Palo…… is it worth it anymore?

[rere101399]

I don’t see the chocolate lava cake on the brunch dessert menu…did it go away?!

 

[insureman]

We're Platinum and have only done Palo brunch because of the buffet. To be frank at this point I would rather have a $45 pp shipboard credit instead of the Palo credit.

 

[ThinkTink1]

I don’t see the chocolate lava cake on the brunch dessert menu…did it go away?!

It’s still there!! I just had it yesterday AM!!

 

[ThinkTink1]

I guess I am really confused by some of the replies. To be clear, I don't like the change, myself, but the prix fixe menu/meal is NOT required. If you don't like the prix fixe menu, you can order from the a la carte options, of which there are several more (including many more vegetarian options), and some of them are cheaper (and several are more expensive). The same meal I last got myself at Palo (under the old system) would now be $46 from the a la carte menu, for instance. I can understand not wanting to eat at Palo with this arrangement, but just not liking the prix fixe menu is not a reason not to go.

It is an open question about whether the Platinum "free" meal is only the prix fixe one or if it's also good for $45 toward a la carte items. I had heard on this board (before the cruise restarts) that it was also good toward a la carte, but I don't think there's be a confirmation from someone who actually cruised.

Ok so I ate at Palo brunch yesterday AM so I made sure to ask about the $45…. For Platinum cruisers you have a $45 credit essentially to use towards brunch or dinner… if you order from the prix fixe one you are covered or if you go ala carte anything above and beyond the $45 you will be charged for…for anyone not platinum you will pay $45 for brunch or the prix fixe off the dinner or you can order ala carte and whatever you purchase will be your final cost

 

[kathi]

Ok so I ate at Palo brunch yesterday AM so I made sure to ask about the $45….

Thanks for asking.

 

[pangur]

Just off a double dip on the dream. Platinum gets a 45 dollar credit toward the menu in palo. it just so happpens that is the price fixed menu, but you are just using your 45 a person if you go that way. That said, the new dinner set up of no antipasto trolley and not being able to taste this or that for free means remy got our dinner business after our first palo dinner. Brunch was like brunch at any restaurant Terrible change there. Clearly money since when there are Norwalk concerns, the buffet is still there, you just get served by a waiter. Maybe that will change when they get to capacity.

 

[lizzyb]

Even with just the price increase I didn't think it was a great value but now with the prix fix it definitely is not IMO.

 

[gismo1554]

Just off a double dip on the dream. Platinum gets a 45 dollar credit toward the menu in palo. it just so happpens that is the price fixed menu, but you are just using your 45 a person if you go that way. That said, the new dinner set up of no antipasto trolley and not being able to taste this or that for free means remy got our dinner business after our first palo dinner. Brunch was like brunch at any restaurant Terrible change there. Clearly money since when there are Norwalk concerns, the buffet is still there, you just get served by a waiter. Maybe that will change when they get to capacity.

Although I do think there is a money factor, the biggest issue with the buffet here is actually space to social distance surely? Unlike in the main buffet where there are screens between the servers and customers on the whole there couldn't be in Palo. They also could maintain social distance between customers easily either.

 

[Lillebelle]

 

[tlynk]

Thank you for your posting! Is Palo brunch a flat rate of $45 pp, or does it have a fixed prix menu and ala cart items like dinner?

 

[gismo1554]

Thank you for your posting! Is Palo brunch a flat rate of $45 pp, or does it have a fixed prix menu and ala cart items like dinner?

Its a flat rate and if using the platinum perk includes gratuities unlike dinner and a glass of mimosa or prosecco

 

[tlynk]

Its a flat rate and includes gratuities unlike dinner and a glass of mimosa or prosecco

Thank you!

 

[Pixie Dust Believer]

We just did a Palo dinner on the 8/20 sailing and loved it. We ended up doing the pre fixe with wine pairings and then added a pasta course. It was delicious and we definitely would do it again.

It ended up costing us $12+tax more than we would have paid previously with the Platinum benefit. One thing I will call out is that we did the wine pairings with the pre fixe and they included another pairing of nice wine with our additional course at no additional charge.

 

[jimandshane]

Its a flat rate and includes gratuities unlike dinner and a glass of mimosa or prosecco

I do not believe gratuity is included for brunch; I see no mention of it on the website (https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/onboard-activities/palo-restaurant/) nor did it break out gratuities on our folio. I was sure to add a gratuity.

 

[taaren]

I'll start by saying that I'm not a fan of the changes to the pricing structure.

That said, I am not Platinum, so we've always had to pay for Palo. It looks like ordering the things I would want (half of which are not on the prix fixe menu) would total $49, so not that far off from the cost of the prix fixe menu anyway. But, I get that that would vary a lot depending on people's tastes (which is probably why they went this route to begin with).

Since the dishes I loved are still available a la carte, and I assume the service is still stellar, I still plan to dine at Palo.

I'm still a few cruises away from platinum, I feel very similarly. I added up what I would order for dinner, and would probably end up at $64. Still well worth the experience, although what I will miss the most is my server picking dishes that I wouldn't normally try and bringing them to us anyways, he was always amazing at finding things I didn't know I would love until I tasted it (and he guessed right about 2/3 of the time).
Probably going to skip brunch now though. I loved brunch more than dinner before, mostly for the bread & fancy cheeses part of the buffet. The carbs at those tables got me every time, I haven't ordered much off the brunch menu at past visits. But my next cruise is tentatively booked for Fall 2022, and I may push it back another year for reasons unrelated to the pandemic, so maybe they'll be able to bring the buffet back by then.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Palo dinner took a big hit for me when the antipasto cart was taken away and it was made an appetizer. I could still get it but I felt it was a downgrade. Well, that doesn't seem too bad now! I'm going to try brunch and dinner and see how it goes. If dinner is a lot more money for us (the prix fixe doesn't have my favs) we will pass in the future. I love the buffet part the most for brunch so that seems disappointing but I'm going to try it to see.

YES! And that antipasto isn't part of the prix fixe is it? That was my favorite part at Palo.

 

[gismo1554]

I do not believe gratuity is included for brunch; I see no mention of it on the website (https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/onboard-activities/palo-restaurant/) nor did it break out gratuities on our folio. I was sure to add a gratuity.

Sorry realised I wasn't very clear on this. I was referring to the Platinum perk having gratuities included if you have brunch! I have updated post as might confuse others too!

 

[jimandshane]

Sorry realised I wasn't very clear on this. I was referring to the Platinum perk having gratuities included if you have brunch! I have updated post as might confuse others too!

Ooooh that makes sense!

 

[cvjw]

Just off of 2 dream cruises and did not chose to eat at palo for the first time in all our cruises. Got a survey from DCL after the cruise. Just filled it out. Several questions about why I didn’t choose to eat at palo. I answered honestly about the price changes and it not being worth it anymore. Maybe reservations are going unused and disney wants to know why.

 

[davidher]

I like how all the Platinum members keeps saying our free meal... Blah ha ha thats what DCL wants you to think. Remember what your father told you? Nothing in life is free... Oh you paid for it 1000% literally.