Perks of second seating?! Your thoughts, with kids!

[NicholeB630]

Hi there! We are sailing our first cruise in April for spring break. We have two kids dd 11 and dd will be almost 8 (birthday in May) a little info about them, they are easy going, and we aren't schedule strict people. So we eat at random times all the time. I know some kids have to stick to a schedule and would be miserable eating late. Mine are not like that ...... Anyways when we booked we automatically got second seating and first I wanted to change it bc it seemed to late, but then I got to thinking that maybe its fine. We'll have more time to get ready etc and hit the shows first. Then we can just go back to cabin and hang out before we go to bed.

If you have kids and have done late dining, what did you like and didn't like? Perks, advice? Thanks!

 

[KashasMom]

We were booked 2nd seating several cruises ago when we booked late. We loved it! On a recent cruise we were with a toddler so booked early seating. The dining rooms were so LOUD and everything felt so rushed. Hopefully we never have to do it again! The only downside to 2nd seating is eating so close to bedtime. Need to find something to do between dinner and bedtime.

 

[gilsan]

We love late dining. You don't need to rush to get ready for dinner after a port day, you can skip the shows and have the pool to yourself. Second dining has less younger kids, (toddlers), and isn't as full as early dining. We have always been able to get a private table when we have requested, They also have the kids club counsellors come through the restaurant around 9:30 to take kids to the club.

 

[wishuponastar1984]

We loved late dining and the 9 year old adjusted just fine. Everything seemed to shift later which was quite nice, especially on sea days when everyone slept in a bit. Sleeping in and also having an afternoon for nap for kids (and adults!) worked out great. The 9yr old never naps at home but with all the activities and just convincing him to just lay down and "relax" he managed to get in at least 30-45 minutes of nap. We didn't force him but the quiet time with the light dimmed can convince anyone to nap. There were tons of kids still in the club at 11pm, so I think most kids adjust. We usually got an afternoon snack around 3 or 4 and then had popcorn during the early show, so nobody was starving. DCL also is really good at keeping the flow of food to your liking. The typical 3 course meal took about 1.5 hours but if you wanted it faster they would accommodate. With all the evening activity in the main dining rooms it seemed to be paced perfectly. We would pick late dining again. It also was great on pirate night as the show is in between the two dining times and those with first dinner had to really rush to get there. We were able to snag prime viewing spots since we were able to get out to the deck early and scope out the best spots. On the Wonder, when looking at the stage you want to be to the right of the stage on the balcony railing. This gave little ones a perfect view of the stage, zipline Mickey and the fireworks.

 

[lorimay]

We do late whether we have grandkids or not.
I just prefer it, no rushing to make it to dinner.
We get ready go to the show, then to the piano bar for a drink, then dinner.
When we have the grandkids, we bring them to dinner and the servers bring their food pretty quick, so they can go to the club at the 930ish pick-up. Most nights my granddaughter is done after dinner and we just take her back to the room.
My grandson is a trooper, wants to be in the club sun-up to closing time.

 

[Quellman]

Since your kids are flexible, I would consider staying with second seating. You aren't rushing back from excursions or pool time to get ready for dinner. I find that the shows can easily be skipped if presed for time, but you like to have a dinner right? They can use the time during first seating riding the aqua duck with minimal wait times. Oh - and you get late breakfast on the debarkation morning!

 

[celina14]

We have late dining on our upcoming cruise with a 5 and 8 year old. I actually think it will work better for us. My kids are pretty flexible and when they don't have school are night owls like me. They are also fine not being on a strict schedule and they do not like being rushed. Our plan is we will eat a snack later in the day from near the pool or whatever if we're hungry and can't wait until dinner. Also, I like not having to worry about rushing back on port days to make dinner, I like taking my time getting ready. With the late seating we can catch the early shows and then after dinner either go back to the room if they're sleepy or drop them at the kids club and go do one of the adult activities. The other thing I've read is that the people from the kids club come to the late seating at some point and will take kids back with them, you just let your server know so they can get the kids their food out before they leave.

 

[NicholeB630]

Thats great everyone thanks! I think it will work out perfect for our family. Im so excited. April needs to hurry up.

 

[greencandi]

Here's a video about why 2nd seating is better even with kids.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

Love, love, love late dining! It's not rushed and the dining rooms don't seem to crowded - you can linger over dessert and drinks if you'd like. Kids can head off with Youth Club CMs for dine & play, which my DD really enjoys. Also, you go to the fist show, so your kids are fresh and awake for the show - our DD is very into dance and performing, so watching all the shows is important to her.

 

[JaimeInParker]

Hi there! We are sailing our first cruise in April for spring break. We have two kids dd 11 and dd will be almost 8 (birthday in May) a little info about them, they are easy going, and we aren't schedule strict people. So we eat at random times all the time. I know some kids have to stick to a schedule and would be miserable eating late. Mine are not like that ...... Anyways when we booked we automatically got second seating and first I wanted to change it bc it seemed to late, but then I got to thinking that maybe its fine. We'll have more time to get ready etc and hit the shows first. Then we can just go back to cabin and hang out before we go to bed.

If you have kids and have done late dining, what did you like and didn't like? Perks, advice? Thanks!

We traveled with our son many times, from when he was 5 through 11 - we always had late seating because it makes it easier to not have to rush back to the ship from port days

 

[DisBNewB]

Sounds like you're happy with it, but just another chiming in that we loved it. Did our first cruise this past fall, and b/c we booked so late, late dining was our only choice. We were with our 9yo (turned 10 this month), and it was perfect.

I think the only downside was that my wife and I were always exhausted after dinner and too tired to do any of the evening activities, while our kiddo was still full of energy and ready to go. We did give them in/out privileges at the kids' club so a couple of the nights they went on their own and came back to the room when the activity they went for was done.

We're none of us morning people, so if you are, that might change things. But we'd get up and have a leisurely morning and eat a smaller/later breakfast. Have lunch and then a late afternoon snack, or (depending on when we ate breakfast or how much we ate, just eat a super late lunch. (We were on the magic, and I was a big fan of the "schwarma" (quotes, b/c it's not super authentic, but it was still tasty) around 4pm or so to get me through to dinner time.)

Our kiddo wasn't super into the shows, so I went to one of them, but otherwise we really loved having the ship empty out during first dining when half the folks were at dinner, and much of the other half in the theatre. I think that was my favorite time of day on the ship.

I'm sure it'll work out great for you guys - enjoy!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We prefer the 2nd seating and our youngest is much younger than yours. It allows for a relaxing afternoon and evening. And no one is going to bed early on DCL anyways...sleep when you get home!

 

[NicholeB630]

Sounds like you're happy with it, but just another chiming in that we loved it. Did our first cruise this past fall, and b/c we booked so late, late dining was our only choice. We were with our 9yo (turned 10 this month), and it was perfect.

I think the only downside was that my wife and I were always exhausted after dinner and too tired to do any of the evening activities, while our kiddo was still full of energy and ready to go. We did give them in/out privileges at the kids' club so a couple of the nights they went on their own and came back to the room when the activity they went for was done.

We're none of us morning people, so if you are, that might change things. But we'd get up and have a leisurely morning and eat a smaller/later breakfast. Have lunch and then a late afternoon snack, or (depending on when we ate breakfast or how much we ate, just eat a super late lunch. (We were on the magic, and I was a big fan of the "schwarma" (quotes, b/c it's not super authentic, but it was still tasty) around 4pm or so to get me through to dinner time.)

Our kiddo wasn't super into the shows, so I went to one of them, but otherwise we really loved having the ship empty out during first dining when half the folks were at dinner, and much of the other half in the theatre. I think that was my favorite time of day on the ship.

I'm sure it'll work out great for you guys - enjoy!

What would you all do if not in the shows? Just curious. Were only on a 5 night and Im sure we'll watch one or two but not sure every night. So wondering whats good to while waiting for dinner? thanks for the input.

 

[DisBNewB]

What would you all do if not in the shows? Just curious. Were only on a 5 night and Im sure we'll watch one or two but not sure every night. So wondering whats good to while waiting for dinner? thanks for the input.

Of course! Our kiddo usually spent the time doing an activity in the kids' club, or on the slides. (During dinner is the best time to do the slides - there's basically no line.) We'd do meet & greets during that time (again: much shorter lines!), movies, one night we did laps around deck 4, and honestly, my wife and I both really love the ocean, so enjoyed just sitting out on deck and watching the water go by with nobody else around.

(But mostly I was on deck 4, chilling and watching whatever was on funnel vision while my kiddo did the water slides over and over and over. XD)

 

[closetmickey]

Here's a video about why 2nd seating is better even with kids.

Love what she said about the shows! Even when my littlest was 3 we had late dining. Would much prefer her to be awake enjoying the show than awake to sit at a table.

 

[MissMet]

We LOVE late dining. Our kids are presently 4 and 5 so this coming cruise in three weeks will be the first that both are in the kids clubs. What we've done on past cruises, when they were in the nursery is...

1. Request a private table when we book. It's not guaranteed but we're going on 9 DCL cruises and they've always made it happen for us... from a party of two, four, six, and seven on both early and late seating.
2. If your kids are nursery age, pre-book the nursery every night from 8pm-closing.
3. Once on board, leisurely enjoy your days not feeling rushed to get back in time to get ready for dinner.
4. Once in your room to get showered for dinner, order your kids dinner from room service or send a spouse to retrieve QS dinner from the pool deck and let them eat in the room as the parents get ready for dinner.
5. Drop the kids (that normally are in bed at 7pm at home) off at the nursery with pajamas to be changed into and instructions to put them to sleep in the cribs in the nursery.
6. Enjoy date night EVERY night of your cruise without guilt and stay out as late as you want for the adult only entertainment.

MAGICAL

We will be doing the same in three weeks, but since they're older, we'll either do exactly the same but put them in the kids clubs, or have them participate in Dine & Play. We're gonna play it by ear.

 

[travelmomof3]

I've been going back and forth with this myself as we have second seating on our Alaska cruise this summer. We normally are early eaters - my teens like to eat every few hours...but I thought with the sun setting late it would give us more time to enjoy the day and then just turn in after dinner if we're tired. We cruise to the Caribbean later in the year and currently have first seating. I'm going to see how the Alaska cruise goes and decide then if we'll keep it or move it to second seating.

I would think if your kids don't mind later eating hours, keep it! You won't have to rush to dinner that way

 

[CamColt]

I have always had late dining even when my kids were 8 months and 3 1/2 years old. I eat very early at home but on a cruise I'm on a totally different time schedule. I like the idea of not being rushed getting ready for dinner or having to be back on the ship when we are out. Now that my kids are older and we spend most time at the adult area, I just love that quiet, late afternoon/early evening time laying by the pool (dozing off a bit), or having a cocktail at the adult pool bar. Its probably my favorite time of day on a cruise.

 

[Glenn3484]

My kids 3 and 6 at the time were falling asleep every night at late dining. Anyone wanna switch!! We cruise again in march and have late dining, lol