Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy: What is Dine and Play?

Do you dream of relaxing over coffee after dinner like in the before-times when you didn’t have kids? If you are traveling with small children on Disney Cruise Line (which is many of us), then you will want to know about Dine & Play.

The amazing kids clubs on Disney’s ships will spend a fair amount of time entertaining your little ones. You can relax both with and without your family on your family vacation. But dinner time is family time, and you’ll eat together in one of the dining rooms.

Disney’s Dine & Play program lets you have the meal with your kids. And after they’ve eaten and lost all patience for sitting at the table, they can head off with staff from the Oceaneer Club. You’ll be free to linger over the remains of your meal and a nice cuppa. Or even a second round of dessert.

Here’s how it works. Dine & Play is only available if you’ve chosen the late dinner seating. This is typically at 8:15 pm. Between 9 and 9:15 pm, you’ll bring your kids to the entrance of the dining room. Youth Activities staff will meet you there, and you’ll sign your children in with them the same as you would at the entrance of the Oceaneer Club. They’ll head down to the Club to play, while you head back to your table.

When you sit, let your server know that you’ll be using Dine & Play. You have 45 minutes for your kids to order, get their food, and eat. So the notice helps your serving team make sure everything goes smoothly and they’re ready to go on time. On some cruises the late seating is at 8 pm or 8:30 pm; the beginning of Dine & Play will adjust so that you have the same amount of time for them to finish their meal.

There are a few things to be aware of. First, Dine & Play is only for kids aged 3-10. Older kids can excuse themselves from the table and head off to the clubs on their own, since you don’t need to sign them in and out. Second, you’ll need those younger kids to be registered at the Oceaneer Club. Finally, if you’re eating in a dining room that has a show component – such as Worlds of Marvel on the Wish or the Treasure – you’ll have a timing snafu. The shows are paced to last the length of the meal, and they won’t finish before Dine & Play begins.

Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy is for first-time Disney cruisers looking to learn about the DCL experience. Got a question about a term that’s unfamiliar to you? Suggest it in the comments below!