Three dining times coming

[Intr3pid]

We would gladly eat that early. I can't eat a heavy meal close to bed time and I am an early to bed person(worked at 3am for years). 5 is definitely not too early to eat. I never understood how people can eat a full meal right before bed with the late seating that they have.

You can personally choose to eat whenever you want, but this isn't about one person or family. They have to do it in sufficient numbers that it makes a difference to capacity. You can hop into a sitdown restaurant in your city/town and see how many patrons are dining at 5.00 PM - vs, say, at 7.00 PM.

Think about your excursions too. You can no longer do any that go past, say, 4.00pm. Or if you do, you will have to eat elsewhere that evening. Then, think about what you will do once done eating and after your show. You may have to eat again, or, as you state, you may go to bed early and wake up early. While there is almost nothing to do on the ship before 7.00/8.00 AM, you yourself may be fine. The question remains, how many would want to do it when on a vacation...

 

[LAX]

If there are going to be 3 dining times, I think the early slot will likely be too early or the late slot will be too late for many unless the available dining time per slot is cut shorter. I realize there will always some people that prefer "extra early" or "extra late" dining times, but I don't want to be the one that get stuck with a time that's too early or too late.

LAX

 

[MomOTwins]

You can personally choose to eat whenever you want, but this isn't about one person or family. They have to do it in sufficient numbers that it makes a difference to capacity. You can hop into a sitdown restaurant in your city/town and see how many patrons are dining at 5.00 PM - vs, say, at 7.00 PM.

Think about your excursions too. You can no longer do any that go past, say, 4.00pm. Or if you do, you will have to eat elsewhere that evening. Then, think about what you will do once done eating and after your show. You may have to eat again, or, as you state, you may go to bed early and wake up early. While there is almost nothing to do on the ship before 7.00/8.00 AM, you yourself may be fine. The question remains, how many would want to do it when on a vacation...

On the cruises from the US, the ship usually leaves ports by around 4pm anyway so I doubt excursions will be much of a problem.

Mealtimes at “normal” time for us—6pm or so—are super important for us as our youngest son literally falls asleep at the table if he is there at 8pm or later. Thought he might have outgrown that but we had a slightly later reservation at universal this year—7:15—and he was sound asleep before food arrived.

That said, I totally recognize that is an “us” problem. Every time we go to WDW, there are restaurants that are sold out from 4pm to 10pm. Obviously other people don’t mind early or late dinner so much.

And candidly, I grew up outside of the US and it was totally normal for dinner to start at 10pm while on holiday some places. We would stay up until 1am or later and sleep in past 9am.

I kind of like the idea of three dining times because early and middle would likely both be acceptable for our schedules, so that means 2/3 of the tables will be an okay time for us as compared to 1/2 now.

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

My guess would be that they wouldn’t be using the same tables for each seating - maybe odd numbered tables for the first and last and even numbered tables for the second seating. That would make cleanup between seatings a little quicker. Those who have cruised already: were there less tables in the dining rooms to accomplish social distancing? Or were groups spaced apart with empty tables between parties?

My family is one of those who spend hours on a meal so I’m worried about feeling rushed. We’d probably stick to the latest seating for that reason. One of the things we dislike about WDW restaurant.

 

[cvjw]

My guess would be that they wouldn’t be using the same tables for each seating - maybe odd numbered tables for the first and last and even numbered tables for the second seating. That would make cleanup between seatings a little quicker. Those who have cruised already: were there less tables in the dining rooms to accomplish social distancing? Or were groups spaced apart with empty tables between parties?

I don’t know if there were less tables in the dining rooms, but there were empty ones on our dream cruises last month.

 

[lanejudy]

There's always going to be one time slot that is "most" popular. Some will get that slot, others will need to shift and have the option of Cabanas or room-service if the time is really inconvenient. It happens already with just the 2 times. In fact, with 3 times that are closer spaced, it may not be as inconvenient to get bumped to your less-preferred option as it is now. I think there are plenty of people who will appreciate an early dinner and just as many who like a late time. I can see it working.

 

[Lilsia]

You can personally choose to eat whenever you want, but this isn't about one person or family. They have to do it in sufficient numbers that it makes a difference to capacity. You can hop into a sitdown restaurant in your city/town and see how many patrons are dining at 5.00 PM - vs, say, at 7.00 PM.

Think about your excursions too. You can no longer do any that go past, say, 4.00pm. Or if you do, you will have to eat elsewhere that evening. Then, think about what you will do once done eating and after your show. You may have to eat again, or, as you state, you may go to bed early and wake up early. While there is almost nothing to do on the ship before 7.00/8.00 AM, you yourself may be fine. The question remains, how many would want to do it when on a vacation...

My point was there are families that will be just fine with earlier dining. You all are acting as if just because your family eats later, then everyone does or should also. That is not the case. I know plenty of people that eat earlier for a variety of reasons. Some go to bed early and some can't eat such a big meal that close to bed time. What do you care if they offer an earlier dining time for those who want it.

 

[KantLose]

Heard that Mickey waffles are back at cabanas on the fantasy. Can confirm in 2 weeks. Disney must have heard the complaints from their guests and brought back the mickey waffles if the rumors are true. Lots of unhappy guests on the dream last month when they were told the Mickey waffles were no longer being served at cabanas.

Can confirm that they were in Cabanas for breakfast each morning on the Fantasy! And they have the strawberry syrup and whipped cream too!

 

[edith76]

All they need to do now is improve the quality of the food (as in actually cook the vegetables) and get soke variation to the qge old menus now! Who here doesn't know each menu off by heart?! I'm sure, if they were allowed, DCL chefs could come up with some great new items!

Just off the Fantasy 9//18 cruise and they did not even attempt to cook those veggies.

 

[nancipants]

Mealtimes at “normal” time for us—6pm or so—are super important for us as our youngest son literally falls asleep at the table if he is there at 8pm or later. Thought he might have outgrown that but we had a slightly later reservation at universal this year—7:15—and he was sound asleep before food arrived.

Ours is the opposite problem - our toddler will melt down like a banshee if he's up too late. So we eat between 5-5:30 so he can go to bed by 7:30. When we sail next August I plan to give him some leeway regarding bedtime, but not too much because he wakes up the same time no matter what.

 

[sethschroeder]

You can no longer do any that go past, say, 4.00pm

Why if your dinner seating isn't until 5pm thats plenty of time to shower quick and head to dinner. Also if you show up 10-15 mins late its not the end of the world. Additionally 100% of the cruise doesn't take excursions so in reality its a fairly small number of people who will really be impacted.

but I don't want to be the one that get stuck with a time that's too early or too late.

Then book early and have status. You can get your dining time locked in and avoid what you consider to be too early or late.

Ours is the opposite problem - our toddler will melt down like a banshee if he's up too late. So we eat between 5-5:30 so he can go to bed by 7:30. When we sail next August I plan to give him some leeway regarding bedtime, but not too much because he wakes up the same time no matter what.

See I think some forget that there are lots of small kids on these ships. So the "too early" just gives more flexibility after dinner for those with young kids who go to bed earlier. Instead of basically feeding them diner and straight to bed you now can get dinner and still go to the pool, show, movie after possibly.

Also intermittent fasting is more of a thing these days as well so many will be happy to have an actual dinner earlier and then fast until a late breakfast the next day.

 

[closetmickey]

I think they will find families to fill the earlier time. The extra late one will be more of a problem. Though we would gladly eat at 9:00 as opposed to 5!!

in fact...we would most likely request the last seating as to not shorten our meal. Lingering and connecting with our serving team is always a highlight of the cruise experience for us. Really one of our very favorite things about DCL.

 

[tvguy]

I think they will find families to fill the earlier time. The extra late one will be more of a problem. Though we would gladly eat at 9:00 as opposed to 5!!

in fact...we would most likely request the last seating as to not shorten our meal. Lingering and connecting with our serving team is always a highlight of the cruise experience for us. Really one of our very favorite things about DCL.

Yeah, the cruise industry has been hit by "fast food syndrome". Leisurely dinners used to be as much a part of cruising as being on the ocean. Now folks want quick serve. My first cruise, there was just one seating for dinner. 6 pm. And the 12 course dinner lasted until 930 pm. That is why we have always gotten late seating, even on West Coast cruises, we want a leisurely meal. I guess I could see having issues with going to bed after a heavy meal, but these days cruise ship meal portions are smaller, so unless you order multiple entrees, it isn't likely to be a heavy meal.

 

[Intr3pid]

My point was there are families that will be just fine with earlier dining. You all are acting as if just because your family eats later, then everyone does or should also. That is not the case. I know plenty of people that eat earlier for a variety of reasons. Some go to bed early and some can't eat such a big meal that close to bed time. What do you care if they offer an earlier dining time for those who want it.

This isn't about you or me. I am referring to the overall numbers and how many would do it to make a difference to DCL's capacity issues.

You don't have to take my word, and we don't have to use anecdotes. Pick any popular sitdown restaurant, choose to make an online booking for the next weekend using, say, OpenTable, and see which times are sold out. Some of the restaurants don't even open before 5.00 PM.

Why if your dinner seating isn't until 5pm thats plenty of time to shower quick and head to dinner. Also if you show up 10-15 mins late its not the end of the world. Additionally 100% of the cruise doesn't take excursions so in reality its a fairly small number of people who will really be impacted.

On the cruises from the US, the ship usually leaves ports by around 4pm anyway so I doubt excursions will be much of a problem.

Sure, it's quite possible to finish your excursion at 4.30pm, do a quick shower, and show up for dinner 10-15 minutes late. But, is this how you want a pricey DCL vacation to be every other day? Especially when you see those in the other time slots not having to go through this flurry?

As for the bolder part, maybe on the 3- or 4-night cruises - or the repositioning cruises with lots of sea days. But not so much in Alaska or Europe or in the popular Caribbean ports.

 

[dclpluto]

All they need to do now is improve the quality of the food (as in actually cook the vegetables) and get soke variation to the qge old menus now! Who here doesn't know each menu off by heart?! I'm sure, if they were allowed, DCL chefs could come up with some great new items!

I asked a couple times why the vegetables are not cooked enough. Both times I was told international guests don’t like there vegetables cook like Americans do. Well there is lot more Americans on board than everyone else. You would think they will cater to the majority.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I’d happily take a ‘dinner’ service at lunch time…

would be unpractical on shorter cruises but we’d happily have dinner at 1 pm then snack at ‘dinner’

 

[SteveMouse]

If the physical size of tables are also adjusted they can have tables set but not occupied, allowing for condensing of time by alternating which tables are used for each time block and resettling tables as they become unoccupied.

 

[MomOTwins]

This isn't about you or me. I am referring to the overall numbers and how many would do it to make a difference to DCL's capacity issues.

You don't have to take my word, and we don't have to use anecdotes. Pick any popular sitdown restaurant, choose to make an online booking for the next weekend using, say, OpenTable, and see which times are sold out. Some of the restaurants don't even open before 5.00 PM.



Sure, it's quite possible to finish your excursion at 4.30pm, do a quick shower, and show up for dinner 10-15 minutes late. But, is this how you want a pricey DCL vacation to be every other day? Especially when you see those in the other time slots not having to go through this flurry?

As for the bolder part, maybe on the 3- or 4-night cruises - or the repositioning cruises with lots of sea days. But not so much in Alaska or Europe or in the popular Caribbean ports.

Well sure but those Europe and Alaska cruises aren’t happening now, and won’t until summer 2022. That’s an eternity in pandemic time—these policies are changing month to month

 

[Lilsia]

I asked a couple times why the vegetables are not cooked enough. Both times I was told international guests don’t like there vegetables cook like Americans do. Well there is lot more Americans on board than everyone else. You would think they will cater to the majority.

I really think the mushy vegetables is an older generation thing. My grandma was the same way. She always said that places only half cooked their vegetables. But she came from a time where they cooked the heck out of everything for fear of getting a food borne illness.

 

[Lilsia]

This isn't about you or me. I am referring to the overall numbers and how many would do it to make a difference to DCL's capacity issues.

You don't have to take my word, and we don't have to use anecdotes. Pick any popular sitdown restaurant, choose to make an online booking for the next weekend using, say, OpenTable, and see which times are sold out. Some of the restaurants don't even open before 5.00 PM.



Sure, it's quite possible to finish your excursion at 4.30pm, do a quick shower, and show up for dinner 10-15 minutes late. But, is this how you want a pricey DCL vacation to be every other day? Especially when you see those in the other time slots not having to go through this flurry?

As for the bolder part, maybe on the 3- or 4-night cruises - or the repositioning cruises with lots of sea days. But not so much in Alaska or Europe or in the popular Caribbean ports.

Wow, you are digging in your heals on this aren't you? I think you would be surprised how many people would eat earlier if given the chance.