Dinner with Shamu - DIFFERENT questions

[NJ Cruisers]

I read all recent posts for Dinner with Shamu and couldn't find the answer to these questions

1. How long is the dinner? Do they give you enough time to eat or do they rush you along?

2. How do you get the front row seats? Is it based on when you reserve, when you check in at the gate or when you arrive for dinner (and stand in line early)?

Thanks,
Diane

[monarchsfan16]

The entire thing lasts for a couple of hours, I think. They give you about half an hour to get your food and to eat in peace, and then they start the "show". However, they specifically tell you not to rush and to enjoy your food. They also give you time to continue eating after the "show". I did not feel rushed, but I eat pretty quickly to begin with. You can continue to eat during the show too, as long as you're not as picture-op obsessed as I am.

Your seats are based on when you made reservations. However if you have a big group (6+ people) they put the 2 rows together for your group, so you sort of end up with front row seating. There are only 2 rows, and we were pretty happy with our second row seats for the most part.

[NCRedding]

When we did this in June, we entered at 7:15 and left at 8:05. I didn't feel rushed, but it isn't very long. The talking part of the dinner is about 20-25 minutes. We had a front row seat, very close to one of the areas where the whale comes up.

[Marla Hellwig]

Just did this Monday evening, we were at the 2nd seating, had to check in at 6:15, was just about the last 2 in the door and we were seated at a table for 2 right beside the tank (well on the other side of the rope and rocks - we walked out about 7:45 or so - I decided to have another glass of wine before leaving