Merlot with Mickey: Food and Wine Experiences on the Disney Cruise Line

As I was about to place the deposit on our very first family Disney cruise, a thought popped into my head:  “Are we nuts?”  Yes, I was prepared for a boat load of kids and the occasional toddler tantrum, but what on earth will we eat?? Are we destined to the land of buffet mediocrity?  Or can we piece together a fabulous foodie experience with the Mouse? The answer is yes, with some caveats...

My family and I recently boarded the Disney Dream for a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. The cabins are roomy and perfect for families, the kids clubs keep kiddos of all ages occupied, and the Aquaduck water slide is super fun! But let’s get to the heart of any vacation: the food and wine.

Being a larger cruise ship with a few thousand passengers, the Disney Dream has a nice variety of restaurants.  Daytime dining consists of a large breakfast and lunch buffet at Cabanas, as well as quick service offerings like pizza and chicken fingers at Flo’s Cafe (all day self-serve softserve ice cream was a real hit with my crowd). Given that you are dining with hundreds of your new bff’s, you can expect to wait in line and at times search for a table. A great antidote to the high energy is the lovely outdoor dining patio at Cabanas. Grab your plate and snag a table outside to enjoy the sea air and gorgeous views.  Even better, order room service and enjoy your coffee and croissant on your balcony. On your day at Castaway Cay, you will find two restaurants serving a great BBQ lunch, which is complimentary (the umbrella drinks are not).

Dinners were interesting due to rotation of restaurants.  Each night we were assigned to a specific restaurant with differing menus and themes.  As usual, Disney does not disappoint in its magical settings. The Royal Palace is the spot for princes and princesses, Animator’s Palette offers animation that comes to life and the Enchanted Garden is straight out of a fairy tale.  The choices of food varied, from steaks and lobster to pastas and seafood. Some sample items include Seared Pork Tenderloin, Glazed Portobello Mushrooms, and a Tower of Ahi Tuna and Avocado. You can order as much as you would like off the menu but the portions suited us just fine without seconds.  Importantly, the staff is happy to accommodate any special dietary restrictions or preferences.

Each restaurant offers a wine list, and you can even upgrade to a premium wine package.  I do recommend upgrading if you are a serious wine lover.  The list consists of a wonderful variety of sparkling, red and white wines by the glass and bottle. You will no doubt find some of your favorite American wines but also a nice selection of international varieties. If you really want to enjoy a special bottle from home or from your travels in port, each passenger is allowed to bring on board two bottles of wine in a carry-on bag.  We took advantage of this and opened two fabulous bottles at dinner for a small corkage.

While we found the dinners to be quite good, it was the specialty restaurant experience that was really exciting.  The Disney Dream offers two adult-only restaurants, Palo and Remy.  Palo specializes in Italian cuisine with an Italian wine list.  While we did not have enough time to dine at Palo, I have clients who rave about the food and insist it was one of the best meals they've ever had.  The extra fee to dine at Palo is $30, and it is open for brunch and dinner.

We did have the good fortune to dine at Remy, the Dream’s lovely French restaurant named after the adorable little rat in the movie Ratatouille (even with fine dining, Disney sticks to its themes).  The setting is just exquisite, with plush, elegant decor and a curved wall of windows overlooking the sea (fabulous at sunset!)  The tables are set with Riedel glassware, Frette linens and Christofle silverware as well as china designed exclusively for Remy.  

This food and wine experience was truly exceptional.   The pre-fixe tasting menu offered an interesting blend of old world and new world influences.  Chef Scott Hunnel, from the award-winning Victoria & Albert's at Walt Disney World Resort, and advising Chef Arnaud Lallement, a 3-Michelin-starred chef from the l'Assiette Champenoise restaurant in Champagne, France, collaborated to create French-inspired cuisine with some contemporary American flair.  Our dinner began with a complimentary “Collette,” a chilled Champagne cocktail prepared tableside. We were then presented with an extensive menu of still and sparkling mineral water. The menu offered a wonderful seasonal selection, including a choice of vegetarian options.  I truly appreciated this touch - it allows the diner some flexibility while maintaining the chefs' vision for the meal experience. The dishes were presented as fine works of art, almost too pretty to eat!  Some of the delicacies we enjoyed included langoustine, sablefish and Kobe beef.  One of the highlights was a side-by-side tasting of Kobe and Australian Wagyu beef in a competition for the most flavorful, tender beef possible (verdict: it's a tie).  As if we were not spoiled enough, our waiter unveiled a stunning truffle in a glass dome, to be shaved on our dishes as the ultimate exclamation point to a fabulous meal.  

The wine program was comprised of interesting French and American wines to complement the style of cuisine.  After enjoying a glass of Krug Grand Cuveé, we elected to add wine pairings to the tasting. This truly elevated the experience. The sommelier presented each wine and explained why she chose that particular wine for that course. The selection of wines was lovely, culminating in a golden-hued 2007 Sauternes.  I was quite surprised to see that the Disney Dream has an impressive collection of fine, rare wines in its cellar - from Petrus to Screaming Eagle.  Remy also offers a fantastic glass-enclosed cellar room for private group dinners.  

After dinner, our server rolled out a spectacular gourmet cheese trolley followed by a selection of mouth-watering desserts. As a parting gift, we were presented with a box of exquisite artisan chocolates.

We found the service to be, frankly, absolutely perfect.  Our French-born waiter was friendly yet professional and happy to share anecdotes about local cuisine from his hometown in southern France.  Remy offers a Champagne brunch as well as dinner. and also features an incredible 5-course dessert experience.  The fee to dine at Remy is $125/person for dinner and $75/person for brunch, with additional fees for optional add-ons.  Jackets are required for men for dinner, while brunch is a slightly more relaxed affair.

Beyond the specialty restaurants, the Disney Dream offers an entire section of adult-only entertainment as well as kid-free refuge areas.  My husband and I had a blast tasting libations from the many pool bars, my favorite being the Moët & Chandon cart and mimosas on the sun deck.  There is no shortage of choices for nightlife, with Pub 687 for beer and sports and the Evolution Lounge for martinis and dancing.  At the gorgeous Wine and Champagne bar Pink, you can attend a variety of tastings throughout the day as well as pop in for a tasting or glass of your own.  I was excited to see a nice selection of international sparkling wines beyond the typical labels.  

Overall, Disney offers a great variety of high quality meal options.  You will not avoid lines and a bit of chaos at the buffet, but dinners in the themed restaurants are much more relaxed. And if you are seeking a refined and elegant evening free of flying french fries, the two specialty dining restaurants will not disappoint.  So I am happy to report that, yes, a Disney cruise offers food and wine experiences that are truly - what else - magical.

Have you thought of pairing a great food and wine experience with a family trip?  Shoot me a note below - I am happy to share some fabulous options.