Palo Brunch Review on Disney Cruise Line: Is it Worth It?

The food on Disney Cruise Line is plentiful and delicious. So is it worth the price to book a separate dining reservation at Palo? I have dined at Palo for brunch on the Disney Dream, the Disney Magic, the Disney Wonder, and the Disney Fantasy and they have all been worth it! I will give Palo Brunch an edge over dinner though Here’s why I recommend Palo Brunch on Disney Cruise Line.

How to Get Reservations at Palo on Disney Cruise Line

You may be asking what is Palo? Don’t I get to eat everywhere for free on Disney Cruise Line? Mostly yes. There is an extra charge for Palo and Remy, which are separate restaurants from the main dining rooms on Disney Cruise Line.

Palo Brunch and Palo Dinner costs $50 per person, not including gratuity. Palo dining is limited to Guests 18 and older (adults only!)

To get a reservation for Palo, you’ll need to go online in your Disney Cruise Line app to book brunch or dinner in advance of your sail date. I recommend getting a reservation as soon as your booking window opens. Your cruise does need to be paid in full before you can make reservations. A Palo brunch reservation is harder to get than dinner, in my opinion, because there are less brunch days.

If you’re not able to find a reservation for Palo brunch before you embark, you can also check on the ship when you arrive. Again, this is probably something you want to check when you get on the ship.

Reservations must be canceled at least 24 hours prior to the reservation time to avoid a cancellation fee. Guests who fail to arrive for a reservation without canceling will be charged the full cost of the Palo dining option.

What to Expect at Palo Brunch

I like to make Palo brunch reservations for around 11:30 or noon to allow myself to be hungry. It’s a lot of food! Also, then we can help the kids with a late breakfast and they can go to the Kids Clubs.

Palo is located on the 10th Deck Aft on the Disney Magic, on the 12th Deck Aft on the Disney Dream. You’ll also find the fancy bathrooms there with the real towels to dry your hands. None of that paper towel business here.

We checked in at the podium and waited for a couple of minutes in the waiting area. Then we were shown to our table, and our server answered any questions for us. The service is impeccable every time I dine at Palo.

Palo Dress Code

Palo does have a dress code, just so you are aware. According to Disney’s website:

Palo Dress Code: So that we may provide an enjoyable and refined dining experience for all Guests, please be advised that tank tops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, shorts, hats, cut-offs, torn clothing, T-shirts with offensive language or graphics, flip-flops and tennis shoes are not permitted at Palo. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation with the following dress requirements at both dinner and brunch.

Men: dress pants or slacks and collared shirt; jacket is optional
Women: dress, skirt or pants with a blouse
Jeans may be worn if in good condition (no holes)

I wore a skirt and blouse with some sandals. My husband wore khakis and a button down shirt. I think we both would have dressed up more if we had gone to Palo dinner. I saw other women in nice slacks and sundresses.

Palo Brunch Menu

Now for the good stuff – the food at Palo Brunch! Soft drinks are included with your brunch as well as some coffee and tea. You are also welcome to one mimosa or a glass of sparkling cider.

The Palo Brunch Menus were essentially the same on all the ships. Before Covid, Palo Brunch included a buffet and you could order off the menu. Now, the buffet is gone, but trust me, there is PLENTY of food. And you can order as many items off the menu that you’d like!

First you are given a selection of breads.

The bread selections were a little different on each ship though.

Palo Pastries on Disney Dream

Then you can choose an antipasti selection, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I’m not a huge antipasti fan, so for me, it was fine. But that’s a personal preference.

Our table ordered the Strawberry Waffle and the Apple Cinnamon Waffle. They come as a Mickey shaped waffle, so of course we had to try it. I think it just depends what flavors you like better, but the strawberry is more subtle.

The Eggs Benedict was one of the best I’ve ever had. The egg was cooked perfectly and the Hollandaise Sauce wasn’t super heavy.

These Palo Flatbreads are huge! You basically get an entire pizza. We tried the Goat-Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomato and the Spicy Italian Sausage Flatbread. It was unanimous that the goat cheese and sun-dried tomato was better.

Still hungry? This was food for a party of 4, and we were sharing so we could sample a lot, but we were FULL. However, there were still entrees to be had.

If you like Chicken Parm, then always order the Chicken Parm.The Palo Chicken Parm is for a reason! I tried to stray, since I just had it a couple months before, and I shouldn’t have. Not that the Lasagna or the Sirloin Steak isn’t good, but the Paremesan-Crusted Chicken Breast just melts in your mouth and is delicious! Plus that risotto that comes with it is heavenly (and heavy), too.

Like I said, the Lasagna isn’t bad, I just had Chicken Parm envy when I ordered it.

Palo Brunch Desserts

I always say the food side and the dessert side are different in the stomach. I always have room for dessert. Always. At Palo though, I was hurting to make room. But being the warrior I am, I attempted the task.

Here is the Dessert Menu for Palo Brunch:

The Warm Amaretto Chocolate Fondant is a delicious lava cake. I’m not a fan of espresso, so I asked if there was other gelato, and our server found me a citrus flavored one! The cake is very rich.

Another good option for chocolate lovers is the Raspberry Chocolate Crunch Tart. The different layers and raspberry addition made it less rich, but still delicious.

Is Palo Brunch Worth It on Disney Cruise Line?

Is Palo Brunch worth it? In my opinion, the quality of food and service is well worth it, even at $50. At $50 per person, it’s more of a splurge. But for me, it’s worth every penny.

Palo is a more elegant dining experience without the hustle and bustle of the main dining rooms. It’s a chance to enjoy an adults only meal with higher quality cuisine.

Now, if you don’t get a Palo Brunch reservation, your cruise will not be ruined. There are so many dining options on board, that you will never run out of food. However, I like Palo on longer cruises for more variety. Once you hit each dining room more than once, then sometimes the food gets repetitive.

Palo Brunch is the very definition of practically perfect every time I eat here. Do yourself a favor and book Palo Brunch for your next Disney Cruise Line vacation!