Chances of getting earlier seating?

[Bender]

I am booked for the 3 night leaving 9/29 with DW and DD5 and DD3. Unfortunately, we booked late and the early seating was unavailable. We are on the waitlist for the early seating, but are set on the late seating for now. I am booking an early res for Palo, with the kids at the clubs for dinner, but I am concerned that the early seating request will actually come through and blow up my well thought out plan for Palo, as I wanted to get through all of the dining rooms once and wanted to get the girls to the shows.

When will I know about the changed dining plan, and how often does the request come through? I can always try and change the ressies later if things change, I know, but I was wondering if these things ever changed...

 

[lovinpoohbear]

We're In The Same Boat. Does Anyone Know The Chances Of Actually Getting The Early Seating? We Will Be Traveling With A Baby And He Gets Cranky Aroung 8;30.

 

[jel0511]

Sometimes it comes through, sometimes it doesn't. It all depends on how booked the ship is and if there is room. You probably won't find out until you board, if you get it. Trying to do Palo early and make 8:30 seating will be tough though. We were in Palo for 3 hours, dinner there lasts a LONG time. We were waitlisted for Early seating on our last cruisr 7/9/05 with a 4 and 7 YO, and we didn't get it. Of course we fell in LOVE with Late seating and have it booked for our next cruise.

 

[lovinpoohbear]

What Was The Benefit To The Late Seating? We Will Be Traveling With Our Two Sons-8 And 18 Months And Are Thinking The Early Seating Will Be Better? But On The Other Hand If The Baby Falls Asleep Before 8:30, Willthey Allow Him To Sleep In His Stroller Next To The Table? Flounders Reef-don't Have Too Much Info On That...any Advice Would Be Geat..thanks!!!

 

[jel0511]

Not having to rush to get ready at night. You realistically have to start the dressing process at 4PM to get everyone dresssed, showered, etc and ready for character photos. With late seating, we didn't have to get back for a nap at 1PM, could stay out until 3PM. We still had time to relax and didn't have to feel like we were rushing to get ready for dinner. Trust me, we had early seating on our two prior cruises and this was the first with late and it was the BEST!! Our 4YO fell asleep one night before dinner and we just strolled him up to the table. We liked not having to rush, and picked late seating for our next cruise. There were plenty of little ones in late seating on our cruise.

 

[Bender]

I do see benefits to the late seating, as it means early shows. We could get the kids fed at a buffet before a show and then get them to the clubs to play and crash afterwards while we go back to the dining room for a more quiet meal. I believe that my kids will appreciate the show more than the meal, but would like for them to see both. And I want for the wife and I to see Palo, too. And world peace, too... Is that asking too much?

 

[kcashner]

Of course they will allow your infant to sleep in the dining room next to your table--in the regular dining rooms, not in Palo.

As to getting early seating. First, request it when you book. If not available, request to be wait listed. When you get your documents, it MIGHT say "Main Seating." This is early. If not, you still might have it when you board (it will say on your KTTW card.) If you still have late, go to "Dining Changes." The location will be on the info sheet you get when you check in. The head server there will move you if he can. He might have to continue to "wait list" you, but will call and leave a message in your cabin if he can get you in.

Chances....well, there are always people who must cancel their cruise at the last minute. There are actually people who want to change to late seating (we prefer late, and have sometimes made the change after boarding). Until you sit down at dinner the first night, it is always a possibility.

 

[jel0511]

I do see benefits to the late seating, as it means early shows. We could get the kids fed at a buffet before a show and then get them to the clubs to play and crash afterwards while we go back to the dining room for a more quiet meal. I believe that my kids will appreciate the show more than the meal, but would like for them to see both. And I want for the wife and I to see Palo, too. And world peace, too... Is that asking too much?

By the way, since you're on the 3 night, the only thing open to feed kids not eating in the clubs or dining rooms is either of the pool eateries, the buffet doesn't serve dinner on the 3 night. Also, the Pinocchio's Pizza place closes at 6PM so after that there is only Pluto's Dog House.

 

[DIZZNY]

We are on the 3 day on October 20th and booked it about 6 weeks ago. We were waitlisted for the early dinner seating. I checked my reservation through DU on day 89 (just a few days ago) and it had changed to the early seating. I am very happy because we have a 3 and 6 year old and are accustomed to eating at about 5-6pm central time zone. I didn't think we would have a chance and, even if we were changed, I didn't think it would happen until we boarded. Got lucky, I guess.

I hope you get what you desire. Personally, I did not think the waitlist would come through and initially started to stress a little. Then, I just planned on rolling with it on a nightly basis - snacking in late afternoon to make it to dinner, room service, kid's club, etc, whatever it took but I decided I wasn't going to let it ruin our trip. 3 days is a lot easier to deal with than 7 or more.

Best of luck!

 

[kplatt]

On our three previous Disney cruises we were assigned late seating, and were able to be changed to early every time by going to "dining changes" when we got on the ship. Let's hope our luck holds for our August Repo cruise, because, yep, we are again assigned late seating!!