Ahoy there, Ling!
Welcome aboard planDisney! Traveling with three little Mouseketeers is an adventure all by itself, so I love that you're planning ahead. A little planning now can help your evenings sail as smoothly as Captain Minnie at the helm, so let's chart the course!
It can vary a little depending on your ship and itinerary, but there are generally two dining times: 5:45 PM and 8:15 PM. Since you've been assigned the later dining, you'll typically enjoy the
Broadway-style show first, usually around 6:00 PM, and then head to dinner afterward. The shows generally last about an hour, while dinner typically runs around 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on the pace of service and how long you choose to linger over dessert. Guests with the earlier dining usually enjoy the evening show around 8:30 PM instead. On some sea days, there may even be a matinee performance, so I always recommend checking your
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app once you're onboard for the final entertainment schedule.
I know that 8:15 PM can feel like a very late dinner when you've got three young kids in tow. If you haven't already done so, I definitely recommend
adding your family to the waitlist for the earlier dining time. Since you're only a few weeks away from sailing, you can open your reservation in the Navigator app, select "View All" under the Next Steps section, and then choose the "Dining" card to join the waitlist.
If the waitlist doesn't come through before embarkation day, don't give up hope just yet! One of the first things I'd do after boarding is visit the Onboard Dining Session. You'll find the exact time and location in your Navigator app (it typically takes place around noon, but is always subject to change), where you can speak directly with one of the Head Servers about switching to the earlier seating. While it isn't guaranteed, my family has had really good luck making requests like this once onboard, so I'm sending a little extra pixie dust your way and hoping your crew gets the dining time you're wishing for.
I hope this helps as you
prepare for evenings filled with unforgettable shows, delicious meals, and plenty of magical family memories. Here's hoping your dining plans come together as perfectly as a fairy tale ending, leaving everyone happy from the first curtain call to the last spoonful of dessert.
Sea ya real soon with sunshine on deck and fireworks lighting up the night sky,
Dustin