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A Tasty Change of Pace

Dining can be a highlight of any cruise. Where else can eating be such an event without wondering who’s going to pick up the tab? As with other cruises, food is included in the cost of your Disney cruise including meals, fast food, snacks and even room service. Non-alcoholic beverages are provided. All alcoholic beverages are at an additional charge.

However, Disney being Disney, dining aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship is a little different but a lot more fun! Rotation Dining is the signature of a Disney cruise. With rotation dining, you’ll enjoy a different dining experience at one of three uniquely themed restaurants each night of your cruise. During the course of your rotation, your own personal wait staff rotates with you regardless of your restaurant assignment – you’ll dine with the same waiters every night of your cruise. Talk about superior service!

Your dining rotation and table assignments will be waiting in your stateroom when you arrive. You’ll have the same table number for all three rotation restaurants.

There are two dinner seatings: First (or Early) Seating typically begins around 6pm, while the Second (or Late) seating starts about 8pm. You can request a specific seating when you book although Disney does guarantee it can accommodate everyone’s requests.

Typically the First Seating hosts more children. They need to eat, see the stage show in the Disney Theater and get to bed. The Second Seating is mostly adults and older children. The Second Seating also allows you a bit more time before dinner to relax and take your time. It’s also great on port days because you won’t have to rush back to the ship for an early dinner seating.

If you do not get the dinner seating you requested or desired, there is an opportunity to request a change once you are onboard. This occurs on embarkation day. Check your Personal Navigator for the time and location of the Dining Assignment Change session.

Parrot Cay
A Caribbean themed restaurant welcomes you with the sounds of parrots and other tropical birds. Parrot Cay [pronounced Key] is the most casual of the three main dining rooms on board. It serves a breakfast and lunch buffet as well as table-service at dinner.

The island-inspired menu features grilled specialties and is a vast improvement over Parrot Cay’s previous menu offerings.

Dress is resort casual unless Parrot Cay is your dinner rotation on a formal or semi-formal night [you’ll find designated formal and semi-formal nights on the 7-night and longer cruises]. In addition on the Pirates IN the Caribbean Deck Party night, your dinner will have a pirate theme and guests are welcomed (and encouraged) to dress in pirate garb or tropical attire.

Lumiere’s/Triton’s
These are the most elegant restaurants on each of the ships. Lumiere’s is on the Disney Magic while Triton’s is onboard the Wonder. Both are located on deck 3 midship just off the lobby atrium. Table-service breakfast and lunch can be served here as well as dinner.

At Lumiere’s guests dine under chandeliers accented with Belle’s rose from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. A hand-painted mural depicting the famous waltzing scene with Beauty and her Beast adorns the back wall. Lumiere’s has a decidedly French accent with elegant and finely prepared menu items.

Triton’s is named after The Little Mermaid’s father and the dining room reflects King Triton’s underwater kingdom. An exquisite Italian tile mosaic of Triton and Ariel enhances the back wall of the restaurant. The blue, green and aqua lighting make you feel as if you are truly dining “under the sea.”

Triton’s specializes in fresh seafood dishes, although there are plenty of “land-based” menu choices.

Dress is upscale casual with jackets for the men (ties aren’t necessary) and dresses or nice pants for the ladies unless Lumiere’s / Triton’s is your dinner rotation on a formal or semi-formal night [you’ll find designated formal and semi-formal nights on the 7-night and longer cruises]. In addition on the Pirates IN the Caribbean Deck Party night, your dinner will have a pirate theme and guests are welcomed (and encouraged) to dress in pirate garb or tropical attire.

Animator’s Palate
This restaurant is a performance, not just a place to have a fine meal. You begin your evening at Animator’s Palate in a black and white environment inspired by classic Disney animation. The pillars in the restaurant are shaped like giant paintbrushes and there are black and white sketches framed against the walls. As you dinner progresses, everything slowly changes to full color and the sketches become scenes from beloved Disney animated films. The wait staff even gets into the act! They begin dinner in black and white vests, but by the time dessert is served (introduced with a little song and dance number) their vests have become full color too.

The food doesn’t play second fiddle to the performance – it’s just fine dining sprinkled with a little pixie dust!

Dress is resort casual unless Animator’s Palate is your dinner rotation on a formal or semi-formal night [you’ll find designated formal and semi-formal nights on the 7-night and longer cruises]. In addition on the Pirates IN the Caribbean Deck Party night, your dinner will have a pirate theme and guests are welcomed (and encouraged) to dress in pirate garb or tropical attire.

Palo
Palo is exclusively for adults – you must be at least 18 to dine here. Palo is NOT included in your regular ding rotation, so you must make reservations. There is a small surcharge of around $10 per person for dinner – but it’s very much worth it.

Palo is a five-star dining experience with a sweeping vista of the ocean, romantic, Venetian-inspired décor and amazing northern Italian cuisine.

Dinner is served every evening of any cruise and on 4-night and up cruises, Palo’s hosts a champagne brunch and on 7-night and longer cruises, there is a high tea.

The wait staff is exclusive to Palo, professional and very attentive. The additional surcharge is intended as the gratuity for this exceptional service. Palo is an intimate, romantic and memorable dining experience.

Dress is semi-formal: men should wear jackets with ties and women would do well with cocktail attire.

Topsider’s / Beach Blanket Buffet
Both ships have a casual buffet restaurant located on deck 9 aft. On the Magic, it’s Topsider’s while on the Wonder it’s Beach Blanket Buffet.

Breakfast and lunch are offered with plenty of choices and lots of kid-friendly foods. Breakfast is excellent (served 7:30am – 10:30am) and lunch items typically revolve around a theme such as Italian, Mexican, or Asian. Lunch is served from noon to 2pm.

Both spaces offer knock-out view of the ocean plus both indoor and outdoor seating.

The buffet restaurants can occasionally be open for dinner if you just don’t feel like dressing up. Check your Personal Navigator for nights it may be available on your cruise.

Dress is very casual. Shorts and tanks are acceptable as are swimsuits (with cover-ups).
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