New - Changes to Main & Late Dining Times

[keishashadow]

I called DCL today to request that my dining time be indicated as last seating for Main dining rotation on 10/23 cruise

CM indicated that as of today they r trying a new method

Main seating: 5:45 pm

Late seating: 8:15 pm

Although he said it could change by the time we sail

 

[LakeAriel]

I would call back, they couldn't possibly move all those people out in time, could they? We ate at 8:15 and it was filled to capacity.

OR is for a 2 seating per rotation situation?

 

[keishashadow]

we had a set time when we cruised carnival in Dec.

worked out well

* u had some folks lined up a half hour early to get in while we strolled the ship

* we just would get a drink in the lounge & strolled in once the line abated

* others were 1/2 hour late every night

yet, after the 1st night the servers seemed to have it under control

 

[LakeAriel]

I just read another thread about this and they must do that on the Magic? We were just on the Wonder and there were just the two seatings...

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I called DCL today to request that my dining time be indicated as last seating for Main dining rotation on 10/23 cruise

CM indicated that as of today they r trying a new method

Main seating: 5:45 pm

Late seating: 6:15 pm

Although he said it could change by the time we sail

I'm confused too. Are you sure that those times aren't just for the early seating and that the late seaing might be 8:00 and 8:30 or similar?

 

[SnowWhite2]

I'm thinking that everyone on main seating goes at 5:45 and late seating is 8:15 (not 6:15). This is the middle time for each dinner seating.

 

[keishashadow]

nope, we're on the Wonder

anybody else check their upcoming ressie yet?

 

[keishashadow]

I'm thinking that everyone on main seating goes at 5:45 and late seating is 8:15 (not 6:15). This is the middle time for each dinner seating.

yep, that's what i meant to type (darn fat fingers), sorry..fixed it

 

[keishashadow]

I just read another thread about this and they must do that on the Magic? We were just on the Wonder and there were just the two seatings...

now that i correctly stated the late seating @ 8:15 pm (not 6:15-doh)...

how did having just 2 seating times work out for u?

 

[rhondamccollough@hot]

ROFL...we were all confused! We had the 8:15 and loved it! Believe me, most people are cleared out trying to get to their shows we didn't have any trouble except the lines were around 5 minutes OR wait till 8:30 and walk right in (since there is no later seating we weren't worried about running the servers late for the next seating)!

 

[keishashadow]

ROFL...we were all confused! We had the 8:15 and loved it! Believe me, most people are cleared out trying to get to their shows we didn't have any trouble except the lines were around 5 minutes OR wait till 8:30 and walk right in (since there is no later seating we weren't worried about running the servers late for the next seating)!

confusion is my secret talent

im thinking it's a good thing for those of us who booked the early dining, yet r having 2nd thoughts as to running a bit late due to excursions...don't think arriving 5 or 10 min late will be a big deal (will make sure to make it up to our servers )

 

[Empress Room]

If this is true, DCL has done this in the past. In fact, back in the day, DCL had just two seatings, early (6:00) and late (8:30) if memory serves me correctly. It wasn't until somewhat recently that early seating actually was 3 different seatings and late seating was 3 different seatings, all fifteen minutes apart. During a kitchen tour, I was told that this "staggered" system was enacted to give the kitchen more of a break - it didn't need to address each of the three dining rooms' exact needs at exactly the same time.

Perhaps they have decided that it is too confusing, or that people line up early and expect to be seated no matter what.

 

[LakeAriel]

I have only done two Disney Cruise and each time chose later seating..There is always an abundance of food to nosh on if the kids/adults get hungry prior.. I don't like having to rush back to wash up and get ready for the earlier seating..The second day at CC the weather was so beautiful, I think we were the last back on the boat..
I saw a lot of families rushing their kids off the beach for dinner and I smiled and stetched out in the glorious sun!!

 

[DisneyMommy1022]

If your requested early seating you will eat at 5:45PM. If you asked for late seating you will eat at 8:15PM. I am cruising on the magic in may of 09 and had requested early hoping for the latest seating of the 3 time slots if that makes sense. This has me thinking I may want late seating!

 

[dismom73]

confusion is my secret talent

im thinking it's a good thing for those of us who booked the early dining, yet r having 2nd thoughts as to running a bit late due to excursions...don't think arriving 5 or 10 min late will be a big deal (will make sure to make it up to our servers )

The only thing that is frustrating is that those of us that arrive on time have to wait around for the people that come in late because the servers wait for all of their assigned guests to arrive before making a trip to the kitchen. Five minutes isn't a big deal, but 10 to 15 (plus the time it takes those guests to place their order) can be a long wait, especially when there are children involved.

 

[LakeAriel]

The only thing that is frustrating is that those of us that arrive on time have to wait around for the people that come in late because the servers wait for all of their assigned guests to arrive before making a trip to the kitchen. Five minutes isn't a big deal, but 10 to 15 (plus the time it takes those guests to place their order) can be a long wait, especially when there are children involved.

You are right. Fortunately this trip we had a party of six and the table to ourselves..It was night and day!

 

[MagicMe]

So far I've cruised the Wonder twice. In 2000 there were only two seatings - early and late. In 2006, we had staggered early (3 slots) and staggered late (3 slots).

Looks like they may be going back to the original two time slots.

 

[rhondamccollough@hot]

The only thing that is frustrating is that those of us that arrive on time have to wait around for the people that come in late because the servers wait for all of their assigned guests to arrive before making a trip to the kitchen. Five minutes isn't a big deal, but 10 to 15 (plus the time it takes those guests to place their order) can be a long wait, especially when there are children involved.

I have to say we did not have this experience. We had a table for 7 and there were 5 in our family...we did not have to wait on the other 2 guests! Our first night we sat down were introduced, gotten drinks and the menus with no hesitation over our missing 2 tablemates, they never did show up that night. THe next night 1, the mom, showed up about 30 minutes late and they treated her just like they had us except we were already eating! The next night both came about 10 minutes late and we had already ordered and the last night neither came!LOL

 

[keishashadow]

If this is true, DCL has done this in the past. In fact, back in the day, DCL had just two seatings, early (6:00) and late (8:30) if memory serves me correctly. It wasn't until somewhat recently that early seating actually was 3 different seatings and late seating was 3 different seatings, all fifteen minutes apart. During a kitchen tour, I was told that this "staggered" system was enacted to give the kitchen more of a break - it didn't need to address each of the three dining rooms' exact needs at exactly the same time.

Perhaps they have decided that it is too confusing, or that people line up early and expect to be seated no matter what.

it worked well for us last time we cruised too, of course we basically had our own table since the tablemates only showed up to get their food to go after the 1st night, just as well the teenage daughter kept getting up & walking around & whining the whole time how everything 'sucked' & she was bored-poor baby lol glad to see them go

 

[tink too]

This sounds great! When we cruised in May we were allocated the late seating as that was all that was available. I didn't fancy finishing dinner at 10pm, so we changed to early seating and ended up with the earliest of the 3 time slots (5.30pm). Unfortunately, this did mean a lot of rushing from bingo to get ready for dinner!