late dinner seating with young children

[wc80]

Traveling in May on the Wonder - 1st timer - with my husband, 3 yr old son and 11 month old daughter.

We are waitlisted for 1st seating for dining. What are the options with young children who go to sleep before the 830pm dinner seating. Have you kept them up to go to dinner, or is there another dining option for them that has worked out and then put them in the nursery/daycare while you eat?

Have any of you had any experience with this.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Chances are your kids will eat pizza and chicken fingers, etc... anyway, so you could get those for them earlier and enjoy a quiet dinner to yourselves. Or maybe you could try for a late afternoon nap and see if they'd be able to stay awake longer?? Sleep times would probably be messed up while you're on vacation but that's often the case anyway I suppose (at least with my kids they are).

We had late seating with our 6 yr old twins last cruise and I wouldn't do it again if I could help it, however lots of people disagreed with me when I posted here about it (if I can find the thread I'll post it here later). My DS fell asleep at the table one night, and we noticed the same for lots of other kids, even older ones, though I guess that might not be such a bad thing (you could keep the baby in a stroller at the table). I'd say ideally it would be better to have the earlier dinner so your family could enjoy the dinner together while all are awake.

Here's the thread I mentioned:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=652087&referrerid=70088

 

[becky7953]

We cruised on the Wonder in 2001. Our son was 18 months old, and we had the late seating. The day we boarded we made the first thing we did was to ask to be switched to early seating. They were able to do it. We cruised in January so it was a slower time. Anyway enough babbling.... It doesn't hurt to ask

 

[wc80]

I have to say this board is VERY helpful when planning, don't know what I would do without it!

Thank you for your replies. We will ask to see if we can move it earlier when we get there.

We are Looking forward to this trip sooooo much!

 

[webray]

When you get on the ship..go directly to the stated place (will be in your boarding navigator), explain the situation, be persitant in getting your early seating.

 

[yazee1]

We were also wait-listed for the main seating. The TA told us DCL would call us if we were switched. About three or four weeks ago, I called DCL about something else, and while I was on the phone asked about our seating. The switch was made right then. I'm not saying you'll have the same outcome, but if knowing as soon as possible will help your peace of mind, I'd suggest calling DCL.

 

[kcashner]

When you board, go directly to "Dining Changes." The location will be in the "Welcome Aboard" sheet that you will get when you check in. Tell them that you wish to change to early seating. They will do everything they can to work it out for you.

Alternatively, you can feed the kids early (deck 9, either Topsiders or fast food), take 3 year old to Oceaneer's Club....if she falls asleep, they put her in a corner and let her sleep!

We've never had a problem with a requested change, but we usually travel off season.

If you are from the west coast, the late seating may actually keep your children on a more "at home" schedule.

 

[wc80]

Thank you for all the GREAT info!

I will give DCL a call to see if they can do anything, if not, I will just ask when we get there.

If we don't get switched we will feed the kids early and put them at Flounders and the Club. A nice quiet dinner - hummmm......Not such a bad alternative!

 

[mom2sean_n_alex]

Chances are your kids will eat pizza and chicken fingers, etc... anyway, so you could get those for them earlier and enjoy a quiet dinner to yourselves. Or maybe you could try for a late afternoon nap and see if they'd be able to stay awake longer?? Sleep times would probably be messed up while you're on vacation but that's often the case anyway I suppose (at least with my kids they are).

We had late seating with our 6 yr old twins last cruise and I wouldn't do it again if I could help it, however lots of people disagreed with me when I posted here about it (if I can find the thread I'll post it here later). My DS fell asleep at the table one night, and we noticed the same for lots of other kids, even older ones, though I guess that might not be such a bad thing (you could keep the baby in a stroller at the table). I'd say ideally it would be better to have the earlier dinner so your family could enjoy the dinner together while all are awake.

Here's the thread I mentioned:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=652087&referrerid=70088

Just wanted to say that I LOVE your shepherds!! They are BEAUTIFUL!!!

 

[Serena6010]

Just a quick note--We had early seating on both our prior cruises. At least 2 of the 7 nights our kids fell asleep at dinner(and this is at early seating). My kids normally do not go to sleep before 9. Just the sheer exhausion of swimming,beach, excursions, ect.....wore them out. So my point is, even having early seating does not guarantee your kids will be awake.