Question about dining on DCL

Normally we cruise NCL but are considering a cruise on DCL with the grand kids. I assume DCL ships have two dining rooms, one with traditional set dining times and the other "open" with no reservations required. Is this correct?

Next question, are there formal nights and if so, what's the dress code?

What's the dress code on non formal nights?

Normally we cruise NCL but are considering a cruise on DCL with the grand kids. I assume DCL ships have two dining rooms, one with traditional set dining times and the other "open" with no reservations required. Is this correct?

Next question, are there formal nights and if so, what's the dress code?

What's the dress code on non formal nights?

While your assumption is good for most lines, that's not how dining works on DCL.

Disney offers 3 different themed dining rooms, with 2 set dining times. Guests (and their service teams) rotate through each of the rooms different nights of the cruise, so you will get to enjoy each of the rooms and their themes. There is "open seating" dining also available at Cabanas for dinner, as well as 1-2 adults-only dining options (Palo and Remy, 18+ only). Cabanas is the buffet, but only during breakfast and lunch, and is not open as a sit-down open seating option on the first or last night of the cruise.

For example, on a 7 night cruise, you would rotate through each of the dining rooms twice, and one of them a third time. Each evening's meal is also themed differently - you will have an opportunity to experience each restaurant's signature menu once, and the other 4 nights the menus are common to all dining rooms (Pirate Night, Captain's Gala, Prince & Princess, etc). So every night the menu is pretty much completely different, except for the "lighter fare" options which are always available (simple chicken, steak, fish, etc). The kid's menus are similar - they have different menus every night (though there are often some repeats).

As was stated, Disney is different than other cruise lines. There is no open seating. You have rotational dining at a set time. Entertainment is scheduled so that you are at shows when you are not eating. No casino. The buffet is a sit down at night, and not available on the first or last nights. There are also one or two specialty restaurants that are adults only (depends on the ship whether one or two).

There is a formal night. Depending on the length, there could be two. In reality, anything goes, but a nice shirt and a pair of slacks will be fine. On other nights, "presentable" is sufficient.

Thanks for the replies. Looks like we will have to use a set dining time.

As above, there is no such thing as "anytime" dining on DCL. The closest thing is dining at "Cabanas" which is a buffet during the day and transforms to a sit down restaurant in the evening. No reservations are needed and the dress code is always "casual." It is not open the first or last night of a cruise, regardless of the length of the cruise.

You are assigned to a dining rotation. You will "rotate" thru the three dining rooms so that by the end of the cruise, everyone will have essentially the same dining experiences. You keep your same table number and serving team in each room--they rotate with you.

Dining on Disney is much more an experience than on other cruise lines. There are performances in some of the dining rooms, which require everyone to be seated at the same time.

If you have early dining, you go to the late show after dinner. If you have late dinning, you go to the early show before dinner. You don't have to go to the shows, but they are pretty good. We went to the shows every night and then to dinner.

Which ship are you going on, and how long is the cruise? As previous poster noted, each dining room has a theme and some have some sort of event or show at least one night that your kids (and you) might enjoy. The shows on DCL are very 'Disneyesque" but very well done. They aren't just a bunch of people singing and dancing with no plot, they are actual shows and the costumes and sets are very well done.

The quality of the main stage shows varies widely from one ship to another (my opinion, obviously). The shows are typically continued on the ship for at least 7 years. Unfortunately, that means that when they get a sub-optimal one, it sticks around for a long time. DCL went thru a phase of not the best shows, and we are still seeing the results of that time. Other shows are great.

We do see the entertainment on DCL almost every night...after almost 20 years, we are still attending them.

They are very different than on some other lines--as above, they all have a plot, decent costumes, etc. They are not a bunch of people just singing and dancing to pop songs one night and country songs the next night.

If this is your grand Childrens first Disney Cruise experience they will love it. The dining rooms are beautiful and the servers follow you around from room to room and are usually wonderful with kids. We have always asked for late dining which is generally around 8 pm so as to avoid having to rush around to get ready for early dinner. We go to early show at 615 to 630, then do a family show like music or games before dinner. Depending on ages of kids they can get picked up st dinner by counselors or go off on their own to kids clubs for activities. After 20 Disney cruises we hAve never not eaten in the dining rooms except for palo or remy. Some people seem to like the cabanas option where you can eat when you want but you really miss out on the ambiance of the dining rooms and getting to know the servers.

As for dress codes there really aren’t any. Formal night on Disney ranges from tuxedos and gowns to shorts and T-shirt’s. Generally our dinner clothes are nice shirts and skirts or pants. Kids where nice shorts and collared shirts. On formal night my husband wears a sport coat and I wear cocktail attire. The same thing when we go to specialty restaurants like palo and remy.