Should we request particular dining staff for our Magic cruise?

[stickeymouse]

We are a family of 8 and will be sailing in late November on a 5-night cruise to Cozumel on the Disney Magic. Two of our cruisers are, let's just say, hyperactive lads (3 and 7) who do not like to sit still. What are your thoughts as to whether it is a good idea to request particular dining staff? If you are all for it, does anybody know of particular servers on the Magic who might be entertaining enough to make these boys look forward to and sit still during dinner? Thanks in advance.

 

[Orukal]

Are you asking which servers would be best to help you keeps the kids sitting still during dinner or that can be used as a "Now, if you can't sit still you won't be able to see so-and-so"?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Unless you've cruised on the Magic and have a server that you really liked, and it doesn't sound like that is the case, then I wouldn't worry about requesting a server.

 

[stickeymouse]

I've heard that some servers are more interactive than others and will go above and beyond to entertain young diners. I just wondered if it is worth requesting those that come highly recommended.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Unless you've cruised on the Magic and have a server that you really liked, and it doesn't sound like that is the case, then I wouldn't worry about requesting a server.

I agree with this. It's one thing to make a request for servers your family enjoyed on a prior cruise and another to make a request because some random stranger on a Internet message board recommended them. -- Suzanne

 

[tinkerone]

keep in mind, what i like you may not. i have read reports about things serving teams have done that posters didn't like and thought, well i would love that. opposite as well, posters saying they loved something and me thinking yuck, no thanks.
i think you will probably do fine with who ever you get. the serving teams work to keep the kids content imo.

 

[CesD]

Keep in mind also that every group of diners is different. So even if server A is known to do tricks / entertain etc, you might be on a sailing where his/ her other tables are being difficult/ needy, etc and they simply don't have time for those extras. Or maybe on light sailings they do those things cuz they are only serving 12-15 people but on sailings where they are serving 20 people with various requests, they simply aren't able to do magic tricks.

 

[southerngirl528]

If you are a family of 8 traveling together I would think that there would be enough family surrounding the kids to help entertain them if they aren't accustomed to "sitting still". If it is an issue that might disturb other diners perhaps the boys might be happier dining in the children's' programming? Just a thought…..

I absolutely agree with the others that I would not randomly ask for any certain servers. I have sailed 10 times, with most being a week or longer cruise and we have always had good servers, some we loved more than others but they have all done a very fine job. Have fun!

 

[cindyzig]

I thought it was a good question. I have a slightly (okay majorly) active 7 year old son and am on the same cruise. I can usually keep him in place if I let him watch a show on his iPad at dinner. So, I am planning on downloading some seasons of his favorite Disney or other kids programs that he has not seen. I also thought about getting him served quickly as i heard they will do that with the kids and giving him the option of the kids' club if he gets bored and restless. I am interested to see if you find a server someone recommends on this thread.

 

[Orukal]

I'm sorry to say that a server isn't going to be able to commit enough attention to an individual table to make much of a difference with hyperactive children.

 

[stickeymouse]

Forget I said anything about hyperactive children. That part of my question has less relevance than I erroneously conveyed. I mostly wanted to know whether you would advise requesting particular waitstaff recommended by others. It seems that answer is 'no'. Thanks for the responses!

 

[Pixie Naseweis]

Well, I would not recommend my favourite server to others. He is not doing tricks or anything like that, but it is nice to chat with him and it is also nice to see a familiar face. What I wonder is, if we also request a table just for the two of us would it be fair to request him as our server – he will lose the tips for two people with just us sitting on a table for four, won’t he?

 

[MsJiminyCricket]

We had Ralph M as our server on the Med. When we came home, we were telling our friends how great he was and our friend's family requested and got him on their Med cruise. He's very interactive and attends to your every need!

 

[Flossbolna]

Well, I would not recommend my favourite server to others. He is not doing tricks or anything like that, but it is nice to chat with him and it is also nice to see a familiar face. What I wonder is, if we also request a table just for the two of us would it be fair to request him as our server – he will lose the tips for two people with just us sitting on a table for four, won’t he?

I have been wondering the same about our server from the Fantasy last year. I think I will not request him, but decided for myself that if I request him, I would double his tip to make up for the "lost revenue".

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Well, I would not recommend my favourite server to others. He is not doing tricks or anything like that, but it is nice to chat with him and it is also nice to see a familiar face. What I wonder is, if we also request a table just for the two of us would it be fair to request him as our server – he will lose the tips for two people with just us sitting on a table for four, won’t he?

I don't know if how true this is, but I've always heard each server is given around the same number of passengers to serve. The normal assignment might be 1table of 8, a table of 6, and two tables of 4 (don't know the real distribution, just throwing out an example). But if they have a table of 2, they would be given 2 tables of 6 and only 1 table of 4 to make up for the table of 2. Again, don't know if this is true but I have heard this described before.

 

[southerngirl528]

StickeyMouse, my bet is that your family will enjoy whatever servers you might get. Happy planning and have a great cruise!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Well, I would not recommend my favourite server to others. He is not doing tricks or anything like that, but it is nice to chat with him and it is also nice to see a familiar face. What I wonder is, if we also request a table just for the two of us would it be fair to request him as our server – he will lose the tips for two people with just us sitting on a table for four, won’t he?

Typically, it's best to only make one request. If you make two requests and they conflict (requested server isn't on the rotation you want, for example), DCL has as history of not granting either request, since they can't determine which is more important to you.

 

[Maryrose]

I've heard that you can get a cheese, cracker and fruit plate brought to the table right away, so they at least have that to entertain them.

 

[SonicGuy]

From my experience your servers will figure it out VERY quickly and will do what they can to help (while still being attentive to their other tables)

 

[MUN]

We are a family of 8 and will be sailing in late November on a 5-night cruise to Cozumel on the Disney Magic. Two of our cruisers are, let's just say, hyperactive lads (3 and 7) who do not like to sit still. What are your thoughts as to whether it is a good idea to request particular dining staff? If you are all for it, does anybody know of particular servers on the Magic who might be entertaining enough to make these boys look forward to and sit still during dinner? Thanks in advance.

Young boys sure can be a handfull at times. Have you thought about giving them cough medicine before dinner?

MUN