what time is first seating dining done?

[Lisa F]

I am traveling solo with my kiddo and back and forth about whether to book Palo dinner or not. We had agreed to have dinner together every night, but best suggestion I've seen was to go to regular dinner and have a cocktail (or a few) while your family eats and then have your adult dinner. I think that would work for us actually. We can sit and catch up and I can enjoy a glass of wine or two in peace.

I know 8:15 pm would be safe as that is second seating, but what would be the earliest that would be safe? Actually my kiddo tends to not like any of the appetizers anyway (even kid choices) so we could probably even skip that and go straight to entree and dessert. Would 7:30 be reasonable? How about 7? I'd be planning to do it on semi-formal night so I'd want to let him change and get comfortable for evening's activities but I would not have to "get ready" in between.

Thanks!

 

[brownmajik]

Probably depends on how quickly he eats. The kids meals come out early to begin with. I'm sure the servers would work with you to make it happen. I can see 7:30 being reasonable. I'm guessing you'll also need time to drop him off at the kids club prior to heading to Palo

 

[ILoveMyKellen]

We are usually finished between 7:15 and 7:30. That gives us time to gets drinks before a show or whatever we need to do.

 

[Lisa F]

Probably depends on how quickly he eats. The kids meals come out early to begin with. I'm sure the servers would work with you to make it happen. I can see 7:30 being reasonable. I'm guessing you'll also need time to drop him off at the kids club prior to heading to Palo

He is 11 so he eats a hybrid of adult and kid menu items (will often have a steak with some mac and cheese on the side) and will be going to the Edge, where I don't need to check him in/out. I'd probably swing by with him but it's kind of sort of on the way.

 

[Lisa F]

We are usually finished between 7:15 and 7:30. That gives us time to gets drinks before a show or whatever we need to do.

wondering if I skip apps and let my server know that I need to be out of there by 7:15 if we'd be able to pull that off without drama. it's 1.5 hours, seems reasonable!

 

[ILoveMyKellen]

wondering if I skip apps and let my server know that I need to be out of there by 7:15 if we'd be able to pull that off without drama. it's 1.5 hours, seems reasonable!

I don’t see why that would be a problem. I know we have told our servers that we had to leave early for something and they were more than accommodating. I think you’ll be ok.

 

[MomOTwins]

We pretty much always got done at 7:15 even with apps and dessert.

 

[ajgardner]

We are piggies at dinner on our cruises Each person has at least one appetizer, we sometimes have an extra full meal brought to share for dinner if there are too many choices and we each get dessert. My husband always has a couple beers with dinner also. With that said we rarely went past 7:20pm and never felt rushed. The days that we did go later often were because the server was doing tricks or puzzles for us. I’m positive if you told the server you had to leave by a certain time he/she would make it work. With just your kid eating I see no reason why you couldn’t be done by 7:00.

 

[hnthomps]

Easily. On our first cruise with our two kids and two adults we were sometimes back in the room by 7pm. And we always had 2 courses. And never asked them to rush or anything. I am sure that if you said you needed to be done by 715 it would be fine - as long as you are on time to dinner.

 

[anjuan]

I would just make sure you're there right when it opens and let your servers know your timeline and you shouldn't have any problems!

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

If you talk with your server the night before about your plans, they may offer to have you look over the menu in the Cruise App for the following night, and have you place your order ahead of time to have it ready at a quicker pace.

On one cruise we were going to be about 15 minutes late to dinner. Our port excursion was going to be getting back right as dinner started, we didn't want to miss out on dinner and our serving team (they were the best!) and have to eat elsewhere. We mentioned we would not be getting back right as dinner started, and said we would miss dinner with them that next night. They offered to have us order right then for the next night, and that way our being back only 15 minutes late didn't affect the dinner service or the dining staff. It worked great! We did go to diner a bit under dressed, but no one else cared and neither did we!!

Bottom line, speak with your serving team the night before and see what they suggest.

 

[disneylove69]

Tell your server you have Palo and they will bring the kids food right out.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

We do early dining and usually wrap up between 7:15 and 7:30. Many diners have already finished by the time we are done, since we usually have to wait while DW places her order for the next night (gluten free order).