want early dining-what to do??

[DisnyMik]

I just got our itinerary/receipt from the TA and even though I requested early seating it said that only late seating was available and to check when we get on the ship. Is there any way to try to get a change before then (like right now!) We really wanted to do the early seating!

 

[Michelle]

Have your TA waitlist you for main dining now, if he/she has not. If you still don't get main dining you can go to the time and place mentioned in your Personal Navigator on embarkation day and request a change. Be aware, however, that they are not always able to change you.

Good luck!

 

[DisnyMik]

Thanks, I'll do that!

 

[Señor Ferrari]

DisnyMik,

I was able to change to early dining by calling a few times a week and checking to see if anything opened up. I was told once that they don't immediately check the waitlist when there's an opening, but only refer to it once a day. I was able to use this method to change cabin categories and to change dining. The best time for openings is the week just prior to when you final payment is due, as that is when most of the cancellations occur.

 

[DisnyMik]

Thanks Senor Ferrari!
I did call my TA and she said I was on the wait list. Where did you call to check on the waitlist? Was that Disney? If so, did you just call DCL? You'll have to forgive all the ??'s as Disney cruising is all new to me. Ask me almost anything about WDW and I can probably answer it! This is our first cruise though.

 

[DisneyKids]

I think you could call DCL but since you booked through a TA, they may suggest you go through them. But...try, it never hurts!

If you end up with late seating, don't worry, it's great. We wouldn't do it any other way and we have young children. I'm sure early is great, too. Just have fun!

 

[jwolfe]

I looked all over my receipt from my TA (AAA) and I couldn't find anywhere which dining we had. What times are the late dining? I guess I should call my TA and ask which one we have but it's vacation and I don't really want to get up too early and don't mind staying up late....

Juli

 

[Señor Ferrari]

DisnyMik,

I usually make my reservations directly with the cruise line, just so I have this kind of control over it. I called myself, 1-877-566-0976. I just gave them my reservation # and asked if there were any openings for what I wanted (on one cruise, we wanted to upgrade to cat. 5, on another it was dining time). The call only takes a few minutes. I just made a habit of doing it when I was at work during the day. Don't even refer to the wait list, just ask if there are any openings for main seating. If not, the reservations agent should ask if you want to be placed on the wait list. I just mentioned that I already was and thanked them.

I don't know if you'll have to have your TA do this or not. I wasn't sure a TA was willing to be as persistant as I am, which is why I booked this myself instead of going with a TA (which would have been less). I know that for us, having late dinner would have had an adverse effect on our enjoyment of the cruise. Not the end of the world certainly, but I would much rather eat early.

On of my main problems with late seating is that you have to go to the evening show before dinner, at 6:30pm, so you really don't save that much time, in my opinion. You either have to get ready for dinner, or get ready for the show. In addition, I'd rather have dinner prior to the show for some reason. Just seems to make more sense to me.

jwolfe,

Main dining is at 6:00pm, and late dining at 8:30pm.

 

[jwolfe]

Thanks for the dinner times! I called Disney about the seating and was told that my TA had to do this, they couldn't change or review my reservation. No biggie for me, so I called my TA and she said we were reserved late dining on the waiting list for early dining. She also said be sure to book excursions EARLY!

Juli