarding number is tied to the PAT you selected.

 

The system works like this, each PAT window has XX number of boarding numbers "assigned" to is. Just for this example, let's say each window has 5 numbers. So PAT window 10:30-10:45 has #1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 as the possible boarding number you may receive. 10:45-11:00 would have numbers 6-10; 11:00-11:15 would have numbers 11-15; and so on. You will receive the same boarding number regardless if you arrive earlier than your selected PAT or later.

 

Once boarding begins (generally around 11:15-11:30) they announce boarding for Concierge and Platinum Castaway Club members, then start calling boarding numbers (roughly about every 5 minutes).

Edited April 8, 2015 by Shmoo here

[moki'smommy]

Basically, when you select a PAT, the computer designates your boarding card number. The earlier the PAT, the lower the number. If you show up at your PAT time, you will get that number. If you show up 2 hours before or after your PAT, you'll still get that same number. You may board when that number is called, or any time thereafter. Boarding numbers are called every 5-8 minutes, depending on how the guests move and how smoothly embarkation is going.

 

SO, if you have a 12:30 PAT and have number 20 assigned, you will still board when number 20 is called, regardless of when you show up. If you show up at 10:30, you can check in shortly thereafter and wait while numbers 1-19 board. In all likelihood, number 20 will be called sometime between 12:15 and 12:30. Please note, the use of "20" is hypothetical. SO, showing up a little before your PAT will get you on the ship a little sooner. SHowing up a long time before your PAT will mean you are standing around the terminal (there are very few seats), watching cartoons on TV monitors, maybe seeing characters and doing kid check in. Hint-better character experiences await on board. Kid registration at the terminal = long lines. On the ship, registration = little or no waiting.

[Madio]

Where is the "Kid Registration" on the ship? Is that where they get their wrist band? Do they need that for the Aqua Duck?

[moki'smommy]

Where is the "Kid Registration" on the ship? Is that where they get their wrist band? Do they need that for the Aqua Duck?

 

Kid registration on the ship is at the Oceaneer's Club and Lab. Often on the first day they will set up a table outside the check in area (to separate the two functions). Yes, this is where they get the wrist band. No, the wrist band only functions in the Club/Lab for check in and location. It has nothing to do with the AquaDuck.