I’ve booked the trip....now what?

[Betsyp]

My window to book excursions and restaurants doesn’t open until December 18, so now I don’t know what to do with myself, lol. I find myself going back and forth between excursions, especially on St. John, even though I think I know what I want

What do you all do when you have so much time on your hands before the booking window opens and you enjoy planning to much to sit back and wait?

 

[Debonna]

I’ve been watching YouTube videos on DCL and the ship I’m sailing on.

 

[Calantha]

What do you all do when you have so much time on your hands before the booking window opens and you enjoy planning to much to sit back and wait?

Watch videos, read blogs, book more cruises...

 

[CarolynFH]

Reading this forum every day, including cruise meets, trip reports, and threads that have nothing to do with our cruise, looking for information on our upcoming ports of call, dreaming about other cruises we might take!

 

[Betsyp]

I’ve been watching YouTube videos on DCL and the ship I’m sailing on.

That’s a good idea! I’m going to do that during the long holiday weekend!

 

[Betsyp]

Watch videos, read blogs, book more cruises...

I’ve been Googling like crazy, and searching this forum endlessly

 

[Betsyp]

Reading this forum every day, including cruise meets, trip reports, and threads that have nothing to do with our cruise, looking for information on our upcoming ports of call, dreaming about other cruises we might take!

Yep, I’m obsessed with this forum! I haven’t gotten into trip reports, but that’s a great idea!

 

[JM_97]

Nice! What ship and what itinerary?

 

[VTNuke]

Imagine if you planned even further out and had to wait several months before you could do anything.....that is how you end up doing multiple cruises per year. Plan them out every 6 months or less and you always have something to plan, book, or actually enjoy the vacation (planning for many of us is equally enjoyable).

 

[Betsyp]

Nice! What ship and what itinerary?

Fantasy, March 2-9...Eastern Caribbean ! It’s been years since I’ve been on a cruise...I need It to happen now, but I love having something to look forward to!

 

[Betsyp]

Imagine if you planned even further out and had to wait several months before you could do anything.....that is how you end up doing multiple cruises per year. Plan them out every 6 months or less and you always have something to plan, book, or actually enjoy the vacation (planning for many of us is equally enjoyable).

That would be very expensive, lol.....but if I had the time, it would be fabulous !

Oh, I think planning is half the fun - I always plan my vacations, and I love giving people advice on things to do when I’ve been where they’re going. My coworkers used to tell me I should be a travel agent, lol.

I think I’ll go to the bookstore this weekend and grab a couple of guide books. Are there any Disney ones that you guys like best?

 

[Calantha]

I haven’t gotten into trip reports, but that’s a great idea!

Allow me to self-promote our trip report from May:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...om-san-juan-–-5-13-may-2023-complete.3919629/

I also made a few notes on our recent Eastern, happy to answer any specific questions:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/28-oct-4-nov-2023-fantasy-hoths-quick-report.3933738/

 

[Betsyp]

Allow me to self-promote our trip report from May:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-magic-–-8-night-from-san-juan-–-5-13-may-2023-complete.3919629/

I also made a few notes on our recent Eastern, happy to answer any specific questions:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/28-oct-4-nov-2023-fantasy-hoths-quick-report.3933738/

I loved reading these, thank you!

i was going to do some research before making a thread, but since your threads mentioned them...

How does breakfast work on the Fantasy? Which restaurant has breakfast?

Is Palo brunch worth the expense? For what it’s worth, I love a good brunch.

Since I won‘t know my dining rotation until the cruise day, how would you recommend that I make reservations for Palo and Remy?

Thank you!

 

[Calantha]

I loved reading these, thank you!

i was going to do some research before making a thread, but since your threads mentioned them...

How does breakfast work on the Fantasy? Which restaurant has breakfast?

Is Palo brunch worth the expense? For what it’s worth, I love a good brunch.

Since I won‘t know my dining rotation until the cruise day, how would you recommend that I make reservations for Palo and Remy?

Thank you!

So Fantasy sit-down breakfast is in Royal Court. It usually opens a little later than Cabanas and then closes a little earlier.
Cabanas is the buffet and usually open from 7-11ish depending on if it is a sea day or a port day.
Depending on the schedule for the day, we'll do one or the other.

Palo brunch is one of my favorite things to do. I had been missing the old way, but I think the new way has won me over.

For brunch, that can only be scheduled on a sea day, so I wouldn't worry about dining rotation. I wouldn't try to schedule a dinner because you would miss out on one of the rotational dinners. I still haven't scheduled a dinner because I like to eat in the dining room with the servers, etc.

 

[Geomom]

While you're waiting, check out the menus:
https://disneycruiselineblog.com/menus/

You can see the 3 MDR menus under Fantasy, then scroll down to dinner menus and you should also have Animators Palate: Animation Magic, Captains Gala (2nd/3rd nt in Royal Court), Pirates, and Prince and Princess (2nd/3rd nt in Enchanted Garden) menus. If you have a Pixar cruise then you'll probably have that menu instead of Pirates.

Royal Court has a sit down breakfast and lunch, limited hours, go whenever they're open. Lunch menu changes daily, you can see it on the app. You won't be seated at your regular table and will usually have different servers than dinner. Cabanas has buffet breakfast and lunch. Then there are all the quick service places near the pool open for lunch, and some evening hours--grilled/fried food, pizza, sandwiches, salads, fruit, and of course the soft serve ice cream station! Both Vista Cafe and Cove cafe have free snacks (and upcharge coffee/tea). Pastries during the day and cheese/olives/breadsticks at night. There's also free room service (but please tip the delivery person), breakfast is just continental options. We do breakfast room service if we have an early excursion, hanging the order on the door the night before.

 

[Dug720]

Right about a month sounds awesome! I’ve got 378 and 456 to my next cruises! Less until booking things obvs, but…

 

[Betsyp]

So Fantasy sit-down breakfast is in Royal Court. It usually opens a little later than Cabanas and then closes a little earlier.
Cabanas is the buffet and usually open from 7-11ish depending on if it is a sea day or a port day.
Depending on the schedule for the day, we'll do one or the other.

Palo brunch is one of my favorite things to do. I had been missing the old way, but I think the new way has won me over.

For brunch, that can only be scheduled on a sea day, so I wouldn't worry about dining rotation. I wouldn't try to schedule a dinner because you would miss out on one of the rotational dinners. I still haven't scheduled a dinner because I like to eat in the dining room with the servers, etc.

Thank you!!! Such great info!

Sweet! Well, I really want to do the dinners, but I might sacrifice Remy since I intend to do their dessert experience

 

[Betsyp]

While you're waiting, check out the menus:
https://disneycruiselineblog.com/menus/

You can see the 3 MDR menus under Fantasy, then scroll down to dinner menus and you should also have Animators Palate: Animation Magic, Captains Gala (2nd/3rd nt in Royal Court), Pirates, and Prince and Princess (2nd/3rd nt in Enchanted Garden) menus. If you have a Pixar cruise then you'll probably have that menu instead of Pirates.

Royal Court has a sit down breakfast and lunch, limited hours, go whenever they're open. Lunch menu changes daily, you can see it on the app. You won't be seated at your regular table and will usually have different servers than dinner. Cabanas has buffet breakfast and lunch. Then there are all the quick service places near the pool open for lunch, and some evening hours--grilled/fried food, pizza, sandwiches, salads, fruit, and of course the soft serve ice cream station! Both Vista Cafe and Cove cafe have free snacks (and upcharge coffee/tea). Pastries during the day and cheese/olives/breadsticks at night. There's also free room service (but please tip the delivery person), breakfast is just continental options. We do breakfast room service if we have an early excursion, hanging the order on the door the night before.

wow, thank you for that - I’m hungry just looking at the menus!

Ok, so if I’m understanding it- on a 7 night cruise, there’s 3 nights for regular dining and 3 for the Animator’s, Captain’s and Pixar (I am on a Pixar Day Cruise). Ooh, that’s going to make it tough, lol.

**Am I mistaken or can you not do anything on the DC app until your window opens? It seems very unlike the WDW app, where you can look at menus, etc..,even if you can’t book.

Thank you SO much !

 

[Betsyp]

Right about a month sounds awesome! I’ve got 378 and 456 to my next cruises! Less until booking things obvs, but…

378 and 456 days?!

 

[Calantha]

**Am I mistaken or can you not do anything on the DC app until your window opens? It seems very unlike the WDW app, where you can look at menus, etc..,even if you can’t book.

correct. DCL Blog is your best source of what is in the app until you are at port.

We're doing the Remy Dessert for the first time in January, I am very excited.