Just got Palo brunch hours before our booking window closed! What to do with my kids?

[Tulip2796]

This is our 2nd Disney cruise and both times we've booked relatively late (2 months or 2 weeks before sailing). First time I didn't know about Palo and this time I figured it highly unlikely but thought I'd try for it. I was interested in brunch because I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my young kids for dinner. Anyway, after checking many, many times fruitlessly, I managed to get us a spot at brunch. But now I don't know what to do with my kids -how will they eat? They are young, 8 and 4, and the brunch encompasses all of their lunch time. Beforehand they won't be hungry bc too early and after they'll be famished. Assuming they are willing to stay in the kids club, will they feed them lunch there? Any suggestions, I don't want to have to cancel.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is our 2nd Disney cruise and both times we've booked relatively late (2 months or 2 weeks before sailing). First time I didn't know about Palo and this time I figured it highly unlikely but thought I'd try for it. I was interested in brunch because I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my young kids for dinner. Anyway, after checking many, many times fruitlessly, I managed to get us a spot at brunch. But now I don't know what to do with my kids -how will they eat? They are young, 8 and 4, and the brunch encompasses all of their lunch time. Beforehand they won't be hungry bc too early and after they'll be famished. Assuming they are willing to stay in the kids club, will they feed them lunch there? Any suggestions, I don't want to have to cancel.

They do serve lunch in Oceaneer's. But, it's at a set time. You can check out past Navigators to see when that happens (On the Fantasy it's usually 12:45). They won't make them eat, but there will be an announcement that "lunch is here". If they don't eat, they'll have to wait until you are done. Be sure to set them up for that. An 8 year old should be able to understand that. A 4 year old, not so much. I'd probably try to feed them a little something beforehand. Maybe a late breakfast that morning?

 

[MichelleCanada]

They do serve lunch in Oceaneer's. But, it's at a set time. You can check out past Navigators to see when that happens (On the Fantasy it's usually 12:30). They won't make them eat, but there will be an announcement that "lunch is here". If they don't eat, they'll have to wait until you are done. Be sure to set them up for that. An 8 year old should be able to understand that. A 4 year old, not so much. I'd probably try to feed them a little something beforehand. Maybe a late breakfast that morning?

I completely agree with all of this. We get some of the crustables from room service or from our server the night before. Then our DS7 would eat that before he went to the kids club (he as 5 on our last cruise) because we didn’t think he would slow down to eat lunch.

 

[tinay]

On our last cruise, my friend was worried about her child not eating in the club because she is very picky and has allergies, so she chose the 10:00am Brunch (instead of the 12:00pm Brunch) and had lunch with her daughter after her Palo Brunch. Sadly, we didn't get to eat with her during Brunch because we were unable to move my reservation to 10:00am, but I prefer the 12:00pm slot too.

You may be able to change your reservation when you get on board if you are super worried.

We feed my nephew (6) and niece (2) room service because it was a treat to have food in the room while they got to watch TV. My nephew doesn't love the food that they serve at the club... it can range from turkey sandwiches, hot dogs to pasta sometimes. However, he will eat chips and carrots if they have them.

Just a warning... if your child requests to be taken out of the club for any reason, they won't let you take any food to go They won't even let you take a dessert out that door. But you can come back to your meal if you have resolved the issue

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Just a warning... if your child requests to be taken out of the club for any reason, they won't let you take any food to go They won't even let you take a dessert out that door. But you can come back to your meal if you have resolved the issue

It's a good idea to let the CMs in the club know you're at Palo. They will work with the child to try to keep them happy in the club until you do return.

 

[tinay]

It's a good idea to let the CMs in the club know you're at Palo. They will work with the child to try to keep them happy in the club until you do return.

Yes, they do try very hard to keep them occupied, but sometimes it doesn't work out and the kid just want their parents.

 

[Quellman]

I'm not above bribing my kid so I can enjoy Palo. We did a group reservation of 9 at Palo and the two kids were told if you don't cause any problems in the kids club then you get a gift shop trip. Worked well for us.

 

[Summer12315]

I really doubt your kids will refuse to eat anything extra before going into the kids club to keep them from being famished when they get out. Unless they are used to unlimited access to soft serve ice cream, French fries, and virtually every other delicious snack a kid could dream of, I'm sure they will eat something for you beforehand. Plus there are basic lunch options available around noon in the kids club.

 

[lklgoodman]

Just don't make the same mistake I made. My dh and I were trying to decide if we wanted to do brunch since we hadn't gone to it before on our previous cruises. I looked up pics of the brunch that people post on-line and was showing them to him. My then 8 yr old dd saw all the dessert pics and got so excited thinking she was going to get to go, needless to say she was not happy when I told her she was too young and wouldn't be going. She's already declared that she WILL go once she turns 18!

 

[FigmentSpark]

I would give them a late breakfast or a snack that will hold them over right before dropping them at the kids' club. Then, after Palo, collect them and take them for some proper lunch.

 

[DietCokeMommy]

Idk, I’m pretty sure my 4 year old can understand if we tell him when someone says lunch is there, it’s time to eat. I’d also have the older kid grab their sibling. You can always hedge your bets by doing a snack before you drop them off and bribe them with the promise of ice cream after.

 

[Weedy]

1. They hold back some reservations to be be booked on board. So you can try and move your reservation a bit earlier so it doesn’t interfere with lunch time.
2. Have a big breakfast.
3. Stop on the pool deck on the way to the kids club for chicken fingers and ice cream
4. It’s really hard to be hungry on a cruise. Lol

 

[Dug720]

1. They hold back some reservations to be be booked on board. So you can try and move your reservation a bit earlier so it doesn’t interfere with lunch time.
2. Have a big breakfast.
3. Stop on the pool deck on the way to the kids club for chicken fingers and ice cream
4. It’s really hard to be hungry on a cruise. Lol

I'd say let the kids have a big breakfast. But you don't want to eat a lot if you're doing Palo Brunch. My dad did not listen to me a couple of years ago about not eating breakfast - or eating only a little - and he was one, stuffed boy when we were finished.

 

[bumbershoot]

Beforehand they won't be hungry bc too early and after they'll be famished.

Oh, you’ll probably be surprised at how different things might be on the cruise.