Enchanted Garden Embarkation Day Lunch

[Woodmnky]

We are trying to decide where to have lunch when we board Fantasy next month. Cabanas is out as we felt it was way too crowded and we will have plenty more chances to eat there throughout the cruise. I have heard reports that the buffet line at Enchanted Garden can get pretty long and take a while to get through. For those who have chosen this option in the past, what was your experience? We are trying to decide between this & the quick service window by the pool.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I didn't know this was an option. To think, we sat at Orlando IHOP for so long when we could have been on our way and headed to some real food in time for lunch instead of getting there within 20-30 min of the muster when all the food closed and hitting the Flo's insanity rush...

Note to self for next cruise...

 

[RedSox68]

We love the embarkation lunch -- but always enjoy it more in the restaurants (Enchanted Garden, Parrot Cay) then we do at Topsiders or Cabanas. Even if the buffet line itself is long in EG, you will already have your table/booth and there is more room for your belongings than in Cabanas (which we found shockingly lacking in moveable space around the tables!) Plus I like the fact that they serve you your drinks

 

[tweis]

We are trying to decide where to have lunch when we board Fantasy next month. Cabanas is out as we felt it was way too crowded and we will have plenty more chances to eat there throughout the cruise. I have heard reports that the buffet line at Enchanted Garden can get pretty long and take a while to get through. For those who have chosen this option in the past, what was your experience? We are trying to decide between this & the quick service window by the pool.

We did this last year and plan to do it again in May. We felt this was a much better option for us because Cabanas felt too chaotic to us. The line for the buffet never got very long at all. We were in line maybe 5-7 minutes total. There are lines on both sides so it really helps to move it along. We had lunch here on embarktion day and had breakfast here also, almost every morning. We did try Cabanas once for lunch but felt that we enjoyed EG more. You can't go wrong either way.

 

[OKW Lover]

We pretty much always choose this option over eating up at Cabana's/Topsiders. Never found the lines to be excessive and its nice to be escorted to a table and have your beverages brought to you.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

We are trying to decide where to have lunch when we board Fantasy next month. Cabanas is out as we felt it was way too crowded and we will have plenty more chances to eat there throughout the cruise. I have heard reports that the buffet line at Enchanted Garden can get pretty long and take a while to get through. For those who have chosen this option in the past, what was your experience? We are trying to decide between this & the quick service window by the pool.

Last summer we had embarkation lunch in Enchanted Garden and the lines were not long at all--there are actually two lines, one feeding from the right and one feeding from the left, and they met in the middle where you could then order hand-scooped ice cream--not self serve, but hand scooped. We scored one of the round booths near the buffet line, and I never saw the line long at all. We were on board and eating fairly early, so it's not like we were one of the stragglers coming in late.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

We pretty much always choose this option over eating up at Cabana's/Topsiders. Never found the lines to be excessive and its nice to be escorted to a table and have your beverages brought to you.

Yep, and there's that as well.

 

[cpc430]

Glad to see this thread! Didn't realize this was an option! Is it just Enchanted Garden that has embarkation lunch on the Fantasy (or Cabanas, of course)?

 

[lbgraves]

We always go to Parrot Cay on the classics, but have enjoyed Cabanas more on the Fantasy the last two cruises. The selection on the buffet at EG wasn't as good and there was nothing that DD [my not picky child] would eat there.

 

[sorceressk]

We've done both

Like both. Cabanas has great view. EG is a cool theme and they bring u a drink. Both r buffets tho. I thght eg was slower/less crowded.

 

[tweis]

We always go to Parrot Cay on the classics, but have enjoyed Cabanas more on the Fantasy the last two cruises. The selection on the buffet at EG wasn't as good and there was nothing that DD [my not picky child] would eat there.

This post reminded me that my two DS (9 & 10) did find a few things on the EG buffet to nibble on however, our server that brought our drinks noticed that neither of them had eaten very much so he asked them what they would like to have, to which they replied pizza and corn dogs. A few minutes later several dishes arrived with pizza, corn dogs, mach & chs, fries, and peas and carrots. They were beyond thrilled that he did this for them. It was an awesome way to start our cruise.

 

[shburks]

We always go to Parrot Cay on the classics, but have enjoyed Cabanas more on the Fantasy the last two cruises. The selection on the buffet at EG wasn't as good and there was nothing that DD [my not picky child] would eat there.

This is what I was going to say. My not picky ds ate steamed shrimp and chocolate chip cookies at EG. Cabanas has many more choices for kids! We sailed on the Dream in January and did Cabanas for lunch and didn't find it crowded at all. We were a large party, though, so we got tables (outside) and took turns going to the buffet.

 

[canadiandisneyfamof4]

We didn't find Cabanas to be busy at all for lunch, however we had a boarding # of 5 so that may have helped.

 

[bzkds]

We boarded around 1pm and Enchanted Garden was nearly deserted. I didn't even know Cabanas was an option lol.. we just followed along where they suggested we go eat once we boarded!
Beth

 

[Meghatron]

We go straight to the pool deck for quick service lunch and low crowds in the water. Once folks finish lunch elsewhere and crowd the pools, rooms are usually ready so we escape there and chill until muster drill.

 

[MND]

I didn't know this was an option. To think, we sat at Orlando IHOP for so long when we could have been on our way and headed to some real food in time for lunch instead of getting there within 20-30 min of the muster when all the food closed and hitting the Flo's insanity rush...

Note to self for next cruise...

Hitting Cabanas the moment we get on the ship and tying on the feedbag is my favorite part of the cruise!

Mike

 

[Silverfox97]

We always go to Parrot Cay on the classics, but have enjoyed Cabanas more.

Ditto

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MDennis28]

We liked the food at Cabanas and topsiders quite a bit. The big drawbacks are trying to find a table. If you get a table outside you need to tend your food every moment. I just sat down with my pile of wonderful sushi. Turned for a moment and when I turned around again there was a Gina seagull smack dab in the middle of the plate!! He made off with the entire pile of sushi! So sad!! Live, loose and learn!

 

[tchrrx]

We went to Cabana's on our last trip and enoyed it. However, it was a tight squeeze for our luggage. I'm surprised that the food at Cabana's & EG aren't the same or very similar for this meal. My favorite thing about Cabana's was all of the shrimp that was available. Does EG have this?

 

[misndug]

We went to Cabana's on our last trip and enoyed it. However, it was a tight squeeze for our luggage. I'm surprised that the food at Cabana's & EG aren't the same or very similar for this meal. My favorite thing about Cabana's was all of the shrimp that was available. Does EG have this?

Great question. We leave one week from today (woohoo) and still can't decide. What are some of the food choices in each?