If you’ve ever had the pleasure of sailing on a Disney Cruise, you know it’s an experience like no other.
From the moment you step on board, you enter a world of magic, adventure, and unforgettable memories.
But as with all things, change is inevitable.
Remember that Disney Magic first set sail in 1998. So many things were different back then.
Over the years, some beloved features of Disney Cruises have quietly sailed into the sunset, leaving us with fond memories and a touch of sadness.
Here we are going to take a nostalgic journey through five things you will never most likely never see again on a Disney Cruise.
The Palo Brunch Buffet
It may not have been that long ago, but it certainly feels like a distant memory.
Remember those glorious Palo Brunch days?
Your server would greet you with a warm smile and explain the delightful process. “Here’s a menu,” they’d say, “but first, let’s take a look at the buffet.”
You’d then face the delicious dilemma of deciding just how many thousands of calories you were about to indulge in.
But who cared?
You were on vacation, and calories didn’t count.
While Palo Brunch is still a fabulous experience, it just isn’t the same.
I sorely miss those succulent crab legs, the rich and creamy cheese, the delectable salmon pâté, and those incredible individual desserts.
Related: Is Palo Brunch Still Worth it?
Kids Sail Free
Yes, it was indeed a thing!
It’s hard to believe now, given that the chances of this coming back are slim to none.
I vividly remember sailing on a 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise back in 2012. It feels like a lifetime ago, but the memories are still fresh.
Curious about when I first wrote about this, I delved into the blog archives and found my earliest mention from way back in 2011.
Yes, I really have been doing this for that long.
The last time this offer was available was in 2013, specifically for cruises departing from Galveston.
They even offered a Kids Sail Free promotion for Alaska Cruises! Can you imagine how quickly those would sell out today?
I truly wish I had started documenting the prices of Disney cruises back then. It would be fascinating—and probably a bit disheartening—to see how the rates have changed over the years.
Related: How Much Does a Disney Cruise for a Family of 4 Cost?
Disney Cruise Placeholder On Board Credit
Who remembers this gem?
The Placeholder offer is still a great deal. While many people miss the onboard credit that used to come with it, booking a placeholder on your cruise still gets you a 10% discount on a future sailing.
It’s important to note that this offer doesn’t apply to all dates and cruises, and it excludes concierge bookings.
However, for the majority of sailings, that 10% off is a sweet deal.
But who remembers the On Board Credit?
This valuable perk vanished in September 2019. Before that, booking with a Placeholder would earn you a $200 onboard credit (OBC) for cruises of 7 nights or more, and a $100 OBC for cruises of 3 to 6 nights.
Related: How the Disney Cruise Placeholder Can Save You Money
Platinum Cruisers Have Priority Boarding
I remember the first time I qualified for this perk—it felt like a fantastic way to recognize the loyalty of guests who had sailed with Disney Cruise Line time and time again.
To qualify, you needed to have sailed on 15 cruises with Disney. Let’s not even think about how much you’ve probably spent with Disney Cruise Line by that point. Spoiler alert: it’s way more than you’d like to admit.
While I’m now covered because this perk has been extended to Pearl Castaway Cay members, I can’t help but wonder about all those Platinum guests. How big of a deal would it be to reinstate this perk for them?
And speaking of perks, who thinks the whole Castaway Club Benefits system needs a serious overhaul?
It’s time to rethink how DCL reward loyal cruisers who keep coming back for more Disney magic.
The Pirate Night Buffet
So, this might make it seem like I have a bit of a buffet obsession, but another beloved feature that has disappeared is the Pirate Night Buffet.
The hugely popular Pirate Night remains one of the most fabulously well-executed and unique features of a Disney Cruise.
From the swashbuckling entertainment to the spectacular fireworks, it’s a night to remember.
However, for years, following the fireworks, guests had the option to indulge in even more food at 10:30 PM!
The seasoned cruisers knew that to avoid the massive buffet lines, they needed to quickly make their way to the (almost) midnight feast.
One standout feature that many people loved was the Turkey Legs. While it might not have been the most advisable thing to consume nearly a day’s worth of calories just before bedtime, the line for those was always incredibly long.
I always told myself I was just going to admire the amazing fruit sculptures and not actually eat anything. Spoiler alert: I probably never stuck to that resolution.
Honestly, I don’t think they should bring the Pirate Buffet back. I’m sure it resulted in an enormous amount of food waste, and more importantly, it likely meant that the very hard-working servers had to put in even more hours.
But the point is, it’s another example of the things that have quietly sailed away.
Related: Disney Cruise Pirate Night
Is there anything you miss from past Disney Cruises? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.
Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.