Rotational Dining on Disney Cruise Line

A Disney Cruise Line vacation is unique in so many ways, and one of the highlights is definitely the dining! Disney Cruise Line has a special and innovative way of organizing their dinners called Rotational Dining. It’s definitely something that sets Disney Cruise Line apart from other cruise lines. If you haven’t experienced Rotational Dining for yourself yet, you may be a bit confused as to how it works. In this blog post, we will outline how it works and what the benefits are. Keep reading to learn all about Rotational Dining on Disney Cruise Line!

Complete Guide to Dining on a Disney Cruise

The Disney Cruise Line Difference

As we said, Rotational Dining is one of the highlights of a Disney Cruise Line vacation! It’s also something that you won’t find on other cruise lines. Many cruise lines have a ‘Main Dining Room’ (MDR) where you dine each night. Often, you will have the same server each night in the MDR. If you want to dine elsewhere, there are often Specialty Restaurants that you can dine at instead for an additional cost. Essentially, you are having to choose between having your food included (in the MDR) or getting to dine at the other specialty restaurants (for an added cost). Plus, you only get the same servers if you eat in the Main Dining Room. While both options have their perks, either way you are giving up something that is a key part of your cruise dining experience.

How Rotational Dining Works on Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line introduced a system to the cruise industry 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 special, uniquely-themed restaurants!

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. 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, if you dine in the same restaurant multiple nights, there will be a different menu each time. 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 each, and one restaurant 3x. This way, you get to try out all three amazing restaurants, all included in your cruise fare!

Your Service Team

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. As you move to a new restaurant each night, your server, assistant server and head server move with you! 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! Many families really get close to their servers throughout their cruise. Josh’s family has a server they always request when they sail, who they met onboard one of their cruises more than 15 years ago. They have had him as a server many times throughout the years and he has really gotten to watch their family grow up over the years! Brittany’s family also has many fond memories of the servers they’ve met over the years they’ve been sailing with Disney Cruise Line. The extra magic that these servers provide can really be one of the highlights of the Disney Cruise experience!

Your Dinner Seating

There will be two seating assignments to choose from, Main/Early Seating (approx. 5:45 PM) or Second/Late Seating (approx. 8:15 PM). There are two performances of the main show each night, which will be opposite to your dinner seating. For example, if you are scheduled for Main Seating, you will go to the second show after you eat. Alternatively, if you have Second Seating, you will see the main show before you eat. Your dinner seating time will remain the same throughout your cruise!

Uniquely Themed Restaurants on Disney Cruise Line

Another highlight is the uniquely themed restaurants you’ll be dining in throughout your cruise! 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. Check out our list below to see all of the main restaurants that you’ll be rotating through during your cruise:

Tritons/Lumiere’s/Royal Palace/Royal Court

Though a different name on each ship, 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 them 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 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. Meanwhile, 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. 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!

Enchanted Garden

On the Disney 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!

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 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!

Click here to see more about the restaurants onboard Disney Cruise Line.

Rotation Dining on Disney Cruise Line

We hope this guide gave you a better understanding of Disney’s innovative Rotational Dining system. Let us know in the comments if you have any questions about how it works! What restaurant are you most looking forward to on your next Disney Cruise Line vacation?

Ready to learn everything there is to know about dining on a Disney Cruise? Check out this link to read our complete guide with everything you need to know about dining to get ready for your cruise!

Need a travel agent to plan your Disney Cruise Line vacation? Reach out to Josh at Wish Upon a Star with Us. He specializes in Disney cruises and would love to help you plan your magical vacation!

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