Skipping Dinners on your cruise?

[StaciaRae]

Question: is it acceptable to skip dinner in the restaurants every night? Anyone here who does that?

Why am I asking? We are taking our first cruise, 4 nights in January with our 5 and 7 year olds. We aren't big dinner eaters, we rarely go out for nice sit down dinners. At WDW, we don't do ADRs, we just eat counter service when we're hungry. We have an extended verandah reserved, dh thinks it'd be nice to have room service on our verandah in the evenings. I do think it'd be nice to have one or two nice dinners in the restaurants, but I'll feel bad skipping if they're expecting us. Again, I new to cruising, so I really have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm just wondering what others do who don't really want to have big sit-down dinners every night. Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Question: is it acceptable to skip dinner in the restaurants every night? Anyone here who does that?

Why am I asking? We are taking our first cruise, 4 nights in January with our 5 and 7 year olds. We aren't big dinner eaters, we rarely go out for nice sit down dinners. At WDW, we don't do ADRs, we just eat counter service when we're hungry. We have an extended verandah reserved, dh thinks it'd be nice to have room service on our verandah in the evenings. I do think it'd be nice to have one or two nice dinners in the restaurants, but I'll feel bad skipping if they're expecting us. Again, I new to cruising, so I really have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm just wondering what others do who don't really want to have big sit-down dinners every night. Thanks!

Yes, people do skip dinners. I think most people do go to the dining rooms, however. You certainly could just pick one or two nights to do the dining room. It would be nice if you could give your head server a head's up that you won't be in the dining room every night, so that they can tell your servers not to wait for you to start service.

Just a note the room service menu is somewhat limited.

I'll also point out that Cabanas is open for dinner every evening (except the first and last night). While it's a sit-down table service (not buffet) it's often quicker than the dining rooms.

Also, service in the dining rooms does often come with a some sort of entertainment, if that would be interesting to your kids (or even you). I'd give the dining room a try for a couple of nights before skipping out on it, since it's your first time. Really, it's not all that "fancy".

 

[amberwc]

It's acceptable, but why would you want to? Ok I read the above but I don't get it.
Each restaurant has it's own different theme of entertainment. They are great with the kids, and will bring them whatever they want (to me much easier than walking through a buffet line with my kids same age). If you're not a big dinner eater, then don't order much. There's no rule saying you have to order 3 courses. Some nights, I'm just in the mood for an appetizer -- no big deal. I enjoy sitting with my family and watching the kids faces as they see the rooms come alive.
And personally I don't like our room smelling like food that much. But have fun, don't discount it until you try it.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Yes, they'll be expecting you, and they may try to seat someone in your place that could not get the seating time they requested if they know you won't be there, so just call down in advance of your seating time. But by all means, do what you're comfortable with. I hope you will at least try the MDRs at least once or twice, though! A regular verandah will only seat two, we've never had an extended one, so not sure what furniture is already there or what they will supply you with.

 

[lklgoodman]

Your kids could go to the Oceaneer club to play while you and your dh eat at the mdr. They will have dinner in the kid's club if they want to eat.

 

[JW9DVC]

Question: is it acceptable to skip dinner in the restaurants every night? Anyone here who does that?

Why am I asking? We are taking our first cruise, 4 nights in January with our 5 and 7 year olds. We aren't big dinner eaters, we rarely go out for nice sit down dinners. At WDW, we don't do ADRs, we just eat counter service when we're hungry. We have an extended verandah reserved, dh thinks it'd be nice to have room service on our verandah in the evenings. I do think it'd be nice to have one or two nice dinners in the restaurants, but I'll feel bad skipping if they're expecting us. Again, I new to cruising, so I really have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm just wondering what others do who don't really want to have big sit-down dinners every night. Thanks!

It's nothing fancy to go to dinner on the ships. Wear what you want within reason. Eat as little or as much as you want. Truly part of the cruise experience is dinner.

As for room service and that as dinner every night. That would be boring to me. Snacks and a lunch sure.

The cruise allows you to try new things. Request a private table if you think dining with others will bother you.

Most of all. Enjoy your vacation and do it how you want.

JW

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Your kids could go to the Oceaneer club to play while you and your dh eat at the mdr. They will have dinner in the kid's club if they want to eat.

If they are in the club when the dinner is actually being served. It's not served all evening, so it may not be actually at the time that the parent's dining time would be.

 

[StaciaRae]

It's acceptable, but why would you want to? Ok I read the above but I don't get it.
Each restaurant has it's own different theme of entertainment. They are great with the kids, and will bring them whatever they want (to me much easier than walking through a buffet line with my kids same age). If you're not a big dinner eater, then don't order much. There's no rule saying you have to order 3 courses. Some nights, I'm just in the mood for an appetizer -- no big deal. I enjoy sitting with my family and watching the kids faces as they see the rooms come alive.
And personally I don't like our room smelling like food that much. But have fun, don't discount it until you try it.

Thanks! We probably will eat in some of the restaurants, I think. I was really just curious what was 'acceptable', and if everyone does eat in them every night - just so I don't cause the servers any trouble/extra work.

 

[StaciaRae]

Yes, people do skip dinners. I think most people do go to the dining rooms, however. You certainly could just pick one or two nights to do the dining room. It would be nice if you could give your head server a head's up that you won't be in the dining room every night, so that they can tell your servers not to wait for you to start service.

Just a note the room service menu is somewhat limited.
View attachment 227905
I'll also point out that Cabanas is open for dinner every evening (except the first and last night). While it's a sit-down table service (not buffet) it's often quicker than the dining rooms.

Also, service in the dining rooms does often come with a some sort of entertainment, if that would be interesting to your kids (or even you). I'd give the dining room a try for a couple of nights before skipping out on it, since it's your first time. Really, it's not all that "fancy".

Wow! Thanks a bunch for posting the room service menu - that's very helpful!

 

[lklgoodman]

If they are in the club when the dinner is actually being served. It's not served all evening, so it may not be actually at the time that the parent's dining time would be.

Didn't realize that, we had first seating on the Fantasy and my dd was able to eat in the club several times while we ate in the mdr. They could still feed their kids at Cabanas, room service, or by pools and then take them to club and go to mdr on their own.

 

[darnheather]

You really should try the MDRs. Even if you only order a salad or appetizers and then have the rest of your meal on your veranda. The MDRs are loads of fun, the waiters are fantastic, and my kids felt super spoiled getting Shirley Temples and Mickey Bars each night.

 

[StaciaRae]

You really should try the MDRs. Even if you only order a salad or appetizers and then have the rest of your meal on your veranda. The MDRs are loads of fun, the waiters are fantastic, and my kids felt super spoiled getting Shirley Temples and Mickey Bars each night.

Yah, they sound fun, and after these great replies, I do think we should try them. Maybe I shouldn't have read all 38 pages of the 'Craziest table mates you have had' thread - that's scaring me a bit

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have been on 18 Disney cruises and have never skipped dinner in the MDR. Not because of the food, which is fine, but getting to know your waiters, watching the shows that they put on, enjoying the people watching of other tables...all to much for us to miss. The waiter interaction with the kids is priceless and something you won't find anywhere else. There seem to be lots of people who go to cabanas every night which I never understand. You and your husband might want to try Palo one night while the kids go to the club. It's lovely and would be a nice change of pace. All this said, we love to go out to eat and probably do it two or three times a week. So for people who don't eat out much, it may seem a bit overwhelming. But I hope you give it a try.

 

[ahain]

Yah, they sound fun, and after these great replies, I do think we should try them. Maybe I shouldn't have read all 38 pages of the 'Craziest table mates you have had' thread - that's scaring me a bit

As others have mentioned, if you are nervous about potential table mates, request (in advance) to be seated alone. They cannot guarantee that your request is granted, but out of our 8 cruises so far, we have requested our own table for 7 of them and have been seated alone every time.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We have been on 18 Disney cruises and have never skipped dinner in the MDR.

We've only been on 11 DCL cruises, and we've never skipped the MDR either. Well, I did miss one dinner due to having a heavy cold/sinus infection. And DH was quarantined once. We keep saying we'd like to try Cabanas for dinner once, but we've never figured out which menu/dining room to skip.

Guess we've gotta keep cruising DCL until we work it out.

 

[Disney_traveler]

Sorry I keep popping into DCL threads to ask questions of my own, but we've been toying with cruise ideas and I read these and think of stuff as I read......

So you cruise veterans that talk about going to dinner for the "show"...what if we aren't big interactors like that? Granted we would be 3 adults and no kids, but is it the same?

 

[mort1331]

We just got back from our first ever cruise, it was a 4 night as well. Our kids our 6,10 and we do not eat out a lot. Very similar to your family.
I would highly recommend going to the dinners. The Animators Palate, do not miss. Our kids had a great time, entertainment each night and food was great. Had 2-3 apps each meal and 1-2 mains. They will help anyway they can. Kids can eat from their menu or the adult whichever is better for them.
If you are going to skip one dinning place, maybe Tritons. Very nice great food, no real entertainment though.
Go and enjoy, have your lunch on the veranda, maybe breakfast.
My 2cents from someone who just experienced our first, but not last.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Sorry I keep popping into DCL threads to ask questions of my own, but we've been toying with cruise ideas and I read these and think of stuff as I read......

So you cruise veterans that talk about going to dinner for the "show"...what if we aren't big interactors like that? Granted we would be 3 adults and no kids, but is it the same?

The "show" isn't all that interactive. It's usually a little (5 minutes) event of characters who show up and do a little dance. Occasionally, guests may be invited for a sort of conga line through the dining room, but you certainly don't have to participate, if you don't want to.

It's not something that goes on during the whole dining process.

It's fun.

 

[Disney_traveler]

The "show" isn't all that interactive. It's usually a little (5 minutes) event of characters who show up and do a little dance. Occasionally, guests may be invited for a sort of conga line through the dining room, but you certainly don't have to participate, if you don't want to.

It's not something that goes on during the whole dining process.

It's fun.

I thought it was the waitstaff that was doing it at each table on their own. Ok thansk

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I thought it was the waitstaff that was doing it at each table on their own. Ok thansk

You wait staff can be amusing, also. Although, for the most part, they save their quizzes/magic acts for tables with kids. Our adult only tables usually just give them a head's up that we're interested in such things also.