The Disney Cruise Line offers a wide variety of activities, from trivia games to live Broadway-style shows and fireworks at sea—there is something for everyone. My favorite entertainment is the unique rotational dining experience.  On a Disney Cruise, dinner is not just a meal, it’s storytelling magic!

On most cruise ships you have one “main dining room” you eat at each night. On a Disney ship, you have an assigned table number, and dedicated serving staff, and you all change dining rooms together. This unique system allows you to enjoy the storytelling magic Disney creates with each unique dining room. Each ship has three restaurants included as part of its rotational dining. One of the best parts of your dining experience is the excellent service provided by the  dining team. On the Disney Wonder I had a wonderful team and the head server made a number of dish recommendations and I can honestly say he was never wrong! My rotational dining experience included dining at Tritton’s, Animator’s Palate, and Tiana’s place.

On my first night aboard the Disney Wonder I had the pleasure of dining at Tritton’s. I was immersed in the underwater kingdom of The Little Mermaid. The decor recalls the opulent sea palace of King Triton bedecked in a dazzling Art Deco theme. Brimming with ornate chandeliers, stained glass, sea-inspired architectural flourishes and a sweeping mural of Ariel and her father, Triton’s serves up a regal atmosphere that guests of all ages are sure to admire. With a wide range of options of French and American cuisine I enjoyed a fabulous 4-course meal. I started off with a bowl of delicious French Onion soup, and an appetizer of Breaded and Deep Fried Brie. This sensational appetizer is hot melted cheese in a crispy coating of breadcrumbs.  My service team recommended their favorite dishes:  a Roasted Filet Steak, crushed New Potatoes with Shallots, Buttered Green Beans, Red Wine Jus, and a Béarnaise Sauce on the Side. They were not wrong; it was delicious! For me the perfect way to end the evening was with a bowl of delicious crème brûlée.

What had to be my second favorite dining experience was Animator’s Palate. Not only is the food fantastic but through the magic of storytelling all around the restaurant portraits come to life before your very eyes. You have to see it to believe it. Once again my serving team was by my side providing excellent service. My meal started off with a uniquely cold Creamy Butternut Squash Soup and Tomato Tarte (a fancy mini pizza). Taking the advice of my serving team I got to enjoy a Herb-Crusted Pork Chop Roast Pork Chop brushed with Dijon Mustard and crusted with Herbed Breadcrumbs which was highly recommended by the head server. The Cookies ‘n Cream Sundae was fanciest looking version I had ever seen! Now, this was the only restaurant I had dinner at twice. I went again during Pirate’s Night and both the food and portraits changed to reflect a swashbuckling atmosphere.

I saved the best for last:Tiana’s Place. Based on the beloved film The Princess and the Frog, once again with Disney storytelling we were taken into a restaurant run by Tiana herself. Straight from the New Orleans Bayou we are treated to a menu of artfully prepared, Louisiana-inspired, Creole and Cajun grub for dinner. The Sautéed Gulf Shrimp and Grits was a great way to start the meal with wonderful Jazz music and Tiana herself greeting guests making sure we are all having a great time. With my serving team’s recommendations, my main course consisted of “Big Daddy’s” Roasted Prime-Rib of Beef which was cooked to perfection and ended my culinary journey on the Disney Wonder on a high note. Of course for dessert you have to try Tiana’s famous Beignets. Just when you thought things couldn’t get better Tiana yourself took the stage singing Dig A Little Deeper while we were all encouraged to make a dancing line. As I said before I couldn’t think of a better way to end the evening. I also had the pleasure of dining here the morning before I disembarked on the ship.

Rotational dining is such a big part of your Disney Cruise experience. The ship you sail will determine the  restaurants you experience but there are two things that will remain the same:  you will have wonderful food and outstanding service!  Contact me today at jhall@conciears.com to learn more about rotational dining and to book your own Disney Cruise.