Magic Dining Room Rotation Advice

[kimmharris]

I am looking for advice for the MDR rotation on the Disney Magic 5 day Western Caribbean cruise. What would you choose if you were given the choice and why?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am looking for advice for the MDR rotation on the Disney Magic 5 day Western Caribbean cruise. What would you choose if you were given the choice and why?

We've never requested a rotation. I know there are some who do. But it's really not necessary. Everyone onboard has the chance to dine in the same MDRs with the same menu options during the cruise. Specific rotations won't give you anything "better" than anyone else.

 

[kimmharris]

We've never requested a rotation. I know there are some who do. But it's really not necessary. Everyone onboard has the chance to dine in the same MDRs with the same menu options during the cruise. Specific rotations won't give you anything "better" than anyone else.

I understand that. I think I know what I want, I just wanted to hear other people's perspective. I guess I am trying to avoid Carioca's. The menu does not look appetizing to me. I am thinking I should book it on either pirate night or book Palo on the the night we are in there. So are you saying that I will get the Carioca's menu in another restaurant?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I understand that. I think I know what I want, I just wanted to hear other people's perspective. I guess I am trying to avoid Carioca's. The menu does not look appetizing to me. I am thinking I should book it on either pirate night or book Palo on the the night we are in there. So are you saying that I will get the Carioca's menu in another restaurant?

Typically, the first 3 nights of a cruise are the Rotational menus (each MDR serves is own special menu). Subsequent nights have the same menu served in all MDRs. For example, on Pirate night all the MDRs serve the Pirate menu.

My guess for a 5 night cruise would be nights 1-3 would be the rotational menus in the MDRs. Night 4 would, probably, be Pirate menu in all MDRs. And night 5 would, most likely, be "See You Real Soon" menu in all MDRs.

I'm not sure what the rotation for a 5 night cruise is. But, you will dine in 2 of the MDRs twice (rotational menu one time and either the Pirate or See You Real Soon menu the second time). One MDR will dine in only once. I suppose you could ask for a rotation that only puts you in Cariocas once, and then schedule Palo for that night.

 

[kimmharris]

Typically, the first 3 nights of a cruise are the Rotational menus (each MDR serves is own special menu). Subsequent nights have the same menu served in all MDRs. For example, on Pirate night all the MDRs serve the Pirate menu.

My guess for a 5 night cruise would be nights 1-3 would be the rotational menus in the MDRs. Night 4 would, probably, be Pirate menu in all MDRs. And night 5 would, most likely, be "See You Real Soon" menu in all MDRs.

I'm not sure what the rotation for a 5 night cruise is. But, you will dine in 2 of the MDRs twice (rotational menu one time and either the Pirate or See You Real Soon menu the second time). One MDR will dine in only once. I suppose you could ask for a rotation that only puts you in Cariocas once, and then schedule Palo for that night.

That is what I was thinking. Our pirate night is on night 3. No word on formal night, but my preference would be to be in Lumiere's that night. We are doing concierge and I need to book my Palo dinner in the next few days. I figured I would have to give them the specific night and time I want to eat there so I would need to know the rotation so I could make a informed decision. We also have a child with Autism and we have to have everything super planned so he can know about it well in advance. It makes our transitions much easier if he knows what to expect. I haven't done this before so your help is greatly appreciated.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

That is what I was thinking. Our pirate night is on night 3. No word on formal night, but my preference would be to be in Lumiere's that night. We are doing concierge and I need to book my Palo dinner in the next few days. I figured I would have to give them the specific night and time I want to eat there so I would need to know the rotation so I could make a informed decision. We also have a child with Autism and we have to have everything super planned so he can know about it well in advance. It makes our transitions much easier if he knows what to expect. I haven't done this before so your help is greatly appreciated.

OK, then the nights that you will have the rotational menu in each dining room are probably 1, 2, & 4. I believe that 5 night cruises don't have a formal night. At least our upcoming one doesn't. But there may be a "Dress Up Optional night. That typically happens on night 2 on most cruises. A couple of years ago the 5 night rotation was 12231. If you want Lumiere's for night 2 (dress up) then you'd want to request CLLAC. But that would put you in Carioca's twice. If you want Carioca's only once, then you want to request LAACL. That would put you in Animator's for Dress Up night.

The other option is ACCLA, but that would put you in Carioca's twice (and for formal night).

 

[kimmharris]

OK, then the nights that you will have the rotational menu in each dining room are probably 1, 2, & 4. I believe that 5 night cruises don't have a formal night. At least our upcoming one doesn't. But there may be a "Dress Up Optional night. That typically happens on night 2 on most cruises. A couple of years ago the 5 night rotation was 12231. If you want Lumiere's for night 2 (dress up) then you'd want to request CLLAC. But that would put you in Carioca's twice. If you want Carioca's only once, then you want to request LAACL. That would put you in Animator's for Dress Up night.

The other option is ACCLA, but that would put you in Carioca's twice (and for formal night).

Sorry, I meant optional dress-up night. Although, it isn't optional for us. I want to get some great pictures. Is there such a thing as ALCLA?

 

[Weedy]

Call Disney Crusie Line concierge and they will let you know what the rotations are on yoyr cruise.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Sorry, I meant optional dress-up night. Although, it isn't optional for us. I want to get some great pictures. Is there such a thing as ALCLA?

The only thing I know for fact are that the 5 night cruises in 2013 had a 12231 rotation. I don't know for sure that's what they are still doing. I'm thinking it may vary. While the 12231 rotation will work for your cruise (repeated MDR for Pirate night on night 3), it won't work for our 5 night upcoming (our Pirate night is indicated as night 4).

Since you are Concierge, you should call them and ask. They will have much better information then I can give you. They should be able to tell you the available rotations.

As to the ALCLA, it won't work if your Pirate night is night 3. Whatever dining room you are in for Pirate night must be a repeated one. The theory is everyone gets all 3 rotational menus, a Pirate menu, and (usually) the farewell menu.

 

[kimmharris]

The only thing I know for fact are that the 5 night cruises in 2013 had a 12231 rotation. I don't know for sure that's what they are still doing. I'm thinking it may vary. While the 12231 rotation will work for your cruise (repeated MDR for Pirate night on night 3), it won't work for our 5 night upcoming (our Pirate night is indicated as night 4).

Since you are Concierge, you should call them and ask. They will have much better information then I can give you. They should be able to tell you the available rotations.

As to the ALCLA, it won't work if your Pirate night is night 3. Whatever dining room you are in for Pirate night must be a repeated one. The theory is everyone gets all 3 rotational menus, a Pirate menu, and (usually) the farewell menu.

I see. Thank you!

 

[mattcrimson]

I am sailing on 5 nt western Carib on Magic in Nov. The dining rotations are LAACL, ACCLA, or CLLAC

 

[kimmharris]

I am sailing on 5 nt western Carib on Magic in Nov. The dining rotations are LAACL, ACCLA, or CLLAC

Thank you, Matt! That helps a lot!

 

[anricat]

We are on a 5 night on Magic in October and dining rotations are 1. LACLA 2. ACLAC 3. CLACL

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are on a 5 night on Magic in October and dining rotations are 1. LACLA 2. ACLAC 3. CLACL

What night is your Pirate night?

 

[anricat]

Pirate Night is on night 4. H'ere the full itinerary for the Oct 23 sailing:

Day 1 Miami
Day 2 At Sea - Semi-Formal
Day 3 Grand Cayman
Day 4 At Sea - Pirate
Day 5 Castaway Cay

Not sure which night will be Halloween. DCL rep didn't know. Thinking maybe Grand Cayman night? I mean, it's probably not semi-formal night so that rules out Day 2. I doubt it would be on the first day and I also think that the last night is unlikely.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Pirate Night is on night 4. H'ere the full itinerary for the Oct 23 sailing:

Day 1 Miami
Day 2 At Sea - Semi-Formal
Day 3 Grand Cayman
Day 4 At Sea - Pirate
Day 5 Castaway Cay

Not sure which night will be Halloween. DCL rep didn't know. Thinking maybe Grand Cayman night? I mean, it's probably not semi-formal night so that rules out Day 2. I doubt it would be on the first day and I also think that the last night is unlikely.

I agree - night 3 for Halloween is most likely.

Now, on our 4 night Dream cruise (Halloween) last year, Pirate night was moved from night 3 to night 2 due to unfavorable wind predictions for night 3. Really messed with our servers minds. And, therefore, Halloween (which was to be on night 2) was on night 3.

 

[anricat]

Our cruise meet was trying to organize some room to room trick or treating. It's hard to do when DCL can't tell us what night that will be. Organizing something once we're all on the ship would be tricky. We're sort of at a loss but since you're thinking the same thing then maybe we should just try to schedule something. (Totally hijacked. Sorry to OP.)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Our cruise meet was trying to organize some room to room trick or treating. It's hard to do when DCL can't tell us what night that will be. Organizing something once we're all on the ship would be tricky. We're sort of at a loss but since you're thinking the same thing then maybe we should just try to schedule something. (Totally hijacked. Sorry to OP.)

Well, since the whole cruise is actually Halloween themed, I think, if you group wants to set up a trick-or-treating activity on whatever day, it'll be fine.

 

[kimmharris]

What night is your Pirate night?

Can I ask how you found out your dining rotations? When do they come out? I asked the shoreside concierge yesterday and they said they didn't have that information.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Can I ask how you found out your dining rotations? When do they come out? I asked the shoreside concierge yesterday and they said they didn't have that information.

I don't know my specific rotation. The rotations that are available are pretty much the same from cruise to cruise (within an itinerary). It appears for your cruise (type) the rotations are LAACL, ACCLA, or CLLAC. You won't know for sure what your rotation is until you check in at the port.

That being said, you can request a rotation, and since you're Concierge, you're most likely to get it.