Opinions on dinner seating with others

[jrabbit]

We prefer to sit with other families / people at dinner. We tend to do things onboard / on shore as a family, so we've been with each other all day already. Meeting other people, and hearing about the different things that they have done is kind of like twice the fun for the same price.

A few of our cruises we were "stuck" with just us. A couple of times there was a language barrier to overcome --- and it was successfully. Some families are now friends even though we live on opposite sides of the country.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Disney seems to do a pretty good job of matching up people/ families. So far we have never had a problem with the folks we have dined with.

AKK

 

[AquaDame]

Hi all,
This question is in regards to being seated with other people at dinner. From what I understand, you sit with other families? Is this correct? If so, I have no problem with it, but my husband kind of wants to just focus on his family while we are dining. What is everyone's opinion? If you are seated with other people, is it a big deal? Do you feel that it takes away from the dining experience with your family? My husband wants me to try to make it so we have our own private table, but I'm not so sure.
Thanks in advance!

I am an introvert and my husband lacks a filter sometimes so it is a big deal for me... he doesn't like having to make polite conversation no matter what comes up (our lack of children, politics and gun ownership were amazingly considered OK conversations by our table mates last time). I tend to get exhausted from it since dinner takes so long regardless. We would much rather be on our own.

 

[Saimaeve]

We were sat with a lovely family last time. However, there was a major language barrier. They only spoke Portuguese and my very limited Portuguese we couldn't really talk at all. I got some basics (our daughters were just weeks apart in age, they lived in Portugal, this was their first DCL sailing) Our head server said we could request to move as he could tell there wasn't going to be much communication outside of me butchering the Portuguese language and charades.

So we were moved the next night. We were sat with another family officially but we never saw them the entire week. I saw a brief look of them on Disembarkation morning. But they ate Palo/Remy/Cabanas every night.

 

[sambycat]

we like it and accept it as part of cruising. we've traveled in groups of 4 or more and had our own table without asking for it? i figure there are other things i might want to request, this isn't a priority for us at all. we've had great luck with seating and it's been a fun part of the cruise we look forward too. we go with the flow while cruising!

 

[Skywalker]

I am an introvert and dread being seated with others...having said that the few times we have been seated with others I have always wound up really enjoying them. We've met some great people, and even keep in touch with one family. My natural inclination is still to always prefer just us sitting together (I can relax more, and don't have to feel like I'm "on".) But at least I know if I am forced to sit with others, chances are they will be pretty cool and interesting.

 

[krisinparis]

We've done everything! 2 cruises with a big group of 8-10 so our own table. Another cruise with 2 a 2 c and our tablemates had kids about the same age. We were on a short Med. cruise and almost everyone on board spoke Spanish, so it was actually great to have another English speaking family to eat with! This summer with 2 a 2 c we again had our own table, but as others have noted, the tables were so close that by the second night we might as well have been sitting with the table next to us. They had a son close to our kid's age and we ended up being on a couple of shore excursions with them, so we visited with them quite a bit. We have a 3 night coming up next month, I can't wait to see who (if anyone) we sit with!

 

[Hundredacre]

We have always requested a table with just our family. I really like the idea of meeting other people but my husband is not social at all and one of our children is very difficult and demands most of our attention. I guess thw only downside is if you really cannot stand the other people at your table it is a very large part of your vacation.

 

[Bishoparc]

Disney seems to do a pretty good job of matching up people

This!

 

[KKKKCS]

Hi all,
This question is in regards to being seated with other people at dinner. From what I understand, you sit with other families? Is this correct? If so, I have no problem with it, but my husband kind of wants to just focus on his family while we are dining. What is everyone's opinion? If you are seated with other people, is it a big deal? Do you feel that it takes away from the dining experience with your family? My husband wants me to try to make it so we have our own private table, but I'm not so sure.
Thanks in advance!

We have been seated with other people on numerous occasions and have had great experiences every time................until the last one. It wasn't bad, just a bit awkward. Our table was four groups of two. My wife and me, two hispanic couples, one with limited english, and one which spoke no english at all and were not very happy because the rest of their group, including their kids, were seated at a different table, and two German guys who were computer nerds and a bit socially awkward anyway. My wife and I made it fun for us, breaking the ice by asking questions of each couple until everyone started relaxing. By the second night the no english couple had been reseated with their group, the limited english couple skipped dinner the rest of the cruise, and we actually had a pretty good time socializing with the Germans for the rest of the cruise. Could have been lemons, made lemonade instead.

 

[fsugirl333]

We are not even close to social, but have never really had an issue with tablemates. We always get seated with a family with a child around our daughter's age and so far it has always been a boy so we joke that DCL is trying to get our daughter a vacation boyfriend. We have always had good experiences with our tablemates. It's our least favorite part of hte cruise, but in all honesty it's not that bad

 

[ludari]

I have had one bad experience with table mates during my second Disney Cruise. Since then I have always requested my own table when I first board the ship and received it. Since that bad experiences I have completed 8 Disney Cruises and I have never been told no when I requested my own table.

 

[SeaNana]

When traveling with family, we have always had our own table, but when it is just the two of use, we are usually with other couples that we have so enjoyed. All but two couples have maintained correspondence. Only once has it just been the two of us and we found ourselves a bit bored! You can request your own table ahead of time.

 

[lanejudy]

I am traveling as a party of 3- one adult and 2 kids. So odds are we will be seated with others?

Most likely, yes, you'll be seated with another single parent with children of similar age to yours. You may request a private table, but it is only a request.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I am traveling as a party of 3- one adult and 2 kids. So odds are we will be seated with others?

Same here. Party of 3. One Adult, 2 kids. I called DCL a few days ago and made a request to sit by ourselves. My kids and I are a little more on the shy side until we get to know someone so we didn't want it to be akward. The CM wasn't surprised at my request. They get them all the time. Im not sure if it matters that we are a party of 3 because I think most tables are for even numbered of people so hopefully my request will be granted. She said she will put it in but its not guaranteed of course.

 

[Micki NJ]

I was a little apprehensive about sharing a table. I am pretty outgoing, but worried we would get seated with others where the conversation would require effort. Turns out that not only were our table mates from the family who ran our FE, but they also had an 8 year old daughter like ours. Our kids became fast friends and the parents enjoyed some fun nightclub time while the kids were at the club. They even offered to bring our daughter with them to the MDR while we headed to Palo one night. We still keep in touch and hope to plan future cruises together. I am looking forward to our next cruise and hopefully making some new friends.