Just returned from Fantasy today

[Cheburashka]

But there are so much fewer people on the ships now. When they go back to full capacity, what do you think is going to happen? Have you been to main dining when the ship is full? Every table is taken up. They will probably have to add a third seating or have those who want their own table eat at late seating. I don't know how they would manage it any other way. I wonder what they will do with solo travelers. They usually put us all together at one table.

They will probably trade their large tables for smaller ones. That will help facilitate private dining. They use a lot of large-party tables now, and currently don't even have tables for 2 at all. We almost always sail as a party of 2 and always request our own table, and are always placed at a 4-top. That's a waste of space. They'll probably transition to mostly 4-top square tables and some 2-top & 6-top rectangles, that can be pushed together as needed to make 8-tops and 10-tops for larger parties. There will probably also be a bit less availability for main dining as a result, so late dining will take some of the guest load off of main dining.

Covid probably isn't going to ever completely go away. People will learn to live with it, but that's also going to mean that some slight level of heightened precaution is probably always going to be with us. Even if Covid were to disappear, people would never forget, and many will still be wary of infection permanently, just like people who lived through the Great Depression tended to be cautious with money for the rest of their lives.

I don't see DCL ever returning to the days of non-requested shared tables. In the infection-conscious world we now live in, most cruisers won't want to have to dine with strangers, so private table requests would be through the roof, anyway. Better & more likely for Disney to proactively deal with the issue by just making private tables a given for everyone. They will have a plan for how to handle it.

 

[Snowwhyt]

But they already did redo the tables to have mostly individual ones rather than large ones, so it would be a PITA for them now to go back. They even removed the teacup tables in EG that they used to give to concierge to have more room to rearrange the tables.

I was on the Fantasy for the first time three weeks ago. I found the Enchanted garden was kinda boring looking. I felt like I was at the buffet at the mall. Our table was in the back corner and I was so happy to have a window for the first time in 7 sailings I didn’t care what it looked like inside. But I remember thinking the next rotation that “they missed the mark on this one” it was just leafy green wallpaper. Thankfully someone told me that the lights moved a little. I didn’t really notice a color change. But maybe it’s the removed seating that made it magical. Was there other things I didn’t notice? Was anything else removed?

 

[Cheburashka]

I was on the Fantasy for the first time three weeks ago. I found the Enchanted garden was kinda boring looking. I felt like I was at the buffet at the mall. Our table was in the back corner and I was so happy to have a window for the first time in 7 sailings I didn’t care what it looked like inside. But I remember thinking the next rotation that “they missed the mark on this one” it was just leafy green wallpaper. Thankfully someone told me that the lights moved a little. I didn’t really notice a color change. But maybe it’s the removed seating that made it magical. Was there other things I didn’t notice? Was anything else removed?

Is the Mickey as cupid statue still in Enchanted Garden? I agree that removing the teacup tables stinks, but imo that's all part of the transition of moving toward smaller tables to ensure private dining. In 3 Dream class cruises, I never got to sit at a teacup table, anyway.

 

[Snowwhyt]

Is the Mickey as cupid statue still in Enchanted Garden? I agree that removing the teacup tables stinks, but imo that's all part of the transition of moving toward smaller tables to ensure private dining. In 3 Dream class cruises, I never got to sit at a teacup table, anyway.

I don’t remember that. Maybe in the vestibule just before the restaurant opened?
And I get making changes to fit more tables but…

 

[Cheburashka]

I don’t remember that. Maybe in the vestibule just before the restaurant opened?
And I get making changes to fit more tables but…

It was always a pretty plain restaurant.

 

[MomOTwins]

Is the Mickey as cupid statue still in Enchanted Garden? I agree that removing the teacup tables stinks, but imo that's all part of the transition of moving toward smaller tables to ensure private dining. In 3 Dream class cruises, I never got to sit at a teacup table, anyway.

Yes! I looked back in my trip photos and you can see it in the background of this one. It is on top of a water fountain in the middle of the restaurant (top right corner of the photo).



I actually preferred the new layout as it felt a bit more open without those teacup booths and I could see the color-changing ceiling better. But you can also see they've done away with most big tables. Our family of 5 was sat at a circular table which I'm pretty sure was new--never seen ones like that on our pre-Covid trips--we were always at long rectangular ones with another family before.

 

[Kwami]

Are they still doing that obnoxious character invasion in Enchanted Garden? It's supposed to be the calm and peaceful restaurant! And anyone sitting on the sides can't see, anyway.

 

[jenushkask8s]

Are they still doing that obnoxious character invasion in Enchanted Garden? It's supposed to be the calm and peaceful restaurant! And anyone sitting on the sides can't see, anyway.

Yes, we had it on our 1st night in EG. We were at a table by the window and just got a quick passing wave from the characters.

 

[kps7795]

Previously you could request but not be guaranteed a private table. And perhaps because of Covid, a private table will be the way of the future. I think it depended largely on how crowded the ship was on the week you were there.

I've heard people talking about this now for years and my family has never been seated at a table with other guests. We're a family of four and the closest we've ever come was a table that was a few feet away from ours. I wouldn't consider that to be sharing a table with another family though.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I've heard people talking about this now for years and my family has never been seated at a table with other guests. We're a family of four and the closest we've ever come was a table that was a few feet away from ours. I wouldn't consider that to be sharing a table with another family though.

Maybe you have always been in a higher level cabin? Every time we were in an inside cabin we would be with 4-6 people who would share our table. But other wise I too have been at tables of 4.
But we also had a difficult to match group 2-70’s, 1-50’s, 1-20’s.

 

[Cheburashka]

Maybe you have always been in a higher level cabin? Every time we were in an inside cabin we would be with 4-6 people who would share our table. But other wise I too have been at tables of 4.
But we also had a difficult to match group 2-70’s, 1-50’s, 1-20’s.

I don't think the cabin category has anything to do with it, barring concierge. It's likely more about the dinner seating and how full that particular cruise is. We always had our private table requests fulfilled, even when we sailed in an inside stateroom.

 

[AquaDame]

The only times we have gotten our own table is when we have requested one or sailed concierge, regardless of category. On one January cruise we booked a few months out they were unable to fulfill the request and we were seated with another couple we did not get along well with. Since then I've always requested our own - I imagine they try not to "waste" tables on one couple!

 

[GTRARNP]

I was on the Fantasy for the first time three weeks ago. I found the Enchanted garden was kinda boring looking. I felt like I was at the buffet at the mall. Our table was in the back corner and I was so happy to have a window for the first time in 7 sailings I didn’t care what it looked like inside. But I remember thinking the next rotation that “they missed the mark on this one” it was just leafy green wallpaper. Thankfully someone told me that the lights moved a little. I didn’t really notice a color change. But maybe it’s the removed seating that made it magical. Was there other things I didn’t notice? Was anything else removed?

Welcome home! Was there a formal night or a pirate night? If so, can you share which nights they were on? I've booked BBB for my 2 girls, but I had to guess at which night based on pre-covid cruises. TIA!!

 

[Snowwhyt]

Welcome home! Was there a formal night or a pirate night? If so, can you share which nights they were on? I've booked BBB for my 2 girls, but I had to guess at which night based on pre-covid cruises. TIA!!

Well formal night was scheduled on the 2nd night, although it seemed like a suggestion. We were in street length dresses and our guys were in suits. So we looked like we would fit in as a wedding guest not the wedding party. Felt like we dressed up for no reason since we were not going to get pictures with masks on. And there was a man and two children with shorts on that kinda bugged me.
As to pirate night, we dressed up for that too. Few did, or maybe it just felt that way because we had light Attandance. I think the menu was standard pirate menu but can’t be sure. No pirate scarf/headband and crew didn’t dress up. The only reason I knew it was pirate day was because D-lounge had a awful pirate show that suited for the 10 and under crowd the word booty seemed to carry the comedic portion of the show. Each sentence was punctuated with Argg.
Main dining was half the normal size and room host had half his normal rooms.
I understand they gave scarf’s the next cruise.
I now have a least favorite cruise, didn’t know that was a thing that would happen.
I’m thinking things will improve and I would not have the same experience in May when I experience the transatlantic.

 

[Lilsia]

Well formal night was scheduled on the 2nd night, although it seemed like a suggestion. We were in street length dresses and our guys were in suits. So we looked like we would fit in as a wedding guest not the wedding party. Felt like we dressed up for no reason since we were not going to get pictures with masks on. And there was a man and two children with shorts on that kinda bugged me.
As to pirate night, we dressed up for that too. Few did, or maybe it just felt that way because we had light Attandance. I think the menu was standard pirate menu but can’t be sure. No pirate scarf/headband and crew didn’t dress up. The only reason I knew it was pirate day was because D-lounge had a awful pirate show that suited for the 10 and under crowd the word booty seemed to carry the comedic portion of the show. Each sentence was punctuated with Argg.
Main dining was half the normal size and room host had half his normal rooms.
I understand they gave scarf’s the next cruise.
I now have a least favorite cruise, didn’t know that was a thing that would happen.
I’m thinking things will improve and I would not have the same experience in May when I experience the transatlantic.

Why would people in shorts bug you? They make it clear that Formal night is just a suggestion and completely optional. Cruise lines still do that for those who want nice pictures. That is why they set up all of those cameras in the lobby. If someone likes to dress up and wore nice clothing on casual nights, would that bug you too? I guess I don't get why what others wear, as long as it is not offensive, have any impact on your cruise at all.

 

[ChicosWife]

Felt like we dressed up for no reason since we were not going to get pictures with masks on.

Wait, you can't take pictures with your masks off?

 

[lanejudy]

Wait, you can't take pictures with your masks off?

Masks on for indoor pictures. Masks may be removed for outdoor pictures (masks not required outdoors anyway).

 

[ChicosWife]

Masks on for indoor pictures. Masks may be removed for outdoor pictures (masks not required outdoors anyway).

Wow. That would suck for formal night, for sure!

 

[lanejudy]

They have backdrops set-up outside on deck for dinner pictures.

 

[ChicosWife]

They have backdrops set-up outside on deck for dinner pictures.

Oh good!