Question about courses at dinner...

[Chrislovesdisney]

I know that you can get/do pretty much anything, but I'm asking about the norm...

Does one generally order from the appetizer section OR the soup/salad section, or is the general understanding that each person will order an appetizer, followed by a soup or salad? In other words, is the meal expectation 3 courses (app/soup/salad; main course; dessert), or 4 (app; soup/salad; main course; dessert)?

Similarly, for Palo dinner, are the pastas an additional course between the apps and main course, or are they in lieu of a app or in lieu of a main course?

Tia!

 

[KristiMc]

I don't really think there are any expectations. We will order appetizer and soup/salad if there is something that looks good. Our one son doesn't do salad so usually only orders the appetizer. You can also 2 appetizers plus soup if you want or order a appetizer off of the kids menu if it looks good.

 

[sunburnin]

We usually get one app, one soup/salad, one entree, and one dessert. However, a lot of times we'll try two of the apps if they look good, or opt for both a soup and a salad. Whatever you feel like. If there's an entree that looks interesting and you're not too sure, ask for that and a normal one. We'd end up sharing something in addition to our normal entree just to try new things.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

You should feel free to order anything from each or all courses that you'd like. However, just a note, it is likely not possible to ask for substitutions from one entree side dish for example for another. Everything is already preplated for the servers to grab and bring to you.

 

[gismo1554]

I always do 4 usually appetiser, soup/salad, main & dessert but have been known to ask for 2 appetisers one instead of a soup/salad course. If I want the side from another main I tend to order two mains but it does mean I waste food which I hate doing so try and get someone else at the table to eat it

 

[hanscarlet]

I feel like their portions are slightly smaller than the average restaurant so I usually always order both an appetizer and soup/salad before we get our entree.... my husband is a big guy and can eat a lot and if the entree is particularly delicious he sometimes orders two but that's not always something he does every day of our cruise but he does it at least one of the days

 

[hcox31]

I remember our servers being surprised when we just wanted a salad on our first dinner, not an appetizer AND a salad. We had him bring one anyway to try it, since why not. But I do remember the surprise. lol

As for Palo, there were MANY course. I can't even remember how many. but each serving of something counted as a course.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

In the MDRs, I usually have four courses. This might be two appetizers or one appetizer plus soup/salad, main, and dessert. I have been known to order a second main course when I wanted to try something that looked interesting.

DW usually orders just three courses, either appetizer or soup/salad, main, and dessert.

At Palo, I always have antipasti, soup/salad, a pasta course (I recommend the mushroom risotto), main course (I recommend the rack of lamb), and dessert (always the chocolate souffle). I may try to add a small seafood course next time, so I can try the scallops. I will discuss this with our server, since they cook to order and can do a smaller serving if you want to try something new. This is different from what happens in the MDRs, where a request to try a second entree will usually lead to two full servings with all the sides. I was raised to clean my plate, so I hesitate to order an extra course in the MDRs because I don't want to waste the extra food. That's not been a problem at Palo.

 

[MunFam]

Not even going to lie...there were nights that I did 5 courses...app, soup, salad, entree and dessert. Maybe that is why I gained a pound a day! But then again, I work for a company with an unlimited expense account and when we go to a steak house for dinner, there are typically 5 courses...and cocktails and wine pairings and an after dinner drink, too. So a long meal is somewhat normal to me.

 

[adg06]

For those who have ordered a second entree, do you have to order both up front? Or can you wait and see if you like the first one, if it fills you up or not, and then order a second one later?

 

[lorimay]

In Palo for the pasta course, if there is something we want to try we usually ask for it to be brought with our appetizer and we share it........

 

[cmph]

For those who have ordered a second entree, do you have to order both up front? Or can you wait and see if you like the first one, if it fills you up or not, and then order a second one later?

On DCL and every other line we've been on, my father has ordered two entrees up-front at least a couple of times per cruise - b/c he just couldn't decide. Various other family members we traveled with have done the same. No one bats an eye. It's probably preferable to do that, rather than order a second entree later - b/c it'll throw off the servers' rhythm in bringing out the courses. Having said that, they aren't going to give you dirty looks for doing that if you just didn't like your entree choice or something. I know at least one night we quickly ordered seconds of entrees after giving our kids a taste of whatever I had and realizing I was about to lose it to them, LOL! (My kids take a few days to get off the "must order from the kids' menu" notion, before realizing the choices are better on the adults' menu.) I think the key is to do it fairly quickly, if you do. But really, they'll roll with it, either way.

All the adults in my family fall into the app + soup or salad + entree + dessert group, as well. Like I said above, an extra entree is ordered infrequently. Extra desserts are ordered with, um, more frequency.

 

[bfamily5]

as far as a second entrée, I too have difficulty deciding so I have been known to ask for a taste of the 2nd choice. Our servers were great and would bring a little side bowl of the pasta or a side plate of the scallops or whatever we were struggling with deciding.

 

[WeLoveDisneyAlways]

You should feel free to order anything from each or all courses that you'd like. However, just a note, it is likely not possible to ask for substitutions from one entree side dish for example for another. Everything is already preplated for the servers to grab and bring to you.

Actually it is possible as I've done it almost every meal, the pasta comes with red sauce I asked and got alfredo instead I've also switched up the sides. The servers are always accommodating the best they can be. As for OP question we sometimes don't even order an app just skip to main course there is sometimes a delay as food is just being prepped but we're ok with it. The only app I ever ordered was the cheddar soup mmm

 

[bbn1122]

You really can get what ever you want. 3 Appetizers, no entree or 2 entrees plus everything else.

DH and I usually do an appetizer each and maybe share another, sometimes salad or soup.
It's funny more than once when we could not decide, our server brought us an extra entree without asking, so we could try it.

Same with desset, I have had our server bring out 3 for us, when we can not make up our minds.

Palo, you can again try it all!!! DCL is great! You really should never be hungry and servers will help you make your meals a success.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I know that you can get/do pretty much anything, but I'm asking about the norm...

Does one generally order from the appetizer section OR the soup/salad section, or is the general understanding that each person will order an appetizer, followed by a soup or salad? In other words, is the meal expectation 3 courses (app/soup/salad; main course; dessert), or 4 (app; soup/salad; main course; dessert)?

Similarly, for Palo dinner, are the pastas an additional course between the apps and main course, or are they in lieu of a app or in lieu of a main course?

Tia!

Like many others, I usually just order an appetizer (not much of a soup/salad person), entree, and dessert (often 2). But, on occasion, I've had 2 appetizers and an entree. Or two entrees. And I've read that you can ask for an entree sized appetizer, if that's all you want.

You can order two items from each section, a you wish.

Go with what works for you.

 

[kiford]

I usually have an appetizer and a soup or salad or sometimes two appetizers or soup and salad... Depends on how I feel, what's on the menu that I like or if there's nothing really that appeals to me or how hungry I am. I think it's fairly typical for people to order two somethings before entree.

However, just a note, it is likely not possible to ask for substitutions from one entree side dish for example for another.

It may depend on your server but we've many instances of substitutions. One time one of our tablemates asked for asparagus instead of the usual side veggie so he brought an entire plate of steamed asparagus which we all shared in. On our last cruise, our friend ordered just the mixed steamed veggies instead of whatever side there was every night and they had no issue with that.

 

[Melissa S]

In our experience ordering less food is a bigger deal for them. One time I just wanted an entree and the waiter had the head waiter come over to see if everything was ok and eventhough I told him I just didn't want to over eat that night they went against my wishes and brought me an appetizer anyway. I love Lumeriers though and always order three apps, an entree, and dessert. That make sure the waitstaff much happier lol.

 

[SteveMP]

For those who have ordered a second entree, do you have to order both up front? Or can you wait and see if you like the first one, if it fills you up or not, and then order a second one later?

Either way, just know it may take longer the latter. But in some cases i mentioned I couldn't make up my mind and my server said he would just bring me both. Happened more than once with different servers on different ships.

 

[Shanti]

We typically skip both the app and the soup. Just do what works for you.