10 Things You Need to Know about Disney Cruise Dining!
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Dining on a Disney Cruise is part of the attraction of the vacation. There is surely something for every palate. From diverse meals 24 hours a day, cruisers taste buds are sure to be delighted. There is so much to know about dining on Disney Cruise Line!
1. Rotational Dining
Disney wants you to experience all of the themed dining rooms, so they created rotational dining. Every evening, you dine with the same tablemates and have the same servers as you “rotate” to one of 3 main restaurants (not all restaurants are on all ships). You will receive your schedule when you board, which tells you exactly when and where to go. Children’s menus are available in the restaurants.
*Your Guru Travel Professional can request a specific rotation for you at the time of booking. Just ask!
2. Dining Times
When your Guru Travel Professional books your Disney Cruise, you will be asked what dining time you prefer. If your preferred time is not available, we will add you to the waitlist for your requested time. Typically, main dining sells out much quicker than second seating. The main dining and second seating times are dependent on the ship you are sailing on.
On the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic, the Main Seating is at 5:45 p.m.; the Second Seating is at 8:15 p.m.
On the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy, the Main Seating is at 6:00 p.m.; the Second seating is at 8:30 p.m.
3. Table Requests
This is different for every family. My family and I like to sit alone at dinner, we don’t spend a lot of family time just alone so when we cruise we want to focus only on our family. Many cruisers like to be seated with other families, in fact, this is a big draw for people. Be sure either way, that you let your Guru Travel Professional know at the time of booking if you would like to put in a request to sit alone otherwise you may be placed with other cruisers. On another note, if you are traveling with other cruisers in other staterooms, you can put in a request to sit together. This is not a guarantee but your Guru Travel Professional is able to request it for you.
*Please note that Disney will try to place you with “like” travelers. For example, if you are traveling as a couple, they will place you at a table with other couples without children.
4. Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast and lunch are served in Carioca’s and Lumiérés on the Disney Magic; Triton’s and Parrot Cay on the Disney Wonder; Royal Palace and Enchanted Garden on the Disney Dream; Royal Court and Enchanted Garden on the Disney Fantasy. There is a buffet at Beach Blanket Buffet on the Disney Wonder, as well as casual dining at Cabanas on the Disney Magic, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy. Quick poolside meals are also available during breakfast and lunch. The Personal Navigator provides specific hours of operation for all dining locations.
5. Room Service
Many people want to know, “Is room service available, is it really FREE?” The answer is yes, and yes! Room service is available 24-hours a day and it is 100% free to you. We like to do second seating so when we come back from the pool, we like to put in a movie, order room service and get ready for the night show.
*From 7:00 to 10:00 a.m., complimentary continental breakfast will be delivered to your stateroom upon request (excluding disembarkation morning). For Guests in Category 1, 2 and 3 staterooms, a full breakfast is served upon request from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m., with the exclusion of disembarkation morning.
6. Meals for Shore Excursions
Unless it is noted, meals will not be served during your shore excursions. We like to place an order for room service before we leave the ship, we pack it up and take it with us off the ship. This is a great way to save money and not have to dine off of the ship.
7. Beverages
Non-alcoholic beverages are free on Disney Cruise Line. This is another industry exclusive offering. There is no catch at all. Free sodas are available at the Beverage Station on Deck 9 of the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. There are 2 Beverage Stations on Deck 11 of the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Included; water, soda, coffee and an assortment of tea. Drinks are also included in the dining room, no mugs needed.
*We like to bring our resort refillable mug on the ship as the cups on the cruise are a bit small. We drink a lot of water and want to fill it up as much as we can. So cruisers, there is no need to add a water package to your bill, you can even order a pitcher of water free through room service.
*Alcoholic beverages are not included.
8. Special Adult-Only Dining
Disney does offer special adult-only dining on their ships for an additional fee. Now, I personally feel that the dining on Disney Cruise Line is amazing! I have cruised with other large companies and I can tell you that nobody does it better than Disney when it comes time to quality of food. So if it is not in your budget to spend anything extra, just know, it is okay. :0)
However, if you are looking for a dining experience that is a class in itself, you may want to consider Palo (offered on all 4 ships) or Remy (offered on the Dream and Fantasy).
Remy is an intimate Adult Exclusive restaurant offering the most upscale dining experience available onboard, the restaurant serves the finest in French-inspired cuisine for dinner. Cost is $125 per adult for dinner.
Reservations for champagne brunch, high tea (on available cruises) and dinner at Palo can be made online in advance of embarkation or after you board the ship. Cost is $40 for brunch and dinner.
*We would like to recommend the brunch at Palo.
9. BYOB-Guests 21 and
Yes, you can! Feel free to bring along your own adult beverages, but there are rules:
Disney Cruise Line Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage.
Guests wishing to consume wine or champagne that they have brought on board in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corking fee of $25.00 per bottle.
Please note:
- Any alcohol packed in checked luggage will be removed and stored until the end of the cruise.
- Any wine or champagne in excess of 2 bottles or beer in excess of 6 beers will be stored until the end of the cruise.
Bringing liquors and spirits (including powdered alcohol) on board is prohibited. These items will be stored until the end of the cruise. - Guest MUST retrieve any stored alcohol at the end of the cruise. Items not retrieved will be destroyed and no compensation will be offered.
- Alcohol brought on board may not be consumed in any lounge or public area.
- Please note that the Disney Cruise Line alcohol policy is subject to change without notice.
10. Extra Magic
Just like at the parks, there is extra magic on the ships too.
- Call room service and order a Mickey Premium bar. Nope, you don’t need to be at the parks to enjoy one. Word on the street is that you can also order Mickey rice crispy treats too.
- When you call room service order a cake of the day. They are mini little versions of a slice of cake prepared fresh daily. You never know what you are going to get.
- Do you like warm cookies and milk before bed? You got it! Call room service and have it delivered nightly. This adds an extra magical touch to your bedtime.
Contact us today to begin planning your magical Disney Cruise Line vacation. We are currently offering great incentives. Call us at 877-825-6146 or click below.
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Tags: Disney Cruise Series