Dining Time- what do I want? About This Page:

[hollypoast]

When I booked our reservation I selected the main dining setting. I was looking at our reservation online last night and it seems we may have been bumped to the late seating. I plan to call today to ask about but I'm a little on the fence about what I really want.

On one hand, I'm traveling with a 3 year old so I think early would be better.

On the other hand, we are from WI (central time) so even if we ate at 8pm it would really seem more like 7 pm plus two of the days in port the departure time is after the first seating starts.

And since you are reading this.... what night (on a 7 ngt cruise) should I book Palo?

Help me... what do I want.

[Susu]

I was on the fence at first too. Like you I requested early dining and was at first put on late dining. But when I thought about it, I realized that I would like that better anyway.

1. You can always pick up a snack or even meal or with room service for the kids earlier if they get hungry. You could even plan for a light "meal" at four or so to tide them over.

2. Some of the times I will have the kids eat with the kid's club, so they won't be eating with us some of the nights anyway.

3. It would be nice to sit in a dining room with fewer kids for a relaxed meal! (Although I am sure there will be plenty of kids in there too.)

4. More time to get back from excursions and shower and change. I hate to be rushed for a meal.

Susu

[Colexis Mom]

We've always done early seating! We're early eaters at home, so it just works for us. As for Palo, we had dinner there on our Grand Cayman day (Day 4 - Tuesday).

[modisney]

We like the later seating as we don't feel so rushed to get back to the ship/finish up our activities to get to dinner. You can order room service or head to Pluto's etc. to get something to tide everyone over. There's also time for a quick nap as well.

[moneyhappy]

We prefer early seating. It is busier during early seating. If you are doing an excursion (or something) then skip the restaurant and go to the buffet, room service, or quick snack restaurant.

If you go with late seating you will have to see the theater shows before dinner instead of after. Also, I have seen people still setting at the tables at 9 PM. They play moves over the family pool on the deck, but I do not know what time they start. I am not sure, but you may miss part of the movie if you have late seating?

On pirate night skip dinner there is a BBQ buffet on the deck. Go early and get a good spot on the deck. We like to stand on the balcony overlooking the deck below facing the screen. There is another reason for stand there, but I do not want to give all the surprises away. You may want to stand on the covered pool deck so your kid and dance with some of the Disney characters.

There is always food and thinks to do, so if you cannot get main dining again you will still have fun.

[marshmellow86]

We are typically early eaters at howme too. We have done the early seating 4 times and last time got the late seating. We were not too hungry for the late seating and actually liked going to the shows before dinner (easier to find a seat, as less crowded) and had more time to do the other activities. Plus they have started a "Dine and Play" option at the later seating for people with kids. Tell your server that your child wants "Dine and Play" and they will get their meal out much faster, they can eat and the Kids Club will come down at an assigned time (9 pm maybe?) and register your child for the kids club and take them back there, while you enjoy / finish dinner. It was great!!!!
Plus you get the later seating of breakfast the last day of the cruise!!!! nice for those of us not wanting a 6 am breakfast!
enjoy!

[sueh818]

You're right that the time change makes a difference.

We are early eaters so and are from the west coast so on our mexican riviera cruise it was important to us to get the early seating and I'm glad we did because I would see people eating at 8:30 and think I'm so glad I'm not eating a heavy meal right now.

So when DH and I went on the 4-night out of Florida we requested early seating again. Once we were there we realized that with the time change from West to East, 8:30 was equal to our 5:30 and would have worked out better for us.

And I definitely vote "yes" for Palo!