Show Attendance Question

[JerseyMom]

Does anyone out there know if there is any difference in how well attended the 6:30 show is compared with the 8:30 show? Last year we had the 6 p.m. dinner seating and went to the shows at 8:30 - DH likes to go back to the cabin after dinner and before the show and then really likes to take his time getting to the theater. Drives me nuts since I like to get there 15 or more minutes early but that is another issue.

Anyway, we arrived at the 8:30 shows with only minutes to spare (literally) yet had no trouble getting decent (although maybe not the best) seats. I am thinking about switching to late seating - is the first show more crowded? I was thinking that maybe people with small children might be more inclined to try to make the first show to make sure that the kids are still awake enough to enjoy it. The shows are one of my favorite things on the ship and I would hate to miss them because the theaters fill up early.

Thanks!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I would expect the 8:30 p.m. show to be more popular because at 6:00 p.m. dinner is more popular (tends to be fully booked, with some people having to accept 8:30 p.m. seating althought they requested 6:00 p.m.).

 

[inkkognito]

There definitely tends to be a larger crowd for the late show. Besides the fact that it's more popular, there are more kids for that seating. That means that while some adults who have late sighting might bow out of the show, people with kids (who generally go for early seating) are also probably more likely to attend the shows.
We've gone to both, and while the high kid population might annoy some people, it's also kinda cool in a way. I like to be part of a high energy audience, and it's cute to hear the kids squeal in delight and hear them get all excited when their favorite characters appear.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[JerseyMom]

Thanks so much! I don't mind the kids - I have a 9 yo and I have never been bothered by the little ones during the shows. I just wanted to make sure we could find a seat 5 minutes or so before the show. I now feel comfortable making the change. It should make someone's day by freeing up an early seating for 3. I also think DH will be much happier with the later breakfast seating on debarkation day. He is definitely NOT a morning person. :yawn:

BTW, Barb. I love your website. I love the way it is set up and it has given me a lot of great info. I check it every day to see if there is anything new. Really enjoyed your last trip report.

Karen

 

[sillysmom]

We had the late dinner so the first 2 days we went to the early show. We were always 10 minutes early and once we couldn't even sit together. Then we realized the MATINEE's. Go then, it was a wonderful time to go. Whenever we could, we chose the matinee over the early evening show!

 

[tvguy]

We had late seating on a full ship (New Year's Eve week this year) and never had a problem finding a seat for the first show.
I'll get on my soap box again, Disney needs to add a late late show at the very least. It is very difficult to get to a show at 6:30pm, especially on days you are in Port. They did do that with one show on our trip, and it was great. And on a sea day they added an afternoon showing. Give folks some options.

 

[tkd lisa]

Sillymom is the first person I've ever heard say that they had trouble finding seats. That must have been a cruise with lots of people who loved the shows.

Both of our cruises, there were open seats at the 6:30 show. I'm assuming you understand that you may be sitting on the side, or way at the back if you come 5 minutes before showtime. Now the kids show was always packed (since all seatings go to one show).