If we want to be served a little quicker at dinner how do I go about it...

[durangojim]

without offending anyone?
On our last cruise on the Dream our dinners took no less than 2 hours each night and twice almost 2 1/2. The weird thing was that our server apologized for taking a long time the first night. I told her I understood and that it did seem to take longer than the first time we were on the Dream, but the next 3 nights were no better. By the end of our dinners our young kids, who had been patient, were very bored and ready to leave the dining room and so were we. It was really bad because the table next do us was usually done 30-45 mins earlier than us every night and they had different servers. So do I mention the first night of our next cruise that we would would like to make sure dinner didn't take more than 1 1/2 hours?

 

[DisneyJoe]

So do I mention the first night of our next cruise that we would would like to make sure dinner didn't take more than 1 1/2 hours?

YES!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

without offending anyone?
On our last cruise on the Dream our dinners took no less than 2 hours each night and twice almost 2 1/2. The weird thing was that our server apologized for taking a long time the first night. I told her I understood and that it did seem to take longer than the first time we were on the Dream, but the next 3 nights were no better. By the end of our dinners our young kids, who had been patient, were very bored and ready to leave the dining room and so were we. It was really bad because the table next do us was usually done 30-45 mins earlier than us every night and they had different servers. So do I mention the first night of our next cruise that we would would like to make sure dinner didn't take more than 1 1/2 hours?

Agreed! Yes.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Ugh, this is me. I don't want a 2 hour meal. If I do, I'd like it to be in Palo or Remy. The length of meals was our biggest deterrent in eating the MDRs on the Fantasy last month. @durangojim , let me know how it works out telling your serving team on the first night you want a faster meal. I'm interested to know how that turns out.

 

[TDF]

Uhmm… I know this is a while ago but when we went in March I sorta felt rushed out of the MDR. On our recent Carnival cruise it was sort of the same with us being rushed out. Anyway, definitely tell your dining staff, they’ll do everything they can to accommodate you. If anyone goes on the dream can they see if Matt and Karina are there… they where the best!!!

 

[ScoutN]

Ugh, this is me. I don't want a 2 hour meal. If I do, I'd like it to be in Palo or Remy. The length of meals was our biggest deterrent in eating the MDRs on the Fantasy last month. @durangojim , let me know how it works out telling your serving team on the first night you want a faster meal. I'm interested to know how that turns out.

I love me some food, sitting for two hours relaxing and eating is no issue here. It is well worth the 6am get up the next day for two hours jogging and back to bed for another two.

 

[durangojim]

I love me some food, sitting for two hours relaxing and eating is no issue here. It is well worth the 6am get up the next day for two hours jogging and back to bed for another two.

It's different when it's two adults and some drinks like at Remy. Another thing completely when there's 4 & 7 year olds involved.

 

[MaryJaneP]

Several thoughts here.
First is that with young kids, first seating and the rush rush aspect of getting people in and out quickly may work better for you.
Second is that you should feel free to mention a desire to have meals done in 1 and 1/2 hours. The waitstaff would not be oblivious to the fact that their tips are affected by their promptness. I would definitely discuss with the head person (I forget the title name) so that person can understand and communicate this to the actual waitstaff serving your table.
Third would be that you can have meals in your room without enjoying MDRs.
On our Magic cruise, we had second seating, with great other family at our table, and we were so busy having fun with our new friends, hearing about their day, sharing our excursions, discussing many topics, that we were regularly one of the very last tables to leave the dining room. We and other family had no young children.
On our Fantasy cruise, we had second seating again, but no other tablemates. Our service was slower than an adjacent table with a South American family that probably should have been our tablemates. I guess the language barrier and the fact that they had 2 very young infants made combining our tables impractical. I did notice the staff served them very promptly, and that the staff was very attentive to them in expediting the entire meal process. I do not know if they asked for this or if it was obviously appropriate, given the later mealtime. Our service was much slower. FWIW.

 

[5thGenTexan]

Last cruise:
1st seating
Kids 4 and 2
No special effort to move things along for us.
In fact when we were tired from dealing with the 2 year old and just wanted to leave, they insisted we stay for desert.

I will know next time to ask about speeding things up.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I love me some food, sitting for two hours relaxing and eating is no issue here. It is well worth the 6am get up the next day for two hours jogging and back to bed for another two.

If I indulged my love for food I'd be twice the size I am now. Not happening. Me & food have this love/hate thing going on. Eh, I can think of tons of other stuff I like better than food. I'd rather be off doing other fun stuff.

 

[englanddg]

If I indulged my love for food I'd be twice the size I am now. Not happening. Me & food have this love/hate thing going on. Eh, I can think of tons of other stuff I like better than food. I'd rather be off doing other fun stuff.

One word.

Bacon.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

One word.

Bacon.

Two words.

Shut up.

LOL! I'm living on chicken right now. I'd slap somebody for a nasty juicy cheeseburger. With bacon.

 

[5thGenTexan]

Two words.

Shut up.

LOL! I'm living on chicken right now. I'd slap somebody for a nasty juicy cheeseburger. With bacon.

I wrapped chicken tenderloins in bacon recently and covered with brown sugar.... You COULD have you chicken and bacon too.

 

[englanddg]

Fatty McFatFat says yum.

 

[tink66]

That is the one thing we will do different on this cruise... No MDR'S for the same reason tooooo long!!! I feel like we missed so much on the last cruise because of the dinners being so long and by the time finished we were all tired.

 

[tink66]

I wrapped chicken tenderloins in bacon recently and covered with brown sugar.... You COULD have you chicken and bacon too.

YUMMM!!!

 

[MaryJaneP]

That is the one thing we will do different on this cruise... No MDR'S for the same reason tooooo long!!! I feel like we missed so much on the last cruise because of the dinners being so long and by the time finished we were all tired.

While I understand the frustration, I think you are shortchanging yourself on one of the primary benefits/experiences of cruising. Although the time commitment may be conflicting with your desires to be elsewhere, it takes time to serve and consume a full meal. What did we miss while we ate? Not much if I looked at the schedule on my navigator correctly. We did not appear to be the only guests who appreciated the variety of menus and restaurant themes in the ship. Our tablemates on our first cruise were wonderful and a definite plus we would have been remiss in experiencing if we avoided MDRs. On another cruise it gave us an opportunity to calmly review our day together, the plusses and minuses, and plan for the rest of the night. We could also discuss our plans for the next day. All of this together time, in wonderful surroundings, while we ate wonderful food, enjoyed entertaining waitstaff, and enjoyed a show (Animator's Palate). But certainly to each their own. If your family would rather skip all of this, it is your choice to do so, it being your cruise/dime/whatever. I only wish to give the counter view as to why MDRs are worth attending.

 

[tink66]

While I understand the frustration, I think you are shortchanging yourself on one of the primary benefits/experiences of cruising. Although the time commitment may be conflicting with your desires to be elsewhere, it takes time to serve and consume a full meal. What did we miss while we ate? Not much if I looked at the schedule on my navigator correctly. We did not appear to be the only guests who appreciated the variety of menus and restaurant themes in the ship. Our tablemates on our first cruise were wonderful and a definite plus we would have been remiss in experiencing if we avoided MDRs. On another cruise it gave us an opportunity to calmly review our day together, the plusses and minuses, and plan for the rest of the night. We could also discuss our plans for the next day. All of this together time, in wonderful surroundings, while we ate wonderful food, enjoyed entertaining waitstaff, and enjoyed a show (Animator's Palate). But certainly to each their own. If your family would rather skip all of this, it is your choice to do so, it being your cruise/dime/whatever. I only wish to give the counter view as to why MDRs are worth attending.

 

[tink66]

That's what makes these boards great, everyone can give their opinions.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

While I understand the frustration, I think you are shortchanging yourself on one of the primary benefits/experiences of cruising. Although the time commitment may be conflicting with your desires to be elsewhere, it takes time to serve and consume a full meal. What did we miss while we ate? Not much if I looked at the schedule on my navigator correctly. We did not appear to be the only guests who appreciated the variety of menus and restaurant themes in the ship. Our tablemates on our first cruise were wonderful and a definite plus we would have been remiss in experiencing if we avoided MDRs. On another cruise it gave us an opportunity to calmly review our day together, the plusses and minuses, and plan for the rest of the night. We could also discuss our plans for the next day. All of this together time, in wonderful surroundings, while we ate wonderful food, enjoyed entertaining waitstaff, and enjoyed a show (Animator's Palate). But certainly to each their own. If your family would rather skip all of this, it is your choice to do so, it being your cruise/dime/whatever. I only wish to give the counter view as to why MDRs are worth attending.

I agree! The dinners are a highlight for us. Getting to know our servers, sitting and relaxing, and catching up with each other. It's one of my favorite parts of our day.

But I know others prefer the casual setting of Cabanas instead. It really is up to you to decide what makes you happy.