Does anyone ever think dinner takes too long?

[drdelsol]

I was just curious if anyone thinks dinner can take too long? I have read how all the courses can take a good two hours. While I occasionally like a nice leasurely meal, it's not routine. I like the food choices over the alternatives, but I'm not interested in all the courses. I haven't cruised before so I didn't know if it really seemed that long.

I really wouldn't mind the time if I was just concentrating on enjoying being with my wife, but I have also read where some consider not fully joining in the tables conversation very rude, which I can see. I want to make reservations at Palos just to be able to get a table alone with her.

Just wondering if any of the experienced cruisers ever felt that way.

 

[Favorite Auntie]

I think the servers take their cues from you. We never spent more than an hour or so for dinner, except for Animator's Palate. The show there dictates the length of dinner. I never really felt it took too long, and I am not one to dilly dally at dinner. Sit back and ENJOY!

 

[RellingTwin]

Last year we were at a table for 10 and it DID take a LONG time. We asked for the 4 kids to be served first, and once they were finished they took off for the movies or the clubs. We were always among the very last to leave the dinning room.BUT we had wonderful table mates and enjoyed the company.

 

[tksbaskets]

Like Relling, we were the last to leave the dinner table. We had great table mates and DH and I would linger over coffee and dessert. Our sons were 12 at the time and enjoyed the dinner too. They did leave for the Lab a couple of nights while we sat there. I suppose we could have moved it along if we had wanted too...

 

[Michelle]

Dinner is never the highlight of the evening for me, I pretty much like to get it out of the way so the fun can begin.

You can push it along to some extent but the servers have several tables and sometimes it's hard for them to do anything faster than what they are already doing. Early seating tends to move faster as they have to get everyone served and out in time to set up for late seating.

 

[bonzie1]

Yes, Yes, Yes! We've only cruised with Disney twice (1 Magic + 1 Wonder). We had the late seating both times, and got stuck in the "corners" of the dining rooms both times. Dinner took FOREVER! We were always the last table to leave. I enjoyed the food, but I didn't like spending all evening in the dining room.

We are going again in Jan '04, and taking family. We are trying the early seating. I hope it's not quite as ling as we nwat to get to the shows.

 

[alexandrew]

Dinners are one of the highlights of the cruise for DW and I - the longer the better ....

 

[KathyTX]

It all depends on your tablemates!

We've usually been blessed with terrific tablemates, and enjoyed dinners full of great conversation and lingering over coffee and desserts.

On one cruise on the Wonder, our little family of three was seated alone at a table for four. Dinners were a lot quicker that trip.

Sharing lively dinner conversation with new friends is the highlight of the evening for us, so we don't mind the leisurely pace of a multi-course meal. (If we were to be in a hurry for some reason, we would unobtrusively tell our waitstaff at the beginning of the meal, or choose to eat at Topsiders instead...)

 

[Doctor P]

Our dinners generally lasted at least 90 minutes and often 2 hours or more. That was too long for me, though we thoroughly enjoyed our tablemates.

 

[CamColt]

Yep! Our tablemates were late the both times we ate with them(neither brought a watch with them on the cruise ), so we got stuck waiting around for them. We got out of dinner about 10:30. An hour long meal is a long one for DH & I so this was awful! There was so much more I wanted to be doing. This is just another reason I think DCL should offer tables for 2 in the dining room

 

[kamgen]

We love dinner...it is a nice time to sit, eat great food and spend time with people....2 hrs is good!

 

[BeanoC]

Kamy - you may not feel that way this year, considering your tablemates.

I got SO ticked off at our lousy servers last year. They tried to rush us every night, and never once offered us coffee. When we asked for it, they got irritated about it. That will not happen to me this year, I guarantee it! I am taking my time.


'Beano'

 

[tarzanman]

Beano,

Of course you will be taking your time. I will be there to help you relax. I think that if we want to linger they will let us. I got everything under control.

 

[ReadyForDisney2003]

It sounds like the longer seating happens at the Late Seating -- not the Main seating. I have read that many Main seaters have plenty of time after eating to shop or change clothes before the show begins at 7:30.

 

[Grumbo]

Camcolt do you mean your tablemates were friends travelling with you that were late, or are these the folks you had placed at your table?
Our tablemates (not travelling with us) were late as well but that made no difference to us ordering or the like. The servers took our orders and they showed up 30 minutes later, and that was on an early sitting.
Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[CamColt]

Grumbo, these were strangers who we were placed with(we did request a table for 2, but no luck). Our waiter would start us off with bread and take our order, but then he would come around again to get the others orders and they would hold us back so we would all get our food together.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Does anyone ever think dinner takes too long?

Can't post an answer right now. Still lingering over dinner...