4 night Wonder -- early dinner seating -- best night for Palo?

[rejobako]

OK, here's the scenario:

1) We're crusing with our five-year old daughter who will love the stage production shows.
2) We have early dinner seating on the 4 night Wonder cruise
3) We want to designate one night as a date night for mommy and daddy to go to Palos, have a cocktail, relax, and . . . . well, use your imagination.
4) Dinner rotation is not really relevant to the question, as all of the restaurants sound good; even if we miss one in the rotation, I'd rather focus on not missing the best production shows later in the evenings.
5) "Pirate Night" is also something to consider -- do we want to make sure "date night" isn't Pirate Night?
6) Our daughter is very gregarious and friendly, and we don't have any concerns about her being happy in the kids club, no matter what the activity.


With all that information, what would you suggest would be the best night to go to Palo etc. for a few hours while our daughter is in the club?

Any suggestions/information would be appreciated.

 

[Ariel&Flounder'sMom]

I found this to be a really tough dilemma for our trip, and I'll be curious how other's respond.

We had early dining as well, and wanted the girls to see the shows. We had some advice from a Disney CM, and we made reservations at 6pm on Wednesday at Palo. Here's why:

1. Wednesday night you repeat restaurants, you won't miss the experience at any of them.

2. Did it early so we could pick up the girls and make it to Disney Dreams - you don't want to miss it!

3. The girls ate in their clubs - which they loved!

4. It was a wonderful way to spend the last night of the cruise - just the two of us in the serenity of Palo.

Our server asked if we needed to be done by a certain time, and we told her 8, and she was great to get us done on time.

 

[lovethatdisney]

My advice too is to schedule Palo's the night you repeat a restaurant. Then you don't miss any restaurant experience and they are all different, fun and delicious in their own ways.

We actually made our reservation for Palos the first night, Sunday night (you repeat that restaurant Wed nite). Your first impression may be that you wouldnt want to do that the first night but our children were so excited about going to the kids club that they didnt mind at all! It was truly a great way to start off the cruise for everyone!

Whatever you choose, be sure to make your reservation as soon as you get on the ship!

 

[rejobako]

Thank you both for your suggestions. I'm thinking that Wed is probably the night as well, but I suppose it might come down to what Palo's has available when we reserve.

 

[AspiringCindy]

What I am doing is...booking Palo for the 2nd night(Mon.) because the show is just the Variety type show! I didn't want to miss the repeat restaurant on the 3rd night because it is Pirate Night, and I didn't want to do it the last night because if we wind up with Animators for the 3rd & 4th night...the light show will be on the last night! We plan on bringing the kids to dinner on the 2nd night and DH and I will just eat appetizers while the kids eat. Then we will try to get a ressie for Palo's around 8-8:30! I just might have to do REAS to get my requested ressie!

 

[TammiMcMan]

That is a really tough decision.

1. Sunday ~ The first night is great because I know that my DD8 wanted to go right to the club and meet new kids. We had late seating though and were able to see Hercules before dropping her off and going to Palo's. As for capacity, Palo's was nearly empty. I think we saw more senior crew members eating there than regular guests.

2. Monday ~ The 2nd night offers more of a variety show as opposed to the full scale musicals. If you had to miss a show, this might be an option or you could book an early Palo dinner (5 or 5:30) and your DD could eat with the kids club and then have plenty of time to meet up for your show seating.

3. Tuesday ~ The 3rd night is now the Pirates of the Caribbean party right? Wouldn't want to miss that .

4. Wednesday ~ The final night of the cruise and a repeat restaurant. Again, if you didn't want to miss the show, book an early dinner and meet up with your DD at 8pm. From my limited experience, this is the most requested night at Palo's and if you are eating brunch here, maybe a 5pm seating is too early to face all that scrumptious food again!

 

[Bethipooh4]

We are on a upcoming 4 night cruise and have the REAS booked. By chance we have Palo on Monday night. Since we have early seating we will have appetizers while the kids eat, and enjoy Palo without missing a show, I think our Palo ressies are at 8or 8:30. That way we don't miss pirate night, and we get to spend time with the boys while they eat.

I plan on booking the brunch when we board.

Hi Tammi!!!!

Beth

 

[TammiMcMan]

Hi Beth,

Have a great cruise! I really tried to squeeze another one in for this year, but the kids are so busy with other things. Mmmmmmm enjoy Palos, so yummy.

Tammi

 

[LuvindisCruiser]

I have gone back and forth on this one too !!
One question: What times are brunch?
And, brunch is only available at the day at sea, right?

I think I'll just see what my rotation is, and take it from there
for dinner ressies !

 

[perdidobay]

DH and I have the REAS pkg, so I decided to go to Palo on Wednesday night. The restuarant that night would be a repeat, I like saving the best (Palo) for last, and we will also have our massages that day...so it will be a day of pampering in a way. The only drawback, we will have to get back to the room in time to get our bags out in the hall after Palo, and I want to do the pub night at Diversions too. It will be a rush..and will we be too tired to take advantage of the romantic turn down service that night?! we can always sleep at home, right???

 

[CrunchyMountainMama]

Brunch is from 10-2 your day at sea. It was delish!!

We ended up missing out on dinner at Parrot Cay by doing Palos our second night. The third night is Pirate's night. I think if I did it over again I would have booked it for Pirate's night or our last night since the last two nights are in the same restuarant.

 

[Ariel&Flounder'sMom]

I don't know if I read this right, but just so no one's disappointed:

The light show at Animator's Palace only happens on the first night - and you don't want to miss it.

Don't expect to see the light show if you have AP as your repeat restaurant.

 

[rejobako]

I don't know if I read this right, but just so no one's disappointed:

The light show at Animator's Palace only happens on the first night - and you don't want to miss it.

Don't expect to see the light show if you have AP as your repeat restaurant.

I have heard that. I've also heard that the dinner rotation is now 1-2-3-3, and in that event, if you have AP as your repeat restaurant the light show will be on night 4 because of Pirate night on Night 3 . . .

I think I'll just sit on deck with a Goombay Smash and drink my dinner.

 

[AspiringCindy]

I have heard that. I've also heard that the dinner rotation is now 1-2-3-3, and in that event, if you have AP as your repeat restaurant the light show will be on night 4 because of Pirate night on Night 3 . . .

That is right! The rotation that Ariel&Flounder is speaking of is the OLD rotation!