Large Group Brunch Meeting at Palo Questions

[Verandah Man]

I have a question or two for you DIS'ers that have had a large group brunch meeting at Palo.

We have about 12 to 14 Dis'ers (so far) on our August 23rd cruise that are interested in getting together for brunch on one of our sea days.

My questions are:

(1) Can one person make a reservation for the whole group after boarding the ship?

(2) What are the chances of us getting a private room at Palo for our brunch?

(3) What are the seating times?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[rae519]

Andy - if someone in your group has concierge service, they can make the reservations for everyone at Palo now.
They will have to have names (first and last), and room number.

The larger your party for brunch, the better your chances.

I am not quite sure how everyone would go about making the group reservation if no one has concierge except to have several stand in line with the other's information available.

Maybe one of our other DIS friends can help out.....

Have a shrimp for me, pal!

Rae

 

[bettemom]

"A " SHRIMP ????

 

[BeanoC]

We had concierge service last year, so I booked our group brunch at Palo, for 18 people.

As previously mentioned, you need the names and stateroom numbers of everyone attending. And they ask for an exact head count.

As for the private room - your chances of getting it are good, but the question you might ask yourself is, do you WANT it?

We had the private room last year, and it was, in a word, miserable. It was SO hot in there that it was just unbearable.
There is also very little room around the table, so it was difficult to get in and out with your food. If we do a group brunch this year, I am definitely asking that we be seated at 3 or 4 tables in the main dining area. It may not seem like a 'group' experience that way, but still more comfy in my opinion!

As for the seating times, I was told they would have to ask the chef for times that he would be willing to do it. I was called back after about an hour, and they gave me 2 or 3 choices. If I remember correctly, we chose an 11:00 AM time.

Hope this helps!!



'Beano'

 

[Verandah Man]

O.K. Thanks for the input so far, this gives me something to work with, I don't know if any in our group has the concierge service, I will have to check on that as well.

Rae, what's this "A" shrimp about??? I thought you'd want me to have at least "A" plate of shrimp for you!!!

 

[RellingTwin]

Here is another option. Last year we had about 30 Dis'ers who wanted to have brunch at the same time, so my sister got the names/cabin #s of everyone who wanted to attend. She then put the names on index cards with 4-6 people on each. One person on each card was the host or hostess. That person was given the card at the Radisson on Friday, then the host or hostess made the reservation once we boarded. We were going to try for 3 tables of ten, but Palo dosn't have many large tables, so in order to get us all in at the same time, smaller tables was the way to go. It worked out VERY well. We were all in the same area of Palo. I think getting 2-3 tables for 6 would be pretty easy.

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by RellingTwin
Here is another option. Last year we had about 30 Dis'ers who wanted to have brunch at the same time, so my sister got the names/cabin #s of everyone who wanted to attend. She then put the names on index cards with 4-6 people on each. One person on each card was the host or hostess. That person was given the card at the Radisson on Friday, then the host or hostess made the reservation once we boarded. We were going to try for 3 tables of ten, but Palo dosn't have many large tables, so in order to get us all in at the same time, smaller tables was the way to go. It worked out VERY well. We were all in the same area of Palo. I think getting 2-3 tables for 6 would be pretty easy.

Thanks!!! That sounds like a good idea too, so far of the people that have responded in favor of going to the brunch, all but one is staying at the Radisson the night before the cruise. This might work to our advantage.

 

[RellingTwin]

Andy, remember, only ONE person per table is needed to make the reservations. While we had about half our group at the Radisson on Friday, the other half were not going to be getting to the ship until much later. Their reservations were made before they even got on board! So you can make one reservation, your wife can make another and get one other person to do the 3rd!
Just be sure to have the first and last names as well as cabin number.
Once the reservations are made the host or hostess called the cabins at his/her table, and left a message saying the reservations were made and what time to arrive at Palo.
This way the late arrivals knew the reservations were made!

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by RellingTwin
Andy, remember, only ONE person per table is needed to make the reservations. While we had about half our group at the Radisson on Friday, the other half were not going to be getting to the ship until much later. Their reservations were made before they even got on board! So you can make one reservation, your wife can make another and get one other person to do the 3rd!
Just be sure to have the first and last names as well as cabin number.
Once the reservations are made the host or hostess called the cabins at his/her table, and left a message saying the reservations were made and what time to arrive at Palo.
This way the late arrivals knew the reservations were made!

Thanks!!! That's sounds like the best plan, unless we find someone that has Concierge Service. We are planning on getting on the ship early. I have 4 in my group alone that is doing the brunch, so if we only need 3 tables, we can make the reservations for everyone.

I already put a post on our cruise thread that I needed everyone's name and their cabin number, this should work out rather well.

Thanks Again!!!

 

[BethA]

I wouldn't count on the concierge thing. We are in a cat 1 and when I asked about that they gave me a very difficult time. They said it has gotten out of hand because of the internet and they are only supposed to book for res that are linked together. It wouldn't hurt to ask, but you may not get the result you are hoping for. Beth

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hey! The DIS is indeed a legitimate group! Wanting to have a legitimate luncheon together! Not just people finding somebody with concierge service in order to guarantee Palo reservations? If I were the person with Concierge service, I would very nicely explain this, and that I was very much looking forward to having a luncheon with my 'friends'. With what a person pays to gain coveted concierge level service, I can't see how they could refuse?

Hope you have a wonderful luncheon and a wonderful cruise!

 

[Masonpips]

As for the private room - your chances of getting it are good, but the question you might ask yourself is, do you WANT it?

We had the private room last year, and it was, in a word, miserable. It was SO hot in there that it was just unbearable.
There is also very little room around the table, so it was difficult to get in and out with your food. If we do a group brunch this year, I am definitely asking that we be seated at 3 or 4 tables in the main dining area. It may not seem like a 'group' experience that way, but still more comfy in my opinion!

****

We were also in the private room with about 18 on last year's Halloween Magical cruise. It was VERY hot, but a trick that work for us was to open the door that went out on Deck 9 and created a wind tunnel effect in the private room - it pulled the A/C air from the main part of Palo through the private room. It was a bit tight walking through with our food, but not too bad.

one of our group took care of our reservation for us - it worked out wonderfully!

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by Wishing on a star
Hey! The DIS is indeed a legitimate group! Wanting to have a legitimate luncheon together! Not just people finding somebody with concierge service in order to guarantee Palo reservations? If I were the person with Concierge service, I would very nicely explain this, and that I was very much looking forward to having a luncheon with my 'friends'. With what a person pays to gain coveted concierge level service, I can't see how they could refuse?

Hope you have a wonderful luncheon and a wonderful cruise!

A very good point!
Anyone who pays for concierge service especially in the Walt or Roy Suite should have the staff bend over backwards to accomodate them and never give them a hard time.

Beth, so sorry this happened to you. I am certain that when you get on the ship, you will be treated much better than by that pencil neck robot who answered the phone!! Disney should know about your treatment....

Rae

 

["Ginger"]

I was with Masonpips in that HOT!!!! STUFFY!!!! private room, they didn't open the door until we were almost finished. We were sitting so close to each other that it was hard to really enjoy yourself. I had made the ressies for our group and I didn't have CS.
One year we had 22 to many for that room. They had to split our group into 2 ressies times just 30 minutes apart and we were setted in groups of 6 or 8. This worked out well you could visit other tables.
If one person makes your ressies they will need to know everyones stateroom number and last name that the stateroom is booked under.

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by "Ginger"
I was with Masonpips in that HOT!!!! STUFFY!!!! private room, they didn't open the door until we were almost finished. We were sitting so close to each other that it was hard to really enjoy yourself. I had made the ressies for our group and I didn't have CS.
One year we had 22 to many for that room. They had to split our group into 2 ressies times just 30 minutes apart and we were setted in groups of 6 or 8. This worked out well you could visit other tables.
If one person makes your ressies they will need to know everyones stateroom number and last name that the stateroom is booked under.

Ginger,

So what you are telling me is, if I go to make the ressies and I have everyone's name and cabin number, I can make the ressie for the whole group? Someone earlier had stated that one person would be needed for each table. Our group had decided against the private room idea, after what we have heard about it being hot and stuffy.

 

[midnitemist]

Ok, I guess I am just new. What is conceirge service??

 

["Ginger"]

Yes you can make the ressies for the whole group. I always put the ressies under "THE DIS GROUP" I am sure they know all about us by now and have grown to expect a weekly group.

Concierge Service is nice like having your own personal Butler, let me see if I can explain it. Concierge Service is only offered to those who have booked a stateroom(s) in Categories 1, 2 or 3. which are 1, or 2 bedroom suites or one of the Royal Suites. You are given special benefits such as first choices for Palo, Spa, Child Care and Excursions reservations. You can make these ressies through Concierge Services before you even board the ship. You can request food from any of dinning room menu being offered that day including Palo to be served in your stateroom. I am sure they offer more services than I will every know about.

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by "Ginger"
Yes you can make the ressies for the whole group. I always put the ressies under "THE DIS GROUP" I am sure they know all about us by now and have grown to expect a weekly group.

Concierge Service is nice like having your own personal Butler, let me see if I can explain it. Concierge Service is only offered to those who have booked a stateroom(s) in Categories 1, 2 or 3. which are 1, or 2 bedroom suites or one of the Royal Suites. You are given special benefits such as first choices for Palo, Spa, Child Care and Excursions reservations. You can make these ressies through Concierge Services before you even board the ship. You can request food from any of dinning room menu being offered that day including Palo to be served in your stateroom. I am sure they offer more services than I will every know about.

Thanks again Ginger, I will do that, I tell them we are a DIS Group!!!

 

[rae519]

Say it loud, "We're DIS and we're proud!"

Rae

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by rae519
Say it loud, "We're DIS and we're proud!"

Rae

We're DIS, and We're Proud Of It!!!


How's that Rae???