Pros/Cons on Early Dinner vs. Late Dinner - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
PassPorter.com
Award-winning travel guidebooks

   guidebooks   |   news   |   podcasts   |   boards   |   blog   |   worksheets   |   photos   |   articles   |   updates   |   register   |   follow us on


Forums Closed
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.

So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.

Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.

And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.

We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm​. You made it all happen.

There are other changes as well.

Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:

We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.

It's time to move on and move forward.

PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.

But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.

So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.

And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.

That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!

If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.

So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

Go Back   PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums > PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line > Planning Your Disney Cruise Voyage
Register


Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.

To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.

If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-08-2010, 01:01 PM   #1
planningWDWtrips
Community Rank: Sightseer
 
planningWDWtrips's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 52

Post Thanks / Like
Pros/Cons on Early Dinner vs. Late Dinner

This is our families (me, DH, DS9 & DD7) first cruise. What can you tell us about the pros and cons of an early dinner vs. a late dinner?
__________________
Pam, DH, DS9 & DD8
My Countdown Counting down to: Our next trip to WDW
Since our trip to WDW
My Previous Trips2011: The Fountains (offsite), Kidani, All Star Sports, BLT, DCL 2010: AS-Sports, Pop & DCL, POR 2009: WL, CSR, offsite 2008: Pop 2007: Pop
planningWDWtrips is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2010, 01:46 PM   #2
Colexis Mom
RED SOX NATION!!
PassPorter's Club Passholder


What's this?

PassPorter Guide

Community Rank:
Legend VIP
 
Colexis Mom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Connecticut
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 136,854

Post Thanks / Like
We've had early seating both times. We prefer it, as we eat early at home, so it keeps us on schedule (I guess that would be the "pro"). Plus I don't like to eat late and go to bed stuffed to the gills. The "cons" are sometimes the kids didn't want to go to the show after dinner, or were too tired (more our first trip than the second). If you have a late excursion, you could be rushing around to get to dinner on time (happened to us once in Cozumel).
__________________
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsAUG '16 - POFQ, APR '12 - POFQ, JUL '10 - DL, AUG '09 - DCL Western, AUG '08 - POFQ/BC, AUG '06 - AKL/BC/DisneyWonder/Poly, DEC '05 - AKL, APR '05 - AKL/BC, DEC '04 - AKL, MAY '04 - AKL/BC, MAY '03 - WL/BC, MAY '98 -offsite, MAY '94 - BC, AUG '85 - Poly, AUG '83 - Poly, AUG '81 - Poly, JUL '79 - World Inn, JUL '76 - World Inn
Colexis Mom is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2010, 04:24 PM   #3
Magic#7564
Community Rank: Traveler
 
Magic#7564's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 238

Post Thanks / Like
We had the second seating dinner on our last cruise and we liked it. It gives you the luxury of not having to hurry for dinner. We were concerned about eating dinner early and then not feeling like going to the shows, so by choosing second seating, that gave us the opportunity to not be rushed or being too stuffed to go to a show It also depends on your kids. You know what your kids will be able to handle. Have fun!!
__________________


Cozumel, Mexico February 2011

My Previous TripsWDW 1993, WDW 1996, DL 1999,WDW 2003, Jamaica All Inclusive 2004,WDW 2006, DCL 2009, DCL 2011
Magic#7564 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2010, 09:12 PM   #4
TracyKim
Community Rank: Trekker
 
TracyKim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Orlando Florida
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 1,749

Post Thanks / Like
I know that on RCC most of the families did the early seating and at the late seatings there were more "just adult" tables. Is it like that on a Disney cruise??
__________________


I NEED A COUNTDOWN!!!!!


"This is my family. I found it, all on my own. It's little,and broken, but still good. Yeah, still good."
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsWDW-WL-May-2010, DCL Dream-Bahamas 3 Night-May 2011, DCL Dream-Bahamas 4 Night-May 2011.
TracyKim is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2010, 12:28 AM   #5
Dave Marx
PassPorter Guide Author

PassPorter Author


PassPorter's Club Passholder
What's this?

Community Rank: Explorer
 
Dave Marx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Ann Arbor, MI USA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 14,427

Post Thanks / Like
Yes, that's the tendency, but probably not to as great a degree on DCL. Early seating is almost always wait-listed due to the families with kids that request it. Simply because of the number of families on DCL, fewer get early seating than would like it, meaning more families with kids even on the late seating. There is, however, also a tendency on DCL to group adults without kids on one dining rotation, families with older kids on a different rotation, and families with small kids on the third rotation. During the school year, this is easier to detect than during school vacation periods, when the number of families is especially high.
__________________


Co-Author, PassPorter's Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter's Disneyland and Southern California Attractions

http://www.passporter.com/
My Countdown Counting down to: Disney Magic Post-Drydock
My PassPorter Bookshelf <table width=100% height=75 border=0><tr><td style='background-image: url(http://www.passporter.com/forums/club/images/bookshelf/shelf8.png); background-repeat: no-repeat;'><a href='http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/club/bookshelf.php?member=8&name=Dave Marx' border=0><img src='http://www.passporter.com/forums/club/images/bookshelf/transparent.png' height=75 width=100% border=0></a></td></tr></table>
My Previous TripsToo many to recall!
Dave Marx is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2010, 10:28 AM   #6
planningWDWtrips
Community Rank: Sightseer
 
planningWDWtrips's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 52

Post Thanks / Like
We eat early at home and aren't doing any excursions so that isn't an issue for us. We are really taking it easy for our first cruise and being VERY laid back. Basically just taking it all in and sitting back so as to relax after our 6 days in the parks. If the kids don't want to go to the shows we won't make them. I have a feeling they will want to stay in the kids clubs...hey, more alone time with my DH. As a family we are usually early risers and then tend to chill out in the evenings anyway.
__________________
Pam, DH, DS9 & DD8
My Countdown Counting down to: Our next trip to WDW
Since our trip to WDW
My Previous Trips2011: The Fountains (offsite), Kidani, All Star Sports, BLT, DCL 2010: AS-Sports, Pop & DCL, POR 2009: WL, CSR, offsite 2008: Pop 2007: Pop
planningWDWtrips is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2010, 02:00 PM   #7
HeatherD
When you wish upon a star
PassPorter's Club Passholder


What's this?

Community Rank: Globetrotter
 
HeatherD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Las Vegas
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 3,604

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by planningWDWtrips View Post
We eat early at home and aren't doing any excursions so that isn't an issue for us. We are really taking it easy for our first cruise and being VERY laid back. Basically just taking it all in and sitting back so as to relax after our 6 days in the parks. If the kids don't want to go to the shows we won't make them. I have a feeling they will want to stay in the kids clubs...hey, more alone time with my DH. As a family we are usually early risers and then tend to chill out in the evenings anyway.
That describes us, too, so we opt for early seating. If we're getting up for 8:00 or 9:00 excursions, then the kids need to be in bed around 10 (at the latest) if we don't want Grumpy Grumps on our hands. I can't imagine finishing a meal at 9:30 and then putting the kids to bed right away.

Take this with a grain of salt, however. Because of my daughter's swim practice schedule, we eat dinner before 5:00 at home! (Though we did choose early seating even before this crazy dinner schedule happened to our family....)
__________________

Disneyland - Dec 2011

Heather
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsDLR 1976, DLR 1981, DLR 1985, WDW 1988, DLR 1992, DLR 1993, WDW 1995 All-Star Music, WDW 1998 (Honeymoon) All-Star Sports, DLR 2000-2010 annually, WDW 2007 Animal Kingdom Lodge, DCL Wonder 2007, WDW 2009 Pop Century, DCL Magic 2009, WDW 2010 Port Orleans French Quarter, WDW 2012 Pop Century, RCI Alaskan Cruise 2014, WDW/USO 2016 Pop Century and Portofino Bay
HeatherD is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2010, 05:53 PM   #8
modisney
Community Rank: Trekker
 
modisney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 1,969

Post Thanks / Like
We like the later seating so we're not rushed to get to dinner, especially the first night on board. We usually get a little something on deck 9 or through room service to tide us over and by doing that skip an appetizer. Our DDs were the same age as you kiddos on our first cruise and the late seating didn't bother then at all. Another plus is that around 5:00, the pools are fairly empty if they want to swim. On our second cruise they were the only ones in the pool We're also not big on desserts so we usually skip that as well which helps us to not be too full at bed time.
__________________
We Luv WDW
My Previous Trips4 M.K. visits 70s/80s, Epcot '88 & '90, M.K. June '04; M.K., A.K., Cont. March '05; M.K. June '05; Epcot, MGM, M.K. Yacht Club March '06; M.K., June '06; Wonder 4 nights, March '07; M.K., Grand Floridian, June '07; M.K., Epcot, Studios, Yacht Club, March '08, M.K. & A.K.L. June '08; the Wonder, March '09, the Poly June '09; G.F. March '10, W.L. '10; W.L. March '11; A.K.L. June '11; Alaska July 2011; W.L., March '12; GF, June '12; Fantasy/Western, March '13
modisney is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2010, 07:27 AM   #9
nurse_mom
Community Rank: Globetrotter
 
nurse_mom's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ohio
Posts: 3,093

Post Thanks / Like
We have done both. I have to say we will never to late dinig again, while the kids are young. We only went to the dining room 2 times with the kids. Both times the 2 year old fell asleep, one DD got sick and another night my D& fell asleep at the table as well. They did not enjoy their meals. However I had high hopes I would like this dining time, and not having the rushed feeling. However your kids are older and most likely be able to have a late seating without problems
__________________
My Countdown Counting down to: June of 2016 Can we wait that long!!!
My Previous TripsWDW 1985, WDW 1989, WDW 1995, WDW 2007, Disney Wonder 2008, SSR 2009, AKL 2010, DCL 5 night cruise May 30th 2010. WDW Jan 2011. 6 days at Treehouses and 7 day on the Fantasy. Old Key West Nov 2012. Treehouses Oct 2013. Beach Club villas and Bay Lake Towers May/June 2014. Sept 2014 Offsite 4 days and OKW for 5. Wonder Feb 2015, VGF for a short stay/
nurse_mom is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2010, 09:27 AM   #10
lisamarch
Community Rank: Sightseer
 
lisamarch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 75

Post Thanks / Like
We chose late dining because if you are hungry there is always something to eat earlier, including the cheese and crackers through room service. Whenever we go out (including with our son) we eat last. I'd rather have fun first. Then after dinner there's time to take a walk or dance or whatever. If we ate early I'd want to go to bed early, and that's not "vacation" to me. However, my son is almost 9. That makes a difference.
__________________
Lisa
My Countdown Counting down to: Next Trip to WDW and First Disney Cruise!
WDW Trip November 23-27, 2010! Disney Magic Nov. 27-Dec 4, 2010!
My Previous TripsWDW Nov. 2006
lisamarch is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2010, 12:40 PM   #11
sueh818
Community Rank: Traveler
 
sueh818's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Los Angeles, California
Concierge Level: 1
Posts: 495

Post Thanks / Like
One thing to keep in mind is what time zone you are coming from.

We are early eaters so my hubby and I chose the the early seating for our anniversary cruise last year. It never occured to us the time difference between California and Florida. At 5:30 Florida time (2:30 CA time) we weren't really hungry yet. I think late seating 8:30 FL time (5:30 CA time) would have been better.
__________________
Sue • PassPorter Street Team Volunteer



My Countdown Counting down to: Grand Californian Getaway
On my way home!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsLots & lots of Disneyland; 2008 DCL Mexican Riviera; 2009 WDW Saratoga Springs & DCL Wonder; 2011 DCL Mexican Riviera
sueh818 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-12-2010, 01:14 PM   #12
planningWDWtrips
Community Rank: Sightseer
 
planningWDWtrips's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 52

Post Thanks / Like
I'm thinking we will stick to the early dinner time for now. The only time we might feel rushed is our first night. However if I can schedule us all to be showered (we will go swimming after lunch), dressed and ready to go after the sail away party we should be fine.

Since we aren't doing any excursions we won't feel rushed to get back on the ship. Our Nassau day will be relaxing since we are only getting off the ship to get our passports sighed and then getting right back on. On our Castaway Cay day we are getting off the ship as soon as we can and will board late afternoon. I know being on the beach for several hours will be plenty enough for us.

Thanks to all who have chimmed in!!
__________________
Pam, DH, DS9 & DD8
My Countdown Counting down to: Our next trip to WDW
Since our trip to WDW
My Previous Trips2011: The Fountains (offsite), Kidani, All Star Sports, BLT, DCL 2010: AS-Sports, Pop & DCL, POR 2009: WL, CSR, offsite 2008: Pop 2007: Pop
planningWDWtrips is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2010, 02:06 PM   #13
HeatherD
When you wish upon a star
PassPorter's Club Passholder


What's this?

Community Rank: Globetrotter
 
HeatherD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Las Vegas
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 3,604

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by sueh818 View Post
One thing to keep in mind is what time zone you are coming from.

We are early eaters so my hubby and I chose the the early seating for our anniversary cruise last year. It never occured to us the time difference between California and Florida. At 5:30 Florida time (2:30 CA time) we weren't really hungry yet. I think late seating 8:30 FL time (5:30 CA time) would have been better.
I've considered this before - keeping the family on PST, so we could stay up until midnight or so and still be to bed at our body's "normal" time. But, that would mean we'd also be sleeping in until 8 or 9, and if I wake up that late I feel like I've missed a good part of the day and/or all the good times for excursions or beach spots...

To combat that, we get up super early on our travel day (4:00 here is 7:00 there), so that when we get to FL late in the afternoon, our bodies have already begun the time shift (read: we're already dead tired). And after a day of travel and either sandwiches from home or airport/airline food, we're ready for a meal when we land!
__________________

Disneyland - Dec 2011

Heather
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsDLR 1976, DLR 1981, DLR 1985, WDW 1988, DLR 1992, DLR 1993, WDW 1995 All-Star Music, WDW 1998 (Honeymoon) All-Star Sports, DLR 2000-2010 annually, WDW 2007 Animal Kingdom Lodge, DCL Wonder 2007, WDW 2009 Pop Century, DCL Magic 2009, WDW 2010 Port Orleans French Quarter, WDW 2012 Pop Century, RCI Alaskan Cruise 2014, WDW/USO 2016 Pop Century and Portofino Bay
HeatherD is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2010, 07:46 PM   #14
KSSteve
Community Rank: Wayfarer
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 138

Post Thanks / Like
We like late dining so we aren't rushed getting back from excursions
__________________
Steve
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsWDW Nov 1989 CBR, Nov 1998 CBR, Nov 2009 Lake Buena Vista Resort, Nov 2009 Disney Wonder, DL Multiple trips
KSSteve is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2010, 09:19 PM   #15
Geotash
Community Rank: Passenger
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 35

Post Thanks / Like
We loved the late seating. We would have a swim in the near empty pool and then shower and relax during the early meal. The only disadvantage was that we got along so well with our table mates that one night we didn't leave the table until after 10:30 and the night of the Pirates in the Caribbean Party we almost missed the fireworks because we were still chatting in the dining room. Also we were not hungry for the buffet on deck as we had just finished eating.
__________________
Our Dream - to some day do a Disney Transatlantic Cruise
My Previous Trips1976- WDW off site , 1981-WDW Poly, 1983- WDW FW, 2001- WDW FW, 2005-WDW CBR, 2006-WDW POFQ, 2008- DL off site, 2008 WDW-AK, 2009-WDW Poly & DCL Wonder, 2010-DLP off site, Jan 2011 -WDW CBR
Geotash is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Reply




Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump














Please login or register to hide these ads -- it's free and easy!

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:32 PM.

-->

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like v3.4.0 Patch Level 1 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
(c) 1998-2017 PassPorter Travel Press/MediaMarx, Inc.
Celebrating 19 Years of Making Dreams Come True
Ad Management plugin by RedTyger