Did anyone else find this weird?

[Ariel484]

We went to Palo for brunch in July 2014 on the Dream - no servers hanging around to fill our plates. We're booked again at the end of July, this time on the Fantasy...so we'll see what happens.

Whatever the situation, it won't stop me from going to Palo again in the future, or getting what I want on my plate(s).

 

[AngelDisney]

I liked it. I felt the lines moved faster. I always get behind the person that has to inspect each item before putting it on their plate.
Our family joke comes from our first cruise when the Mom in front of us at Cabanas showed her kid a least 10 different pieces of bacon saying is this one good.

 

[Sir William]

It's to provide you a more luxurious dining experience. Most buffets at high end luxury hotels provide this service. It's not meant to intimidate you, but to make you feel pampered.

 

[MrDisneyFan]

It's to provide you a more luxurious dining experience. Most buffets at high end luxury hotels provide this service. It's not meant to intimidate you, but to make you feel pampered.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. We were served at the buffet last December on the Fantasy. It never felt strange to us. Our MDR server was one of the CMs manning the buffet and he took good care of us (as did all the other CMs). I thought it was very nice to have servers there to explain some of the meats, cheeses and things I wasn't overly familiar with. If I wasn't sure I asked about it and to us it did make it feel more upscale then a standard buffet. I think for the surcharge you're paying they want it to be more then just good food at a buffet table but as Sir William said: a luxurious dining experience.

Also, I felt like they were very encouraging to try things, many things and as much as we wanted or to come back for more. I never once in the slightest felt like they were trying to control my portions. I guess I'm an odd one out but I enjoyed the whole experience and really look forward to Palo brunch next time! Sorry but I hope they don't change it

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

Attention DCL Cast Member reading this, I hated this also. I want to serve myself at Palo brunch.

 

[Iamaplanner]

I can appreciate what they're trying to do but I'm just not into it either. It just feels silly and awkward to have someone standing in your shadow while you decide what to choose. The CM was lovely and did nothing wrong. I just would prefer to serve myself. I feel pampered with the glass of mimosa! That's enough for me

 

[cschaaf]

I can appreciate what they're trying to do but I'm just not into it either. It just feels silly and awkward to have someone standing in your shadow while you decide what to choose. The CM was lovely and did nothing wrong. I just would prefer to serve myself. I feel pampered with the glass of mimosa! That's enough for me

Great response.

I don't think we'd avoid doing the brunch again just because of this - it did seem easy enough to say, "No, thank you" and move on. It was just unexpected. Now that we know to expect it, I don't see it bothering us. If it was compulsory that you had a server help you, that might push us to the 'we aren't going back' side of the fence.

 

[GioCruise]

If it's a buffet I have no shyness about what and how much....I will be the annoying person in front of you all saying "more a little bit more still more, yeah keep it coming!"
LOL

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Attention DCL Cast Member reading this, I hated this also. I want to serve myself at Palo brunch.

I can appreciate what they're trying to do but I'm just not into it either. It just feels silly and awkward to have someone standing in your shadow while you decide what to choose. The CM was lovely and did nothing wrong. I just would prefer to serve myself. I feel pampered with the glass of mimosa! That's enough for me

As noted previously, you can always decline the "assistance". Just tell them "I'd rather serve myself, thank you."

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Often when DCL swaps to 'serving you' at buffett's its re an outbreak of something like Norovirus, when that occurs it is 'mandatory' and no one can or should decline. Its there for hygiene reasons and to stop the nasty spread of viruses to cruises in a confined space.

 

[FloridaBabe]

I think it could be more awkward for me and probably the server to decline the service, it could be seen as rude. Although I didn't like it, it would not stop me going back. The Caviar serving was painful as I like it a certain way and would much rather do that myself.

 

[Bruiserknits]

It seems as though if they are going to go through that much trouble why they don't just hand out a menu and ask what you would like from the selections available or do like they do at some burger bars where you get a sheet and check mark what you want. Seems to me it would be simpler and less weird having someone serve and carry your plate for you.

 

[JW9DVC]

I think they are trying to help with as much as possible. I don't see why telling the person. I want more, more, keep going. Is an issue. I find it to be a service.

As long as I can see what they are doing. I get to control where they put it. By asking. I'm all good with it.

JW

 

[RRB]

What's the difference between this new Palo brunch service and Remy's brunch service? The Remy brunch is not serve yourself, correct? Are the wait staff at Remy brunch doing the same thing?

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I was on the Magic 6/29-7/10 and we served ourselves at Palo Brunch like usual or nothing out of the ordinary.

Heather

 

[mevelandry]

we retuned a couple of weeks ago from the Dream. We went to Palo brunch which we have done many times in the past. However- this time they had these extra people hovering around carrying your plate for you and putting the food on your plate at the buffet. We did not like it at all. It was so odd. I did not like someone standing there waiting for me to tell them what I wanted so they could put it on my plate. We would wait until they were busy with others and then jump up and get our own food. I hope they don't continue doing this.

Less risky (I'm talking about health/virus) to let only a few CM handling plates and utensils than 100?

 

[erin1715]

Less risky (I'm talking about health/virus) to let only a few CM handling plates and utensils than 100?

If this were the reason then they'd be doing this at all of the buffets on the ship, which they don't.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

It's all about the money and portion control. Yes, the food on the buffet doesn't get reserved, but, if they don't have to restock and item because a customer took it all, or because 10 customers took a bit more than they could eat, they've saved that cost of food. Especially when you're comparing the cost of food in Palo to the cost of labor on the boat, the labor is super cheap, the food is very high quality.

There's been at least 10 people on this thread alone who said they felt uncomfortable and ate less than they wanted to because of the service, so DCL has already paid for the labor costs by offering this "pampering service".

 

[Trera]

I was on the Disney Dream in September and they did have the extra staff holding the plates. Mine wore gloves. Yes it was awkward at first but it didn't prevent me from eating whatever I wanted. I talked to the manager and yes it has to do with health issues/health precautions. It has absolutely nothing to do with portion control. I eat my body weight in caviar each time and no one gives me a hard time.

Food is wasted whether someone puts it on their plate or not. Whatever is left on the buffet at the end of service is not saved for a later buffet. It is thrown away.

I heard it was given to the crew, starting with higher ranked crew first??

 

[mevelandry]

If this were the reason then they'd be doing this at all of the buffets on the ship, which they don't.

They were serving us the food at Cabana's and Enchanted Gardens (breakfast) on the Dream in April. We had to tell how much of each things we wanted at most of the stations.