Cost of Palo going up

[wdwlvr]

From my TA:

 

Effective October 3 for the Disney Dream, October 5 for the Disney Fantasy and Disney Wonder and October 20 for the Disney Magic. Effective with these sailings the charge for dining at Palo is going from $20 to $25.

 

Platinum still gets one meal free. We'll still do Palo even with the cost. I love the brunch especially.

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Thanks for the update! I hear with the amount of food you get, it is a great deal anyway.

[Irene7]

Thanks for the heads up. I think $25. is still very reasonable for the good quality and amount of food they give you.:)

[DISNEY FANTASY]

The email I got was $25 plus tip, hope they make that clear!

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Ps The have to pay for the Magic dry dock some how!

[Loonbeam]

Given how fast it books up, I can understand this. Supply and demand.

[meatloafsfan]

I'll be cancelling our Palo Dinner - $75 for the 3 of us plus tip is too much to justify the cost of an upcharge meal. I was already considering cancelling the reservation and this just put it over the edge.

 

It was only a couple of years ago that it went from $15 to $20 and now up to $25.

 

I'll also be seriously reconsidering our brunch reservation. :rolleyes: At the end of the day, $100 for brunch ($75 cost plus $25 estimated tip) is more than I would pay for a similar experience on land.

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I'll be cancelling our Palo Dinner - $75 for the 3 of us plus tip is too much to justify the cost of an upcharge meal. I was already considering cancelling the reservation and this just put it over the edge.

 

It was only a couple of years ago that it went from $15 to $20 and now up to $25.

 

I'll also be seriously reconsidering our brunch reservation. :rolleyes: At the end of the day, $100 for brunch ($75 cost plus $25 estimated tip) is more than I would pay for a similar experience on land.

 

I would assume existing booked online ressies will be honoured at the current price, but new bookings post 5th will be new price.

[Host Mick]

 

...

 

At the end of the day, $100 for brunch ($75 cost plus $25 estimated tip) is more than I would pay for a similar experience on land.

 

For three people?

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Well one way to look at it, as a platinum cruiser the value of my free Palo meal just went up $5 pp.

 

At a guess some people will tip less to balance it.

[wdwlvr]

The email I got was $25 plus tip, hope they make that clear!

 

True - I hope they do make it clear because many just assume it already includes tips and it really doesn't.

 

Well one way to look at it, as a platinum cruiser the value of my free Palo meal just went up $5 pp.

 

At a guess some people will tip less to balance it.

 

Exactly - that was in the e-mail too (I think we might have the same TA) but since this was for everyone I took that part out.

[DISNEY FANTASY]

True - I hope they do make it clear because many just assume it already includes tips and it really doesn't.

 

 

 

Exactly - that was in the e-mail too (I think we might have the same TA) but since this was for everyone I took that part out.

 

Maybe same TA, on Facebook as well.

[meatloafsfan]

For three people?

 

Yes - we have 2 wonderful places here at home that offer Sunday brunch (with prime rib, shrimps, fresh made crepes, plus made to order eggs and a whole bunch of other choices) one for $21.99 and one for $24.99 per person.

 

Not to mention the casino just across the border offers a decent breakfast buffet on the week-end for $18 per person (albeit not as nice as Palo but still very good) which includes over 100 choices - including made to order eggs /omelets, crepes, hand carved peameal ham, breakfast pizza's, and a complete dessert line up (including made to order stuff).

[moki'smommy]

According to DCL's website, the Palo upcharge DOES include the tip, but "many guests choose to leave an additional gratuity." Yes, we always add extra. From what we've been told by various servers, the tips from the upcharge get pooled and divided among all who worked that night, and are about $5 per guest. Any additional goes to the server who actually served you.

[moki'smommy]

Whether Palo reservations are easy or difficult to get depends primarily on the length of the cruise. On short cruises, there are a large number of cabins compared to the number of reservations, and thus it can be difficult. On cruises of 7 nights or more, we have never had an issue with getting a reservation. On several cruises, we have asked and been able to add a second reservation (brunch or dinner) without difficulty.

 

As noted--supply and demand. But there are many more reservations available on the longer cruises.

[ducklite]

I'll be cancelling our Palo Dinner - $75 for the 3 of us plus tip is too much to justify the cost of an upcharge meal. I was already considering cancelling the reservation and this just put it over the edge.

 

It was only a couple of years ago that it went from $15 to $20 and now up to $25.

 

I'll also be seriously reconsidering our brunch reservation. :rolleyes: At the end of the day, $100 for brunch ($75 cost plus $25 estimated tip) is more than I would pay for a similar experience on land.

 

Not unless you are eating at Cracker Barrel. The average price for a Champagne brunch in an equivalent restaurant in the Orlando area is $50 to $80 per person, plus tip.

 

Frankly I think the up charge is well worth it, and we always tipped as if we were eating at an equivalent landslide restaurant. We compare Palo to Seasons 52 where it usually works out to about $50 a head before alcohol, so we leave $10 per person, so adding the tip won't change for us.

[jwm51]

Not unless you are eating at Cracker Barrel. The average price for a Champagne brunch in an equivalent restaurant in the Orlando area is $50 to $80 per person, plus tip.

 

Frankly I think the up charge is well worth it, and we always tipped as if we were eating at an equivalent landslide restaurant. We compare Palo to Seasons 52 where it usually works out to about $50 a head before alcohol, so we leave $10 per person, so adding the tip won't change for us.

 

Reminder: NEVER go to a Champagne Brunch on Orlando!;)

 

I've never paid more than $30 for a brunch...And I'm here in SF!:eek::D

[DISNEY FANTASY]

According to DCL's website' date=' the Palo upcharge DOES include the tip, but "many guests choose to leave an additional gratuity." Yes, we always add extra. From what we've been told by various servers, the tips from the upcharge get pooled and divided among all who worked that night, and are about $5 per guest. Any additional goes to the server who actually served you.[/quote']

 

Whilst I agree the DCL website is very misleading circa $1 goes as a pooled tip the rest is for others such as palo manager and the main part for food.

 

The clear signal to tip has always been that you sign the slip at the end with the service cost and a place for additional tip.

 

In all tipable positions the charge slip has a place for additional tip to be added and in all non tip places i.e. in a shop it isn't there.

 

I do think some people hide behind the misleading website, all other indicators are plus tip.

 

The email I had was plus tip.

 

They work very very hard there and IMHO do deserve an extra tip wether included or not.

[DISNEY FANTASY]

The Palo soufflé is worth it on its own

[e2011]

and who says inflation is level... LOL :D

[ducklite]

Reminder: NEVER go to a Champagne Brunch on Orlando!;)

 

I've never paid more than $30 for a brunch...And I'm here in SF!:eek::D

 

Don't know what nicer restaurants in SFO you are getting a Champagne brunch for $30, but I wouldn't call the counter at Dottie's True Blue Cafe (which I LOVE) comes close to comparing. Cliff House, Laurel Court, and Top of the Mark are all $60 give or take a few either way, and are what I would compare Palo to.

[Gardeneroflove]

The Palo soufflé is worth it on its own

 

Don't have that in MDR? Or is that carnival?

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Don't have that in MDR? Or is that carnival?

 

It's in Palo.

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Although there is a great Grand Marnier Soufflee in MDR on the Dream.

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Although there is a great Grand Marnier Soufflee in MDR on the Dream.

 

Yes......and for friends here only, I can tell you all a secret......

 

 

 

If you talk nicely to your MDR head server they may, get you palo soufflé in the MDR one night.

 

We have done it a few times.

 

 

But don't say I said so, say the 'other forum' said so, blame them!