Latest info on booking spa/Palo ressies?

[DisneyLovingMama]

I had heard that as of tomorrow, we would be able to book palo and spa ressies online via disneycruise.com. Does anyone know, positively, if that's happening? How will it work? I can't access my reservation online now, since I went through All Seasons Travel. Does this mean only those that booked with Disney will be able to book ressies?

Thanks!

 

[alexandrew]

Wow, is that true?....anybody know?.....

 

[mommasita]

I heard here that it was happening in May, so that sounds right...Just will make it extra work for the Travel Agents...I mean, if you book directly and you can do it, then everyone should be able to do it, and if you do not book directly, then you can not access your ressie...

Sounds troubled..

 

[alexandrew]

just called DCL......not yet available

 

[ericamanda01]

Does that mean it is a possiblility in the furture? If so then if we book through a TA do they do it or do we just call DCL?

 

[Timmbco]

I have a June cruise booked through DU....can they get me the ressie? Wow that would be great!!! Tammy?

 

[grammiegail]

OOOOh, OOOOh, I want to know too! We are planning a spa party on the 1st Westcoast cruise and have been very disappointed in reading the other threads on spa ressies!

 

[mom_rules]

Hummm....then the purpose of booking REAS would be?

Don't think the gift basket and towel swans/roses would be worth the $339 cost without a few more perks.

Just my opinion.

 

[rejobako]

Hummm....then the purpose of booking REAS would be?

Don't think the gift basket and towel swans/roses would be worth the $339 cost without a few more perks.

Just my opinion.

Excellent point. Which is why I view the REAS package with a raised eyebrow. The gift basket and other incidentals are fluff; the meat of the package is two 1 hour spa treatments and the right to make Palo reservations in advance. If you calculate 1 hour at a spa at about $100, the way I see it, REAS buyers are paying about $100 to make sure they can have dinner at Palo (and then they don't even throw in the $10 gratuity minimum). I'm sure the confirmation is worth the cost for some, but there's something about the money trail there that rubs me the wrong way.

 

[PPFQP]

Excellent point. Which is why I view the REAS package with a raised eyebrow. The gift basket and other incidentals are fluff; the meat of the package is two 1 hour spa treatments and the right to make Palo reservations in advance. If you calculate 1 hour at a spa at about $100, the way I see it, REAS buyers are paying about $100 to make sure they can have dinner at Palo (and then they don't even throw in the $10 gratuity minimum). I'm sure the confirmation is worth the cost for some, but there's something about the money trail there that rubs me the wrong way.

That's not quite accurate. If you break down the elements of the REAS package, it looks like this:

Couples massage or Spa taster - $242 (that's from the spa price list)
Palo dinner fee for two - $20
Romance basket with champagne, chocolates and photo album that is in your room when you arrive - $64 (you can order it from Disney separately)

That alone adds up to $326, which nearly comprises the $339 fee.

In addition, you get some extra perks that you can't get otherwise:
Romantic Turndown Service
Champagne Breakfast "in bed" (upgraded breakfast delivered to the state room one morning.)
Ability to make spa and Palo reservations before you depart, rather than taking your chances once you board the ship

IMHO, being able to make Palo/spa reservations online makes sense. It's a hassle to have to worry about it on the day of boarding, and I think a new system will be an improvement. But the Romance Escape at Sea package has merits outside of that aspect. It was a nice way to inject a little "romance" into an otherwise family-oriented vacation and I appreciated it.

 

[rejobako]

That's not quite accurate. If you break down the elements of the REAS package, it looks like this:

Couples massage or Spa taster - $242 (that's from the spa price list)
Palo dinner fee for two - $20
Romance basket with champagne, chocolates and photo album that is in your room when you arrive - $64 (you can order it from Disney separately)

That alone adds up to $326, which nearly comprises the $339 fee.

In addition, you get some extra perks that you can't get otherwise:
Romantic Turndown Service
Champagne Breakfast "in bed" (upgraded breakfast delivered to the state room one morning.)
Ability to make spa and Palo reservations before you depart, rather than taking your chances once you board the ship

IMHO, being able to make Palo/spa reservations online makes sense. It's a hassle to have to worry about it on the day of boarding, and I think a new system will be an improvement. But the Romance Escape at Sea package has merits outside of that aspect. It was a nice way to inject a little "romance" into an otherwise family-oriented vacation and I appreciated it.

As I said, I realize the package is worth the cost for some, and it's good to know that there are cruisers who value it. From my own perspective, however, it seems a bit shabby for DCL not to permit cruisers to pay an a la carte premium to reserve Palo in advance if they wish to do so. I'm half of a romantic couple, but I don't care for spa services. If I want to ensure a romantic dinner at Palo, my sole choice to be certain is to pay $300+ for (what I perceive as) fluff and unwanted services. My wife loves the spa, but the REAS package does not permit one party to use both treatments.

So my biggest gripe with Disney's Palo policy is that REAS seems to be the only way for an ordinary cruiser to ensure a reservation -- but you'd better like the spa and gift basket sundries in the meantime.

As I said, I realize REAS is perfect for some people. What bothers me is that Disney doesn't provide any accommodation for those who would gladly pay a premium to confirm Palo in advance but who don't want the other REAS amenities. A minor quibble, but significant for those of us who like great food but not the spa.

 

[Tiggeriffic]

I wanted to make a comment about Palo reservations. I just returned from the
4/23 Magic and we ate at Palo. Now, I stood in line with everyone else to get
reservations. There were actually three different lines depending upon the
night that you wanted. I think, but am not positive, that it was (Saturday,
Sunday & Monday) (Tuesday & Wednesday) and (Thursday & Friday). Well, we
wanted to do a Thursday night. So, I stood in that line. By the time that I got
to the front which was about 1PM, they told me that they had nothing for
Thursday for a party of 2. However, they did override the system and give
me a table for 4. So, it seemed like pretty much the whole restaurant was
going to be packed.

Now, we actually wanted to eat earlier so that we could still take our children
to our normal late dinner seating. So, we showed up at Palo at about 6:50.
Not only did they give us a table for 2, but there must have been at least
10 tables that were empty the whole time that we were there. So, it seems
that either a lot of people cancelled or that they don't actually give out
reservations for all of the tables.

So, if you don't get the reservation that you want, I would recommend
checking in with Palo after the first day and even on the day/afternoon that
you want to go and see if anything has opened up.

It really surprised me that there were that many open tables for basically the
whole time that we were there which was just about 2 hours. The other thing
that surprised me was that they started taking reservations immediately upon
boarding. When we cruised 2 years ago, they didn't even start taking
reservations until after 1PM. Also, there were many more people in line trying
to make reservations than 2 years ago as well.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

As I said, I realize the package is worth the cost for some, and it's good to know that there are cruisers who value it. From my own perspective, however, it seems a bit shabby for DCL not to permit cruisers to pay an a la carte premium to reserve Palo in advance if they wish to do so. I'm half of a romantic couple, but I don't care for spa services. If I want to ensure a romantic dinner at Palo, my sole choice to be certain is to pay $300+ for (what I perceive as) fluff and unwanted services. My wife loves the spa, but the REAS package does not permit one party to use both treatments.

rejobako, I agree. I wish DCL would let people pay a premium to book a la carte Palo. But I'm just curious, have you ever had any of their massages? OMG! DH and I were in heaven, it felt so good. He balked at the price. We are doing the REAS again, but once he learns that we can book Palo online, we probably won't do it again. (But I'll still book a massage for me. )

 

[rejobako]

rejobako, I agree. I wish DCL would let people pay a premium to book a la carte Palo. But I'm just curious, have you ever had any of their massages? OMG! DH and I were in heaven, it felt so good. He balked at the price. We are doing the REAS again, but once he learns that we can book Palo online, we probably won't do it again. (But I'll still book a massage for me. )

MH: Haven't had a DCL massage, but my wife and I did have a couples massage in Coconut Grove on the morning of our wedding day. It was indeed a pleasant experience, but even as I lay there enjoying myself, I kept thinking "I could play 3 rounds of golf for what this is costing me!"

 

[mom_rules]

We did do reas in March-although it was nice-I think with the ability to make ressies online now I will pay a la carte and just get those services I really appreciate.

 

[CACruisin']

I'm confused. Will the online option be only for REAS or concierge or for anyone?

 

[gatrbait]

I just got off the phone with a supervisor at DCL. They are working the kinks out and it will be available shorty, was what I was told. I apologize to all who think that this belittles the REAS package but it sure would have put a smile on my face knowing that my ressies were just one less thing I had to worry about. Unfortunately I couldn't talk her into letting me do it this for my cruise departing sunday, but I sure tried!! I am betting that if they allow prior to departure booking of Spa and Palo ressies they will upgrade the REAS package somehow. JMHO. Have a gret day everyone!!
Micky

 

[rotary2808]

Are the people on the REAS package & those in concierge level rooms going to be able to make them sooner than everyone else? That's one of the perks to these & you should still be able to make them sooner than everyone else.

 

[ImMarcik]

If you can book your Palo ressies early do you already know which night u are at each restaurant, I would hate to miss Pirate night too. I would definitely like to make ressies for the brunch early.

 

[drizzt117]

If you were able to make spa ressies online, what about Castaway Cay massages? Or is it only for shipboard treatments?

Thomas