Hi Diana,
Welcome to the Moms Panel! This is the million dollar question,
when should we book Palo so we don't miss out on the fun? This is a common concern, and unfortunately there is no perfect answer. Personally, because Palo is a high-demand reservation, and as a courtesy to your fellow passengers, I would not book two reservations with the intention of only using one.
I do get where you are coming from though, so this is what I would do to to get the best chance choosing the perfect time: First of all, history can be a great tool. If you search on a fan site such as www.disboards.com you will find ample links where passengers on a similar voyages have shared their Personal Navigators (which have all of the activities and special events). Seek out a few voyages around the same time frame (as well as some of the most recent ones you can find) and this may give you a good idea of what your onboard itinerary could look like. Secondly, I would ask. Once you near the date when you can make your reservation, send an
email and ask. You will more than likely receive a reply with a tentative schedule. Lastly, if the gala is a priority you could wait and try to book Palo once onboard. Many guests have had success doing this, especially on longer voyages during the off peak times.
Good luck!