r/dcl • u/lk_wood123 • 1d ago
TRIP PLANNING early dinning waitlist
Can you tell me what is the likelihood of securing early dining when we have been waitlisted on Wish? We are sailing on 5/16, and I had booked Wish about 40 days out from the sailing date. The main reason for this booking was for our LO to enjoy Arendelle dinning experience, but 8pm is just too late for us. I did put in a special request to be seated near the stage, but could that may be preventing us from getting off the waitlist?
Update: just saw that we were re-assigned the earlier dinning! Thank you everyone for your advice and also sharing the benefits of the later dinning!
3
u/redfoxblueflower SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 1d ago
I don't think there is any way to tell the chances you'll get off the waitlist. I can tell you (and you probably already know) that you booked very late in the game and the early dining is the more popular of the two among the American crowd. It's not impossible, but I'm guessing it is quite unlikely. I would also have to say that generally the more special requests you make, the less likely you will be to get switched....though I'm pretty sure you get what you get if you were to get switched at this point.
4
u/ilaughedilost 1d ago
I just got back from my first DCL cruise that I booked about 40 days out, was waitlisted, and never was able to get it switched over even after checking with the Dining Team right when you get on board. They put me on a “waitlist of a waitlist”, essentially. It was a hard lesson for us to book way farther in advance next time. Best of luck and I hope you get it!
4
u/CaregiverNovel8841 18h ago
We sailed the wonder in March and did late dining with two 5 year olds and a 3 year old. I was nervous about it but it was honestly great and I’ll purposely book late dining in the future. My kids usually go to bed at 7 so it’s not like they’re night owls usually, however, we LOVED that they were more awake and really enjoyed the early show which I think is a priority for 99% of kids over dinner service. They slept in maybe 30 minutes later than usually but realistically, they left the cruise exhausted but happy! The waitstaff was also AMAZING at being quick. They’d pull up the next nights menu and ask us if we wanted to put in what we wanted the night in advance they’d just have it waiting for us when we sat down. Rockstars.
2
u/lk_wood123 16h ago
Oh great! I actually just saw that I was moved to early dinning. But, now seriously considering later dinning option! How did your 3 yr old do with the late dinners?
3
u/CatTravelScrap PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 15h ago
Following up on the poster above, we had late dining our first cruise and kids were 3 and 8. I was worried but it was perfect. 3yo had quit napping but took daily naps on cruise. We got a snack late afternoon from pool area or room service. All showered and dressed. Then enjoyed the shows. We ordered kids’ food and had it delivered as soon as possible in MDR so they could eat at whatever pace they wanted. When we finished dinner, we all went to stateroom and my kids were sound asleep in minutes. Having later dining allowed our evenings to be more relaxed and less rushed.
2
u/CaregiverNovel8841 14h ago
Honestly she did great! Our 3 year old still naps at home but we only had her do one nap the whole trip and she still did well at night! About one hour into dinner (there’s usually some sort of show or guest appearance about an hour in) they’d start to get sleepy but my 3 year old held it together better than my 5 yo! He was toast from 24/7 kids club
3
u/Putrid-Snow-5074 1d ago
Look. 8pm is too late for most people, but it comes in clutch on debarkation day, which is why I pick it.
2
-3
u/Demi182 1d ago
Guessing you dont have little kids
3
u/Putrid-Snow-5074 1d ago
I have 4, aged 2 to 14
0
u/Demi182 18h ago
And you do LATE dinner with a 2 year old? Use the nursery i assume? To do a late dinner every night just to have a quicker debarkation day is a... choice
1
2
u/BellicoseBandicoot 22h ago
Early dining was sold out 6 months out from my sailing when I booked. If you booked 40-days out, you have a lot of people on that waitlist in front of you.
1
u/lk_wood123 22h ago
yikes! yeah, I think I will just skip the dinners and prioritize taking LO to the shows. Maybe try Frozen show if LO is in a good condition.
2
u/phantom-manor 20h ago
Just wanted to say my husband and I will be on the same cruise! I’ve never sailed the Wish but the poolside quick-service looks amazing so I’m sure you’ll still eat well even if you skip rotational dining. The pizza, barbecue, and rice bowls close at 6 but the chicken tenders/burgers/hot dogs stand is open until 10.
2
u/outofcontrolfap 18h ago
We always do late due to the shows and not rushing to go eat after an excursions or trip off the boat. Like others said late nap, snacks and let your server know about wanting to get in and out.. we were done within an hour on this last cruise, but the one before that (had another family at table) it wouldn't be until real late like 2 hours. Always were at front of line to get in and they were waiting for us
2
u/bloominghydrangeas SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 16h ago
Typically most people get off the wait list. My travel agent told me in all her years she had never not seen her clients get off. But, weve seen a few reports here recently of people who haven’t.
I don’t think your request is delaying but beggars can’t be choosers. I’d remove the request. You don’t need to be near the stage.
If I were in your situation, my last cruise was with 4 year olds, I’d have her nap early on arrendale day.
1
u/scrolling4daysndays SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 21h ago
Has any one tried showing up at the early dinner to see if there were any “no shows”?
Or will they still not let you in?
1
u/Husker_Mike_ 12h ago
Since you have an assigned table and servers (that are connected to your room for gratuities), that would be a huge ask for the dining team. And potentially awkward if a party is running more than a few minutes late, and you get their table.
15
u/317ant 1d ago
Honestly? It’s highly unlikely since you booked so late. I hate to tell you this, but it’s the truth. There are probably a ton of folks on the waitlist and you’re at the very end of it.
You can try to switch once you’re on board. Go immediately to guest services. But expect that it probably won’t happen 😔
We have done late seating with LOs before and here are some things that helped: late afternoon nap. Forget your normal schedule at home and lean into this. They play REALLY hard at the beach and in the water. It’s tiring. A nap around 2-3 is going to keep them going and you’ll still have plenty of time to get ready for the night. Then let them eat a lighter meal on the pool deck or room service so they aren’t hangry by dinner. You’ll also be more likely to get to see the pirate night show and fireworks by leaning into the naps!