Palo ressie clarification

[Miss Eeyore]

As "our" date nears, I am beginning to wonder and plan. The Palo 500 has me worried a bit. I have not been on the Magic in 2 years, and the process and place of reservations seems to have changed. I understand the neccessity of an early arrival, but have two questions. When we last sailed, the reservation process was in the actual restaurant, now it is elsewhere....Rocking BarD? I have heard various folks and posts about the timing. I saw somewhere that the time was not until 1, so you could eat lunch and still go get in line before it opens. On aother posts I see folks report that they still head immediately there, and reservations are taken right away. We will be driving a rental car to the port after a 6 am arrival, so we can arrive when we wish, when the port opens at 10:30. So...do we go straight to Beat Street, or do we eat lunch and then go? Also, if we know which day we want reservation, and know when we want Tea and Brunch, can we make all three with the same person, or do we have to stand in multiple lines? When last we cruised, you stood in line at the table with the day you wanted reservations.

I thought I knew a lot about DCL....but reading here just shows me what I do not know.


Oh....a third question, but not about Palo. Where and when do you request a specific server?

Thanks.

Marilee (who feels a bit like this smilie today...having spent a restless and sleepless night due to a horrific windstorm)

 

[alexandrew]

You may eat leisurely at PC, then "cruise" on over to Rockin Bar D to make Palo res....if you get there by 1245, you may find you'll still have to wait a few minutes before CMs let you in to begin making res's....Once at the table, you can make multiple res's with the same CM for brunch, tea etc.....There is also a table there for making changes to your dining assignments....you may be able to request a server at that table....

 

[rae519]

Sorry to hear about the windstorm - hope you and yours fared well!

RE: requesting a specific server. Last three cruises we went to Sessions and the Head Servers were there with their laptops to take the requests. Haven't had any problem getting our special servers and with a "smile, please and thank you" it seems to work magic!

As for the "Palo 500" - doesn't seem like much changes regardless of what they try. Now it's RockinBarD and you take a number at each station (dinner, brunch, high tea) and when it gets called, you get to go up and TRY to get your request in. There is always a crowd and it can get ugly.....Disney really needs to consider allowing people to make their reservations as they make their final payment rather than force us to go through this very stressful and unfriendly madhouse.

We are going to split up and DH is going to "Dining Room Changes" at Sessions, while I'm at RockinBarD trying to get our reservations in. Now, this is one thing that is very much appreciated by those of us who have our special servers. An personable server who is familiar with your family makes the dinner so much more special. I know that I would never want to have a "strange" server again - at least for dinner!

We are coming in by limo and getting there around 10:30AM also - regardless of where we are, we have to wait, so might as well hang out at the port and enjoy the people in line with us!

By the way, photo's are now taken in the "gangway" area, so there is no one behind you and it's a much smoother process. I always hated getting other people in our embarkation pictures!

You can always eat after you get your reservations, and knowing you are done with it, makes the food go down a whole lot better.

Best wishes and remember that key phrase, "Lady and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines" -

Rae (living in Indy, but Native New Yorker!)

 

[rae519]

alexanddrew - Is that how it is on the Wonder? I guess it's a lot different on the Magic (my 3rd and last cruise in 2003 was 10/25).

Sure wish they'd change it because on the Magic it's a horrible mess and the crowd is incredible!

Rae

 

[kcashner]

I'll echo much of what was said here.

We've always requested our favorite server at "dining changes" in Sessions at 1. This time (at the DCL head server's suggestion), I e-mailed DCL in advance....and got a polite reply that they are unable to honor such requests. So, we are back to Sessions at 12:45. We also split up, one person to Palo reservations, another to dining changes.

Palo ressies were 3 separate lines...go in, take a number, and hope.

Both of these open at 1:00 officially. There's really no point in showing up before 12:45. So, depending on what time you get on the ship, you can go to lunch first, then hit the ressie rush...or ressie first, then lunch.

Remember...You are in the minority. You KNOW to eat lunch at Parrot, you know to board early, and what time you need to do what. It really is a short embarkation hassle, then a long, leisurly cruise.

 

[rae519]

One small point - the line to get into RockinBarD (Palo reservations) gets started WAY BEFORE the official opening time and you know that the first in line get their requests! We were about 10th in line in August, went to drop off our luggage first then by the time we got to RockinBarD the line was all the way back to the lobby. Don't you think we were shocked because we hadn't been gone but about 15 minutes tops!!

THIS is the most ridiculous way to handle reservations ever conceived.

Rae

 

[jrabbit]

"Lady and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

Yep, gotta do that, but also have a smile on your face and be polite, even to the jerk that cut in line in front of you. Everyone else will appreciate it, the people you are making ressies with with appreciate it and will go out of their way to help you and you'll confound the jerk who cut you off too. It definately helps to have a positive (and flexible) attitude during the ressie rush.

 

[rae519]

Most excellent advise - a sense of humor helps too!!!!!

Rae

 

[alexandrew]

Actually,

logically it is easier to get the reservations you want on the Magic - Twice as many reservations available on a 7 day vs 3 or 4 day, although the same number of cruisers aboard....

There is no "mad dash" or competition for Palo res's that I have ever encountered....On all 6 of our cruises, 3 on Magic, 3 on Wonder, I've always had plenty of time to have a nice lunch, then stroll over to make Palo reservations....no need to be 1st on line....no need to be 20th on line....odds are you will get your res....there has never been a cruise where I didnt get my absolute 1st choice for day and time, as long as I was there "around" 1 to make the res....the perception that reservations are that limited, particularly on the 7 day, is nonsense....In fact, on one of our 7 day cruises, we ate there twice!!! and got our 2nd choice for that other night....

 

[Mary Anne]

Regarding eating at Palo twice; can you make both those reservations when you board; or do you just make your one and then after everyone has a chance to get at least one meal there they open up the resverations again?

I certainly don't want to be a hog and take two and someone doesn't get at least one but at the same time, I'd love to be the best wife in the world and somehow get two for my DH

PS I'll be on the 7 day cruise if that makes a difference.

 

[rae519]

alexandrew - LUCKY YOU!!!!!!
Hope your luck rubs on on some of us!

Mary Anne - courtesy would dictate that you would try making a reservation that evening or after your first meal at Palo so everyone could get a chance, you might get waitlisted for a specific time/date, but I've heard some people just have "the luck"!

Rae

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Thanks for your sharing your encouraging experiences w/us alexandrew

I was going to echo that the two times we've sailed on Magic, we never had a problem getting Palo, and last year was a full ship. We didn't make any mad dashes either. In fact, we went to see our stateroom first, then to the Topsiders buffet, bought the soda mug, THEN made our Palo's ressies. (It was before we discovered these boards, and I didn't know any better.) I will change the course of this trip however. DH and I will split up so I can go make spa ressies while he (hopefully) can book the Palo brunch.

I hope I didn't speak too soon though, when I said 'we never had a problem getting Palo.' I used to say the same thing about Cinderella's castle breakfast, (three years in a row!) then, the next year, I couldn't get through fast enough, after five days of waking before 6am. (LOL!) That's another thread though.

 

[minniemoms]

So you never get to eat at Palo's unless you go and reserve it?? This is my first cruise ever, and really don't know anything except what I read here. So, you go and stand in a line to reserve your spot at Palo's and then later in the week try for it again??? 7 day Eastern Carribean, in only 1 week. Yea, can't wait

 

[valeriekc]

On the navigators that I read at castawayclub.com it listed reservations starting at 12:00???
Have they changed that recently?
Those navigators were from Oct 2003.
In fact it showed all reservations starting at noon?
thanks