DREAMS really do come true! 1/30 4-day Cruise Report with Tons of Photos! Video done!

[Darkrobe]

Originally Posted by Dyerneeds

and i wasnt even trying.

That's how I FEEL!

Hmm, better cut it out now 'cause Cass will slap me silly for hijacking her thread for a chat session.


I'm actually looking forward to Cass posting a pic and telling me what the heck it is actually and if there were any more of them.
Looks like a dog done in fiber optic lighting on the floor.

[Timon]

Originally Posted by jenseib

Again, the food looks amazing. I don't think we will ever try it out, but it does looks so good.

Yup, very good food

Originally Posted by MomsOf2boys

I loved the picture of the glass done that way... very pretty. I think it probably is Chihuly as he has done stuff for them on the other ships. Great pictures... sure would love the souffle right about now...

Souffle was as good as I remembered!

Originally Posted by ADP

Is it me or does the piano in Palo seem out of place.

Yeah, a little I guess!

Originally Posted by MomsOf2boys

I was glad to see the large table in Palo. Did you happen to count the chairs? It looked like 14 to me but I had read somewhere they could put 16-20 in there. Any idea how that works Cass? Does one person book it and link ressies to it? Confusing to me.

It looks like 14 to me too! They might be able to squeeze a few more but I think 20 would be pushing it. And yes, one person books it and links all the other ressies

Originally Posted by gretchenohar@hotmail

I'd like to commend you on your TR & pics - and also thank you!
With regards to the table & the lack of space you mentioned at Palo - was this specifically a table for 2?
Just wondering....
Did the tables for 4 look any more accommodating?
Not that it matters to me (!) - I'm going to try my darndest to get a reservation here!
Thanks again.

Yes it was a table for 2 but for me, it was way too small! I would have preferred the booth for 2 at the top, near the wall...much more room! The 4 tops looks like they had more room though.

Originally Posted by SSRJen

Your Palo experience sounds so disappointing. The servers have always been AMAZING on the Magic for us. We ALWAYS order half orders of the pizzas (half and half for toppings) and pastas with no issues. We also have ordered mixed and matched menu items. They are made to order, so don't see the big deal! Hopefully, things improve on the Dream! The food still looked great.

I think they are just getting their training wheels off so it should improve.

Originally Posted by Michelle2

He was not only complaining, he was LAUGHING about me with a co-worker! I was amazed and asked Cass, "Is he laughing at me??" Sure enough, he was.
It's one thing to be a little puzzled at a request, but to then go and laugh at me when I am right around the corner? I was really mad. If he wasn't so prompt with his service, I would have complained. I have ordered many things at Palo that they have either changed, or created completely off menu espcially for me and have been very accomodating about it. If you can't do it, that's fine, but I found it very un-classy to laugh at a guest and then be dumb enough to do it right around the corner where they could hear everything.

I think I will stick with the main dining rooms too, unless my DH wants to go since it is comped, but probably only on longer cruises.

I'm sure if we were on the Magic, you would have gotten that dish you wanted

Originally Posted by mickeydonalgoofyyyy

Ashman and Cass, thank you so much for your responses to my question. Its good to know my son will be able to eat his heart out. One more question please; with no dress up night will my husband and DAD be out of place with a shirt and tie in the main dining rooms? It is my father's first Disney trip and he has been excitedly buying tasteful ( I hope ) Mickey ties. Thanks again!!!!

There were definitely people who dressed up a bit so as long as you aren't wearing shorts or a tux, you would totally feel comfortable!

Originally Posted by iloverags2

Oh my gosh! How incredibly rude of your Palo server to act in that manner. Huge thumbs down to that. Hmmmmm...not sure if I'm crazy about the looks of Palo on the Dream. I'm more of an airy, light kind of girl...the Magic and Wonder really have more of a relaxed feel in Palo than the Dream.

Meridian looks great though!

Personally, I prefer Palo on the Magic too, I felt it was too stuffy on the Dream but that's just me

Originally Posted by carole88

Thank you so much for an absolutely fantastic trip report! This has to be the most comprehensive report I have ever read!

I'm sorry your Palo experience was not great. We always look forward to that restaurant and will be very upset if we are treated they way you were treated. I think that you should have complained about the server and then see if he is still laughing. Can you tell us his name? Also, what was the second dessert that is pictured? It looks interesting. Was it good?

Thanks again for your report. Cant't wait for more!!!

Believe his name was Nino and the second dessert was the Orange Soda Float

Originally Posted by WAHkoMom

Best trip report EVAH! Love the pics, and the write-ups, Cass. We just booked the Dream for the May 8th (Mother's Day) cruise, and now that I've read your trippie I am even more excited!!

Thanks again and I'll be checking back to see what else you've added.

Thanks for reading

Originally Posted by branv

I'm normally one of those evil types who reads but never posts. But your review is so amazing, I just had to write a great big THANK YOU!!! It's so thoughtful to go to so much trouble and put all this info out there for everyone.

I am so sorry for y'alls experience at Palo, but am mostly shocked. I've also been two times, but both times they were so gracious, encouraging and professional I'm just stunned by how you were treated. I hope if you didn't mention it on your comment card you at least send an email. I would hate to imagine this guy doing that to anyone else, which I can only assume he probably will. I say banish him to serving only at the buffet. Hopefully he can manage a tong better than people.

Well, thanks for coming out of lurkdom and posting His service was good, I think he just needs to work on his people skills

Originally Posted by delo4

We had a bad experience at Palo on the Jan 3 Magic. I asked for butter instead of the dipping sauces they give. The server actually rolled his eyes at me like he couldn't believe I would have the nerve to ask for that.

Then when I asked for no sauce on the steak, he said "well you know the sauce makes it better, but I guess if you don't want it, we could leave it off". We probably should have complained to the manager, but I hate to do that because I know Disney seriously reprimands their castmembers if they have offended guests. The server just seemed very condescending to us, not the usual servers we have encountered at Palo. I know he was new because he had recently been a server in the main dining rooms.

Sorry, you had a bad experience.

Yeah, sometimes you just get a CM that rubs you the wrong way...it happens I guess. We tried to not let it bother us too much.

Originally Posted by Darkrobe

Oooo, I got a FO!
Oh, wrong thread... sorry, my bad; UnderDawg made me do it.

Great TR so far Gorgeous, looking forward to seeing the new ship with you next year!

Can't wait to be on the Fantasy with you and our princess

Oh and hey...thanks for finally posting something

Originally Posted by WDW Poly Princess

Loving all of the food/restaurant pics! And there's just something so cool about the ship being all shiny and new!

I know!! That part was great! Michelle commented on how smooth the railing was on our verandah

Originally Posted by cntkg1

I would just love it! Best little souvenir anyone ever got from a Disney vacation.
I agree Susan. I keep looking and looking at that picture. It's just gorgeous!:
Cass, you did an amazing job with those pics.

Thanks hun!!!

Originally Posted by MomsOf2boys

I'm not suprised by this at all. She's like a celebrity on Dis. My son who is 3 1/2 hrs away at college text me, "Hey Mom, Cass (Timon) is doing a trip report." I text back, "If you were READING it you would have seen my post there already!"

BAHAHHAAHAHA!!! Celebrity? NOT! But that was a funny story about your son

Originally Posted by Scouter

That is just terrible.
I think I might have gone down to guest services later and made a complaint.
How else will they learn.

Yeah, perhaps in hindsight, we should have said something but I went into this cruise knowing that they were still ironing out the kinks so my expectations were lower. Now, if this happened in the summer...I totally would have complained

Originally Posted by KingRichard

Thank you again for your hard work here!

Great pics of the Cigar lounge with the roof overhang.

Any idea if it is heated in anyway?

Thank you again.

Hmmm, don't know for sure but I am guessing....no

Originally Posted by Dyerneeds

you trying to get me into trouble buddy?

You do a good job of that yourself dawg

Originally Posted by Darkrobe

I'm actually looking forward to Cass posting a pic and telling me what the heck it is actually and if there were any more of them.
Looks like a dog done in fiber optic lighting on the floor.

Yes, it is a fiber optic dog (dalmatian) on the floor of Animator's Palate And yes, they were all over the restaurant

[Timon]

Castaway Cay Buffet at Cookies

Now, my hubby Rob normally loves eating here because of the ribs and chicken but I don't care for it. And since they switched to the whole wheat buns, I like it even less. But I do know that people love those chicken and ribs

It opened at 11:30 and we got there at 11:15 so we just waited for them to open. The CM's that were working the area near the tables were awesome...they came up and asked us how we were doing, where we were from and if we needed anything.

The CM on the right was great, she was dancing and singing and just seemed general happy...which is contagious


























Up next...the FINAL food chapter () The Galley Tour!

[Timon]

Royal Palace/Animator's Palate Galley Tour Part 1

Part of being a Platinum member (Michelle is one, not me!) is getting a free tour...it changes all the time, sometimes it's a Galley Tour, or a Stage Tour or a Stingray Excursion but this cruise it happened to be a galley tour so I was excited since it's not available to the general public and I'm a behind-the-scenes kind of gal

Unfortunately, it was hard to hear most of what the Chef was saying

It was very similar to the Galley on the Magic, maybe a little bigger and obviously shinier and newer

Each kitchen had 3 big soup cookers and we got to see 2 of the soups they were making for that night's dinner (you could see the onions they were cooking for the French Onion Soup!) and 3 big dutch ovens.

The dish area was very cool, he explained how there was a clean section and a dirty section and absolutely nothing dirty could be brought into the clean section!

He gave us some stats but I don't remember them all

Here's some pics...

[Timon]

Royal Palace/Animator's Palate Galley Tour Part 2















































OK, that is IT for food!!!!

[Kurby]

Originally Posted by Timon

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those don't look like soup bowls to me LOL


we did the tour on the wonder 2 years ago - dh is a chef for a Hilton and even he was impressed with the size of the place

[Cruiselady]

Great TR!!!! I love the pictures. It looks great!!!

[MomsOf2boys]

Loved seeing the galley tour photos That's a very cool thing to have done! Did they say anything about that huge trash can of scraps? Wonder if they feed the dolphins/fish at sea?

[Cajun28]

Originally Posted by Timon

OK, that is IT for food!!!!

I was starting to wonder if the only thing they had on the ship was food!

Just kidding, I'm really enjoying your report.

[JLDSMD]

Originally Posted by Timon

Royal Palace/Animator's Palate Galley Tour Part 1

Part of being a Platinum member (Michelle is one, not me!) is getting a free tour...it changes all the time, sometimes it's a Galley Tour, or a Stage Tour or a Stingray Excursion but this cruise it happened to be a galley tour so I was excited since it's not available to the general public and I'm a behind-the-scenes kind of gal

They don't offer the Galley Tour to the general cruisers anymore, only Platinum members?

I remember doing the galley tour on of our previous cruises. It was interesting.

[native ears]

Great report. Such amazing pictures. was wondering if you got any pictures of the Cat 8A cabin?

[mmmears]

Just wanted to say that this is a really fantastic trip report! Thank you!

[dahuffy]

Originally Posted by JLDSMD

They don't offer the Galley Tour to the general cruisers anymore, only Platinum members?

I remember doing the galley tour on of our previous cruises. It was interesting.

I was going to say the same thing.

[jenseib]

Amazing gally pictures. I love how they have big posters of pictures of how the plate should be plated. I need that poster next to me when I order.

[davidls]

Ok Cass, I have to say - just like everyone on here, what a GREAT job you did with your report. And your pics - well they were fabulous!!! I want to thank you for a wonderful job you did and for sharing your experiences and photo's with us. DW and I are doing a B2B on the Dream this September. We are really looking forward to seeing this beautiful ship in person. Again, thank you so much.