Can't decide about dining time

[Samsma]

What would you do? I have a DS10 and DD4, we are currently at First Seating. We live in Central time, so time change would put us eating one our later than usual right? Would you keep early seating, or change due to having more time for swimming etc.? We usually eat about 6:30 or 7:00 at home.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Just a note, If you are Central time, like I am, then it will technically seem like one hour 'earlier' to you... Since 6:00p.m. Eastern time is actually 5:00p.m. on your clock.

Good luck deciding!

 

[MickeyB426]

After the first day, you won't notice the time difference.

In addition, I believe the time changes at least once while you're on the boat when it makes its stops.

Having said that, go with what you think works, but my suggestion is to take the early dining.

Your children will be so busy during the day that waiting until 8:30 to eat may be way too late for them. Most people with children book the early dining if they can.

 

[Jobro2]

When we cruised in 2001, my kids were 9 & 11...we had early seating as we are used to eating dinner at around 6 pm at home...it worked fine. Yes, on occassion we did feel a bit rushed to get to dinner, but for us, eating at 8:30 (which would mean not getting done till close till 10 pm) was not a option..the kids wanted to do things in the clubs at night and they would have missed them if we had late dinner...plus, we insisted we all eat dinner as a family, since we were all off and doing our own things during the day...this June when we cruise, kids will be 11 & 13, and again, we are doing the early seating...there is always snacks you can have if you get hungry later in the evening...I thinnk its; just an individual choice...

 

[gimmetwo]

We did the 7-day western in February with our two five-year-olds, and I wondered about the same thing.

We chose the early seating and I'd recommend that. Even though everyone talks about being rushed to get to the earlier dinner, don't forget that if you take the late seating, you still have to rush... it's just to get to the early show. Plus, some of the foods are very heavy and rich, and I'm glad I had digested them for a few hours before going to bed.

Sooo, I say eat when you're tummies are hungry and while you're all still awake enough to talk about the day.

And I agreed with a previous poster... you will be on "Disney time" the first day there so don't factor that in as heavily.

~marcie

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Our first cruise Feb. 2000 with DD10 and DD8 we had the early seating. We also are from the mid-west. We found that between getting back from shore excursions or just lying by the pool then showering doing hair and getting "dolled" up we had to be back on the ship by about 4:30. It seemed like no big deal. We were a cancelled Magic cruiser and had requested the early seating and got it. We did a last minute swithch to the Dec. 1 Wonder the Wednesday before the sailing and had no choise but to take the later seating. We liked it much better. We too are late eaters at home and liked the later seating. We had time for pictures before dinner the shows didn't start 'till 6:30 and they are a lot more foregiving if you are late for the shows than they are for dinner. The children won't starve there. My kids enjoyed the chicken strips by the pool (hamburgers, hot dogs brats are also good). We requested the second seating for our 7 day Eastern next November.