First Time Cruiser Confused About Dining...Help!

[mjaclyn]

So I'm booked for Main Dining and 9pm Show. What does that mean? What time is Main Dining? Is there an earlier show that I could switch to? We have two children ages 2 and 4 that LOVE the shows in WDW but there is no way they're going to last until 9:00.

Can someone also tell me what time Brunch/High Tea at Palo is? There are no more reservations available online, but we will try to book when we get on the ship. I'd like to reserve nursery time for my son in advance just in case.

 

[jcarwash]

Dining times are 5:45 pm and 8:15 pm, so your dinner is at 5:45pm each night.

The nightly shows are at 6:15pm and 8:30pm, so with main/first dining you'll go to the 8:30pm show. The shows only last about 1 hour.

If you wanted to try to switch for the earlier show, you'll need to switch to the 8:30pm second dining. Or if you keep the main/first seating, you can skip your rotation on certain nights, eat dinner early with other options such as room service or whichever quick service counter(s) is open on the top decks, and take the kids to the earlier show.

During the 8:30pm dining, there is the "dine and play" option where the kids get served more quickly, and then the Oceaneer Club/Lab staff come in to retrieve the kids and bring them to the club while adults continue to eat.

 

[mjaclyn]

Thanks so much! I'll probably try it 'as is' one night and if it doesn't work out, get the kids something to eat early and then try the 6:15pm show. If it ends up working out better that way would we be able to switch to later dining or can you only do that on the first day of the cruise?

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

You can also check your navigator to see if there is a matinee show, those shows aren't assigned and it's first come first serve.

 

[Gdes1]

I know that some people do Main Dining with kids, then go back to the room and get all ready for bed with PJs, etc. Then bring a pillow or blanket to the late show and if the child wants to fall asleep, he or she can.

I wouldn't say the shows are super loud, but I personally don't know how any one could fall asleep. Then again, at WDW you see 5 year olds crammed into skimpy strollers that they outgrew three years ago, with their head lolling back, asleep even though it's 100 degrees and there is noise everywhere. Depends on the kid, I guess.

You can try switching your dining after one night, but it might not work. My opinion as a mom is that food comes first when keeping kids happy. You could also look at the rotation of shows and choose one or two to stay up for, and try doing naps earlier that day.

Finally, some people skip the dinner seatings altogether, go to the buffet for early dinner, then the early show. Darn shame to miss those nice dinners, though! But, again, you could do that one or two nights to see shows you think your kids will really like.

If you can, let your servers know if you are skipping dinner. They often get the beverages your family likes ready ahead of time and have them waiting for you. You can save them a bit of trouble.

 

[lbgraves]

Thanks so much! I'll probably try it 'as is' one night and if it doesn't work out, get the kids something to eat early and then try the 6:15pm show. If it ends up working out better that way would we be able to switch to later dining or can you only do that on the first day of the cruise?

It is always easier to switch from early to late than it is to get a spot in early if you are assigned to late.

I wouldn't say the shows are super loud, but I personally don't know how any one could fall asleep. Then again, at WDW you see 5 year olds crammed into skimpy strollers that they outgrew three years ago, with their head lolling back, asleep even though it's 100 degrees and there is noise everywhere. Depends on the kid, I guess.

This made me laugh because our kids are famous for falling asleep anywhere. DS at 5 on our first cruise passed out with his head on the table at the begining of formal night [after we got a bunch of great family pictures ], woke up 1 1/2 hours later to eat before we left and then enjoyed the show. We have wheeled them both to dinner on the ship in strollers - I think the last time was when they were 7 & 9 and were wiped out from spending the entire day at the pool. [We had the Jeep Cherokee ones for up to 55 pounds. Both kids have fallen asleep in a WDW stroller after the Sprectro parade while we were waiting for Wishes -- then continued to sleep as we pushed them around the park taking turns riding the "tall people" rides -- and they were 8 & 10 at the time. Of course when we went to BG we always went to the 3 pm Irish step show. It was cool inside and the music they played before the show was calming. It was a few years before they ever stayed awake for the show.