What Are The Dinner Times When Sailing With Disney Cruise Line
by Melissa Roden·February 4, 2019
Lets be honest! One of the reasons children and adults alike enjoy going on a cruise is all of the amazing meals that you get to enjoy that are already included in the cost of your sailing! Disney Cruise Line is no exception! Disney offers a nightly Table Service dining where guests get to visit a rotating list of restaurants offering an eclectic array of delicious treats. At the time of booking, Disney will ask you whether you prefer to enjoy your evening meal during Main or Second Dining.
Apart from selecting the all-important sailing and stateroom, choosing between Main and Second dining is one of the most important decisions youll make regarding your cruise. However, its not clear to a lot of first-time cruisers when these different seatings take place. Thats where we come in!
Disney Cruise Line Dining
Disney Cruise Line® dining is sure to satisfy the appetites of your entire familythanks to fresh, expertly prepared dishes made available 24 hours a day. Featuring diverse menus inspired by some of the worlds most intriguing destinations, and restaurants that are distinctly themed and brimming with charm, its the finest dining at sea.
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Featured dining options include:
- Main Dining Disneys innovative Rotational Dining system lets you rotate to one of 3 distinctly themed restaurants each night, while your servers follow you from venue to venue. There are 2 dinner seatings each night of your cruise. Specific times will vary based on itinerary, dinner is served at approximately 5:45 PM and 8:15 PM . You are invited to select a seating time, based on availability, when you book your cruise.
- Adult Exclusive Dining adults 18 and older can enjoy the magic of a more romantic and elegant dining experience during their vacation.
Other on-board food and beverage options include:
Which Restaurants Serve Breakfast And Lunch On Disney Cruise Ships
In addition to Cabanas and the various quick-service restaurants on board each Disney ship, some of the Main Dining restaurants also serve breakfast and lunch, including:
- Disney Dream: Royal Palace and Enchanted Garden
- Disney Fantasy: Royal Court and Enchanted Garden
- Disney Magic: Lumieres
- Disney Wonder: Tritons
Check your Personal Navigator daily newsletter or the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app on board for specific breakfast and lunch times.
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How Does Disney Cruise Rotational Dining Work
So now we know that there are 3 restaurants on each Disney ship and that you will rotate around them.
The other great thing about the rotational dining system is that you will take your servers with you. This is such a great idea.
It means that your servers get to know you and your family, so that they can be of the best service to you for each dinner.
Disney Cruise Servers are amazing and will go above and beyond to make your dining experience very special.
They will already know your name by the time you even sit down for your first meal! They take the time to get to know your dining preferences so that they can best advise you on which choices you will like from the menu.
They will also get to know which drinks that you like at dinner, so you will find your non alcoholic beverages waiting for you on the second day as you arrive at your table.
If you have any special dietary requirements you can have noted these on your Cruise Personalizer before you embark on your Disney Cruise. This means that your servers will already know about them before you arrive.
However, if for any reason they did not get communicated to them beforehand, always tell your servers about dietary requirements and preferences.
Tipping Policy On Disney Cruises
We’ll make it easy. Of course, you should never feel that a reward is automatically expected from you. But it is customary to give gratuities in recognition of service, which you will most likely be treated to in abundance aboard the ship. As a guideline, may we suggest the following: Per guest/Per cruise
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For your convenience, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs. All gratuities can be charged to your room charge.
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Gratuities: Mostly Not Included
Gratuities for your stateroom host and designated dining servers, including the head server, main server, and assistant server, are not included. Disney lists suggested amounts on its website. Gratuity can be paid in advance or added to your onboard account and paid at the end of the sailing.
There are two exceptions: 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to all bar tabs and 18 percent gratuity is automatically added to spa treatments.
Disney Cruise Dining Times
Each day on your Disney cruise you will dine in one of the rotational dining restaurants.
Each of the Disney ships has three main dining restaurants. Guests rotate around each restaurant so that they dine in each one at least once.
Disney cruise lines are unique as your dining team rotates with you, so you always keep the same wait staff throughout your cruise.
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The Carpet Can Help You
Disneys cruise ships are LARGE. After spending a day splashing around in the pool or eating all of the soft-serve ice cream you can handle, you might find it a bit confusing to find your stateroom. Which way is toward the front of the ship? Which way is toward the back? How do you know where to go when many of the stateroom hallways look the same?
Well, thats just one more reason why you should lookDOWN!
Disney Cruise Line
The carpets are here to help! If youre walking through the stateroom hallways, look down at the carpet design. The carpets generally feature stars. If the stars are pointing straight , then youre walking forward. If the stars are not pointing straight, then youre headed aft!
The maps you see in the carpet can also help. If those maps are right-side up, then youre heading forward.
Look at the Carpet!
More fun facts: the maps on the carpets show the Disney Cruise Line ships and the flags around the cruise wheel on the carpet spell out the name of the ship youre on! So, the next time youre on the ship, remember this phrase: look down to help you get around!
Are Cabanas On Castaway Cay Included On A Disney Cruise
Cabanas at Castaway Cay are a luxurious experience for families or adults, but only for an added fee ranging from about $500 for the adult-only area to $750 or more for family cabanas.
Cabanas are highly sought after and extremely hard to come by, generally sell out at online check-in to those sailing in Concierge or who are Platinum status in Disneys cruise loyalty program.
So, expect prices to continue to rise over time. If you are unable to pre-book a Cabana online, you can ask to have your name added to a waiting list once onboard but chances are slim of getting one at that point.
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Portholes Can Be Deceiving
Throughout the ship, youll find portholes, giving you a view to the outside. One of the spots where youll find portholes on various floors all visible at the same time is the atrium. Thats when you might just notice something unique.
Atrium Space
At least on the Disney Wonder, the portholes actually change in size in the atrium space as part of the illusion of the space. Youll notice that the portholes on the middle floor are a bit bigger than the ones on the higher floor.
Do You See It?
Its sort of similar to what you see with forced perspective, where Disney uses certain visual tricks to alter how big or small a space feels .
Food Allergies And Intolerances
Disney is also well known for accommodating regional food needs for families traveling from abroad and has one of the best track records for accommodating customers with food allergies.
Its not uncommon for the Chef to come out personally to understand a food allergy and ensure that the guests needs are being fully met, or for kitchen staff to remake dishes to accommodate allergy needs.
Disneys food is generally regarded as on par with, and in most cases better than, food on comparable lines.
With little touches of Disney magic and very attentive dining staff, moving between restaurants is a fun experience that really adds to the overall value of a Disney cruise.
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Disney Cruise Main Dining Time
Before I get into the details about your dining time, I want to start from the beginning with the Disney cruise booking process. When you initially book your cruise with DCL, you will be prompted to choose between Main Seating and Second Seating.
Depending on the ship and itinerary you choose, Main Seating should take place at around 5:45 PM. Since the Broadway style shows on the ship tend to start around 6:15 and 8:30, those who dine at the early time would go to the later show.
Im going to give you a heads up that the Main Seating time fills up fast and is often sold out unless you book your cruise far in advance. If you continue reading below, I will give you some tips for getting into the Main Seating time.
Main Dining Aboard Disney Dream
Animators Palate
Dress Code: Tank tops, swim wear or shorts should not be worn for dinner.Cuisine: Contemporary Pacific Rim cuisine with an American flairCost: None, included with cruise fare Meal Period: Dinner Rotational Dining
Savor a dining experience that caters to the magic of animation. Step into an ever-changing environment that begins in black and white, and blooms into the wonderful world of color from Disneys classic animated films. Enjoy both fabulous food and the brilliance of Disneys greatest artists in a marvelous meal thats always a celebration.
Royal Court
Dress Code: Tank tops, swim wear or shorts should not be worn for dinner.Cuisine: French-inspired continental cuisineCost: None, included with cruise fare Meal Period: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Rotational Dining
Find yourself in the center of a classic Disney fairy-tale where much of the restaurants décor is inspired by classic Disney films like Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast. Resplendent décor includes ornate marble floors, a luxurious rose carpet and an elaborate chandelier brimming with glass slippers and roses, along with hand-painted portraits of Disney princesses and princes.
Enchanted Garden
Dress Code: Tank tops, swim wear or shorts should not be worn for dinner.Cuisine: Market-inspired ContinentalCost: None, included with cruise fare Meal Period: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Rotational Dining
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Adult Dining Aboard Disney Wonder
Palo
Dress Code: Dress pants or slacks and a collared shirt are recommended for men. A dress, skirt or pants and a blouse for women is recommended. No shorts, hats, swimwear, tank tops, flip-flops, tennis shoes, or blue jeans with holes.Cuisine: Northern ItalianBooking: Guests will skip the regularly scheduled Main Dining restaurant. Reservations are required.Concierge and Platinum Castaway Club: 120 days in advanceGold Castaway Club: 105 days in advanceSilver Castaway Club: 90 days in advanceFirst Time Cruiser: 75 days in advanceMeal Period: Brunch/DinnerAdditional Fees: Additional Fees Apply
Experience elegant dining in an intimate atmosphere exclusively for adults. Over subtle classical Italian music, this restaurant offers dinner nightly on all cruises, and on cruises that are 4-nights or longer, guests have the option of enjoying brunch as well. Named after the long poles used to push and pull gondolas, Venetian masks adorn the walls, a backlit bar sits at the center and an open kitchen adds to the magic. Elegant glass, inlaid wood paneling and sweeping panoramic floor-to-ceiling ocean views make this the perfect setting for Guests 18 or older looking for a more intimate or romantic experience.
Disney Dream Dining Options
All About Dining On Disney Cruise Line
March 16, 2019 by Disney Cruise Mom
I recently had a request from a first-time cruiser to write a post about all of the dining options onboard, from the main dining rooms, to the adult-only restaurants, to room service, to snacks, and basically everything available to eat on the ships. It can be a bit confusing for first-timers, especially knowing what is included in your cruise fare, what costs extra, and what you need to reserve in advance. So, Im going to attempt to share with you everything I know. It is a lot of information, so I am going to break the food options up by time of day: breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and all day/other. Also, unless I specifically state that there is an extra charge for something, you can assume that it is included in your cruise fare.
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Rotational Dining For Families With Young Kids On The Disney Cruise Line
Diets be warned! When going aboard the Disney Cruise Line, the belt bucket tends to get a little tighter just by looking at all the amazing cruise food! There are plenty of places aboard to grab a quick meal and an ice cream or two. We are thankful however, Disney has superb table service restaurants that are part of the rotation dining offered on all four cruise ships. Check out the notes below to help with your rotational dining experience if traveling as a family with young kids in tow!
1 What Is Rotational Dining?
This concept was new to us before we cruised! Rotational Dining means that each night of your cruise, youll have a scheduled place to dine. Youll rotate through the three restaurant venues offered aboard the Disney Cruise Line. This means if your cruise itinerary is longer than three nights, youll double up on a few of the restaurants. All rotational dining restaurants are included in your overall cruise price, so no bill comes at the end of your meal unless youve purchase alcohol with your meal.
2 Three Venues on Each Ship
Which ship are you cruising with? Each ship has a different lineup of rotational dining restaurants, including the following:
- Disney Magic: Animators Palate, Lumieres, Rapunzels Royal Table
- Disney Wonder: Animators Palate, Tianas Place, Tritons
- Disney Dream: Animators Palate, Enchanted Garden, Royal Palace
- Disney Fantasy: Animators Palate, Enchanted Garden, Royal Court
3 Themed Dining
4 Pick the Early Dining Slot
Food Included On Disney Cruise Line
If you are new to to cruising with Disney Cruise Line, you may be wondering if the restaurants onboard the ship are included in your cruise fare.
Although each ship does provide fine dining options for an additional cost, most of the food onboard is completely free for guests.
In addition to having access to free food, guests with Disney Cruise Line receive some beverages for free as well. You can order drinks such as water, soda, juice, tea, coffee, and milk all at no additional charge.
You will also find drink stations near the buffet on the pool deck. These self service stations provide the beverage options listed above.
If youre curious about the drinking water on the ships, my family finds that the tap water onboard tastes great. The water is filtered and completely safe to drink.
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Shore Excursions: Not Included
None of Disney’s shore excursions are included in the standard rateexcept on Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. There, a number of food items and activities are included, like a barbecue buffet lunch, soft drinks, soft-serve ice cream, youth activities, character experiences, and beach access. Some drinks and activities cost extra, including alcoholic and specialty drinks, bike rentals, hair braiding, inner tube and snorkeling gear rentals, sailboat and Jet Ski rentals, stingray encounters, and souvenirs, among others.
What Time Is Dinner Served On Disney Cruise Ships
Each evening on a Disney cruise, there are two seatings for dinner, the main or early seating, and the second or late seating. The early seating begins sometime between 5:45 PM and 6:15 PM . The late seating begins between 8:00 PM and 8:30 PM.
Your assigned seating time will be noted on the dining tickets youll find in your stateroom on embarkation day.
Want to change your seating time for your cruise? You can submit a request through DCLs Planning Center.
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Payments / Refunds On On Disney Cruises
Effective Sept.11, 2018, Disney Cruise Line is adjusting its Final payment and Cancellation Policy:
- Final payment for all non-suite/non-concierge staterooms on Cruises 1-5 Nights will be due at 90 days prior to arrival and cancellation fees will begin at 89 days versus 74 days.
- Final payment for all non-suite/non-concierge staterooms on Cruises 6 Nights or more will be due at 120 days prior to arrival and cancellation fees will begin at 119 days versus 89 days.
- Specific final payment and cancellation policies have been eliminated for holiday sailings and sailings where the Embark and Debark is a non-U.S. port
The deposit requirement is for: All new Bookings, Bookings in which the sail date has changed, and Bookings that are reinstated.
Final Payment To finalize your reservation, simply apply payment. Your full and final payment depends on the length of your cruise the embark and debark port if you are staying in a suite/concierge stateroom or a non-suite/non-concierge stateroom and if you are sailing on a Holiday date:
Below is a review of the final payment due date and cancellation policy for all sailings and categories:
Cruises 1 to 5 Nights where embark or debark is a U.S. Port
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