Just made a request for private table for dining on Fantasy...

[wilkeliza]

I had my TA request this for us. Can I can call DCL and confirm they see the request? We had an issue on our last cruise about DCL not getting this information. It wasn't a big deal but I would like to be more proactive about it if I can.

If you have a TA, I believe Disney's official stance is you have to deal with your TA not diret. If they did not receive the request last time you should takenit up with your TA if you used the same one as last time.

 

[wilkeliza]

What other options other than room service are available for evening dining? This is our first cruise. I am hesitant about the dining & seating. My son has Autism Spectrum Disorder/high functioning, but struggles with communication, primarily innuendoes, sarcasm, & things of that nature. I just want us both to be comfortable during dinner & may opt for just room service dining......

Thanks for all the advice, it is truly appreciated.

On most days you can go to Cabanas for a sit down meal where it will be just your and DS.

 

[DisneyNDecember]

when you get your key to the world card at check in there is a table number on it. each person in your party should have the same number. in the dining rooms each table has a small stand on it with a number placed at the top. once you find your number, this is the table you will be seated at. whatever the count is chair wise, it will be the same in each dinning room. if your table happens to have 8 chairs and there are only 4 of you then you may want to go to dinning changes.
we always request our own table (normally two of us) and have always received it however I always stop into dinning changes to confirm it just in case. the one time i did not request it i stopped in and they told me in order to change to our own table i would have to take late dinning. on that cruise we kept early seating and it was fine. turned out to be three other couples about the same age so enough to talk about.
I agree with Dug720. The tables are so close together you may as well be seated with the people beside you. on our last cruise there was a family seated beside us who wanted to know all about us and what we were eating. as friendly and nice as they were it became a bit annoying.

Thank you so much !!! We have the 2nd dining & it is just two of us, so hopefully our request will be granted, otherwise it is room service or Cabanas for dinner each night.

 

[DisneyNDecember]

On most days you can go to Cabanas for a sit down meal where it will be just your and DS.

Thank you so much. How late does Cabanas stay open for dinner?

 

[wilkeliza]

Thank you so much !!! We have the 2nd dining & it is just two of us, so hopefully our request will be granted, otherwise it is room service or Cabanas for dinner each night.

I'm not 100% sure but Cabanas is first come first serve so you will get seated in order. On busier cruises Cabanas may have a wait. But 99% of people eat in the MDR. They have a mixed menue of usually 2 dishes from each MDR. I never did it but if you want a sit down dinner with out a table mate or feeling rushed out Cabanas is the way to go because you can come at any time during open hours. I think they run the same time as th regular dinning rooms 6:30-9:30 ish probaby even as late as 10. I hope someone who has been will have that info for you.

 

[wilkeliza]

Also just know 99% of people on Disney Cruise Line will be understanding. You say your son is very high functioning. I would be shocked if you did end up with another small group that they wouldn't know how to respond. Not everyone is great at small talk and there is nothing wrong with being poliete and saying hello each evening then just stick to yourself each night. Our last cruise the 3 people that weren't with our party of 5 did that after the first two nights. The only complaint we had was they always sat 3 across on one side instead of 2 togethter and 1 on the opposite side so every night we either had to loudy talk over them to our 5th person on their side of the table or relay messages. It was particularly hard on days where the 5 of us didn't spend the day together so used dinner as a catch up time.

 

[cruisehopeful]

What other options other than room service are available for evening dining? This is our first cruise. I am hesitant about the dining & seating. My son has Autism Spectrum Disorder/high functioning, but struggles with communication, primarily innuendoes, sarcasm, & things of that nature. I just want us both to be comfortable during dinner & may opt for just room service dining......

Thanks for all the advice, it is truly appreciated.

In addition to room service, the quick service areas are open near the pools. That will be for stuff like pizza, hamburgers, etc. It's a limited menu, but so is room service. We didn't eat in the dining rooms on our last cruise because I just didn't want all the noise. We had room service one night and I asked for a couple things not on the menu (fruit plate and non fat milk) and they were able to bring it to us. We ate at quick service the other night, but I'd get really bored of that if I was stuck with it for too many nights.

After reading this thread, I think I'll ask for my own table in the future and tip extra for it if they give it. I don't mind being really close to another table in general. My guess is that they won't talk to us and won't eat all of our bread.

 

[tinkerone]

Thank you so much. How late does Cabanas stay open for dinner?

cabanas usual hours are 6:30-8:30. that's on Caribbean sailings and may differ for other cruises. also note that they do not open for dinner on the first or last night of the cruise.

 

[Snurk71]

In addition to room service, the quick service areas are open near the pools. That will be for stuff like pizza, hamburgers, etc. It's a limited menu, but so is room service.

On the Fantasy (at least), i think a couple of the quick service stations on 11 close at 6.I always find that odd -closing right at dinner time. I assume they plan on most everyone eating in a dining room. But it seems like there are plenty that would make use of it.

 

[NCConch]

We have both shared a table and had our own table. We are social people and enjoy meeting new people. Disney does a good job at trying to match families.

 

[Uncleromulus]

As pointed out, the room service menu for dinner is very limited---

 

[Shelebeen]

We have been on 6 cruises and always requested a 4 top for only us and always been granted it

 

[Jennifer777]

What other options other than room service are available for evening dining? This is our first cruise. I am hesitant about the dining & seating. My son has Autism Spectrum Disorder/high functioning, but struggles with communication, primarily innuendoes, sarcasm, & things of that nature. I just want us both to be comfortable during dinner & may opt for just room service dining......

Thanks for all the advice, it is truly appreciated.

My son is also on the spectrum and has the same social issues (probably worse actually, the kid actually told his therapist I was an alcoholic once because he thought it would be funny ), but don't let that deter you from eating in the main dining rooms. DCL has a dedicated team for cruisers with special needs. Call the reservation line and ask to speak with the special needs/services department (they will give you the number) so they can add special notes and requests in your child's file. This way, the servers, kids club staff and room attendants are aware of any special tips or concerns you may have to help make sure your child - and you, can have a worry free trip.

They made sure we had a private table in a more quiet area of the main dining rooms. They put notes in his file so the kids club staff were made aware that our son does not like to be touched at all. They even put some notes in his file about his likes/dislikes so CMs could approach him about the things he was interested in. It was such a relief to us that DCL was was ready and willing to consider our son's needs. They genuinely seemed to want him to feel comfortable and welcome, which in turn, helped us feel comfortable.

 

[DisneyNDecember]

My son is also on the spectrum and has the same social issues (probably worse actually, the kid actually told his therapist I was an alcoholic once because he thought it would be funny ), but don't let that deter you from eating in the main dining rooms. DCL has a dedicated team for cruisers with special needs. Call the reservation line and ask to speak with the special needs/services department (they will give you the number) so they can add special notes and requests in your child's file. This way, the servers, kids club staff and room attendants are aware of any special tips or concerns you may have to help make sure your child - and you, can have a worry free trip.

They made sure we had a private table in a more quiet area of the main dining rooms. They put notes in his file so the kids club staff were made aware that our son does not like to be touched at all. They even put some notes in his file about his likes/dislikes so CMs could approach him about the things he was interested in. It was such a relief to us that DCL was was ready and willing to consider our son's needs. They genuinely seemed to want him to feel comfortable and welcome, which in turn, helped us feel comfortable.

Thank you so much !!! That is great to hear...
I will do that !!!!!

 

[limabeanmom2003]

Is this only on some of the ships? I didn't see any families sharing tables on the Dream.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is this only on some of the ships? I didn't see any families sharing tables on the Dream.

We've had shared tables on all the ships. The only times we were seated at our own table were the cruises where we were a party of 5 or 6.

 

[Sytrace]

On 5 of our 6 cruises we had our own 4 top and really enjoyed that. The most recent cruise we took in September we had another family of 4 at the table and found conversation to be awkward and strained. Neither of our families were interested in chatting and so we asked to be switched to a 4 top on the second night of the cruise. There were no problems and they were able to accommodate our request.

As soon as the Cruise website straightens out I can start online check in and make requests for our next cruise which is January 30th.

 

[puffkin]

We are a party of 5 (2 kids, 3 adults). What type of table do they sit parties of 5 at? I have a feeling we will be using our evening meal as family catch up time so I am leaning towards requesting our own table.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are a party of 5 (2 kids, 3 adults). What type of table do they sit parties of 5 at? I have a feeling we will be using our evening meal as family catch up time so I am leaning towards requesting our own table.

In my experience (twice we were a party of 5) we were seated at our own table. I will point out, however, one time we were a party of 3 and were seated at an 8 top with a party of 5.

If it's important to you to have your own table, I suggest you call DCL and have the request for your own table placed on your reservation.

 

[Sytrace]

I would think you would get your own table. The only exception to this that I can think of would be if there was a party of 3 that would make up an 8 top.
Doubtful though.