Best night for Palo

[ellizabeth]

Hi everyone!

I´ve booked a Caribbean Cruise on october. It´s our first ever Disney anything and I am so overwhelmed! After the Cruise we are going to WDW and we are going to MNSSHP. I have never been on a cruise, much less the Disney experience, and we just don't know where to begin!

We will be bringing our children (ages 7 and 5 at cruise time).

I´m wondering if I´ll make reservations on Palo to me and husband as a surprise for wedding anniversary. Are we going to miss something like deck shows on pirate night or theather shows, depending on the night we will book? How do I Know that? We are on second seat for dinner. At what time and where should I take my children to eat?

What about excursions in Grand Cayman ... should we book through Disney or on our own? Or not excursions at all?
I know, it´s dumb questions, but I´m so lost and excited at the same time.. If anyone could help me...

PS.: English is not my maternal languange, so excuse my mistakes or
misunderstoods.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Grand Cayman book DCL as its a tender port and you do not dock do going DIY is harder.

I book Palo dinner on Pirate night as there will not be a big show on in the WDW it will be a guest entertainer, and the pirate menus ok but bland, book it at 6 pm and you will not miss the pirate show.

 

[eskimoinparadise]

Hi everyone!

I´ve booked a Caribbean Cruise on october. It´s our first ever Disney anything and I am so overwhelmed! After the Cruise we are going to WDW and we are going to MNSSHP. I have never been on a cruise, much less the Disney experience, and we just don't know where to begin!

We will be bringing our children (ages 7 and 5 at cruise time).

I´m wondering if I´ll make reservations on Palo to me and husband as a surprise for wedding anniversary. Are we going to miss something like deck shows on pirate night or theather shows, depending on the night we will book? How do I Know that? We are on second seat for dinner. At what time and where should I take my children to eat?

What about excursions in Grand Cayman ... should we book through Disney or on our own? Or not excursions at all?
I know, it´s dumb questions, but I´m so lost and excited at the same time.. If anyone could help me...

PS.: English is not my maternal languange, so excuse my mistakes or
misunderstoods.

The first thing to do is register the children in the kids program as soon as you get to the port. Its been awhile since we did a Disney cruise with kids, but if I remember correctly, the counselors take them to dinner (not sure about the time). As for the shows and pirate night, the shows are geared around the set dining times, so if you are in second seating, your show times are before dinner. Pirate night and the deck party usually take place mid-week, and don't start until 9:30-10:00 at night, so you should have no problem booking Palo any night and still be able to do the deck party and watch the fireworks (and eat again). We usually do Palo on the first and last nights, and do Cabana's on the other nights - we just don't like the way Disney prepares (light on seasoning and flavor) or serves their meals (2+hours to complete a meal is not uncommon) in the dining rooms.

 

[eskimoinparadise]

Grand Cayman book DCL as its a tender port and you do not dock do going DIY is harder.

Absolutely. Grand Cayman is the one port where I'd never chance taking a DIY tour. Have been stuck in traffic too many times coming back from 7-mile beach, and I'm getting to old to sprint back to the ship

 

[PrincessShmoo]

the counselors take them to dinner (not sure about the time)

They no longer do this. Dinner is served at a set time in the Club (it'll be noted in the Navigator).

 

[mcd2745]

I try to book Palo for formal night. Why get dressed up an extra night?

 

[eskimoinparadise]

They no longer do this. Dinner is served at a set time in the Club (it'll be noted in the Navigator).

Good to know. Its been awhile. Taking our 8YO GS in the fall, and I doubt we will be able to pry him out of the club to have dinner with us.

 

[Weedy]

I am not a big fan of the Pirate Show but if you have never seen it and have young kids you may want to see it.

How many nights is your cruise? More than a 3 night you repeat the restaurants.

When my kids were young on our Palo night we would feed them either room service or pick up food on the pool deck. There is fast food available as well as fruit and milk. They would eat in the cabin as we got ready for dinner and then we would drop them off the kids club. We did this other nights also our kids were not that into sitting for long dinners they liked the club much more.

They do not take the kids to dinner but they do offer food in the club but they do not make them sit down and eat.

Once your booking window opens you will be able to log onto your reservation and you will be able to see what night is Pirate night. Or you can call Disney cruise and they can tell you what night it is scheduled for.

Once you are onboard if you decide you want to switch your Palo night they can usually accommodate you.

Also look at this site it post past Disney Navigators (Newsletter) from past cruises. It will show you what night things happen on your cruise. Things may change but they usually stay pretty much the same.
http://disneycruiselineblog.com/personal-navigators/

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Good to know. Its been awhile. Taking our 8YO GS in the fall, and I doubt we will be able to pry him out of the club to have dinner with us.

I've also read that while they will announce "Food is here", they won't make anyone go eat. So, if your child gets wrapped up in what he's doing, he may miss it.

 

[eskimoinparadise]

I've also read that while they will announce "Food is here", they won't make anyone go eat. So, if your child gets wrapped up in what he's doing, he may miss it.

He's not one to miss any meals BTW, I wonder how many people on this board know what a Shmoo really is? Great trivia question

 

[SwimMom2]

I have only been to Palo once, but by quite a happy accident, it managed to work out. Here is what I did:

I ended up with a reservation for Wednesday night, semi formal night (on a 7 night cruise, starting Saturday). I say " ended up" because I was afforded no flexibility in booking- this was the only night available. Our time was 7:30.

We ordered room service for the kids around 5. They ate while we dressed. Then after they ate, we did a few character greetings and took them to Oceaneer's at 7. An activity interested them that began at 7. Then we took a walk around the ship and headed up to Palo. We explained to our oldest not to call us unless it was an emergency and to look out for his little brother. Then we enjoyed dinner until 9:45 or so, picked them up, and all headed to bed.

This was a port day; all aboard time was 4:45 I think; we got back to the ship just before this.

 

[elphie101]

I didn't book Palo our first cruise because I wanted to try the MDR menus, but next time I'll be booking it on the night of the Prince & Princess menu if that's being offered (night 5 of our 7-Night Eastern Caribbean) because that was our least favorite menu. Our server recommended if we were going to skip any menu, have it be Pirate Night or Prince & Princess night.

 

[Notyourtypicaldisney]

I am alone in this (literally alone as we were the only guest) but we like to book Palo the first night. It is a great kickoff to the cruise. Last year on the Fantasy they begged us to change to another night as we were the only ones on the ship to book Palo. They tried coming at me with the lame excuse that they wanted us to have a better experience. I kept saying having the restaurant to ourselves is. I really just wanted them to admit that they didn't want to open the kitchen for just one party. Lol. Once I got the guy to admit it I agreed. They ended up comping us a dinner and brunch and gave us all the Panna Cotta we could eat. They delivered a bunch to our stateroom. Anyway, long story but the first night they generally have fewer people and the officers usually eat there. The next best choice is Formal night or Pirate night.

 

[lulucornbread]

I am alone in this (literally alone as we were the only guest) but we like to book Palo the first night. It is a great kickoff to the cruise. Last year on the Fantasy they begged us to change to another night as we were the only ones on the ship to book Palo. They tried coming at me with the lame excuse that they wanted us to have a better experience. I kept saying having the restaurant to ourselves is. I really just wanted them to admit that they didn't want to open the kitchen for just one party. Lol. Once I got the guy to admit it I agreed. They ended up comping us a dinner and brunch and gave us all the Panna Cotta we could eat. They delivered a bunch to our stateroom. Anyway, long story but the first night they generally have fewer people and the officers usually eat there. The next best choice is Formal night or Pirate night.

that's an awesome story! lol

 

[ellizabeth]

Thank you very much for the answers!!!

I am not a big fan of the Pirate Show but if you have never seen it and have young kids you may want to see it.

How many nights is your cruise? More than a 3 night you repeat the restaurants.

When my kids were young on our Palo night we would feed them either room service or pick up food on the pool deck. There is fast food available as well as fruit and milk. They would eat in the cabin as we got ready for dinner and then we would drop them off the kids club. We did this other nights also our kids were not that into sitting for long dinners they liked the club much more.

They do not take the kids to dinner but they do offer food in the club but they do not make them sit down and eat.

Once your booking window opens you will be able to log onto your reservation and you will be able to see what night is Pirate night. Or you can call Disney cruise and they can tell you what night it is scheduled for.

Once you are onboard if you decide you want to switch your Palo night they can usually accommodate you.

Also look at this site it post past Disney Navigators (Newsletter) from past cruises. It will show you what night things happen on your cruise. Things may change but they usually stay pretty much the same.
http://disneycruiselineblog.com/personal-navigators/

Our cruise is a 5 night, western caribbean and pirate night will be on day 3 at 9:45.
Looks like the pirate night is a good option.Thank you!

 

[ellizabeth]

Thank you very much for the answers!!!

I am not a big fan of the Pirate Show but if you have never seen it and have young kids you may want to see it.

How many nights is your cruise? More than a 3 night you repeat the restaurants.

When my kids were young on our Palo night we would feed them either room service or pick up food on the pool deck. There is fast food available as well as fruit and milk. They would eat in the cabin as we got ready for dinner and then we would drop them off the kids club. We did this other nights also our kids were not that into sitting for long dinners they liked the club much more.

They do not take the kids to dinner but they do offer food in the club but they do not make them sit down and eat.

Once your booking window opens you will be able to log onto your reservation and you will be able to see what night is Pirate night. Or you can call Disney cruise and they can tell you what night it is scheduled for.

Once you are onboard if you decide you want to switch your Palo night they can usually accommodate you.

Also look at this site it post past Disney Navigators (Newsletter) from past cruises. It will show you what night things happen on your cruise. Things may change but they usually stay pretty much the same.
http://disneycruiselineblog.com/personal-navigators/

Our cruise is a 5 night, western caribbean and pirate night will be on day 3 at 9:45.
Looks like the pirate night is a good option.Thank you!