Late Seating Question(s) ...

[Main Street Matilda]

Given that my children are not such children anymore, we are considering doing the late seating for our cruise next year. Of course, since my only prior experience was with the main seating, I have questions.

If we go to a show, is there enough time to change after the show before going to dinner?

Is the early show less crowded or about the same? We got the theater (for the late show) as quickly as possible last trip to get decent seats. Would I have to do the same thing for the early show?

How long does dinner take? For the main seating, I know they tried to get everyone fed and out timely - but I have no idea if it works that way with late seating.

Our family is a mix of night owls and early risers - so unfortunately, I can't make any decisions based on that alone.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Given that my children are not such children anymore, we are considering doing the late seating for our cruise next year. Of course, since my only prior experience was with the main seating, I have questions.

If we go to a show, is there enough time to change after the show before going to dinner?

Is the early show less crowded or about the same? We got the theater (for the late show) as quickly as possible last trip to get decent seats. Would I have to do the same thing for the early show?

How long does dinner take? For the main seating, I know they tried to get everyone fed and out timely - but I have no idea if it works that way with late seating.

Our family is a mix of night owls and early risers - so unfortunately, I can't make any decisions based on that alone.

In my experience, the time necessary for each event (early or late dinner/early or late show) is pretty close to the same.

Yes, we could linger a bit longer at late dinner, and sometimes did, but, really, the servers want to get things cleared and set up for the next day as soon as possible.

Dinner typically takes about 1 1/2-2 hours, the shows are around 45 minutes to an hour. With plenty of gap between them.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We always do late dinner. There is about 45 min between end of show and dinner. I'm not a big show person, so I take my time doing my shower and getting ready while everyone else goes to show. Then I get a drink before the show and wait for the family get out of the show. After the show, we usually go the child friendly family game show or dancing before dinner. I love late seating. We tried early once and I hated it!

 

[bumbershoot]

In my experience, the time necessary for each event (early or late dinner/early or late show) is pretty close to the same.

I agree.

When we have late dinner those going to a show get dressed and ready to be handsome (I don't go to the show and there's just DH and DS) for the show and dinner. Changing happens later, once those things are done.

 

[1lilspark]

Did second seating both cruises did game shows or character meets between show and dinner normally it's about a 45-50 min lag time

For the show I think we went 20 mins or so before to wait maybe closer to 30 to line up for Frozen great seats

 

[oakleycat]

We love late dining because it sounds so relaxed. Kids head out to kids club halfway through and we have never been hurried to finish. We don't do many shows, but for us it's easier to get ready before the show and then head to dinner afterward.

 

[Bsmitty]

We had late dining on our first cruise & I really worried about it. We ended up loving it & dont think we'll ever do early dining. I remember being relieved there was no rush getting ready. There was plenty of time in between the early show & getting ready for late dinner. Then we were out late enough after late dinner that my daughter ordered a small room service snack every night.

We are also from the west coast...which makes a huge difference, imo, because to our body's... early dinner would theoretically be at 2:45/3:45 PST, depending on what port we were in. So late dining felt perfect to our internal clock, if you will. We loved late dining for these reasons.

 

[pdizzle27]

I agree that later is better for west coast people. Not just for the adults, but seemed to work better for the kids as well. The only downside is I felt the activities really wind down right after dinner.

 

[xlxo]

I'm another second feeding lover..... you get to sleep on debarkation day, you get extra time to pack, you also get the later debarkation breakfast and you can wait comfortably in the dining room for your debarkation.

 

[mmouse37]

East coaster here and I love late dining!!! Out of all our cruisers we only had early dining once. I like to get ready for the evening before the show and then enjoy some of the lounges or games shows before dinner.

MJ

 

[robandkelly13]

We love late dinner! I didn't think we would, but it was our only option a few cruises ago. We now love it and won't do early again. Our daughter who is 11 now, but was 8 the first time we had late dining, only wants to do late dining. I say give it try

 

[Notyourtypicaldisney]

Late Dining really is so much better. I roll my eyes when some get so worked up about having first dining. It is always a laugh watching the families try to pull the kids off the pool deck at 4:00 so they can rush and het ready for dinner. The deck clears out and becomes so much more relaxed. As for people that say that it gets them off their schedule. Wow... you are on vacation. What schedule

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Late Dining really is so much better.

For you. Not everyone.

As noted, there are some of us who cannot eat that late (even if staying up later). As well as those who like to eat early. Leaving the pool at 4:00 isn't that big a deal to others.

That's why there's no blanket "XX is better" answer. It's purely a personal choice.

 

[anricat]

1. There is plenty of time to change between the show and the dinner. I feel like there's more time, actually, somehow.

2. The early show is definitely less crowded. We've only done main dining once, but I was shocked how early we had to get there to get good seats all together. We basically had to be there when they opened the doors. With the first show, we could meander in 10-15 minutes ahead of the show and have our pick of seats. More people pick main dining so it's definitely more crowded in the theatre for the second show. (One of several reasons we prefer it.)

3. Dinner can be as leisurely or as quick as you want it. On our last cruise, we spent a long time with dinner. Our table was practically closing the place down every night. Honestly, it was a little long for me, but we were with my mom and her husband and they like to spend time at a meal. On previous cruises, we've eaten much more quickly. Make your desires known to your serving team.

We are in the minority, but I can tell you that having done both, we prefer second seating for a variety of reasons, a couple of them outlined above. We liked having what felt like an extra 30 minutes in our evening. We liked being able to snack a bit in the late afternoon and not ruin our dinners. We also liked the theatre being less crowded and feeling like we could get to the events between dinner and show while other people were still in the dining room.

 

[Main Street Matilda]

My family thinks I'm nuts for worrying about this sort of thing. We had such a great trip last time that I don't want to mess with what worked, but I think that late seating is the way to go for us. I just wanted to be sure there wasn't something I didn't consider. Thanks!

 

[apathetic]

The late seating is definitely more relaxed. Show crowds were about the same. The restaurants were maybe slightly less crowded. But it's not empty. The problem really is when you normally eat, especially with kids. On 2nd seating, you won't get food until sometime after 8pm. If you aren't used to that you end up snacking, which throws eating off a lot. For kids, they usually can't wait. Also, we didn't get done with dinner until almost 10pm. It was great timing for the nightly adult entertainment. But for some, 10pm is kind of late. I prefer main seating, seems to be more normal for our body schedules. But 2nd seating isn't bad.

 

[Pandafamily]

I am a first time cruiser and we will have second seating, any other tips to consider?

 

[DisneyConvert]

We "converted" to late dining several years ago, and we are very happy with it . . . especially when we've been lucky enough to be seated with folks with whom conversation is a joy (sometimes) and dessert / coffee become our evening's entertainment.

There is plenty of time to linger in the Atrium or Lounges before or even after the first main show. I love yacking with the Officers and my wife always needs one more picture. There is time to change between the show and dinner.
Afterwards, dinner can either be unrushed or it can be quickened, typically for our son who's on his way to the Club/Lab/Edge as soon as he gulps down his main course (plenty of desserts available on Deck 9 with his friends). The Oceaneer's Staff will actually pick up the younger children at the MDR's approx 9:30pm if you want them to. "Goodnight, have fun . . . see you in the room later," we will say.

Sometimes we go to the 2nd smaller show at Azure/Fathoms afterwards, sometimes we go to a movie. We don't stay up particularly late but we do love the 6~Midnight part of the cruise because it unfolds without much planning or worry.