2nd seating

[arcticdisneylovers]

We've always had early seating but we are on the wait list to switch to early since only second seating was available. So I'm trying to decide if we should cancel the cruise all together, we usually eat at 5:30pm - 6pm. I can't imagine waiting until 9pm to eat. I figure we'll end up eating at the buffet every night because no one will be able to wait till bedtime to eat supper. Anyone ever had any luck getting switched when you are on the wait list?

 

[Dug720]

It's 8:15, not 9pm.

You couldn't pay me to do early seating - but people have reported getting switched.

As a note, there is NO buffet at night. Cabanas is open as a sit-down restaurant - but not the first or last night.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

So what time are you usually finished your meal for late seating? We've always eaten in the MDR for supper, I didn't realize Cabana's wasn't a buffet ay night. Any idea what the menu is like? Do you just show up and wait to be seated?

 

[jdrobinson06]

We have been waitlisted for both of our cruises because we booked within a few months of sailing. We got switched both times. They did not inform us, we just added to the wait list and I noticed it in our reservation information that it switched.

 

[xlxo]

typical timeline

• 8:15pm sit down
• 8:30pm meals served
• 9:15pm kids club pickup
• 9:30pm slow eaters depart

I like the 2nd feeding.

• more time in port, have a local snack before reboarding and let it settle
• 2nd feeding is less crowded and rushed, it feels more relaxing
• clothes are cleaner for shows and photos as you eat after the show
• kids are taken to the evening program right after the meal
• if you have a cabin near a busy elevator, being a night owl and sleeping after midnight means the corridor is quieter
• you get to sleep in an extra hour on debarkation morning for the 2nd breakfast.
  • more time to pack
  • get to relax and wait in the dining room for your assigned debarkation time
  • the extra hour is great on Alaskan sailings where you lose an hour of sleep with the time zone change.

 

[Dug720]

You can be in and out pretty quickly - talk to your servers and let them know that you want to finish quickly. Though do be aware that they have other tables in their section that need attention too. (I mention that because there was one very high demand table in our section who totally monopolized the service team to the point that our dinners often took longer than they had in the past. It wasn't great, but I couldn't blame our servers because I could see them trying to get to our table and the other tables but these people were literally putting out their hands and stopping them every time they'd pass.) When I was at a table to myself on the Fantasy 2 years ago, I was usually done by 9:15/9:30.

Yes, you go up like any land-based restaurant and they will seat you when they can. The menu is usually a mix of what is being served in the MDRs - the one time I tried it, I ended up leaving because it was like they said "What are Beth's least favorite things on the menu? Let's put them all on there."

 

[reimero]

I'm also a fan of second seating. It really wasn't as big an adjustment as you'd think - unless you have young children who are accustomed to a particular schedule. But I've also noticed that early seating can impact your time in port, since there are occasions when the "all aboard" time is after main dining has started.

 

[NZMUM]

We had 2 cabins waitlisted once. Got moved to main seating several weeks before the cruise. DCL/TA didn't tell us we'd been moved. I found out when checking our reservation online.

 

[dragynally]

You can also request once on board. They list where you can go to he first day for dining requests.

 

[bbn1122]

DH and I prefer 2nd seating. Our first cruise was our whole family boys were 10, 12 and 16. We had no problem with dinner beginning at 8:15pm. Since then, everyone is older and eating late is no problem, especially since they get up late.

Agree with previous posters, no rush to dinner, pools empty during first seating, great time for Aqua Duck and plenty of time when coming back from shore excursion or CC.

Your on vacation, eating late is part of the experience.

My boys and hubby would always grab some thing at the CS eateries around the pools or something from room service. Or you can look at it this way it's an excuse to get something extra to eat, to hold you over.

Good luck with your decision. Maybe give it a try!

 

[KristiMc]

Also note that Cabana's is not open for dinner on the first and last nights.

We always do second seating.

 

[WeLoveDisneyAlways]

We've only done first seating and are typically in our PJs relaxing on verandah by 8pm because of this in 2 cruises I've only seen one show. We've actually been debating switching to second seating and skipping dinner just so we could experience the earlier show instead since food is available in multiple locations/times room service if need be but the shows are limited. So there are pros and cons to both options.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So what time are you usually finished your meal for late seating? We've always eaten in the MDR for supper, I didn't realize Cabana's wasn't a buffet ay night. Any idea what the menu is like? Do you just show up and wait to be seated?

Cabanas is a sit-down table service for dinner, except for the first and last nights (when it's closed).

The menu is selected items pulled from the menu(s) being served in the other Main Dining Rooms that evening, plus a carving station & salad bar.

Yes, just show up during the service hours and you will be seated when space is available (generally right away).

 

[rcchello]

We ate one night in Cabanas and it was very pleasant. We sat near the windows and could watch out while we ate. The only possible negative is this is where the train new servers, so the service can be slightly erratic. You will also find that dinner will be paced to you since the server will probably have fewer tables to deal with.

 

[mareed]

I also prefer main/early dining and was wait-listed for my recent 6 night cruise on the Wonder and did not get switched ahead of time, so checked on board and they also still couldn't switch us. They tried to do what they could, which was calling us each night after the first night around 4:00 if there was an open table due to someone being at Palo. I do NOT recommend doing this! We were seated in different sections the couple of nights they did this, so either had different servers from our assigned ones, or our assigned servers were also helping us in addition to their regular section. After the one night we noticed our regular servers having to do this, we asked the head waiter who was helping us daily to not have them do that because clearly that was putting them to a lot of additional work, which was not our intent.

I can understand considering to cancel the cruise if being stuck with 2nd dining because it really just doesn't work for my group either! I'd say it depends on how much you really want to do this specific cruise and if you really want this cruise, then wait-list for main, but if you end up stuck with 2nd dining, then embrace it and adjust your eating for the rest of the day. And enjoy your late breakfast on departure day, which for me is the one and only one advantage to 2nd dining!

 

[Disneypeach]

We were able to switch from 2nd to first once we got on-board back when we had a 2 year old with us. That was the very first thing we did...we were fairly early to board the ship...around 11:45 if I remember correctly...and went straight to the place where the Navigators said to request changes.

Now however, I always do the 2nd seating for the same reasons as those listed above....

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We were able to switch from 2nd to first once we got on-board back when we had a 2 year old with us. That was the very first thing we did...we were fairly early to board the ship...around 11:45 if I remember correctly...and went straight to the place where the Navigators said to request changes.

Now however, I always do the 2nd seating for the same reasons as those listed above....

Whether you can switch from early to late once onboard is very dependent on how large your party is.

Smaller parties (2-3 people) are much easier to put somewhere than a larger group (over 5-6 people).

 

[Disneypeach]

We were a party of 5 at the time but that was way back in 2001, right after 9/11 so there might have been some cancellations that enabled us to get moved to the earlier seating. Or the staff felt sorry for the other people in the 2nd seating since we'd have a cranky 2 year old and moved us to protect them!

 

[adisneyaunt]

We like me to eat early rather than late. I totally get that choice OP.
I think it sounds like u may not get first. If you truly think it's a deal breaker for your family... perhaps a call before you cancel.
Pixie dust ur way!

 

[JanBlessed]

I took My 3 yr old on a RCI cruise and then DCL when he was 5. Second seating both times. I think that kids can adapt easily to changes , even in schedules. I just adjusted breakfast, lunch, and gave him heavier snacks.

I had minor issues on RCI one night , and none at all on DCL. That one night, I simply excused myself and took him (and my food) back to the cabin. No big deal - but second seating allows everyone a more carefree & enjoyable vacation. This has been summed up nicely in precios posts.

Good luck with getting the switch, though !