Skipping main dining

achinforsomebacon

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Mar 8, 2021
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I'm sure others really enjoy the sit down dinners on the cruises but I really don't like the idea, at least not every night. It seems like a big waste of time, especially on a shorter cruise.

Maybe I'm way off base (first Disney cruise coming up this year), but I don't see the appeal of this after doing freestyle dining on other cruises.

- who wants to spend an hour+ eating dinner every night on vacation? Especially when there are so many other fun things to do?
- I guess having a set time for dinner is nice so you know when it is but I'm also on vacation. I want to go with the flow and eat when I want (and when I'm hungry)
- don't know how common it is but I really don't want to be forced to eat with another family. I'm on vacation. I don't like talking to people in general. Don't ruin my meal on vacation.
- I think it's weird for the servers to follow you around each night and "get to know you".

Is there anybody out there who skips most/all of the main dinners? Would it be a mistake to only do main dining a few nights or not at all on a 5 night cruise?
 
I'm sure others really enjoy the sit down dinners on the cruises but I really don't like the idea, at least not every night. It seems like a big waste of time, especially on a shorter cruise.

Maybe I'm way off base (first Disney cruise coming up this year), but I don't see the appeal of this after doing freestyle dining on other cruises.

- who wants to spend an hour+ eating dinner every night on vacation? Especially when there are so many other fun things to do?
- I guess having a set time for dinner is nice so you know when it is but I'm also on vacation. I want to go with the flow and eat when I want (and when I'm hungry)
- don't know how common it is but I really don't want to be forced to eat with another family. I'm on vacation. I don't like talking to people in general. Don't ruin my meal on vacation.
- I think it's weird for the servers to follow you around each night and "get to know you".

Is there anybody out there who skips most/all of the main dinners? Would it be a mistake to only do main dining a few nights or not at all on a 5 night cruise?
Personally, we like dining with others. It's interesting and fun to meet new people.

I'll also point out that many of the dinners have a show (of sorts) included, if someone is interested.

That said, you do you. But there's no buffet service for dinner on DCL ships. So you're pretty much eating at the quick serve locations, or the extra cost venues. Or room service.
 
You can request a private table. Having the same servers throughout the cruises helps with food allergies and drinks. After the first night, your server will have your drinks ready to go when you sit down.

Some of the restaurants have a show aspect to them. They also schedule the entertainment around the dining times. For example a Broadway show will have early evening and later evening performances so you just go to the show that’s opposite your dining time.

There’s 24 hr room service and the pool deck food court will be open during dinner time but the buffet that is open during breakfast and lunch is closed. So if you don’t eat at dining rooms, it’s mainly quick service type food.

You can also pay extra for the higher end Palo/Remy dining where it’s more upscale dining with a dress code.
 
I don't think you'll be missing out on anything by eating a sit-down dinner if that's what you're concerned about. By dinnertime, even on port days, you'll have to be back aboard the ship.

And as others have mentioned, the evening shows have two showtimes so that you can always catch it opposite your dinnertime. And the some of the dinners themselves ARE shows, so personally, I'd feel like I was missing out on a big part of the experience by skipping the main meals.
 
I like the dinner with shows and trying the different restaurants, but yeah I wish there was a quick option for dinner on nights when I don’t want to have a long sit down. Maybe I spent the day at the beach and would rather grab food and rest. Maybe I’m not feeling great but want something different than the room service.

I also don’t like sitting with strangers. I go on vacation to get away from spending time with people. I don’t mind getting to know the staff though. They are almost always lovely.

I feel like Disney is old school in a lot of ways when it comes to cruising.
 
The only night I skip is Pirate Night (because I hate the menu), and that's when I do Palo. But I enjoy the other menus of the MDRs
 
I've skipped a few meals. I don't like sitting there for that long every night. The other food options are extremely limited, but it's nice to grab a burger or whatever and sit outside and then go do something else right afterwards. Your servers might get worried about you not showing up, but they understand if you wanted to do something else at that time.
 
I opted out of MDR on a 14 night TransAtlantic cruise a couple years ago and will do the same later this year. I cruise solo. Generally the buffet lunch is my main meal of the day. I grabbed a couple of rolls and pieces of cheese to have for “dinner” but you can also find food at the pool deck or order room service or, heck, have soft serve for dinner! I also brought some snacks from home like peanut butter filled pretzels from Trader Joe’s.

For me, it was about the time involved. And I’m not really fond of the shows.

Upon boarding, I did go to the Food Desk (whatever it’s called) and told them I would not be at dinner. A little push back that I’d be missing out, but I told them I would if course pay the recommended tips to the dining room staff.

I do wish Disney would have some sort of free style option at dinner, besides chicken tenders, but I didn’t feel like I really missed out on anything.
 
Servers will also assist you to get in and out very quickly if that is your preference. One cruise I’m guessing there was a family who requested this as each meal, by the time we and other tables had finished our appetizers this family had completed their meal and left the restaurant.
 
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Servers will also assist you to get in and out very quickly if that is your preference. One cruise I’m guessing there was a family who requested this as each meal, by the time we and other tables had finished our appetizers this family had completed their meal and left the restaurant.
We generally request this, but not that fast! Our biggest issue is when they try to keep tables on the same timing and other tables have special requests, wine service, and/or arrive late.
 
Neither DH or I have a need for the MDR experience. I personally don't mind a TS experience but DH would rather be elsewhere. Of the 9 DCL cruises we've enjoyed, twice we were matched with a server whose personality didn't jive with ours and for those cruises we avoided the MDR. We usually give ourselves a 'night off' which is always mentioned. The last 3N cruise we enjoyed we didn't go to the MDR at all. I have to say, it felt odd - like we were doing something wrong. We've found deviating from the schedule it is noted and mentioned. LOL

A couple things we've learned to do is to accept dessert, because the servers always have a problem with this, and to not order drinks because it seems to take forever for the drink bill to arrive. We had one guy keep us at the table doing magic tricks. He was cute but we didn't really see the need as we were ready to leave but we didn't want to be rude. On our last cruise a night was very rough and we were the only table there for our set of servers, They basically spent the entire meal talking to us, which was okay. DH gave them each a hug the last night and he usually is the one running for the door. LOL
 
As far as dining with others, as a party of 4, we've never shared a table in the 4 Disney cruises we've done. Last 2 cruises, I did click the option for private table on the app ahead of time. Note that even with your own table you may be just inches away from another table...but you don't have to talk to them, 😂

We enjoy the main dining rooms, with a set time there's no waiting for a table, and you go to the theater show opposite your dining time. You can pick as many or as few of the courses as you want. Also enjoy having the same servers. I just consider it all part of the Disney experience.

If you don't want to do the main dining for dinner, there is free room service and there is some quick service food available by the pool. Also 1 main dining room is open for lunch, go anytime it's open, so that's an option if you want a multicourse meal at lunch instead of dinner.
 
I'm sure others really enjoy the sit down dinners on the cruises but I really don't like the idea, at least not every night. It seems like a big waste of time, especially on a shorter cruise.

Maybe I'm way off base (first Disney cruise coming up this year), but I don't see the appeal of this after doing freestyle dining on other cruises.

- who wants to spend an hour+ eating dinner every night on vacation? Especially when there are so many other fun things to do?
- I guess having a set time for dinner is nice so you know when it is but I'm also on vacation. I want to go with the flow and eat when I want (and when I'm hungry)
- don't know how common it is but I really don't want to be forced to eat with another family. I'm on vacation. I don't like talking to people in general. Don't ruin my meal on vacation.
- I think it's weird for the servers to follow you around each night and "get to know you".

Is there anybody out there who skips most/all of the main dinners? Would it be a mistake to only do main dining a few nights or not at all on a 5 night cruise?
If you'd prefer not to dine with other people, our experience with Disney has been that late dining offers more flexibility to dine on your own.

That being said, our last 3 cruises our groups of 7 (early dining on Wonder), 5 (early dining on Fantasy) and 2 (late dining on Fantasy) asked to dine on our own and it was granted each time.
 
You can do whatever you want! We left the Marvel dinner early as soon as we sat down as our kid was a little frightened of the loud sound and bright screens. Didn’t matter to us.
 


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