Need Early Dinner Seating-HELP?

[Newmexikid]

My DS (5) and DD (2) are going to be snoring at the dinner table with our late seating assignment. I have asked our TA to check to change it and she said that DCL told her not to keep calling, but they will fax her with the info. if it changes. Otherwise, I have called twice and they told me that we are wait listed and that I shouldn't call BUT my travel agent can. I'm desparate and very worried about this. I have been advised from this board to request it when we check in. Is this wishful thinking that DCL will just change it when we board? Is there anything else I can do? Would there be any room left at the early seating if this ship is full? I don't think many people will be changing their ressies to late seating at the last minute to make room for us. Please help with any special suggestions...

The Four of Us From New Mexico Sailing on 4/27!!

 

[kplatt]

We were in the same boat (tee hee) on our Magic cruise of 3/23. You will have an opportunity to change your seating once you're aboard the ship. Look under "Changes in Dining Assignments" on the first page of your Navigator. We were instructed to go to Sessions, Deck 3, Forward between 2 and 3:30 pm. There were two crew members (one of them Michael, our head server) present with laptops. We weren't given a new table # immediately, but were told to show up at 6:00 pm at the assigned dining room. In the meanwhile, Michael would see what he could do. He came through, and we got the time we preferred. Our experience is that the crew will work to make it right for you.

Karen
Wonder 11/01
Magic 3/02
Wonder 11/02

 

[Newmexikid]

Wow!!! I hope that they will accomodate us also! Wonderful news, now I am little more hopeful!

Regards,
Another Karen

 

[Gabbys_mom]

We just got back from our 4 nite Wonder cruise. We also had the 2nd seating, but were concerned because of DD (4). So as soon as I got on board (it was about 1:15pm), I went to the designated area (even before the "official" time) and we were 1st on the waiting list to change to main seating. Our ship was also full, and 1st seating was full. But within a few hours, we got the call that our seating was changed. Good luck!

 

[TnRobin]

I would do what everyone has suggested.

If you are unable to change seatings, keep one thing in mind. You kid's internal clock will not reset to the new time zones. Although it will be 8:00 on the ship, it will be 6:00 in New Mexico time.

 

[castawayfan]

We just had the same problem on our April 6 cruise. We tried and tried to change prior to getting on the ship. My advice - go early to the place for changing dinner times. They listed the time as 2 PM, but my husband got there at 1:25 and they were already setting up, he was first in line and made the change. On our first cruise, we went right at 2 and were about 10th in line and could not change. Good luck.

 

[bray]

We too had the same problem last summer on the 4 day. I was concerned about my daughter age 5. However, she is usually use to being up late at night.

We were unaware of going to the meeting to change times...No one at Disney Reservations ever suggested that...They just said we were on a waiting list.

Being insistent that this was a family vacation, we would usually go to the show (which was when the kids club ate dinner). DD would then go with us to dinner and as soon as she finished, I would take her to the club. Other days, she would eat at Plutos dog house, we would go to the show, and then I would take her to the club until it was time for dessert. At that time, I would go get her and she would return for her special Mickey ice cream bar.

I'm sure if we would have had other kids near her age at our table, she would have been more interested in being with us for dinner. However, there was a 12 year old and a nearly nonverbal 2 year old. Their parents were not talkative at all. Needless to say, dinner was LONG without good conversation with others.

Hope things work out for you. This time around we have early dinner on the 7 day eastern (6/1) and are travelling with another family.

Good luck.

 

[S johnson]

We had no trouble changing from early to late seating on the phone to Disney CruiseLines about two weeks prior to sailing. But maybe that was because we wanted late. We enjoyed late so much more. We had a 5, 7,9, 13, and 18 year old. The kids never fell asleep at the shows which was a high priority to them. dinner was never exciting for the littler ones because they said it was too long. After they had their appetizers they were ready to go. Sometimes they ate earlier and sometimes with us for awhile and then to kids club. The hour, being we are Californians, seemed early to them so we always stayed up late. We were on vacation anyway. Everything runs a little different on Vacation. Also we ate so much all the time we needed more time between meals.

 

[disneylover4ever]

Hope this is of some comfort to you. We just returned from our second cruise a few weeks ago and had 1st (main) seating dining. We have a 4 year old and thought we would really need this. We changed it the 1st night to the 2nd seating. She really didn't want to eat with us anyway, so we decided it would be just as easy to feed her early and let her join the club during dinner and we eat by ourselves and enjoy the time. On the other hand, we did have 1st seating and changed to 2nd so there actually is hope in getting the choice you desire. Be sure to ask even after the 1st night and see if they have any changes, as we had absolutely no problem switching to 2nd. We have the 7 night booked in June and have 2nd and also just booked in 4/93 and requested 2nd seating. The 1st seating seems just too rushed, you aren't even out of Port Canavaral and it's time for dinner!!!! Just relax either way and make the best of your time and you will really enjoy it either way, our children would rather take in the shows than eat dinner with us and that is OK with us, as we eat dinner together every night of the week. This is their vacation too!!!!!!!

 

[MICHELLENDEAN]

We also have a 2 year old and have the late seating on the same cruise 4/27! The only thing I thought would be good about the late seating was the kids will be awake for the earlier show. I figured I would take her to eat around 5ish...then see the show, then play dinner by ear..unless we end up packing it up and eating in our room! I hope she'll hold out.
But I'm kinda going with NO expectations..like believing she won't stay alone at Flounders..but maybe we'll get lucky and with all the other kids around they'll be entertained??? Good luck! and see ya!