Craziest table mates you have had.

[valee]

I agree that they do a good job of matching. I'd encourage folks to give it a try for at least one or two meals. I've found that the outliers* tend to give up on the MDR quickly, and then you've got pleasant tablematges for the rest of your cruise.

* One couple showed up and seemed to think they were at a floating Outback Steakhouse - they didn't want anything on the menu, finally ordered a steak, and then were upset when it didn't come with a bloomin' onion. One dinner and done for them.

 

[RedSox68]

After reading these stories I decided I to share my own awkward MDR experience.

On my second Disney Cruise as I walked into the MDR to check in with the head server to receive my seating assignment. As a solo male cruiser I was excited when I was escorted to a table with four women. After introducing ourselves I learned that one pair where friends and the other pair where mom and daughter. So far so good but unfortunately my enthusiasm didn’t last very long. The duo that where friends seemed to complain about everything… “the wait to get on the ship, not being able to immediately get to their stateroom, the lines at the buffet and the crowds.” I tried to explain that it’s the first day so things are a bit hectic, but the complaining continued… “stateroom too small, the long wait to enter the MDR for dinner, too many kids, etc.” Soon the mother/daughter joined in and started to complain about their experiences as well. I tried to change the subject and even lighten the conversation by saying “any day on a Disney Cruise is a great day!” I quickly got the stink eye from one of the ladies which reminded me of the Evil Queen. For the rest of dinner I kept my mouth shut and sat in silence. I thought to myself I can’t be around these Eeyore’s for the rest of this cruise. After dinner was over I lingered behind to enjoy a second cup of coffee as the ladies departed for the evening. After they were gone I approached the head server and requested his help in finding another table. He asked if I wanted my own table I said that is not necessary but at this point I would take anything. The head server gave me my own table and even changed my dining rotation to reduce the possibility of running into the ladies. This unfortunate experience has ruined it for me in the MDR and ever since that encounter I have requested my own table.

OH NO, don't use Eeyore's name in vain for these people He is my favorite character.

Anywhere, back on topic, sorry to read about your lousy experience. It always boggles my mind to witness people like this who pay so much money and (obviously) are not planning on enjoying any part of the experience -- but only use it as a springboard to complain. I have a dear friend who drives me nuts -- they take at least one trip a year with ABD and at least one cruise, but every time she comes back she complains about her family, the passengers, the food and/or the stateroom, etc. etc. Oh well -- when I spend that much money and time, I'm going to try to enjoy all the positives and (hopefully) the negatives will not be a major trip memory. Glad you have enjoyed other cruises and resolved that situation.

 

[McDonald5]

The worst table mates I had were these two cute little girls who got sea sick the second night and vomited at the table. The worst part was their father asked ME to take them to their stateroom to clean them up while he stayed with their brother! Good thing I love them all so much (and he brought me dessert) or I'd be pretty upset about that!

We've only been on one cruise. It was 7 of us (my parents, my husband and I, and our 3 kids) so we had a table all to ourselves which was great. I don't think I'd request our own table in the future, but I wouldn't be upset if we didn't have table mates. I'd be happy to share the table with another family though, as long as we all got along well. Otherwise, it would make for a really awkward 2 hrs a day. We get one week of vacation a year (or less...) so we really like to make the most of it and don't want to have our good time dampened by someone elses bad time.

 

[Dug720]

Dug720, since my unfortunate experience I've always requested my own table and received it each time. I even got my own table when I sailed on the Fantasy Maiden Voyage. I also requested my own table for my upcoming cruise in less than two weeks.

Called a little while ago and put in the request. The rep simply said "Sure! I'll be happy to do that for you!" Nothing said about having to choose that or dining rotation. And no statement of "this is only a request". Not sure if it's because I called the Castaway Club line to do it so she assumed I know that it's just a request or if they really are trying to fulfill all of them.

Guess I'll find out in February!

 

[geoly1]

Just curious..do you share tables at Remy? DH & I going with out the kids for our anniversary & just assumed we would be seated by our selves...do you have to request to be seated just us for adults only restaurants? Tia!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Just curious..do you share tables at Remy? DH & I going with out the kids for our anniversary & just assumed we would be seated by our selves...do you have to request to be seated just us for adults only restaurants? Tia!!

No, the default in the adult only venues is to be seated just by your party (whatever size your reservation is made for).

 

[Axe]

Don't be. In 99 out of a 100 The match is good and you Will end up with Nice people at the table. This thread by nature emphasizes the worst possible experience, but rest assured that deining in the MDR is a relaxing experience and a goed Way to get. to know new people.

Enjoy your cruise!

Exactly! You would not believe the level of Disney magic/pixie dust that can happen with table assignments. I have absolutely no doubt that Disney does their homework when assigning tables and what you are reading here are stories of outliers.

 

[ludari]

Called a little while ago and put in the request. The rep simply said "Sure! I'll be happy to do that for you!" Nothing said about having to choose that or dining rotation. And no statement of "this is only a request". Not sure if it's because I called the Castaway Club line to do it so she assumed I know that it's just a request or if they really are trying to fulfill all of them. Guess I'll find out in February!

Dug, once you board the ship in February you can always confirm if you received your own table and change your dining rotation if you like. I'm sure everything is going to be fine.

 

[ludari]

Just curious..do you share tables at Remy? DH & I going with out the kids for our anniversary & just assumed we would be seated by our selves...do you have to request to be seated just us for adults only restaurants? Tia!!

When you dine at either Remy's or Palo's you always get a table based on your party size. So if it's just you and your husband you will be seated at your own table.

 

[Bear3412]

Exactly! You would not believe the level of Disney magic/pixie dust that can happen with table assignments. I have absolutely no doubt that Disney does their homework when assigning tables and what you are reading here are stories of outliers.

I concur. It's actually scary how well DCL assigns dining groups.

It's unfortunate more pax don't give it a chance. DCL truly rocks in this department. Some of the stories of like table mates are priceless.

DCL searches the net/social media/public info sites for info trying to align pax for dining. It is shocking their level of depth that is accessed. DCL is miraculous joining groups at dinner. IOW they do a phenomenal job.

What's ironic is that DCL often matches perfect pax, yet they resist due to the joint MDR seating assignment. I've experienced several situations/sailings where said pax resisted the joint assigned seating in the MDR. Then aboard, by coincidence, they ran in to each other and hit it off. Eventually they realized they resisted each other at the MDR's unnecessarily.

The stories of coincidences of pax linked at the MDR's are extraordinary. DCL has access to data that occasionally surprises pax.

At least they try to use it for the pax benefit, unlike other companies. I find that refreshing.

Point is, don't discount a shared MDR table. You could be placed with a similar person as yourself.

However DCL uses it's magic to place like pax. Usually it work great.

No one judges anyone from our experiences aboard.
It's all good. Trust me.

 

[Dug720]

Dug, once you board the ship in February you can always confirm if you received your own table and change your dining rotation if you like. I'm sure everything is going to be fine.

Thanks!

It will be. I'll see how it plays out. If they aren't able to give me my own table, maybe there will be a very good reason!

 

[RebelHawk]

This is a hilarious and disturbing thread. My wife and I are about to board for our third cruise and have always traveled with family and friends so have never shared a table. For our upcoming 7 night Alaskan cruise we have requested a table for two but after reading this thread I almost want to cancel that request. I would love to have whacky crazy shenanigans table mates. I would just have to resist the urge to bring popcorn to dinner every night and kick back and watch the show.

 

[KKKKCS]

OH NO, don't use Eeyore's name in vain for these people He is my favorite character.

Anywhere, back on topic, sorry to read about your lousy experience. It always boggles my mind to witness people like this who pay so much money and (obviously) are not planning on enjoying any part of the experience -- but only use it as a springboard to complain. I have a dear friend who drives me nuts -- they take at least one trip a year with ABD and at least one cruise, but every time she comes back she complains about her family, the passengers, the food and/or the stateroom, etc. etc. Oh well -- when I spend that much money and time, I'm going to try to enjoy all the positives and (hopefully) the negatives will not be a major trip memory. Glad you have enjoyed other cruises and resolved that situation.

It's like I always say, "There are just some people that are not happy unless they are miserable." For me, life is too short to be in a state of perpetual misery. When people ask me, most not really interested, "How are you today?" My standard and truthful answer is, "I don't know if I could be any better! How are you?"

 

[geoly1]

I love this thread! But wondering if eating in Remy or palo do you have to request a table for me & my husband to eat by ourselves? Tia!

 

[Dug720]

I love this thread! But wondering if eating in Remy or palo do you have to request a table for me & my husband to eat by ourselves? Tia!

As stated at the top of this very page, no. The specialty restaurants you are seated only with your party.

 

[Marypoppins14]

I've enjoyed reading (some of) this thread.

I'll chime in with my experiences from 5 DCL cruises. We were seated alone for 2: 1 due to saling concierge on the Dream, and another due to my request (my hb is chronically late, and I did not want to hold up the table). Remaining 3, my son and I were seated at 8-tops. First was with a single dad with his daughter - a little awkward for a few minutes, but ultimately really fine, as the kids hit it off. Never met the other family, as they never showed for dinner for the entire 5-night cruise.

Remaining 2: I was SHOCKED by how well we all got along! DS and I seated again at 8-top, this time with 2 other couples, each with 9 yr-old, 3rd grade, only-child boys! The boys were best buddies by the time appetizers were delivered for the very first dinner, and the adults (2 couples and myself) hit it off so well that we went to Palo brunch together, spent much time together between meals, etc. They even invited us to visit them this summer, which we did, and enjoyed tremendously.

Last cruise, DCL worked their magic again: my DS9, his BFF(12) and I were seated at an 8-top with a lovely couple and their very well-behaved sons (ages 12, 10, and 6). The boys sat across from each other, I sat next to the mom, and the dad and 6 year old were on the opposite side. Dinners were terrific, with the boys having enthusiastic discussions about Legos, Star Wars, etc., and the adults having their own great conversations.

Moral for me: I look forward to meeting our table mates. DCL really seems to know how to work it out, and I've come to trust the process. If it ever doesn't work, there are numerous alternatives, so I don't sweat it.

 

[Ikaikalani]

It's like I always say, "There are just some people that are not happy unless they are miserable." For me, life is too short to be in a state of perpetual misery. When people ask me, most not really interested, "How are you today?" My standard and truthful answer is, "I don't know if I could be any better! How are you?"

Well, from what Walt taught me, there IS one "Grumpy" in every set of dwarves

 

[RedSox68]

It's like I always say, "There are just some people that are not happy unless they are miserable." For me, life is too short to be in a state of perpetual misery. When people ask me, most not really interested, "How are you today?" My standard and truthful answer is, "I don't know if I could be any better! How are you?"

And on a similar note, there are those people who have no interest in hearing about your wonderful trip -- but only want to spread the misery they feel their last trip encompassed

 

[psimon]

We just came back from or 7 day Western and ended up with wonderful tablemates. We are a family of 5. The first night we sat at our table for 8 and the three chairs stayed empty for a while. We found out the people that were supposed to sit with us had a wheel chair and never would have made it up the step to sit with us, so the chairs were empty for the night.

The second night a lovely couple sat with us. Turns out he retired from the same company I work for so we had lots to talk about there. They were also into Disney so even more to talk about. We got along great!

Guess the random wheel finally landed in out favor!

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[kmedina]

Those children, no joke, screamed at the top of their lungs.

We've never had table mates and are hoping to get some this upcoming cruise (not to have any stories to share on this thread hopefully, although I did enjoy reading so much of it). Anyway, my younger son was so well behaved on his first cruise when he was 5 months old. We did it again when he was 1 year, 9 months (booked far in advance, so we had no clue what was coming). He cried at the beginning of almost every table service meal. My husband and I took turns taking him out of the dining room, but he cried every time we returned. Our servers were great though. They even packed up my food and had it sent to my room one night when I was just unable to return to the table with him.

Even though we got him out of there quickly each time, I felt terribly that we cruised during the brief period he hated sitting down for meals. Had we known he was going to enter that horrific period before booking, we would have refrained. We never went through anything like that with our older son, so we were truly in unchartered territory. Thankfully, he got over that, because it was no fun at all. He got complimented on our final breakfast from a nearby table. I still have no clue if they were truly clueless, because we got him out of there so fast each time he cried or if they were being sarcastic.