Does dining rotation really matter?

[mathgeek]

In 8 cruises I've only requested rotation once, and that was on a 3-night. I always make my Palo reservation for pirate night and wanted to make sure I wasn't missing the other two MDR menus that I like better than the 3rd. Not that it was a huge deal b/c I was B2B with a 4-night and was going to see all those menus again in 3 days, but I did get my request granted, so I appreciated it.

 

[Henlady]

We requested a specific dining rotation for our upcoming cruise. The reason being: It is a 7 night, Captain's Gala menu is on Thursday, we did not want to get stuck in Animator's for our second time on that night. We aren't huge fans of the animation art production and definitely don't like getting limited to one appetizer(neither one of us would like) and one soup selection (equally unappetizing), especially when there is a menu that provides items we really like. So we selected RAE rotation which will put us in Enchanted Garden for Captain's Gala. Our second night at Animator's will probably find us eating at Cabana's sit down service.

 

[hardis5]

We have a preference (being card carrying members of the over-planners club) to do certain dining rooms more than once and others not certain nights and last November we did not have our "preference" so there may be credence in Disney no longer actioning unofficial "preferences or requests if possible" that are made. One has to remember you have a 1 in 3 chance of getting your preference without anything being done and if travelling Concierge, you always likely have any dining preferences addressed (just list with shoreside).

 

[disneyholic family]

We're doing a 7 night E. Caribbean on the Fantasy, I keep reading recommendations for dining rotation requests.
Does it really matter? is there a specific rotation that I should request?

don't sweat the small stuff!!
we've never requested, never cared...it's all good!!!

 

[MickeyEarrings]

On my third cruise I made a request after a seasoned cruiser in my cruise group recommended a particular rotation. I did want to be in Enchanted Garden or Royal Court for formal night, so requesting the AERAERA rotation gave us E.G. For formal night and AP for pirate night, which was made even more fun by the pirate film clips on the screens. An added bonus was our final day's breakfast being in AP, which I loved. So did I need to make that request?...no. But it added so much to my cruise experience.

 

[dragynally]

It's not a need so much as, well a request. It's a "it would be nice if...". Most of the time it doesn't hurt to ask (if you're respectful).

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

I plan to make a request this cruise. I didn't request a specific rotation our last cruise and our formal night was in AP. I love the restaurant, but it really took away from the formal feeling. So on our upcoming cruise, I want to be in Royal for formal night. Even enchanted would be acceptable! lol

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've wondered this as well. Specifically, does AP have a more limited menu than the other ADRs on the last night of a cruise? I've seen menus suggesting that there's no choice regarding appetizers and limited choice for entrees. Is this always the case? If not, is there some way to know whether a particular cruise will have the more limited menu? Anyone know why there might be a more limited menu? Thanks.

No. What you're probably reading about is the Animation Magic show evening (the second time you dine in Animator's on 7+ night cruises). There is a limited menu in that there is no choice for the soup/salad/appetizer choices. The entrees remain the same.

Whatever menu is being served that night in all the dining rooms (as it's the same menu for all dining rooms that evening.), will be abbreviated in Animator's Palate that evening.

For example, the Prince & Princess menu would be served in all dining rooms on one of the later nights in the cruise. The same menu in both Enchanted Garden & Royal Court. But an abbreviated one in Animator's Palate.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

No. What you're probably reading about is the Animation Magic show evening (the second time you dine in Animator's on 7+ night cruises). There is a limited menu in that there is no choice for the soup/salad/appetizer choices. The entrees remain the same.

Whatever menu is being served that night in all the dining rooms (as it's the same menu for all dining rooms that evening.), will be abbreviated in Animator's Palate that evening.

For example, the Prince & Princess menu would be served in all dining rooms on one of the later nights in the cruise. The same menu in both Enchanted Garden & Royal Court. But an abbreviated one in Animator's Palate.

Wondering if AP has the "show " on 3- and 4-nts on the Dream?

 

[Dug720]

Wondering if AP has the "show " on 3- and 4-nts on the Dream?

Crush show (no abbreviated menu), yes. Animation show, no.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Wondering if AP has the "show " on 3- and 4-nts on the Dream?

No. It's only on cruises that have the Animation Magic show. 7 nights and longer cruises.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Thank goodness bc I don't know why, but that animation show really got to me. I think maybe I just have a bad association with it bc it was our last night, last dinner, questionable asst server all week pulled his usual weirdness, and we wanted to get the heck out of there but had to wait til we saw "ourselves" then the way the animation went, we weren't even all on at the same time. First world problems, I realize, but bad way to end a great cruise. Long story short, we won't miss not having that show!

 

[SpaceSquirrel]

No. It's only on cruises that have the Animation Magic show. 7 nights and longer cruises.

PrincessShmoo, on a 7 night EC Fantasy sailing which rotation would you request? We're not big on formal dress when we're on vacation but we do love the little kid stuff and we are big on good food.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

PrincessShmoo, on a 7 night EC Fantasy sailing which rotation would you request? We're not big on formal dress when we're on vacation but we do love the little kid stuff and we are big on good food.

I've never requested any specific dining rotation. We've always gone with what DCL assigns us. I believe that matching tablemates works better when no requests are made.

On a 7 night cruise you'll dine in all 3 dining rooms twice, and one of them a third time. Everyone onboard will have the same 7 menus during the cruise.

There is a formal night, as well as a semi-formal night on most 7 night cruises. But dressing up is entirely up to you, as the suggested dress for any evening is just that "suggested". You'll find all manner of dress for dinner on any given night, from t-shirts and shorts to fancy. Only actual "dress code" for the dining rooms is "no swimwear or tank tops for dinner".

 

[Beth06015]

We requested a specific dining rotation for our upcoming cruise. The reason being: It is a 7 night, Captain's Gala menu is on Thursday, we did not want to get stuck in Animator's for our second time on that night. We aren't huge fans of the animation art production and definitely don't like getting limited to one appetizer(neither one of us would like) and one soup selection (equally unappetizing), especially when there is a menu that provides items we really like. So we selected RAE rotation which will put us in Enchanted Garden for Captain's Gala. Our second night at Animator's will probably find us eating at Cabana's sit down service.

First time cruiser here...what does the captains gala or princess dinner mean? And each restaurant does it?

 

[Beth06015]

On my third cruise I made a request after a seasoned cruiser in my cruise group recommended a particular rotation. I did want to be in Enchanted Garden or Royal Court for formal night, so requesting the AERAERA rotation gave us E.G. For formal night and AP for pirate night, which was made even more fun by the pirate film clips on the screens. An added bonus was our final day's breakfast being in AP, which I loved. So did I need to make that request?...no. But it added so much to my cruise experience.

This sounds like a great plan....how do I know what nights are formal and pirate on the Fantasy's eastern carribean 7-day?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We requested a specific dining rotation for our upcoming cruise. The reason being: It is a 7 night, Captain's Gala menu is on Thursday, we did not want to get stuck in Animator's for our second time on that night. We aren't huge fans of the animation art production and definitely don't like getting limited to one appetizer(neither one of us would like) and one soup selection (equally unappetizing), especially when there is a menu that provides items we really like. So we selected RAE rotation which will put us in Enchanted Garden for Captain's Gala. Our second night at Animator's will probably find us eating at Cabana's sit down service.

The menu is Cabanas is a limited selection from that night's menus available in the other dining rooms, so you're not going to necessarily get more options there.

First time cruiser here...what does the captains gala or princess dinner mean? And each restaurant does it?

Generally, the first time you dine in each dining room you get that room's Signature Menu (different menus in each dining room). If your cruise is longer than 3 nights, the subsequent nights the same menu is served in all dining rooms. These other menus are Pirate menu (for Pirate night); Captain's Gala (usually semi-formal night); Prince & Princess menu (formal night); Til We Meet Again/See Ya Real Soon (last night).

Longer cruises will have other menus. Every night you'll get a different menu on a DCL cruise.

 

[Beth06015]

No. What you're probably reading about is the Animation Magic show evening (the second time you dine in Animator's on 7+ night cruises). There is a limited menu in that there is no choice for the soup/salad/appetizer choices. The entrees remain the same.

Whatever menu is being served that night in all the dining rooms (as it's the same menu for all dining rooms that evening.), will be abbreviated in Animator's Palate that evening.

For example, the Prince & Princess menu would be served in all dining rooms on one of the later nights in the cruise. The same menu in both Enchanted Garden & Royal Court. But an abbreviated one in Animator's Palate.

Why do they have a limited menu at AP? I'm curious because I'm vegetarian and usually need a couple choices to eliminate meat....

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This sounds like a great plan....how do I know what nights are formal and pirate on the Fantasy's eastern carribean 7-day?

Formal night is typically the first sea day (night 2). Pirate night can be either night 4 or 3. You'll find that out by checking your "My Cruise Activities" option on your reservation, once your online checkin/excursion booking windows open.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Why do they have a limited menu at AP? I'm curious because I'm vegetarian and usually need a couple choices to eliminate meat....

The limited menu is only on the night that Animator's has the Animation Magic show.

The thought was (at the time it was implemented), that streamlining what's served for soup/salad/appetizers would make the service quicker, since more time was needed to people to complete their drawings for the show later in the evening.

The entree selections remain the same in all dining rooms.