Swapping dining times?

[trwprid]

When we booked our cruise, only the late seating was available for dinner. We took it because the kids cruise free availability was dwindling away.

We have a 3-year-old who's normally in bed by 8, so I can't imagine what a brat he'll be if we actually ate that late. (He's one of those kids who gets loud when ready to move on...and he knows that works.)

Our TA said that we could ask at check-in whether any seating is available in the earlier sitting, which we plan on doing.

Can anyone tell me what the likelihood of there actually being availability? It's a late-Feb cruise, so I'd imagine most kids on board are going to be younger than school age and in the same bedtime bracket.

If we can't swap we won't be able to use the dining rooms...unless the kid somehow develops a likeness to napping in the next six or so weeks.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

When we booked our cruise, only the late seating was available for dinner. We took it because the kids cruise free availability was dwindling away.

We have a 3-year-old who's normally in bed by 8, so I can't imagine what a brat he'll be if we actually ate that late. (He's one of those kids who gets loud when ready to move on...and he knows that works.)

Our TA said that we could ask at check-in whether any seating is available in the earlier sitting, which we plan on doing.

Can anyone tell me what the likelihood of there actually being availability? It's a late-Feb cruise, so I'd imagine most kids on board are going to be younger than school age and in the same bedtime bracket.

If we can't swap we won't be able to use the dining rooms...unless the kid somehow develops a likeness to napping in the next six or so weeks.

1/ Keep asking, persistence has worked before. Ensure on waitlist.

2/ Get to port early and go straight to where they are changing dinner times and ask.

Not guaranteed but a good chance in view of circumstances.

Good luck....

 

[kcashner]

What you need to do:
1) Call TA back and ask her to call and have you wait listed for main (early) dinner
2) About a month before the cruise, have her call weekly and repeat your request (the squeaky wheel, the cruise may not be full, etc)
3) after boarding, if your KTTW still indicates late dining, go to "dining changes" and ask to be moved.

There's actually a very good chance that you can get main seating, but you have to keep your TA on top of it!

 

[Raven9 Studios]

you can always do topsiders?

 

[DMRick]

I just got an email yesterday that we were switched from late to early on one of our cruises..still waiting for the second one to be switched. I requested we be waitlisted..did you ask to be waitlisted?

When we booked our cruise, only the late seating was available for dinner. We took it because the kids cruise free availability was dwindling away.

We have a 3-year-old who's normally in bed by 8, so I can't imagine what a brat he'll be if we actually ate that late. (He's one of those kids who gets loud when ready to move on...and he knows that works.)

Our TA said that we could ask at check-in whether any seating is available in the earlier sitting, which we plan on doing.

Can anyone tell me what the likelihood of there actually being availability? It's a late-Feb cruise, so I'd imagine most kids on board are going to be younger than school age and in the same bedtime bracket.

If we can't swap we won't be able to use the dining rooms...unless the kid somehow develops a likeness to napping in the next six or so weeks.

 

[richwesq]

Same situation here. Three young ones who's bedtime would be around the time of late seating.
Nayayers will say as a last resort there's always Topsiders.

Now, for those with extensive experience trying to change seating time -- and I know it obviously depends on circumstances and will vary from sailing to sailing, but if you were a betting man/woman -- what are the chances of getting a late seating changed to early for a family of five?

 

[castaway]

If you do the early (main) dinning you show will be at 8:00. Its a shame to miss the shows. You can always go on deck nine and get your child a hotdog,slice of pizza, or some fruit to hold them over till dinner time. Your show will be at 6:00 with the late dinning. Also the later dinning gives you longer at Castaway Cay so your not rushing back to get ready for dinner

 

[trwprid]

I just got an email yesterday that we were switched from late to early on one of our cruises..still waiting for the second one to be switched. I requested we be waitlisted..did you ask to be waitlisted?

I had to go through the 47 million emails between me and my TA to find out. Yep, she had me put on the waitlist on 10/29.

 

[trwprid]

You can always go on deck nine and get your child a hotdog,slice of pizza, or some fruit to hold them over till dinner time.

That may be true, but he'll still be a brat. It's not due to hunger, but needing sleep as he refuses to nap at this point. He's such a pleasant child when he's had his 12-13 hours.

 

[NancyIL]

I tried late dining for the first time on my Dec. Wonder cruise, and I didn't like it. I don't like finishing dinner at 9:45-10 p.m. and then going to bed shortly after. You end up eating 4 meals a day instead of 3 -which most people do NOT need!

 

[WDdaughter]

As op have mentioned, you can always try for early dining when you board. You could eat at buffet for dinner otherwise. They change it to sit down menu meals for supper time.

 

[trwprid]

I tried late dining for the first time on my Dec. Wonder cruise, and I didn't like it. I don't like finishing dinner at 9:45-10 p.m. and then going to bed shortly after. You end up eating 4 meals a day instead of 3 -which most people do NOT need!

That's even too late for *me* to be eating, not just the kid. I need to sit up for an hour before bed or else I get preggo-lady acid reflux (not fun sleeping on that). I don't know if I can "hang" that late after a really busy day.

If push comes to shove and we can't get an earlier seating, we'll just eat earlier elsewhere.

 

[blkim]

Good luck with getting seatings changed, Im told every time I call that they have a "high success rate" changing people around. My issue is that my dh is diabetic and cant eat that late. Disney hasnt impressed me a whole lot in this area, we sent medical information, a letter from his doc, and I have called weekly since we booked (a month ago). They still keep saying "well....sorry, we cant help you now, maybe try on the ship" Its a MEDICAL issue, for cripes sake you would think they could just do it. Lots of folks on Cruise Critic tell me not to worry, and Im sure it will work out, a medical issue will have priority on a waitlist, but still. Kinda bugs me.

 

[KSandbergFL]

Can anyone tell me what the likelihood of there actually being availability? It's a late-Feb cruise, so I'd imagine most kids on board are going to be younger than school age and in the same bedtime bracket.

I have switched dining times twice, and it's quite easy and painless. If you're there early enough, I'd say there is a 99.9% chance you'll be able to switch dining times.

On the Wonder, they open up dining changes at 1pm on the first day, in Wavebands. Once you get on the ship, one of you should go to Wavebands and take a seat in line. The line doesn't start filling up until maybe 12:30-12:45, so if you're SUPER motivated to change dining teams, get there before 12:30.

There will be two lines -- one for changing dining times, and one for Palo's reservations -- be sure you wait in the right line!!! (someone is always waiting in the wrong line). The Palo's line is usually longer, and on the right.

When it's your turn, you'll be at a table with a guy and his laptop computer. Give him your dinner tickets and tell him you want to switch to early dining... he'll check the schedule, and if there are openings - he'll give you a new set of dinner tickets.

Good luck!

 

[blkim]

Well, today must be my lucky day! I called the cruise line folks and they HAVE (thank you god!) switched us to early dining. Yipeee! One less line I have to look for on the ship. All along everyone has said "dont worry, you will get it" but I like things taken care of SOONER rather than later.

 

[CarolinaBlue]

I have switched dining times twice, and it's quite easy and painless. If you're there early enough, I'd say there is a 99.9% chance you'll be able to switch dining times.

On the Wonder, they open up dining changes at 1pm on the first day, in Wavebands. Once you get on the ship, one of you should go to Wavebands and take a seat in line. The line doesn't start filling up until maybe 12:30-12:45, so if you're SUPER motivated to change dining teams, get there before 12:30.

There will be two lines -- one for changing dining times, and one for Palo's reservations -- be sure you wait in the right line!!! (someone is always waiting in the wrong line). The Palo's line is usually longer, and on the right.

When it's your turn, you'll be at a table with a guy and his laptop computer. Give him your dinner tickets and tell him you want to switch to early dining... he'll check the schedule, and if there are openings - he'll give you a new set of dinner tickets.
Good luck!

If you get in line at 12:30, how can you give them the dinner tickets if they are in your stateroom and you can't get into the stateroom until 1 or 1:30?

We're wanting to switch to main seating on our cruise, too. We've never had to make changes, so I was just curious. Thanks!

 

[cseca]

Will your baby sleep in a stroller or at different place?
You said 3yo, I'm not sure if Flounders will work? Maybe drop your baby there before dinner, help settle down and then head over to dinner?

Just a thought.
And trust me I feel you. I found out our waitlist went through for main dining maybe about 3-4 weeks before our sailing. Phew....

Oh and if you couldn't get the early dining before check in definitely go to wavebands/rockin d to try to get it changed. As far as I know they will try really hard to get things to work.

And another possible option. I've been told if you get a really really nice server maybe they'll let you order and pack up your food to take to your stateroom. You never know...

Good luck!

 

[bullsmom7]

There is hope. We didn't find out until we got on the ship that we were switched to main dining. It was a relief! So I am hopefull that we will be able to do it again.

 

[KSandbergFL]

If you get in line at 12:30, how can you give them the dinner tickets if they are in your stateroom and you can't get into the stateroom until 1 or 1:30?

We're wanting to switch to main seating on our cruise, too. We've never had to make changes, so I was just curious. Thanks!

The dining assignments are on something you get when you check in... the Key To The World card? You definitely know what assignments you have, when you get on the ship (that's how you know to get in line to change them, if you need to). Good question tho... all I remember, at this moment is -- I got in line at around 12:45 and changed my dining from Late to Early (I was first in line). I kinda remember having my dining tickets with me, tho... maybe we were lucky and got into our room early? The last time we changed dining assignments was 2 years ago (Jan 2008), so my memory is a little foggy on that part. You can always ask the checkin person, when you checkin on the first day.

1 year ago (Jan 2009) I didn't change dining times, but I did wait in the Palo's line and got a Palo's reservation. I wasn't first in line, but about 4th or 5th... you don't need your dining tickets for that.

 

[su_kraft]

If you do the early (main) dinning you show will be at 8:00. Its a shame to miss the shows. You can always go on deck nine and get your child a hotdog,slice of pizza, or some fruit to hold them over till dinner time. Your show will be at 6:00 with the late dinning. Also the later dinning gives you longer at Castaway Cay so your not rushing back to get ready for dinner

I have to agree here. There is plenty of food available if you can't get moved. You can get an early dinner (pizza, chicken tenders, etc.) hit the shows and then at dinner time have something light.

If you let your server know, they will; do anything they can to make sure that you get a nice meal. My daughter lovee grapes, and that was about all she ate on our first trip. We mentioned that and nightly there were grapes for her. One night she was cranky and Zan offered to hold her so I could eat. She fell asleep on a single chair in Lumiers (curled up in a ball, back facing up) and they offered to make a bed for her so that we could enjoy our dinner.

Thee is also pick up for the club in the dining rooms. That is very cool - wish our daughter wasn't so shy last time...

Bottom line - don't let late seating at dinner scare you, there are ways to make it work!

Best of luck and have a great cruise!
Sue