still waitlisted for early dining

[gweeptrish]

I'm starting to get a bit concerned about the dining arrangements for our Feb 19th cruise. We're a party of 17, going on a family reunion cruise. One of the families has a 20 month old. The whole party is still on the waitlist for early dining. If we can't get transferred to main dining, then the family with the 20 month old is never going to be able to eat dinner with the rest of us. Sure, they could feed the baby earlier, but you can't keep a toddler up two to three hours past his bedtime every night so they can eat!

I've spoken with DCL reservations and all they can tell me is "you're still on the wait list". Is there anyone else I can plead with?

Thanks!

 

[disneyfan551]

What time does the 20mo go to bed? They could always take the baby in asleep in the stroller.

 

[gweeptrish]

There are 20 month old boy children who will sleep quietly in a stroller in a bustling dining room? Where do I sign up to get one of those?

It's a nice thought, but I can't imagine it working with this child.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

If you don't clear the waitlist, once on board, go to see the dining manager and see if they can switch you. This person is available to field requests such as this on embarkation day. Ask where he/she will be when you check in at the port. A lot of times they can accomodate you, but there are no guarantees. A party of 17 might be kind of tricky, but they may be able to at least change the family with the 20 month-old.

 

[gweeptrish]

Thanks for the suggestion. We'll do that if we don't clear the list. I admit to being at somewhat of a loss to explain why they could do it on embarkation day, but not in advance, but I'll take whatever I can get.

 

[Greysword]

Is it possible to have the little one stay in Flouders or get a babysitter during that time? By 8:30, I would think an almost 2 year old would be in bed. I could be wrong, however.

If you can not change, then maybe the party can rotate out durning the dinning period. Two (or three if dinner lasts that long) people take an hour shift each during the meal times, trading out different people each night, to baby sit in the room. This way everyone gets to spend at least some time in the dinning hall each night, and the parents do not feel like they can not participate.

Oh, and the little one would eat early, of course.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I admit to being at somewhat of a loss to explain why they could do it on embarkation day, but not in advance, but I'll take whatever I can get.

My guess is that on embarkation day, everyone who wants some kind of change is there to request it. Prior to that, the reservations are pretty much static. Waitlist requests are accomodated as things open, but I'm sure many people don't realize they can ask for a change before hand. By the time everyone's requested the changes they want, the manager has a little bit more flexibility to move things around.

Of course, I could be totally wrong about this.....Anyway, I hope it works out for you.

 

[wide awake]

We were able to change on embarkation day from late to early. Later we realized that was a mistake, preferred the late dining. That said...can't the 20 month old have his dinner early and then check out the activities in the dining room ? He may end up sleeping later in the morning and adjust his schedule on his own. The early dining is not good if you have excursions...it is also a pain for the shows. Late dining allows you to wear jeans and a warm shirt to the shows, really relax and enjoy it, then go to your room and pull yourself together for dinner. Early dining is a mad rush to get to the ship, clean up, go to dinner, then rush to the shows in a dress and hose. Never again !!!

 

[Kaa]

According to CMs at DCL, many passengers do not realize there are two dining times and parties with adults only or those with older children ask to change to late dining once they are onboard the ship. This is why early dining opens up at that time.

 

[gweeptrish]

I'd personally prefer late dining, but I'd more prefer for my entire family to be together for dinner.

I'm quite surprised and jealous at how many really flexible toddlers there are out there. I haven't yet met a toddler who can stay up hours past their normal bedtime for days on end without being super cranky. Those of you with kids who can should realize how lucky you are!

 

[lbgraves]

Well, my kids have never let anything keep them from sleeping. We use to go the the Irish Stepp show at Busch Gardens so that they could take a nap in a cool place. LOL! If they can sleep thru that...then the dining room is easy. In fact, my 6 yo slept in the stroller for two dinners on our cruise last month. He woke up half way thru the first night but lasted until we were leaving for the second. Good luck getting your dining switched.

 

[disneyfan551]

Yes, I am lucky to have a child that can sleep through anything! And, she certainly didn't have a 8:30 bedtime either. She was 26mo when she first cruised on DCL and she easily conformed to our routine. There were several nights we took the stroller in the restaurant, hoping she would go to sleep, but she was always too excited in her surroundings. We purposefully scheduled the late seating for our group of 3-2yo's, and had no problems at all! So, we have once again requested late dining for our upcoming Oct. cruise as well!

At this point, I really wouldn't worry about the situation. Try to change it when you arrive. And if it doesn't work out, you may see that it isn't that bad on the toddler!

 

[shel985]

May I ask a question of all posting on this thread.....how did u go about getting "waitlisted"? My TA said it was impossible to change....did u call DCL direct?
THANKS!!!!!!


Only 16 days left til' our "Wonder"ful cruise!!

 

[jel0511]

May I ask a question of all posting on this thread.....how did u go about getting "waitlisted"? My TA said it was impossible to change....did u call DCL direct?
THANKS!!!!!!


Only 16 days left til' our "Wonder"ful cruise!!

My TA waitlisted us, so your TA should be able to also. It's not a guarantee that you'll get Early Seating, but if there are cancellations, it might work out for you.