What time for dinner for a four year old and a single parent?

[dreaminofdisney]

I'm really considering booking a cruise for myself and my DD (she will turn four the day before the cruise). How do you all decide on what time to try to get dinner for. Late or early? What are your reasons? I will be booking a 3 day cruise most likely. Maybe a four day. I would just like to be ready when I call my travel agent.
Thanks!!

 

[nswift]

I just got back from a 7 night with two teens, and we had the late seating. I would definately go for the early seating with a four year old. We frequently didn't get done with dinner until 10pm---of course, we got along well with our tablemates and they were talkative. Also, we noticed that early seating was primarily families with smaller children, and the late seating was a larger adult only or teens.
Go ahead and book it, you both will have a blast!
Nadja

 

[Dreamer04]

I suggest early dinner. For my DD 6, 6:30 was just right.

 

[hydster]

When we went 2 years ago we had a 3 year old, 7 and 8 and we had early seating and it was perfect. We have early again for our cruise in 2 weeks and I think it will be nice. While having to get ready earlier is kind of a pain it is worth it to us in the end...if the kids fall asleep in the show at least they have had something to eat. When our youngest gets older maybe 9 or 10 we'll think about late but for now early seems to be the choice for our family. Our kids are now 10, 9 and 5.

Heidi

 

[clh2]

Hi dreamingofdisney...

One thing you may want to consider is what time you are used to eating - considering that you are coming from the west coast - a late seating may work for you.

Some people order a snack from room service or get something from the scoops, then going to the early show followed by the late seating. Some say the younger kids enjoy the early show and possibly snooze a little during the late dinner.

It all boils down to your personal preference, and if the seating you would prefer is available.

If you are looking for opinions on the 3-nt vs. the 4-nt, many on this board say the 3-day just isn't long enough. There are many fun things to do on the day at sea that the 4-nt cruisers get.

Be sure to bring a princess dress for your DD. The characters on board really "fuss" over the mini-princesses and mini-Minnies!

How did your Cindy's breakfast go last October?

Have fun planning!
Cheryl

 

[mobetsy]

We were on the Magic, coming from CA, and found that even with the change in time, early seating worked great for us with ds9 and ds5. We did the matinee shows, so never had to worry about the kids falling asleep during the show (since they did at dinner a couple of times, it obviously would've happened!), which have the advantage of being less crowded, and then could completely relax after dinner.

 

[dreaminofdisney]

I think the earlier dinner sounds better for us. We adjust very well and quickly to the time change and I think an early, shorter dinner with a show after sounds good.

Originally posted by clh2
Hi dreamingofdisney...

How did your Cindy's breakfast go last October?

Have fun planning!
Cheryl

Good to here from you! Cindy's was great! We even got to go again when we went in February.

How was your cruise?

 

[mickeyboat]

My DD's were exhausted at dinner time. DD3 fell asleep at dinner twice and every time we went to a show after dinner, they fell asleep. They actually fell asleep in the matinees too. I thinkg early seating would be the best choice for you. If you don't get it right away when you book, don't despair. You can be put on the wait list and you can make changes once you board.

Denae

 

[LogansMommy_MD]

Carolyn,
I'm a single parent of a DS5 and we're going on our first disney cruise on 5/1. I chose late seating.

I had actually planned early, but at the time, was waitlisted. I thought about the pros and cons and decided to stay at late seating for the following reasons:

1) We are not morning people and I knew that sleeping in would be an option to "make up" for any late nights..
2) I knew that if DS was hungry, there were plenty of options beforehand to get some munchies or for him to eat. I have discussed with him that this is OUR vacation and that if he didn't want to eat with me but go to the kids club, he could. (Except for formal night which will be the only "requirement").
3) I didn't want us to have to rush to get dressed for dinner; I wanted us to enjoy the early shows and to not feel hurried at the end of the day...

Again, this is just MY decision based on my DS and what I thought would work best for us. Of course it may not work out that well at all, but that will be determined.

HTH,
Tracey

 

[bevL]

I was on the Wonder last December with my three year old daughter.

We had the late dinner seating and it was perfect for us.

She took hour or so nap each afternoon (around 4pm) then had a good snack from room service. That gave us just enough time to get prettied up for the early show.

My DD tends to get hyper as she gets tired and I figured that it would be less disruptive at dinner than at the show. And if we did have to pack up and leave it's a lot easier to take what's left of dinner back to your room than what's left of the show.

As it was, we didn't have any problems and she even manage to stay well behaved for some after dinner entertainment.


Bev

 

[ValDisney]

Hi. I'm a single parent too. My DS is 4 (will be 5 when we cruise in DEC). I boooked early seating bc we eat early at home. I just figured they might be too cranky later and wanted a peaceful meal.
Does anybody know if they seat single parents together?It would be a great idea for parents as well as children. Maybe we could start a whole new group.