Least crowded breakfast?

[lorenni]

I did take them back and it seemed a pretty good option for us. It meant I could get out of the cabin and have a walk whilst everything was quiet as well. If, as planned we go on another next year, we'll probably do the same again.

I have done this plenty of times, getting breakfast at the buffet for myself, DH and DS and either taking that food back to the room, or to a table elsewhere on the ship to have a quiet breakfast. In fact I have had CMs at the door confirm that I have all the silverware I need and then even ask if I needed help getting food back to my room. So totally an option.

If you have any food issues, then I definitely recommend the buffet for a quicker meal (so long as you have a good feel for what is safe for you.) Alternatively you can pre-order MDR breakfast the night before. Personally, I never know what I want for breakfast in advance, so I never ordered breakfast in advance. I have been happy with my buffet options, which always include tons of fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, etc. (Celiac, for reference).

 

[Drusilla99]

Were there actually no tables available or were they all occupied when you were there?

There was actually no tables available, they were all taken. People were standing around within trays full of food with nowhere to sit. It was a day at sea, so there was no reason not to go elsewhere.

 

[RedSox68]

There was actually no tables available, they were all taken. People were standing around within trays full of food with nowhere to sit. It was a day at sea, so there was no reason not to go elsewhere.

This is the frustrating design on the Disney ships that boggles my mind - why there aren't enough seats for all passengers. We have run into this more times than I can count where we have gotten our food and had no place to sit. So your option becomes find a table first and then everyone but one person go get their food and then that one person goes, which means you're not all eating together. On all the other ships we have sailed -- two of them with way more passengers than Disney's bigger ships, we have never not been able to find seating in the buffet area. The seating goes on forever, both inside and out. One line even had buffet seating on an upper level. Only on Disney have we ever experienced this problem. That's why for the past four cruises we have done the dining room so we are guaranteed a seat, a place to put our carry-ons and service for all the family members at once, and prefer the MDR for breakfast for the same reason.

 

[meldobbs]

We prefer whichever MDR that has a breakfast buffet (varies by ship). They handle your drinks and you get your food fast. It's quick enough and much more laid back. Jockeying for tables at Cabanas stresses me out, not worth it (for me) just to be able to eat outside.

 

[Huron66]

Interesting. We've taken five cruises on DCL and I don't think I've ever noticed a problem with seating at Cabanas (4 larger ships, 1 smaller ship). That's with me doing my typical two breakfast's (I'm an early riser so I generally go to the side that opens the earliest and have a small breakfast and then go back again with the rest of my family for a later breakfast.). Now that being said, we are usually eating as a family between 8 and 8:30. On days when we have an early excursion we almost always order most of our breakfast through room service (they are very prompt) and an adult runs up to Cabanas to grab anything extra we might need and returns to the room with it. One of our greatest pleasures is having breakfast outside in the warm Caribbean sunshine (didn't do that in Alaska though!). As for lunch, as long as you don't go at peak times then seating isn't an issue.

 

[Liver Lips Mcgrowl]

Interesting. We've taken five cruises on DCL and I don't think I've ever noticed a problem with seating at Cabanas (4 larger ships, 1 smaller ship). That's with me doing my typical two breakfast's (I'm an early riser so I generally go to the side that opens the earliest and have a small breakfast and then go back again with the rest of my family for a later breakfast.). Now that being said, we are usually eating as a family between 8 and 8:30. On days when we have an early excursion we almost always order most of our breakfast through room service (they are very prompt) and an adult runs up to Cabanas to grab anything extra we might need and returns to the room with it. One of our greatest pleasures is having breakfast outside in the warm Caribbean sunshine (didn't do that in Alaska though!). As for lunch, as long as you don't go at peak times then seating isn't an issue.

So if they're open from noon to 2, you would suggest like maybe 1:30?

 

[Huron66]

To be honest, since we usually ate breakfast early, we usually did lunch at around 11:30. I guess it goes to reason that if most people are having breakfast between 9-10, then they would eat a later lunch. The other option that we would often do for lunch is the places around the pools - those chicken tenders are delicious! There are also sandwiches, fruit, hot dogs, hamburgers, fries. Although there's not a ton of seating in that area, we still never had to look long for a table. If we wanted something else that's only found in Cabanas, then we would slip in and grab it. One tip I have for you if you have small children (toddlers), most spoons in Cabanas and by the pool are too large for a toddler, but they have small spoons that are perfect for toddlers by the hard ice cream at Cabanas. That was a great discovery we made when our son was under 2.

 

[TestingH2O]

We ended up ordering room service most mornings. I'm not a big breakfast eater and DD really just want some cereal. My only regret is not grabbing while fruit from the buffet. I would have preferred that to the fruit bowls.

 

[Dug720]

Perhaps we eat at "off hours" (don't really think so), but the only day on the 2/22 Magic cruise there was any issue with a table at Cabanas was the day we were in Key West - because everyone seemed to want to be done and waiting for the Customs passport parade (aka clearance) so everyone was hitting it at the same time. There were servers (I think it was the Head Servers assigned to Cabanas that morning) actively monitoring tables and the instant a family got up they would have a buster at the table and a server would be escorting a family to the table.

Other than that we personally had no issues.

 

[hardis5]

We have been known to be picky table pickers for Cabana's on the Dream/Fantasy (ok DW would say I am picky) and "we" prefer an outside table for more than a view of those around us and unless a port day within 30 minutes of the dash off the ship, we've never had a problem getting a table (or our preferred table type). Yes it can get busy if you are wanting breakfast within the same 1/2 hour as 1/2 the ship, but maybe we just avoid the busiest times but we've never had a big problem getting a table.

 

[lovedisneycruise]

What I have found is that it's bearable in Cabanas around 9 AM and then gets consistently more crowded up until about 11 AM. I like being able to go straight to the station that has the food I want, and if the seating seems too crowded for me, I head towards the exit doors that lead out to the pool area and sit in the seating (on both sides) that is between cabanas and the children's pools. There never seem to be many people there, and you can even sit directly next to a floorlength window And watch the ocean – which I find very relaxing. I'm always surprised how Cabanas can be crazy packed but not these tables.

 

[kiford]

Totally depends on what time you eat. On our last cruise (Fantasy) we met with friends about 9 am for breakfast at Cabanas unless we were going on an early excursion which I think was only one time. It was never crazy busy and we never had problems finding somewhere to sit. And this was during a time when they were on lockdown due to some potential outbreak so you couldn't get your own coffee and everything had to be handed to you by someone behind the counter. Everything still moved along quite quickly.

The early morning breakfast day was a little busier since lots of people had early tours too. That was the only day we didn't get a table by the window.

 

[RedSox68]

I mentioned earlier about early excursion days. Getting breakfast delivered gives you more time to get ready and don't have to fight for elevators or tables.

 

[adSimba]

Oh, and another option to consider (especially on port days) is room service breakfast. Hang your tag the night before and be prepared -- whatever time you pick they are usually pretty prompt. (which Disney offered hot breakfast entrees for room service like other cruiselines do)

how much effort do they make to wake you? LOL

 

[DLM1980]

Tagging on... Can you get a table by yourself in the MDR for breakfast? Or do they sit you with others and pace breakfast for the whole table?

The two times we did MDR breakfast we were seated by ourselves. Both times there were two or three empty tables between different parties

 

[LullabeeDisney]

How do we know which MDR will be doing buffet breakfast? We'll be on the wonder.

 

[Dug720]

How do we know which MDR will be doing buffet breakfast? We'll be on the wonder.

All of the times things will be open will be on the Navigator delivered to your cabin at nightly turndown.

 

[Dug720]

how much effort do they make to wake you? LOL

I can't do room service as I'm gluten-free, but I would imagine they knock pretty loudly.

Honestly though that's not their responsibility. If you order room service for a certain time, it is your responsibility to be up - or have one person up - for the delivery time.

 

[BCV23]

We have breakfast in the MDR every day except disembarkation day (and now on the Fantasy on the day breakfast is not offered...boo!) and have never been seated with another family. It is such a relaxing way to start the day. Definitely less crowded to answer the OP's question.

 

[TestingH2O]

We have breakfast in the MDR every day except disembarkation day (and now on the Fantasy on the day breakfast is not offered...boo!) and have never been seated with another family. It is such a relaxing way to start the day. Definitely less crowded to answer the OP's question.

What day is breakfast not offered? That's new.