Skipping main dining

[tvguy]

I'm sure others really enjoy the sit down dinners on the cruises but I really don't like the idea, at least not every night. It seems like a big waste of time, especially on a shorter cruise.

Maybe I'm way off base (first Disney cruise coming up this year), but I don't see the appeal of this after doing freestyle dining on other cruises.

- who wants to spend an hour+ eating dinner every night on vacation? Especially when there are so many other fun things to do?
- I guess having a set time for dinner is nice so you know when it is but I'm also on vacation. I want to go with the flow and eat when I want (and when I'm hungry)
- don't know how common it is but I really don't want to be forced to eat with another family. I'm on vacation. I don't like talking to people in general. Don't ruin my meal on vacation.
- I think it's weird for the servers to follow you around each night and "get to know you".

Is there anybody out there who skips most/all of the main dinners? Would it be a mistake to only do main dining a few nights or not at all on a 5 night cruise?

There are options, and I realize cruising is changing, but a leisurely dinner is as much a part of a cruise as feeling the ship roll with the waves.
Only an hour dinner? That's almost like fast food.
My first cruise, there was just one seating for dinner, and NO other dining options. Dinner started at 6 pm and was a 12 course presentation that didn't end until 9:30 pm. Then you would come back at Midnight for the Midnight buffet. I know, a different time, and a different ship, but the night club on that ship didn't even OPEN until 2 am!

 

[WinterSolider]

It's one of the reasons I like dining more on Celebrity now—if you get a bad server, it's usually for one meal only (never did have a bad one on our only Celebrity cruise, by the way).

My parents were just on the Celebrity Apex and they had the same service team every night except for the one night they did specialty dining, exactly the same as Disney.

 

[WinterSolider]

There are options, and I realize cruising is changing, but a leisurely dinner is as much a part of a cruise as feeling the ship roll with the waves.
Only an hour dinner? That's almost like fast food.
My first cruise, there was just one seating for dinner, and NO other dining options. Dinner started at 6 pm and was a 12 course presentation that didn't end until 9:30 pm. Then you would come back at Midnight for the Midnight buffet. I know, a different time, and a different ship, but the night club on that ship didn't even OPEN until 2 am!

If I were Grand Admiral of Disney Cruise Line the first thing I'd do would be to ban iPads in the dining room and start enforcing a dress code.

 

[tvguy]

If I were Grand Admiral of Disney Cruise Line the first thing I'd do would be to ban iPads in the dining room and start enforcing a dress code.

Well, if I understand correctly, the buffet is no longer a casual dinner option on Disney ships. I think folks who don't want to dress up and want to use devices at dinner should have an option. But yes, the dress code SHOULD be enforced in the MDR is that happens.
On our Disney cruise a guy at the next table wore a black jogging suit to dinner every night. But over hearing his interactions with the servers, I suspect he did not expect and was not familiar with this style of dining. He did cause a bit of a stir one night ordering Beef Wellington, and sending it back because he couldn't understand why "anyone would put pastry on beef"

 

[brentm77]

My parents were just on the Celebrity Apex and they had the same service team every night except for the one night they did specialty dining, exactly the same as Disney.

They must have elected a set dinner time, which means you are in the same restaurant every night too. So they would have been sitting at the same table in the same restaurant every night, which means the same server.

There is a another option - which is the Any Time Dining. This is the option that would result in your servers being different. You can show up at any of the four restaurants during dinner at any time. We never waited more than 15 minutes, and usually walked right in. We do tend to dine early though, and I heard it can be a longer wait if you go during businer times. It was fun picking which place we wanted to eat each night, including repeating the one we really liked more than once. I loved not having a set time either. The food was better, and the service was quicker than DCL. It felt closer to a quality dining out experience on land. It was a nice change for a group of adults. The DCL way worked well when we had young kids, and I still enjoy DCL. I just wish there were better alternatives for nights we weren't in the mood for main dining on DCL.

As for dress code, I couldn't care less what others are wearing. Its mass-produced banquet quality food on a ship full of kids, not fine dining.

 

[Evil Queen 2]

Over our 13 DCL cruises we have done most of the dining room meals, but not all. If we were not going to attend the seated dinner we let the head server know so that the servers knew not to 'wait' for us. Sometimes we were tired after off ship exclusions or just not as hungry. However, in those 13 cruises only once did we have unappealing tablemates and they only showed up twice in 7 nights. On the rest of the cruises we made some fabulous people from various walks of life, which left to some very interesting discussions and fun friendships. And some of the families with young children that were seated with us on some cruises were so fun. I really like the 6 year old girl that was seated next to me at dinner explaining how I was missing the best part of the ship because I 'was too tall' and 'too old'.

 

[tink1970]

We just returned from 7 nights on the Treasure and were in the MDR for 3 of them-I wanted to try the new dining room of course but don't enjoy Marvel so that meant 2 nights away, Pirate night is always Palo and by the end of the cruise we're usually just ready for a 30 minute meal--not a 90 minute "event." So we happily make do with the concierge lounge offerings or more likely whatever is on the 11th deck since we're early to bed, early to rise and early eaters. I always let the serving team know on the first or second evening that they won't see much of us and they appreciate the head's up. Unfortunately, I still gained a couple of pounds so clearly I didn't go hungry !

 

[enzy65]

If I were Grand Admiral of Disney Cruise Line the first thing I'd do would be to ban iPads in the dining room and start enforcing a dress code.

I so agree with you.

 

[Dug720]

As for timing, it really can't be as short as you want. There are some very slow teams out there. On one cruise, despite asking for quicker service, they were just serving our main course while others were leaving after finishing dessert! I don't mind a slowed-down dinner with time to talk, but it felt way too long on that cruise.

I will say that can also depend on other tables in your section. I took my parents on the Magic one time and generally it was great in the MDR, a little slower and we pretty much mostly saw our Main Server. The last night our Main Server was out on medical for the night so we had a sub in for him. And our service was horribly slow - to the point that even the dining room manager got involved. That night I could finally see the issue - there was a large table (like 2 4-tops combined) that was being ridiculously demanding - like the kids would whine as soon as they swiped a fry through their Mickey head ketchup because it didn't look like Mickey any more, the adults all ordered drinks and then wanted seconds...but they would not order them all at the same time in spite of having like one of two sips left - each of those were monopolizing the Assistant Server - and clearly our Main had kept them in check. Finally when the dining room manager got involved things improved, but it was not the greatest way to end the cruise. I will say my parents and I definitely added more to our Main Server's tip because we could see what a difference he made.

 

[princesscinderella]

Neither DH or I have a need for the MDR experience. I personally don't mind a TS experience but DH would rather be elsewhere. Of the 9 DCL cruises we've enjoyed, twice we were matched with a server whose personality didn't jive with ours and for those cruises we avoided the MDR. We usually give ourselves a 'night off' which is always mentioned. The last 3N cruise we enjoyed we didn't go to the MDR at all. I have to say, it felt odd - like we were doing something wrong. We've found deviating from the schedule it is noted and mentioned. LOL

A couple things we've learned to do is to accept dessert, because the servers always have a problem with this, and to not order drinks because it seems to take forever for the drink bill to arrive. We had one guy keep us at the table doing magic tricks. He was cute but we didn't really see the need as we were ready to leave but we didn't want to be rude. On our last cruise a night was very rough and we were the only table there for our set of servers, They basically spent the entire meal talking to us, which was okay. DH gave them each a hug the last night and he usually is the one running for the door. LOL

I agree 1000% with the not ordering drinks at the table they do take forever to get the drink and to pay the bill. If we want a drink with dinner we grab it at a bar and settle the tab and take it into the dining room.

 

[achinforsomebacon]

Wow, thanks for all of the replies! As far as the shows go, does the Dream do much? I thought I read it was mininal. And if so, would it be the same each time you're in the same restaurant?

The biggest issue I have is there's no other option for sit down if you have kids. You have to go when and where they tell you or just do quick service. Kids have late day at pool and need a later nap? Eat a big lunch and aren't hungry? Sorry, you have to be at dinner at 5:45. Missed lunch and want an early dinner? Nope, you can't eat until 8:15.

I can see how some people would like not having to think about dinner on vacation. Everything is planned out for you. I think it would just add stress, which I don't want on vacation.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Wow, thanks for all of the replies! As far as the shows go, does the Dream do much? I thought I read it was mininal. And if so, would it be the same each time you're in the same restaurant?

The biggest issue I have is there's no other option for sit down if you have kids. You have to go when and where they tell you or just do quick service. Kids have late day at pool and need a later nap? Eat a big lunch and aren't hungry? Sorry, you have to be at dinner at 5:45. Missed lunch and want an early dinner? Nope, you can't eat until 8:15.

I can see how some people would like not having to think about dinner on vacation. Everything is planned out for you. I think it would just add stress, which I don't want on vacation.

If the dining room has a "show" it only happens once during a cruise. While you will be seated more than once in a given dining room, the menus will be different each time.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Wow, thanks for all of the replies! As far as the shows go, does the Dream do much? I thought I read it was mininal. And if so, would it be the same each time you're in the same restaurant?

The biggest issue I have is there's no other option for sit down if you have kids. You have to go when and where they tell you or just do quick service. Kids have late day at pool and need a later nap? Eat a big lunch and aren't hungry? Sorry, you have to be at dinner at 5:45. Missed lunch and want an early dinner? Nope, you can't eat until 8:15.

I can see how some people would like not having to think about dinner on vacation. Everything is planned out for you. I think it would just add stress, which I don't want on vacation.

I did a 5 day cruise on The Dream in August 2024, from Southampton England to Spain.

My dining rotation was

1. Royal Palace - Let The Magic Begin Menu
2. Animators Palate - Pirate Menu
3. Animators Palate - Crush show
4. Enchanted Garden
5. Royal Palace

When you repeat a restaurant , you dont repeat the menu or the entertainment.
On The Dream Animators Palate is the only restaurant with entertainment.

1. Pirate night they have pirate music, in the background and pirate animations , drawings, photos on the screens.
2. Crush night is Turtle Talk with Crush
3. On 6 nights or longer they do Animation Magic Drawing show which will have a different menu than Crush night
4. On 5 nights or shorter, if you repeat Animators Palate, you will have a different menu but nothing on the screens, just general Disney music in the background.

Enchanted Garden is subtle entertainment that most people dont notice. The restaurant is themed for the Gardens of Versailles. The lights and floral decorations change during the meal from day time to night time. When you enter the restaurant, the lighting is bright, when you leave, it has darkened. Every time you eat in this restaurant it will be a different menu.

Royal Palace is Princess themed, with a lot of really cool decorations , and a general Palace theme.
Every time you eat in this restaurant it will be a different menu.

I did early dining time, which had a lot of families. From what I have seen, the servers make kids meals a priority. Kids can get their food before adults. I have seen families split the dining, as in one adult comes to dinner while the other is with the children who are elsewhere. The adult who comes to dinner can get food to to go for the other adult.

 

[Goofy1932]

This is our first cruise (4 night) coming up and we have decided that we are skipping the Pirate Night sit down dinner and probably the Arendelle dinner. We are not the type of people that like talking to others and we will likely not get the requested private table. We also do not like musical dinners. However, I do want to try 1923 and the Marvel dinners.

 

[dancin Disney style]

We are not fans of how dining is set up. Actually, we are not really fans of cruising at all. We go to visit with our DD who is a crew member. I'm going again in about a month but going solo for the first time. Anyway, we have to take the later seating and always ask for a private table which so far has always been granted. Sorry, but I have to talk at lot at work so vacation is my time to be quiet. I will not sit with strangers. We find that the late seating is just too late and by the third night we are done with it. We have had experiences where we went 3-4 nights out of 7. The other nights we have gone to Palo or just ordered room service. I've been thinking about what I'm going to do next month and think that I will only go to the MDR on nights that DD can join me but that will also be dependant on the menu. For the most part we don't like the menus. If she can't come I would be totally happy getting a sandwich on the pool deck. Honestly, that's what I see happening a lot. I asked her if she would like to have a night or two at Palo and she said one night would be enough. Her boss just gifted her a night at Palo for next week.

 

[mousehouse23]

First-timer going with my husband on the Fantasy in a month. How long, on average, would you say dinner takes? No kids, and we wouldn't order any alcohol. Thanks!

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

First-timer going with my husband on the Fantasy in a month. How long, on average, would you say dinner takes? No kids, and we wouldn't order any alcohol. Thanks!

I am a solo and I was seated with 3 other adults, a mother and daughter and another solo. We had 6pm dining time, all of us arrived promptly , on time and we were done by 7.15pm most nights. None of us ordered alcohol. I would get the drink of the day before going to the restaurant and have it during the meal.

 

[enzy65]

First-timer going with my husband on the Fantasy in a month. How long, on average, would you say dinner takes? No kids, and we wouldn't order any alcohol. Thanks!

Just my husband and I at a private table, eating all the courses, no alcohol. We are done around 10pm with late seating which we don’t mind.

 

[lanejudy]

First-timer going with my husband on the Fantasy in a month. How long, on average, would you say dinner takes? No kids, and we wouldn't order any alcohol. Thanks!

We do early dining and never had it take more than an hour.

 

[gatechfan99]

In regards to private dining, the last 2 cruises, we have requested private dining and still been seated with others. It may be because we are a party of 5 and that's an awkward number for private dining. We have been placed at a table for 8 each time with a family of 3. We are going again in a month and have changed to late dinner as well as the private request so hopefully it will work.

If we were just a part of two, I wouldn't mind eating with others, but it feels like a much bigger deal for us right now. We have 3 tween/teenagers and don't see them much during the day. The dinner is an important time for us to talk to them and spend time with them. When there are others at the table, I find the adults wind up being polite and talking with each other the whole time while seated in the middle of the table and our kids sit on the edge and are basically in their own world. Part of why we go on these vacations is to spend time with our kids away from all the crazy hectic routines at home.