Dinner seating and evening show

[DisneyKeepsUsYoung]

We are pretty sure we want the first Dinner seating as the late one seems very late for our kids. Downside is we aren't sure our kids would be near as patient to sit through the evening show at 8:30. So how does the seating at the shows work? Do you have tickets to the particular show time? Or if there is 1 or 2 shows our kids really want to see, can we go to the early showing and eat dinner elsewhere those nights? We're looking at a 7 night cruise if that matters.

 

[clten]

It is open seating at the shows so you can show up to whichever you prefer. If you want to see the early show but have early dinner than you can do as you indicated -- see the early show then have dinner elsewhere - Cabanas, quick service, room service, etc.

 

[MSPeeler]

FWIW: We chose early dining, and only wanted to see 2 of the shows on the 4 night Bahama's cruise. The kids did well (Ages: 1, 7 & 9 at the time). We started to watch Villains and hated it, so we left by 8:45p.

As the PP stated: It is first come-first serve seating. we sat in the front row balcony and it was fine. We never sat on floor level, so I don't know how the view was for the kids down there.

For 1 of the shows, we put the baby in childcare, but had to leave to pick him up since wouldn't stop crying. It's vacation, they may surprise you on how late they can stay up, haha!

If you do decide to go to the early show, you can always have cabanas earlier of after the show.

 

[msmama]

Just FYI - On the days there was nothing after the shows we were in bed by not much after 9:30.

My 8 year old did make it to the pirate party and the last night party (forget the name) but barely. There is no way we could handle late nights every night.

We're an early to bed family.

 

[DisneyKeepsUsYoung]

Thanks for the replies. Nice to know we can be flexible. With the time change if my kids are up super early not adjusting to the change, I don't think there is a chance they'd make it through a late show. This would be our first cruise and the idea of a set schedule makes me a bit nervous. We like to be flexible on vacation since we never know how the kids will adjust.
How long are the evening shows?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for the replies. Nice to know we can be flexible. With the time change if my kids are up super early not adjusting to the change, I don't think there is a chance they'd make it through a late show. This would be our first cruise and the idea of a set schedule makes me a bit nervous. We like to be flexible on vacation since we never know how the kids will adjust.
How long are the evening shows?

About 45 minutes.

 

[lanejudy]

You can take the kids in their PJs; if they fall asleep just carry them back to your room and tuck them in.

Also, watch your Navigators; sometimes there is a matinee show. And the shows are taped and shown on the stateroom TVs.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[DisneyKeepsUsYoung]

45 min is shorter than I was expecting. That might not be as bad. I'm more worried about my kids being loud during the show being rude to others. They tend to wind up hyper when exhausted vs doze off during a show.

 

[Dug720]

45 min is shorter than I was expecting. That might not be as bad. I'm more worried about my kids being loud during the show being rude to others. They tend to wind up hyper when exhausted vs doze off during a show.

Then TBH my recommendation would be to sit on an aisle and not right up front to make it easier and less disruptive for you to take a kid out if the show isn't doing it for them.

eta: Obviously everyone knows that DCL is a top choice for families and there will be little kids on board. But it's common courtesy that if your kid is making a loud fuss you should remove them. It's distracting for the audience AND the performers.

 

[DisneyKeepsUsYoung]

Then TBH my recommendation would be to sit on an aisle and not right up front to make it easier and less disruptive for you to take a kid out if the show isn't doing it for them.

Yes, this is what I planned to do regardless of show time if we could. With young kids I always plan an easy escape even if just for the sake of potty trips they inevitably think they need. That's why I was wondering if shows were ticketed or just open seating.
Would one have to show up super early to get an aisle seat?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yes, this is what I planned to do regardless of show time if we could. With young kids I always plan an easy escape even if just for the sake of potty trips they inevitably think they need. That's why I was wondering if shows were ticketed or just open seating.
Would one have to show up super early to get an aisle seat?

Not really, as long as you don't have a specific aisle seat in mind.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

An alternative is they show it in your room 15 mins after the show starts. We watch this as I have health issues and am too exhausted to go to the theatre.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

An alternative is they show it in your room 15 mins after the show starts.

This is very handy for those who have issues with attending the shows. I'll just point out - it's not the actual show that's on in the theater, it's a pre-recorded stage production with (often) a different cast.

 

[DisneyKeepsUsYoung]

An alternative is they show it in your room 15 mins after the show starts. We watch this as I have health issues and am too exhausted to go to the theatre.

This is handy to know. Thanks. Especially if anyone ends up sick, which often seems to happen to us mid/late vacation. Not quite the same as live, but if we get stuck in the room for 1 reason or another, we can still have options.

 

[KashasMom]

We just got off the Magic and most shows were closer to an hour long - some started at 6 but most started at 6:15. We LIKE good seats so we (and many others) were at the theater 30 minutes prior to the show starting. With smaller children I can't see sitting 20-30 rows back - just not a good view IMO. Out of all the shows we only liked 2 but my 7 year old daughter liked them all including the variety acts.