Tell me about Cabanas on the Fantasy

[dr&momto2boys]

From the descriptions I've read on DCL website, it sounds like Cabanas serves you at the table for dinner. Is that right? I always thought it was a buffet all the time.

It mentions serving items from the other restaurant menues. Really? Are the choices limited (I would imagine.)

We've never eaten at Cabanas for dinner because we enjoy the dinner menues and other restaurants, but on this next cruise we'll have a 3 month old and a 2 year old (in addition to our 4, 7, and 8 yr old) that won't make it easy to sit through a long dinner or get dressed up! It would be awesome if we could experience good food without changing for dinner or taking 90 minutes to eat.

What's the real scoop?

 

[jilljill]

It is a served meal at dinner, with a selection of entrees. Cabanas (or Topsiders or Beach Blanket Buffet on the classic ships) is also not open the first or last night of your cruise.

You don't have to get dressed up to eat in the main dining rooms, most evenings are cruise casual. Cabanas has the same dress suggestion as the main dining rooms.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

You don't have to get dressed up to eat in the main dining rooms, most evenings are cruise casual. Cabanas has the same dress suggestion as the main dining rooms.

Even on semi-formal and formal nights?
Why would anyone choose to eat here then over the other restaurants? Perhaps just to dine on their own time? Is it faster?

How do people actually dress here? I would never wear shorts in the dining rooms (and don't let my kids either.)

Are there any good options for dinner while wearing shorts? With traveling with 5 kids 8 and under, I may not want to pack pants and dress shirts for everyone. I may change my mind,, but I'd like to really know the options.

 

[jilljill]

From DCL's website:

Dress Code
The dress code for dinner at Cabanas is cruise casual. However, you are requested to not wear tank tops, swim wear or shorts at dinnertime.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships-activities/ships/dream/dining/cabanas/

Looks like the dress code is the same for every night of the cruise.

 

[annmorr]

We did a 7 night cruise this past January and were not able to change our second seating assignment to early dining when we boarded the ship (boarding group 3).
So we chose to eat at Cabanas on three nights (never having done this on prior cruises). The best thing about it was that service was very quick; we were usually done with our meal (from appetizer to dessert)within 45 minutes. The choice of dinners was quite limited, and the quality was not as good as in the main dining rooms.
We also felt that the servers try much too hard to please the diners and their attention to us bordered on annoying. I understand that they are training for the MDRs and they probably have been told to be very solicitous.
On our fourth night we went back to the MDR, and our head waiter told us that he would be able to get us early dining seating for the remaining two nights! I wish that had been the case from the beginning.
I'm glad we had the option of eating at Cabanas at the time we wanted, but it did not live up to my expectations. For one or two meals with kids it will be fine as long as you're there for the convenience and not the whole dining experience.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

We did a 7 night cruise this past January and were not able to change our second seating assignment to early dining when we boarded the ship (boarding group 3).
So we chose to eat at Cabanas on three nights (never having done this on prior cruises). The best thing about it was that service was very quick; we were usually done with our meal (from appetizer to dessert)within 45 minutes. The choice of dinners was quite limited, and the quality was not as good as in the main dining rooms.
We also felt that the servers try much too hard to please the diners and their attention to us bordered on annoying. I understand that they are training for the MDRs and they probably have been told to be very solicitous.
On our fourth night we went back to the MDR, and our head waiter told us that he would be able to get us early dining seating for the remaining two nights! I wish that had been the case from the beginning.
I'm glad we had the option of eating at Cabanas at the time we wanted, but it did not live up to my expectations. For one or two meals with kids it will be fine as long as you're there for the convenience and not the whole dining experience.

I appreciate the observations. Were the menus different every night? Did they have some of the specials of the evening from the other restuarants or was it more plain?
The faster pace may appeal to us on this particular cruise.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

From DCL's website:

Dress Code
The dress code for dinner at Cabanas is cruise casual. However, you are requested to not wear tank tops, swim wear or shorts at dinnertime.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships-activities/ships/dream/dining/cabanas/

Looks like the dress code is the same for every night of the cruise.

Thanks for the info. So it sounds like jeans are okay? I wouldn't usually wear those in the main dining rooms either. We may be able to deal with packing a couple pairs of jeans for each of us. And we can do laundry on the ship.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for the info. So it sounds like jeans are okay? I wouldn't usually wear those in the main dining rooms either. We may be able to deal with packing a couple pairs of jeans for each of us. And we can do laundry on the ship.

Jeans are acceptable for any venue/night that is cruise casual. Jeans used to be on the "no shorts, tank tops, bathing suits" list, but was removed several years ago.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Jeans are acceptable for any venue/night that is cruise casual. Jeans used to be on the "no shorts, tank tops, bathing suits" list, but was removed several years ago.

Ahh, okay. So maybe we'll go to our assigned dining room if it seems like the 2 year old is doing well that day and otherwise opt for a quicker service in Cabanas. My older kids (4 and up) are all excellent in the restaurants so they will be fine either way. And my 3 month old should still be sleeping most of the time.

Perhaps we'll do Cabanas on formal/semi-formal nights too. Or we could bring one nice outfit each and see how it goes. I wouldn't want to miss Crush if we're in AP on formal night.

At least I feel like we have more options. I'm sure DH would rather skip dressing for dinner altogether, but even he can manage slipping a pair of jeans on.

 

[SnowWhite2]

When Cabanas is open for dinner, the hours are usually 6:30 - 8:30 pm.