Disney Wonder dining and show times

[jnnifer01]

We were wondering when the best dining time is so we don't miss any of the shows (?)
Do they offer 2 shows per night so both seatings can attend, or is there a better seating time at dinner to make it to the shows?
Thanks!

[momofmeg]

Yep 2 shows. Second seating dinner goes to the early show not sure of the time 6:30 maybe? Our dinner was at 6p.m. and our shows was at 8:30 p.m. So none of the shows were late-if you have second seating you go to the first show.

The only time we have had second eating on a cruise was o RCCL Soverign of the Seas. They did it the same way. Second seating went to the first show which I was glad as every night it was almost 11 p.m. when we got out of dinner. On other lines though if you had second seating you went to the later show. I liked that because a couple of times if I really liked the show I would go back and watch it again-when I did that I would always sit in the back and not take the better seats though- just to be fair- as it was my second time watching.

[cruislovin]

Yep 2 shows. Second seating dinner goes to the early show not sure of the time 6:30 maybe? Our dinner was at 6p.m. and our shows was at 8:30 p.m. So none of the shows were late-if you have second seating you go to the first show. I can't believe the shows for second seating guests are held BEFORE dinner. This is awful! The reason we always select second seating is to have that space of time to get back to the ship and relax BEFORE having to get ready for dinner. Once first seating guests leave the public areas to get ready for dinner, second seating guests basically have the places to themselves!

We like to eat and then see the show. In fact, on the few evenings on RCCL cruises that have the show prior to 2nd seating we generally skip the show. We like being ready for dinner at 8:30 and not have to rush to be ready for dinner OR a show at 6:00 or 6:30 PM when we are on vacation. I know my daughter will want to see the Disney shows though so I guess we are stuck going to the show and then to dinner. Is it like this every evening on DCL?

[jnnifer01]

Thanks for the info :)

[momofmeg]

I can't believe the shows for second seating guests are held BEFORE dinner. This is awful! The reason we always select second seating is to have that space of time to get back to the ship and relax BEFORE having to get ready for dinner. Once first seating guests leave the public areas to get ready for dinner, second seating guests basically have the places to themselves!

We like to eat and then see the show. In fact, on the few evenings on RCCL cruises that have the show prior to 2nd seating we generally skip the show. We like being ready for dinner at 8:30 and not have to rush to be ready for dinner OR a show at 6:00 or 6:30 PM when we are on vacation. I know my daughter will want to see the Disney shows though so I guess we are stuck going to the show and then to dinner. Is it like this every evening on DCL?
I believe this may be because Disney is basically a FAMILY line. The shows are all geared Disney-who wants their 3 year old up at 11p.m. at night so the child can see the show. Even the comdeian show is "G" for the kids. They do have a leter adult comedian show in one of the lounges.

How old is your daughter? Do you really want her up at 11p.m. watching a show that take and hour to an hour and a half ? There are other dining options. The hot dog place and the pizza place are open at dinner time. If you want something a little better there is also room service which is just a tip. You could also reserve Palos for $10 a person although your daughter can't go there but they do serve dinner in the kids club. That is what my tablemates did. The night they went to Palos their son ate at the kids club.




I loved the fact that Sovereign did this when we had second seating. After eating a big meal and getting out of dinner at 10:30-10:45 p.m. I sure did not want to got and sit through an hour show. The most I did was have one drink in the paino bar for like 30 minutes or hit the hot tubs. I was in bed by midnight .

[cruislovin]

I believe this may be because Disney is basically a FAMILY line. The shows are all geared Disney-who wants their 3 year old up at 11p.m. at night so the child can see the show. Even the comdeian show is "G" for the kids. They do have a leter adult comedian show in one of the lounges.

How old is your daughter? Do you really want her up at 11p.m. watching a show that take and hour to an hour and a half ? There are other dining options. The hot dog place and the pizza place are open at dinner time. If you want something a little better there is also room service which is just a tip. You could also reserve Palos for $10 a person although your daughter can't go there but they do serve dinner in the kids club. That is what my tablemates did. The night they went to Palos their son ate at the kids club.

I loved the fact that Sovereign did this when we had second seating. After eating a big meal and getting out of dinner at 10:30-10:45 p.m. I sure did not want to got and sit through an hour show. The most I did was have one drink in the paino bar for like 30 minutes or hit the hot tubs. I was in bed by midnight .My daughter loves late seating on RCCL - we all do for that matter! After dinner she usually goes to the show with us or with a friend and then she and her friends go to the teen center for the rest of the evening. This gives my husband and me some time for the casino or a lounge show which we really enjoy.

We ALWAYS eat dinner in the dining room. We paid for a nice dinner so I am not going to eat junk food like pizza and hot dogs. I don't even eat that stuff for lunch, let alone for dinner! We require the children to eat with us in the dining room every evening. It's never a problem because they love the "fancy" dinners each evening with all the glassware, and silverware, and many courses! It is an enjoyable part of the cruise experience for all of us as a family.

The time between about 5:00 - 7:30 PM when the 1st seating diners start to get ready for dinner and the time we start to get ready is WONDERFUL! The pools and hot tubs and other sports deck activities are empty. It is also a great time to shop since the stores are not at all crowded. It is so quiet and peaceful. There are often exercise classes that are only held at those times that I like to attend too. It is so relaxing to sit in the hot tub and have a drink without many children there. If it weren't that the shows were Disney themed on DCL, I would not even attend them prior to dinner - but my daughter wants to see them. So we will have to go with their schedule.

[momofmeg]

Well most people do not want twelve year olds up that late. There is no casino on Disney but there are great lounges and your daughter can go to the kids club for that. My understanding is at 9 they show movies and for the younger kids and put out mats. Most of the kids knock out right there at the club.

From reading your posts at all these threads I get the feeling you feel you made a mistake. Just try to make the best of it since you only go for 3 days and next time book a voyager class ship so your daughter can have all the entertainment she wants. (Realize she won't get that on Sovereign-except for the rock climbing wall- either so you may as well not do that ship although it is RCCL)

My daughter loved the clubs for dancing and music. We are not into rock climbing or ice skating though we do love ice skating shows and go to Disney themed show in Atlanta almost every year. Now we do putt- putt so we would particiapte in that. Only once was my daughter bored on a cruise. This was HAL who had very few young people on that cruise and so they cancelled the teen club as there were only 2 that wanted to participate.

Disney was showing several great movies. Jersey Girl Shrek II and Stepford Wives was on the TV. The movies was showing Princess Diaries II and Raising Helen. And ofcourse many of the Disney classic cartoons were playing on TV and even Finding Nemo was on like for the 11 a.m. movie at the theatre.

Your daughter will love the one dinning room that shows the cartoons on the walls. It was super neat to watch and pick out characters from different movies. Parrot Cay restuarant had a live band playing.

We did not go to them but there were lounges where you could take the kids-from what I undersatand their entertainment was geared more for the kids. We did ot go to those lounges as our daughter is grown. I have read posts that these are super crowded though-there are tons of kids on these Disney ships.

If your daughter is old enough for the teen club she will be happy to know that the Wonder is having the teen club redone while she is in drydock. It was a sports lounge but as this lounge did not make the money the other lounges did they are turning it into a teen club.

Also on Castaway Key-take your daughter on the bannana boat-I am sure she will get a thrill out of it since she likes things like rocking climbing. This only costs $14 a person. You can rent an intertube too for oly $6. They also have bikes to rent very reasonable. She should have a ball.

[cruislovin]

momofmeg,

Thanks for all your tips - they are really helpful! I am learning so much and even that is fun for me... To me, ANY cruise is a GREAT cruise!!! I keep telling my daughter that she will like it and have a fun time since we both love Disney. I cannot wait to see the inside of the ship! We have seen them many times in port and they are very charming. I am glad though that my husband and son decided not to come along as I am not sure DCL would be for them.

I am hoping Castaway Cay is open when we go. I also have plans for the Atlantis but we are still debating if we want to do that... Funny you mention the banana boats - we were reading about them and we both thought that would be nice to do. I told her she can swim when we are in port, as she won't want to swim onboard if the pools are terribly crowded.

We leave in a month and are getting really excited. Good thing DD won't see the Mariner of the Seas until we return to Florida!

[momofmeg]

Read the thread on comfort Inn suites. I psoted there a good bit and you will find what I thought of Atlantis.

[cruislovin]

Read the thread on comfort Inn suites. I psoted there a good bit and you will find what I thought of Atlantis.
Sorry, momofmeg, but I cannot locate this thread. Where is it?