Dining time slot changes?

[NeverWantToGrowUp]

We will be taking a 4 nights cruise this July for family reunion and my sister-in-law called to tell us that her TA just told her that Disney cruise line has just change their dining time slots. Instead of one time slot for the early seating, you can choose 6pm, 6:15pm, 6:30pm etc... Does anyone know if this is true? We had 3 reservation dinner linked up and I have email DU, our TA, about this and heard nothing yet. Any info is appreciated.

 

[rotary2808]

I think it is. I remember reading somewhere that on the Wonder they were trying some sort of new dining rotation that had several different times like that. I don't know for sure how it is exactly supposed to work though. I think they should just leave it the way it is.

 

[Hollyster2]

I think they are doing this on the West Coast Cruises too!

 

[GritsGirl]

I didn't get the impression that WE would choose (unless we had a hissy on the Dining Room manager which isn't going to happen)....I think it is assigned.

I am kind of looking forward to it........we were the last table to get served in our dining section on the 16 April Magic anyway and were always one of the last tables in the dining room (and we are fast, gobbling piggies). This way if we are assigned to the later of the three slots for late seating, we won't be sitting around wondering when we will get to order and get food to eat.....we will just mosey in a little later if that is what they tell us to do. It is kind of amusing that people line up half way through the ship when they have an assigned table........I can't imagine the line if they didn't have a reserved seat!!

 

[Mickeyhugger]

We sailed on the Carnival Glory in March and they had the staggered time slots as well. It was great, because the lines for pictures are not nearly as long as they are with just two dining times. However, the time slots were assigned.

I really think DCL cruisers are going to like this better than the old way.

 

[KatHuss]

We received a letter in the mail from DCL the other day. It says Main Dining will be either 5:45pm, 6:00pm or 6:15pm and Second Dining will be either 8:00pm, 8:15pm or 8:30pm. It also tells us to check our dining tickets in our stateroom for our assigned time and rotation so it sounds like we don't get a choice on the time within our rotation. I don't know if that will change for those who haven't booked yet.

Kat

 

[lbgraves]

This isn't starting on the Magic yet and hopefully they wont do it.

 

[DebºoºS]

I just heard the same thing from MS for the Wonder 4 day in October. I didn't book it because they only had late seating left. We had that on our first cruise and it was awful eating late.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

DCL is only changing dining times by 15 or 30 minutes. They're obviously noting what other cruise lines do, and are eager to see how well their own cruisers respond to it.

There've been times (we've sailed the Magic 3X) that we avoided having pictures taken before/after dinner because the wait was so long. After sailing another line spring break (which was full to capacity), we zipped right through the lines for photos.

 

[mickeymom30]

I found this information helpful and thought I would share it. After reading this post I e-mailed DCL to ask them if this would affect my 1/06 cruise on the Magic. This is the response I got:



Thank you for your e-mail.

Beginning on the June 12, 2005 sailing through the September 11, 2005 sailing, the Disney Wonder
will test a change to the rotational dining times with 'staggered dining'.

Guests scheduled on MAIN dining will be assigned a dining time of 5:45 PM. 6:00 PM, or 6:15 PM for
the voyage.

Guests scheduled on SECOND dining will be assigned a dining time of 8:00 PM, 8:15 PM, or 8:30 PM for
the voyage.

We look forward to the chance to sail with you.


Disney Cruise Line Guest Communications

 

[smatterchu]

I am kind of looking forward to it........we were the last table to get served in our dining section on the 16 April Magic anyway and were always one of the last tables in the dining room (and we are fast, gobbling piggies). This way if we are assigned to the later of the three slots for late seating, we won't be sitting around wondering when we will get to order and get food to eat.....we will just mosey in a little later if that is what they tell us to do. It is kind of amusing that people line up half way through the ship when they have an assigned table........I can't imagine the line if they didn't have a reserved seat!!

No kidding, lol... We are planning a Dec 4th cruise, and I hope they decide to stick with this plan. It just makes sense. That 15 minutes should help ease things in the line-up and probably in the kitchen, too...

I'm anxious to hear what folks think of it this summer...

 

[cruiseletters]

I think this is a great idea, last year the lines for pictures was always so long. I think this could really help that situation, I only wish they were implementing the dinner rotation on the west coast cruises. It only makes sense that if all the dining rooms are starting at different times that the photo areas would be much less crowded then if all three dining rooms are seating guests at 8:30. Robin

 

[DebºoºS]

MS said today that we wouldn't have it in Nov. that they are testing just for the summer.