Dining on a Disney Cruise: A Complete Guide

Whether traveling with family or a couples-only trip, Disney Cruise Line is our absolute favorite way to vacation! One of the highlights for us is the food. We absolutely love the amazing food, fabulous service and unique dining experiences on board these four wonderful ships. In this post, we will provide a complete guide with everything you need to know about rotational dining and the main dining restaurants, the buffet, counter-service locations, specialty restaurants, room service and more. After reading this post, you will know exactly what to expect when it comes to dining on a Disney Cruise!

Rotational Dining on Disney Cruise Line

Rotational Dining is one of the highlights of a Disney Cruise Line vacation! It’s definitely something that sets apart a Disney cruise from other cruise lines. Many cruise lines have a ‘Main Dining Room’ where you dine each night. On many lines, you will have the same server each night. If you want to dine elsewhere, there are often what is called Specialty Restaurants that you can dine at instead. These Specialty Restaurants typically have an additional charge to eat there, while the Main Dining Room dinners are included. Essentially, you are having to choose between having your food included and getting to eat at a variety of restaurants. Plus, you only get the same servers if you eat in the same place each night.

The Disney Cruise Line Difference

Disney Cruise Line has developed a system that allows you to have the best of both options – Rotational Dining. With Rotational Dining, you have the same service team each night, your dinners are included and you still get to eat at each of the different restaurants! Your party will have an assigned table number and service team which will remain the same throughout your cruise, regardless of which restaurant you are eating at. Each night, you will be assigned to one of the 3 main restaurants on the ship, and you will rotate through them each night depending on the duration of your cruise. For example, on a 3-night cruise you will eat at each restaurant once, while on a 7-night cruise you will eat at two restaurants twice, and one restaurant 3x.

As you move to a new restaurant each night, you sit at the same table number and your server, assistant server and head server move with you! On the 4^th night, you will return to the first restaurant again and if your cruise is longer, you will continue to cycle through the restaurants again. However, each night of the cruise there will also be a different menu. This system is one of our favorite parts about dining on a Disney cruise!

Your Dining Team on Disney Cruise Line

The incredible service team that follows you each night is a highlight of their cruise for many guests! By being with you throughout the cruise, they really get to know you and your family. They’ll probably remember what you like to drink by the second or third night, and have it ready for you when you arrive at the table! Another highlight is the uniquely themed restaurants you’ll be dining in throughout your cruise! Keep reading to see which restaurants are offered on each ship.

Click here for more about Rotational Dining!

Main Restaurants

Each ship has three main restaurants that you will rotate through with Rotational Dining. However, each ship has different restaurants! Some of them are present on multiple ships, while others are exclusive to just one or two ships. In addition to eating your main dinners here, typically one of the restaurants will be open each day during breakfast and lunch for an a la carte option. Check out our list below to see all of the main restaurants on the ships!

Enchanted Garden

On the Dream and the Fantasy, the Enchanted Garden Restaurant is located on Deck 2 Midship. This gorgeous dining room is themed after the beautiful gardens of Versailles. Enjoy a delightful meal at twilight with the day fading to evening around you as you dine. As the sky turns from daylight blue to sunset red, and finally to the twinkling stars, you’ll also see flower light fixtures bloom around you. This is certainly an enchanted garden, indeed! This restaurant is so beautiful we actually took some wedding photos here, which turned out beautiful (see below!)

Tritons/Lumiere’s/Royal Palace/Royal Court

First, these restaurants all have a different name and a slightly different design on each ship. However, these restaurants have a similar vibe and are all located in the lobby atrium of the ship on Deck 3 Midship. The lobby atrium is the first place you see when you enter the ship for the first time! These restaurants each have an elegant, upscale theme inspired by gorgeous palaces and Disney royalty. You’ll feel as though you’ve entered a royal ballroom in one of Disney’s classic princess movies!

Animator’s Palate

Animator’s Palate is the only restaurant that is on all 4 of the Disney ships. However, the concept varies depending on which ship you are on. On the Magic and Wonder, the restaurant has a black and white hand-drawn sketch theme, which will turn to color during one magical dining experience. Meanwhile, on the Dream and Fantasy, the theme of the restaurant is designed after an artist’s studio. Here, during your meal you’ll be immersed under the sea and into the world of Finding Nemo. On sailings 7 nights or longer, you’ll also get to enjoy Animation Magic. This is a show where every guest gets to draw their own character and see it come to life during the show. Regardless of which ship you’re on, dinner at Animator’s Palate will be an amazing experience!

Rapunzel’s Royal Table

On the Disney Magic, you can experience a delightful dining experience at this restaurant themed after the movie Tangled! Enjoy a feast fit for royalty as you celebrate the return of the lost princess, Princess Rapunzel. You’ll be treated to lively entertainment and appearances from your favorite Tangled characters!

Tiana’s Place

Princess Tiana’s dream was always to open a restaurant, and her dream has finally come to life on board the Disney Wonder! Experience a celebration of southern cooking and live jazz music in this festive restaurant. Full of southern charm, you’ll enter this Louisiana-themed restaurant and be transported straight to the bayou and into the story of the Princess and the Frog!

Cabanas

On board all 4 Disney Cruise Line ships, Cabanas is the main breakfast and lunch buffet restaurant! This is where most guests will choose to eat breakfast or lunch (or both) each day. It’s convenient and delicious, and buffets are just quick and easy! Plus, since it is located on the pool deck, you can easily pop in and grab your meal before taking it outside to eat on the deck or by the pool. Though many buffet items change every day, there are plenty of selections that are available every day! This boardwalk-themed restaurant has ten food stations serving an array of classic American fare. They have a top notch breakfast buffet with all the staples. We love that for lunch they always have pizza, chicken fingers, fries and macaroni & cheese available for the kids (and for guests like us, who just love ‘kids’ foods!). Additionally, they have a ton of other options like salmon, chicken, steak, seafood and vegetarian options. A salad bar, soups and dessert bar are all available too.

Dinner at Cabanas on a Disney Cruise

For dinner, if you miss your regular rotational dining seating or just prefer a quieter setting with an ocean view, you can also choose to dine in Cabanas. For dinner, Cabanas transforms into an a la carte dining experiences serving signature dishes from the main restaurants and other delicacies. If this is your first cruise we definitely don’t recommend skipping your scheduled dinner, as each of the main restaurants is exceptional. However, if you are a repeat cruiser or if you miss your main dinner for any reason, this is another great option for dining on a Disney cruise ship!

Counter Service Restaurants

Each ship has a selection of quick service options to enjoy as well. Order at a walk-up counter and you can immediately enjoy pizza, chicken tenders, burgers, fries and other favorites. They also have healthier options available like fruit and wraps! These counter service restaurants are a great option if you want to grab and go, eat by the pool or want a mid-day snack.

On the Dream and Fantasy, Flo’s Café combines Luigi’s Pizza, Tow Mater’s Grill and Fillmore’s Favorites with all the options located in a row. On the Magic and Wonder, the options are a bit more spread out throughout the Deck 9 pool area. Pinocchio’s Pizzeria serves up hot, fresh slices while Daisy’s De-Lites offers some great healthier options. The Duck-in Diner on the Magic and Pete’s Boiler Bites on the Wonder offer delicious American fare. The Duck-in Diner also serves Middle Eastern shawarma which is another delicious option!

Tip: When the Wonder sails to Alaska, you can also get an amazing soft pretzel from Pinocchio’s Pizzeria on sea days.

Specialty Restaurants

There are two specialty restaurants on board the Disney ships, which serve dinner and brunch. Palo is located on all four ships, while Remy is only available on the Dream and Fantasy. Both Palo and Remy are adult-exclusive, and offer an exceptional dining experience at an additional fee.

Palo and Remy

Palo is a delightfully chic Italian restaurant serving exquisite cuisine inspired by Northern Italy but with a twist. Remy on the other hand is the most upscale dining experience on any of the Disney ships. This authentic French restaurant offers fine French fare in a first class, elegant dining experience. Of course, Remy is inspired by the Disney Pixar film Ratatouille.

Brunch and dinner at Palo are both $40 per person. For Remy, brunch is $75 while dinner is $125 (gratuities not included for either restaurant). As a bonus, if you are a Platinum Castaway Club member (have sailed 10+ times on DCL), you get a free meal at Palo.

Should you dine at Palo or Remy?

If this is your first cruise, don’t feel like you have to skip your wonderful main dining restaurant in order to pay extra for one of these specialty options. However, these restaurants are absolutely fabulous and definitely worth experiencing if you are celebrating a special occasion on board, or just want a special adults-night out!

Looking for other ways to enjoy some romantic, adult-only time on a Disney Cruise? Check out our post about experiencing romance on Disney Cruise Line!

Tip: If you have dinner at Palo, be sure to order a soufflé for dessert! The chocolate soufflé that Josh loves is famous among Disney cruisers, while Brittany prefers the Amaretto soufflé. Either way, you’re in for a treat!

Room Service (24-hr Dining on Disney Cruise Line!)

Room service is included on Disney Cruise Line, which we absolutely love! There are some items on the menu (canned soda, pre-packaged snacks like M&Ms, etc.) that are an added cost, and gratuities are not included, however for the most part you can order to your heart’s content without any additional cost. Some people love to order room service for breakfast. If you have a verandah stateroom, this is a great option because you can eat outside on your private balcony! Personally, we love to order room service as a late night snack. Brittany love the All Hands on Deck cheese platter, and the Macaroni and Cheese. Josh loves the Chicken Tenders and the Pepperoni Pizza. They also have some great dessert options, including a cake selection that changes daily. Having 24/7 room service is a highlight of the dining experience on Disney Cruise Line for many guests!

Tip: You can order a Mickey Ice Cream Bar from Room Service, even though it’s not on the menu!

Other Dining Locations on a Disney Cruise

Although we’ve covered all the main options, this wouldn’t be a “complete” guide if we didn’t cover the rest of the food service locations on board the ships! From snack spots to theater concessions to where to grab a smoothie, we’ve outlined the rest of the food locations below:

Eye Scream Ice Cream

Unlimited free soft serve ice cream? Sign us up! It’s no wonder that Eye Scream is probably one of our most visited spots on the ship. On our last cruise, we had visited this spot for ice cream cones five times before the ship even sailed out of port! They always have chocolate and vanilla available (plus vanilla-chocolate swirl) however they also switch out additional flavors throughout the cruise. You can check back throughout the cruise for flavors like banana, strawberry and blueberry!

O’Gills, Crown and Fin Pub, Pub 687

Each ship has a pub that is located within the nightclub/lounge area (which are 18+ after 9:00 PM). These pubs offer a small selection of pub grub which is available for an additional cost.

Cove Café and Vista Café

The Cove Café offers a relaxing atmosphere for adults to enjoy a specialty beverage in an adults-only setting. On all four ships, Cove Café is adjacent to the Quiet Cove adult pool. On the Dream and Fantasy, Vista Café is another option with similar selections in a setting overlooking the lobby atrium. The coffees, teas and specialty beverages at these cafes are an additional cost. In both Cove Café and Vista Café, they have a small selection of snacks and desserts available. Though it may look like they cost too, they are actually complimentary, so definitely give one a try!

Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats/Sweet on You

On the Fantasy and the Dream, a specialty ice cream, gelato and dessert shop offers a delightful selection of tempting treats! All options are available at an additional cost.

Theater Concessions

The Walt Disney Theater (where you’ll see Broadway-style shows and variety acts) and the Buena Vista Theater (the on board movie theater) both have a concession stand where you can purchase popcorn and other snacks for an additional cost.

Senses Juice Bar

Enjoy a freshly made blended smoothie or beverage for an added cost on the Dream and Fantasy as you enjoy a beautiful ocean view. The Senses Juice Bar is located inside Senses, between the fitness center and the spa. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a nutritious juice or smoothie after a workout or treatment!

Frozone/Sulley’s Sips

This poolside spot (Sulley’s Sips on the Disney Wonder, and Frozone on the other three ships) offers refreshing frozen beverages and smoothies for an added cost.

Nightly Adult-Area Buffet

Lastly, on most cruises, there is a small nightly buffet of late-night snacks available for the adults. The food items change day-to-day, but they typically have fruit and hot items such as dumplings, pigs in a blanket, etc. The location of this complimentary buffet varies by ship, but is located in the adult-only areas (District, Europa or After Hours).

Dining on a Disney Cruise: Conclusion

There are so many options for dining on a Disney cruise that it’s almost impossible to go hungry! Food is available at all times of the day and you can eat as much as you’d like. While there are some options that have an additional cost, for the most part everything is included! You can certainly make it through the cruise without paying extra for food.

Dining is one of favorite parts of a Disney Cruise! From the amazing food to the fabulous servers, and the unique and exciting restaurants, it’s sure to be a highlight for many guests. And don’t forget about the unlimited ice cream! With so much to look forward to, who’s ready to start planning their next Disney Cruise Line vacation? We know we are!

If you are interested in planning a Disney Cruise Line vacation and are looking for a travel agent specializing in Disney cruises, we recommend reaching out to Josh at Wish Upon a Star with Us. He would love to help you plan your Magical cruise vacation.

Let us know in the comments what you’d most look forward to on a Disney Cruise!

Fairytale Wonders