No more table mates on DCL

[belle032]

1st DCL next year for DH & I. We don’t mind sharing a table but can you request a table with other adults only? Or even couples our age?

 

[southerngirl528]

1st DCL next year for DH & I. We don’t mind sharing a table but can you request a table with other adults only? Or even couples our age?

Pretty sure DCL will automatically try to do exactly that. But I'm pretty sure you can just call and ask them to note your dining requests. Happy planning!

 

[hubbard53]

Excellent point, Dug720! Because we have definitely had 3 entrees between the 2 of us at Palo, sometimes at the server's urging.

it was something off the menu. . . if not chicken parm, it was something italian b/c we love pasta but not as our main entree. . . my memory is hazy but it certainly happened and it was something from the menu, not a special request...

 

[southerngirl528]

it was something off the menu. . . if not chicken parm, it was something italian b/c we love pasta but not as our main entree. . . my memory is hazy but it certainly happened and it was something from the menu, not a special request...

Wow, that's weird, Hubbard53. .Sorry to hear that.

 

[hubbard53]

Wow, that's weird, Hubbard53. .Sorry to hear that.

yep. it was weird and not our usual experience. Mainly b/c the table near us got several entrees that the photographed and sampled. Then at the end of the night, the other table asked for their desserts to go and their waiter obliged. We asked for a single dessert to go and our waiter declined

I chalk it up to the waiter having a bad night - or being new and following guidlines - but we dont let it change our opinion - we can't wait to go back to palo in about 60 days!

 

[DIS_MIKE]

1st DCL next year for DH & I. We don’t mind sharing a table but can you request a table with other adults only? Or even couples our age?

They’ll probably seat you at a 4 top with a second couple or even two solo cruisers. As for adults in your age group, there’s no guarantee you’ll be seated with other cruisers your age but I’m sure DCL will try their best.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

There is no need to feel awkward eating in front of someone with a gluten allergy (or any food allergy). While we may miss glutened foods, it's not like we're going to risk slipping up and be tempted to try something.

IMHO far more awkward would be being seated with someone who is a recovering alcoholic - then it would really be awkward for me as I really enjoy having a glass of wine with dinner when I'm eating out and/or on vacation. One of my good friends is a recovering alcoholic, and while he says he doesn't mind if I get wine when we go out, I just feel awkward doing it and don't want the responsibility of being a temptation for him. If I was seated with someone who revealed they were but we got along otherwise, I'd probably just have a glass before or after dinner - but it wouldn't be as fun or relaxing for me.

edit: As for the "Oliver" comment... When my parents and I were on the Magic in Feb 2019 - my first cruise since discovering my wheat allergy and going gluten-free - my server kept bringing me stuff I didn't order! Up to and including a dessert...on a night I'd already decided I wanted to try both that were gluten-free. He had them do the sundae without the churro - which made it gluten-free. So this little piggy had three desserts that night.

That’s a great point and there’s no reason for me to feel awkward about it. I have a few friends who have gluten allergies and sometimes their dishes look better than mine. Haha 3 desserts...cruise ship gluttony at its finest, but we are all guilty of it.

 

[disny_luvr]

1st DCL next year for DH & I. We don’t mind sharing a table but can you request a table with other adults only? Or even couples our age?

On our first Disney cruise, DH and I sat with another couple our age (early 30’s) and a mom and son (the son was probably late 20’s and obviously the mom older). We had a great time! We laughed to the point we almost cried. I loved going to dinner each night and hearing about everyone’s day. On our other three cruises, we requested a table for just our family. I knew my boys would feel awkward sitting with strangers. Two of the three cruises we actually became friends with the people sitting at the table beside us. We still keep in touch with both families. On our last cruise, we didn’t say anything more to the family beside us then hi and smile. I got the feeling they wanted to be left alone.

The nice thing about the tables is that they are close enough if you want to talk to the people beside you, but since you are technically at your own table, you totally can get away with not talking to them if you don’t want to.

 

[Dug720]

That’s a great point and there’s no reason for me to feel awkward about it. I have a few friends who have gluten allergies and sometimes their dishes look better than mine. Haha 3 desserts...cruise ship gluttony at its finest, but we are all guilty of it.

I totally understand! I was on a RCCL cruise to Alaska with a group of runners, and one couple was vegan so their dishes were prepared specially by the chef each night. By night 2 we were all contemplating being vegan for the rest of the week their stuff looked so good.

 

[All about me]

Since I've only been on cruises wt seven plus people, this was not an issue I ran into before so I was a little concerned. Then I realized, given I have no trouble ignoring 'boisterous' family, during communal holiday dinners, I certainly shouldn't have any trouble ignoring 'boisterous' strangers during communal cruise dinners!

 

[jdb in AZ]

1st DCL next year for DH & I. We don’t mind sharing a table but can you request a table with other adults only? Or even couples our age?

DCL has surprised us by pairing us with other adults who even shared DH's occupation (how does DCL know these things?) and the group was somewhat entertaining. We did have an arrogant, uppity woman on a 14-day cruise, which was a long time to put up with her nonsense. The rest of the table was relieved she went to Palo two or three nights.

 

[southerngirl528]

We did have an arrogant, uppity woman on a 14-day cruise, which was a long time to put up with her nonsense.

Makes one wonder what was going on in her life to make her so. One reason I love larger tables. That way if there was a "problem child" (and I'm not really meaning a literal child! LOL), there is the rest of the table that can still have a great time!

 

[RmCcOy34]

How many people are seated at a table? We will have 4 adults and 2 children and would like to have a private table for our family. Just wondering if I need to make a request or not.

 

[MomOTwins]

How many people are seated at a table? We will have 4 adults and 2 children and would like to have a private table for our family. Just wondering if I need to make a request or not.

Our communal table sat 8 so it is possible they would add two more to yours. There may be even larger tables too. I would request a private table if you want one.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

How many people are seated at a table? We will have 4 adults and 2 children and would like to have a private table for our family. Just wondering if I need to make a request or not.

The standard tables are 4,6 or 8 tops. You would likely get your own 6 top although there is a slight chance you might get an 8 top with another couple. You can always request a table to yourselves if you are worried though. You can contact DCL, or have your TA do it if you used one, to note the request on your reservation.

 

[JWG]

I assume they can accommodate larger parties by putting tables together in the dining rooms as well? We will be a party of 11 on our upcoming March, 2019 cruise. We're linked reservations so they know we're together. I assume they'll put 2 6's or an 8 and a 4 together for us? In our many cruises, I honestly can't remember if they have a number of larger tables for larger groups.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

I assume they can accommodate larger parties by putting tables together in the dining rooms as well? We will be a party of 11 on our upcoming March, 2019 cruise. We're linked reservations so they know we're together. I assume they'll put 2 6's or an 8 and a 4 together for us? In our many cruises, I honestly can't remember if they have a number of larger tables for larger groups.

They do not have tables larger than 8 in the MDR as far as I know, they just combine the smaller ones to make larger ones. If I were to guess, they would do the 8 + 4 for your party.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I assume they can accommodate larger parties by putting tables together in the dining rooms as well? We will be a party of 11 on our upcoming March, 2019 cruise. We're linked reservations so they know we're together. I assume they'll put 2 6's or an 8 and a 4 together for us? In our many cruises, I honestly can't remember if they have a number of larger tables for larger groups.

When I’ve been in a group more than 8 we were split between 2 tables but next to each other.

 

[JWG]

When I’ve been in a group more than 8 we were split between 2 tables but next to each other.

Hmmm... we're 3 families so that would be awkward.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Hmmm... we're 3 families so that would be awkward.

We were 9 and they moved tables together to create a larger table. It was seamless to us. We saw them do the same for even larger groups. However, even two nearby tables wouldn't be much different. For one thing, even with one large table it isn't like the people on the two ends of it can talk to each other, you can only talk to the people near you. Whereas if the second table is next to you, you might actually be able to talk to more of them.

For a second thing, you can arrange yourself differently every night. We made it so that different people were next to each other different nights so that you could talk to everyone over time. That is nice for the pictures too (if you are going to purchase some) because we got lots of different pairs in our pictures.