Dining Rotations on Disney Magic

[PrincessShmoo]

Cruise virgin here, can you explain what the dining rotation is? Also I guess we are on 2nd rotation whatever that means.

We are on 7 day magic in December

There are 3 Main Dining Rooms on the Magic: Animator's Palate; Lumiere's; and Carioca's. Generally speaking, on a 7 night cruise, the dining rotation might be 1231231. And the order of the MDRs is usually Lumiere's, followed by Animator's, followed by Cariocas. 1/3 of the guest complement will start in Lumiere's, 1/3 will start in Animator's and the final 1/3 will start in Cariocas. Sometimes the rotation may be 1231223; or 1223123; or some other configuration. But everyone still gets 2 rooms twice and one room 3 times.

Everyone onboard will dine in 2 of the MDRs twice and the 3rd one 3 times during a 7 night cruise. Each dining room serves it's own Signature Menu (generally the first time you are in that dining room). The other 4 nights all dining rooms serve the same themed menu (Pirate; Prince and Princess; Captain's Gala, for example).

Everyone onboard will have the opportunity to experience all dining rooms, and all menus served. One rotation is really no "better" than any other.

 

[Marshay]

Just curious since all 3 have the same menu for Pirate night, is there is an advantage to doing Pirate Night in Animator's Palate? On the Dream, it was nice to have the additional animated screens showing "pirate" images. I assume it will do the same on the Magic? Do Lumiere's or Carioca's do anything special for Pirate night? We love to dress up for Pirate night! thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Just curious since all 3 have the same menu for Pirate night, is there is an advantage to doing Pirate Night in Animator's Palate? On the Dream, it was nice to have the additional animated screens showing "pirate" images. I assume it will do the same on the Magic? Do Lumiere's or Carioca's do anything special for Pirate night? We love to dress up for Pirate night! thanks!

Yes, the screens in Animator's do show pirate themed pictures on Pirate night, the other MDRs don't. That could make it "better", but IMO not really. The atmosphere for Pirate night, or any other theme night is carried out in the servers costumes, and the menus, not so much the actual location. We've done Pirate night in pretty much all of the MDRs on all the ships, and I wouldn't request a rotation just because "I want AP for Pirate night". We've also done formal nights in the various MDRs. Again, not much difference whether it's in Lumiere's, Royal Palace, or Animator's (yes, I know all different ships), so I wouldn't request a rotation for that reason, either.

In short, we've never requested a rotation and have still enjoyed all the MDRs for all of our cruises.

 

[Marshay]

thanks! Originally, I had requested (recognize this is not a guarantee) to have Lumiere's for our 3rd night but then found out that this will be our Pirate night. I wasn't sure how the more 'formal' restaurant would handle pirate night (i.e., a bit stuffy?) ... and like I said, in AP on Dream, it was really cool and the screens seemed to enhance the pirate theme.