Do people skip some of their MDR seatings?

[joyjanet]

A little background to understand my thoughts on this. I am a sit down, get the drink orders in, when the drinks come out, the appetizer order goes in, while eating the appetizer, we look at the menu to order. We are more of the "Steak" people instead of the 25 word french name for ruining a good cut of beef people.

Between going to the room, showering, getting dressed, going to the MDR, ordering, and everything else, I do not want it to be a 3 hour ordeal. If I have a 5:30 seating time, going to start getting ready at 3:30, sitting, and getting out at 7:30 is a huge waste of time in my opinion.

Do some people just say heck with it and get meals at the walk up places and/or room service instead of going to some of the MDRs?

Just remember that if you do skip eating in the MDR you should still tip the staff the full amount recommended by Disney for the entire cruise. Some people feel that if they don't eat there they should not have to tip for that night.

 

[elvispursley]

About the drinks: our assist. server learned what we liked to drink on night 1 and our drinks were poured and waiting for us when we were shown to our seats. It was nice since we didn't have to wait for them to be brought. If we wanted something different, he was more than happy to bring us whatever we wanted. That should help speed dinner up by a few minutes Our head server was so attentive to how we ate that he noticed that I picked at my food for 2 nights and new I was vegetarian. When he learned I wasn't really crazy about what the menu items were, he asked me what I wanted to eat. I was confused and when he asked what my DH and I like to go out to eat, we answered Indian. He had one of the Indian chefs cook us this amazing 4-course dinner (in addition to the appetizers, desserts, etc)! Every night it was a different Indian dish--SO DELICIOUS!! I tell you, people around us were definitely asking what it was we were eating and how we got it. That alone impressed me with how far Disney would go to please their customers. A++

 

[phinz]

My idea of formal night dress is clean underwear, my nicest shorts and my best Disney Aloha shirt.

 

[michellekcm]

Unless we've been in the pool all afternoon, we don't get changed for dinner (formal and semi-formal night excepted), so we literally walk from wherever we've been to the MDR, we definitely don't start getting ready 2 hours beforehand.

We are also very casual on cruise casual nights. I'm usually in jeans and a t-shirt, and my husband is usually in shorts and a t-shirt. We travel from Australia to cruise DCL, and try and make it part of a larger trip (generally 4 weeks in length total), so we don't have suitcase room to bring changes of clothes just for dinner. Even bringing an outfit for formal night takes up a lot of room in a 23kg (50lb) suitcase when you include shoes.

In 6 cruises we've only skipped the MDR once, for Palo. And, personally, I much prefer Palo brunch so probably won't skip the MDRs again (unless we end up on the new Dream class and try Remy). We love the atmosphere and shows, love having our drinks waiting for us, and love the recommendations by (most of) our servers.

 

[FigmentSpark]

So anyone can use the spa showers, right? How is there not a line up at the spa for showers every day?

 

[cruisehopeful]

We had a private table last time and were in and out in about an hour. Whenever I've sat at a shared table, it has taken much longer. Often it was about 2 hours at the shared tables, which led me to have some meals on the deck and room service instead.

 

[Shanti]

A little background to understand my thoughts on this. I am a sit down, get the drink orders in, when the drinks come out, the appetizer order goes in, while eating the appetizer, we look at the menu to order. We are more of the "Steak" people instead of the 25 word french name for ruining a good cut of beef people.

Between going to the room, showering, getting dressed, going to the MDR, ordering, and everything else, I do not want it to be a 3 hour ordeal. If I have a 5:30 seating time, going to start getting ready at 3:30, sitting, and getting out at 7:30 is a huge waste of time in my opinion.

Do some people just say heck with it and get meals at the walk up places and/or room service instead of going to some of the MDRs?

Yes, we skipped once. No need for it to take 3 hours for dinner (I'd get up & leave before waiting that long), though if you're concerned about time, I suggest modifying your habit of leisurely ordering, and try to get your meal order in asap in the MDRs. That will cut down on your time spent there considerably.

 

[wcw57]

My idea of formal night dress is clean underwear, my nicest shorts and my best Disney Aloha shirt.

clean underwear? what's that?

 

[ghtx]

So anyone can use the spa showers, right? How is there not a line up at the spa for showers every day?

Unless I am wrong, no, not anyone can use the spa showers. You can only use them if you have booked a spa treatment or bought a Rainforest day pass.

 

[cgolf]

So anyone can use the spa showers, right? How is there not a line up at the spa for showers every day?

They are in the changing rooms, and I think there would be if everyone figured it out, but they just use the ones in their rooms instead. it is just one of those semi secret perks, kind of like the deck on the aft of the classics not many used.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So anyone can use the spa showers, right? How is there not a line up at the spa for showers every day?

Well, I prefer not to have to head "somewhere else" to shower and change my clothes. I like showering in my room.

I think I read that the amenities (shampoo, soap, and stuff) are Elemis there, is that true?

 

[Pooh2]

We skipped the MDR one night when we got back to the ship late after attending church. We went up to Cabanas and had a very leisurely dinner. This was our 2nd to last night and it was a nice change.

 

[phinz]

Unless I am wrong, no, not anyone can use the spa showers. You can only use them if you have booked a spa treatment or bought a Rainforest day pass.

I use the spa showers on a regular basis and have only been in the Rainforest Room once. They are available for any and all adults who wish to use them. They would more properly be called locker room showers, since they are in the locker room that is used when visiting the gym, spa and Rainforest Room.

 

[AndreAggie]

Well, I prefer not to have to head "somewhere else" to shower and change my clothes. I like showering in my room.

I think I read that the amenities (shampoo, soap, and stuff) are Elemis there, is that true?

When we were on the wonder back in March, I used the shower after a spa treatment. However, anyone can use them. It's sometimes a pain to shower in the spa and either bring everything with you to get ready (or at least a change of clothes), or put dirty clothes back on and go get ready in your room. I guess if you're really brave you can wander the ship in your robe!

Oh, and the spa has elemis products.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I use the spa showers on a regular basis and have only been in the Rainforest Room once. They are available for any and all adults who wish to use them. They would more properly be called locker room showers, since they are in the locker room that is used when visiting the gym, spa and Rainforest Room.

That's what I thought. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[BigredNole]

That's good to know that you can use those showers at the spa. I would have never thought of the possibility.

 

[Sytrace]

It is very convienent to use the showers in the locker room if I am already at the Rainforest. While my husband (he does not care for the Rainforest) and kids are showering in the cabin, I can take my quiet time on the ceramic loungers, sauna etc and then get ready for dinner in the locker room showers. It is very peaceful at 5:30 to 7:30 most evenings.
But if I am not up there, I will just shower in the cabin and make sure I go first. lol

 

[cgolf]

Well, I prefer not to have to head "somewhere else" to shower and change my clothes. I like showering in my room.

I think I read that the amenities (shampoo, soap, and stuff) are Elemis there, is that true?

Have you used them before? My wife usually goes there from the adult pool before we go down to the room. Apparently there is plenty of room to shave your legs in these showers which I am told is not that simple in the room showers.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Have you used them before? My wife usually goes there from the adult pool before we go down to the room. Apparently there is plenty of room to shave your legs in these showers which I am told is not that simple in the room showers.

I have not used the spa showers. I've found that the showers/tubs onboard the ships are plenty large enough for me. Especially the round tub on the Dream class. There's an extra large shelf in there for putting your foot up on.

Now, I will give you that the round tub isn't really large enough for an adult to actually take a tub bath, the tubs on the Magic class are.

 

[TestingH2O]

I may shower in the locker room just for the products. We will see how I like H2O. I know I love the Elemis though, and I may have to get my fix that way.