Online Check-In Lesson Learned

[elittleton]

Our online check-in opened up last night. I’ve been reading the post on here so I knew what I needed pictures. I already knew when my window opened up but I checked the countdown clock anyway.

First lesson learned for others - I’m in the Central Time Zone so my window opened at 11:00. Well, my countdown is off my time zone so I checked in at 30 days and 59 minutes instead of 29 days and 23 hours. It’s a good idea to know how your countdown is working. Also, I didn’t get the check in box until about 3 minutes after.

Second lesson learned that hurts - I cropped one of my pictures like others have said they had to do. This cost me majorly. When I uploaded my passport it was quick but when I did my picture I got the blue spinning circle. I was expecting some spinning so I didn’t think anything of it at first. When it kept spinning I signed on to the computer to try there. Well, I got the box saying it was down so I thought maybe I got caught up in it being down. I closed my browser and tried again. At this point I feel asleep. I woke up at 1:30, my time, and my session had timed out. I decided at this point to just use the original picture even though it’s chest up. It uploaded in seconds. I was checked in about 10 minutes but I have an 11:30 PAT and boarding group 13.

 

[Love2Cruise2015]

Thank you for sharing

 

[PendingPeril]

I did a last-minute cruise and checked in some time after the window opened. Our PAT was 11:45. Re-checked a few days later and was able to get a 10:30 PAT. So keep going back to check in, you never know.

 

[auntlynne]

We had Boarding Group 10 with a PAT of 11:30 In Miami. They called our Group right after we got to the holding area. Perfect timing. I expect you won’t wait for any significant time for Group 13.

Bon Voyage!

 

[JoeFromSeoul]

The one perk of living in Korea and sailing DCL, all my check-in and booking windows open at reasonable times instead of ungodly morning hours. The trade-off is flying 15 hours to get to the port…

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I did a last-minute cruise and checked in some time after the window opened. Our PAT was 11:45. Re-checked a few days later and was able to get a 10:30 PAT. So keep going back to check in, you never know.

Yeah this whole "must check in at midnight" thing is a myth. I've checked in 10 days late and still gotten 11:30.

The 10:30 ones are weird because all of the official guidance from DCL still tells you that the earliest possible is 11:00.

 

[Joel0917]

Our online check-in opened up last night. I’ve been reading the post on here so I knew what I needed pictures. I already knew when my window opened up but I checked the countdown clock anyway.

First lesson learned for others - I’m in the Central Time Zone so my window opened at 11:00. Well, my countdown is off my time zone so I checked in at 30 days and 59 minutes instead of 29 days and 23 hours. It’s a good idea to know how your countdown is working. Also, I didn’t get the check in box until about 3 minutes after.

Second lesson learned that hurts - I cropped one of my pictures like others have said they had to do. This cost me majorly. When I uploaded my passport it was quick but when I did my picture I got the blue spinning circle. I was expecting some spinning so I didn’t think anything of it at first. When it kept spinning I signed on to the computer to try there. Well, I got the box saying it was down so I thought maybe I got caught up in it being down. I closed my browser and tried again. At this point I feel asleep. I woke up at 1:30, my time, and my session had timed out. I decided at this point to just use the original picture even though it’s chest up. It uploaded in seconds. I was checked in about 10 minutes but I have an 11:30 PAT and boarding group 13.

I too was late by a day and got 1130 group 13. I checked PAT every day and then about 10 days out I got group 5 at 1045. So keep checking back

 

[elittleton]

I did a last-minute cruise and checked in some time after the window opened. Our PAT was 11:45. Re-checked a few days later and was able to get a 10:30 PAT. So keep going back to check in, you never know.

I too was late by a day and got 1130 group 13. I checked PAT every day and then about 10 days out I got group 5 at 1045. So keep checking back

My plan is to keep checking. I did that for one of the excursions I wanted that was sold out initially. I got it a couple weeks ago. I’ll check daily until I get what I want or check in closes.

 

[elittleton]

Yeah this whole "must check in at midnight" thing is a myth. I've checked in 10 days late and still gotten 11:30.

The 10:30 ones are weird because all of the official guidance from DCL still tells you that the earliest possible is 11:00.

I would rather board as early as possible instead of hanging out in the car just driving around after checking out of the hotel.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I would rather board as early as possible instead of hanging out in the car just driving around after checking out of the hotel.

I understand and share that desire. My point is, you don't need to be beating down the door at midnight to get a good time.

 

[soniam]

Our online check-in opened up last night. I’ve been reading the post on here so I knew what I needed pictures. I already knew when my window opened up but I checked the countdown clock anyway.

First lesson learned for others - I’m in the Central Time Zone so my window opened at 11:00. Well, my countdown is off my time zone so I checked in at 30 days and 59 minutes instead of 29 days and 23 hours. It’s a good idea to know how your countdown is working. Also, I didn’t get the check in box until about 3 minutes after.

Second lesson learned that hurts - I cropped one of my pictures like others have said they had to do. This cost me majorly. When I uploaded my passport it was quick but when I did my picture I got the blue spinning circle. I was expecting some spinning so I didn’t think anything of it at first. When it kept spinning I signed on to the computer to try there. Well, I got the box saying it was down so I thought maybe I got caught up in it being down. I closed my browser and tried again. At this point I feel asleep. I woke up at 1:30, my time, and my session had timed out. I decided at this point to just use the original picture even though it’s chest up. It uploaded in seconds. I was checked in about 10 minutes but I have an 11:30 PAT and boarding group 13.

I knew that we would need to upload photos, but I haven't seen anything on the DCL website specifying what the photo actually needs to contain and what file size/resolution it should be. What are the requirements for the pictures? Thanks

 

[holula]

Think I’m the only person who doesn’t want an early PAT if I’m doing WDW before. I like a leisurely breakfast before heading to the port!

 

[jkmdds4osu]

I knew that we would need to upload photos, but I haven't seen anything on the DCL website specifying what the photo actually needs to contain and what file size/resolution it should be. What are the requirements for the pictures? Thanks

"This should be a recent color photo of you facing forward, from the shoulders up, with no filters. Your face should be fully and clearly visible; please remove eyewear that prevents your eyes from being seen and any items on top of your head. There should be not other people or objects included in the photo. This cannot be the same photo used on any identification documents submitted above." From the check-in area of the website.

We sent a .jpg file using a light colored wall in our house as the background and an iPhone.

 

[soniam]

"This should be a recent color photo of you facing forward, from the shoulders up, with no filters. Your face should be fully and clearly visible; please remove eyewear that prevents your eyes from being seen and any items on top of your head. There should be not other people or objects included in the photo. This cannot be the same photo used on any identification documents submitted above." From the check-in area of the website.

We sent a .jpg file using a light colored wall in our house as the background and an iPhone.

Thank you

 

[elittleton]

I knew that we would need to upload photos, but I haven't seen anything on the DCL website specifying what the photo actually needs to contain and what file size/resolution it should be. What are the requirements for the pictures? Thanks

"This should be a recent color photo of you facing forward, from the shoulders up, with no filters. Your face should be fully and clearly visible; please remove eyewear that prevents your eyes from being seen and any items on top of your head. There should be not other people or objects included in the photo. This cannot be the same photo used on any identification documents submitted above." From the check-in area of the website.

We sent a .jpg file using a light colored wall in our house as the background and an iPhone.

I found the info my reading the post on this forum. The picture I had of myself was chest up instead of shoulders so I cropped it. The site wouldn’t download it. I had to just use the chest up picture. The worst that will happen is I have to unload another picture.

 

[elittleton]

I understand and share that desire. My point is, you don't need to be beating down the door at midnight to get a good time.

If there hadn’t been problems it wouldn’t have been a problem. By the time I could do it the next day the earliest PAT time was 1:00.

 

[Doingitagain]

Think I’m the only person who doesn’t want an early PAT if I’m doing WDW before. I like a leisurely breakfast before heading to the port!

I am with you! I like a leisurely check out at hotel and I hate lugging carrying bags around until staterooms open. We don’t swim that first day.

 

[meliscan]

I was online and refreshing and all checked in by 12:15am EST and still received 11:00am as my PAT. As others have said I think it is all to do with where you are staying and the type of transportation.

 

[Dug720]

As others have said I think it is all to do with where you are staying and the type of transportation.

I'd agree with this. When I initially checked in I had transfers from MCO to the port, but I've since changed to an on-property resort since I was lucky enough to get a ticket to the D23 Cosmic Rewind preview event and will be taking the bus from Riviera to the port. Initially my PAT was like 10:30-10:45 (or 10:45-11:00 maybe) and BG 6. I just went into my account now and I've got 10:15-10:30 and BG 3 without doing anything.

 

[elittleton]

I was online and refreshing and all checked in by 12:15am EST and still received 11:00am as my PAT. As others have said I think it is all to do with where you are staying and the type of transportation.

It’s good to know I wouldn’t have gotten much earlier if I didn’t have problems.

We are driving. I still need to book a hotel but it will be in the area. That is next on my list. I’m always up and going early. Hanging around until 11:00 will be painful.