Welcome aboard, Sharon! My family and I love the second dinner seating! If you have younger kids, you'll also love that during the second seating only, the ship offers Dine n' Play. If you ask to participate, your dining servers will bring the kids' food first, and then about 45 minutes into the seating, counselors from the Youth Clubs arrive at the restaurants to take kids up to the clubs. Parents can then enjoy the rest of their meal on their own. It's a win-win for everyone with family time and then everyone gets to do their own thing as well!
Be sure to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App, so that once onboard you'll have the schedule of events handy. Since you have late dining, you can attend the first showing of the Broadway-style musical before dinner. After the show, before dinner, and then later after your meal, there are
lots of events! Family dance parties, live music in the lounges, family karaoke, variety shows for the whole family and another one just for adults, crafts, Character Greetings, first-run Disney movies in the Buena Vista Theatre, Deck Parties, adult game shows, animation classes, Open House for everyone (including parents) in the Youth Clubs at certain times, and fun events and receptions in the atrium lobby are just some of the activities you'll get to enjoy after dinner each night! Adults have even more activities tailored just for them, and of course the Youth Clubs are always hosting kids-only activities! Plus, on certain themed sailings for the holidays, there's even more magic! There are also lots of family game shows! A few of my family's favorites are the super-interactive ones like
Family Fusion, which is a Disney trivia game show,
So You Think You Know Your Family?, and A
Pirate's Life For Me on Pirate Night!
You'll have plenty to keep you busy, Sharon! Happy planning!
Marcy