What are the chances that my family of 5 wont have tablemates?

[hydster]

When we went on our last DCL cruise my inlaws went with us so we totaled 7 people and had our own table. How likely is it that we are going to be at a large table with another family??? No offense to any of you going but I really dont want to sit at dinner with anyone but my family. If the chances are pretty good I'm going to get put at a large table is there a way to request that we sit together???

I know someone out there understands how I feel and someone will know the answer.

Thanks!
Heidi

 

[SweetSpot]

You can request a table for just the 5 of you. Twice we've requested and both times we were seated alone.

 

[hydster]

Thanks Sweetspot! Did you request it in advance or when you got on board?

Heidi

 

[Rock'n Robin]

We are a family of 5. On the Wonder last year I assumed we would have tablemates but we didn't, and we had not requested it. Maybe they heard about my kids ahead of time!
Robin M.

 

[SweetSpot]

I made the request when I booked the cruise and called to confirm that the request was part of our reservation a couple weeks before the cruise. You can also request that they celebrate a special occasion with a cake at dinner when you make your reservation.

 

[westjones]

We always requested a table for 4 and got it, so I assume it would be no problem. Then on one cruise we were taken to a table that was clearly for 8 people (no one else was there at the time). I stopped and said, "Wait, I asked for a table of just 4." The server took me to the head server and they were able to find us another table (although we did have to change our rotation, but that didn't bother us at all).

So, on the last cruise I went down to the area where they were taking reservations and change requests on the first day just to make sure we were at a table for 4 only. We were, so no problem that time.

My point is, go ahead and request it, but you may want to verify it once you get on the ship. I was glad no one was already at the table when we were being seated, I wouldn't have wanted to offend anyone. So for now on I am checking ahead of time once we get on board.

DJ

 

[tecdavidt]

When it was all 6 of us we always had a table only for our family. When we dropped down to the 5 of us when were still seated with tablemates. The best part--it was the fellow DIS family of KathyTX!!! We had chatted on the board and when we sat down that first night it was--"you are tecdavidt!" Maybe you'll get lucky like we did. We had a fantastic time on that cruise. Kathy

 

[mmouse37]

We are a family of five and we cruised with another family of 5 and requested to be seated together.

Well, when we got to dinner we were seated at a table for 8 with 3 others and our friends were also at the next table of 8 with 3 others.

We thought we would have had a table for the 10 of us. The 3 with us, and the 3 with them were all duds and we did not have a good dining time. We wound up talking back and forth between the two tables with our friends.

DCL said they had no more tables for 10 that we could all sit at so we stuck it out. Out of 10 DCL cruises that only happened once.

MJ

 

[tvguy]

We don't know what kind of table we had to start with, the Head Server called us in our cabin about 4 pm and told us our table number had been changed. Wife, 2 kids and I ended up with a table for just the 4 of us. That was fine, first time we haven't had at least a table for 6 with 2 other folks, and we have always enjoyed the company...so it really didn't matter to us.

 

[princessof3boys]

We are a family of 5 and are concerned about the same thing.. It is not to be rude, it's just that we aren't great small talkers.

When are ya'll cruising? We are on the July 10=17th


Susan

 

[tezb]

We are family of 5 and were always seated w/ tablemates. First 2 cruises were with just 2 other people and 3rd was w/ a family of 3. It was fine the first 2 times and we enjoyed our tablemates... but the 3rd time we could have done w/out our tablemates. A little "odd" for us but as the week went on, it was fine. Funny, I know what others mean about being afraid to sit w/ strangers in case you don't hit it off, but my husband always thinks it will be more interesting than just us as a family!

 

[my3kids]

We are 5 and tried to get a table alone, but we were seated with another family of 3. I had called about it and it was on the reservation, but that didn't help me, unfortunately.

 

[cjsmith]

On our first cruise we were sat alone at a table and didn't request this. ON our second, I did request a table alone and we didn't receive it. My husband went up to our head server and he was able to change us. On our 3rd cruise, we should have been sat with our friends, but it got screwed up and thankfully Disney was able to change it. I also requested a table alone for our 4th cruise and checked right away on board where you make your dining change requests. They told me that it wasn't honored and they couldn't help me unless I would change to early seating. Well we went to our head server once we arrived and sure enough, there was a perfect table to move us to. It's not that I'm not friendly, but this is one of the few times we get to eat alone during this time of year as my husband has to go out most nights for work to different functions and it was important to me!

 

[kcashner]

If you want a table with just your family, call DCL (or have your TA call if you used one) and make that request in advance. That way, table seatings will be set up that way.

You can make the request at Dining Changes after boarding, but this makes more work for the staff. If you request in advance, your wish will be granted. After all, it's Magic!!!

 

[westjones]

Making the request doesn't mean you will get it. We always make the request for a table just for 4, but once we were put at a table for 8 (but were able to get it changed so we were at a table just for 4).

So now I make the request and THEN I go to the dining changes session and check on my request to make sure we have a table just for 4.

So I suggest doing both. Make the request, then when on board check to make sure your request was granted.

DJ

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by my3kids
We are 5 and tried to get a table alone, but we were seated with another family of 3. I had called about it and it was on the reservation, but that didn't help me, unfortunately.

I would have requested it again if that had happened to me..and again and again and again until they complied. I have NO desire to sit with others during dinner, I am going with my family and would like to have a nice dinner with them, not with others. Last cruise I requested it before hand and then the day we boarded I went to where they were doing dining changes just to make sure that we were seated alone.

 

[jrabbit]

We're shy, not great small talkers, but sharing a table with others has been a highlight of all of our cruises. Especially on a 7 night cruise you have time to really get to know one another. It's not like you are only going to have dinner with someone for one night and then someone else on another night, and someone else on the third night (Well we did kinda on one cruise - we were at a table of 5 families of 3 - and it turned out to be the most fun we have had with other families).

You sit with the same people and have a chance to get to know someone new. You will move beyond small talk after the first day.

 

[WMILLER86]

Can you request a large table with other familes? We are hoping that we get our family of 4 with another family of 4. Heck, part of the experience is meeting other people from other places! We went on a Carnival cruise last winter just to see if we would like being a ship, and we were disappointed that we had a little booth to ourselves. One lunch we were seated next to a great family from Alabama.
Our family eats alone with just us most nights, so this will be a chance to do something different! And even if the people you sit with are complete morons, you can always request to move. But I have a feeling that most folks on a Disney cruise will be regular disfunctional families like the rest of us!

Willie

 

[hydster]

Thanks to all of you who responded. This will be our 16th cruise and only our 2nd with all of our kids in tow so for us the tablemate thing is old hat. My husband will have been out of town for the whole month of April (we leave the 28th for 2 days at WDW) and we wont be seeing him except for 2 weekend days during the whole month so we would REALLY like it to be just the 5 of us being goofy together and not having to worry about others having to deal with all of us so excited to be together again after almost a whole month apart. We've had great experiences just hubby and I with tablemates and we still have a couple of really good friends who live in another state that we try to book cruises with as often as possible BUT I really would like it to be just my own nuclear family if possible. I NEVER EVER thought I would wish my inlaws were coming again and I dont for anything except this table seating thing

Anyway I sent an email to Tammy at DU to make sure she will request it and also plan on looking at our table ahead of time and working it out somehow. If we are seated with another family we probably will end up eating on deck alot just to be alone.

Anyway thanks again!
Heidi