Welcome back, Kristen! I'm really happy to hear that you and your husband are hoping to make reservations for a meal in Palo. That is my favorite restaurant on the ships, and one that my husband and I never miss when we sail with Disney! All of the
restaurants on the Dream are wonderful though, so I do hope you get a chance to experience them all!
Since guests do not find out their dining rotations until they arrive at Port, I suggest you call Disney Cruise Line at 800-951-3532 (or your travel agent) to request a specific dining rotation. There are three rotations for the Dream's four-night sailings: RAAE, AEER or ERRA. The letters stand for Royal Palace, Enchanted Garden and Animator's Palate, the three main restaurants onboard. If you request a specific rotation, you can plan to book your dinner at Palo on the second night that you'll dine in the same restaurant. While Disney cannot guarantee your request, most of the time, they can accommodate it, so give them a call. That will give you a nice starting point for planning.
Another option is to book a brunch in Palo on your sea day instead of dinner. You'll still get to experience this fabulous restaurant, but in a more relaxed atmosphere for brunch with some fabulous meal choices on the buffet or made to order. Lately, my husband and I have even preferred our experiences at brunch over dinner at Palo, though both are wonderful!
Have fun planning, Kristen!