Anyone had the late seating at dinner before?

[Disneynutzfamily]

This is our first time on a Disney cruise. We are going on the 4 day Wonder cruise. We could only get the late seating for dinner even though we made reservations 9 months ago. Not sure how this will work?! Has anyone out there been on the cruise and had the late seating? Did it work or did you feel like you missed stuff? We have a 15mos. old that I don't think will be up to sitting for dinner that late. We are considering trying to get daycare for her during the dinners. We have tried to have it changed but have been told we are unable to. I read Disney is going to try out staggered dinners times next year, I think that might be better. I assume that there are buffets that are available in case our kids can't wait that long. Anyone have any advice?

 

[mmouse37]

We have had late seating 12 out of 13 DCL cruises.....we did have older kids, though.

As soon as you board you can go to the dining changes venue and ask to be switched to early seating....if they can, they will move you.

If not, then yes, there is food available 24 hours from room service or you can get food during certain hours at the fast foods type places on Deck 9.

You may want to book some "Flounder" time for your little one during meal time so you can have some time to yourselves.

 

[cwf1028]

I like late seating better. My kids are little older 4 and 7, but when we went a couple of weeks ago, I decided I would much rather them be sleepy or asleep during dinner than the shows. They really enjoyed the shows and if you have late seating, you go to the 6:30 show. You can always feed your child at anytime with the buffets, plutos, room service, etc. If you can get a spot in the nursery for each night, that would be good, or you might want to consider bringing a stroller and just before dinner, take him/her for a stroll until the fall asleep and let them sleep in the stroller while you eat. Make sure it is a small stroller, as space is tight in the restaurants. You won't "miss" anything as during those times most people are either seeing a show or eating dinner and then vice versa. Most of the "other entertainments is in between (7:45-8:30) or afterwards (10:15).

 

[Disneynutzfamily]

Thanks to both of you for info. I will see what we can do when we get on board regarding changing. I think we are going to book flounder time for dinner and maybe an hour or so after. We have not been alone since she was born. Have either of you ever booked the daycare, the way it has been described, it sounds like it is very limited and that we may have difficulty booking time. That is our main objective when we board is to book the daycare time. We are going down a day early to ensure we get on the boat in plenty of time. Thanks again for the info.

 

[mmouse37]

Our friends brought their 6 month old with us once and they were able to book every night at Flounders...they started off with the minimum nights you can book and added the other nights on the form....each night they were called and told they did indeed have space for their child in Flounders. So, at least they had some nice, peaceful dinners with us.

 

[crisi]

There is no dinner buffet on the four day. If you don't manage to switch, you will either eat late dinner, eat from Pluto's or Pinnochio's, or eat room service.

I'd recommend eating dinner. If your DD comes along, bring a stroller that reclines, park it and let her sleep.

 

[Heathercat]

We had late seating and LOVED IT!!! We had 2-5 year olds, 2-12 year olds, and a 15 year old in the party....We didnt have a problem with them being tired.....

We never felt rushed to leave. And sat around several nights until 11p, drinking and talking....

 

[burma]

just did the wonder in Feb and had late seating booked 7 days or so before sail date ... we had at the time a 2 and 3 yr (who will be 4 in a few weeks)old it DID NOT work for us but we made the best of it what did work was that we were able to take them to the early shows. I would say book Flounders Nursery for the young ones while you have dinner ... get them a bite to eat before the early show starts at the buffet or room service ... it will all work out you will see .. Have a great crusie

 

[Bama4Disney]

We have had the 2nd seating on both our cruises and the first time our oldest was 2 1/2 and the second our kids where 4 and 19 months. They did great but our kids are on Central Time and the ship is on Eastern time and goes forward and hour as you cruise into the Carribean. We did the 7 day eastern the second time. This way they are really eating and awake at there normal Central (body clock) time. When we ate at 8:30 that was really either 7:30 or 6:30 depending where we where. Also, we did naps in the late afternoon and snacks or room service around 4:30 or five. We took the kids to most of the shows but our oldest wanted to go to the Oceaneers club during some of the shows that didn't have the characters and the little one did go to Flounders for a few nights for mom and dad to have a date. If we did it again I would do the second seating as it works for us. You shouldn't have any trouble with getting times, just go first thing when you get on the ship. Make your Palo's ressie and then head to deck 5 and go to Flounders. If you are there early it will be no problem. Then go the spa and book your self a message. Your deserve it. Enjoy!

 

[Disneynutzfamily]

Sounds good! I think we will keep late seating, that will give us an excuse to book flounder's and have a little alone time at dinner. I do think it might work out better with her being more alert for the shows. Thanks again for all the info.

 

[taeja71]

If you want your child to eat sooner ask for room service. Have your DC disney child munch and then take her/him along for your late seating. Every thing will work out. There was one time our DD was soo tired that she fell asleep in her chair in her Cinderella dress. It was soo cute!

 

[UGAFan0829]

The DH and I also had late seating on our last cruise, which was the 3-night. But we also wanted it again for our upcoming 4-night cruise. Of course we don't have kids, but we loved the late time. I did notice though, that the majority of the families that did eat at the same time had older kids.

 

[pogopossum]

we have had the late seating on all three cruises, since we are from the central time zone we requested it. a pro would be that you don't have to rush back on board from port when you are there. a con, that we discovered is that while we were not rushed to leave, for events on ship, such as pirate party you will have to eat in a timely manner, watching the clock to get topside for the festivities.

 

[goofyshell]

Disneynutzfamily-You can actually book some Flounder's time before you sail now! On the DCL site you can book your Palo and Flounder's ressies (and kid's clubs) 105 days out if you are in a suite, 90 days out if you are castaway club, and 75 days for first time cruisers. That should help you relax a little if you know in advance that you have some time already reserved.

 

[Disneynutzfamily]

Thank you so much for the info. We definitely want to book our flounder time. I was not aware that you had to book the kid's clubs. I thought if they were a certain age they could just go. Uh Oh! Am I in trouble with this. We are newbies to Disney Cruise Lines. Anything else I need to know?

 

[Bopperdoodle]

Our first cruise we also were stuck with 2nd seating. At that time my girls were 2 1/2 and 7. I really wanted first seating. I called up until we left requesting the change. It was also the first thing we did when we got on the ship was to request the change. They told us if we hadn't heard from them by 4:30, then they were unable to switch us to 1st. We never heard from them. We actually ended up liking it. We were not rushed to get to dinner and if it had been any earlier, I don't think we would have been hungry. There is just too much food available during the day. But both of my girls did fall asleep on different nights at the table.

We rebooked the week after we got home for a year later sailing and 1st seating was already full. This time I'm not going to try to change it. I ended up really liking it.

 

[Disneynutzfamily]

We decided to keep the late seating and make reservations at Flounders for our little during our dinner time. That way we can have a relaxing dinner instead of having to worry about her. So, I think it is going to work out