Preferred Dining time w/ teens

[daisylee]

Hi All! We've requested the later dining time at the moment, but since this is our first ever cruise- I'm looking for more seasoned cruise-goers to weigh in!

*Which dining time do you prefer with teens?
*How often did you make the earlier show time if you have the later dining time?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ktate82]

Hi All! We've requested the later dining time at the moment, but since this is our first ever cruise- I'm looking for more seasoned cruise-goers to weigh in!

*Which dining time do you prefer with teens?
*How often did you make the earlier show time if you have the later dining time?

Thanks in advance!

We are platinum and have always requested late dining. Our kids are now 14 and 13 (started cruising when they were 9 and 8). We go to every show that we want to go too. DD loves the shows and acts while DS wants to go to the clubs. If we have seen the shows before, and we don't enjoy them, we go to the pool for some amazing quiet time.

 

[daisylee]

We are platinum and have always requested late dining. Our kids are now 14 and 13 (started cruising when they were 9 and 8). We go to every show that we want to go too. DD loves the shows and acts while DS wants to go to the clubs. If we have seen the shows before, and we don't enjoy them, we go to the pool for some amazing quiet time.

Awesome! We usually eat late, and wanted more time off the ship if possible- so I'm glad to hear that this works out for you!

 

[CamColt]

We prefer late, no matter the age of our kids. They have been on 19 Disney cruises since ages 8 months and 3 1/2 years, (now 19 and 22) and it's always been late for us. Ironically we eat fairly early at home, but on a cruise we aren't on our regular schedule.

 

[Travel60]

We've always done late, first cruise kids were 10 and 13, they are both adults now. Late dining gives you more time in ports and just more time in general getting ready for dinner. We go to most of the shows, plenty of time. My kids loved the teen club and would head there after dinner while DH and I went to the adult venues.

 

[MomOTwins]

Awesome! We usually eat late, and wanted more time off the ship if possible- so I'm glad to hear that this works out for you!

You should definitely look at the detailed itinerary for your cruise if your goal is to stay on shore later. Typically, unless you are overnighting at a port (e.g., Bahamas cruises on the Magic), the "all aboard" time is gonna be before early dining.

 

[allashore]

We always have late seating, been cruising DCL since they were 1, 5 & 7, now 15-21.
We make it to the shows that we want to see, never feel rushed, sometimes we will see the show and then change for dinner.
Other areas on the ship, such as pools are quieter. They always enjoyed the kids clubs too.

 

[daisylee]

Awesome!! Thanks, all!! We'll be keeping the later dining time...

One more question, since the later dining time seems to be so popular among y'all- is it the most crowded dinner time?

 

[Dug720]

Awesome!! Thanks, all!! We'll be keeping the later dining time...

One more question, since the later dining time seems to be so popular among y'all- is it the most crowded dinner time?

If the ship is full (most are) it will be half and half. There is a fixed amount of people who can be assigned to each seating. And contrary to this thread, most people on here want early.

 

[Lacoccinelle]

We have done both and like both for different reasons. We liked late because we got a little down time and got wings and salad around 4pm with room service and relaxed before the show. I also felt that the first show was nicer as there were less people and less little kids (no offense to little kids). The pools thin out too and you can do the slides with little wait around 3:30/4.

The only reason that early was nicer for us was eating a big meal so late was not ideal. My mom hates late dining for this reason, but we have booked so late for two cruises that it wasn’t an option.

 

[MomOTwins]

Early is generally the more popular choice and pretty much always has a waitlist far in advance of sailing. But that is often driven by kids who can’t stay awake for late dining, and people who normally eat early and want to keep to their normal schedule. But since it sounds like you light to eat late and have older kids, it sounds like late is a good fit for you

 

[anjuan]

Just to give another opinion, we have been on 6 cruises and did our first cruise with late dining this past spring. My DD (14) definitely prefers early dining. I think that the main reasons were that most of the friends she made on the ship had early dining so she was on the same schedule as them. Also, my rule was that we always have dinner together so she enjoyed having the dinner and then could hang out with her friends for the rest of the evening.

 

[DCLDVC1]

Also, my rule was that we always have dinner together so she enjoyed having the dinner and then could hang out with her friends for the rest of the evening.

That's one of the reasons we prefer main dining. Once we're done eating, the kids can do what they want for the rest of the evening.

 

[AnnaS]

We prefer early. 8PM is too late for us.

 

[ktate82]

Awesome!! Thanks, all!! We'll be keeping the later dining time...

One more question, since the later dining time seems to be so popular among y'all- is it the most crowded dinner time?

Most people prefer early dining due to having younger kids and/or wanting to stay on their regular schedule at home. Most that have done both say that later dining has fewer children, is more relaxed, and calmer.

 

[ahain]

We always choose early (main) seating, mainly because it is closest to our "normal" dinner time

 

[iivye]

We have always done late dining but our last cruise my daughter complained that the teen activities she wanted to participate in were held during late dining so she ended up leaving dinner early or skipping dinner. Our next cruise I will probably pick the early one so we can all eat together.

 

[daisylee]

We have always done late dining but our last cruise my daughter complained that the teen activities she wanted to participate in were held during late dining so she ended up leaving dinner early or skipping dinner. Our next cruise I will probably pick the early one so we can all eat together.

OH! That's something to consider. I doubt there will be many teens on our sailing, mostly because we're going in Sept, and most kids will be back at school. We're homeschoolers, so more flexible with our travel times. But, would be a good thing to find out!