Rotational Dining, late seating on our 1st DCL cruise

[thunes]

We loved doing the late seating even though we don't normally eat that late. When we got back from our excursions, we would relax with a bottle of wine and a cheese plate from room service. It was the best happy hour!

 

[tlprice]

Love late seating and specifically requested it. My DD and I are night owls and eat late at home most nights because we are busy and have so much going on. We have just gotten used to it. I know I wouldn't be hungry for 1st seating and there are plenty of things on the ship to snack on if we do get a little hungry before late seating. I also like the earlier shows. I think I would be too tired during the later shows if I had just had a big meal (food coma!)

 

[Uncleromulus]

It might be because more families are sailing with kids and they don't want late dining. I think the late dining crowd is all adults or ones with older kids, but I don't think there are as many of us as there are families with little ones. I know every time I sail on DCL, I read about people waitlisting for early dining.

Actually there are all kinds of younger kids at late dining. Maybe not as many as early, but plenty of them nonetheless.

 

[CM Dad]

We are going on a cruise July 2017 to celebrate our 40th anniversary with our kids and grandkids. The 7 grandkids will range in age from 2 to 8. Currently we are booked for main dining, but there is some discussion whether we should change to late. The other time we travelled with everyone, the kids had trouble staying awake for the late shows. There is always food available, so if they (or the adults) get hunger before the late dinner, we can get something from quick serve or room service to tide them over.

 

[SnowWhite2]

I'm so conflicted on dining times. Early seating is too early for us but late seating literally gives us heartburn as we don't have time to digest the food before bed. And we all know that there is nothing to do after 11 pm on a Disney cruise. I'm a night owl and would prefer late dining but I'd also prefer something to do after 11 pm. I've been in the nightclub after 11 pm and it is dead with only a few younger people there. This is a whole other topic....

We prefer not to linger at dinner so that is why we prefer early dining. Our last cruise we sat with friends and had late dining. We were one of the last people out of the dining room and had problems getting seating for the adult show. I definitely learned that I"m not one that likes to linger at dinner. We'll see how the next cruise goes with early seating.

 

[RedSox68]

Actually there are all kinds of younger kids at late dining. Maybe not as many as early, but plenty of them nonetheless.

Those are probably the hopeful "waitlisted for early dining" families who couldn't get in

 

[Uncleromulus]

Could be--tho the Kid supervision service was doing a pretty good business!!

And the kids in the restaurants were doing the usual screaming, running over the place, etc...

 

[PlanoNana]

Actually there are all kinds of younger kids at late dining. Maybe not as many as early, but plenty of them nonetheless.

Those are probably the hopeful "waitlisted for early dining" families who couldn't get in

Not us. We will have 5 yo and 21 mo grandgirls with us and specifically requested late dining. They may go to sleep but they won't be running around and screaming and disturbing other folks. We chose late seating so the kids can enjoy the show. We'd rather they fall asleep at dinner than during the show. One can go to the club and the little one can go to the nursery if there's space.

 

[dcassetta]

Everyone says they are a fan of late seating, but it never books up, early seating does. IF you prefer to have Main seating, you can be put on a waitlist and many times these go through. You also can check as soon as you get onboard and often get switched to main dining. Either dining though, you won't miss the shows and such.

I would guess part of the reason that early books up is because people are nervous about dining late if they have children. When people actually experience late dining some of them decide that they actually prefer it even with kids along on their voyage.

 

[jahber]

I preferred late dining before I had small kids. My first two were 5 and 8 when we started sailing, and late was perfect for them as we are all night owls. They'd go to the clubs and close them down at midnight after dinner. Now that we have a baby and a toddler, late doesn't work at all for us. I look forward to when we can do late dining again. It makes the day so much less rushed.