First or Second seating?? - Page 2 - The DIS Discussion Forums

Wshop · 01-26-2013, 11:23 PM

Only you know your kids but we did late dining with our 6 yr old and thought it was great. We loved being able to make the shows and our son was done with dinner and off to the kids club within 40 minutes every night. His only complaint was that he wanted to stay there even later.

tvguy · 01-26-2013, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wshop

Only you know your kids but we did late dining with our 6 yr old and thought it was great. We loved being able to make the shows and our son was done with dinner and off to the kids club within 40 minutes every night. His only complaint was that he wanted to stay there even later.

Yeah, it's really hard to to say, depends on your routine at home, if that routine varies when you on vacation, your home time zone, and which cruise you are on.

Our kids were 12 and 16 when we cruised, and with their soccer and baseball after school, dinner at home was rarely before 7 pm, and some times as late as 8:30pm. We also tend to eat later on vacation, and being west coasters on a Caribbean cruise, late seating was really like eating earlier for our bodies.
We cruised the year before on another line, and our kids really missed have a nightly midnight buffet on Disney. We did order cookies from room service at midnight a couple of nights, but just not the same.

lovetotraveltx · 01-27-2013, 01:53 AM

At home we eat between 7:00 and 7:45 and our children are in their 20's. However, after trying both, all 4 of us prefer early seating. We don't really like the show before dinner. Also with the the late seating you don't really have time for much before bed. And, on things like pirate night, you're way too full!

Just our 2 cents

Everyone is different, though, and I know some people's experiences will be the exact opposite.[/QUOTE]

mom2jcg · 01-27-2013, 09:02 AM

Ours were 8, 10, and 11 and we did the second seating. It worked great for us, but I did learn a lesson the first night. If you do the second seating, don't bring/buy candy for the shows! Mine filled up on junk at the shows and barely touched dinner. The second night, they had a snack mid afternoon, no candy at the show, and ate dinner just fine. We are on central time zone in the real world, however, so that may have helped.

madqueen · 01-27-2013, 10:54 AM

I think it really depends on your kids and how hungry/ cranky they get when they eat a bit later. If they are going to be miserable eating that late, by all means go for the first seating. But if at all possible, try to hold out for the second seating. You can always grab them a snack to hold them over, and the second seating is usually more enjoyable. It is less crowded, less kids overall so less noise, and I prefer seeing the show and then eating. I just think it's less hectic overall. They will always bring the children's meals out first, and if your kids get bored waiting for everyone else to eat, you can ask to have them taken to the oceaneer's club when the counselors come around.

MikeAndNick · 01-27-2013, 11:10 AM

The only time I can see my son is at Dinner. The rest of the time he wants to be in the kids area and now that he is older with his friends. We had late dinner one cruise and now I will not book a cruise if we cannot get early dinner. It was to much of a hassle with him trying to get out of dinner to go do things with the other kids.

For me, I like to have dinner, go relax with a drink then go to the show. After the show I have my choice to go to bed or do the late night adult thing.

Everyone has their own reasons and this is mine.

Note: If you pick early dining remember room service. My son loves to get room service when he gets back to the room at night. When he was younger it was 11 pm now at 16 it is more like 2 am.

woody73 · 01-27-2013, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melmo1978

. . . I'm having difficulty picking between 1st and 2nd seating. Our boys are 4 and 6. Does anyone have any recommendation?

With kids ages 4 and 6, definitely first seating.

Woody

01-27-2013, 11:10 AM	#21
MikeAndNick If you can dream it, you can do it. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 624	The only time I can see my son is at Dinner. The rest of the time he wants to be in the kids area and now that he is older with his friends. We had late dinner one cruise and now I will not book a cruise if we cannot get early dinner. It was to much of a hassle with him trying to get out of dinner to go do things with the other kids. For me, I like to have dinner, go relax with a drink then go to the show. After the show I have my choice to go to bed or do the late night adult thing. Everyone has their own reasons and this is mine. Note: If you pick early dining remember room service. My son loves to get room service when he gets back to the room at night. When he was younger it was 11 pm now at 16 it is more like 2 am. __________________ Mike and Nick Disney Cruise Lines: Wonder Land and Sea – Bahamas 2005, Magic Eastbound Trans Atlantic 2010, Magic Mexican Riviera Nov 20, 2011, Fantasy Western Caribbean June 23, 2012, Wonder Bahamian December 14, 2013 Princess Cruse Lines: Panama Canal 2006, San Francisco Alaska June 19, 2011 Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines: Mexican Riviera 2009 Carnival Cruise Lines: Encanta Mexico 2009 NCL Cruise Lines: Mexican Riviera 2008 Last edited by MikeAndNick; 01-27-2013 at 11:20 AM.

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01-26-2013, 11:23 PM	#16
Wshop Mouseketeer Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 121	Only you know your kids but we did late dining with our 6 yr old and thought it was great. We loved being able to make the shows and our son was done with dinner and off to the kids club within 40 minutes every night. His only complaint was that he wanted to stay there even later.

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01-27-2013, 01:53 AM	#18
lovetotraveltx Mouseketeer Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 438	At home we eat between 7:00 and 7:45 and our children are in their 20's. However, after trying both, all 4 of us prefer early seating. We don't really like the show before dinner. Also with the the late seating you don't really have time for much before bed. And, on things like pirate night, you're way too full! Just our 2 cents Everyone is different, though, and I know some people's experiences will be the exact opposite.[/QUOTE]

01-27-2013, 09:02 AM	#19
mom2jcg Mouseketeer Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 229	Ours were 8, 10, and 11 and we did the second seating. It worked great for us, but I did learn a lesson the first night. If you do the second seating, don't bring/buy candy for the shows! Mine filled up on junk at the shows and barely touched dinner. The second night, they had a snack mid afternoon, no candy at the show, and ate dinner just fine. We are on central time zone in the real world, however, so that may have helped.

01-27-2013, 10:54 AM	#20
madqueen Earning My Ears Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 5	I think it really depends on your kids and how hungry/ cranky they get when they eat a bit later. If they are going to be miserable eating that late, by all means go for the first seating. But if at all possible, try to hold out for the second seating. You can always grab them a snack to hold them over, and the second seating is usually more enjoyable. It is less crowded, less kids overall so less noise, and I prefer seeing the show and then eating. I just think it's less hectic overall. They will always bring the children's meals out first, and if your kids get bored waiting for everyone else to eat, you can ask to have them taken to the oceaneer's club when the counselors come around.