Disney Cruise has two dining times for their rotational dinner service. Early or main dining is around 5:45, and second or late dining is usually around 8:15, depending on your cruise. You can choose your dining time when you book; the default dining is second. If you want early dining, choose it when you book your cruise.
If you get put in the wrong dining time, you can change the time under your reservations on the Disney Cruise Line website or the DCL app. You will find Dining under your reservation on the website. On the website, you can choose to change seating, and you will see the available seatings.
Changing Your Reservation on the Website
If the dinner seating time you want is at capacity, you can join the waitlist for your desired time. You used to need to call DCL to get added to the wait list or have your travel agent do it, and now you can do it yourself. If you get on the waitlist before your paid-in-full date, PIF, odds are pretty good that you will get switched.
Changing Your Reservation on the App
On the app you will choose View All under Next Steps.
Like on the website, you can change your seating time. Click edit, and you will see your choice of available times. Like on the website, you can join the waitlist if your preferred time is unavailable.
You will see the change on your reservation when your request is granted. DCL will not contact you about your change in dinner seating time. If you don’t get your dining change before you embark on your cruise, all hope is not lost. Check the navigator app. They will have information about where you can go to change your seating time. They will do their best to get you your preferred time.
We always choose late dining, which means we don’t have to rush back from the port to make dining and late dining quieter than early. If you prefer to linger over dinner, it is much easier to do so on the later dinner seating.
Make sure you make any special requests you have for dining on the app or the website. You can choose a private table or a quiet space. And if you have any dietary needs, you can make them there.
Check out our how to guide to checking in for your cruise. Did you know the check-in dates are now based on your Castaway Club status?
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