Platinum kids: why no substitute for Palo dinner?

[Moonspinner]

Is it fair that kids do not get any extra benefits for Platinum status?

 

[dreamer17555]

I think any child under 18 who is platinum on DCL already has a very good life.

Also the benefit is for everyone in the stateroom over 18. If I am platinum and 4 of my friends are not but staying in the room, they still get the Palo credit because most Castaway club stuff is set up by stateroom.

Is your platinum child traveling in a room with adults who are not platinum?

 

[Moonspinner]

I think any child under 18 who is platinum on DCL already has a very good life.

Also the benefit is for everyone in the stateroom over 18. If I am platinum and 4 of my friends are not but staying in the room, they still get the Palo credit because most Castaway club stuff is set up by stateroom.

Is your platinum child traveling in a room with adults who are not platinum?

We are not platinum yet! But I was trying to talk dh into taking more cruises to get to platinum, and I was telling him about the “benefits.” This was all joking around. And then he asked what about the kids? Do they get to go to palo?

He stumped me.

He also wasn’t impressed with the pearl benefits.

 

[Mommb]

Kids who are platinum get the ability to book cruises and activities earlier, the merchandise discount, the in-room platinum gifts (to be shared among the people in the stateroom), and admission to the platinum reception if there is one. Given that very few kids who reach Platinum status have paid for or booked most of their cruises, I see no need for an additional benefit in place of Palo to reward very frequent cruisers.

 

[dreamer17555]

We are not platinum yet! But I was trying to talk dh into taking more cruises to get to platinum, and I was telling him about the “benefits.” This was all joking around. And then he asked what about the kids? Do they get to go to palo?

He stumped me.

He also wasn’t impressed with the pearl benefits.

I want pearl just so I never ever have to think about midnight check-in and worry about trying to get a good PAT ever again… I have 10 more cruises to go to reach it since the benefits don’t really kick in until you are on cruise #26


That being said yes, Disney does not have very strong loyalty benefits. The biggest one is first dibs at booking things like Palo, Drink tastings, excursions, etc…

 

[DCL58]

I want pearl just so I never ever have to think about midnight check-in and worry about trying to get a good PAT ever again… I have 10 more cruises to go to reach it since the benefits don’t really kick in until you are on cruise #26


That being said yes, Disney does not have very strong loyalty benefits. The biggest one is first dibs at booking things like Palo, Drink tastings, excursions, etc…

Same. We have just checked in for cruise #16. Only 9 more where I have to stay up to get a PAT and BG#.

I wish you could use the $50 platinum benefit towards Remy or Enchante. That would be a nice perk.

 

[Cfabar1]

Same. We have just checked in for cruise #16. Only 9 more where I have to stay up to get a PAT and BG#.

I wish you could use the $50 platinum benefit towards Remy or Enchante. That would be a nice perk.

I could see them moving towards that at some point... Honestly it would be more lucrative for them than giving away all these free palo meals....

 

[John VN]

I want pearl just so I never ever have to think about midnight check-in and worry about trying to get a good PAT ever again… I have 10 more cruises to go to reach it since the benefits don’t really kick in until you are on cruise #26


That being said yes, Disney does not have very strong loyalty benefits. The biggest one is first dibs at booking things like Palo, Drink tastings, excursions, etc…

Same. We have just checked in for cruise #16. Only 9 more where I have to stay up to get a PAT and BG#.

I wish you could use the $50 platinum benefit towards Remy or Enchante. That would be a nice perk.

r.e. bold -- DW and I felt that for the prices DCL charges, number of required cruises and what little is *received in return* our loyalty disappeared many years ago.

 

[DCL58]

I could see them moving towards that at some point... Honestly it would be more lucrative for them than giving away all these free palo meals....

Yes. The mouse is leaving money on the table. We would spend way more money at Remy or Enchante than on our free Palo dinner. There were always Remy reservations available on the fantasy, but not a single one on our treasure cruise next month.

 

[princesscinderella]

I would like it if they let age 14+ and up (Vibe Age) into palo. My kids are foodies and by that age they aren’t going to disrupt any diners in Palo. Victoria and Albert’s is ages 10 and up are allowed to dine there. I’m sure most of the parents of teens on the cruise don’t see them all day until dinner so we actually have stopped going to enchante/remy so as to not take away another dinner with the kids.

 

[dreamer17555]

I would like it if they let age 14+ and up (Vibe Age) into palo. My kids are foodies and by that age they aren’t going to disrupt any diners in Palo. Victoria and Albert’s is ages 10 and up are allowed to dine there. I’m sure most of the parents of teens on the cruise don’t see them all day until dinner so we actually have stopped going to enchante/remy so as to not take away another dinner with the kids.

Because if they start allowing them into adult dining the next thing is parents will be like " Oh so they can go to Remy, why can't they be at the quiet cove pool?" and then it will be the rainforest room, and the evening adult entertainment until there is no space on the ship that is truly adults only.

V&A does not need to worry about setting a precedent with regards to age because GF does not have adult only pools, etc.

 

[princesscinderella]

Because if they start allowing them into adult dining the next thing is parents will be like " Oh so they can go to Remy, why can't they be at the quiet cove pool?" and then it will be the rainforest room, and the evening adult entertainment until there is no space on the ship that is truly adults only.

V&A does not need to worry about setting a precedent with regards to age because GF does not have adult only pools, etc.

They can allow teens in Palo but not in the adult pool areas. Just like they cut off the time kids can be in the Haunted Mansion lounge on the treasure. They can also keep Enchante and Remy as adult only. It doesn’t necessarily make it a slippery slope. There will always be people that are not happy. The difference is most teens aren’t wanting to hang out with their parents at the adult pool they want to be with cruise friends running around the ship and hanging out in vibe.

 

[dreamer17555]

They can allow teens in Palo but not in the adult pool areas. Just like they cut off the time kids can be in the Haunted Mansion lounge on the treasure. They can also keep Enchante and Remy as adult only. It doesn’t necessarily make it a slippery slope. There will always be people that are not happy. The difference is most teens aren’t wanting to hang out with their parents at the adult pool they want to be with cruise friends running around the ship and hanging out in vibe.

But the cut off age is consistent on DCL. Having 18 up for things like Haunted Mansion bar at a certain time, is the same age for Palo, for Quiet Cove, for the Rainforest room. Creating multiple cut off ages for historically adult spaces is going to lead some guests to say "Well if my 14 yo is mature enough that they are allowed in Palo to eat, they can hang with me after the 9 pm age cut off for Haunted Mansion". And then the crew has to deal with that.

DCL being strict on ages is a good thing IMO. I think teens are great but I do not want them all over the quiet cove and I think they can forgo dining at Palo and Remy until they are 18 without any hardship. Palo is already fully booked as is.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I would like it if they let age 14+ and up (Vibe Age) into palo. My kids are foodies and by that age they aren’t going to disrupt any diners in Palo. Victoria and Albert’s is ages 10 and up are allowed to dine there. I’m sure most of the parents of teens on the cruise don’t see them all day until dinner so we actually have stopped going to enchante/remy so as to not take away another dinner with the kids.

OK, so your kids are not going to disrupt things. But that's not a given for all 14 year olds. How do you let a 14-17 year old that (in theory) knows how to behave and restrict the many others that don't.

 

[princesscinderella]

OK, so your kids are not going to disrupt things. But that's not a given for all 14 year olds. How do you let a 14-17 year old that (in theory) knows how to behave and restrict the many others that don't.

How exactly do you think a 14+ teen is going to disrupt your dinner at Palo when they are dining with their parents? Do they disrupt your dinner sitting practically elbow to elbow with tables crammed in the MDRs? The tables in Palo are nicely spaced or cozy booths. Do you think they are going to throw bread? Laugh too loud? Drunk adults have worse behavior than teens in my experience. Teens are crazy self conscious and hate to be embarrassed.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

How exactly do you think a 14+ teen is going to disrupt your dinner at Palo when they are dining with their parents? Do they disrupt your dinner sitting practically elbow to elbow with tables crammed in the MDRs? The tables in Palo are nicely spaced or cozy booths. Do you think they are going to throw bread? Laugh too loud? Drunk adults have worse behavior than teens in my experience. Teens are crazy self conscious and hate to be embarrassed.

There are parents with the attitude for misbehaving kids that's "they're just kids, give them a break". I'm sorry if my thoughts are disturbing to you, but, yes, there are parents that don't "parent" their kids. Yes, they can also disrupt dining in the MDRs (as they probably do when going to a restaurant on land). Yes, including singing/yelling at the table, making a big mess of the table (for someone else to clean up), and otherwise creating a less than enjoyable atmosphere for everyone else in the place.

I like the policy of "adult ONLY" areas, even on an family cruise ship.

 

[Moonspinner]

I love that kids are not allowed in palo. And we have two teens who are extremely well behaved. There is something really special about the way Disney does adult only areas that I love.
I feel like there are plenty of areas on the ships where kids dominate.
When I was asking about the palo benefit for kids I was just thinking out loud that maybe they could get something else. Like a $10 or $20 voucher somewhere. But really, it’s not a big deal. They just love cruising regardless.

 

[SL6827]

I want pearl just so I never ever have to think about midnight check-in and worry about trying to get a good PAT ever again… I have 10 more cruises to go to reach it since the benefits don’t really kick in until you are on cruise #26


That being said yes, Disney does not have very strong loyalty benefits. The biggest one is first dibs at booking things like Palo, Drink tastings, excursions, etc…

They probably make more money off first time/infrequent cruisers than they do with those who sail more frequently? Yes, no, maybe? I know that seems to be the case with the parks.

 

[Calantha]

In 9 days, DS (10) and I will be going on our first cruise as platinum. Yes, he's jealous he can't go to Palo, but as we are sailing with friends, we were able to get 2 Platinum rooms and so the overall benefits outweigh the one thing he can't do. I promised him Palo the weekend after he turns 18 if he still wants to go.

 

[jimmymc]

Substitute idea: for one day in the kid/teen clubs, they get all the pizza and soda they want brought to them, for the whole day.