How many courses do you order at dinner?

[Rebecca Pocahontas]

I am wondering what most people do. I normally order an appetizer, a salad/soup, main entree, and dessert. 4 total. I've been on some other cruise brands recently and it seems like they are trying to encourage you to only choose 3 (appetizer, entree and dessert). The Disney menus seem to be set in a way where they want you to order 4.

I know that I can order as much food as I want, I just want to know what other people do.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

If I like an option under each course, I will order something from all courses. If I don't like an option, I won't order from that course. I usually have 3-4 courses in the MDR. DCL has never encouraged or discouraged ordering what I don't want.

 

[lilmc]

I just order what appeals to me each menu. Sometimes that’s two appetizers, no entree, three apps, two entrees, there really is no rhyme or reason, really just what looks yummy. If we can’t decide on desserts, we’ve been known to order them all (we are a family of four, so yes, we can finish them). The portions are not large, so I am mindful of not being wasteful, but never have a problem finishing.

 

[SaraSpringsIsHome]

For me on our most recent cruise, It depended on the menu and how hungry I was. Some times I ordered 3, sometimes 4. Most times, DH and I ordered 3 courses, while our tables mates usually ordered 4.

Our server didn’t pressure us one way or the other to eat more or less.

 

[monarchsfan16]

We generally order 4, although I did have one night where I didn't order dessert (nothing appealed). And from looking at menus for this next cruise there may be a night or 2 where I don't order an appetizer. One of those nights, I might order a soup AND salad. We shall see.

 

[Rob1872]

I think that "normal" is ordering all 4 items. Having said that, I've skipped things or doubled up on something when I was either not interested or really interested in a category. The waiters never seem to mind. (Heck, when I was trying which 2 of 3 options I wanted they tried to push all 3 on me; I had to say no since I couldn't eat that much.)

 

[Geomom]

First night is 1 appetizer or salad, entree, dessert...by the end of the cruise it's 1-2 appetizers, 1 salad or soup, 1 entree, 2 desserts...plus the 3rd dessert they bring for the table, lol.

 

[Jess_S]

I order 2 to 4 depending on what's appealing. The servers seemed concerned when I didn't order 4 courses, so I definitely don't feel like they are pushing people to order less on dcl.

 

[dlf246]

I seem to eat a lot more than the previous posters... I typically order a couple of items from several courses, only occasionally skipping a course. Mind you, about 20 years ago, I found all the cruise lines cut their portion sizes by about a third, so that is when I started to order extras. (and don't worry, I don't waste the food!)

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I order appetizer and soup/salad or two appetizers (depending on the choices), entree, and usually dessert. If none of the dessert choices appeal to me, I will skip dessert with dinner and get a nice serving of soft serve ice cream later (I eat mine out of a cup from the beverage station; the supplied cones provide a sample of ice cream, not a serving, IMHO). DW orders soup or salad, entree, and dessert (sometimes this is a Mickey bar or fresh fruit, since she is gluten free and many times the GF option is creme brûlée which is not her favorite dessert). She seldom gets an appetizer since the GF options are frequently seafood based and the only seafood I remember her eating while cruising are the scallops at Palo.

 

[clareyfairymouse]

I'm a one or two course person, I'm not really a dessert fan.
It all depends on the menu really, I never go away hungry but I do find my servers are concerned I'm not eating as much but they are not pushy either.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Generally, 4 - one from each section. Sometimes we have servers who strongly suggest we try other things too and end up with multiples in some categories. One time my server completely surprised us and brought every appetizer from the current menu and 2 from another dining room. I felt like I was in the middle of the Be Our Guest song!

 

[Burgundy Rose]

Whatever appeals. I'm a savoury person so I'll happily order two entrees and nothing else. Regardless of our order, most of the time our servers brought us multiple extra desserts they thought we might like. The service is incredible.

 

[Numtini]

Pretty much the same as you. Two apps, usually one soup/salad and one other, main, dessert. It feels like a good rhythm for the meal and a good amount of food that left me pleasantly full, but not quite to the "I can't believe I ate the whole thing" stage.

 

[CamColt]

For me it depends on the menu, and how hungry I am. Sometimes I only get an entree, other times I've had them make an entree into and appetizer for me and then get. another entree. Our servers are always very good about getting us Caesar Salads when nothing in the salad/app columns appeal to us. Besides the grand marnier souffle I'm not overly fond of any of the desserts so those are usually the first course I cut when I'm feeling full.

 

[bcwife76]

Depends how hungry I am and what's on the menu that night. Usually 3, sometimes 4.

 

[lilmc]

and 2 from another dining room

Don’t forget this! If nothing appeals to you on your menu or you know you have favs on another menu (ahem truffle pursettes), use the app to find out what is being served that night in the other restaurants and you can order from there as well.

 

[kiford]

I usually do two of soup, salad, or appetizer and an entree. I almost never have dessert.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

It depends on what's on the menu and how hungry I am. I probably split pretty evenly between ordering 3 and 4 courses. I've had some cruises when the server has encouraged me to order a 4th course if I've only ordered 3. There are some menus that I order 2 appetizers from and no soup or salad. Others I might order a soup and salad but no appetizer. I love the flexibility when cruising.

 

[squirk]

I usually order all courses. Sometimes, there will be a course where absolutely none of the options call to me and I will skip it. The only time I ever double-down is the main course on lobster night.