dinning changes

[nearlychildless]

We are just back from the March 16 Magic cruise and it was wonderful! However in talking to some crewmembers we discovered DCL is looking at possible dinning changes relating to open dinning and the possiblity that your servers might not travel with you in rotation. We think this would be a huge loss and are writing to DCL to express our view for what ever it may be worth. I am sure that many of you have thoughts one way or the other and may want to let DCL know your thinking. Remember the nuggets are out and chicken strips are back so they do listen!

 

[my3kids]

I think that makes me sad. I absolutely hate having to wait for a table in a restaraunt, so everytime I'm doing my waiting time I think, "how nice it will be on the cruise that we can just stroll in at our appointed time and not have to wait, no fuss of deciding where to eat, not having to go early to even get a table. " With the addition of the dinner buffett at Topsiders, that would seem to be the solution for those who miss their rotation or want a choice. The dinner rotation was a real plus for me. I'm not happy to hear that it might be discontinued. Being impatient people with kids who don't wait in lines well....we'll end up in the least popular spot every night. That just doesn't seem quite fair and I think my excitement level for the trip has just taken a nose dive.

 

[BeanoC]

I think this would be a huge mistake. Having servers that know your first name and wait on you every night is a big part of the cruise experience! Also knowing that we can show up at 6:00 every night and be seated immediately is another important factor. What are they thinking???

I don't even want to think about having new servers each night, or at least in each different restaurant. By the 3rd night last year, or server new exactly what each of us wanted to drink, and often brought us our drinks without us even asking! That was wonderful personal service and the value of the cruise experience would be greatly diminished without it. Big mistake, Disney. Don't do it!!!




'Beano'

 

[CamColt]

If it means DH & I can dine alone, I say go for it!!!!

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

Has DCL ever heard the phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!". Having assigned seating and a specific dining time has been a reason we keep cruising. I hate to go on vacation to a new place and have to figure out which restaurants we should try-1/2 the time you're not happy with your selection. I also love getting to know the servers and they know you, your family, and all your dining preferences. I'm glad they added the Topsiders open dining option on the 7 day cruises. I was on a cruise where they were testing it out and we filled out a questionaire. We missed early dinner since DH and our twins were zonked from the days activities and I don't think it's right for us to have to settle for fast food counter food or room service if we've payed so much to be on the cruise. Add my voice to letting DCL know they shouldn't change a thing!!!

 

[Tluvs2talk]

Camcolt, I am sure this would not be dining alone, it would just be luck of the draw everynight as to your table mates.


I hate the idea. They already have open seating during lunch, and it is uncomfortable being seated with people who don't want to get to know you for just one meal. I like having the same waiters and same table mates all week. I also hate the idea of people standing in LONG lines waiting to eat. I might be forced to cruise elsewhere if they implement this change.

 

[CamColt]

Oh. I just thought since on other cruise lines with open seating you can choose to sit alone if you like, it would be the same on DCL. I guess not.

 

[MarkRG]

This would be bad.. very bad.

Bad enough I would actually consider cruising elsewhere over such a change. The biggest features I find of assigned dinners are getting to know your co-diners, having a server that gets to know you and vice-versa, knowing where/when you're going to have dinner and being able to simply show up and sit down and begin. Anybody that wants that lack of structure and convenience can go the the cruise line offering that.

Now, for the all-important question. Where can I write a real-world letter to?

 

[atigeg]

I wouldn't like this either. I'd rather see a casual dining option at the buffet than to see the regular seating eliminted altogether. It seems to be a popular trend (e.g. NCL's "Freestyle Cruising") and some people seem to love it, but I really enjoy getting to know our servers and tablemates. I can understand that some people probably want flexibility, and in a way that would be nice, but it wouldn't be worth losing the opportunity to having a regular server team.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[albiats]

Here's the postal address that MarkRG asked for:

Disney Cruise Line
Guest Communications
PO BOX 10238
Lake Buena Vista FL 32830

 

[nearlychildless]

MarkRG has the right idea write to DCL at the address Albiats has given in his post. Just putting our thoughts on the forum isn't enough. We need to write directly to DCL. Thanks everyone. The more that let DCL know thier feelings the better.

 

[mmouse37]

I'll be writing a letter to DCL. My parents came off of "freestyle" dining and didn't like it. They hated the idea of not having the same servers.

As other posters mentioned....that is an integral part of the cruise experience....to have your servers know your preferences. Where else can we feel like royalty and be waited on in such a fashion. I would not like freestyle dining. Also, how would it affect formal nights....I love seeing the majority dress up on formal night. If you had freestyle dining I bet more people would opt out of dressing formal.

MJ

 

[peter pans family]

i went on the 7 day cruise 3/2-3/9. IT WAS AWESOMEEEEEEEE!!!! i think it would be soooooo bad if we couldnt have the same servers the whole time because they get to know you and you get to know them. when we went we had mark from the U.K and andrea from Hungrey. thay were awesome especially mark. if you had servers like them then you wouldnt want to change servers!! if anyone had them also tell me and if you have any questions ask!! bye

 

[taswira]

PLENTY of reasons NOT to change: 1. No more personalized service from a serving team that quickly learns and remembers your preferences. 2. The likelihood that LOTS of people would repeatedly get stuck with Parrot Cay! 3. Wouldn't this mean we'd have to tip each member of the serving team with each meal, since we wouldn't have an assigned team? Horrors! 4. If you think you've been ill-matched with tablemates before, imagine having to be assigned seating by "available space." 5. As mentioned, it could mean the end of formal nights.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by CamColt

If it means DH & I can dine alone, I say go for it!

Originally posted by Tay N Evie's Mom

Has DCL ever heard the phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!".

Perhaps they don't agree that "it ain't broke". How many times a week do we see threads on this board about families that are very upset because they might be seated with strangers at their table? How many horror stories have we read by DISers who hated their tablemates or at least had nothing in common with their tablemates and felt their cruise experience was diminished? Yes, the rotation dining concept sets Disney apart from its competitors... but I'm sure they've gotten lots of complaints from people who won't cruise Disney again because they'd <b><i>rather have</i></b> the flexibility of <i>Freestyle Dining^TM</i>.

I'm not advocating that Disney goes through with this (if in fact they <i>are</i> exploring this option... this thread was inspired by CM gossip.) But I couldn't blame them for exploring their options.

 

[taswira]

Well, I would be very surprised if DCL would let every cruiser/couple/family/group have their own table for individual seating. I don't see how that would be feasible. The singles, couples, group sizes would be so unpredictable (cruise to cruise and hour to hour) that I don't see how they could avoid simply seating people according to availability at the moment. If a couple needed seating and four were already at a table for six, don't you think they would fill it in? So people could still get stuck with unpleasant company. Hopefully we won't have to find out.

 

[CamColt]

Originally posted by taswira
Well, I would be very surprised if DCL would let every cruiser/couple/family/group have their own table for individual seating. I don't see how that would be feasible. The singles, couples, group sizes would be so unpredictable (cruise to cruise and hour to hour) that I don't see how they could avoid simply seating people according to availability at the moment. If a couple needed seating and four were already at a table for six, don't you think they would fill it in? So people could still get stuck with unpleasant company. Hopefully we won't have to find out.

Isnt that what regular restaurants do? Personally, I would be willing to wait as long as necessary and eat in any restaurant(Parrot Cay is my favorite anyway) if it meant I didnt have to eat with strangers. But, thats just me.

 

[Tluvs2talk]

Breakfast and Lunch are already open seating. My Hubby and I are ALWAY"S placed at a table with a family who would rather be alone. We alway's smile and get to talking, but I would hate to do this for Dinner too.We only eat at a sit down Lunch maybe twice the whole cruise. Can you Imagine 2500 guest wanting to eat Dinner at the same time!! I hate the idea of standing around or being given a beeper to wait for an hour or so. I also would rather tip once at the end of the cruise instead of every meal. I also don't want to explain my eating likes and dislikes every meal. I think open seating will equal lousy service.

 

[taswira]

Tluvs2talk - My sentiments exactly. Dinner is my concern as well, since it is the "assigned" restaurant of the day where we have our serving "team." I prefer having a regular team that knows what I like, and I prefer NOT to have to stand around waiting when there are so many scheduled activities before, during and after dinner. I also like the tipping structure. I think that even with "freestyle," DCL would likely seat strangers together to fill seats, so you could still end up with people you don't want to sit with. That's just my opinion. I don't expect a cruise ship to function exactly like a conventional restaurant due to the number of passengers and the space constraints, but perhaps it would.

 

[LARRY DORMAN]

I LIKE THE WAY IT IS DONT CHANGE, HAVE HAD SOME GOOD TABLE MATES..