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Mom And Son Water Slide
  • On May 11, 2013
    April from WI Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Sailing Dream June 2014 w/group of 13. We will be arriving to port in different ways...DCL transportation and 1 group is driving in. How are we able to get an early boarding # and be able to board as 1 group? Do you get boarding # @ online ck in?

    Ahoy April!
    Thanks for writing back!  This is an excellent question because I understand wanting to be one of the first Guests on the ship so you can get your vacation underway!  When you complete your online check in, you will be able to select a Port Arrival Time.  Disney Cruise Line likes to stagger when Guests arrive so the lines are manageable in the cruise terminal.  Port Arrival Times begin at 11:00am and are in 30 minute intervals ending at 3:30pm.  Actual boarding numbers are not given out until you check in at the port and do correspond to your Port Arrival Time-the earlier your time, the earlier you board.  Boarding Group One Guests are actually those Guests who have booked a Concierge level room or Platinum Castaway Club members (10+ cruises) so the best you can do at the port is Boarding Group Two.  I will say that the castmembers at Port Canaveral do a phenomenal job of keeping things moving and getting Guests onboard as quickly as possible.  When I was boarding the Disney Fantasy last month, we had a Port Arrival Time of 11:30-12:00 and we were given Boarding Group Eight.  Our cruise began boarding around 11:30am, and we were enjoying lunch before noon at Cabanas! (This can vary slightly depending on how quickly the ship is cleared for embarking Guests.)
    The key to boarding early is completing your online check-in as soon as possible so you can select your Port Arrival Time on the last screen of the check-in. 
    I hope this all makes sense, April!  If I can help you further, please let me know!
    Have a magical day!
    Nancy
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Meet the Panelist: Nancy, Georgia

Ahoy there!I'm excited to help you plan a magical voyage filled with pixie dust onboard one of the magnificent Disney cruise ships. As a mom of two,I love planning a Disney cruise and can't wait for you to experience all that DCL has to offer. Learn More About Nancy

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