Magic/boarding and eating?? - The DIS Discussion Forums

pannm · 01-04-2013, 05:44 PM

I am wondering what dinning options we have right when we board the Magic. Is it JUST topsiders? Not that it's a bad thing!!! I am happy that we'll have the option to eat ANYWHERE when we board!

When do the other food places start opening on boarding day? Not that we'll eat much more than 2 meals- but maybe we'll have a few small snack/dessert type things if they are available.

kcashner · 01-04-2013, 05:45 PM

Topsiders, the fast food outlets, and Parrot Cay.

Parrot and Topsiders will have the same food, but at PC you will sit down and have beverages served, including refills. At Topsiders, you'll get your own beverages and hop up when you want more.

Every outlet will open when boarding starts. PC will close about 2, Topsiders at 3, and the fast food places at 3:30. The fast food places will re-open after the safety drill. Room service will also be available from boarding till 3:30, then re-open after the drill (note, they will stop taking orders about 3 because there is NO service of any sort on the ship while the drill is in progress).

pannm · 01-04-2013, 05:52 PM

Which one is usually the most busy? Is Parrot Cay quite busy, or not really? Or do most people choose Topsiders or Fast food places because their quicker?

iloverags2 · 01-04-2013, 05:55 PM

They will tell you Parrot Cay is busy whether it is or not. We have been fortunate that twice it wasn't bad when they told us it was. I really prefer PC just because the layout of Topsiders makes it crazier on embarkation day, plus I love being taken to a table rather than having to scope one out myself!

jlynch924 · 01-04-2013, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pannm

Which one is usually the most busy? Is Parrot Cay quite busy, or not really? Or do most people choose Topsiders or Fast food places because their quicker?

We just got off the Magic today. We boarded early (group 3), and went to PC. It wasn't busy and the food was terrific. Have fun!

kcashner · 01-04-2013, 06:04 PM

We prefer Parrot Cay. We go there and if they try to tell us to go upstairs, we politely say that we will be happy to wait for a table in PC. It is amazing that this "full" restaurant Magically has a table within minutes.

I honestly think there were only 2 occasions when they didn't suggest upstairs--one when we were the first people there and once when I was with a friend in a wheelchair. On that one, they were directing everyone upstairs; took a look at us and pointed us the way we wanted to go!

Luv2Diz · 01-04-2013, 06:09 PM

We also enjoy PC for our embarkation lunch. It's not usually too busy, and it's a great way to start the cruise!

trwprid · 01-04-2013, 06:15 PM

Thanks for this. We last cruised on Wonder in 2010 and I didn't know there was another option besides going through the buffet. Dragging the four-year-old around the queues and finding a table was hard. Now we're about to cruise Magic with two young children, so having sit-down service is going to alleviate my stress heaps.

kcashner · 01-04-2013, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trwprid

Thanks for this. We last cruised on Wonder in 2010 and I didn't know there was another option besides going through the buffet. Dragging the four-year-old around the queues and finding a table was hard. Now we're about to cruise Magic with two young children, so having sit-down service is going to alleviate my stress heaps.

Parrot Cay is a buffet. Only the beverages are table service. There is also a separate table with "kid food" toward the end of the main buffet line. 3 tables total--main one, dessert one, and kid food/soups, caesar salad one.

trwprid · 01-04-2013, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcashner

Parrot Cay is a buffet. Only the beverages are table service. There is also a separate table with "kid food" toward the end of the main buffet line. 3 tables total--main one, dessert one, and kid food/soups, caesar salad one.

Do they find you a table at PC or do you stake out your own? That's the stressful bit with the littles.

kcashner · 01-04-2013, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trwprid

Do they find you a table at PC or do you stake out your own? That's the stressful bit with the littles.

The head server at the door assigns you to a table and a server escorts you there and takes your beverage order. Then you go to the buffet, leaving your carry on stuff tucked under the table (or at least we do). Usually by the time you return to the table, your drinks are there.

pannm · 01-04-2013, 09:10 PM

I think we will try for PC. Sounds better than Topsiders. I am sure it's the same 'types' of food though, right??? Just different service? I'd prefer to not hunt down a table on the first day if I don't need to!

dramadeb · 02-05-2013, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcashner

The head server at the door assigns you to a table and a server escorts you there and takes your beverage order. Then you go to the buffet, leaving your carry on stuff tucked under the table (or at least we do). Usually by the time you return to the table, your drinks are there.

Sounds fabulous!!

01-04-2013, 05:44 PM	#1
pannm Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 226	Magic/boarding and eating?? I am wondering what dinning options we have right when we board the Magic. Is it JUST topsiders? Not that it's a bad thing!!! I am happy that we'll have the option to eat ANYWHERE when we board! When do the other food places start opening on boarding day? Not that we'll eat much more than 2 meals- but maybe we'll have a few small snack/dessert type things if they are available. __________________ Feb/March 2013...FIRST CRUISE!!! Magic Birthday adventure! Hooked on cruising! July 2012...4 nights Paridise Pier Disneyland Sept. 2011...4 nights pop century 3 nights AKL March 2011...11 nights pop century on dinning plan May 2010...8 nights all-inclusive Dreams Cabo December 2010...5 nights-Royal Pacific Universal resort October 2009...5 nights Wilderness Lodge February 2009...10 nights split between pop century and animal kingdom lodge December 2007...7 nights pop century

01-04-2013, 05:52 PM	#3
pannm Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 226	Which one is usually the most busy? Is Parrot Cay quite busy, or not really? Or do most people choose Topsiders or Fast food places because their quicker? __________________ Feb/March 2013...FIRST CRUISE!!! Magic Birthday adventure! Hooked on cruising! July 2012...4 nights Paridise Pier Disneyland Sept. 2011...4 nights pop century 3 nights AKL March 2011...11 nights pop century on dinning plan May 2010...8 nights all-inclusive Dreams Cabo December 2010...5 nights-Royal Pacific Universal resort October 2009...5 nights Wilderness Lodge February 2009...10 nights split between pop century and animal kingdom lodge December 2007...7 nights pop century

01-04-2013, 05:55 PM	#4
iloverags2 DIS Veteran Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,938	They will tell you Parrot Cay is busy whether it is or not. We have been fortunate that twice it wasn't bad when they told us it was. I really prefer PC just because the layout of Topsiders makes it crazier on embarkation day, plus I love being taken to a table rather than having to scope one out myself! __________________ Cindy Double Dipping on the Magic from Miami!

01-04-2013, 06:09 PM	#7
Luv2Diz We love the Wonder and Magic of Disney cruising! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Great Northwest Posts: 868	We also enjoy PC for our embarkation lunch. It's not usually too busy, and it's a great way to start the cruise! __________________ DL 1969, DL 1971, DL 1972, DL 1996. WDW 1974 Offsite, 1977 Offsite, 1981 Offsite, 1985 Offsite, 1988Offsite, Sept. 2005 Shades of Green, Sept. 2008 SOG, Sept. 2009 POR, January 2010 POR, Sept. 2011 POR, Wonder Alaska 8/27/12, Magic W. Caribbean 12/1/12, Magic Bahamas 5/10/13

01-04-2013, 09:10 PM	#12
pannm Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 226	I think we will try for PC. Sounds better than Topsiders. I am sure it's the same 'types' of food though, right??? Just different service? I'd prefer to not hunt down a table on the first day if I don't need to! __________________ Feb/March 2013...FIRST CRUISE!!! Magic Birthday adventure! Hooked on cruising! July 2012...4 nights Paridise Pier Disneyland Sept. 2011...4 nights pop century 3 nights AKL March 2011...11 nights pop century on dinning plan May 2010...8 nights all-inclusive Dreams Cabo December 2010...5 nights-Royal Pacific Universal resort October 2009...5 nights Wilderness Lodge February 2009...10 nights split between pop century and animal kingdom lodge December 2007...7 nights pop century

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01-04-2013, 05:45 PM	#2
kcashner DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 33,275	Topsiders, the fast food outlets, and Parrot Cay. Parrot and Topsiders will have the same food, but at PC you will sit down and have beverages served, including refills. At Topsiders, you'll get your own beverages and hop up when you want more. Every outlet will open when boarding starts. PC will close about 2, Topsiders at 3, and the fast food places at 3:30. The fast food places will re-open after the safety drill. Room service will also be available from boarding till 3:30, then re-open after the drill (note, they will stop taking orders about 3 because there is NO service of any sort on the ship while the drill is in progress).

01-04-2013, 06:04 PM	#6
kcashner DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 33,275	We prefer Parrot Cay. We go there and if they try to tell us to go upstairs, we politely say that we will be happy to wait for a table in PC. It is amazing that this "full" restaurant Magically has a table within minutes. I honestly think there were only 2 occasions when they didn't suggest upstairs--one when we were the first people there and once when I was with a friend in a wheelchair. On that one, they were directing everyone upstairs; took a look at us and pointed us the way we wanted to go!

01-04-2013, 06:15 PM	#8
trwprid Mouseketeer Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 136	Thanks for this. We last cruised on Wonder in 2010 and I didn't know there was another option besides going through the buffet. Dragging the four-year-old around the queues and finding a table was hard. Now we're about to cruise Magic with two young children, so having sit-down service is going to alleviate my stress heaps.

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