Palo - Disney Magic (Brunch) Question

[Justacruiser]

thanks TLC!

 

[Trera]

Just had brunch at Palo on the Magic on Friday, it was all self serve except for the hot items that they prepare to order and are brought to your table by your waiter.

that is what we are used to and the way it should remain IMHO.

 

[bumbershoot]

Jealous.

On Dream in January (with NO illness and NO restrictions on anything) they served us. I don't like it. I still sometimes have issues with people watching what I eat and having someone serve me actively cuts down on what I eat. Now, that's good for me so I don't eat to bursting, but it doesn't FEEL good to me emotionally. It's the same with DH, but worse (he's the most extreme emotional eater I've personally ever known), and it can cause him to "sneak-eat" later on.

I know, I think too much about it, but that's what has been necessary for me to lose the excess weight. I think I'm done with Palo brunch; the almond croissants are to die for, but that's about all there is for me that makes me even think of eating there again.

 

[jcarwash]

My first-ever Palo brunch during the Feb 15 sailing on the Magic. Other than the tour (and the entrees of course) it was self-serve.

 

[Justacruiser]

I do plan on asking during the time you can switch dinner service and get Palo reservations. I plan on finding out how they are doing it on that cruise. Apparently they are all over the map with it.

I understand if they are doing it with sickness going around, but they should post a sign or inform us of the real reason and not be inconsistant in OUR eyes. Seriously our 4-pack of guests will NOT do brunch if that is the case.

 

[Trera]

Jealous.

On Dream in January (with NO illness and NO restrictions on anything) they served us. I don't like it. I still sometimes have issues with people watching what I eat and having someone serve me actively cuts down on what I eat. Now, that's good for me so I don't eat to bursting, but it doesn't FEEL good to me emotionally. It's the same with DH, but worse (he's the most extreme emotional eater I've personally ever known), and it can cause him to "sneak-eat" later on.

I know, I think too much about it, but that's what has been necessary for me to lose the excess weight. I think I'm done with Palo brunch; the almond croissants are to die for, but that's about all there is for me that makes me even think of eating there again.

We liked the grape pizza and chicken parm. Also, we dont have to look too hard to find a good dessert or two in there.

 

[bumbershoot]

We liked the grape pizza and chicken parm. Also, we dont have to look too hard to find a good dessert or two in there.

I tried DH's pizza and for my tastebuds it was among the worst things I've ever had. I like my gorgonzola cold, it turns out. (DH loved it and was glad I didn't like it)

And we're vegetarian, so there are only a couple entrees that work for us, anyway. The pesto just isn't great enough (though I love how they dice up zucchini to amp up the flavors). And Disney tends to throw gelatin into their desserts, so I'm really wary of any Disney dessert, and the ones I thought looked OK and "safe" weren't very good.

So for me, it's probably the end of Palo brunch.

 

[Bree]

I don't think I'd like someone serving me. I understand it's a buffet, but I don't like my plate filled up so that it's overflowing. I love food, but I'm not a big eater. Any time I didn't finish something on our cruise it was like a huge insult to the CM's. It was uncomfortable and by the end of the cruise I was kind of irritated. Please let me eat as little or as much as I want without the commentary! I really don't want to dealing with pushy servers and be telling someone over and over at brunch no thank you and that I just want a sample and not a full serving.

 

[perditax]

I don't think I'd like someone serving me. I understand it's a buffet, but I don't like my plate filled up so that it's overflowing. I love food, but I'm not a big eater. Any time I didn't finish something on our cruise it was like a huge insult to the CM's. It was uncomfortable and by the end of the cruise I was kind of irritated. Please let me eat as little or as much as I want without the commentary! I really don't want to dealing with pushy servers and be telling someone over and over at brunch no thank you and that I just want a sample and not a full serving.

Are you saying you got nagged at by CMs if you didnt finish your food?

 

[Flossbolna]

I have experienced a few rather formal events with buffets where it was handled just like that. I liked it then as the servers took great care of arranging the food that I chose in an appetizing manner. And one of the reasons why I am not a huge fan of buffets is that I like plates looking nice and when I plop things on it, it never looks as nice as when a professional does it.

However, in a setting like that any comment on your choices needs to be totally off limits for the serving staff! If anyone dared to question my choice I would certainly complain about this to the Palo manager. A suggestion or recommendation to try something is fine, but telling me that I should not have two chocolate covered strawberries is totally out of line in my opinion. If they want to do this, they need to do this right and train their staff appropriately.

 

[Bree]

Are you saying you got nagged at by CMs if you didnt finish your food?

I most certainly did. The MDR staff were the worst about it.

 

[perditax]

That seems odd and off-putting. I've seen it mentioned before (the nagging) but I've never seen anyone try to defend/explain it. Seems so odd. I mean, I try not to waste food, especially at buffets, but I don't need any commentary.

 

[Dug720]

I don't think I'd like someone serving me. I understand it's a buffet, but I don't like my plate filled up so that it's overflowing. I love food, but I'm not a big eater. Any time I didn't finish something on our cruise it was like a huge insult to the CM's. It was uncomfortable and by the end of the cruise I was kind of irritated. Please let me eat as little or as much as I want without the commentary! I really don't want to dealing with pushy servers and be telling someone over and over at brunch no thank you and that I just want a sample and not a full serving.

I got no commentary. And they don't put everything on there - you say what you want. And they would typically start with a small bit and ask if I wanted more - or they would ask how many. I thought it would be weird, but it really wasn't. The only slight glitch was when my buffet escort automatically went for melon to go with my prosciutto before I could stop him. I apologetically said I don't eat melon, he got a completely new plate and made it look just like the other one, then put prosciutto on without the melon.

 

[Melissa S]

I don't think I'd like someone serving me. I understand it's a buffet, but I don't like my plate filled up so that it's overflowing. I love food, but I'm not a big eater. Any time I didn't finish something on our cruise it was like a huge insult to the CM's. It was uncomfortable and by the end of the cruise I was kind of irritated. Please let me eat as little or as much as I want without the commentary! I really don't want to dealing with pushy servers and be telling someone over and over at brunch no thank you and that I just want a sample and not a full serving.

That is one of my peeves on the ship. I hate to waste food (especially meat since an animal died). One night in the MDR I specifically didn't order an app because I wanted an extra dessert. The server brought one anyway. Of course I was too full when dessert came and was so annoyed. I know a lot of it is cultural, but part of good service is respecting a guest's wishes.

 

[lbgraves]

Are you saying you got nagged at by CMs if you didnt finish your food?

We have had servers ask if everything was ok because they don't want you to not eat your food because you don't like it. One cruise I was bothered by being in the sun so long the day before at WDW and my stomach was still a bit uneasy. I nibbled at dinner because the vibration when heading out of the channel was bothering me. When our server said something I told him that if I ate I would become ill and confined to our room. He brought me more ginger ale and smiled. My appetite was back the next day and he said that he was happy to see that I was feeling better.

 

[over50visits]

I got no commentary. And they don't put everything on there - you say what you want. And they would typically start with a small bit and ask if I wanted more - or they would ask how many. I thought it would be weird, but it really wasn't. The only slight glitch was when my buffet escort automatically went for melon to go with my prosciutto before I could stop him. I apologetically said I don't eat melon, he got a completely new plate and made it look just like the other one, then put prosciutto on without the melon.

I'm completely with you. It was nice, convenient, and hard to believe someone wouldn't eat at Palo because of the 2 minutes you spend with a server helping you fill you plate. When we talk about what a great time we had a Palo brunch, we talk about the view, the food, the dining room manager with whom we had a wonderful conversation, the table server, interaction with the Chef, the ambiance...we certainly don't talk about how the food got to our plate!

 

[cashe]

I most certainly did. The MDR staff were the worst about it.

wow. i'm tiny (87-90# soaking wet) and being from Texas, I'm more than used to LARGE portions of food but I don't think I've EVER cleaned a plate of food on ANY vacation unless I'm splitting it with DD or DH. I would be really ticked if someone decided to nag me for not finishing food. If the food isn't good, I will tell you. Just because I leave something on my plate, DOESN'T mean I didn't like it. It just means, I'm full.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

wow. i'm tiny (87-90# soaking wet) and being from Texas, I'm more than used to LARGE portions of food but I don't think I've EVER cleaned a plate of food on ANY vacation unless I'm splitting it with DD or DH. I would be really ticked if someone decided to nag me for not finishing food. If the food isn't good, I will tell you. Just because I leave something on my plate, DOESN'T mean I didn't like it. It just means, I'm full.

And that's all you need to tell them. I didn't find that they were nagging me to finish my plate, but were concerned when I didn't. Once I explained to them that my tummy was having issues (actually spent most dinners eating baked chicken and rice) they were totally understanding and were pleased with whatever I could eat.

 

[cashe]

And that's all you need to tell them. I didn't find that they were nagging me to finish my plate, but were concerned when I didn't. Once I explained to them that my tummy was having issues (actually spent most dinners eating baked chicken and rice) they were totally understanding and were pleased with whatever I could eat.

oh I will inevitably end up with heartburn one night if not all of them too and when that happens, i can't eat ANYTHING. I'll let them know it's not them. I hate to waste food. I went to a wedding at an All Inclusive in Mexico and the groom ordered one of EVERYTHING on the menu just b/c he could and then didn't tip the staff. That made me so mad, because there were only 5 of us at the table, there was NO WAY any of us could have eaten that much. He did it just to show off. I'll probably end up just trying to share an appetizer with DD and eating off DHs dinner just so I can have a dessert! ha! Thanks so much!

 

[TimeAndTide]

In late December on the Magic we had the tour and then served ourselves. I'm really not a huge fan of buffets to begin with (lazy) so if I have to get up and walk around, I'd much prefer to be able to take my time and wander around without worrying that someone is waiting on me to make up my mind. Just like I wouldn't want someone to hover over me while I'm looking at a menu.

So how does this work for "seconds"? Does a CM see you and rush over? Or do they only follow you on the first round?