Second Seating/Shows/Kids

[TrySomethingNew]

There is a slight difference. Dinner seating starts at 5:45 whereas the shows don't start until 6:15.

I thought there was staggered early dinner times 5:45,6:00,6:15 or something like that? If you got the 5:45 it would be more rushed, for sure!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

They used to stagger the dinner seating times within each seating, but haven't done that for a number of years. Now it's just one seating time early and one seating time later.

 

[Weedy]

If you have late seating you will have the early show. Typically it's at 6:15pm. There are 3 Disney Broadway type shows each cruise.
For dinner if you don't do the MDR (main dining room) there are fast food restaurants available on the pool deck. Also on the pool deck is a restaurant that is a buffet during the day but is a sit down/ service restaurant at night ( except 1st and last night). No reservations needed. Also room service is available at no extra charge. But you should tip a few $$.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

They used to stagger the dinner seating times within each seating, but haven't done that for a number of years. Now it's just one seating time early and one seating time later.

Ok. Last year on a European sailing they (DCL staff) said they were staggered, and we had a 6 or 6:15.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Ok. Last year on a European sailing they (DCL staff) said they were staggered, and we had a 6 or 6:15.

Yeah, on some of the European cruises they did a little bit of the staggered seatings. But, it's no longer the norm for most DCL cruises.

 

[Allabouthemouse]

We have not had a problem switching to main dining. Once was before we left- we had to follow up a few times. The second was on board - check old navigators and see when those times and locations are to do so if you can't get switched before your cruise. Our preference is main dining even as our children have gotten older since we do not enjoy eating so late. That being said, we always do feel a rush to get cleaned up for that 545 dinner bell.

 

[cyclenut]

I am one of those who feel rushed by having early seating dinner, but that is based on travel from West Coast. I now live in the Central time zone and still have late seating for upcoming cruise. We'll see how we like it.

One of the reasons I prefer late seating is that it increases our flexibility (we feel). We like to spend a lot of time in port (usually) so tend to come on the ship a bit late. Then we like to shower and change before dinner and if we are lucky, catch a nap. Early seating just seems to come up very fast. If we've seen the show already (from a previous cruise) or just don't want to go, we can always skip it. If we want to eat earlier, we just go to Cabanas for their table service (e.g. On Pirate night). Early seating dinner time seems to sneak up on us much more quickly and we are feeling like we really are eating dinner very early (again ... West Coast).

We also like to cruise other lines and late seating dinner is handled a bit differently. You don't always do the show before but rather after dinner (even with late seating), so we do have plenty of time.

 

[RedSox68]

I took the comment on being rushed as relating to being rushed to get to dinner in time, not being rushed at dinner. I don't know which interpretation RedSox68 meant.

Actually both

I like having the extra time before dinner and like doing the show first. I have never had early dining, but have been told by others that they felt rushed in the sense that they had to get out so the servers could set up for the next dinner service. I'm sure not everyone has felt that way as previously stated.

As for "rushing" to make the show, a PP mentioned exactly what we do -- we go to dinner in whatever clothes we were wearing for the excursion or day, and then go back to the room to shower and change for dinner. I find it all very relaxing, but we also don't like eating too early. It really is according to what you prefer.

 

[RedSox68]

Yeah, on some of the European cruises they did a little bit of the staggered seatings. But, it's no longer the norm for most DCL cruises.

And, personally, I don't think it made a bit of difference as people showed up at all times and the staff was still mostly serving a full dining room.

 

[Snowwhyt]

The plus side to late dining -- you are not rushed like the early diners.

My first cruise as a central time zone patron was so pleasing. At first it was weird having a show first, but then I felt like I could just relax after dinner and pick any random thing I wanted after.

Well, we've primarily done early seating, we've never felt rushed out. I guess our eating style just fits well with the program.

My second cruise our dinner was during first seating. I did feel rushed to eat and passed on desert a few times to find seating at the second show which was much crowded more than the first. It was harder to get family photo's with characters I had fewer photo's at the weeks end because of this. Also seating was limited at other venues when I would arrive with only single seats and no family/group room so if we couldn't go as a family we would pass. I found it stressful actually

I took the comment on being rushed as relating to being rushed to get to dinner in time, not being rushed at dinner. I don't know which interpretation RedSox68 meant.
I felt rushed at both dinner and shows when I was at first dinning time. Now our third cruise will be at second dinning. I feel the stress leaving my body even as I type.

Our last cruise was the first one that we've done main dining for. I wanted to try it out to see if it worked better for us. Every night I felt like we had to rush from what we were doing in the afternoon to get to dinner on time. Our last night, we were about 10 minutes late getting to dinner because of a wardrobe issue my DD was having, and I hate being late. If it were solely up to me, I'd go back to second seating for our next cruise, but I need to talk it over with DD first to see which she preferred.

I totally get what your saying.

Yes, that's what I meant. My kids are more likely to act up at a show, than a dinner when they can goto the Oceaneers lab...And my father in law will likely fall asleep at the late show vs a late dinner when he is actually engaging in conversation and food. Sorry, I don't always form my thoughts into sentences properly

The shows are about 1 hour long maybe 75 minutes. I have never seen groups of kids leave. They are spellbound by the shows. It's like a live cartoon, but with a little adult humor and satire. Truly a family show. I do see the potty break happen but then they come back, so they are not bored, their little heads watch the stage on the way to and from the show during potty breaks. Bet your kids will love the shows and any fidgeting they do is excitement and not boredom. Your not going to hear "Do we have to go to the show?' it's "Mom hurry so we don't miss the show." Even 18 months will enjoy Mickey and Minnie. Even Villains is happy and entertaining.

 

[MSPeeler]

My first cruise as a central time zone patron was so pleasing. At first it was weird having a show first, but then I felt like I could just relax after dinner and pick any random thing I wanted after.


My second cruise our dinner was during first seating. I did feel rushed to eat and passed on desert a few times to find seating at the second show which was much crowded more than the first. It was harder to get family photo's with characters I had fewer photo's at the weeks end because of this. Also seating was limited at other venues when I would arrive with only single seats and no family/group room so if we couldn't go as a family we would pass. I found it stressful actually

I totally get what your saying.


The shows are about 1 hour long maybe 75 minutes. I have never seen groups of kids leave. They are spellbound by the shows. It's like a live cartoon, but with a little adult humor and satire. Truly a family show. I do see the potty break happen but then they come back, so they are not bored, their little heads watch the stage on the way to and from the show during potty breaks. Bet your kids will love the shows and any fidgeting they do is excitement and not boredom. Your not going to hear "Do we have to go to the show?' it's "Mom hurry so we don't miss the show." Even 18 months will enjoy Mickey and Minnie. Even Villains is happy and entertaining.

That is very re-assuring. I'm starting to embrace the later dining time the more I read and research. I can allow our 19 month old to come with us to watch a show, feed him right after (he's a fast eater) and take him to Nursery for bottle and bed. Then also with the late dining, my older two can eat first and goto the lab while us adults enjoy some peace and quiet at the table, which I am NOT used to but will totally embrace YAY! I'm super pumped, can't wait.

 

[Mdcantu]

That is very re-assuring. I'm starting to embrace the later dining time the more I read and research. I can allow our 19 month old to come with us to watch a show, feed him right after (he's a fast eater) and take him to Nursery for bottle and bed. Then also with the late dining, my older two can eat first and goto the lab while us adults enjoy some peace and quiet at the table, which I am NOT used to but will totally embrace YAY! I'm super pumped, can't wait.

I really enjoyed the second seating, even with young kids (my youngest was 3). We got to see the shows, and if we were coming back from an excursion or were at the spa, it was much easier to miss a show than dinner. The kids did great for the most part, and we were almost always done with dinner in about an hour (about the same time the counselors were collecting kids for the kids club). We're sailing again next summer and are keeping the second seating.

 

[Conceptualice]

I would also check / follow up with guest services the day you sail. Our last cruise we were put on late dinner. (which everyone* had agreed to). My DS was a toddler who never liked to sit still in general, so for a while eating out was a NO GO. We used the nursery services and loved it. Yes, it is extra money to pay, but having a nice dinner was great, and our hosts were amazing and gave us food to take to him for later. (Usually we made sure he ate BEFORE the nursery, because he was usually down asleep when we picked him up.)

On the switching side of things, after our first / second night onboard, my father* admitted to hating having to wait to eat so late, and wanted it changed to the earlier option. Since he was paying for the cruise, I went to guest relations to see if anything could be done. (By the way, the guest relations people were amazing, patient, and kind. Suffice to say, it wasn't the first or last time I had to speak with them due to family drama on that cruise. -_-;; )

We were switched, but it caused a BIT (LOT) of confusion as we were also assigned two new waiter staff even though our waiters were still working the early rotation too. My husband and I felt horrible, and we assured them that the change wasn't because of anything they had done - We loved them so!. -_-;; (Also at the end we had four wait staff tips instead of two - They ALL were excellent.) This was when the Fantasy was extremely new (Maiden voyage was previous sailing or so), so it's possible by now they have this scenerio figured out.

Personally speaking, I LIKED the later option. I always felt tired after dinner, and opted out of a few shows because of it. (Although the idea of kids watching the show in their pjs is appealing!) The later dinner meant taking in the show first, then dinner, and then no guilty feelings if I got tired about 'missing' stuff. Our next cruise we decided to go late again! (Although this time just our family and my DS WILL be joining us. lol )

But planning ahead if at all possible is ALWAYS better! I wish you the best of luck and hope you have a great cruise OP!