Is a Palo ressy worth it for us?

[luxlvr]

We are going on our first cruise (4 night Bahamas on the Dream) with DH, DS (9), DS (7) and DD (5). We were thinking about making a Palo reservation and having the kids eat in the club one night. Problem is... I really enjoy eating with my kids. They are fun and love restaurants. One DS has some developmental issues and comes alive around food (wants to be a chef). He likes to try to dissect the flavor profiles and is a hoot to be with. I really just like my kids and vacationing with them.

Is Palo really that amazing that I'd be missing out if we don't go? DH and I love going out together I just can't figure out if this one is a can't miss experience.

I know this is totally a personal decision but as a first time cruiser I'd love any opinions out there!
Thanks!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you don't want to leave the kids, and you will be worrying about them the whole time you are at Palo, save it for another time.

 

[DIS_Ag]

Go to brunch. Won't miss a fun meal with the kids and most people think palo brunch>dinner.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

For a 4 night cruise, I wouldn't make it a priority to eat dinner at Palo.

If you really want to eat dinner at Palo and not miss taking your kids to the MDR, one option would be to make your Palo reservation so you could do both. I did this on our 7 night Fantasy cruise. I didn't want to miss the animation show in AP but the best night for me to schedule my Palo reservation was that night. We had second seating for dinner so I booked a 6:00pm dinner at Palo, then went with the kids to AP and just didn't eat.

Also, on a 4 night cruise, there is a Palo brunch. I much prefer the brunch to the dinner at Palo.

 

[diznymom]

I would do a brunch.
That way you don't miss eating in the Main Dining Rooms (MDR) with your kids. Your kids will probably be at the clubs anyway during this time.

DH and I enjoy the brunch a whole lot more than the dinner.

 

[KingRichard]

Here is what we did on our first cruise.

Early seating, so 6 pm I think. We made 8 pm Palo reservations and went to the main Dinner with DD(3) and had a appetizer while she had her meal. Then dropped her off at the club and went to Palo.

Everyone was happy!

 

[Pens Fan]

On our four previous cruises we have never eaten at Palo or Remy. Our son was never that kid that only ate chicken nuggets or pizza. At a very, very young age he realized that Mom and Dad's plates looked way better than his and ordered accordingly. (for a long time we took home LOTS of doggie bags as he wanted the "real" food, but couldn't eat an adult sized portion!) As he appreciates a nice meal we just felt guilty feeding him from the pool deck or room service while we ate the "good stuff". As an only child, we didn't feel right sending him to the dining room alone, either. So - no Palo or Remy. We always figured there would be time for that when he turned 18 (in about 6 weeks ), so from now on we will be set and I'm sure we will try both restaurants at some point.

There is no right or wrong answer, but I can honestly say that not once have we ever looked back on a cruise and said, "gee it would have been so much better if we could have eaten at Palo or Remy!" If you are going to miss your kids or feel guilty, I'd skip it for now. Though the brunch option others have mentioned might be a nice compromise if your kids spend a lot of time in the clubs anyway.

Enjoy your cruise and do whatever makes you and your family happy!

 

[cruisehopeful]

When I had under 18 kids, I never ate in Palo. Dinner was the only consistent family time we had on the ship.

 

[thumpie's mom]

Every family is different, but we waited to do Palo's until our daughter was old enough to go with us. We did not feel like we missed anything because we enjoyed our family dinners in the MDR so much. Palo's is awesome, but so is family time. If you are going to feel guilty, then it is not worth going.

 

[Divslp]

We did the same as KingRichard. We had early dinner seating, so went to that with our child. He ate, we dropped him off to the kids club and off we went to our palo reservation at 7:30. Win-win!

 

[luxlvr]

On our four previous cruises we have never eaten at Palo or Remy. Our son was never that kid that only ate chicken nuggets or pizza. At a very, very young age he realized that Mom and Dad's plates looked way better than his and ordered accordingly. (for a long time we took home LOTS of doggie bags as he wanted the "real" food, but couldn't eat an adult sized portion!) As he appreciates a nice meal we just felt guilty feeding him from the pool deck or room service while we ate the "good stuff". As an only child, we didn't feel right sending him to the dining room alone, either. So - no Palo or Remy. We always figured there would be time for that when he turned 18 (in about 6 weeks ), so from now on we will be set and I'm sure we will try both restaurants at some point.

There is no right or wrong answer, but I can honestly say that not once have we ever looked back on a cruise and said, "gee it would have been so much better if we could have eaten at Palo or Remy!" If you are going to miss your kids or feel guilty, I'd skip it for now. Though the brunch option others have mentioned might be a nice compromise if your kids spend a lot of time in the clubs anyway.

Enjoy your cruise and do whatever makes you and your family happy!

Thank you!

This makes me feel so much better! I think we will skip it this time. I ould feel so guilty leaving them. They really are pretty awesome!

Every family is different, but we waited to do Palo's until our daughter was old enough to go with us. We did not feel like we missed anything because we enjoyed our family dinners in the MDR so much. Palo's is awesome, but so is family time. If you are going to feel guilty, then it is not worth going.

We LOVE our dinners in WDW and imagine it will be the same with our cruise. Thank you!!

I love the quote "Palo is awesome, but so is family time" Thank you!!

 

[ahain]

We have never done Palo or Remy, and don't see either in our cruising future at this point. For us, that the normal dining room dinners are plenty wonderful for us! We usually request that our family is seated at a table alone in the main dining rooms and so far, our request has always been granted. DH isn't into French or Italian food - or any "fancy" food, really - and sometimes even asks for the standard dining room entrees to be "simplified." Any we're not into wine/wine pairings either. So for us, it really wouldn't be "worth it."

 

[Trera]

we always do dinner or brunch! always a nice time for mommy and daddy to spend a little time alone.

 

[luxlvr]

we always do dinner or brunch! always a nice time for mommy and daddy to spend a little time alone.

This might just be the best idea for us

 

[bumbershoot]

Dinner was the only consistent family time we had on the ship.

As others have said, there are ways to enjoy that time together *and* go to Palo.

 

[su_A_ve]

It's your first cruise. You don't know how your kids will adapt to club. Some don't like it for a reason, or maybe they prefer to be there for a short time.

 

[JW9DVC]

We are going on our first cruise (4 night Bahamas on the Dream) with DH, DS (9), DS (7) and DD (5). We were thinking about making a Palo reservation and having the kids eat in the club one night. Problem is... I really enjoy eating with my kids. They are fun and love restaurants. One DS has some developmental issues and comes alive around food (wants to be a chef). He likes to try to dissect the flavor profiles and is a hoot to be with. I really just like my kids and vacationing with them.

Is Palo really that amazing that I'd be missing out if we don't go? DH and I love going out together I just can't figure out if this one is a can't miss experience.

I know this is totally a personal decision but as a first time cruiser I'd love any opinions out there!
Thanks!

Do BOTH!
Why not eat dinner with family and then do Palo or do Palo and then MDR. Even if you don't eat a lot of food at MDR. It's family time. We have also visited both Palo and MDR right after, just so we didn't miss anything. Also, in case I wanted to try anything at the MDR. You may miss a show though if you choose this method.

JW

 

[SonicGuy]

We always do both dinner and brunch - HIGHLY prefer brunch. What we do is send mom to spa and daddy takes kids to early breakfast (or have hot breakfast brought in) for a daddy and kids morning. Then schedule late brunch for mom & dad. Starting the day with no kids, massage, and a mimosa or two makes for a happy mommy (and usually a happy daddy later in the evening

 

[luxlvr]

We always do both dinner and brunch - HIGHLY prefer brunch. What we do is send mom to spa and daddy takes kids to early breakfast (or have hot breakfast brought in) for a daddy and kids morning. Then schedule late brunch for mom & dad. Starting the day with no kids, massage, and a mimosa or two makes for a happy mommy (and usually a happy daddy later in the evening

This sounds AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

 

[luxlvr]

It's your first cruise. You don't know how your kids will adapt to club. Some don't like it for a reason, or maybe they prefer to be there for a short time.

I was also thinking this. I just keep reading how many kids LOVE the clubs and hoped mine kind of went with the flow. That being said... who knows!?!