Hi Kathryn -
What an awesome Mommy & Princess voyage out on the high seas you've got planned. There will be lots of magical memories waiting to be made. This will be a wonderful adventure - with some great bonding moments for sure. Bottomline, be prepared to have an awesome time.
Sounds like you are currently assigned to do the late dinner rotation. If this seems too late for you and your daughter, you can request to be moved to the earlier (main) dining time. You can do this on embarkation day since the restaurant managers will usually be available for special requests like this. In the past, they were setup at the Royal Palace restaurant. But make sure to check with a cast member to be sure where they are, so you can make this your first stop, once you get on the ship. If there is an available table for you, then you will be assigned a new dining rotation and also given new Key to the World Cards. Hopefully, since there are only 2 of you, you can be switched easily.
I've always felt that dining solo is a personal preference. There are people who don't mind it (like me), but I have met other people who just cannot do it. I say go for it if you want to enjoy a quiet and sophisticated evening at Remy or Palo. Be prepared for a gastronomic experience! I truly enjoyed the french menu and each dish was plain genius. I say go for it, Kathryn! Your daughter will likely spend a good amount of time enjoying the Oceaneer Club and Lab, there is much to do for you onboard as well. So, enjoy the time to refresh and recharge - every mom deserves it! It is absolutely
fun to be an adult onboard Disney Cruise Line.
I hope this information helps, Kathryn. Please do let us know if you have any additional questions that we can try and answer.
Have a great day!
~ Dolly