Topsiders for breakfast on last day

[PiperG]

Hi everyone,

We always have the early dinner seating, and on our past two cruises have gone back to our assigned restaurant for the early breakfast seating prior to debarkation. However, we recently heard a good review about the breakfast at Beach Blanket (Topsiders), and I wanted to get some more input.

What was the variety like? Were both hot and cold items avaialble? Did they have Mickey waffles (DS6's favorite) Was it crowded? Other comments.

Thanks so much!

 

[AnnMorin]

We have always done topsiders for bfst on the last day. No there is no hot food, just muffins, cereal, yogart, etc. It is crowded but not so bad you can't get a seat., it is quick and most importantly you don't have to get up at the crack of dawn.

 

[PiperG]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
It is crowded but not so bad you can't get a seat., it is quick and most importantly you don't have to get up at the crack of dawn.

Thanks! We didn't want to get up so early.

 

[DisneyKids]

We're always late seating so it's not a big issue but we like to use that time as a chance to say good bye to our server team. But, to each his own.

 

[julie junebug]

Our first cruise we went to our assigned breakfast (early seating) and found it kind of stressful to get the whole family and all our carry-ons there at the appointed time. Way too early in my opinion! Then we had to stand in line for at least 1/2 hour to disembark because the ship wasn't cleared yet. That was hard with two little kids.

The second cruise we went to Topsiders on our own schedule and found it to be a much better experience. It was crowded, but people are coming and going so there will be a place to sit. The food selection was fine, and it was a lot more relaxing.

Depending on your carry-on, it may be hard to go through the buffet line with it, so you might want to find a seat first!

Have a great time!

 

[swandiverpatt]

On the Wonder, Beach Blanket Bingo has served limited hot food the last morning -- I'm thinking scrambled eggs and bacon?

 

[MrsPete]

swandiverpatt -- I was thinking the same thing. I am sure there were scrambled eggs and bacon on the last day. Not nearly the selection they'd had on previous days, but SOME hot food was available.

 

[lbgraves]

There was no hot food on the Magic 11/15 last day at Topsiders. In fact, there was nothing that either of my kids would eat. They wanted pancakes or Mickey waffles so...I ran down to AP and asked our servers for a plate of pancakes for the kids. 2 minutes later I was heading back up to deck 9. We also left our luggage in the room after checking with the host so that we could handle the kids better.

 

[cat1239]

We went to Beach Blanket on the last day of our 4 day cruise and they had some hot food - eggs, bacon, sausage, etc.. They also had donuts, cereal, fruit, croissants, bagels, etc... There was plenty to choose from. We went pretty late and there was hardly anyone there and getting off of the ship was very easy since everyone else had already gotten off. I also made a last minute stop to Shutters, again it was pretty empty. It was nice to sleep in on our last day and take in the ship for just a little longer.

Cathy

 

[PiperG]

If we do go to Topsiers/Beach Blanket, what time should we be heading down to get off the ship?

We have also waited in the line for 1/2 hour to get off, and I want to avoid that this time.

Thanks!

 

[disneycruiser4]

Just back from the 2003 Boffo 7-day New Year's Eve Magic cruise. The deal on the last day breakfast is this: the menus in all restaurants are the same now on the last morning. So, just pick where you are most comfortable. We ate at Topsider's because it takes a LONG time now to re-enter the U.S. and you can be outside and enjoy the sun. It took us until 8:30 for the ship to clear immigartion (we were on hight alert at the time) and so I was glad we ate at Topsider's. Meanwhile the other folks were standing/sitting in the halls waiting for clearance. The menu the last day is light: fruit, cold meats, pastries, bagels, cereal. Nothing hot. But, what do you expect--the idea is to get 2800 off the ship and 2800 back on it less than 5 hours!! TIP: At Topsider's, go outside and turn right. Just behind a large stainless steel divider, in front of the stairs, are 2 private tables for 4 that were never in use. Great private view of the ocean/islands from there. BREAKFAST TIP: On the other days, you can have mmade-to-order waffles, omelets, etc. at the station in the middle of Topsider's. Always a line, but it goes quickly.

 

[cat1239]

I'm sorry but I don't remember the exact time, but we went to breakfast at Beach Blanket about a half an hour before it ended. As I stated above we practically had the dining room to ourselves and walked right off of the ship.

Cathy

 

[tvguy]

We were on the same cruise as Disneycruiser4, and I guess there is no hot food at topsiders. We ate in the sit down restaurant. They had hot food there, eggs, omelets, pancakes and waffles. The same menu as the charactor breakfast. I was hoping for eggs benedict sometime, but the only two breakfasts I went to, the charactor and last day, apparently the only days they don't offer eggs benedict.

 

[maryeabq]

If you are taking the Disney bus back to the airport does the bus schedule depend on what seating you have. We have the early seating but I would rather eat a little later at Topsiders.

 

[tvguy]

We had the late, 8 am sit down breakfast. They were VERY quick and we were done eating and in line to get off the ship by 8:30am.
It took us until 9:15 to get off the ship due to the long long line.
We took the Disney bus to the airport, (we flew american and they are one of several airlines that let you check your baggage at Port Canaveral when you get off the ship). We got to the airport about 11 am, for a 12:30 pm flight.
In my opinion most of the disembarcation process is great. Organizing the baggage by cabin number is great. They have the buses lined up, one for each airline, and when a bus fills up, it leaves and another takes it's place. That's great. What isn't the best is they don't have any system for people getting off the ship, thus the 45 minute wait for us. Most cruise lines have guests divided up by the time their flight leaves. They assign you a disembarcation number...group 1 gets off first, group 2 next.
That's more efficient. The last folks off are the folks with no flight to catch. We were on the Amsterdam in June 2002 and everyone was off the ship by 9 am.
With Disney, we were ready to get off at 8:30, but it took 45 minutes in line to get off, and I'm guessing for the length of the line behind us that it was 10 am before everyone was off.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

disneycruiser4- you said all the menus were the same for breakfast on the last morning- and then said "The menu the last day is light: fruit, cold meats, pastries, bagels, cereal. Nothing hot."- so does that mean you can get NO hot breakfast on the last morning no matter where you eat breakfast??? Even at your regular scheduled breakfast seating?

 

[christinou]

If you go the restaurant that you are assigned to for that day, you will get hot food, they had omelettes, eggs, bacon, and I believe pancakes, as well as donuts, juice and coffee.

 

[NCRedding]

TV guy: I've only done one other cruise besides my DCL ones, but I would NEVER want to use the dembarkation employeed by RCCL. I've never waited like I waited on that cruise. I love the system that DCL uses (although I haven't sailed during high alert--we sailed 3 weeks after 9/11). The only line I've ever waited in was a very short line for customs, most of the time it is just walk through. I think the lines are more prevalent for the early seating. The shuttle driver to the Radisson on our Magic trip said that he was amazed at the efficiency of DCL. He finished every trip from DCL before any of the other ships began to empty.

 

[wide awake]

I have to agree with NCRedding. Our first cruise disembarkation (not DCL) was a nightmare. Everyone sitting around waiting for their color, group, whatever it was...mobs of people, nowhere to sit, HORRIBLE. On our October DCL cruise we ate breakfast, went back to our room and picked up my purse, went up to Topsiders and had another cup of coffee, and then walked off the ship. No line, no waiting, no hassle.

 

[tvguy]

HAL in 2002 used a system where each color group was assigned a public lounge or theater to wait in, so everyone had seats.
We had a late flight, so we were in the last group off and we were off before 9 am. Don't really recall what NCL, RCCL and Paquet did since those crusies were all in the 80's.
Never gave much thought to the elevated terrorism level being a factor. I did observe a lot of stupid people not prepared to get off, they didn't have their photo id ready to show immigration. Lots of folks rifling through backpacks and carryons while immigration waited. And if you are traveling with kids, I STRONGLY recommend they have a passport, not a birth certificate. A passport really speeds things thing. My kids have had one since they were 2 years old (they're almost 13 and 17 now). And a passport is easy to carry in a fannypack or purse. We keep ours in ziplock sandwich bags to protect them.