New to DISboards... going on our 1st Disney Cruise!

[Kimartinez]

Ok... I've been on this site a week now, reading and going through posts along the way with similar questions I might have... My experience with cruises has always been Royal Caribbean, and one Carnival Cruise, which was NOT very good... So... I am really excited to finally get the chance to go on a Disney Cruise... (yay Me)
I am from Chicago, we are driving down to Florida, there is 3 of us. (Me, DH & DS(7) and my mother is flying into Miami, and my Brother, his wife and there +3 will also be joining us on this cruise. So far, we are not in agreement with the dining time. I'm 2nd seating, I've always had 2nd seating and my reason is because I don't like to feel rushed getting back on the boat and going to dinner after being out and about on an island... that's just gross. I like to come back, grab a quick snack/bit to eat like pizza or something small... take a shower, relax, etc... THEN go to dinner. My son stays up til 10/11ish.... not on school days, and he sleeps in which is AWESOME... I'm going to assume there are things open later for the kids, and he'll more than likely want to do that, which is fine with us. My mom was on board with us on the 2nd seating... but now is being swindled into doing the earlier times because my brother and his wife want the earlier times... They are worried about missing out on all the kid fun stuff to do like the shows, and or fireworks, etc... My understanding is that there is only 1 night of fireworks (Pirate Night), and that if you have the 1st dining seating you see the shows after dinner, and if you have the 2nd dining seating, you see the shows before dinner... This system to me works GREAT! Nobody misses anything!
Any families out there ever split the dining times? Like, if you had a party of 10 and only 4 of you wanted an earlier dining time, and the others kept their 2nd dining times? Is it that big of a deal to NOT eat together??? Because I'm ok with it.

 

[over50visits]

Cool...that's a new one on me! It sounds like splitting is an option (my guess is Disney wants to seat a single cabin together at the same time, but if you have 2 cabins, just don't "link" them. Call DCL and tell them what you want).

Although we would absolutely all eat together in our family, if we had different camps that were set on what they wanted, splitting doesn't sound so bad to me. Although dining is an experience, and many people form (albeit temporary) bonds with their servers, there are so many other things to do together during the day that you might be happier if everyone eats when they want, rather than half of your group feel like they've gotten the short end of the deal.

This is really a group dynamics question, something you and yours probably understand as no one else can. All of your observations (about fireworks, shows, and things for the kids to do at night) are right, so you will have the same great time at 2nd seating that you always have had on other cruises. For many people, 2nd sitting is much preferable for just the reasons you've stated here. And you get to have a late afternoon snack if you want without spoiling dinner!

No matter what seating, everyone gets to enjoy everything on the ship. I hate for everyone to miss the shared dining experience (it really is an experience), but it sure can be split up between the two groups. Again, back to your own group's attitudes and expectations.

 

[dreadpiraterose]

You are correct: there are always two shows each night. If you have first dining, you see the show after dinner. If you have 2nd dining, you see the show before. Fireworks are after the 2nd dinner/show. You will not be missing anything by picking one dining time over another. If that was their main objection, I don't see why they'd continue to protest the 2nd dining.

 

[Kimartinez]

Thank you over50visits... The only REAL issue I have with separating the dining is that we plan on celebrating my son's BIRTHDAY... and the rest of my family won't be there to celebrate with us at the dinner table if they aren't there... but I could always make reservations for one of the actual restaurants instead so that we can sit together for at least THAT part of the trip.

 

[Kimartinez]

I agree dreadpiraterose... My sister in law said her kids don't stay up that late... The kids are ages (4)(5)(7).... and my son is (7), so both the older ones are (7) which my son definitely stays up later than my nephew... but that's only because they get up at like 5 (yikes)... To me... my opinion is, it's a vacation, and the kids should be able to do what THEY want... we are on a Disny Cruise for them, ya know? So, I imagine that even if they went and got snacks/pizza or something to tide them over til 8:15 dining time... it would be ok, or if the kids ate ahead of time, and didn't want to eat dinner at 8:15p... then they could go spend the time in the Oceanear Lab while us adults ate dinner together... but again... I have no issues with putting my son in the Oceanear Lab if he didn't want to eat with us etc...

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Thank you over50visits... The only REAL issue I have with separating the dining is that we plan on celebrating my son's BIRTHDAY... and the rest of my family won't be there to celebrate with us at the dinner table if they aren't there... but I could always make reservations for one of the actual restaurants instead so that we can sit together for at least THAT part of the trip.

The only place you could all eat dinner together for your sins bday is Cananas. They do not have the buffet at night, it's table service and there aren't reservations, just show up. The other restaurants where you need a reservation are adults only.

You can also have lunch in an MDR one day and let your server know it's your sons bday, they'll bring him a dessert with a candle and sing happy birthday.

 

[over50visits]

You can also have lunch in an MDR one day and let your server know it's your sons bday, they'll bring him a dessert with a candle and sing happy birthday.

Agreed - great idea!

 

[Kimartinez]

The only place you could all eat dinner together for your sins bday is Cananas. They do not have the buffet at night, it's table service and there aren't reservations, just show up. The other restaurants where you need a reservation are adults only.

You can also have lunch in an MDR one day and let your server know it's your sons bday, they'll bring him a dessert with a candle and sing happy birthday.

AWESOME! Thanks so much for the info! Hopefully... we can at least celebrate that together

 

[Quellman]

If you need another counter argument try out this one..... If you have first seating your breakfast begins at 0630 on disebmarkation morning. The later seating is usually 8am. I value not having to rush to get off the boat!

 

[Flossbolna]

You can also have lunch in an MDR one day and let your server know it's your sons bday, they'll bring him a dessert with a candle and sing happy birthday.

I like this idea - it could also be a birthday breakfast in the MDR!

 

[Kimartinez]

Awesome information!!! Thanks for the tips!

 

[Pens Fan]

You mentioned that the main reason that you prefer second seating is that you do not want to be rushed getting to dinner. I actually completely agree with this and we always pick second seating and love it. However, I will mention that as this is your first time on a Disney cruise, if you want to take in the shows you aren't going to gain much time having second seating. The first show begins shortly after the first dinner seating begins (maybe 30 minutes or so?). So you really won't have a lot of clean up, relax, downtime. For us it works, because we usually only go to maybe one or two shows anyway and absolutely love just hanging out on the balcony with a glass of wine relaxing during that time.

Just something to think about.

 

[Kimartinez]

It looks like our boat leaves the islands/ports at 5:45p, which means... we probably need to be back onboard between 4:00-5ish.... if the shows start after the 1st dinning time 5:45/6ish... I would plan accordingly and probably get back onboard a little earlier to adapt, which isn't so bad for me considering our stops are Key West (been there already, and know what excursion we plan on doing), Nassau (also been there), and Castaway Cay, which seems to be just a very relaxed sit at the beach day... The only day I might miss the opportunity to see a show would be the day we go to Nassau... I can adjust to that, also... I'm not afraid to miss a show... my brother and sister in law are. I think it'll be ok for everyone's needs.