EBPC December 9, 2012!!! Who's in????

[skayrobe]

Jeff, that was a great post and leads me to ask this question. What is so great about Palo Brunch? The food pics on the Disney website show an amazing breakfast buffet which I assume was in one of the free restaurants. Is it the food or the experience that makes the Palo Brunch one of "must" experiences on the Wonder. Thanks for all the help to first time Disney cruises. Sherry

 

[Gdes1]

OK, thank you for the answers, LindaBabe. I tried calling SAS but the office was closed for two days. I looked all over their website for a link to use for email, but I guess making a tentative reservation is the only way to get in touch with them. I'm sure the owner keeps operating costs low by not having people sitting around waiting to answer the phone.

As far as dining, I don't mind if we are seated with others. It sounds like you are saying they keep adults with adults and families with families? I would just feel awful if we ended up at a table for six with a childless couple, or empty nesters trying to enjoy their meal, and then they have to eat with small kids.

 

[abbyar]

You can take us out of the brunch. Dh is not a brunch fan and is anti social, so we'll skip it and try to grab another dinner ressie once on board.

 

[Chinook]

As far as dining, I don't mind if we are seated with others. It sounds like you are saying they keep adults with adults and families with families? I would just feel awful if we ended up at a table for six with a childless couple, or empty nesters trying to enjoy their meal, and then they have to eat with small kids.

I have been on 3 Disney cruises. For dinning, the first time they paired me and DH with another couple in our group (our company took us cruising). There were no kids with either couple. The next time they sat me and DH by ourselves. On the third cruise we were with our friend and her daughter and they sat the 4 of us by ourselves. I think they are very in tune to groups with and without kids.

 

[Moby]

The Disney Port Adventures Cartagena page still shows nothing on excursions, and they only have the general ones listed for PV, most of which are too long for the short time we are there.

I agree! I checked out the PV excursions and many of the good ones, IMHO, are longer than our port time, so I wonder what adjustments will be made.

Just a FYI. We were in Cabo in April 2011 and they no longer allow water taxis to go to Lover's Beach. Apparently too many people were getting injuried getting on/off the taxis.

Bummer! Last December, we really enjoyed walking from Lover's Beach to Divorce Beach after our Los Arcos tour via water taxi. Yes, it can be a bit treacherous getting in/out of the boat especially if the waves are high, so I can understand how easy it would be to slip and get hurt, but I wish we still had the option to go at our own risk.

 

[Moby]

I've booked three separate Palo brunches before in the private dining room for DIS groups on a single cruise.

Jeff, I've never done Palo brunch, although I've peeked into the restaurant. I'm trying to figure out what the draw is to doing the brunch as a group in the private dining room versus dining alone with my husband in Palo's regular seating area. Is there something special about the private dining room itself that sets it apart, or is it the experience of dining with a group of people?

 

[LindaBabe]

Jeff, I've never done Palo brunch, although I've peeked into the restaurant. I'm trying to figure out what the draw is to doing the brunch as a group in the private dining room versus dining alone with my husband in Palo's regular seating area. Is there something special about the private dining room itself that sets it apart, or is it the experience of dining with a group of people?

The lure is - having the company of fellow DISers - and the "special" feel of the private room.

Eleven of us (extended family) dined in the private room on our cruise in November - we didn't *know* in advance that was what we'd been given and it was fantastic. We had a server and assistant server all to ourselves. We sat at one big table so everyone could talk to everyone. AND between us, we had and shared every item on the menu from appy through dessert. FOODIE HEAVEN!

I have been on 3 Disney cruises. For dinning, the first time they paired me and DH with another couple in our group (our company took us cruising). There were no kids with either couple. The next time they sat me and DH by ourselves. On the third cruise we were with our friend and her daughter and they sat the 4 of us by ourselves. I think they are very in tune to groups with and without kids.

On our transatlantic cruise we linked dining with other dis-ers, and were seated at a 12 top - 11 adults and a child. We thought what? But she was a VERY special child and I can tell you she had us all captivated by the end of the second day. 8 of the ll were f ormer teachers, Everyone had at least two things in common with every other one. It was amazing. We were so *tight* by the end of the cruise (after dining, breakfasting, wine partying in each other's rooms) we now have a facebook group to keep in touch. I don't know how they do it.

Actually, on Hawaii we were seated at a 12 top, too - two other grand parents, two sets of (unrelated) parents, and three kids. My husband and I were honorary grandparents by the end of the trip.

 

[Moby]

The lure is - having the company of fellow DISers - and the "special" feel of the private room.

Eleven of us (extended family) dined in the private room on our cruise in November - we didn't *know* in advance that was what we'd been given and it was fantastic. We had a server and assistant server all to ourselves. We sat at one big table so everyone could talk to everyone. AND between us, we had and shared every item on the menu from appy through dessert. FOODIE HEAVEN!

Thanks Linda! Does the private room have the great view that regular seating appears to have, or are you enclosed in a room with no windows? Enquiring minds want to know!

 

[Gilland18]

Bea & Jerry would like to participate in the ornament exchange. Sounds like such a fun cruise!

 

[LindaBabe]

it has a great view on one side and a fabulous mosaic glas mural on the other side - but believe me - your attention will be focused on the table.

 

[skoi]

I'm confused.

I've booked three separate Palo brunches before in the private dining room for DIS groups on a single cruise. Are you saying Disney only has one slot left or that you only planned to book one brunch? If you need someone else to do it I'd be happy to but you may not have a problem.

No-


Sorry I was so unclear. I was/am booking the group brunch, but didn't answer a pm in a timely manner, therefore resulting in someone not getting into the group. I'm planning on giving them our spot, and not doing the brunch with the group. I feel bad about my error, so think giving up our spot is the right thing to do. I guess I can still handle the details with DCL, but would it be better if someone who's actually going does it?

Hopefully that makes sense. I was a little scattered last night as youngest ds was having major surgery today, and my mind was on that.

So there's no problem with DCL-- just on my end.



Any thoughts if anyone has booked the room but wasn't included in the group? Thanks.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

...
As far as dining, I don't mind if we are seated with others. It sounds like you are saying they keep adults with adults and families with families? I would just feel awful if we ended up at a table for six with a childless couple, or empty nesters trying to enjoy their meal, and then they have to eat with small kids.

An option to being seated with total strangers is to arrange to be seated with fellow DIS cruisers. It's really easy. All you have to do is have the full names and reservation numbers of those you'd like to link up with. It could be someone you "meet" here or chat with on the Facebook page or via PMs. You have kids the same age, a common interest, etc. During our last cruise we had 30 people sitting together in the early seating and 26 in the late seating. We had a blast.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Jeff, that was a great post and leads me to ask this question. What is so great about Palo Brunch? The food pics on the Disney website show an amazing breakfast buffet which I assume was in one of the free restaurants. Is it the food or the experience that makes the Palo Brunch one of "must" experiences on the Wonder. Thanks for all the help to first time Disney cruises. Sherry

Palo is a special dining area that cost a small extra fee to dine. It is limited to guests 18 and older. The food at Palo is excellent whether it is brunch or dinner. The servers in Palo are top notch. The dining area itself is small and intimate. If you enjoy fine dining and/or have some special occasion you are celebrating I think it's a must.

Edit: Here is a photo of the private dining room we did the Palo brunch in. The bright white light to the left is all glass. Beautiful mural on the right. Table for 14. For those who haven't dined there.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Any thoughts if anyone has booked the room but wasn't included in the group? Thanks.

Yes, that's what I'm trying to say. I booked three different groups of 14 DISers for Palo brunch on the same cruise. Obviously, I was only in one of those 3 groups. What I was also trying to say is that if you're only trying to book one group and you've filled up the 14 slots, there's nothing to keep you from booking a second, or third, or fourth group except getting the DISers lined up and DCL having the room open. Make sense?

 

[LindaBabe]

Yes, that's what I'm trying to say. I booked three different groups of 14 DISers for Palo brunch on the same cruise. Obviously, I was only in one of those 3 groups. What I was also trying to say is that if you're only trying to book one group and you've filled up the 14 slots, there's nothing to keep you from booking a second, or third, or fourth group except getting the DISers lined up and DCL having the room open. Make sense?

And there's nothing to preclude the people who didn't get into YOUR brunch from arranging their own group brunch, either. LOTS of sea days on this one, so everyone who wants brunch should be able to get one.

Jeff, on the (WONDERful, FABULOUS) website, is there a way to append my name or pm link to the Cartegena tour with MareIvy? It might be easier for people to make the connection between the tour I'm arranging and that description if there is a method by which the two could be linked.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Jeff, on the (WONDERful, FABULOUS) website, is there a way to append my name or pm link to the Cartegena tour with MareIvy? It might be easier for people to make the connection between the tour I'm arranging and that description if there is a method by which the two could be linked.

If there's a will, there's a way. Done.

 

[Cruise]

Just wondering if anyone (including kids!) does any pin trading.

I bought a batch many moons ago with the intention of getting into it, but never did. Thought it might be fun to try this time though if they have some pin trading sessions on the sea days.

 

[bugsgrandma]

Just wondering if anyone (including kids!) does any pin trading.

I bought a batch many moons ago with the intention of getting into it, but never did. Thought it might be fun to try this time though if they have some pin trading sessions on the sea days.

I don't do the pin trading, but my grandkids did on our last cruise. The staff is really good about trading with them. Even when the kids were in line for the buffet or other functions and a staff member had their sash on with pins, they would trade at that time too. There was also a special time when they could trade with the Captain and other ship support people.

 

[RoxyHive]

Jeff - a huge thanks for pulling together the website! This thread is getting SO long I was wondering how to note where all the important bits were

A couple more posts and I can finally PM to join the OE and FE . . .

 

[LindaBabe]

GOOD Morning, Happy Cruisers!

If there's a will, there's a way. Done.

Thank you Especially glad, since we now have more space on the Cartegena tour - two families have made other plans. (See the cruise web page - link in Jeff's siggie - under excursions for details. This tour will be "mobility impaired" friendly although there will be some walking involved.

Just wondering if anyone (including kids!) does any pin trading.

I bought a batch many moons ago with the intention of getting into it, but never did. Thought it might be fun to try this time though if they have some pin trading sessions on the sea days.

Always trade pins - they have officer pin trading nights in the atrium as well as CM's with lanyards around the ship. My biggest issue is never having my pins on me when I see a good one on someone's lanyard!

Jeff - a huge thanks for pulling together the website! This thread is getting SO long I was wondering how to note where all the important bits were

A couple more posts and I can finally PM to join the OE and FE . . .

Looks like you're good to go, Roxy!

*I SOLD MY TRAINS!* which will give my cruise fund a NICE boost AND empty a good sized space in my basement!

Happy Day, all!