Leaving Soon & Live reports, cruise updates pg19

[Lizzybear]

Lovely food pics from the cruise Wayne, i'll have to show some of those vegetarian dishes to my bf and see if I can convince him we should go on a Disney cruise! I'm not sure why I suddenly want to as I wasn't interested in the slightest until about a week ago, I think i'd feel my ambition to do every Disney park would be incomplete if I didn't include DCL

 

[wayneg]

when we have done a long time on DDP we have done more 2 TS meals that way you can get to eat off site if you want Less that a week on it we tend to do mainly 1TS meals.
That being said the prices for eating in Disney are inflated compared to eating off site, Compare to the outback v SSR would work out double
Paul

That is what we planned, do more 2TS meals if we did it next year but after our major disappointment with Cali grill I don't think I could get Karen into another signature restaurant. We by far preferred Le Cellier, Turf Club or Tutto Italia to Cali Grill. We could do Hoop again and maybe the other show at Poly they are both 2TS. Would look at menus again if we book with DDP.

Been meaning to post Paul and tell you you were correct about not booking too many buffet meals, although we like buffets we did enjoy our meals from a menu better within Disney, glad we cut back on the buffet reservations.

 

[Cyrano]

Great to hear your update on DDP along with daily cruise updates.

Friends are heading out on 7 day cruise on Saturday. As this is their first cruise we are excited for them

 

[ruthie]

Hi Wayne
Loving it so far! I really need to try a cruise!
Just curious, why shouldn't you do too many buffets?


Ruthie

 

[wayneg]

Friends are heading out on 7 day cruise on Saturday. As this is their first cruise we are excited for them

I am sure they will love it, we thought WDW was the best place on earth until we fould Disney cruising, shame the cost has risen so much.

Hi Wayne
Loving it so far! I really need to try a cruise!
Just curious, why shouldn't you do too many buffets?
Ruthie

We love buffets, Trails end, Golden Corral, Sweet Tomato. Bellagio buffet in Vegas best meal I have ever had but in WDW we didn't enjoy them half as much as we expected compared to choosing from menu. We did 1900 Park fare which has crazy characters shouting, food was OK, just all too busy and noisy. Cape May cafe Karen couldn't find much to eat, chicken was very poor, again very busy and lines for the food. We don't eat breakfast but Chef Mickeys breakfast was good, enjoyed that. Crystal Palace did both Breakfast and Eve meal, breakfast was OK but didn't really want to eat, Evening food was OK nothing special.
If we do DDP again we would still do some buffets but even less than this time. Every family wants different things, a few years ago we would have done almost all buffets, our tastes are changing(getting old) prefer food brought to me in nicer surroundings also better quality and tastier food than buffets.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Great cruise reviews so far! I love the sunset pics. DBF and I are considering trying out a cruise for the first time next year- am I right in thinking that all the food is included in the price?

 

[wayneg]

Great cruise reviews so far! I love the sunset pics. DBF are considering trying out a cruise for the first time next year- am I right in thinking that all the food is included in the price?

All regular food is included from the 3 restaurants, also Topsiders buffet, fast food, burgers, pizzas, deli counter, ice cream, fruit station, pirate buffet, midnight dessert buffet, evening food in bars and if you are still hungry 24hr room service(their steak and cheese sarnie is delicious)
Only food you contribute to is if you eat at the adult only Palo. Costs $15pp which some goes to server for tip, we also tipped another $15 so total $45 for brunch, did it for 1st time this cruise will post pics later(think it was Thursday we did it)
Disney also include all your soda, with meals and from soda station on deck 9(costs a small fortune with Royal Caribbean)
They are also the only cruiseline which alows you to take your own alcohol onboard, we take a bottle of vodka with us as we drink vodka and coke. If you take your own wine into your meals then you pay a corkage fee(think its $15) but you can walk in with a glass and not get charged. Still spent about $200 on cocktails and smoothies but saved a load taking the vodka.
1st cruise we did(4nights) we hardly spent anything, just tips. Tips are usually not included unless you prepay, something I would never do.

 

[disney_princess_85]

All regular food is included from the 3 restaurants, also Topsiders buffet, fast food, burgers, pizzas, deli counter, ice cream, fruit station, pirate buffet, midnight dessert buffet, evening food in bars and if you are still hungry 24hr room service(their steak and cheese sarnie is delicious)
Only food you contribute to is if you eat at the adult only Palo. Costs $15pp which some goes to server for tip, we also tipped another $15 so total $45 for brunch, did it for 1st time this cruise will post pics later(think it was Thursday we did it)
Disney also include all your soda, with meals and from soda station on deck 9(costs a small fortune with Royal Caribbean)
They are also the only cruiseline which alows you to take your own alcohol onboard, we take a bottle of vodka with us as we drink vodka and coke. If you take your own wine into your meals then you pay a corkage fee(think its $15) but you can walk in with a glass and not get charged. Still spent about $200 on cocktails and smoothies but saved a load taking the vodka.
1st cruise we did(4nights) we hardly spent anything, just tips. Tips are usually not included unless you prepay, something I would never do.

Thank you Wayne, that was really informative and very helpful.

 

[disneyholic family]

oh god, Wayne - that DCL food porn is gonna kill me....it looks soooooooooooooooooooooooooo yummy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'm just catching up with your posts...
unbelievable..$2500 for free....that is incredible..

by the way, the only signature restaurant worth it in my opinion is citricos at the Grand Floridian....the food and service there is much better than at Cali (in our experience in any case)...

 

[Pegasus928]

Just catching up on your cruise pics and everything looked to be pretty impressive and the food looked excellent.

Glad to hear you got back safe and sound - if only because it means our holiday is a little closer

 

[juliebro]

Welcome back Wayne!

You've been gone ages! We've been and come back from two short breaks in the UK while you were away!

How was the return flight in BC? Has it spoilt you for economy now?

DH and I decided that if we ever won the big prize on the lottery we would never fly economy again!

 

[wayneg]

Just catching up on your cruise pics and everything looked to be pretty impressive and the food looked excellent.

Glad to hear you got back safe and sound - if only because it means our holiday is a little closer

Best thing about cruise food is as well as being excellent quality you can chop and change the menu as much as you want, send anything back you dont like(never have) and get something else and if you like it so much ask them to bring it again(as I did with the lobster) all for no extra charge and done with a smile.

Welcome back Wayne!

You've been gone ages! We've been and come back from two short breaks in the UK while you were away!

How was the return flight in BC? Has it spoilt you for economy now?

DH and I decided that if we ever won the big prize on the lottery we would never fly economy again!

Doesn't feel like 2 mins to me.
Before flying economy I could not understand the appeal, never had a problem with economy. I said even if I had a $Million I would fly economy, after experiencing it on our current income I would still rather do more trips in economy than less in Biz but if money was unlimited then yes its something I would love to do everytime.
Food on our return leg.
Salad, Asparagus soup and crab cake.

Beef fillet

2x Ice cream sundaes, we opted out of the cheese& fruit platter, too much

Breakfast.

Will try do next days cruising after the rugby this evening.

 

[heatherbelle]

Lovely pics Wayne. I want to a cruise now. I knew you would like the DDP.

I've made a note of where you have been as I have to start planning ours for next year. We too are buffet people, but I may give some of the others a wirl. Only thing my DS will eat though, is burgers and steak, he's only 10.

Whilst you were gone, we went to LA and SD. I won't go back to LA again, didn't care for Disney there at all. The crowds were terrible. Looking forward to going back to WDW next year.

No doubt you are now watching airfare again for your next trip. If you find any Manchester bargins, please post ASAP. VA are wanting around 750.00 for next July

Oh good, you've just posted your food pics from BZ class. You should have seen the rubbish that VA served up in cattle class. It was disgusting.

 

[wayneg]

Whilst you were gone, we went to LA and SD. I won't go back to LA again, didn't care for Disney there at all. The crowds were terrible. Looking forward to going back to WDW next year.

No doubt you are now watching airfare again for your next trip. If you find any Manchester bargins, please post ASAP. VA are wanting around 750.00 for next July

Oh good, you've just posted your food pics from BZ class. You should have seen the rubbish that VA served up in cattle class. It was disgusting.

We have been to Disneyland CA twice, really enjoyed it but we have friends who have lived there all their lives so was great to meet them also, Aaron went with us to places like SD zoo and both Disney parks, then met his friends, did Halloween with all his family. Other friends we just met to say hello in the parks.

Yes watching for next August now, as you say Virgin are £750ish for July(Continental on Virgin planes £660)
I rarely eat in economy now, rather get something before we board.

 

[wayneg]

Monday, day at sea and a lots to do, start with Character breakfast, then castaway club get together, invite to Walt Disney suite in the afternoon, meal then Golden Mickeys evening show. Here it is in pics.

TV area thru to just 1 of the bedrooms in the Walt Disney suite, think it sleeps upto 11, not sure. Somewhere I doubt I will ever stay.

Proscuitto with chilled honeydew

Caramelized Bay Scallops(had to buy some scallops at Asda this week, love them)

Double baked, Aged Reggiano Parmesan cheese souffle

Crispy Romaine and chickory leaves salad.

Roasted chicken breast

Roasted filet of beef Wellington

Golden Mickeys choc cake & close up of the choc ticket.

Trio

Matt making the cruise Director Brent look small.

The Golden Mickeys show.

A few more cocktails before bed(smoothie for Matt)

And our nightly towel.

 

[Cyrano]

Beef Wellington looks very tasty

 

[gemmybear83]

Great photos Wayne, we can't wait four first disney cruise next December!

 

[DCLMan]

Wayne, did you have the new menus on the Magic and how did the food compare to previous cruises?

 

[wayneg]

Wayne, did you have the new menus on the Magic and how did the food compare to previous cruises?

Yes new menus, still things on there from old menus and some new items. Made no difference to me, I have never had a bad meal on DCL, maybe I am not fussy. There is hardly anything I don't like (except Wasabi mashed potato, whats wasabi all about? whoever discovered that wants banning from the kitchen)
Lots of choice for me before and lots of choice now.
Karen is more fussy than me, she had roast chicken a couple of nights as there was nothing else she fancied but thats her fave meal anyway and would be her 1st choice if we were in a restaurant paying.

 

[DCLMan]

There is hardly anything I don't like (except Wasabi mashed potato, whats wasabi all about? whoever discovered that wants banning from the kitchen)

I love Wasabi! It's great on sushi.