One of the best aspects of a cruise is the food. Disney Cruise Line is a notch above the rest when it comes to this piece of your vacation. They know how to make a dining experience special and employ the BEST servers that will help take your experience to the next level.
There’s something for everyone! From main dining rooms and at-the-ready pool deck choices to specialty restaurants, there’s plenty to delight. Let’s go through the options for filling your belly on a Disney Cruise.
Main Dining Rooms
There are three main dining rooms on every Disney ship.
You can find Animator’s Palette on every ship, but each has its own unique spin. The other main dining rooms, depending on which ship you choose, may be themed for Tiana, Tangled (complete with Rapunzel, Flynn, and a few ruffians), or an enchanted garden…just to name a few.
What is Rotational Dining?
Disney Cruise Line operates a Rotational Dining experience. Each night of your cruise, you and your personal wait staff will “rotate” to one of the three distinctly themed restaurants onboard the ship. This ensures you enjoy a delicious meal in a unique setting nightly. And since your servers travel with you, they get to know you and your likes quickly and will take fabulous, personal care of you. This is definitely a #DisneyDifference! Servers know just how to make you feel special, entertaining adults and kids.
There are 2 dinner seatings each night of your cruise. Although specific times vary based on itinerary, dinner is served at approximately 5:45 PM (Main Seating) and 8:15 PM (Second Seating). Once on board the ship, check the dining tickets that can be found in your stateroom for assigned seating time, restaurant schedule and table number.
One of the main dining rooms is usually open for breakfast and lunch if you don’t want to buffet or poolside options. This is open seating so you can sit anywhere and come in anytime during the opening hours.
ProTip: Order as many entrees or appetizers as you want. Can’t decide or don’t think one portion will be enough? Go ahead and order two! It’s all included in your cruise fare. 🙂
Buffet and Pool Deck
Cabanas is Disney’s buffet restaurant located on the pool deck. Breakfast and Lunch are buffets and offer an incredible selection. Cabanas is also open for dinner, but the interesting thing is it has table service at dinner, it’s not a buffet.
The pool deck also offers fast food options! There is a pizza window and a window with plenty of typical American fare: burgers, chicken fingers, etc. You’ll also find limit-less fountain drinks and a dessert shop on deck. These are open most of the day and late into the night.
Specialty Restaurants
Palo is one of Disney’s specialty restaurants available on each ship. It is adult-exclusive. Palo is Northern Italian themed. This restaurant is available at an upcharge, currently $40 per person for brunch or dinner. This does need to be booked in advance as it is quite popular and can be difficult to get into. See more about Palo here.
Remy is another adult-exclusive restaurant. This French gourmet dining experience is available aboard the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Brunch and Dinner are available to be booked in advance. Again, it is popular and reservations can be hard to come by. Why yes, that is gold leaf on the chocolate dessert!
Be sure to talk with your travel agent if exclusive adults-only dining is something you want included in your itinerary.
Eye Scream Treats is the ice cream shop available on all the ships on the pool deck. Self-serve soft serve is available here.
Room Service
Another #DisneyDifference is room service is available at no additional charge on all Disney Cruise Line ships. While room service is free, be sure to tip your servers.
ProTip: Mickey Bars are available at no charge from the main dining rooms and room service. All the Mickey Bars you can eat!
You certainly won’t go hungry on a Disney Cruise. Let’s get you on one soon!
