The Seven Best Disney Cruise Line Rotational Dining Restaurants
There are so many things to love about Disney cruises: the amazing itineraries, the outstanding service, the incredible private island, the abundance of onboard activities, the captivating live entertainment and, of course, sailing with all your favorite characters! But perhaps one of the most unique experiences is Disney’s one-of-a-kind rotational dining!
Disney wants to make sure that every guest has the chance to experience each of the ship’s themed restaurants while onboard. So, they created rotational dining. Once you are onboard, you will receive a dining schedule telling you which night you will be dining at each of the restaurants. You, your tablemates and your server will rotate through each themed restaurant. Your server will learn all about you and your family, your likes, your dislikes and more! On our first cruise, our server pretty much became part of our family…and was in all our dinner photos to prove it! It truly was a wonderful experience (and we wouldn’t really expect anything less when it comes to Disney!)
Just take a look at the various restaurants you can look forward to rotating through on your next Disney Cruise!
Animator’s Palate (Dream, Fantasy, Magic, Wonder)
As you can probably guess from its name, this restaurant’s theme revolves around the magic of Disney animation. Upon entering, you’ll step into an animator’s studio and will see character sketches, animator tools and scenes from classic Disney movies. The cuisine is described as “Contemporary Pacific Rim with an American flair.” You can expect to see menu items, such as smoked salmon tartare, wild mushroom risotto, Pacific black cod, lemon-thyme chicken breast, beef tenderloin and more.
The night you dine here, you will not only enjoy a delicious dinner, but you will also be a part of a dinner show, starring your favorite Disney characters! Your experience varies by ship, but each brings characters to life as you enjoy your dinner.
- Magic & Wonder
Drawn to Magic: You’ll enter a black and white room, where sketches are all around you. Your dinner show takes you on a journey from “pencil test to ink-and-paint.” Sorcerer Mickey is your host and he has some magic up his sleeve. Even though you entered a restaurant void of color, by the time you get to dessert, you will be surrounded by vibrant colors!
- Dream & Fantasy
Undersea Magic: Get ready to enjoy dinner with some of your favorite Finding Nemo characters! You’ll be captivated by the digital animation and if you are lucky, maybe Crush will swim up for a visit! Duuuude…
- Magic (7-night and longer sailings) & Fantasy
Animation Magic: You get to be the animator! It’s your chance to draw your very own character, who magically becomes part of the show! Maybe your character will star alongside Mickey and Minnie…you never know!
Carioca’s (Magic)
If you are a fan of South American food, then this may be your favorite night onboard! This fun and festive restaurant was inspired by The Three Caballeros! The colorful decorations, hanging festival lanterns and the mural of Donald Duck, Jose Carioca and Panchito will make you feel as though you are dining in Rio de Janeiro. Beef empanadas and deep-fried lobster croquetas are just a couple of choices for appetizers; while orange and lemon marinated flank steak and lobster, shrimp and mahi mahi served on quinoa salad, along with other mouthwatering options, make an appearance on the main course menu. And you just may want to enjoy a margarita with your dinner (as long as you are 21 or older!)
Lumiere’s (Magic)
Step into a gorgeous ballroom, inspired by Beauty & the Beast, adorned with beautiful glowing roses. You will feel like you are the Beast’s guest! This 4-course experience serves up contemporary French fare to delight your taste buds. Start off with “Mrs. Pott’s” French onion soup or “Gaston’s” escargots gratines. Then try the three-cheese lobster macaroni or “Lumiere’s” seared sea bass. Stick around for dessert…which will you choose? Crème brulee? Chocolate mousse? Grand Marnier soufflé?
Tiana’s Place (Wonder)
Truly a guest favorite, this restaurant takes you to New Orleans! Disney describes the menu as “a blend of southern home-style cooking and classic American flavors.” The live jazz music & storytelling, festive atmosphere, and southern cooking will make you wonder if you are actually in a scene from The Princess and the Frog. The hardest part of this night will be deciding what to order… Creole-infused New Orleans seafood pepper pot, shrimp jambalaya and Cajun-spiced seabass are just some of the choices waiting for you! Be sure to take note of Tiana’s special touches around the restaurant.
Triton’s (Wonder)
Yes, you guessed it! This restaurant was named after our favorite mermaid’s father…King Triton! As you walk through this elegant restaurant, you will see tributes to The Little Mermaid and feel as if you are in King Triton’s palace. Large chandeliers and stained-glass decorate this grand ballroom. French-American fusion is the star of the menu tonight! You can start off with duck confit or “Chef Louis” French onion soup, then move onto porcini mushroom-stuffed pasta in vegetable broth or braised lamb shank.
Enchanted Garden (Dream & Fantasy)
Dine in the gardens of Versailles, complete with glass flower lights, white trellises and a 7-foot fountain with a Mickey Mouse stone cherub. The atmosphere magically transforms from day to night, as you enjoy market-style menu offerings. Choose from favorite dishes from around the world, including lobster ravioli, curried carrot and apple soup, roasted pork tenderloin or pan-seared sea bass, along with many other options. How does almond-meringue cake or steamed lemon buttermilk pudding sound for dessert?
Royal Court (Fantasy) & Royal Palace (Dream)
A meal and restaurant fit for royalty! Not only will you feel like you are dining in a castle, but you will actually feel like you are starring in your own fairytale! Marble floors, hand-painted princess portraits and tiara valances all add to the ambiance that only Disney can create! While you are taking in your surroundings, you will be served a French-inspired dinner, consisting of choices like spinach soufflé, iced lobster and jumbo shrimp, grilled beef tenderloin and lobster medallions and dijon-crusted rack of lamb. Pay attention to the details around these restaurants and you will surely be able to tell which movies served as their inspiration?
You won’t want to miss out on this one-of-a-kind dining adventure, plus everything else that a Disney Cruise has to offer!
Kathryn Finkelstein
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner – Platinum Level
MickeyTravels, LLC
1-844-MICKEY-0 (direct)
1-203-982-8961 (cell)
kfinkelstein@mickeytravels.com
www.mickeytravels.com
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