Switching to late dinner?

[oklamomof4boys]

We are currently signed up for early dinner, but I am considering switching to late dinner. We did early dinner on our only other cruise and I remember feeling rushed to get back from port. My kids are older ( will be 11, 13, 14, 17) and we are coming from Oklahoma so a 7:30pm dinner feels like 6:30pm to our tummies.

Can you think of any down side to us changing to late dinner?

 

[DisneyDoc1895]

We were on the EB Panama Canal Repo and had late dinner. The big problem was by the time dinner was done they were setting up for the party buffets up on deck and we weren't hungry! Lots of good looking food but had just left dinner an hour earlier! Same with the big midnight desert buffet - we still weren't hungry!

The port situation is valid too, although I did see people come in to eat up to 45 minutes after the doors opened and they seemed to get done OK.

We're going to do early dinner for our next one, then we are doing the Baltics in 2010 and am not sure there, since the ports are more interesting to us.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Wow, there's a switch. Usually people are asking about switching to main seating!

Personally we prefer main seating, we're used to eating early at home. I don't feel rushed getting back from port and I liked having the late evening free to do other activities onboard.

 

[oklamomof4boys]

Hmm, didn't think about not being hungry for the buffets. We weren't hungry even after early eating-I guess we ate a lot at dinner-lol!

The main thing I wanted to do that I was afraid would conflict with early dinner was sunset celebration at Mallory Square at Key West. This is something I had read about on other sites- not sure if I've seen it on disboards. From what I've read, I think sunset at Key West is around 6:30pm- which would be right in the middle of early dinner.

Maybe I should post a question about the sunset celebration to see if it really is a "don't miss" thing.

 

[mmouse37]

Hmm, didn't think about not being hungry for the buffets. We weren't hungry even after early eating-I guess we ate a lot at dinner-lol!

The main thing I wanted to do that I was afraid would conflict with early dinner was sunset celebration at Mallory Square at Key West. This is something I had read about on other sites- not sure if I've seen it on disboards. From what I've read, I think sunset at Key West is around 6:30pm- which would be right in the middle of early dinner.

Maybe I should post a question about the sunset celebration to see if it really is a "don't miss" thing.

If you have never been to Key West to see the Sunset Celebration you should go.....we have seen it several times (we have done a few land stays at the hotel right in Mallory Square) and yes, it is nice and should be seen at least once. It is a bunch of street performers and vendors selling things.

In all honesty I have seen sunsets just as beautiful in other places, though.

P.S. We have done late seating 15 times and love it!!! Only once did we do early dining and that was on the maiden voyage of the Magic....too early for us to eat on vacation.

MJ

 

[oklamomof4boys]

If you have never been to Key West to see the Sunset Celebration you should go.....we have seen it several times (we have done a few land stays at the hotel right in Mallory Square) and yes, it is nice and should be seen at least once. It is a bunch of street performers and vendors selling things.

In all honesty I have seen sunsets just as beautiful in other places, though.

P.S. We have done late seating 15 times and love it!!! Only once did we do early dining and that was on the maiden voyage of the Magic....too early for us to eat on vacation.

MJ

We have never been to Key West and that seemed interesting to all of my boys. Am I correct in my assumption that we wouldn't be able to do it with early dinner? Also, since you've done it before, this might be a stupid question but the boat docks at Mallory Square, right? Would it be walking distance for us to the street performers, etc?

 

[mmouse37]

We have never been to Key West and that seemed interesting to all of my boys. Am I correct in my assumption that we wouldn't be able to do it with early dinner? Also, since you've done it before, this might be a stupid question but the boat docks at Mallory Square, right? Would it be walking distance for us to the street performers, etc?

Yes, ship pull right up to the dock (in front of the Westin Key West Resort and Marina) that is adjacent to Mallory Square. If you are already in town just stop at Mallory Square before you return to the ship or if you are on the ship just before it is a short walk to MS. Expect to see the "Cat Man", Sword Swallower, jugglers, musicians, etc. They all seem to be folks who gather at MS to show their talent/wares and all put out a tip cup or pass a hat around at the end of their "show". Several things go on at once...it very much reminds me of a Carnival atmosphere without the rides or games. There are also many local artists who sell jewelry, artwork, crafts, etc.

I just got a new computer so all my Key West photos are on my old one....I have not figured out my new one enough to transfer them yet or I would provide a link....

P.S. I have several copies of a map of Key West that is very helpful to get around. It is the kind that you get at most tourist places that rip off a pad and shows all the street names and historic spots, etc. I had permission to take a bunch off the pad at the Westin where we stayed for a week over the summer. I have been sending them to Disers who request one.

If you would like me to send you one, just PM me your name and address and I will drop it in the mail.

MJ

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Why not do both. Keep your early dining and just do something different for dinner on Sunday (Key West) night. Topsiders is open as well as the places on deck 9.

 

[IzzysMom]

We had early seating for our first two cruises and it was fine but on our third cruise, we had late seating and really loved it - in fact loved it so much that we had early seating for our fourth cruise and changed it!!!

I felt rushed with early seating but with late seating, I could go back to the room and order a cheese plate (or two) and have a glass of wine (or two) while I was getting ready. I love late seating!!! HTH!

 

[scriv2]

I would switch to late sitting. Your children are older, it will be fine. You won't feel rushed so you can relax before dinner. We did late on our August cruise and our kids are 8 and 13 and it was no problem. Booked our next cruise and requested late sitting.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[MissMet]

We loved the late seating...it's so much more relaxing. I'd switch.

 

[Az Pirates]

I think this is one of those questions that really has no right or wrong answer. It's all about personal preference.

We had early seating on our first cruise because our TA said a majority of her clients requested early, so it must be best.

We've had late seating for every cruise since and we definitely prefer late... but with a caveat... I never want the 8:30 rotation again!

I know 8:00 vs 8:15 vs 8:30 doesn't really seem like a big deal; but while we loved the 8:00 sitting, we hated the 8:30 sitting.
Pretty picky I guess, but I couldn't believe what a difference that 1/2 hour made for our family.
So from now on I'm requesting the first sitting on late dining, no matter what the best rotation is for theme nights (8:30 was the rotation that put us in Parrot Cay for pirate night and Lumieres for formal night last cruise)

 

[MissMet]

I think this is one of those questions that really has no right or wrong answer. It's all about personal preference.

We had early seating on our first cruise because our TA said a majority of her clients requested early, so it must be best.

We've had late seating for every cruise since and we definitely prefer late... but with a caveat... I never want the 8:30 rotation again!

I know 8:00 vs 8:15 vs 8:30 doesn't really seem like a big deal; but while we loved the 8:00 sitting, we hated the 8:30 sitting.
Pretty picky I guess, but I couldn't believe what a difference that 1/2 hour made for our family.

As of my cruise in Nov '07 they did away with the tiered seating. There was either early- I think at 6pm & the late at 8:30pm. No other times.

 

[Az Pirates]

As of my cruise in Nov '07 they did away with the tiered seating. There was either early- I think at 6pm & the late at 8:30pm. No other times.

It must be back then because we just got off the Magic on Saturday and there were definitely staggered seating times for both early and late dining.

 

[MissMet]

Oh, that's awesome! When we went in Nov I had heard about the tiered seating, but when we got on the ship it was just the two times.

Maybe it depends on how full the ship is or something??

Well, hopefully we'll have it for our March cruise & we get the 8pm seating.

 

[acourtwdw]

The tiered timing of your dining is based on your rotation. I really like the latest that we can get. It just works out better for us. I travel with my Dsis and 2 ladies trying to get ready at the same time, can get testy if rushed.

 

[dursin]

We are currently signed up for early dinner, but I am considering switching to late dinner. We did early dinner on our only other cruise and I remember feeling rushed to get back from port. My kids are older ( will be 11, 13, 14, 17) and we are coming from Oklahoma so a 7:30pm dinner feels like 6:30pm to our tummies.

Can you think of any down side to us changing to late dinner?

Depends on how important seeing the shows are to you? ie, do you prefer rushing back to see the early show or to make the early dinner seating? If you're slightly late for dinner, your servers will be waiting for you. If you're slightly late for the show, they won't wait! If you miss early dinner, you can always fine other food. I guess the same could be said for the shows though...if you miss the early show, you can always find other entertainment.

 

[sharen24]

I was just on the Magic in December and it was definitely staggered seating. Some of the crew members said they planned to return to one seating for main and one for second (5:45 and 8:15) like they have on the Wonder.

 

[crafty91]

two words...."empty pools!" When everyone else is scrambling to get ready for dinner you can kick it pool side with no one to bother you! Plenty of seats, the pool isn't crowded, no bar lines or the wait staff can actually get to you, etc. We had two young ones last year 6 & 8 and they were fine at the late seating. I liked feeling relaxed with the timing of everything for the late seating. You can go to the early show then just go to dinner, or with the late seating just finish up dinner and head to the deck parties.

 

[RubyCam]

We really prefer the late sitting. We just returned from the Magic and ate at 8:00 pm. We feel more relaxed and enjoy all the activities more with the later dinner time. A previous poster was definitely right about the pools being more available and accessible.