Press Release on new dining times

[SueEllen]

The times being changed will be tough with little ones. My DS will be 13 months old at the time of our sailing. 5:30 is a bit too early, as he normally eats dinner at 6:30; and 7:45 is a bit too late. The early time would be okay, if the shows didn't end up being so late for him. He is usually in bed by 7:30-8:00. Don't know if it would be easier to keep him up for dinner, or for the show! YIKES!

Sue Ellen

 

[scottie]

MarkRG-

I only asked DCL about our particular sailing date, though I am sure it has been changed for more then just the 9/22 sailing we are on.

 

[jlawall]

I just got back and I like the 7:45pm late time. The shows for us were at 6pm. The early seating shows were at 8pm. Many nights we were still at dinner at 9:15pm. A few days we had a snack at around 5pm to carry us over. However, it was usually very relaxing to not have to rush to dinner. Also, there were times when we didn't get to dinner until 8pm and it didn't seem to matter. After dinner, the kids participated in the teen programs and we went right to the adult programs. It really worked well for an older family.

 

[kendall]

With the old dining times, it appeared that the programing options for the kids in the clubs really encouraged families to have an early seating. With the newer times (if they ever indeed become permanent), would the programing change to better serve the kids during both dining times? Has anyone noticed how/if the activities for kids have been adjusted since the kids may likely be split between both dining times?

 

[Renee']

As of now, she states that the trial dining (5:30/7:45) are through the September 28th cruise on the Magic and through the October 3rd cruise on the Wonder.

Hmmmm....I just called DCL regarding our dining times on the 9/28 Magic and they are showing us at the regular 6 - 8:30pm times.

 

[lpursell]

I've never cruised Disney before. If we would like to stay at the sail away party and have dinner at the buffet the first evening is that ok? We have early seating on 1/18/03 Western.

 

[disneyholic family]

the sail away party is NOT worth missing dinner for (i mean the rotation dinner)....
go to the sail away party dressed for dinner (the first night is casual anyway) and go straight from the party to dinner...
a half hour for the party is more than enough....it's really not that big a deal...
the ship sails from port at 5 ...you get to wave goodbye...that's fun...
after that it's no big deal...
don't skip dinner in the rotation restaurant (the various restaurants have a kind of little show surprise that you don't want to miss)...

 

[lpursell]

Disneyholic, I just thought we would like to see the ship leave and if it leaves at 5 and dinner for us is scheduled for 5 that would conflict.

 

[Mjasp]

It's 5:30 not 5:00. If that helps you.

 

[lpursell]

Mjasp, Thanks, yes I see now that dinner is at 5:30, not 5. 30 minutes will help with everything I need to do. I haven't worn a watch since I retired but it looks like I'll have to on the cruise!

 

[disneyholic family]

Linda,
first of all, the ship sails out of ports besides port canaveral...so they'll be more opportuniies then just the first day...
second, the rotation restaurants are what set disney cruises apart...the restaurants are really fun....especially animators palate, but also the others are nice and you shouldn't miss eating in them...at least the first time they appear in your rotation......

 

[MarkRG]

We've had the early seating rotation all 3 cruises, one of which was even before the relaxed dress code, so it was formal, and honestly, I don't think we'll go back to early seating, even if it is at 6. It's not just the sailaway party, it's the whole experience of being up on Deck 10, watching us leave port and sail down the coast. I am looking forward to actually experiencing that next cruise.

 

[disneyholic family]

we couldn't be on deck anyway....lightning storm...(don't you just LOVE florida weather....not.....just like we got stuck in orlando airport for 3 hours waiting to fly to LA....while watching the most incredible sound and light show i've ever seen)..

anyway...the sailaway party was in the atrium...
try to imagine 2,700 peple trying to squish into the atrium...not a pretty sight...

so naturally, we missed that party as well...

but we watched some of it from our verandah (like when the pilot got off the ship)...

but they got to do it right in nassau...

 

[Gillian]

Our first cruise was in 2000 to Bermuda out of NYC. Leaving NY was amazing! I have fantastic pictures of lower Manhattan & the Statue of Liberty. It was just beyond words.

This one will be different. I'm sure we'll be reminded of our last sailaway, and how things are now, especially since we sail September 15th, but I think we'll be ready to start enjoying Disney. 30 minutes & then dinner should work!

 

[disneyholic family]

well umm Gillian, there's a bit of a difference between lower manhattan and port canaveral...
i hope you're not expecting it to look like that....
there are no buildings at all (other than a few warehouse type terminal things)....

the most exciting thing you'll see this time around are the CMs who stand on the dock wearing those big mickey hands waving at the ship as it moves out...

i also sailed out of manhattan....back in 1963 on the Queen Mary (when i was 7 years old)....it seemed there were thousands on shore waving at us as we sailed away (heading for europe - my family was heading there for 3 months which is why we didn't fly for tht trip...too much stuff.... - now THAT was a ship.....it still had locked gates between the classes).....

 

[Gillian]

That's why I'm not worried about missing most of the party!! There are only so many worries a person can carry at one time.

I thought of a good thing about it. This way we can put DS in Flounder's after dinner 1 night and actually enjoy some time alone together early in the evening.

 

[disneyholic family]

as i said, we missed the sail away party out of port canaveral since it was indoors because of the weather...
there was no way we could see anything....the space is big enough for about 30 people, not the 2,700 on the ship...
basically, it was a pretty lousy party....
but the sail away out of nassau was spectacular....great music...great dancing...and a beautiful scenic view as we waved goodbye to the other cruise ships and saw nassau by night...really lovely...

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

On our past cruises we requested and received early seating. It was never a problem getting ready, although DDs hair was never dry from the pool! Also they were 3 & 4 - not 7with formal nights. We had Lumiere's first night in both cases and didn't have problem getting ready.

BUT! We went to the lifeboat drills with Mom (me) dressed for dinner and DH plus kids in swimsuits. Immediately after the drill I took the lifejackets back to the stateroom while dad and kids took a QUICK swim. Then they came back, changed, and headed topside for the sail away.

5:30 though is TOO early. Discussed this the other night and kids agreed that they'd rather have 7:45 in that case...

I don't want to call and request a change yet, in case they don't stay with the new times. But don't want to get caught either!

What to do? What to do? What to do?

Deb

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

On our past cruises we requested and received early seating. It was never a problem getting ready, although DDs hair was never dry from the pool! Also they were 3 & 4 - not 7with formal nights. We had Lumiere's first night in both cases and didn't have problem getting ready.

BUT! We went to the lifeboat drills with Mom (me) dressed for dinner and DH plus kids in swimsuits. Immediately after the drill I took the lifejackets back to the stateroom while dad and kids took a QUICK swim. Then they came back, changed, and headed topside for the sail away.

5:30 though is TOO early. Discussed this the other night and kids agreed that they'd rather have 7:45 in that case...

I don't want to call and request a change yet, in case they don't stay with the new times. But don't want to get caught either!

What to do? What to do? What to do?

Deb

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

On our past cruises we requested and received early seating. It was never a problem getting ready, although DDs hair was never dry from the pool! Also they were 3 & 4 - not 7with formal nights. We had Lumiere's first night in both cases and didn't have problem getting ready.

BUT! We went to the lifeboat drills with Mom (me) dressed for dinner and DH plus kids in swimsuits. Immediately after the drill I took the lifejackets back to the stateroom while dad and kids took a QUICK swim. Then they came back, changed, and headed topside for the sail away.

5:30 though is TOO early. Discussed this the other night and kids agreed that they'd rather have 7:45 in that case...

I don't want to call and request a change yet, in case they don't stay with the new times. But don't want to get caught either!

What to do? What to do? What to do?

Deb