Late dinner seating

[babsnabbs]

We're doing the four night cruise departing April 3, 2005 and find that the early dinner seating is already booked. We're on the 8:30 seating, but that's really not good for my three-year-old. So we got on the waiting list for the 6:00 dinner. Anyone have any experience on the waiting list, i.e. What are my chances of actually being granted the earlier seating? Or, would anyone who has that earlier seating consider trading with me? We are a family of four. Thank you!

 

[babsnabbs]

Sorry, I made a mistake. I meant to say that we're on the waiting list for the earlier seating.

 

[tvguy]

Just make a point of getting a hot dog, or something else from Plutos about 4 pm. You'll be fine with late seating.

 

[b&j's_mom]

babsnabbs-

If you are like me, it's not the fact that your 3 year old has to wait until 8:30 to eat, it's that the dinner lasts until way, way past regular bed time! (Not fun for you or your table mates!) We also have a late seating on our Jan. cruise, and we're wait listed for the early. I have heard that if you check with Guest Services after you board the boat they may be able to help you. A lot can happen between now and April. I am hoping we make it to the early seating as well! Good luck.

 

[Pixie Mom 3]

I do not think you will have a problem with changing once you board,,, however if you can not change I suggest putting your son in the club and letting him eat wiht them while you enjoy your dinner. Dinner for us is family time, however in this situation i would go for the kids club,,,, Try late dinner one night and try the club idea another night.. Dont for get about Plutos and pinochos pizza.......

The one good thing about late dinnning is the fact that you get to go to the shows eairly, wich worked out well for us... we had late dinning with my youngest being 6 he loved the shows and fell asleep at dinner every night the wait staff was great with him... he then had a second wind and enjoyed the rest of the evening..

 

[pdarrah]

We actually really liked late seating! Our son is 5 and he only ate with us one time. He ate with the club occasionally, but his favorite dinner was to get chicken strips from room service and eat in the room before we went to the early show. After the show he would go to the kid club for the rest of the evening. Around 9:00 or 9:30, they put movies up on a big screen and put out mats for the children to lay on. Many of the kids were asleep when we were there later in the evening to pick up our DS. (Although ours only slept once - he was either watching the movie or in the other room playing games.)

We dined as 4 adults (my DH and I and a couple of DIS friends) and had a wonderful time at dinner. Since there wasn't another seating following us, we were able to take our time and chat. We were usually among the last out of the dining room at around 10:00 to 10:30. (Our servers didn't seem to mind - they would start clearing their other tables and stop occasionally to chat with us. They had never finished the other tables before we left, so I don't think we inconvenienced them at all.)

At home, I often am going to bed by 10:30 or 11:00, but on the cruise I was usually up to at least 11:30, if not later so I wasn't even going to bed right after eating which might be a problem for some. Part of it may be that we are on Central time at home and most of our cruise was on Eastern time. 8:30 dinner in Eastern Time is like 7:30 at home...

Pamela

 

[babysharknc]

We cruised with our DD age 3 in 2002 on the (4 day) Wonder. We had late seating. Our daughter would make it through the meals and then get sleepy. Our assistant server Timo, would make her a bed with two chairs, a pillow made from napkins and he would cover her with a table cloth. She slept soundly and we enjoyed the rest of our meal. He was great.

IMHO, I think early seating is too early, I would rather have my little ones enjoy the shows instead of sleeping thru them, You don't have to rush back to the ship when in port, and You get later seating for breakfast when you dissembark!

Hope this helps and good luck!