Different itineraries have different rotations. Fantasy, at least at the time we cruised her, had 1231231 (ERAERAE; RAERAER; AERAERA) on our Eastern cruise, and 1231223 (ERAERRA; RAERAAE; AERAEER) on our Western cruise. I think I read that the Western cruise rotation has changed, however.
In looking at recent Navigators (March) the Eastern B itinerary seems to have Pirate night on night 5. While the C itinerary has it on night 4. The most recent A itinerary I found (Sep) has it on night 4.
Not really "dumbed down", but there isn't a choice on the appetizer/soup courses that night. The entrees are same as usual.
The second visit to AP (except for those whose second visit is Pirate Night) is the Animation Magic show. The thinking when it was set up was that people would need the time normally used for ordering and serving appetizers and soups (from various offerings) to make their drawings and the servers picking them up to be used later in the dinner service for the show. So, on those nights, the appetizer and soup courses have only one option. The menu is the same menu as the other MDRs, but the other MDRs have the larger choice for those courses.
Not sure if this is what you're asking, but you can say "Want to be in Enchanted Garden for Pirate Night" or "Don't want to be in Animator's Palate for formal night".
That helps. My preferance is to be in Royal Court for Formal Night, but that would give me 3 Enchanted Garden and that's our least favorite.
Just let the Concierge people know you want XXX Main Dining Room for formal night. On the Fantasy Royal Court is the more fancy dining room in most people's opinion. Enchanted Garden would be next.
