Disappointed with the direction DCL is heading.

[hardis5]

I am truly hoping we love it!! It will be a great way to take our family on new adventures!

You will have a great time. Those that have sailed repeatedly are only lamenting how things have changed and what once was, seems less now. Not that Disney is any less a great experience for someone new to sailing, others that have experienced (and repeatedly) may be more prone to check out the waters around the ships of other cruise lines.

On Palo and the plus costing change, IMO I believe this is the start (or start to the end of) a fixed up charge for the 2 reservation locations and we'll eventually see the fixed cost PP for Palo and Remy replaced with a fully priced menu. You may be spending close to the same $ if they eventually go this route (no way any less) but it will allow them to charge significantly more for certain items raising their revenue per seat.

 

[Mousemommy1]

OP; great way to look at your cruise as "A New Adventure". Hopefully you'll have a wonderful cruise. Since 2001, we've completed 15 cruise with DCL, on all 4 ships, & have never been disappointed. We've also had good cruises on RCCL, Celebrity & HAL. But it just seems that Disney is the best fit for our family, even when we cruise w/o our 2DDs. Bottom line i'd take most of the stuff on this thread, Good or Bad, with a grain of salt. Happy Sailing....... Cheers

Thank you!! Just going to dive in with an open mind.

That being said, DH and I do want to make reservations at Palo? (Is that the one on the Dream?)

Anyway, when I've researched in the past it was just $20 extra to eat there, what exactly can we expect to dish out now?

 

[hardis5]

Thank you!! Just going to dive in with an open mind.

That being said, DH and I do want to make reservations at Palo? (Is that the one on the Dream?)

Anyway, when I've researched in the past it was just $20 extra to eat there, what exactly can we expect to dish out now?

Palo and Remy both exist on the Dream. Palo with set one back $30 pp and Remy $85 pp for dinner. We've done Palo and enjoyed for dinner.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Palo and Remy both exist on the Dream. Palo with set one back $30 pp and Remy $85 pp for dinner. We've done Palo and enjoyed for dinner.

Thank you!!! Sounds great!!!

Oh, and we are PIF. How many days out can I book that stuff?

 

[cgolf]

Thank you!! Just going to dive in with an open mind.

That being said, DH and I do want to make reservations at Palo? (Is that the one on the Dream?)

Anyway, when I've researched in the past it was just $20 extra to eat there, what exactly can we expect to dish out now?

weird my browser didn't show the answer you received until I posted mine, sometimes the internet is awesome lol

 

[DCLDVC1]

A lot of park enthusiasts discover that cruising is even more fun than the parks.

Agreed. We'd much rather take a Disney cruise than battle the crowds at WDW.

 

[Ofinn]

I wasn't complaining....

We've just never done a cruise before, and a lot of the threads make it seem like it's not worth the money. That's a bad feeling to have, not feeling like you've gotten your money's worth.

Plus, I'm not just going to read the sunshine and unicorn posts before hopping on a giant ship in the middle of the ocean for the first time. I want to read about all of the aspects I can.

I have complaints, but overall I love DCL. It's no different then the resorts board. People complain, but still keep going to WDW. Loyal customers can be the most nit picky about everything.

 

[cmash95]

just and fyi, since disney decided to give platinum free palo, the price has gone up $10. non platinum members are subsidizing the free platinum reservations just like regular guests have to pay more for a meal at WDW because they subsidize the dining plan. many wish the dining plan as it is would go away and frankly i wish that the free reservation for platinum members would go away

 

[insureman]

just and fyi, since disney decided to give platinum free palo, the price has gone up $10. non platinum members are subsidizing the free platinum reservations just like regular guests have to pay more for a meal at WDW because they subsidize the dining plan. many wish the dining plan as it is would go away and frankly i wish that the free reservation for platinum members would go away

As in everything Disney, the prices will continue to rise as long as the people go to Palo. Taking the free Palo from Platinum members will not decrease the price.

 

[cgolf]

just and fyi, since disney decided to give platinum free palo, the price has gone up $10. non platinum members are subsidizing the free platinum reservations just like regular guests have to pay more for a meal at WDW because they subsidize the dining plan. many wish the dining plan as it is would go away and frankly i wish that the free reservation for platinum members would go away

Actually I believe the free Palo has always been there for the platinum guests that have already shelled out a lot of money to DCL. And don't worry it will probably disappear too, just like the extra on board credit for platinum cruisers did.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Platinum Cruiser here. We enjoy our dinner at Palo, and we have usually remembered ( but not always) to choose from the free chocolates, wine or fruit. Sometimes we forget, and usually something is brought.

However, we do not play Bingo so that perk is lost on us. We do enjoy the 10% store discount.

All cruise lines do give some perks. My favorite is the free internet we get on Princess!

 

[Hundredacre]

just and fyi, since disney decided to give platinum free palo, the price has gone up $10. non platinum members are subsidizing the free platinum reservations just like regular guests have to pay more for a meal at WDW because they subsidize the dining plan. many wish the dining plan as it is would go away and frankly i wish that the free reservation for platinum members would go away

I also dont like the dining plan at wdw. But why would you want to take away the platinum palo benefit?

 

[Hundredacre]

You will have a great time. Those that have sailed repeatedly are only lamenting how things have changed and what once was, seems less now. Not that Disney is any less a great experience for someone new to sailing, others that have experienced (and repeatedly) may be more prone to check out the waters around the ships of other cruise lines.

On Palo and the plus costing change, IMO I believe this is the start (or start to the end of) a fixed up charge for the 2 reservation locations and we'll eventually see the fixed cost PP for Palo and Remy replaced with a fully priced menu. You may be spending close to the same $ if they eventually go this route (no way any less) but it will allow them to charge significantly more for certain items raising their revenue per seat.

Obviously I have no idea, but I would be surprised if they went to a full priced menu at palo.

 

[Ofinn]

just and fyi, since disney decided to give platinum free palo, the price has gone up $10. non platinum members are subsidizing the free platinum reservations just like regular guests have to pay more for a meal at WDW because they subsidize the dining plan. many wish the dining plan as it is would go away and frankly i wish that the free reservation for platinum members would go away

Sorry, but after paying for ten DCL cruises I feel I deserve the free meal. Most cruise lines offer a lot better perks to frequent cruisers than a free specialty meal. When you consider the amount of money that is invested to get to plantinum I think we deserve a lot more perks. I have never felt like DCL really values their loyal customers, but I guess they don't feel they need to. You just need to spend a few more thousand dollars, and you can get your 30.00 dollar meal free. Whoopee.

 

[cgolf]

Sorry, but after paying for ten DCL cruises I feel I deserve the free meal. Most cruise lines offer a lot better perks to frequent cruisers than a free specialty meal. When you consider the amount of money that is invested to get to plantinum I think we deserve a lot more perks. I have never felt like DCL really values their loyal customers, but I guess they don't feel they need to. You just need to spend a few more thousand dollars, and you can get your 30.00 dollar meal free. Whoopee.

Maybe this was to make up for that extra obc they took away from the platinum cruisers

Does anyone know when they started the free Palo? I just thought that it has always been a free platinum perk, or is it a new add?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Maybe this was to make up for that extra obc they took away from the platinum cruisers

Does anyone know when they started the free Palo? I just thought that it has always been a free platinum perk, or is it a new add?

It's not real new. It's been around at least 4-5 years, probably longer.

 

[insureman]

One more thing taken away. See the attached link.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/no-more-all-hands-on-deck.3472738/

 

[mmouse37]

just and fyi, since disney decided to give platinum free palo, the price has gone up $10. non platinum members are subsidizing the free platinum reservations just like regular guests have to pay more for a meal at WDW because they subsidize the dining plan. many wish the dining plan as it is would go away and frankly i wish that the free reservation for platinum members would go away

The price of Palo going up does not directly have anything to do with the free Palo Platinum perk IMO. I remember when Palo was only $10 pp and the price has gone up over the years regardless of the perk. After 34 DCL I do appreciate my free Palo dinner or brunch and hope it does not go away.

MJ

 

[insureman]

The price of Palo going up does not directly have anything to do with the free Palo Platinum perk IMO. I remember when Palo was only $10 pp and the price has gone up over the years regardless of the perk. After 34 DCL I do appreciate my free Palo dinner or brunch and hope it does not go away.

MJ

Agree!

 

[cgolf]

The price of Palo going up does not directly have anything to do with the free Palo Platinum perk IMO. I remember when Palo was only $10 pp and the price has gone up over the years regardless of the perk. After 34 DCL I do appreciate my free Palo dinner or brunch and hope it does not go away.

MJ

I just can't wait till our next cruise when we will try our first Palo supper in our first ten cruises we never missed a MDR meal, this will be our first. I hope it is as good as the brunch, got my fingers crossed after reading the recent Palo thread.