Ahoy there, Misha! Welcome to planDisney! I'm so glad you and your crew are considering coming aboard later this year!
Ah, it seems like someone's parrot has been squawking some of my most closely guarded secrets! If you ask me, the
Second Seating for dinner is one of the best-kept secrets in all of the Disney Cruise Line experience! If the little ones in your crew can handle it, I've found the later seating allows me to say "Hakuna Matata" to my schedule and get even more out of each day! While some may think that dinner after 8 p.m. is very late, the one thing I've never been on a Disney Cruise Line Vacation is hungry, haha! I think we've only had the First Seating at dinner on three of my family's cruises, and on each of them, I felt a little bit out of sorts going to the amazing
Broadway-caliber shows in the Walt Disney Theatre AFTER dinner.
Of the many things that answer the question "
Why Cruise with Disney?" some of my favorites are the little details that make every moment special without us having to even think about them. I've noticed over the yEARs that so many of those moments happen under the watchful eye of the Dining and Youth Activities crew members!
As you know, the Dine and Play program gives both these teams of crew members a chance to shine - but unfortunately, this program has not returned to Disney Cruise Line just yet, and as of this writing, we don't have any information on when it will return. We'll be keeping a weather eye on the horizon though, because I agree that this is another bit of pixie dust that makes our cruises magical and can't wait for it to return. October and November may be just around the riverbend, but as offerings are subject to change, a few seasons could hold a lot of updates!
I certainly hope that doesn't put a damper on your plans, though! With the recent announcements that scheduled time slots in
Disney's Oceaneer Club and Lab are coming to an end for vaccinated young sailors, I'd suggest checking with the Youth Activities team once you board to confirm you would be able to run the little ones to the youth clubs in the middle of dinner yourselves if you're up for it!
Thank you so much for your question, Misha! I can't wait for you and your crew to be sitting around a table in the main dining rooms, making magical memories over the gourmet menus on your next Disney Cruise Line Vacation! If you have any other questions as you continue planning, please drop me another line here at planDisney! Until then, I wish you fair winds and following seas!
Now where's that parrot...I've got to remind it to stop giving our secrets away....
Andrew