Travel agent dropped the ball. Early dinner seating?

[Tucker24]

so travel agent didn't let us know that that final payment due so lost reservations and additional cost of cruise trip. We lost our early dinner seating and now on waiting list. What are chances we can get early seating when in waiting list? Cruising in November.

 

[wjs3]

Not guaranteed, but I'd say not bad. Some people make changes on board, embarkation day. So even if not before your cruise, you can try this day of.

I personally have made this change pre cruise off of waiting list, so...

Good luck.

 

[dvcdream4fld]

I think you need a new travel agent.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

so travel agent didn't let us know that that final payment due so lost reservations and additional cost of cruise trip. We lost our early dinner seating and now on waiting list. What are chances we can get early seating when in waiting list? Cruising in November.

Besides agreeing with the "you need a new TA" comment, I have this to offer:

I'd suggest giving DCL a call periodically to "confirm" that you're on the wait list (not sure, but your TA may need to make this call). Up the frequency as the cruise gets closer. Sometimes you'll get a sympathetic CMs who may change you right then. If that doesn't work, and you still have late seating when you check in at the port, go immediately to where the dining changes are being handled onboard (it'll be printed in the Navigator you get in the terminal) and make the request again. Most times these steps will get you changed. Sometimes not.

I'd say you have a pretty fair chance of getting moved.

Did you use the same TA for the new cruise?

 

[over50visits]

I think your chances of a change by asking when you get onboard are excellent! After one call to DCL to confirm your seating (and get on any wait list they may provide), I wouldn't be harassing DCL ahead of time, those poor agents have enough calls as it is, and the wait time will just go up for others.

You will have a fantastic cruise. Plan for all the cool things that will be happening, then spend 5 minutes when you board to see if this change is possible. I bet it is! My advice is don't let this one "disappointment" define your anticipation for a great cruise.

 

[apathetic]

I like everyone's optimism, but I'll say it really depends on how full the cruise is. Most people want 1st seating so it will always be full. Many people are wait listed and you are now at the bottom of the list. Your best chance is trying to change it after you board. On a full cruise, you might be eating dinner late.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I like everyone's optimism, but I'll say it really depends on how full the cruise is. Most people want 1st seating so it will always be full. Many people are wait listed and you are now at the bottom of the list. Your best chance is trying to change it after you board. On a full cruise, you might be eating dinner late.

There's no harm in giving DCL a call (a couple of times) beforehand. We've almost always been on late seating (mostly due to booking late) and only once were we unable to be moved from late to early dinner.

We've been moved at any time from when we made the request to be placed on the wait list (around 3 months out) all the way up to 3 days before a cruise.

 

[Shanti]

so travel agent didn't let us know that that final payment due so lost reservations and additional cost of cruise trip. We lost our early dinner seating and now on waiting list. What are chances we can get early seating when in waiting list? Cruising in November.

Chances are good. If you don't get switched prior to the cruise, board the ship asap and go straight to dining changes to ask for the switch personally. If you get there on the early side & ask, they'll probably be able to switch you.

 

[SteveMP]

If it weren't for the kids I would kind of like the late dining. The shows sure are less crowded and feels less rushed. But the kids trying to stay awake for dinner was the hard part. Dessert was cookie room service. If you do get stuck with it, you can still enjoy it, but good luck to you.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We were switched once -- the requested change just showed up on our online reservation info.

 

[Cmbar]

wow I would be calling everyday for my clients if I had screwed that up. So Sorry that happened to you! Good luck! I would encourage you to get on it when you get on the ship and hopefully you will be bumped up to early. I will say this. There are definitely advantages to the late dining.

 

[TrishaK]

We cruised in June and had booked in April. I called to get put on the waitlist, but we were still 2nd seating.

After lunch in Cabanas our first day, I went to Royal Palace right at 1:00 to change our dining to the 1st seating. Easy peasy!

 

[cscream13]

We've been waitlisted for late seating 3 times and have cleared the waitlist every time. We often book with the last minute *GT rates after main seating is full and go on the waitlist. I believe part of the reason that we have been so successful in having the dining time switched is that we have young kids. One of our kids was under a year old each time. We are waitlisted again on our upcoming cruise this fall -- kids are now 4 y.o. and 18 months old. I do think Disney makes an effort to put the youngest cruisers in the first seating when at all possible. I don't know your circumstances, but if you have young kids, that may be a leg up for you.

 

[mareed]

We've been waitlisted for late seating 3 times and have cleared the waitlist every time. We often book with the last minute *GT rates after main seating is full and go on the waitlist. I believe part of the reason that we have been so successful in having the dining time switched is that we have young kids. One of our kids was under a year old each time. We are waitlisted again on our upcoming cruise this fall -- kids are now 4 y.o. and 18 months old. I do think Disney makes an effort to put the youngest cruisers in the first seating when at all possible. I don't know your circumstances, but if you have young kids, that may be a leg up for you.

I agree with this as an adults only group that was waitlisted and NOT able to get switched and hated 2nd seating. Almost enough that I might not do the cruise if that was the only option...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I agree with this as an adults only group that was waitlisted and NOT able to get switched and hated 2nd seating. Almost enough that I might not do the cruise if that was the only option...

As I noted, we've been on late seating on 7 times. Adult only group and requested to put on wait list. 6 times we've been moved to early seating.

 

[Sytrace]

When we first started cruising, we had second seating for our first cruise and never even thought to change it. However, for cruises 2 thru 5 we always requested and got early seating with no problems. For the 6th cruise we were second seating but wait listed for early which did not happen before boarding. So, we went to the dining changes as directed and they could not switch us. It actually worked out so well, that now we always keep second seating and when we are asked if we want to change to Main on making the reservations, we always decline. The kids are older now and we like to "sleep in" on the last morning. Yes, I know we could go to Cabanas and eat there, but we like to say goodbye to our dining team.

Good luck and I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.

 

[mmouse37]

I love late seating!!! We were once accidentally put on early dining and had to switch to late dining once on board.

MJ

 

[Sytrace]

I love late seating!!! We were once accidentally put on early dining and had to switch to late dining once on board.

MJ

It seems so much more relaxed and we have time to interact with whoever our team is.
I also feel that we do better in regards to not overeating as we have had a chance to space out meals closer to how we would eat at home. Also, not rushing back to the ship to shower and change etc. The kids can go on Aquaduck with less crowds and Dan and I can go up to the Rainforest if we want for awhile and let the kids get showered and dressed in the cabin while we use the locker room showers.
When we had early dining, we would eat breakfast, snack at lunch...not really eating a lot so we did not spoil our dinner. By 10:00 PM we would be hungry and go get burgers and fries or pizza. Ugh...not very good for us and weight management. lol

 

[adg06]

We booked an October cruise in February and late seating was all that was available, we have been on waitlist for early dining since then. I periodically confirm with my TA that we are still on the waitlist. Her most recent response to me was "As soon as I hear that you are confirmed for Main Dining, I will let you know." This makes me think she is optimistic. But if not before the cruise, I will be requesting it as soon as I board. My youngest is 4, I don't know if that is young enough to get me moved up the list.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I periodically confirm with my TA that we are still on the waitlist.

But, is your TA confirming with DCL that you're on the list?