Breakfast/lunch dining options (Magic)

[Cynthia1215]

I'm a little confused on the dining options.

What I do know:
I understand the rotational dinner. I'm aware of Palo. We have 2nd seating so I understand that on our final morning we will have breakfast about 8:15. I know room service is always an option except the final morning. I also know there are a couple "quick service" style options. I know there is a BBQ at Castaway Cay.

What I don't really know:
* What are the options for breakfast and lunch
* Do we have scheduled times?
* It seems like there might be buffet options and sit down options? Where and recommendations?
* I read (not on Dis) that on the first day when we get on board we should go to Caricos on Deck 3 for lunch rather than the buffet which will be really packed. Is this what you would recommend also?
* on a 5 night cruise we will repeat 2 restaurants because there are 3 in rotation, correct? Is the restaurant on the 3rd night (our pirate night) a pirate menu instead of the regular menu and will we then automatically have that as 1 of our 2 repeats? so only one regular menu is repeated?
* Is there a restaurant you would not want to repeat and/or one you would? Is changing an option? Is there a dinner buffet option and if so should we try it instead of repeating a menu?

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[TestingH2O]

What are the options for breakfast and lunch

There will always be a sit down and a buffet option for these meals. At lunch, there's also quick service.

* Do we have scheduled times?

The available times will be in the navigator but there are no reservations/assigned times.

* It seems like there might be buffet options and sit down options? Where and recommendations?

We tended to just do quick service for lunch. Honestly, I never ate breakfast other than fruit and coffee because I was still so full from dinner but my family just hit the buffet for cereal. The navigator will tell you which restaurant has lunch.

* I read (not on Dis) that on the first day when we get on board we should go to Caricos on Deck 3 for lunch rather than the buffet which will be really packed. Is this what you would recommend also?

We ended up eating later at the buffet. The way time worked out, DD was ready for her nap when the room was ready, and when she woke up, the crowd had thinned.

* on a 5 night cruise we will repeat 2 restaurants because there are 3 in rotation, correct? Is the restaurant on the 3rd night (our pirate night) a pirate menu instead of the regular menu and will we then automatically have that as 1 of our 2 repeats? so only one regular menu is repeated?

Pirate night has a special menu. Not sure about the other repeat. Perhaps the See You Real Soon menu?

 

[Weedy]

For breakfast and lunch there will be the buffet and a sit down restaurant open. The sit down restaurants hours and usually a little shorter. Also the quick service restaurants on the pool deck will be open.
The hours will be listed in the Daily Navigator (Newsletter). The hours may change a little each day.
You can also download the Disney cruise app and it will show each days restaurant hours and the menus. You should download at home BUT it will not work till you get to the ship (It would not work in the terminal in Miami)
Here is a picture of one day from my Magic cruise 12/23.

 

[Cynthia1215]

Ok, so Cabannas is always the buffet. That helps. And it looks like Lumere's would be the sit down option- at least for that day, maybe it changes? Thank you! Anyone have reviews of either for breakfast and/or lunch?

 

[michellekcm]

We prefer the buffet for lunch on embarkation day, as they tend to have a few more options, especially ones that our kids will eat.

You won't ever repeat a menu in the Main Dining Rooms. Each night will be different. I haven't been on a 5 night cruise, but assuming similarities to a 7 night cruise, you will have each restaurant's signature menu once, a pirate night menu, and probably a formal night menu or see you real soon menu or something. For the specialty menus they are the same across all three dining rooms that night. So no matter which dining room you are in for, eg, pirate night, you will get the pirate night menu.

With lunch, the buffet will do different things each day. Eg one day there may be a stir fry option along with the usual stuff, another might be Italian day with a pasta station etc. we tended to eat at the buffet because the kids eat better there...and because they have prawns!!! Yum. The sit-down option for lunch has a really nice burger though

 

[DahliaRW]

Last June on the Magic, I believe Lumiere's was the restaurant open for breakfast and lunch every day, with the exception of embarkation day when it was Carioca's (and of course breakfast on the last day, when all are open but assigned). Cabana's is also open buffet style for both breakfast and lunch. It's totally a personal preference, but I LOVE the sit down breakfast and lunch. I'd usually do a big breakfast (since it's one of my favorite meals) and then an appetizer salad and whatever chilled soup they had for lunch. I only did Cabana's when I didn't have time for sit down due to an excursion.

As for breakfast/lunch menus, IME, the breakfast menu in the sit down is the same every day except for debarkation day (special breakfast menu in your assigned MDR). There are lots of choices, however. The lunch menu changes daily. In Cabana's, there are some items available every day, as well as "special" items available only certain days or one day. So there is variety there as well.

 

[anricat]

For us on the Magic in October, all the days for table service breakfast and lunch, it was Lumiere's. Unless we are in a hurry, we really prefer table service. It's just nice to be waited on than deal with the hustle and bustle of the buffet and I find that the made to order food is hotter and fresher tasting (for the most part).

I had some salmon on the Magic in Lumiere's one day for lunch that was absolutely the best fish I ate the entire cruise. It was so simple, just poached with salt and pepper with some hollandaise sauce on the side with some beautiful asparagus and fingerling potatoes. Absolutely incredible! So don't miss a sit down lunch at least once.

Breakfast was fairly standard as a table service meal, but again it was nice to have fresh cooked eggs, fresh toast, etc. If you hit the buffet just right, things are hot and fresh, but there's nothing like made to order eggs, especially if you want something like over easy for example.

As noted, on debarkation day, you'll dine in the last MDR you dined at for dinner the night before and you'll have a special menu. There are some great things on that breakfast menu but it's obviously a bit bittersweet. But it's fun to see the dining team one last time. Don't miss it.

 

[Cynthia1215]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much. I'm assuming the table service have some typical kid food available, yes? I usually prefer table service with 3 little kids because otherwise the adults barely get to sit and eat. At a buffet it seems we are constantly getting kid food.

 

[cgolf]

The table service has worked really well for us, especially for families with food allergies, I am GF. It has also been nice to chat with some of the servers, because it usually is much more relaxed atmosphere, not a lot of people attend the sit down lunches. Believe it or not you can usually have a nice and quiet meal

 

[DahliaRW]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much. I'm assuming the table service have some typical kid food available, yes? I usually prefer table service with 3 little kids because otherwise the adults barely get to sit and eat. At a buffet it seems we are constantly getting kid food.

Yes. They have a kids menu but kids can also order off of the adult menu if they want.

It is also fun to feed the kids at the buffet, drop then off at the club, and go have a nice sitdown lunch.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Except for the last night and the first night (I think) Cabanas is open for dinner but as a sit down meal, NOT a buffet. They are definitely closed the last night, and I believe the first night too.

 

[Cynthia1215]

Yes. They have a kids menu but kids can also order off of the adult menu if they want.

It is also fun to feed the kids at the buffet, drop then off at the club, and go have a nice sitdown lunch.

That's a great idea!

 

[cedricandsophie]

I much prefer the grill or pizza by the pool. For the first day and every other day. We have been on 17 Disney cruises and have never been in a sit down restaurant for lunch. Occasionally we might go to cabanas for lunch but like the more casual options. When we get on the ship we grab s table by the goofy pool or In the cove. Out our carryon bags there and get something to eat oe sit by the pool.