Contrast the 2 Welcome Aboard Buffets on the Wonder

[kerri0616]

When we boarded our 3 night cruise, we were directed to go to the Beach Blanket Buffet for our first lunch. We tend to do what we're told, and we found it quite difficult to find seats together. It felt crowded.

After reading several threads here, it seems the experienced cruisers prefer to dine at Parrot Cay upon embarkation.

Can you tell me what the differences are between these 2 experiences? Can I take my family to either location, even if we are directed toward BBB?

Thanks all!

Kerri

[I Love Thumper]

Yes, you can express your preference to the crew member, and go to either buffet. The food is the same on both buffets. All seating at PC is inside. At BBB, of course, seating is inside and outside.

[disneyfaninaz]

At PC, you are sat at a table and a server will get your drinks for you. Otherwise, the buffets are the same.

[westjones]

We started doing PC instead of BBB because of the problem with finding a seat (we have been on 9 cruises). Now I will say that when my kids were younger, we didn't do either, we headed right to the pool (they wore their swimsuits under their clothes) and they would get to be the first ones in the pools. We would just get pizza or burgers and sit by the pool while they swam. But now they are teenagers and we to go the buffets, but PC is much more relaxing (in my opinion).

[FatCat]

One reason to potentially go to BB is that the 9th deck food options will be open. Some younger kids may prefere to get burgers, dogs, pizza etc. and bring them to the table.

You of course can do this for PC but the walk is farther.

We found that during the cruise the amount of items our kids liked anyways were limited so doing buffet at BB worked out better because of the endless supply of chicken nuggets 50 feet away.

[TheBeadPirate]

IMHO it is the worst food of the trip.... not to say it is bad, just not nearly as good as the food you enjoy as you progress through the trip (kind of sets the bar low and, as usual, Disney gets much, much better)..

My reaction after entering the madness and eating at PC was "oh no what have we gotten into!!!" fortunately the meals were greatly improved in every case for the balance of the trip..

When we go in October we plan to grab a bite locally before going to the terminal, hit wavebands for a few extra ressies, and then off to Signals till the drill

[Dr.Girlfriend]

We're going to head to PC this time around. I posted a similar thread a few weeks ago saying that anytime we've tried to go into PC, we're always directed to BBB. We would rather sit in a more relaxed atmosphere for lunch this time.

[I Love Thumper]

I just thought of something. On our last cruise, we actually toted all of our luggage with us straight onto the ship. We were pointed to PC right away, and I noticed there are recessed areas near the front door of the restaurant, perfect for stowing luggage, which is what they allowed us to do. I am now wondering if they direct folks with lots of bags in tow to PC, or if this was just a coincidence. Anyone else experience this?

[rkwier]

Originally Posted by I Love Thumper

I just thought of something. On our last cruise, we actually toted all of our luggage with us straight onto the ship. We were pointed to PC right away, and I noticed there are recessed areas near the front door of the restaurant, perfect for stowing luggage, which is what they allowed us to do. I am now wondering if they direct folks with lots of bags in tow to PC, or if this was just a coincidence. Anyone else experience this?

This happened to us as well and we also had our luggage with us. I thought that it might be because it had started to rain, but perhaps it was the luggage.

Funny, the only thing that I actually remember about the food itself is that there were peel and eat shrimp on the buffet. They were pretty tasty!

[ktjl92]

It depends, too, on when you get on board. When you're an early boarder, they tend to push you towards PC and the later it gets, the more they push to BBB.

We have always gone to BBB (or Topsiders on Magic) because we love being outdoors on the water. Also, I'm not crazy aobut the buffet setup at PC (when we've been there for lunch mid-cruise)

Just one opinion. Food-wise, they're the same.

[RweTHEREyet]

When I went years ago with my elderly Mother, we went to PC.

This last trip, four of us younger adults, went uptop and ate at one of the inside tables. I found it a pain to try and maneuver the buffet with my carry on bag, etc. The line was so long we didn't want to send one of us to a table to wait with our stuff and then have to go back thru the line.

We also had a hard time finding a table, and it wasn't fun carrying a tray of food while dragging along our other stuff. We were in boarding group 3, too, so we were ahead of most of the crowd.

At Parrot Cay, you can walk in, park your bags over to the side and then be seated at a table, get your food, have your drinks brought to you and enjoy your meal without climbing over other people to get to your table.

Can you tell that my vote is for Parrot Cay.

[billwald]

Originally Posted by Dr.Girlfriend

We're going to head to PC this time around. I posted a similar thread a few weeks ago saying that anytime we've tried to go into PC, we're always directed to BBB. We would rather sit in a more relaxed atmosphere for lunch this time.

If they try to direct you to BBB, just tell them that you are willing to wait. We have always been seated within 5 minutes.

[RedSox68]

After 7 DCL cruises, the last three we headed to PC! We were so tired of lugging our carry-ons and then trying to find seating with trays, etc. And I think it stinks to have to leave a family member behind to watch everything. At PC we could fit our carry-ons at the table and found it SO much more relaxing.

I've never minded the food -- we're always so excited when we see the ice carving and fruit carvings, we don't even care what we're eating

Plus we really like going to the buffet for breakfasts and know we'll see plenty of Topsiders/BBB during the trip

[HEY DISNEY -- if you're reading -- NCL had a wonderful idea when we boarded last year in Hawaii. They used their theater as a "claim check" room for all carryons. We were able to park EVERYTHING, were given claim checks and could go off and enjoy our lunch and the ship until our rooms were ready. They held everything until 3 p.m. and then moved it to guest services. It was a truly great feature and one that would be greatly appreciated on a ship like Disney with all the strollers and car seats and extra items parents must lug around ]

[lucas]

Will they let dh and I have a table alone in Parrot Cay? Or, will they seat another couple with us?

[starchef]

Our last cruise, straight to PC. That was our first cruise, we were cruisin with some friends that had been several times before, we just let the crew member know that is where we were going. No problems. I think this time the pool thing will be the thing to do with the kids a little older, and this cruise not being a christmas cruise. Happy Halloween Cruisers.