Main or Late dining?

[tweis]

Gotcha. I honesty haven't paid that much attention since the entire family isn't really into pirates. We're excited for the fireworks that night, but that's about it.

We do not care for the pirate menu at all and will dine in Palo next time. Needless to say, I was still hungry after dinner since I didn't really eat much so I was very happy with the buffet. It wasn't anything fancy but they did have turkey legs, tacos, baked potatoes, fruit, and lots of dessert choices.

We took our children to the early pirate show and then came back for the later one so that we could see the fireworks. We left directly after the fireworks show and went to the buffet.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I heard that buffet is where the rest of my family got their crepes. Sounds fancy enough to me...

 

[Happy100]

We have done late dining on our past 4 cruises and even though we eat around 6 every night at home late dining fit fine.

Our son was 4, 5,6 and 7 on the cruises and the time was fine.

The worst thing about late is that you will have some time between the show and dinner about an hour. Most of the time this was fine because we would get photos with characters, play midship(on new ship), or take a walk but sometimes it was just waiting to have dinner.

Anyway for our fifth cruise we chose early seating so we will see if ok. If the excursions we book cut dinner to close I will change to late dining.

 

[Fantasiesabound]

I have done both and I am not sure which is better... tells you something right there.

But I will throw in to the argument a waist line issue in favor of early dining:
We tended to eat a TON more on the cruise we had late dining on. You essentially eat 4 big meals per day because you do get something prior to the shows and then you eat that gigantic meal later in the evening.

And like the poster said previously, my kids wanted to hightail it out of each meal at the later seating, so that is either good or bad as you do spend some of the meal sans kids (the clubs pick up the kids soon after the later meals start), but I like to eat dinners together because you spend a significant amount of the rest of the day apart.

 

[ALMinVA]

I love all the debates. I have switched late to main for the time being because I know it will be easier to switch back to late dining should we opt to later on.
I have been looking at the navigators and I think dd12 will want to join in on activities at 6pm but i am ok with her eating before that on those occasions.
It's too bad we can't choose half the cruise late and half the cruise main

 

[tweis]

I heard that buffet is where the rest of my family got their crepes. Sounds fancy enough to me...

Hmmm.....don't recall a crepe station at the pirate buffet. Thought you guys "missed" the buffet?

There could have been crepes but I don't recall seeing them. I was more interested in the potato.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Twinkie and I did! Honey, Dad & Mom and other sis didn't! All they could talk about were crepes. Seems like someone said something about a chocolate buffet or something. Maybe not the same as the Pirate buffet?

My corset would not have permitted me to hit the buffet that night. I wish we still wore corsets! Haha. No overeating then...

 

[tweis]

Twinkie and I did! Honey, Dad & Mom and other sis didn't! All they could talk about were crepes. Seems like someone said something about a chocolate buffet or something. Maybe not the same as the Pirate buffet?

My corset would not have permitted me to hit the buffet that night. I wish we still wore corsets! Haha. No overeating then...

A CHOCOLATE BUFFET? I have not heard of this but I will look everywhere for it in 22 days.

There very well could have been crepes at the buffet but I had a date with a loaded baked potato. Definitely could have used a corset.

Off topic but....really enjoyed your mermaid pics

 

[baleeve]

I chose late seating because in the summer we eat around 7:30 plus my boys aren't big eaters. To them food is fuel, not artistry. So, I think if they want to "grab a bite" and run along to the club that means Mom finally will eat a meal while its warm! Which rarely happens at home.

I can already here the groans if i say to them "get ready for dinner" at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. To me, that's early. I'd rather a light snack around 5 and CHOW DOWN, I mean - eat dinner at 8:15.

I'm traveling with 4 kids ages 8, 9, 10, and 11 that I know will not be in bed before midnight so I'm not worried about them eating late.

Do what's best for you, because kids don't cruise for the food. Adults do.

Its VACATION! Party till we drop! Disney style!!

 

[tajz90]

I heard that buffet is where the rest of my family got their crepes. Sounds fancy enough to me...

Best part of the pirate buffet IMO

 

[tweis]

Best part of the pirate buffet IMO

I totally missed these Do you know anything about a chocolate buffet?

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Best part of the pirate buffet IMO

So maybe they are the same then?

That must have been QUITE the potato!

See, we all missed stuff. Oh well. Just have to go back, that's all.

And tankya! I just found some more mermaid pics I may need to scan in. Of course, no one is going to want to see a fat mermaid hahaha so I better start cutting back now so that I can sample the goods on my next one!


Can I get a mermaid emoticon please?

 

[acamechis]

For my family we do earlier dinning. I di late dining once when with friends and hated it. Eating all that food so late always made us so tired! When we eat earlier we don't feel tired and there are also no lines for the pools during late dining ether!

 

[Grooovertoo]

We have done the second dinning and coming from the west that worked out for us, but we are trying the early dinning in December because we just felt we were missing too much in the evening.

DD loved being able to eat and run during the second dinner though, when the CM's come around to gather them for the club.

Can I get a mermaid emoticon please?

How about this?

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Stoopid work blocked it so I checked it out with my phone. It's..cute...and blue with a big head...

<--from me

 

[tweis]

So maybe they are the same then?

That must have been QUITE the potato!

See, we all missed stuff. Oh well. Just have to go back, that's all.

And tankya! I just found some more mermaid pics I may need to scan in. Of course, no one is going to want to see a fat mermaid hahaha so I better start cutting back now so that I can sample the goods on my next one!


Can I get a mermaid emoticon please?

I'm guessing they are one and the same. I have no idea how I missed the crepes though. I will be certain to look for them when DH and I are on the Dream later this month.

The potato was great.

 

[tvguy]

I disagree. My issues with digestion are only improved by being active and moving around after dinner, not sitting down in a theater after.

Best not to generalize with regard to digestion since is it VERY VERY subjective...

Not sure what you are disagreeing with. Yes, everyone is different, that was my point.

 

[tvguy]

Also, who goes to bed at 10:30???? Seriously???

Well, other than New Years eve, almost everyone but us was in bed by 10 pm on our Disney cruise. However, last year, that was nearly the case on our HAL cruise too.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Well, other than New Years eve, almost everyone but us was in bed by 10 pm on our Disney cruise. However, last year, that was nearly the case on our HAL cruise too.

Lame!

 

[Zeppelin]

Hmmm.....don't recall a crepe station at the pirate buffet. Thought you guys "missed" the buffet?

There could have been crepes but I don't recall seeing them. I was more interested in the potato.

crepe station is where they make the omlets in Cabanas....they had ice cream, bananas, different syrup and other stuff to fill the crepes with...