Port Arrival Time and Boarding Groups Using Disney Transport

[Mdub1021]

What PAT were you assigned if you use Disney Transport to the port?

We are staying at the Hyatt and got assigned 11:45 with a boarding group of 6. Seems odd for buses that start leaving at 930-ish.

 

[scrappinginontario]

February 2023
All Star Movies
Pickup time 9:45ish
BG 4
Boarded just before noon

Worked perfectly!! We were on the ship shortly after they started calling BGs.

 

[lanejudy]

This summer — maybe just the past month — DCL has given Pearl CC priority boarding so that seems to be assigned 3-5 depending on how many each cruise as well as how many Concierge (groups 2-3). That has pushed the Boarding Groups higher (later) for DCL transfers.

 

[Mdub1021]

This summer — maybe just the past month — DCL has given Pearl CC priority boarding so that seems to be assigned 3-5 depending on how many each cruise as well as how many Concierge (groups 2-3). That has pushed the Boarding Groups higher (later) for DCL transfers.

There are folks in my group who are staying at the resorts that are getting groups 3 and 4, while Hyatt is getting 6.

 

[happycamper47]

There are folks in my group who are staying at the resorts that are getting groups 3 and 4, while Hyatt is getting 6.

That makes sense, they probably prioritize those who are on WDW property first

 

[lanejudy]

That makes sense, they probably prioritize those who are on WDW property first

That’s highly possible.

 

[sweepy109]

We stayed at the Polynesian last month and we were given boarding group 2.

 

[MrMagoo]

We were on the Wish last weekend and arriving from the Hyatt Airport we were assigned group 1 at the port!!!
Our original group was supposed to be 6 but we got the first bus from the Hyatt and a lady got on the bus at the port and gave us group 1 cards.

Our bus was the first bus to arrive that day from anywhere!

Think it was 11:45 before we were able to board after the back to backs, concierge, and family of the day.

 

[Mdub1021]

We were on the Wish last weekend and arriving from the Hyatt Airport we were assigned group 1 at the port!!!
Our original group was supposed to be 6 but we got the first bus from the Hyatt and a lady got on the bus at the port and gave us group 1 cards.

Our bus was the first bus to arrive that day from anywhere!

Think it was 11:45 before we were able to board after the back to backs, concierge, and family of the day.

This is very helpful! I’ll cross my fingers we will get on the first bus and have a lower boarding group. Nothing like making us wait when we paid for their service.

If you don’t mind me asking- what time did you start lining up for bus check in? Did your whole group need to be there at bus check in?

 

[MrMagoo]

We were down in the lobby a little after 8.
Your whole group does need to be there for check in.
If you just have carry on luggage you can take that with you.
Otherwise you leave your luggage in the room and they will pick it up if you are registered for the Disney shuttle bus.
Do NOT put it outside your room! They will enter your room to get it. Luggage pickup starts at 8 am.
A lot of people brought their luggage down with them but that is not necessary.
Definitely check with the person you check in with to make sure your room is on the pick up list though.
There is a roped off line for checking in and they used that same line area for lining up for the bus.
We were in line 5-10 minutes before 9.

 

[Mdub1021]

We were down in the lobby a little after 8.
Your whole group does need to be there for check in.
If you just have carry on luggage you can take that with you.
Otherwise you leave your luggage in the room and they will pick it up if you are registered for the Disney shuttle bus.
Do NOT put it outside your room! They will enter your room to get it. Luggage pickup starts at 8 am.
A lot of people brought their luggage down with them but that is not necessary.
Definitely check with the person you check in with to make sure your room is on the pick up list though.
There is a roped off line for checking in and they used that same line area for lining up for the bus.
We were in line 5-10 minutes before 9.

We were down in the lobby a little after 8.
Your whole group does need to be there for check in.
If you just have carry on luggage you can take that with you.
Otherwise you leave your luggage in the room and they will pick it up if you are registered for the Disney shuttle bus.
Do NOT put it outside your room! They will enter your room to get it. Luggage pickup starts at 8 am.
A lot of people brought their luggage down with them but that is not necessary.
Definitely check with the person you check in with to make sure your room is on the pick up list though.
There is a roped off line for checking in and they used that same line area for lining up for the bus.
We were in line 5-10 minutes before 9.

Thanks for this. We have stayed at the Hyatt 10 out of 12 cruises, and they have done something different each time lol. Last time we did not have to have our whole group down there to check in, just one person per room.

 

[Mdub1021]

We were down in the lobby a little after 8.
Your whole group does need to be there for check in.
If you just have carry on luggage you can take that with you.
Otherwise you leave your luggage in the room and they will pick it up if you are registered for the Disney shuttle bus.
Do NOT put it outside your room! They will enter your room to get it. Luggage pickup starts at 8 am.
A lot of people brought their luggage down with them but that is not necessary.
Definitely check with the person you check in with to make sure your room is on the pick up list though.
There is a roped off line for checking in and they used that same line area for lining up for the bus.
We were in line 5-10 minutes before 9.

We were down in the lobby a little after 8.
Your whole group does need to be there for check in.
If you just have carry on luggage you can take that with you.
Otherwise you leave your luggage in the room and they will pick it up if you are registered for the Disney shuttle bus.
Do NOT put it outside your room! They will enter your room to get it. Luggage pickup starts at 8 am.
A lot of people brought their luggage down with them but that is not necessary.
Definitely check with the person you check in with to make sure your room is on the pick up list though.
There is a roped off line for checking in and they used that same line area for lining up for the bus.
We were in line 5-10 minutes before 9.

Thanks for this. We have stayed at the Hyatt 10 out of 12 cruises, and they have done something different each time lol. Last time we did not have to have our whole group down there to check in, just one person per room.

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

Sailing on 9/23; staying at the Riviera the night before. Got BG 6 with a 11:30-11:45 PAT...

How long after you arrive does it typically take to get on the ship?

 

[lanejudy]

How long after you arrive does it typically take to get on the ship?

That depends on what time you arrive vs when boarding actually begins. Contrary to popular belief, your PAT is NOT the boarding time. PATs begin as early as 10:30 or 11:00am depending on the port. Boarding may not begin until 11:30/11:45-ish for most cruises; however it's not unusual to have an occasional cruise delay boarding a little later depending on circumstances (USCG inspection, late arrival, etc.)

 

[natties10]

This is very helpful! I’ll cross my fingers we will get on the first bus and have a lower boarding group. Nothing like making us wait when we paid for their service.

If you don’t mind me asking- what time did you start lining up for bus check in? Did your whole group need to be there at bus check in?

Can you update us with how it went? I just checked in last night for my October cruise - staying at MCO Hyatt with DCL transfers and got group 6. Would love to hear your experience including what time you got down to the lobby, what bus you were on, and if you had to wait until group 6 was called! Many thanks!

 

[DisneyMK46]

Sailing on 9/23; staying at the Riviera the night before. Got BG 6 with a 11:30-11:45 PAT...

How long after you arrive does it typically take to get on the ship?

We are staying at the All Movies resort and got 11-45-12:00 PAT with boarding group 7. First time using DCL transfer, not sure how i feel about the boarding group #. If the bus gets there earlier, do they just make you wait? and where? on the bus? the terminal?

 

[lanejudy]

We are staying at the All Movies resort and got 11-45-12:00 PAT with boarding group 7. First time using DCL transfer, not sure how i feel about the boarding group #. If the bus gets there earlier, do they just make you wait? and where? on the bus? the terminal?

#7 is a relatively low boarding group. When your bus arrives you will go through security and check-in, then if your #7 has not yet been called you'll wait for a bit in the terminal. Keep in mind that boarding doesn't even begin until 11:30 or so; folks with the earliest PATs always have to wait. Arriving around 12:45-1:00pm is actually great because the crowds have cleared the terminal and you likely can walk-on right after check-in.

 

[auntlynne]

Sep 2, Fantasy, Hyatt lobby pick-up.

From the info e-mail pre-cruise (Aug 31 for Sep 2 sailing):

Time to Sail All Guests are invited to meet with the Disney Cruise Line Representative at the Hospitality Desk located in the lobby at8:50 AM (EST) for motorcoach departures beginning at 9:20 AM (EST).

Here’s the bus schedule:



We got to the lobby around 9:20. Checked in within 10 minutes. That put us on Goofy bus (they fill them in order).

We had about an hour til Meet time. Went back to room.
(Goofy was the last bus that day). They were loading luggage into the truck as we walked past; they got ours from the room just as we were leaving, ~10:15.

Only one person needs to go to check-in.

However, if you check-in when it’s time for the next bus (Meet in Lobby time), you would need to have entire group present.

We left in schedule (10:40) and had no traffic issues. We used the Platinum line and were processed by Concierge (this happens to me often, as I never get there first thing).

11:40 Upstairs
11:45 Group 1 called
11:47 Group 2
11:52 Group 3
11:58 Group 4
12:02 Group 5

We moved to the queue area and started walking in as they called Group 6 (Our assigned Group). It wasn’t later than 12:05.

 

[Mdub1021]

Only one person needs to go to check-in.

However, if you check-in when it’s time for the next bus (Meet in Lobby time), you would need to have entire group present.

Thank you! This was helpful.

Can you clarify the part about when one person can check-in vs when you have to have your whole group?

 

[auntlynne]

Thank you! This was helpful.

Can you clarify the part about when one person can check-in vs when you have to have your whole group?

Check-in is first. Starts at 8:50 (some people line up starting at 8:15). This is just to get a bus assignment. That’s why you really only need one person to pick up a little character picture (corresponding to bus. You get one for each member of your party - stapled together).

You will come back later (unless it is already time) for the Meet in Lobby - your entire party must come down, stand in line, and then go together to the bus.

Check-in and Meet in the Lobby are all the same general area - a ballroom near the hotel main desk.

Hope that helps.