Dinner seating with others..

[katyringo]

We have no desire to sit with another family for dinner. There is 4 of us. It would actually be a total buzz kill for me. Is there a way to request not to share a table?

 

[Mommb]

Yes, you can request a private table through the Special Requests page on the Disney Cruise website or tab on the Disney Cruise Navigator app. It will be a request, not a guarantee, but with 4 people your changes are good of getting a private table, especially if you have late dining.

 

[katyringo]

Yes, you can request a private table through the Special Requests page on the Disney Cruise website or tab on the Disney Cruise Navigator app. It will be a request, not a guarantee, but with 4 people your changes are good of getting a private table, especially if you have late dining.

I'm considering switching to late dinning!

 

[Travel60]

If it doesn't work out, don't let it ruin your cruise. Out of~15 cruises, we've sat with others 9 or 10 times. Mostly very enjoyable - we met new people and had a lot to talk about. Only twice did we have less than enjoyable time. After the first night or two we just greeted each other then ignored them.

 

[Aquamom]

Yes, you can request a private table through the Special Requests page on the Disney Cruise website or tab on the Disney Cruise Navigator app. It will be a request, not a guarantee, but with 4 people your changes are good of getting a private table, especially if you have late dining.

Usually if you have 4 or more people in your party you will have a table to yourselves. We just had a shared table this cruise with just my husband and me and it turned out to be really nice. The other couple was very nice and we had great conversations. I do know that if there is room and you request with Dining as soon as you board the ship you will be able to change it. Good luck and enjoy the adventure if that's your only option.

 

[auntlynne]

Don’t be too scared. I have had a random shared table in 3 of 21 DCL cruises. Even when just two of us; and we usually have early dining. Two of those were my teenage niece and me: Once a table of moms and only child. The other time, we were seated with young couples. They were great tablemates.

But I do put in request for private table. You won’t hear back from them. You find out onboard.

 

[katyringo]

Thanks everyone. I found the special request section under our reservation. I'm also considering a switch to late dinning.

I understand what folks mean about giving it a try, but it would really stress me out to have to make small talk like that and would really hinder our ability to enjoy the dinner.

 

[tvguy]

The standard table is 4 people. They push tables together for larger groups. So if you are a group of 4, that should be no issue at all.

 

[Budzooka]

We were a table of 3 on the Wonder in May and had a table to ourself for late dining with no request.

 

[lanejudy]

The standard table is 4 people. They push tables together for larger groups. So if you are a group of 4, that should be no issue at all.

Actually, DCL has 4-tops, 6-tops and 8-tops standard in each serving team's section. So larger groups does not typically mean pushing tables together.

OP - make the request but don't fret over it. If you end up seated with another party, DCL does really well matching up families with like-age kids and most often it works out well. Or just a polite greeting at the beginning but keep conversation to your own party.

 

[Geomom]

We've been on 4 cruises as a party of 4 and had our own table each time, main dining. I did use the request private table option on the app the past 2 cruises.

 

[tvguy]

Actually, DCL has 4-tops, 6-tops and 8-tops standard in each serving team's section. So larger groups does not typically mean pushing tables together.

OP - make the request but don't fret over it. If you end up seated with another party, DCL does really well matching up families with like-age kids and most often it works out well. Or just a polite greeting at the beginning but keep conversation to your own party.

It was 4 tops on the Magic. Our server team had the 4 of us, and a "table" of 16 which was 4 tables pushed together.

 

[MrsInsG]

We're 1 for 3 as far as a private table request being met on DCL. We traveled as a party of four but were grouped with other parties of four on our last two cruises. Both of these were despite requesting private tables. We are sailing next week as a party of five, and I have requested a private table again, and am crossing fingers, toes, and whatever else in hopes of having a private table. We have always been at late seating, too. My plan is to head straight to the dining change location as soon as we board in hopes of pleading our case. We shall see!

 

[Mango7100]

Thanks everyone. I found the special request section under our reservation. I'm also considering a switch to late dinning.

I understand what folks mean about giving it a try, but it would really stress me out to have to make small talk like that and would really hinder our ability to enjoy the dinner.

I agree. This is one thing I really dislike about DCL, but I know others enjoy it. I hate not being assured that I don’t have to sit with random strangers for a 1-2 hr meal each night. While I get you may make friends, I dont want to be forced to make small talk or be awkward and completely ignore people sitting with us. Or have an uncomfortable situation where we really don’t like the table mates and have to request to move and switch during the cruise. And since DCL doesn’t offer any other option for a dinner aside from MDR, room service, or Palo/Remy, it pushes you to do it. With the majority of cruise lines going to anytime dining, I can’t think of another one where this still occurs.

As a party of 3 once we were placed with a party of 5. I was surprised since I assumed that a 3 party would just get a 4 top table. Now I request private seating at late dining every time.

 

[GhostHost24]

I agree. This is one thing I really dislike about DCL, but I know others enjoy it. I hate not being assured that I don’t have to sit with random strangers for a 1-2 hr meal each night. While I get you may make friends, I dont want to be forced to make small talk or be awkward and completely ignore people sitting with us. Or have an uncomfortable situation where we really don’t like the table mates and have to request to move and switch during the cruise. And since DCL doesn’t offer any other option for a dinner aside from MDR, room service, or Palo/Remy, it pushes you to do it. With the majority of cruise lines going to anytime dining, I can’t think of another one where this still occurs.

As a party of 3 once we were placed with a party of 5. I was surprised since I assumed that a 3 party would just get a 4 top table. Now I request private seating at late dining every time.

That's my nightmare..

My last dcl we were a party of 3 with late dining. I had requested it, but placed with another party of 3. It ended up being OK... Going on treasure next year and putting same. Late dining with a private request. I can handle another party of 3... But of 5?oof.We'd prob request a change after dinner

 

[sparrow10_]

We were early dining, and were placed with 3 other pairs of 2's. we requested to be seated alone and we got it but only by changing to late dining which was great.

 

[lanejudy]

It was 4 tops on the Magic. Our server team had the 4 of us, and a "table" of 16 which was 4 tables pushed together.

But that wasn't recent. Telling the OP that the "standard" is 4-tops is inaccurate now.

 

[tlovesdis]

We requested a private table on our first cruise and did not get it. We were seated with 6 other people but it turned out to be the best thing ever! We ended up bonding with 4 of the 6. We are all cruising together this September and we've been to Disneyland already with 2 of the 4! We have made lifelong friends so don't let it scare you!

 

[RedHead0186]

.

 

[xiphoid76]

Our last three cruises we requested private table and were not granted it - we are a party of 2 social introverts in late seating. I don’t think they look at the app requests at all when assigning tables. We asked to switch to a private table one night at dinner and the other two times now before the first dinner when on board and were granted our request. So it worked out each time for us, but not sure why they don’t follow the requests if you ask for it beforehand. It was awkward asking to switch tables during the first dinner, and they sat us right next to our old table mates - two parties of two. But we just really want dinner to be our time as a couple and not forced small talk time with strangers.