Rotation, Rotation, Rotation – Dining with Disney Cruise Line!
One of the things I love most about sailing with Disney Cruise Line is the unique activities, features, and amenities you find on the ships, including their rotational dining!
Rotational dining is a unique dining structure found only on Disney’s ships. Each vessel in Disney’s fleet has multiple dining rooms, and rotational dining ensures that each guest has the chance to check out each of the differently themed dining venues during their cruise.
Once you’re on board the ship, you’ll be able to check your dining schedule in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. The app will tell you which restaurant you will be dining in for each night of your sailing, and you’ll be able to check out their menus there as well!
While there are different restaurants aboard some of the different ships, I recently sailed on the Disney Dream, so I thought it would be fun to take you on a virtual tour of each of the three main dining rooms found on that ship!
Let’s begin with Royal Palace!
As you might guess, this dining room is inspired by the royalty and elegance of Disney’s classic princesses and fairy tales. The cuisine is French-inspired, with a mix of American favorites dotting the menu. You’ll find Belle’s French onion soup, lamb, beef tenderloin, an array of delicious desserts, and more to choose from during your meal.
Before you’re even inside the restaurant, you can see the gorgeous marble entryway and the soft, warm glow of the light from its chandeliers. Speaking of, be sure to check out the lighting fixtures as you make your way to your table. There is a beautiful grand chandelier featuring glass slippers and glittering crystals!
The walls are lined with beautiful pieces of art displaying the princesses in stunning portraits, and you might even spot them on the bread basket at the beginning of your meal!
In keeping with a French-inspired theme, let’s move on to Enchanted Garden!
Inspired by the beautiful gardens of Versailles in France, Enchanted Garden always makes me feel like I have found myself in a magical, airy greenhouse where I get to enjoy a fantastic meal. A whimsical Mickey fountain greets guests as they arrive for their visit at the restaurant, and the glass flowers, ornate trellises, and even a changing-sky ceiling surround diners, fully enveloping you in the enchanting setting.
The menu is made up of market-style dishes, sampling a mix of culinary creations inspired by cultures from all over the world. Seafood, roast pork, lobster ravioli, sumptuous soups, and tantalizing desserts are just a sampling of the sweet and savory dishes you can indulge in during your meal.
The third of the dining rooms is Animator’s Palate, which offers a bit of entertainment during your meal!
Animator’s Palate celebrates the magic of Disney and Pixar’s animated films, and when you first walk in, it’s like stepping into the workroom where the films are mid-production. The tables, chairs, and even the carpeting pay homage to the Mouse who started it all, and the walls are lined with drawings and trinkets from some of your favorite films such as Monsters Inc., Toy Story, and Finding Nemo.
Speaking of Nemo and his pals, you might even find yourself in a face-to-face conversation with Crush the sea turtle as you enjoy your dining experience here! The color and magic of the movies we love truly come to life all around you during your meal!
Much like the dining room itself, the menu is also full of excitement, with a Pan-Asian menu inspired by the cuisines of the Pacific Islands, Asia, and California. The Black Truffle Pasta Purseittes appetizer is a fan-favorite for many of our team members, and with stir fry, seafood, and more to choose from as entrees, you definitely won’t leave this eatery hungry! Be sure to save room for dessert, too, as there are sundaes, crème Brulee, and more to satisfy your sweet tooth at the end of your meal!
In addition to some fantastic dining rooms, one of the coolest things about dining with Disney Cruise Line is that even though you will eat in a different venue each night, your wait staff stays with you, moving along to each restaurant night by night. This really gives them the chance to get to know your preferences and lets you make a connection with each other! In my opinion, that is the extra level of extraordinary customer service that Disney is so well-known for!
As you can see, much like in the films, resorts, and theme parks we all love, Disney is all about storytelling, and their unique one-of-a-kind dining experiences onboard their fleet of cruise ships is no different! Each eatery tells a special story to its visitors by combining a feast for the eyes with a feast of food, making your journey across the seas even more magical!
~Stacy
