Private Table

[CyndiLouWho]

If we don’t request a private table on our booking, is there any chance we could switch once on board if we don’t like our tablemates? Part of me wants to be social but the other part dreads making small talk at dinner for 7 nights. My son would probably enjoy others at the table but they might not enjoy his non stop chatter.

 

[Agent 86]

Based on what I've read in other threads - there is a small chance that they may be able to accommodate your request for a private table after the first night of dining on board.

But, I think others who have been unfortunate enough to have unpleasant or incompatible tablemates have mentioned electing to instead dine at the buffet when they couldn't get a private table in the main dining rotation restaurants.

I find that the "small talk" normally just comprises everybody's daily activities. I find it interesting to hear about what others get up to on board and it can sometimes raise something I didn't even know existed or prompt me to consider something otherwise dismissed. I particularly enjoy hearing about everyone's different activities on port days.

 

[Dug720]

I was able to change on my last Fantasy cruise when they did a "solo cruisers dump table" and the 2 guys got along wonderfully but I had ZERO in common with either in ANY area of life. It was just awkward.

I had second seating and was open to changing rotations if necessary. They were able to keep me on my same rotation and I kept the same head server but had new servers. DCL automatically prorated my tips between the 2 serving teams for the days I was assigned to each. I was glad I had the same head server so I could let him know it was NOT my original team. He laughed and said "Yes. We all knew exactly what the problem was, and I apologize for that." Apparently the awkward was palpably visible.

 

[ludari]

On two separate cruises I had requested my own table after some awkward table mate meetings and each time the Cast Member accommodated my request. Since then I had always requested my own table before I board the ship.

 

[Katers]

I’m a newbie. My first DCL Cruise will be in June. My TA said that Disney does not combine families and we will be able to have our own table for my family of 5 without having to make a special request. Is this bad info? If so, how do I make such a request?

 

[mom2brooke76]

I’m a newbie. My first DCL Cruise will be in June. My TA said that Disney does not combine families and we will be able to have our own table for my family of 5 without having to make a special request. Is this bad info? If so, how do I make such a request?

You need to have your TA make that request. Dining with other families is actually quite normal on cruise ships unless you have a huge party. When our family of 6 went (when some of the kids weren't grown) we were sat with a mom and her two daughters. Thankfully we got along very well and the kids made friends. Last cruise it was only four of us and we had a table to ourselves (we didn't request it). We generally find that dining with others is interesting and a great way to meet new people.

 

[MNtwinsplus1mom]

I want to request a private table for our first cruise too. I have a TA, but am wondering if this is something I can call Disney to request? Or does it need to go through the TA?

 

[Dug720]

I want to request a private table for our first cruise too. I have a TA, but am wondering if this is something I can call Disney to request? Or does it need to go through the TA?

Pretty much any conversation has to go through the TA.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

On a cruise several years ago during my divorce, my two young daughters and I were seated with a mother, adult daughter, and the daughter's two young kids (girl and boy) about the same age as mine. My girls were honestly very quiet and well-behaved (and going through a difficult time anyway), and the women at our table weren't horrible or anything, but very loud and NOSY. When they discovered I was going through a divorce they wouldn't stop talking/asking about it around my children, despite my strong "hints." And their children were very noisy and disobedient, with terrible table manners. (It was actually funny to see how much it shocked my girls!) I left dinner that night thinking it was going to be a difficult few evenings with them, but said nothing - it was no one's fault and they weren't mean people, just not an ideal fit with our personalities. When we arrived at the MDR the next night, our head server met us at the door and directed us to another table by ourselves. He then spent 5 minutes apologizing for the seating situation the first night, and telling me how painful it was for his team to watch me and my "wonderful" girls try so hard to get along with our tablemates. I couldn't believe they were paying attention to the interaction, let alone took it upon themselves to change it. They actually thanked me for not even making an issue of it. It was an emotional time anyway, and I literally cried while I thanked them - I honestly felt they truly cared, and it made the rest of the trip so much better for my kids. I guess that's when I knew I was sold on DCL for a very, very long time.

Sorry for my long story, but I guess it does show that if it becomes necessary to change tables, there is always a good chance. Sometimes even if you don't ask.

 

[serenitynow]

Sometimes it’s the awkward things that become great family stories. On our first cruise, we were seated with a nice looking family who’s child appeared to be the same age as ours. We tried exchanging greetings with them and got shrugged shoulders, uplifted palms and “no English” mumblings. They were very animated with each other, I think it was in French, and quietly spoke with the servers. The only problem was that eventually we overheard them speaking English, very quietly, to the servers.

At first we were offended, but it has over time become a family joke. The time we went on a Disney Cruise and our table mates were so put off by us that they pretended not to speak English!

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

At first we were offended, but it has over time become a family joke. The time we went on a Disney Cruise and our table mates were so put off by us that they pretended not to speak English!

That's hysterical! Great story.

 

[serenitynow]

That's hysterical! Great story.

Thank you, we think so now

 

[gatordoc]

Pretty much any conversation has to go through the TA.

Pretty much, but not this one. I always book my cruises through my TA, but call myself a week or two before the cruise with any dining requests (rotation, private table, etc.), as well as requesting a bottle of distilled water in the stateroom for a CPAP machine. Your TA could do this if you like, but I've never had a problem doing it myself.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Pretty much any conversation has to go through the TA.

Our TA is Costco. Do I have to call Costco to add a request for private dining if that’s what we decide?

I’m still torn. I mean I would like to meet new people and chat but I’m fairly introverted outside my job.

 

[mom2brooke76]

Our TA is Costco. Do I have to call Costco to add a request for private dining if that’s what we decide?

I’m still torn. I mean I would like to meet new people and chat but I’m fairly introverted outside my job.

If there's a cruise meet group on here for your sailing you can join that and get to know people. We've linked dining with people that way that we thought would be a good fit and have made lifetime friends out of it.

 

[CalifornianOrangeBird]

Our TA is Costco. Do I have to call Costco to add a request for private dining if that’s what we decide?

Yes, at least that is what we have done in the past. We’re two for two on private seating so far, and will find out if we can keep the streak going next week!

 

[MelSpees]

On a cruise several years ago during my divorce, my two young daughters and I were seated with a mother, adult daughter, and the daughter's two young kids (girl and boy) about the same age as mine. My girls were honestly very quiet and well-behaved (and going through a difficult time anyway), and the women at our table weren't horrible or anything, but very loud and NOSY. When they discovered I was going through a divorce they wouldn't stop talking/asking about it around my children, despite my strong "hints." And their children were very noisy and disobedient, with terrible table manners. (It was actually funny to see how much it shocked my girls!) I left dinner that night thinking it was going to be a difficult few evenings with them, but said nothing - it was no one's fault and they weren't mean people, just not an ideal fit with our personalities. When we arrived at the MDR the next night, our head server met us at the door and directed us to another table by ourselves. He then spent 5 minutes apologizing for the seating situation the first night, and telling me how painful it was for his team to watch me and my "wonderful" girls try so hard to get along with our tablemates. I couldn't believe they were paying attention to the interaction, let alone took it upon themselves to change it. They actually thanked me for not even making an issue of it. It was an emotional time anyway, and I literally cried while I thanked them - I honestly felt they truly cared, and it made the rest of the trip so much better for my kids. I guess that's when I knew I was sold on DCL for a very, very long time.

Sorry for my long story, but I guess it does show that if it becomes necessary to change tables, there is always a good chance. Sometimes even if you don't ask.

This is a wonderful story. I'm so glad they took such good care of you.

 

[Marc D]

At first we were offended, but it has over time become a family joke. The time we went on a Disney Cruise and our table mates were so put off by us that they pretended not to speak English!

As a French-speaker, I would like to add a bit of insight to your story. It probably had nothing to do with you or what they thought of you. While most French-speakers, being from France or Quebec, do speak a little English (and some are fluent), it might not be ‘comfortable’ (for lack of a better word) for them to maintain a conversation in that language with native speakers. Communicating with servers is easier since the subjects of conversation are mostly limited to what you want and the servers are usually aware of those limitations.

Also, you mention they had a kid with them. He/she probably didn’t speak English. Engaging in a conversation with you would mean excluding that kid from it or having to translate everything, which is not very fun when you are trying to enjoy a relaxed family meal. That’s one of the reasons we ask for a private table. We are there to enjoy family-time. We do not want to have to choose between our son and our table mates.

 

[lanejudy]

I’m a newbie. My first DCL Cruise will be in June. My TA said that Disney does not combine families and we will be able to have our own table for my family of 5 without having to make a special request. Is this bad info? If so, how do I make such a request?

Your TA is wrong; DCL most definitely does seat families together. While it's possible your family of 5 might be assigned alone at a 6-top, it's also quite possible you'll be combined with a party of 3 for an 8-top. We are a family of 3 and have always been seated with another family. DCL does a fairly good job of matching up families -- usually similar age kids. It's not perfect, but works out most of the time.

If we don’t request a private table on our booking, is there any chance we could switch once on board if we don’t like our tablemates? Part of me wants to be social but the other part dreads making small talk at dinner for 7 nights. My son would probably enjoy others at the table but they might not enjoy his non stop chatter.

The challenge may be if you are early dining, unless you'd be willing to switch to late dining for a private table. Early dining gets pretty full and there is less flexibility shifting people around, particularly after the cruise begins. I'd suggest giving it a try, and if you really don't feel it's working, talk with your Head Server to find out options.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[serenitynow]

As a French-speaker, I would like to add a bit of insight to your story. It probably had nothing to do with you or what they thought of you. While most French-speakers, being from France or Quebec, do speak a little English (and some are fluent), it might not be ‘comfortable’ (for lack of a better word) for them to maintain a conversation in that language with native speakers. Communicating with servers is easier since the subjects of conversation are mostly limited to what you want and the servers are usually aware of those limitations.

Also, you mention they had a kid with them. He/she probably didn’t speak English. Engaging in a conversation with you would mean excluding that kid from it or having to translate everything, which is not very fun when you are trying to enjoy a relaxed family meal. That’s one of the reasons we ask for a private table. We are there to enjoy family-time. We do not want to have to choose between our son and our table mates.

Ahh, that makes sense. Thank you for that insight!