Can't decide on dining time, please help !!

[Mommypoohbear]

We booked our trip late and as a result were placed in the late seating. I have two DD's ages 4 and 5, they are late nighters and often fight me to go to bed up until 10 pm.

I put us on the wait list for the early seating, and did not give it much hope that it would happen. We are a few weeks away from sailing and have become comfortable with the idea of the late seating.

Now I just checked my reservation and noticed that we have been switched to the early seating.

Please give me your opions on which seating you perfer and why ?

Would it be a good idea to leave it as early now and if I change my mind do it once on board ?

So confused ???

 

[mmouse37]

Well, historically is seems to be easier to switch onboard from early to late because most people with younger children prefer the early seating.

We always choose late dining...we just prefer it much better. We do have older teens now, but even five years ago when we took our first DCL cruise we had late. The kids were always fine. I guess it depends on your kids. Mine always were late nighters at home as well.

I just feel like you are on vacation and I hate rushing to be ready for 6 pm dinner. It is a personal choice, though.

We are on the 5/17 Magic....keep that ship in one piece for us!!!

MJ

 

[strawberryblonde]

My kids will be 7 and 4 on our cruise and we are booked for early. I thought it would be easier to change to late if I changed my mind. Cruise is still one year away and it is hard to predict what would work best for us this far in advance. My thinking is it will be good to have such a big meal earlier in the evening and if they get hungry again before bed (right now we are late night type people) we can always snack. I read alot about children snacking around 5pm that have their big meal at late seating and that works for them - just doesn't sound good to my tummy. Plus this way, we will have more room for that dessert buffet

 

[LAMPSKIES]

We had early seating on our Feb 2000 and late Dec 2002, with DW, DD12 and DD10 we preferred the late much better. We were a little rushed the first time. Plus you also get the late breakfast seating if you chose to go to one of the resturaunts in the morning.

 

[OurDogCisco]

We liked our late seating. I think, it is more of personal preference. We live on the West Coast so, late seating is really early dining for us. My dd (4) did not eat dinner with us. Normally, we spent the day together as a family eating breakfast & lunch together and doing activities together. Then, right before the evening show, we took dd4 to the kids club. She wasn't interested in watching the disney shows at all. Then, after the show we'd go back to our room to get ready for dinner. And, on the way to dinner we would drop off our dd1 at the nursery. Usually, around dessert time our dd4 would page us to get her. She would have dessert with us. The club took her to dinner.

We have a Western planned for May 2004 and we are planning the same seating: late. We figured since we have seen some of the shows there would be no rush to make it to dinner on time. Maybe we could enjoy the pool before dinner instead.

Good luck on your decision.

P.S. There were tons of kids at our late dinner seating. As matter fact, we sat next to a table full of kinds under 8 years of age. They had the whole table to themselves while the parents sat next to them.

 

[Mommypoohbear]

Thanks for your opinions everyone !

Looks like a split decision. DH has expressed his wishes for the late seating. He does not want to feel rushed during the day and feels that with daylight savings time it will be lighter later. He will want to enjoy the pools when alot of people have empied out to get ready for the early seating.


Just hoping my little princesses will not get cranky at the late seating, or will eat with the clubs early on some days.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Just to let you know there are tons of other food options so, if your dd gets hungry you can always order room service (it's free) or go to pluto's (they have chicken tenders, pizza, etc..). We had to feed our dd1 before going to the nursery everyday because they don't feed them in the nursery.

Good Luck!

Tina

 

[Mjasp]

I only cruised once and have had early seating. it is kind of a rush, rush to be ready for 6. But when all is said and done you have a whole night ahead of you. I think if I had late dining I would be so full and tired after dinner I would probably eat and want to go to sleep.