The Elusive Chocolate Buffet

[karajeboo]

Hey Kara,

They had one on our cruise as well. My server told me about it when I was ordering dessert - telling me to save room for the chocolate. What was weird is that she said it kind of hush, hush, like every one wasn't supposed to know about. Because of late dining, we were too full to stop by, so I don't remember which night it was on.

With early dining this time, we should have PLENTY of room.....
Tori is going to flip over the fountain.

OK, well all I know is that SOMEONE had better be pounding on my door at 11:59 because I do NOT want to miss this! Ally will love it too!!!! See? Now I need to lose an extra couple of pounds to before we go to make room for this!!!

 

[ntmec]

Someone just posted the most recent Magic Western navigators. On Thursday (2nd page of post) there is Lumiere's Gala Buffet from 11:15-11:45pm listed under "late night snacks" in the dining options/hours section.
Perhaps this is the dessert buffet?

 

[mmouse37]

The dessert buffet always started a little after 11:00 pm...not midnight. We have gone several times and knew to get there early....we just like to go in when they first open before all the desserts get messed up. I like to take pics. Plan on getting there at least 15 minutes before start time. It does get crowded.

MJ

 

[dlf246]

I must agree with the early posters, that it always puzzled me why it was publicized so little. "hush hush". I think our server also lowered his voice and maybe even winked. Felt like putting on dark glasses.

You either had to watch the navigator closely, ask about it, or have a server give reminder; otherwise you missed it.

fyi: each time we did this, they allowed people with cameras to enter 30 minutes before start to take pictures. At least they did as of 2008. One drawback is that if you are alone, you might lose your place in the looooonnnng line. But there was always lots of food by the time you got there.

 

[karajeboo]

Someone just posted the most recent Magic Western navigators. On Thursday (2nd page of post) there is Lumiere's Gala Buffet from 11:15-11:45pm listed under "late night snacks" in the dining options/hours section.
Perhaps this is the dessert buffet?

Great minds think alike! I just posted that over there! So in just 41 days I'll be preparing to do some damage at the dessert buffet!!!

 

[clten]

The reason most people overlook it, is that it is not in the "activities grid" in the Navigator. The only place it is listed is on the back under snacks. It's listed as dessert buffet. Our servers have never been hush hush about it. It's just that we have late dining and are often having dessert/coffee from 10-10:15. Don't really want another dessert an hour later (especially since most at the buffet look better than they taste).

And yes, if someone is coming to get you at 11:59, you've already missed it. It's usually 11/11:15 - 11:45.

 

[Zandy595]

Is everyone talking about the Gala Buffet or is there a different "chocolate buffet"?

The Gala Buffet is always listed in the Navigator on the back page under "Late Night Snacks". And I believe it's usually on the night before the last night of the cruise (at least on the 7-night cruises).

 

[TDC Nala]

My friend was on a January Mexican Riviera cruise and was also told that the dessert buffet had been discontinued.

 

[cyclenut]

This is one of the things that really set us off to Guest Services on our last cruise. It is a great idea that is very poorly executed.

It is not often posted in the Navigator. On our cruise, it was not (and I confirmed with Guest Relations that they made a decision to NOT post it). We found out when our servers told us about it ... AFTER we had our desert ... and we had late seating. We went to see it, but there was no way we could experience it.

The place was packed and had little to no organization to it at all. In fact, if it were "published" and everyone showed up, there is no way there would be enough room for everyone. Not even close.

I guess that is one of the drawbacks of the rotational dining. They don't have a dining room that could accomodate the potential number of guests that could show up if they really advertised it. Yet, if they don't publish it, people don't come ... and then there is too much waste.

On RCI I remember they had a great "midnight buffet". One of the things they did though was have a "viewing" about an hour or so before where you could walk the line and see the amazing artwork that was really a desert. They had spun sugar, carved fruit, ice sculptures, breads baked into all sorts of shapes and sizes and ... of course ... chocolate. It was incredibly creative. The DCL version is basically a desert buffet with a chocoloate fountain. It was ... disappointing.

 

[cherokeemamma]

We were on the Magic Feb 11-18 and they definitely had a chocolate buffet or maybe it was a dessert buffet. I absolutely love chocolate but we didn't make it. I believe it was on Thursday night and that was the night they served lobster tails and the chocolate lava cake. We were stuffed. So, my DH and I didn't make it and my DS was having a dance at VIBE so he didn't make it either. But my DD was in her club, Edge and they were having a pajama party and the counselors took them in to get goodies. She said they had items pre-plated for the chocolate fountain. But she didn't mention anything else. Unfortunately, we did not get any pictures...
FYI We had the 8:15 dinner and our servers always told us anytime there was something going on after dinner like the Pirate night buffet and the dessert buffet. We were just too full to enjoy anything after dinner.

 

[FrogLady23]

OK, well all I know is that SOMEONE had better be pounding on my door at 11:59 because I do NOT want to miss this! Ally will love it too!!!! See? Now I need to lose an extra couple of pounds to before we go to make room for this!!!

Maybe if we tell the girls, they can wake us all up?!?!?!?!?

 

[Zandy595]

OK, well all I know is that SOMEONE had better be pounding on my door at 11:59 because I do NOT want to miss this! Ally will love it too!!!! See? Now I need to lose an extra couple of pounds to before we go to make room for this!!!

If someone pounds on your door at 11:59pm, you will have missed it. It begins at 11:15pm and is over at 11:45pm. When we went, people were lined up outside Lumiere's before 11pm.

 

[mufasa0505]

Is this something where I can bring a plate back to the room? We have a two-year old who should be in bed at that time so I would probably send my husband out for both of us.

 

[dlf246]

The place was packed and had little to no organization to it at all. In fact, if it were "published" and everyone showed up, there is no way there would be enough room for everyone. Not even close.

We have been twice, mind you, years ago; and neither time was it disorganized or packed. yes, there would be a long line at the beginning, but one year I was near the end and did not find many items completely gone.

However, your comment may give a clue why SOME of us were told of it quietly and it is not publicized much. Maybe there have been a few occasions that were overcrowded, so DCL hopes to avoid that

 

[eeyorefanuk]

yep we had it on our 7 night med cruise last year. We went back to the room to change (it must have been on formal night??) and I fell asleep on bed - DH woke me and asked if I still wanted to go - yeah. it is at midnight in lumieres and as I say i think ours was on formal night.

sorry misled you, managed to find my navigator.

It was on formal night and was on the back page of the navigator under "late night snacks" and in lumieres. It started at 11.15-12 (ashamed to see that i obviously fell asleep at around 10.45 ) well this cruising is hard work you know This was on the magic in the med

 

[karajeboo]

Maybe if we tell the girls, they can wake us all up?!?!?!?!?

sorry misled you, managed to find my navigator.

It was on formal night and was on the back page of the navigator under "late night snacks" and in lumieres. It started at 11.15-12 (ashamed to see that i obviously fell asleep at around 10.45 ) well this cruising is hard work you know This was on the magic in the med

It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it.....

 

[mammacaryn]

Is this something where I can bring a plate back to the room? We have a two-year old who should be in bed at that time so I would probably send my husband out for both of us.

My daughter and I walked down to it in our lounge pants and night gown (she was 4.5) (yes, we were THOSE people) and got a little plate of treats to take back to our room. That was 2010-wasn't an issue at all.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

LOL
Yes it is quite elusive isn't it?
We've been on 6 cruises- all were 7 days or longer and we only managed to catch this elusive chocolate buffet ONCE! LOL From not hearing about it, not knowing what night it is, to being around midnight and already being stuffed at that point (with late dining usually)- it wasn't easy to manage to attend this booger! LOL

but we did go once and it was delicious and we did take our plates with us and yes it would definitely be crowded if everyone were to show up. LOL I've got to try really hard to make it again sometime. I wonder if they still do this on Dream or Fantasy?

 

[kerry_mf]

We just got off the Feb 11-18th Magic Cruise and it was the dessert buffet on the Thursday night. It said 11:15 in the Navagator but they let everyone into Lumiere's just after 11pm.
We had late dinner so we just took some pics and I took a couple choc covered strawberries.
Our Server meantioned that they were discontinuing it and that was going to be one of the last ones.

Kerry

 

[Bill Seattle]

Our Server meantioned that they were discontinuing it and that was going to be one of the last ones.

I am surprised it is so full since they don't tell anyone about it. I am still looking for the elusive sushi buffet. I determined to find it this time.