tables in dining rooms

[drsmileswife]

Does anyone know what the different table sizes are in the dining rooms on the magic? And how many tables each pair of waiters usually have? We are trying to predict how our party of 21 will be split up. Thanks so much

 

[Snowwhyt]

Are you all linked?
I understand one ship has a small room that may fit you. On my first Magic trip we were on an oval table that would easily fit 8 to 10 people. There was also a group to the right of us that were about five tables of six at each table. But you really need to be linked.

 

[tvguy]

The tables are 4 places for the most part. They push them together to make bigger tables. They certainly could make your group all one table. 21 guests is pretty close to the max for a server team.

 

[lindsay0526]

We're going to have a group of 15... I'm curious to see how dining works out for us. My mom wants us all at 1 table, but I told her that we might have to split up to 2 tables... Our TA has set it up, so he can figure it all out.

 

[Gilland18]

We had a group of 18. They seated us at 3 tables with the same servers, a 4 top, a 6 top and a 8 top. I would encourage moving around and sitting with different people different nights. It's hard to visit with everyone in a large group.

 

[GPaLarry]

We had 11 at one long table(s) on the Wonder last June for our Alaska cruise at each MDR...worked out great.

 

[Laundress]

Our group was 16 and another trip 19. They pushed the tables together and made one long table. On the Wonder and the Dream.

 

[clten]

Most serving teams have 18 guests in their station (usually divided into 3 or 4 tables). I imagine in your case as long as all your reservations are linked, they would have all 21 with the same servers. How they arrange the tables you may be able to influence (either put in a request in advance or see how it is set up on night 1 and talk to your serving team if you want it changed for the next nights). I would recommend no more than 8 at a table - we find beyond that, the tables get crowded and it becomes difficult for everyone to be interacting anyway. (Plus if you push too many tables together, it can block pathways to and around other tables. We once were next to a table that was pushed together to seat 16, the server from that station was constantly hitting me as he tried to walk around their table because the pathway that would normally be between the two tables wasn't there anymore.)

 

[drsmileswife]

Most serving teams have 18 guests in their station (usually divided into 3 or 4 tables). I imagine in your case as long as all your reservations are linked, they would have all 21 with the same servers. How they arrange the tables you may be able to influence (either put in a request in advance or see how it is set up on night 1 and talk to your serving team if you want it changed for the next nights). I would recommend no more than 8 at a table - we find beyond that, the tables get crowded and it becomes difficult for everyone to be interacting anyway. (Plus if you push too many tables together, it can block pathways to and around other tables. We once were next to a table that was pushed together to seat 16, the server from that station was constantly hitting me as he tried to walk around their table because the pathway that would normally be between the two tables wasn't there anymore.)

thanks so much everyone for your answers. Our reservations are linked. It's a family of 7, 2 families of 6 and 2 grandparents. I love the service on disney! I was just wondering if 21 people is more than one serving team is used to. I would almost rather we sit as families (so 2 8-tops and a 6-top) to get the full experience, and not have the serving team overwhelmed. I can't decide if I want to call ahead or just see how they arrange us. Disney has never let me down so I'm thinking I might just wait and see what their plan is

 

[drsmileswife]

We had a group of 18. They seated us at 3 tables with the same servers, a 4 top, a 6 top and a 8 top. I would encourage moving around and sitting with different people different nights. It's hard to visit with everyone in a large group.

that's a great idea! The kids would probably like to sit with cousins sometimes anyway. Does it confuse the servers if different people are at different tables different nights? One of my favorite things was that our drinks were always waiting for us when we sat down. Seeing my diet cherry coke waiting for me as I rounded the kids to the table was so nice!! lol

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

that's a great idea! The kids would probably like to sit with cousins sometimes anyway. Does it confuse the servers if different people are at different tables different nights? One of my favorite things was that our drinks were always waiting for us when we sat down. Seeing my diet cherry coke waiting for me as I rounded the kids to the table was so nice!! lol

If you are all with the same servers I don't think they mind who sits where within your group. They have to keep track of everyone at all of their tables anyway, so they are used to about that number of people. We had 9 people and moved around quite a bit at our pushed together table (great if you are doing the picture package as many nights they come by the tables to take pictures, since this lets you get different combinations of pictures). Also, we definitely found that putting all the kids at one end and all the adults at the other end (with younger kids in the middle if you have those) worked best for both the kids and the adults. YMMV.

 

[Dug720]

that's a great idea! The kids would probably like to sit with cousins sometimes anyway. Does it confuse the servers if different people are at different tables different nights? One of my favorite things was that our drinks were always waiting for us when we sat down. Seeing my diet cherry coke waiting for me as I rounded the kids to the table was so nice!! lol

I would just make sure that the "kids' table" is well supervised. I've seen some get a bit out of hand - well, it started as hearing commotion across the dining room and then seeing the chaos that was ensuing at a kids' table where the adults were involved in their own conversation and ignoring the children.

As to moving people around, it should not be a problem. Your drinks may not be waiting on the table for you, but they may be on a tray nearby so that the servers can see who is sitting where.

 

[Snowwhyt]

thanks so much everyone for your answers. Our reservations are linked. It's a family of 7, 2 families of 6 and 2 grandparents. I love the service on disney! I was just wondering if 21 people is more than one serving team is used to. I would almost rather we sit as families (so 2 8-tops and a 6-top) to get the full experience, and not have the serving team overwhelmed. I can't decide if I want to call ahead or just see how they arrange us. Disney has never let me down so I'm thinking I might just wait and see what their plan is

I’m glad you’re linked, and happy to hear you’re a go with the flow gal.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

thanks so much everyone for your answers. Our reservations are linked. It's a family of 7, 2 families of 6 and 2 grandparents. I love the service on disney! I was just wondering if 21 people is more than one serving team is used to. I would almost rather we sit as families (so 2 8-tops and a 6-top) to get the full experience, and not have the serving team overwhelmed. I can't decide if I want to call ahead or just see how they arrange us. Disney has never let me down so I'm thinking I might just wait and see what their plan is

As a former server, one table of 21 is actually a lot easier to manage than 4 smaller tables. They’re the professionals, and will split you or keep you altogether as best they see fit based on their staff for the cruise.

 

[JW9DVC]

I would just make sure that the "kids' table" is well supervised. I've seen some get a bit out of hand - well, it started as hearing commotion across the dining room and then seeing the chaos that was ensuing at a kids' table where the adults were involved in their own conversation and ignoring the children.

As to moving people around, it should not be a problem. Your drinks may not be waiting on the table for you, but they may be on a tray nearby so that the servers can see who is sitting where.

I have yet to have our drinks waiting for us at the table. Even when requesting and stating. Coca Cola every time.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I would just make sure that the "kids' table" is well supervised. I've seen some get a bit out of hand - well, it started as hearing commotion across the dining room and then seeing the chaos that was ensuing at a kids' table where the adults were involved in their own conversation and ignoring the children.

As to moving people around, it should not be a problem. Your drinks may not be waiting on the table for you, but they may be on a tray nearby so that the servers can see who is sitting where.

Do you normally sit at the earliest seating?

 

[Dug720]

Do you normally sit at the earliest seating?

No - that is FAR too early to be eating dinner IMHO. But I've experienced it at late seating on DCL and at "My Time" on RCCL.

 

[Dug720]

I have yet to have our drinks waiting for us at the table. Even when requesting and stating. Coca Cola every time.

I was referencing the poster I'd quoted saying she was used to having her cherry diet coke on the table when she got there.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I was referencing the poster I'd quoted saying she was used to having her cherry diet coke on the table when she got there.

Funny. We had the reverse experience. On the second night they brought out all the drinks we had ordered the night before and three of the nine of us had to tell them we'd be wanting different things on different nights. But they took it in stride. They brought us the new things we wanted and each night after that had the fixed orders for the 6 waiting, and took the drink orders for the three of us as soon as we arrived. Very professional and very attentive!

 

[drsmileswife]

As a former server, one table of 21 is actually a lot easier to manage than 4 smaller tables. They’re the professionals, and will split you or keep you altogether as best they see fit based on their staff for the cruise.

good to know- the more I think about it, disney seems to always do right by my family, we have only shared a table once since we are a family if 7 (and that was back when we were a family of 5) and it was amazing! our kids ended up hanging out the entire cruise. I think I'm going to just wait and see how they arrange us. I'm just nervous because we went on a carnival cruise last year with a big group and they ended up sitting us at a table for 12 and then put 5 kids at a separate table across the room! BUT I have to keep telling myself- this is disney! lol

Funny. We had the reverse experience. On the second night they brought out all the drinks we had ordered the night before and three of the nine of us had to tell them we'd be wanting different things on different nights. But they took it in stride. They brought us the new things we wanted and each night after that had the fixed orders for the 6 waiting, and took the drink orders for the three of us as soon as we arrived. Very professional and very attentive!

that did happen with the kids wanting something different each night- so after the second night, they would ask the kids each night instead of having them waiting, but my diet cherry coke was always there and waiting- some nights there were even 2 lol since the soda glasses are kinda small and I go through them quickly lol