Dining info

[mom2aprincenprincess]

My family and I will be sailing out of Galveston on December 4th on our first Disney cruise. When will we know what nights are formal? I'd like to plan a meal at Palo with my husband, but I want to be sure that it won't be on a night that will be formal or a special meal with my kiddos. Also, I want to be sure that our dinner at Palo will not interfere with the Golden Mickey's or any of the other shows. Thanks for any input!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My family and I will be sailing out of Galveston on December 4th on our first Disney cruise. When will we know what nights are formal? I'd like to plan a meal at Palo with my husband, but I want to be sure that it won't be on a night that will be formal or a special meal with my kiddos. Also, I want to be sure that our dinner at Palo will not interfere with the Golden Mickey's or any of the other shows. Thanks for any input!

Typically, formal night is the second night of a cruise, especially if it's a sea day. In fact, that's the way it's been on all our cruises (not just DCL). If you have a cruise that's shorter than 7 nights, you may not even have a formal night, but a "Dress Up Optional" night.

A 7 night cruise will, typically, also have a semi-formal night (usually night 6).

 

[mom2aprincenprincess]

Typically, formal night is the second night of a cruise, especially if it's a sea day. In fact, that's the way it's been on all our cruises (not just DCL). If you have a cruise that's shorter than 7 nights, you may not even have a formal night, but a "Dress Up Optional" night.

A 7 night cruise will, typically, also have a semi-formal night (usually night 6).

Our cruise is 7 nights, so I can plan on having a formal night the second night I guess. Thank you! In your opinion, is there a particular night that is best for going to Palo and not the main dining room? I don't want to miss out on anything with my kids.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Our cruise is 7 nights, so I can plan on having a formal night the second night I guess. Thank you! In your opinion, is there a particular night that is best for going to Palo and not the main dining room? I don't want to miss out on anything with my kids.

Personally, I'm a Palo brunch gal (not dinner). My usual recommendation for first time DCL cruisers is to stick with the MDRs and save Palo for a subsequent trip.

What I like or don't like (menu-wise) may not be the same for you.

You will have 7 different menus in the dining rooms during the cruise.

You can take a look at the various menus here for an idea of what they have on them (disclaimer: sometimes there are changes): http://disneycruiselineblog.com/menus/

 

[Trera]

Personally, I'm a Palo brunch gal (not dinner). My usual recommendation for first time DCL cruisers is to stick with the MDRs and save Palo for a subsequent trip.

What I like or don't like (menu-wise) may not be the same for you.

You will have 7 different menus in the dining rooms during the cruise.

You can take a look at the various menus here for an idea of what they have on them (disclaimer: sometimes there are changes): http://disneycruiselineblog.com/menus/

We always do a Palo dinner on Pirate night because we dont find that menu all that great.................and the palo filet, mushroom risotto, and chocolate souffle are not to be missed.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We always do a Palo dinner on Pirate night because we dont find that menu all that great.................and the palo filet, mushroom risotto, and chocolate souffle are not to be missed.

Therein proves my point, I like the Pirate menu.

I know, sadly, I have to miss out on the fabulous chocolate souffle because I'm a brunch person.

 

[Trera]

Therein proves my point, I like the Pirate menu.

I know, sadly, I have to miss out on the fabulous chocolate souffle because I'm a brunch person.

Oh, we always do the brunch too. Lol

 

[over50visits]

My family and I will be sailing out of Galveston on December 4th on our first Disney cruise. When will we know what nights are formal? I'd like to plan a meal at Palo with my husband, but I want to be sure that it won't be on a night that will be formal or a special meal with my kiddos. Also, I want to be sure that our dinner at Palo will not interfere with the Golden Mickey's or any of the other shows. Thanks for any input!

Since you're taking a 7 day cruise, I think a dinner at Palo is an outstanding idea. It can really be a romantic evening for you and hubby. I very strongly suggest you have dinner there.

Really any night will be fun there; we often like the first night at Palo, but for first time cruisers you might want to spend your first three nights in the main dining rooms. You will meet and get to know your servers, and see all three dining rooms. Then nights 4-7 are available for Palo. I like the evening you're in Nassau (night 5), it probably won't be a formal night (though you'll dress up for Palo and love the way they treat you like royalty) and not the Golden Mickeys.

For a very different Palo experience, you should also pick a brunch for one of the sea days. I think a majority of posters on this forum would pick the brunch if they were forced to pick just one (brunch or dinner)…it's very relaxed, the food selection is varied and you can try a little bit of a lot, yet the setting is still a quiet adult retreat. And you get daytime views of the water.

But dinner…the chocolate shuffle! Oh-la-la!

p.s. As a first time cruiser it is possible those who have cruised before, and thus getting to reserve earlier than you do, may fill the brunch slots (that seems to happen frequently). Don't despair, just wait until you board the ship and go to the Palo reservation location (you can find it out in the port before you board) and they'll probably have availability. We were able to add two brunches on a 14 day cruise once, and we waited to check until everyone else had a chance to book (we didn't want to "hoard" from those who maybe weren't able to get any reservation at all).

 

[Little Doe]

When you plan your dinner, since this is your first cruise, don't plan it on the same night as the Animators Palette Dinner. The room is amazing. We will be on that cruise with 12 members of our family -- I can't wait. I would vote for the brunch. I have done both and the brunch is better in my humble opinion.