Table Assignments??

[nzdisneymom]

We're first time cruisers, heading on the Magic (Eastern) in March. Reading another thread about table mates leads to my question:

How are table assignments made? For shared tables, are there 8 to a table or more? When you go in for your first dinner, how do you know where to sit? Do they tend to put families with children with other families with children? And when you rotate to another dining room, how do you find your seat assignment there? Are the tables arranged pretty much the same?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

You'll be assigned a table number. When you arrive at dinner the first night (actually the first 3 nights, since you'll eat in a different restaurant each night), the wait staff will be lined up at the door waiting to show you to your table. The dining room layouts are very similar. I think Lumière's and Animator's Palate are pretty close to the same, Parrot Cay is a bit different.

Table assignments are made based somewhat on the make-up of your party, somewhat on availability. There are tables for 4, 6, 8, 10, and sometimes even more people. It's hard to predict exactly what you'll get.

 

[LinniePooh]

We cruised on the Wonder in early June, and it appeared to us that every family was seated at separate tables, except for those groups that had requested to sit together. We were surprised to find the three of us at a table alone, but it really was kind of nice. We were at the main (early) seating, so it may have been different at the later seating. If you have a preference, you may want to call and ask about it. It may have been an experiment for our cruise.

 

[kcashner]

Normally, families of at least 3 are seated at a table "alone." However, that doesn't always happen.

Your table number will be on your KTTW card. You show that or your ticket when you enter the dining room the first night and they show you to your table. If you have a particular request--to be seated with another family or NOT to be seated with others, have your TA call DCL and make it known. When you are seated with another family, it is always (or nearly always) with similar age/sex children...or within a year or so.

DD and I frequently travel alone, so we have been seated both alone and with other families of 2. In those cases, it always has involved another girl near DD's age.....that's held up for 10 DCL sailings.

 

[stingfancb]

Hi -
On our first Disney cruise there were 3 of us. DH, myself and DS (13). We had late dinner seating and were seated with another family of 3 - this child was 3 years old. The couple was on their honeymoon and unfortunately paid little attention to their child. My husband and I spent every meal entertaining her. Luckily, it was a 3 night cruise. I now always request a table to ourselves. After boarding I go to the dining changes and make sure they have honored my request. It's not that we would mind dining with another family; just don't want to risk the same thing happening.

 

[tinksmom]

On our 3-day cruise we sat with another family with 3 boys in age from about 3 to 9.
On our 7-day cruise we were seated with another family of 3. They had a daughter a year older than our DD. They also happened to be in the cabin right next to ours.

 

[Mickey4Me]

On our first DCL cruise it was just DH and myself and we were celebrating our anniversary. We were seated at a table with two other couples - one newlywed and one closer to our age. Very enjoyable people. Our last cruise included DD17 and her friend 18. We were seated with a couple and their two children - a son who was 10 and daughter that was 13. They really helped make it a wonderful trip. Like us, they were DVC members and we looked forward to dinner each evening so we could share our stories of the day's activities. We were really sad to say good-bye to them on the last night.

I think DCL puts thought in how they assign tablemates and tries to maximize compatiblity factors to make it a more enjoyable cruise for all. Unfortunately it's not an exact science and you do run the risk of having to spend dinner time with less than ideal tablemates. Luckily we've not had that problem....

 

[ADisneygirl]

There are plenty of interesting and nice people onboard with whom sharing a dinner table would be a delight. Unfortunately, it is a roll of the dice as to whether or not you will like who Disney seats you with.

On our first cruise, we were novices and didn't really know too much about what to expect. The people who were seated with us at dinner were awful. I am sorry to say that, but they were rude, obnoxious, low class. At first we tried to be friendly, but we soon discovered that these were people we would never associate with outside the ship. I am sure they thought we were snobs. We just couldn't laugh with them at their remarks about people.

The second night was unpleasant because we knew what to expect from them. They spoke constantly about the price of everything, and they would tug on the clothes of people passing by the table to poll them on the cost of their cruise. Then we would get looks, as if we were relatives of theirs. They talked about leaving their teenage daughter home alone and told us, -- "and boy, we know what she's up to out on the porch with that dirty, no good boyfriend of hers"........... My son sat behind his menu much of the time. They reminded me very much of the characters in Chevy Chase Vacation movies ~ (I mean Clark's cousins) Actually, I think these guys were worse because they had a mean streak to them in the way they referred to people. The last night of the crusie they were a no show. We knew why ~ they'd been telling us for three days how they planned on skipping the last meal because they weren't paying any *&@# tips - they'd paid enough $%&$ money. We felt sorry for the servers, and we really got the raw deal too because the servers somehow felt we should know where they were, and if they were coming to breakfast the next day.


We didn't know any better about requesting to be moved. We thought we were stuck with them since all the seats were taken.


Anyway, on our second crusie we requested a table alone. Things didn't work out because we were seated with another family of three. We took a deep breath and headed to our table to find two lovely, friendly people and a sweet little girl. (She was only 4, while our children were 13 and 18.) We ended up staying at that table. I am sure almost all your potential tablemates are "normal" enough -- it was just a fluke that we got Clark's cousins the first time.

Just wanted to let you know that while they try to honor requests, they can not always be met. Hopefully you will get one of the majority of pleasant cruisers at your next table. Just about everyone we encountered was so nice and friendly, except for that first cruises' tablemates. Looking back on it now though gives us a big laugh.

 

[ruvidu]

After 4 sailings on the Magic I would have to say we have been Super Lucky. We normally sail alone and request late seating. We have been seated with the neatest people on each cruise;
2 lady ranchers from Montana told us about what it is like to ranch on over 1,000 acres.
A millionaire machine shop owner who had brought his whole family from Seattle for a trip to Disney World and Daytona for bike week. While there he heard about DCL. He booked the trip for the family and then liked it so much they booked the next one as well so they did one of the first back to back cruises.
An engineer on a bannana boat and his wife. They were originally from England but now lived in FL. When we parted company he was trying to find out how to get a job on the Magic.
A Dr. and his wife from Las Vegas. It seems they were seated with some misfits like the previous poster mentioned. They requested to be moved and our table went from a table of 8 to a table of 10.
We also had a dart salesman from Texas who was interesting to listen to each night. We did not know there were dart salesmen out there.
We enjoy our dinning companions allmost as much as our excursions.
Good Luck,
Russ

 

[Vivig]

We also have been very fortunate.

During our first 7 day cruise we were seated with a couple and their teenage son. I am not too sure how they liked us since our son at the time was 5 years old. They were very pleasant and very into the Bingo...We enjoyed their company. ( Not too sure if they were too happy being on a table with a younger boy?). We got along very fine.

During our 4 day Wonder cruise we were seated with a Family of five. We could not have chosen better tablemates..they had three wonderful children and their middle son was the same age as our son and became fast friends. They were a wonderful family and we were very grateful being placed on their table. They were from Texas and they sure had the exact protryal of Texas that I always imagined good natured, warm and friendly.

I believe that Disney does try to accomodate the tablemates.

BTW ..I am sure grateful we were never seated with the family like the Clark's cousin...what an awful experience....