Dinner 2nd Seating with Kids

[Heart82381]

Help!!! We did our first Disney cruise January of 2015 with our 2 & 4 year old boys and had the first seating. It was only a 4 day on the dream and the first night dinner time was fine, but the remaining three nights we felt like we were eating lunch around Noon even though we weren't hungry because dinner was at 5:30. It just made us feel rushed not to mention the kids usually passed out as soon as we went back to the room to shower for dinner. So we carried them to dinner sleeping two times and they almost slept through the entire dinner.

We have a 7 night on the Fantasy booked for January 2017. Our boys will be 6 and almost 5. We have the late seating booked because of our last cruise and feeling rushed. I am afraid we are making a mistake. Can anyone offer advice who have kids around the same age??

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Help!!! We did our first Disney cruise January of 2015 with our 2 & 4 year old boys and had the first seating. It was only a 4 day on the dream and the first night dinner time was fine, but the remaining three nights we felt like we were eating lunch around Noon even though we weren't hungry because dinner was at 5:30. It just made us feel rushed not to mention the kids usually passed out as soon as we went back to the room to shower for dinner. So we carried them to dinner sleeping two times and they almost slept through the entire dinner.

We have a 7 night on the Fantasy booked for January 2017. Our boys will be 6 and almost 5. We have the late seating booked because of our last cruise and feeling rushed. I am afraid we are making a mistake. Can anyone offer advice who have kids around the same age??

There are many different opinions about main vs second seating. Some people are quite vehement that no one should eat as late as second seating (especially kids). But it's entirely your call. I'd say, since you've already given main seating a try, give second seating one. Then you can make your own decision. I'll also point out, if it's not working for second seating, you can ask your head server about switching to main. It's usually not easy, but can be done. Or eat at Cabanas for dinner at the time that works best for you.

We prefer main seating, but have, on occasion, done second seating with no ill effects. We typically eat breakfast, and not much of a lunch (usually just pick up something from the poolside eateries), then have dinner. When we had second seating, we had to have a more substantial lunch.

 

[dcassetta]

Have done cruises with the friends and family members including children from 18 months to 18 years. I've only ever done second seating, and there's never been an issue with that with the kids. One of the nice things about second seating on Disney is the dine and play option. Your children's dinners will be served more quickly, and then a cast member from the kids clubs will come to pick them up from the dining room, while you and other adults in your party enjoy the rest of your dinner.

One of the other positives that I see with second seating for dinner, is that the children are more likely to be attentive and interested during the shows, if you choose to see them, as the show times will be earlier.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Love second seating. Have never had a problem with kids or without. I did main seating once and will never again. Too rushed to get there.

 

[ajo]

We've done both seatings with kids ranging in age from 2 to 12. We prefer the late seating. The early seating felt so rushed to us (we always had to hurry and go to dinner) and without fail one of the little ones fell asleep every night at dinner (it was so unexpected because this was the early seating!). Late seating worked much better for us and what we wanted to do on the ship and in ports.

I agree with @PrincessShmoo, give late seating a try and see if you like it. There is no universal right answer, just the right answer for your family.

 

[cheermom2four]

I love second seating and chose it again for our cruise coming up with our two youngest (ages 5 and 16). I love the fact the CMs will come around to the front of each rotational dining rooms about 9pm and you can have the kids leave with them so you arent rushed during the rest of dinner.

 

[bcwife76]

We had second seating on our first cruise and loved it so we will only do second seating. Our kids will be 6 & 8 on our next cruise (also Jan 2017 on the Fantasy). As a pp mentioned, cm's from the kids clubs come around at 9pm to take your kids to the clubs if you so wish; if your servers know ahead of time (ie. when you sit down) that you want your children picked up for the clubs, they will bring out their meals quicker, while yours will be served at the 'normal' pace.

 

[strailys1]

I booked last month and was putting into 2nd seating with WIFE AND 2 boys ages 9 and 11. I was going to request the main dining when we got yo the ship, but after reading this post I am seconding quessing that choice. Coming from the west coast for our cruise, the late seating would actually be 5:30 in our time zone. Has any west coast cruisers had any problems with their kids staying up to eat? Any comments would be helpful.
Thank you,
Scott

 

[xlxo]

I like the 2nd feeding....

• more time in port, have a local snack before reboarding and let it settle (eg AK Crab shack).
• 2nd dining is less crowded and rushed, it feels more relaxing
• clothes are cleaner for shows and photos as you eat after the show
• kids are taken to the evening program right after the meal
• if you have a cabin near a busy elevator, being a night owl and sleeping after midnight means the corridor is quieter
• you get to sleep in an extra hour on debarkation morning for the 2nd breakfast.
  • more time to pack
  • get to relax and wait in the dining room for your assigned debarkation time
  • really important because all the posted times are Pacific Daylight savings..... you LOSE an hour of sleep leaving Alaskan time the night before

I think specialty dining allows you to break away from the assigned late dining.