Do you want to know what the food is really like on a Disney cruise? I'm sharing all of the MDR restaurant food menus, pictures of all the food that we ate, and food reviews to help you decide which restaurants you should eat at and all the best food options you have to try on a Disney cruise.
After our wedding, we went on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean Disney cruise in May for our honeymoon. The whole trip was fabulous and I fear that we've spoiled ourselves for life by cruising with Disney for our first-ever cruise. I don't think any other lines can measure up to the high standards that Disney sets.
The whole experience was A+! From the cleanliness of the ship, the ports of call, our sparkling verandah stateroom, the Broadway-style shows, pirate night, visiting Castaway Cay, and, of course, all the fantastic food! It was all top-notch.
However, this post is just about the MDR (Main Dining Room) Disney cruise restaurants, Cabanas buffet, and quick service spots on the Disney Fantasy. Check out this post if you want to see what brunch and dinner are like at Palo.
Disney Cruise Food FAQ
Before we get into the Disney cruise food pictures, let's go over some of the questions that I get asked the most about the food on a Disney cruise.
Is Food Free on a Disney Cruise?
Most of the food on a Disney cruise is free because it's included in the overall price of your cruise. There are some dining experiences that cost extra like dining at Palo or Remy or getting ice cream at Sweet on You, but most food items are included.
What Kind of Food is on a Disney Cruise?
From traditional breakfast buffets and overflowing piles of fresh seafood at Cabanas during the lunch buffet to upscale dining at Palo or Remy, there is food to please all palates. I can't imagine that you wouldn't be able to find something to eat given all the choices that are offered.
If you are looking for a specific dish, you can always ask your server to see if they can accommodate you. For example, if you love Indian food as I do, you can request it at dinner (it's not on the menu) and they will bring you authentic Indian dishes to enjoy.
Also, if you have any food allergies or dietary preferences, Disney cruises take this very seriously. There is a separate kitchen for food allergies to ensure that you can safely enjoy your food too. My husband and I are now vegan and we ate so much delicious food on our last two cruises! We felt catered to and we never went hungry.
You can see all the delicious plant-based food options that we enjoyed on the Fantasy and Magic in this Ultimate Guide to Eating Vegan on a Disney Cruise.
Is the Food Good on a Disney Cruise?
Overall, most of the food that we've enjoyed on three Disney cruises have been excellent. There have been a few misses but that's to be expected on any cruise line.
Of course, it depends on where you eat and what type of food you enjoy too. If you eat all your meals at the quick service counter or if you only like fine dining, then your experience will be different from ours. We ate a mix of quick service, MDR, and fine dining meals and we were very pleased.
Can You Bring Food on a Disney Cruise?
You can bring food on a Disney cruise with you but only if it's factory sealed. You cannot bring anything homemade onboard the ship with you.
For example, I packed a box of granola bars because I wanted to bring snacks with us when we did excursions off the ship. I also brought a sealed bottle of my favorite dairy-free coffee creamer with me because the ship only has vanilla almond milk for coffee and I need my coffee in the morning.
Do You Have to Sit With Strangers at Dinner?
No, you don't have to sit with other guests at dinner. After you book your cruise, you can call DCL and request that your dinner seating arrangements are just for your party and that you don't want to sit with strangers.
Disney Cruise Restaurants By Ship
Depending on which Disney ship you're sailing on will determine which restaurants you can dine at during your cruise.
- All four ships (Fantasy, Dream, Magic, and Wonder) have a Cabanas buffet restaurant.
- All four ships have Palo but only the Disney Fantasy and the Disney Dream have Remy.
- The Disney Dream has Vanellope's Sweets & Treats
- The Disney Fantasy has Sweet on You
- All four ships have Eye Scream Treats
- All four ships have quick-service restaurants
MDR Restaurants By Ship
Disney Fantasy
- Royal Court
- Animator's Palate
- Enchanted Garden
Disney Dream
- Royal Palace
- Enchanted Garden
- Animator's Palate
Disney Magic
- Lumiere's
- Animator's Palate
- Rapunzel's Royal Table
Disney Wonder
- Triton's
- Animator's Palate
- Tiana's Place
Where Do You Find Your Disney Cruise Dining Rotation?
When you check-in for your cruise, you are given your KTTWC (key to the world card). The card will have your name on it, your stateroom number, your table number, and your MDR (main dining room) Disney cruise dining rotation schedule.
It will look something like this - AERAERA.
A = Animator's Palate
E = Enchanted Garden
R = Royal Court
The first letter corresponds to the restaurant that you will visit for dinner on the first night of the cruise. Our MDR rotation was Animators Palate -> Enchanted Garden -> Royal Court, so it looked like this AERAERA.
You won't know what your dining rotation is until you check-in for your cruise and get your KTTWC but if there is a specific restaurant that you would like to dine at the most or on a certain day, you can call DCL and put in a request. It's not guaranteed but I will say that they granted my dining request on our last cruise.
Note - The MDR that you dine at on your last night of the cruise will be the restaurant you're assigned to visit for breakfast on the last morning (disembarkation day) of your cruise. However, if you don't want to go to the MDR then you can go to Cabanas instead.
I would recommend going to Cabanas if you want a more relaxed breakfast with more food choices. We went to Animators Palate for breakfast and it felt very rushed and the food was not very good.
Where Should You Eat After You Board the Ship?
Usually, one of the MDR restaurants will be open for lunch or you can go to Cabanas for their lunch buffet. We prefer to go to Cabanas because we like all the options. However, Cabanas does tend to be busy on the first day if you go around lunch.
Cabanas Buffet
Cabanas is much bigger than it appears from the entrance, it actually wraps all the way around the AFT on deck 11.
The buffet is split up into sections that are repeated on both sides. There is a bar in the center, coffee dispensers, and soda machines by every section of tables. There is also a gorgeous tile mural of Nemo and friends on both sides of the restaurant.
We had no problem getting a table with a gorgeous window view every single time we ate at Cabanas. There are also tables outside on the deck if you want to enjoy the ocean breeze.
The food at Cabanas reminds me of the food at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club Resort in Walt Disney World. Lots of fresh seafood along with a vast assortment of other tasty options.
Cabanas Breakfast
We ate breakfast at Cabanas 3-4 times during the cruise. The food was always hot, fresh, and plentiful. It was always busy but it never felt overly crowded or like they were running out of food. There was always a backup dish laid out right behind the main serving dish, so as soon as it was empty it was switched out.
The breakfast menu wasn't always the same every day but this is generally what was available to choose from.
Cabanas Breakfast Menu
- Fresh fruit
- Eggs Benedict
- Scrambled eggs
- Hash browns
- Omelets
- Donuts
- Muffins
- Assorted bread and pastries
- Grilled tomatoes
- Roasted potatoes
- Mickey waffles
- Pancakes
- Oatmeal
Cabanas Lunch
We ate lunch at Cabanas quite a few times during the cruise as well. I really enjoyed the variety that's offered at lunch. There are a few staple items but there were always new dishes too!
Cabanas Lunch Menu
- Assorted pizza
- Roasted vegetables
- Macaroni and cheese
- Spinach gnocchi
- Chicken curry
- Pork tenderloin
- Beef
- Crab legs
- Cold boiled shrimp
- Assorted soups
- Couscous salad
- Salad bar
- Sushi
- Fresh fruit
- Marinated mushroom & asparagus salad
- Blackened mahi-mahi
- Grilled salmon
- Sesame tofu & noodles
- Fried grouper nuggets
- Chicken fingers
- French fries
- Wraps and sandwiches
- Pasta
- Assorted desserts
Main Dining Room Restaurants Menus & Food
I broke down our cruise by meal at each MDR restaurant so you can see what food they have. The MDR menu options don't change often and they're still serving these meals as of 9/28/19.
Animator's Palate Restaurant
We went to Animators Palate three times for dinner during the cruise; the first night, pirate night, and the last night. Every time we went to the restaurant, the theme, decor, and menu, was completely different! The menus changed at all of the other restaurants every night, but this is the only restaurant that changes its entire theme!
What does stay the same is your table number. The table number on your KTTWC will be the table number that you sit at for every MDR that you eat dinner at.
Animator's Palate - Dining with Crush
Animators Palate is designed to make you feel like you're under the sea with Crush and his friends. The lights are blue, and there are huge screens on all of the walls that show an ocean background that Crush swims around and talk to you from!
I don't know how they do it but Crush talks to people in the restaurant! Not just like, "Hello, welcome to dinner!" Crush talks directly to people and has a full-on conversation about something specific to you. It's pretty darn cool.
Animator's Palate Dining with Crush Dinner Menu
You can order as much as you want but we generally stuck to ordering two appetizers, two soups/salads, two entrees, and two desserts. If we had a hard time deciding between entrees, our server would bring us both but we tried to avoid doing that because we didn't want to waste food.
- Black Truffle Pasta Purseittes - This was appetizer was delicious, it tasted like decadent tortellini.
- Tomato Tarte - This was one of my favorites! The puff pastry was crispy and it tasted like a pizza pastry!
- Creamy Butternut Squash Soup - This soup was so creamy and had so much flavor, I loved the strong butternut flavor.
- Black Bean Chipotle Cakes - I didn't care for this entree, the cakes were dry and lacked seasonings.
- Sesame Halloumi Parcels - The parcels were crispy and unlike anything I've ever tasted. I would recommend it!
- Ginger Teriyaki Dusted Angus Beef Tenderloin - Travis enjoyed the beef, he said it was very tender and flavorful.
Animator's Palate Dining with Crush Dessert Menu
I had the lemon icebox pie, it was tart, tangy, and so delicious! Travis had the crunchy walnut cake. I thought that the texture was a little spongy when it should've been creamy, but Travis said he liked it.
Animator's Palate - Pirate Night
We went back to Animator's Palate for the second time on Pirate Night.
Related: Everything you NEED to know about a Disney Cruise Pirate Night!
I was so excited to walk into the restaurant and see that the theme had changed completely! The lighting in the restaurant changed to red, the servers all wore pirate costumes, there were clips from pirate movies on the screens, and the menu was completely pirate-inspired.
Animator's Palate Pirate Night Dinner Menu
I really wanted to love the pirate night menu but it was my least favorite dinner of the whole cruise. Compared to all of the other amazing dinners, it just wasn't up to par.
- Vegetable Samosa - This was my favorite course at dinner. The samosa was hot and crispy and loaded with potato onion filling. The tamarind chutney dip was tasty too.
- Davie Jones Lock Rock Crab Cake - The crab cake was seasoned well, crispy, and loaded with crab meat.
- Chilled Mango Soup - This tasted like a smoothie, not soup. I was not a fan.
- Jack's Treasure of the Sea - Travis liked his entree, he said the seafood was cooked perfectly.
- Cortez's Cilantro Marinated Grouper Filet - Travis said the fish was light and flaky with loads of flavor.
- Shanghaied Noodle Stir-Fry - This was my entree, I thought it was awful. It was pretty much just plain noodles and a few veggies. I ordered extra sauce but it really didn't help too much.
Animator's Palate Pirate Night Dessert
We both ordered the rum cake, it was delicious!
Animator's Palate - Animation Night
The theme of Animation Night is, drumroll please...animation! Classic clips from Disney movies that we all know and love and how to draw them are played on the screens in the restaurant.
When you first sit down, your server will give you a blank character design sheet that you will draw in your character.
Somehow, they scan your design into a video on the screen! It's so cool! Then everyone's characters that they drew will dance together and be part of Sorcerer Mickey's design! It's a really fun show. You'll get your character design back after the show to keep as a souvenir.
Animator's Palate Animation Night Dinner Menu
This was the only night that there wasn't a vegetarian appetizer or soup for me to order off the menu. For some reason, there was only one sampler and soup to choose from.
However, I was able to order the mushroom soup that I absolutely loved from a few nights before at Enchanted Garden and they got it for me!
- Appetizer Sampler Platter - Travis said this was just okay, he wasn't too impressed with it.
- Spaghetti & Meatball Tomato Basil Soup - He liked the flavor of the tomato soup and enjoyed the addition of meatballs. I wonder if they just added meatballs to the tomato soup recipe they serve a few nights before?
- Wild Mushroom Sweet Onion Strudel - This was fantastic! You can even hear the crispy, flaky layers when I cut it in the video. The tofu was cooked well and it was loaded with mushrooms and spinach!
- Roasted Filet of Beef Wellington - Travis really liked this and said the shell was hot and crispy!
- Chocolate Mousse Cake - This was our favorite of the two desserts, it was super chocolatey!
- Strawberry Shortcake - I thought this was good but it needed more strawberry flavor.
Enchanted Garden Restaurant
We went to the Enchanted Garden twice during the cruise. The theme didn't change like at Animator's Palate but the menu changed both times.
The Enchanted Garden is a beautiful restaurant! I don't know how they do it but they designed the ceiling to be lit up and look like the ceiling on an atrium. Even though the restaurant is on Deck 2, when you look up, you feel like you're looking out to the sky! It's lovely.
There are green ivy vines and flowers everywhere, you really feel like you're in the middle of a garden. Even the lights are gorgeous white flowers!
Enchanted Garden Dinner Menu - Formal Night
The food was so delicious at the Enchanted Garden, it was my favorite MDR restaurant food-wise. The food quality, creative dishes, and presentation was top notch.
I loved the Glazed Portobello Mushroom so much that I recreated it when I got home! Get the recipe here --> Roasted Portobello Mushrooms with Green Pea Pesto Lentils.
- Ahi Tuna Avocado Tower - Travis loves tuna and said this was delicious! He liked the addition of avocado.
- Cucumber Garden Roll - I really liked this, it was light and fresh. All raw veggies but very flavorful.
- Heirloom Tomato Soup - The tomato soup was so creamy and loaded with fresh basil, I loved it.
- Romaine Wedge - I thought the salad was a little boring but Travis said it was good for a salad.
- Caramelized Sea Scallops - The scallops were seared perfectly and the asparagus was cooked exactly how I like it, crisp yet tender! Yum!
- Glazed Portobello Mushrooms - This is one of my favorite dishes of the whole cruise! The mushroom actually tasted like chicken and the pesto sauce was so flavorful. All the flavors went so well together, I loved it. I even recreated it when I got back home
- Seared Pork Tenderloin Medallions - Travis liked it but it was a massive piece of meat. They forgot to serve it with the horseradish sauce but once we got it, he enjoyed it more. He really liked the fancy piped mashed potatoes!
- Warm Sticky Date Pudding - This was my favorite dessert that we had at a MDR restaurant, it was warm and gooey and so decadent.
- Chocolate Garden Torte - This dessert was a little dry, I didn't care for it.
- Southern Style Pecan Tart - This was tasty but the date pudding was better!
Enchanted Garden Dinner Menu - Prince & Princess Night
The dinner we had the second time at Enchanted Garden was fabulous! Every course I had was so delicious, I loved every single bite!
- Princess Tiana's Shrimp and Jambalaya Rice - Travis loved the flavor of the shrimp in this appetizer, even the rice was tasty.
- Princess Aurora's Green & White Asparagus Spears - Every spear of asparagus that I ate on the cruise was cooked perfectly, crisp and tender at the same time! I loved the different colors, white asparagus is surprisingly delish!
- Snow White's Wild Forest Mushroom Soup - This was my absolute favorite appetizer that I had at one of the MDR. It was loaded with mushrooms and truffle oil, the consistency was rich and smooth-- it was killer. I loved it so much that I had it three nights in a row!
- Coronation of Mixed Leaves - This was just a regular salad, nothing special.
- Prince Charming's Portobello Ravioli - I was in mushroom heaven with these ravioli and the butternut squash sauce was the perfect contrast.
- Prince Ferdinand's Trio of Veal - Travis didn't like this, he said it was just okay.
- New York Strip Steak - Travis said this was very tender and seasoned well, he enjoyed it.
- Vegetable Lasagna - I loved this veggie lasagna! It was loaded with veggies and a delicious sauce. If I'd had room, I would've ordered a second one!
Enchanted Garden Dessert - Prince & Princess Night
Dessert at Enchanted Garden was especially memorable because our servers celebrated our honeymoon! They sang us the happy honeymoon song (to the tune of "Happy Birthday") and brought us a delicious chocolate cake and Happily Ever After pins! It was so sweet and really made our experience over the top.
We shared the chocolate cake and the no-sugar-added Aladdin's Tiramisu. The tiramisu was delicious and I didn't think it was lacking in sugar or flavor at all, we thoroughly enjoyed both desserts!
Royal Court Restaurant
In my opinion, the Royal Court is the most beautifully decorated of the three MDR restaurants.
There are stunning tile mosaics and portraits of each of the princesses on each of the walls in the restaurant. Each one is so intricate and decorative.
If I could, I would just sit in the restaurant looking at the mosaics for hours.
The details make all the difference at Royal Court. The light fixtures and bread baskets are all Cinderella carriage-shaped, there is a huge round royal table in the center of the restaurant, and even the servers wear fancy uniforms.
Royal Court Dinner Dinner Menu
The dinner menu at Royal Court is just a tad bit fancier than the other MDR restaurants.
- Gastons Escargot Gratinee - This was our first time trying snails, they tasted like buttery mushrooms. A little chewy, but all in all, pretty tasty.
- Breaded and Deep Fried Brie - The brie was hot, fresh, and crispy-- yum!
- French Onion Soup - Travis is a French onion soup connoisseur and he approved!
- Farmhouse Salad - I loved the goat cheese crostini on top of the salad, it really enhanced the salad. I wish that there was more than one.
- Conchiglie Pasta - Travis didn't care for this, he thought it was pretty bland.
- Wild Mushroom Stuffed Pasta in Vegetable Broth - This pasta dish was delicious and full of mushroom flavor, exactly how I like it!
- Crispy Roasted Duck Breast - Travis thought the duck was just okay. He said it was a little chewy, not crispy like it should've been.
- Opera Gateau - We both liked this dessert, all the layers were absolutely delicious!
- Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brulee - Travis loved this dessert, it was warm in the middle and the vanilla sauce was so tasty.
Royal Court Brunch Menu
We had reservations for dinner at Palo on the night that we were supposed to go to Royal Court for the second time of our dinner rotation. We were bummed that we were going to miss a second dinner at Royal Court, so we decided to go there for brunch instead of going to Cabanas.
That was a mistake!
The brunch was sub-par at best. I don't know if it was because we went towards the end of brunch or because we didn't have our regular servers, but the food was cold and not appealing. We should've gone to Cabanas, we would have had a much better lunch.
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- Warm Chicken Salad - The chicken was cold and it didn't have a lemongrass flavor like the menu stated it did. Travis did like the wasabi sauce but other than that it was very plain and unappealing.
- Bacon, Brie, and Tomato Panini - It would have been better if this sandwich was made with different bread. It was soggy and mushy, definitely not how a panini should be.
- Vegetarian Omelet - This omelet was just okay; the eggs were a little tough, it was lukewarm, and it only had a few veggies in it.
- Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto - The sun-dried tomato flavor was good but the rice was undercooked and it was cold. It tasted like it had been sitting for a while because it was just one big lump on the plate.
- White Chocolate Macadamia Brownie Pie - This didn't taste like a brownie to me, it was very cakey and dry.
- Cherry Crepes - I had high hopes for this because I love cherries but it was pretty bad. The crepes were chewy and cold, and the cherries tasted overly sweet and artificial. I was not a fan. The vanilla ice cream was tasty, I did enjoy that.
Disney Cruise Quick Service Restaurants
If you somehow find yourself wanting a snack in between the lunch buffet at Cabanas and dinner at one of the main Disney cruise restaurants, there are multiple places for you to grab a bite.
Sweet on You
Sweet on You is a brand new ice cream and gelato shop on the Disney Fantasy. They even have a life-sized Mickey and Minnie statue eating ice cream at a table in the corner. It's a fun photo-op!
There are so many flavors of gelato and ice cream to try, I really love that they let you try samples before you order.
After quite a few samples, we decided on the mango coconut swirl gelato. It was delicious! There is an additional cost for this treat, but I think $2.95 is a great price for the gigantic scoop that they give you.
Flo's Cafe
Flo's Cafe is a quick-service counter right next to the pool area, you can order pizza, burgers, fries, and sandwiches.
I think it's mostly geared towards kids, but after a few hours at the adult pool, we were ready for pizza and fries. It's standard fare, nothing special but it hits the spot.
The pizza at Flo's Cafe is the same type of pizza that is served at Cabanas.
Cove Cafe
The Cove Cafe is an adult-only coffee shop next to the adult pool. The specialty coffee at Cove Cafe costs extra but if you want something more than the regular Joffrey's coffee by the pool or at Cabanas then this is the place for you.
There are also complimentary desserts in the cafe for you to munch on while enjoying your coffee.
I didn't order any coffee from the Cove Cafe because I didn't want to pay extra when I could get free Joffrey's coffee. Joffrey's is the coffee brand that I drink at home so I was really happy that they had it onboard.
The only coffee-related item that they didn't have was dairy-free creamer. You could call room service for almond milk but that's the only option. Hopefully, they'll start carrying almond or coconut creamer in the future!
Eye Scream Treats
Travis loved the soft-serve ice cream machine! He got a cone almost every day of the cruise. It's located right next to the door that goes out to the pool on Deck 11.
Disney Cruise Room Service
If you don't feel like leaving your stateroom to go to one of the main Disney cruise restaurants, you can always order room service. The Disney cruise room service menu can be found in the top drawer in the desk in your stateroom. Room service is free, but please remember to tip a few dollars depending on how much food you order.
I loved ordering coffee and fruit for breakfast in the morning to enjoy on our verandah and Mickey bars for a snack in the afternoon.
If you bring wine onboard with you, you can order wine glasses and a bottle opener (we brought our own) to be delivered right to your room. We liked to drink the wine in our room because if you bring the bottle to the MDR, they will charge you a $25 uncorking fee. Drinking our wine on the verandah is just fine for me!
We only ordered food off the room service menu once during the trip because there was so much other delicious food to eat.
I ordered a Caprese panini, macaroni and cheese, and chocolate chip cookies. The sandwich was just okay, the mac was pretty tasty but the crumb topping needed to be toasted longer, and the cookies were delish!
Final Thoughts About Disney Cruise Food
There is absolutely no reason that you should ever be hungry while on a Disney cruise! There are so many Disney cruise food options to try, and no matter what your dietary preference is, there's something for everyone to enjoy!
Did I miss your favorite menu item or treat to enjoy on a Disney cruise? Leave a comment below and tell me all about it!
More Disney Cruise Posts to Help You Plan Your Next Cruise!
Disney Cruise Palo Brunch or Palo Dinner: Which is Better?
Everything You Want to Know About a Disney Cruise Pirate Night
159 Disney Cruise Tips I Wish I Would’ve Known Before Our Cruise!
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