Palo: Main Menu or Wine Experience?

One of the best parts of a Disney Cruise is, undeniably, the FOOD (for a complete run-down of Disney Cruise Line Dining, click here)! At just about any time of day, you can find something amazing to nibble on. And when dinnertime rolls around, it all gets kicked up a notch. There are TONS of delicious options for dinner: full-service meals in the main rotational restaurants, casual table-service in Cabanas, burgers and pizza poolside, lighter quick-service options like salads and shawarma, a simple buffet in the pub (think chicken wings and hot dogs), room service, kid-friendly meals in the Oceaneers Club, and the adults-only restaurants.

Today, we’re talking about the last option on the list: the adults-only restaurants. On the larger ships (the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy), adults can choose from French-inspired cuisine at Remy or Italian fare at Palo. The smaller vessels (the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic) only offer Palo. Nightly dinner reservations are available at these restaurants, and a brunch option is also offered on days at sea. Advanced reservations for all adults-only restaurants are strongly recommended.

Last week when we were aboard the Disney Wonder, we had the opportunity to dine at Palo twice: once to enjoy the Wine Experience Menu and once to order off of the Main Menu. Today, we’re breaking down both of these options for you!

When ordering off the Main Menu at Palo, each guest is charged a nominal fee of $30. This

upcharge covers EVERY item on the Main Menu, plus non-alcoholic beverages and an assortment of antipasto items. You can order as many dishes as you want off the Main Menu for no additional charge, so no worries if you can’t decide between two entrees ~ just ask for both! My husband and I made the most of that $30 by each ordering soup, a pasta dish, a main course, and dessert.

The Wine Experience Menu is an additional $59 per person (on top of the $30 upcharge). Wine Experience dishes are more refined than the Main Menu offerings, with smaller portions and delicate layers of flavor. Even though the Wine Experience contains less food overall, we were both satisfyingly full after the antipasto starter and all six subsequent courses, each paired perfectly with a wine hand-selected by Palo’s sommeliers. Even for a relatively unsophisticated palate like mine (seriously, my only pairing rule is white with summer and red with winter), I could absolutely appreciate how much the right wine enhanced each dish. And our sommelier was more than happy to answer questions and provide information about each selection.

So…which one would we recommend? We feel like the Wine Experience is perfect for a special occasion or for people who have even a slight appreciation for fine wine. On the other hand, if you’re looking for traditional Italian dishes with rich flavors and large portions, go with the Main Menu…just be sure to come hungry!

To see more pics of our Palo dinners, click here. Looking for a free, no-obligation quote for your next Disney Cruise, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Beach Resort, Adventures by Disney, or Aulani vacation?? Call or e-mail us today!

Meredith McCutcheon

Owner and Disney Vacation Specialist

Ph: 313-600-1585

E-mail: disneymadeeasy@yahoo.com