The Florida Foodie
Feasting on Waves: Dining on the Disney Dream
By Saucy Sarah
Cruising is a fun way to see the world, and Disney does it as Disney only can, with lots of magic. Sailing from several US ports, the Disney cruise line offers itineraries that fit any family’s wishes. Though each ship is unique, one thing remains the same, the impeccable quality of the food offered by each ship. The foodie will not be disappointed in the bounty and quality of service found.
My family and I recently took a three night trip to the Bahamas aboard the Disney Dream, the fleet’s newest and biggest ship that sails out of Port Canaveral, Florida. It was our first sailing experience with Disney and we were all impressed by the whole voyage. The ship is focused on catering to a family’s every whim and wish and that extends to the dining options on board.
Casual Dining includes several walk-up eateries that are open early and close late in the evening. Most dining options are included in the cruise fare. On the Dream, there is a pizza place, a sandwich shop, a grill, and a soft-serve ice cream station. These are the ideal places to grab a quick lunch or snack while playing in the pool or sunbathing. The grill even offers an impressive hamburger topping bar so you can create your favorite burger concoction!
In addition to the quick service eateries, the dream offers a casual buffet-dining option for breakfast and lunch at their restaurant, Cabanas, located on deck 11 next to the pools and quick-service stations. The buffet is a popular place for breakfast and lunch, so be sure to go early. I was very impressed with the endless array of offerings including, the ever-in-demand Mickey waffles for breakfast and an enticing cold seafood station—including stone crabs—for lunch. There is something for everyone, and all the items are prepared with high standards. The eggs benedict I had one morning are now in my top five best benedicts of all time; it was that good. At night, Cabanas opens as a casual, sit-down restaurant offering family-friendly dinner options for those who seek a simpler fare.
The highlight of dining on the Disney Dream is the dinner rotating restaurant experience. It is not to be missed! Each night you dine at a different restaurant on board the Dream. Your wait staff remains the same, joining you each night in the different establishments, but you get to try new themed menus and experience a new environment each night. This makes dinner very exciting and adventurous. Our favorite restaurant was the Animator’s Palate. Here you dine and interact with Crush from Disney’s, Finding Nemo, movie on giant screens. The food has an Italian/Caribbean flare and all was delicious.
The main ingredient in what makes Disney Dream dining so spectacular is the staff. They go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure you are taken care of and enjoy all of your meals. My oldest son has autism and has many sensory issues when it comes to food. Our servers made sure that he was served his favorite foods each night, even though they were not on the menu. This made him feel very special in a world where he is typically treated as an odd man out. I cannot express my gratitude for this seemingly small gesture. You feel pampered every moment of your meal.
For the adventurous foodie, The Disney Dream offers two premium dining experiences, Remy and Palo, for adult-only dining. There is an additional fee per person to dine at these exclusive restaurants, but they are well-worth the charge. Palo offers a contemporary Italian menu prepared by world-class chefs. Remy, a more upscale dining experience, offering classic French-inspired dishes created by some of the best chefs in the world. This is a rare opportunity to sample some fine cuisine while sailing the seas. For the passionate foodie, these experiences are not to be passed up.
In addition to the various dining options on board, the Dream also offers several wine and liquor tasting lectures. For the kids, the impressive Kids Club hosts cooking classes for specific age groups throughout the duration of your cruise. The kids club also offers special kids-only dinners on certain nights of your voyage where your kids can dine with their friends and counselors and give you some adult-dining time.
A Disney cruise has something for everyone, so book your next adventure, bring some roomy pants, and prepare for a tasty adventure on the high seas!
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In her previous life, Sarah, a Palm Beach County Native, spent ten years working in various high-end eating establishments around South Florida. She is currently a fiction thesis candidate in the MFA program at Florida International University where she also teaches creative writing and rhetoric. If that is not enough, Sarah is also the owner of Cakes by Sarah, a local custom cake shop. Sarah lives in Lake Worth with her husband and two beautiful boys. “Food, fiction, and family are my life.”