Change seating for one night?

[monkeybird]

Can one change seating (from main to late) for just one night? If so, would the whole party have to switch? There are 3 families in 3 cabins for a total of 9 people.

 

[Dug720]

Very unlikely. And I would imagine if it WAS possible it would need to be the whole party. The biggest issue is odds are you would not have your serving team - or possibly even your assigned MDR - and that would wreak havoc on the tipping system

 

[Bree]

It can be done depending on availability. There was a family I was talking with on the Fantasy last week that asked to have it done the night of Animator's Palate does it's show. They had late dining, but were able to switch to early for just that one night. That very same night there was a different family seated at a table than the one that is normally there. I assume that the other families went to Palo or something.

ETA: One family was a party of 3 and the other was a party of 4.

 

[Angie_Ohio]

Can one change seating (from main to late) for just one night? If so, would the whole party have to switch? There are 3 families in 3 cabins for a total of 9 people.

I would suggest you check out the dinner in the buffet area. It is table service so you can still get a nice meal if you miss your dining time. We did this once on the Med cruise instead of attending formal night. My 2DSs weren't interested in dressing up after our long day.

 

[bbel]

I have seen it happen, but I don't know how common it is. And I've only seen it for couples if there is a table available.
I saw it once when a couple napped through their seating, there was a spare table and they were seated there, they just rocked up and asked.
Another time I saw a couple ask, a phone call was made because there was no space at that restaurant, and they were sent to another.
I got the impression that both times they were walking past and asked out of chance, I don't think it was planned in advance.

If people let their servers know in advance if they plan on not being there then it could be possible. However, I have a feeling it could be luck, therefore don't count on it because you could be disappointed and end up not eating in a MDR at all that night.
You may get the least desirable seats in the MDR, you may not get the MDR of your choice and I feel it would be rare to get your servers.
Talk to your servers, they'll know best. It will depend on how full the cruise is. They may be able to work with you and accommodate it, they may tell you right out its a no.

At the end of the day, its Disney and they'll do their best to make you happy.

 

[monkeybird]

Very unlikely. And I would imagine if it WAS possible it would need to be the whole party. The biggest issue is odds are you would not have your serving team - or possibly even your assigned MDR - and that would wreak havoc on the tipping system

That was my thinking too. And thank you for pointing out the tipping issue as well.

I would suggest you check out the dinner in the buffet area. It is table service so you can still get a nice meal if you miss your dining time. We did this once on the Med cruise instead of attending formal night. My 2DSs weren't interested in dressing up after our long day.

Yes, that's my instinct. We have one day during our Alaska tour with a late all ashore time and an excursion that will take up all of our time if we try to get back in time for main seating, with no time to see the actual town at all. I want to focus my efforts on figure out a dinner rotation that ensures that won't be our big Animator's palate show night and be okay with skipping the MDR that night in favor of buffet or other options. My husband thinks I'm overplanning and claiming we could just switch seating for one night.
Accusing me of overplanning. When all I've done is read every single post relevant to our cruise...

I have seen it happen, but I don't know how common it is. And I've only seen it for couples if there is a table available.
I saw it once when a couple napped through their seating, there was a spare table and they were seated there, they just rocked up and asked.
Another time I saw a couple ask, a phone call was made because there was no space at that restaurant, and they were sent to another.
I got the impression that both times they were walking past and asked out of chance, I don't think it was planned in advance.

If people let their servers know in advance if they plan on not being there then it could be possible. However, I have a feeling it could be luck, therefore don't count on it because you could be disappointed and end up not eating in a MDR at all that night.
You may get the least desirable seats in the MDR, you may not get the MDR of your choice and I feel it would be rare to get your servers.
Talk to your servers, they'll know best. It will depend on how full the cruise is. They may be able to work with you and accommodate it, they may tell you right out its a no.

At the end of the day, its Disney and they'll do their best to make you happy.

The fact that I'm a vegan can't possibly help make this happen easily either...

Thank you all for your input and helping me make my husband see that once again I'm right and he's wrong.

 

[gotomu212]

We got back very late from an excursion (they had actually already moved dinner back for the late port time but our group was delayed even later than all aboard). Anyway the dining manager was waiting at the gangway and got everyone switched to late dining. I think it's MUCH easier to get a seat at late dining than moving to early.

Talk to your head server the first day to see what the availability is on your cruise.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Thank you all for your input and helping me make my husband see that once again I'm right and he's wrong.

Well, if you just asked us THAT question, you could have saved a lot of effort regarding MDRs and seating times...

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

We were on a 7-night on the Wonder and missed the Mardi Gras night at Tiana's for our rotation. We went to guest services early in the day the next day, and they were able to get us in (just 4 of us) at the late seating that night. The servers paid us no attention other than to get our order, but we did not mind that, and were fully expecting it to be the case.

The restaurant was pretty full, so I think there was some luck involved.

Anyway, in your case, I would definitely ask at guest services. If you're willing to go to any available MDR, I bet you can be accommodated. And if not, go to the buffet restaurant which will have table service in the evening. It is not open very late though, so check your Navigator. If all else fails, room service will do to keep people from going hungry.

 

[danajay]

I actually think it is pretty likely based on my experience. We were on the 7 night Fantasy last year on a pretty much sold out cruise. We booked late so we got late dining. It was our first cruise, so we decided to just give late dining a go. After the first night, we realized that late dining wasn't going to work for us, so we asked guest services if there was anything that could be done (and we had no expectations that they were going to be able to help us, but we were going to give it a shot). Guest services spoke to our head server, who said that every night he would call families in main seating who had Remy or Palo reservations to see if they needed their table. He was able to accommodate us all but 2 nights (we just went to Cabanas and pool area for food those nights which we were totally fine with)! So, while it is not a guarantee, give it a shot and ask!

 

[monkeybird]

We got back very late from an excursion (they had actually already moved dinner back for the late port time but our group was delayed even later than all aboard). Anyway the dining manager was waiting at the gangway and got everyone switched to late dining. I think it's MUCH easier to get a seat at late dining than moving to early.

Talk to your head server the first day to see what the availability is on your cruise.

Wow. It's awesome they did that!

 

[monkeybird]

Well, if you just asked us THAT question, you could have saved a lot of effort regarding MDRs and seating times...

 

[monkeybird]

I actually think it is pretty likely based on my experience. We were on the 7 night Fantasy last year on a pretty much sold out cruise. We booked late so we got late dining. It was our first cruise, so we decided to just give late dining a go. After the first night, we realized that late dining wasn't going to work for us, so we asked guest services if there was anything that could be done (and we had no expectations that they were going to be able to help us, but we were going to give it a shot). Guest services spoke to our head server, who said that every night he would call families in main seating who had Remy or Palo reservations to see if they needed their table. He was able to accommodate us all but 2 nights (we just went to Cabanas and pool area for food those nights which we were totally fine with)! So, while it is not a guarantee, give it a shot and ask!

Thanks for your feedback.

 

[monkeybird]

We were on a 7-night on the Wonder and missed the Mardi Gras night at Tiana's for our rotation. We went to guest services early in the day the next day, and they were able to get us in (just 4 of us) at the late seating that night. The servers paid us no attention other than to get our order, but we did not mind that, and were fully expecting it to be the case.

The restaurant was pretty full, so I think there was some luck involved.

Anyway, in your case, I would definitely ask at guest services. If you're willing to go to any available MDR, I bet you can be accommodated. And if not, go to the buffet restaurant which will have table service in the evening. It is not open very late though, so check your Navigator. If all else fails, room service will do to keep people from going hungry.

That's great. Thank you.