Dining Rotation with 2-year old

[Hunter'sMama]

Sorry for yet another thread regarding Dining Rotations but...

My husband and I are cruising on the Magic next month with our 2-year old. I read the Passporter which states our dining rotation will most likely be APL. Using this information I booked our REAS ressies and am now worried that I may have jumped the gun. For those of you who have cruised with young children, what was your rotation?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Sarah

 

[crisi]

4 and 5 year old APLA

 

[cindalu]

I was on the Magic with a 7,6 and 3 year old and our dining rotation was PLA.

 

[ohMom]

I thought you could confirm and/or change your rotation if you had the REAS package, before your trip?

 

[Hunter'sMama]

I didn't know that was a part of REAS. I will call Debbie tomorrow to inquire about this. Hopefully she can note my reservation of our APL rotation request.

Thanks for your help.

Sarah

 

[kcashner]

Glad I read the above post. When I read your initial comments, my thought was "why not just ask for the rotation you want?" They do try to meet requests. Also, if you get on board and don't get the rotation you want, you can go to "dining changes" and request a change.

 

[Tera]

I know I saw the info somewhere, but couldn't find it. If I have a 12 & 9 year old, what do you think the dining rotation would be on a 7 day western?

 

[kcashner]

Tera--your question is very dependent on when you cruise. If it is during the school year, your 9 year old could very easily be in with the "older...teens and adults alone" age range. During the summer, this age child would probably be in the "middle" group.

The groups are decided by the computer based on the ages of the children on the ship for that cruise. Off season cruises have a LOT more toddlers and young children. SUmmer cruises and school breaks have many more older kids. Basically, the groups are youngest, middle, and older/adults alone. Where the lines are drawn varies from one cruise to another.

 

[Tera]

Thanks kcashner... It'll be towards the end of the school year for us (only 2 weeks left when we get home), but I see what your saying. I've actually made a request through my TA, but it really doesn't matter. What matters is being on the ship with a very LARGE drink in hand

 

[luv that cruise]

you can guess all you want but take a step back and realize that there are plenty of children at each restaurant for each rotation. we have cruised 6 times and i can't recall any particular pattern. we have a particular server (who is now a head server) and we were flatly denied preboarding requests to be on his rotation. however others have posted that requests were handled favorably. maybe just the luck of the draw on who answers the phone when you call. on the plus note - we have always been able to change rotations once on board but at the expense of some less than desirable table locations. food was still great and nice to see some familiar faces.

 

[mommykeg]

where are the "less than desirable" table locations? we will be going on our first disney cruise to celebrate our 10th anniversary next summer. I have booked REAS and want to request the rotation that will put us in Lumiere's on formal night...as soon as we find out when formal night is on the West Coast cruises! But do I need to make a request about table location?

 

[kcashner]

We've had requests for our favorite server handled in 2 ways. One way was "we'll try." The other way was a polite letter telling us that it couldn't be done. However, we go to "dining changes" as soon as we board and make the request again. We've been lucky--we have always gotten him, although we have had to change rotations sometimes. He's worth it. We've never been denied a request for a rotation, only for a server. We've taken to checking with him on each cruise, asking if he'll be on board for our next planned trip.

Yes, there are plenty of kids in all rotations. The choice of rotations for those who don't make requests are based on the youngest child in the group--I guess the figure that the young ones will be the most disruptive?

I haven't encountered anything with less desirable table locations, or maybe I'm too dense to realize it.

 

[luv that cruise]

i've never tried to request a specific table, only a server (and whatever rotation he is on). "less than desirable tables" would be those outside the kitchen doors, in high traffic areas or (our favorite) behind the service stations where all the dirty dishes are taken. they clean it off frequently but noisy. on the up side is that table locations on other rotations were better so think they really make an effort to make sure the same people don't have same "view" each night. another upside is that we could get our own ketchup and refill our water!