Early or Late Dining and why?

[Mikeb1892]

First timers here and we're torn between early and late dining. We're doing a 7 night out of NYC with 4 sea days, and our CC day all aboard is 4:30 (I think). There will only be one day we might be off the ship late (Port Canaveral day). Not so worried about DW and I, but our two boys are the concern (11 and 5). At home we typically eat between 5:30 and 6:15, and the boys are in bed no later than 8:30 pm weeknight, 9:30-10 weekend. I know I've read that people's "routine schedule" changes when on-board, but I'd like your opinion on early vs late dining. I realize we can get snacks so I'm not as concerned about the boys being hungry as I am about them being irritable due to the sleep change.

Thanks.

 

[dragynally]

First timers here and we're torn between early and late dining. We're doing a 7 night out of NYC with 4 sea days, and our CC day all aboard is 4:30 (I think). There will only be one day we might be off the ship late (Port Canaveral day). Not so worried about DW and I, but our two boys are the concern (11 and 5). At home we typically eat between 5:30 and 6:15, and the boys are in bed no later than 8:30 pm weeknight, 9:30-10 weekend. I know I've read that people's "routine schedule" changes when on-board, but I'd like your opinion on early vs late dining. I realize we can get snacks so I'm not as concerned about the boys being hungry as I am about them being irritable due to the sleep change.

Thanks.

There's no sleep on a Disney cruise! I kid. Actually I love late dining because I take an afternoon nap. But if naps aren't possible you might consider early dining. However you'll still be going to the late show which is the same time as late dining

 

[Geomom]

I suggest sticking to your normal eating time, so go with early dining. We typically eat around 6PM at our house. I can't eat a full meal at 8PM, snacks yes, full meal, no. I think you'll have less complaining from the kids if you do the early dining. I know my youngest gets hangry and she's basically impossible until she's eaten something.

 

[Dug720]

I love late dining. You can just chill after your day away from the ship and not feel rushed to get ready for dinner. Both Castaway and Key West days, after we were back on board my dad and I went to the adult pool area for him to get in the hot tub and me to chill while my mom did her daily walking on Deck 4. Then we took our time getting ready for the show and dinner. And if we didn't have time to fully dress for dinner before the show we could pop back to the cabin after the show to finish up.

 

[apathetic]

With kids (and your schedule) definitely try for early dining. If kids stay up later, they can find a snack on the pool deck or room service. Late dining doesn't end until around 10pm. That is late for most kids and adults. It kind of works if you plan to do some of the later shows and activities. But if you plan for the family to be in bed by 11, then late dining is going to ruin you. There are some advantages to late dining. Like I said earlier, it does time you with the later entertainment. Also, on longer port days you have more time before dinner. Some cruises we are running to get changed for dinner on early seating. But the early dining is usually a better choice for kids and those who like dinner done by 7pm.

 

[NS8VN]

We chose early seating simply because we normally eat around 5:00. There are good reasons for some people to take second seating and I'm glad since not everyone can eat at the same time, but for us it just doesn't make sense to push dinner back so far from the norm.

 

[com_op_2000]

What I have found from 8 DCLs:
Early dining has more kids.
Late dining has more adults.

 

[msmama]

We did early dining (my son is 8) and I wouldn't even consider late. We stayed up "late" (for him) to see the shows, but that's VERY different than eating at his normal bedtime. I think we both would've been sick with late dining.

Also, since he went to bed at a relatively normal time, he was up at his normal time and when he'd go to the kids club in the morning (after breakfast - I feel like there were very few kids at breakfast when we were there, but he doesn't sleep in) there weren't a ton of kids there so he really god some good play time in. It filled up quite a bit by the time I'd go get him for lunch.

I've seen people say they were rushed, but our last cruise, and our upcoming, most stops have the "all aboard" by about 4 or 5. Even if we WERE one of the last back on the ship (which we prefer 1/2 day excursions), that would still plenty of time for us to get ready for dinner. On the days we do plan on being a bit later, I just figure we'll eat somewhere else and skip MDR that day.

 

[xlxo]

I like the 2nd feeding.

• more time in port, have a local snack before reboarding and let it settle.
• 2nd feeding is less crowded and rushed, it feels more relaxing
• clothes are cleaner for shows and photos as you eat after the show
• kids are taken to the evening program right after the meal
• if you have a cabin near a busy elevator, being a night owl and sleeping after midnight means the corridor is quieter
• you get to sleep in an extra hour on debarkation morning for the 2nd breakfast.
  • more time to pack
  • get to relax and wait in the dining room for your assigned debarkation time
  • really important for Alaskan cruises because all the posted times are Pacific Daylight savings..... you LOSE an hour of sleep leaving Alaskan time the night before

 

[havaneselover]

We switched to second dining when my kids were 8 and 9. Frankly it was a disaster as the 9 year old who is generally easy going was melting down at dinner. In 2015 we did it again (they were 11 and 10) and she was fine. With kids it really depends. 5:30 is just too early for me to eat on vacation. I'd rather have a snack on the pool deck around 4 and have late dining.

 

[Lisa F]

I would only do early dining with my son. My son is 8 and that is his schedule, just like yours... we eat dinner at home around 6ish, his bedtime is 8:30 on weeknights and he can stay up "as late as he wants" on the weekends. When we are with my boyfriend and his kids, they are night owls and he sometimes stays up quite late, but left to his own devices he is passing out by 10ish on the weekends. I think sticking as close to a normal eating schedule and then having him stay up later for fun stuff is the way to go. We just got back from a WDW trip and we ate earlier dinners, the latest being around 6:30 but most were closer to 5.... we were up very often pretty late but keeping to his typical meal times was a win all around.

I do get the benefits of late dining, but those are adult benefits not kid benefits. if I were traveling without my kid I'd shift my own schedule. Travel is hard enough on kids without shifting their entire eating schedule around. that and my parents are coming with us and they are NOT night owls... they prefer dinner around 5-5:30 on weekends when traveling and when on vacation. It would be too much turmoil for everyone otherwise. We also are not planning any "all day off the ship" activities, we are just doing the 4 night dream and will probably do a morning snorkel thing in Nassau and then back to the ship and then of course CC day. If it were more about the ports and I was planning to take advantage of a later all aboard time then it might be different.

 

[JulieJCO]

We do late dining (the two of us and our five-year old) – with the time change, it's closer to our normal dinnertime, so we can stay on a semi-normal schedule when traveling and not have to shift back and forth.

 

[Henlady]

There is no general "best time" to dine. It is your personal preference and whatever fits your normal schedule. We prefer early, because with late dining we are still too "full" at 11:00/11:30 when we go to bed. We normally eat our evening meal around 6-6:30. On the ship, we have supper, walk around the ship a bit, have a latte at Cove Cafe, maybe see a show or movie, have a drink in one of the bars/clubs, then spend some time on the verandah. If we have a late excursion, we generally just have our evening meal Cabana's sit down service..
We tried late dining once, didn't get thru the meals till about 10:00, and were too uncomfortable when we went to bed with a full stomach.

 

[SandeeJim]

First timers here and we're torn between early and late dining. We're doing a 7 night out of NYC with 4 sea days, and our CC day all aboard is 4:30 (I think). There will only be one day we might be off the ship late (Port Canaveral day). Not so worried about DW and I, but our two boys are the concern (11 and 5). At home we typically eat between 5:30 and 6:15, and the boys are in bed no later than 8:30 pm weeknight, 9:30-10 weekend. I know I've read that people's "routine schedule" changes when on-board, but I'd like your opinion on early vs late dining. I realize we can get snacks so I'm not as concerned about the boys being hungry as I am about them being irritable due to the sleep change.

Thanks.

We like the early dining because there are so many other activities on the ship that you still have time to do if you eat early -- such a shows, movies, etc.

 

[lorimay]

We do the late dinner, we prefer to make the day longer whether onboard or in a port.
Even when we bring the grandkids (6&8) we do late. My granddaughter will want to go back to the room after dinner for bed, but my grandson loves the dine and play, where the counselors come and pick the kids up in the dining room around 9

 

[CamColt]

I am a fan of late dining even thought we eat early at home. I would feel too rushed having early dining, and like to enjoy the late afternoon/early evening by the pool.

 

[AndreAggie]

We picked late dining this time around and we have a 6 (ALMOST 7) year old. With early dining, we felt very rushed especially on CC day and the day we stopped in Key West. The kiddo goes to the clubs after dinner and stayed until after 10:00 pm, so we'll take advantage of the kids clubs picking up kids during late dinner.

This might turn out to be a huge mistake, but we're going to give it a shot. This also gives us time to ride the aquaduck during first dinner seating.

 

[mcd2745]

We prefer 2nd seating for dinner. 5:30 is waaay too early for us. First, we NEVER eat dinner that early - at home ,on vacations, or where ever. Secondly, first seating pretty much forces you to end your "daytime" activities (be it in port or on board - whatever they are) earlier. The only thing I wish is that there were a performance of the main shows after the late dinner. Going to a show first and then dinner just seems backwards to me. Should always be "dinner and a show"...in that order. Besides, there usually is so little else going on around the ship when the 2nd dinner seating is over.

 

[mammacaryn]

We have only ever had late dining so I can't compare. That being said, my kids have always adjusted to vacation time perfectly. (first cruise they were 3 & 5) There is always room service and pool deck restaurants for snacks in between meals. We are very go with the flow folks so that helps too. We typically eat anywhere between 5-7 at home.

 

[KCBelle]

2 adults here, no kids. We did 2nd dining our first cruise after reading how well liked it is by many adults only cruisers and we were miserable every night trying to force ourselves to stay up after such a big meal. We just got off the Wonder yesterday and did first dining and loved it. It was more in line with what we do at home and we did so many activities after dinner that we didnt do the first time around. I personally didnt notice a major difference in the number of kids but I don't pay much attention to other tables. Just goes to show how everyone is different and should pick what works well for them.