One of the best things about going on a cruise is the food. If you’re planning a Disney Cruise, enjoy this in-depth guide to dining and restaurants on the Disney Wonder. No matter what your dining style, you’ll be able to find food and dining you love.
Here’s everything you need to know about where – and what and when – to eat on the Disney Wonder, whether you’re planning to combine a cruise with a trip to
Disney Cruise Ship Rotational Dining
Rotational dining is unique to Disney Cruise Line. You’ll be assigned a different dining room each night of your cruise, which is included in the price of your cruise. The Disney Cruise Line Navigator App will tell you where you eat each night. Your servers will also remind you where to go the next night as well as make sure you understand your next day’s breakfast options.
The cool thing about rotational dining is that your servers go with you. That’s right; you won’t have different servers in each dining room. Your servers will follow you from location to location, and they will make every effort to get to know you and your family throughout the cruise. The Disney Wonder has three main dining rooms: Tiana’s Place (Deck 3 aft), Triton’s (Deck 3 midship), and Animator’s Palate (Deck 4 aft.)
Each menu includes bread service. The bread comes with butter and some type of dip or sauce. You’ll also find plant-based or vegetarian options and a “lighter notes” menu, including a salad, a plain steak, plain salmon, and a plain chicken breast. Each venue has unique desserts, a signature dessert, and a sugar-free dessert option.
Disney Cruise Line Dining – Disney Wonder Main Dining Rooms
There are three sit-down dining restaurants included in the price of your cruise: Triton’s, Tiana’s Place, and the Animator’s Palate.
Triton’s
In keeping with the statue of Ariel at the entrance, Triton’s decor is inspired by The Little Mermaid. The appetizer menu choices included a duck confit, deep-fried brie, and escargot.
The soup and salad menu included French onion soup, leek and potato soup, and a Bosc pear salad. Mains included pasta with lobster and tomato, oven-baked salmon, roasted duck, rack of lamb, and chateaubriand.
The dessert list included:
- A Grand Marnier souffle.
- Apple tartine.
- Strawberry shortcake sundae.
- Creme brulee.
- A chocolate sponge cake soaked in coffee syrup with chocolate ganache.
This entry-level French cuisine is designed to please both sophisticated palates and picky eaters. And, if you’ve been on the Disney Dream or Disney Magic and think this menu sounds similar to Royal Palace or Lumiere’s, you’re spot on. The menus are nearly identical.
Tiana’s Place
Don’t confuse this with Tiana’s Palace, which is coming soon to Disneyland in California. Tiana’s Place is delightfully The Princess and the Frog-themed, with a New Orleans-style Creole ambiance. Tiana visits the tables to welcome guests to her restaurant, and there’s a musical number featuring everyone’s favorite alligator, Louis. Note that Tiana doesn’t sign autographs in the dining room, but you can catch her in princess garb at one of the scheduled character meet-and-greets.
Appetizers include a Cajun-style charcuterie board, Boudin fritters, shrimp and grits, and ahi tuna tartare. Soup and salad offerings include a seafood pepper pot soup, creamy tomato soup, and an iceberg wedge salad.
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The main dishes include Cajun-spiced sea bass on a bed of jambalaya, prime rib, and pasta with pancetta, mushrooms, spinach, and peas.
The dessert list included:
- Beignets with chocolate dipping sauce.
- Bananas foster sundae.
- Pecan nut tart.
- White chocolate bread pudding.
- Six-layer chocolate sponge cake.
The food at Tiana’s Place has more seasoning and a little more depth than the other main dining room menus. I’m not labeling the other dining rooms bland or subpar in any way, but the Cajun flair takes this menu up a few notches.
Animator’s Palate
I’ll preface this by saying I adore Animator’s Palate, my favorite restaurant across the fleet, with Tiana’s Place being a very close first runner-up. Animator’s Palate is your favorite Disney animation coming to life before your eyes with delicious food on the side.
The entertainment is truly spectacular. The Wonder has everyone’s favorite Animation Magic, which is one of my favorite parts of Animator’s Palate and Disney Cruising. Guests get a placemat to draw on when they first sit down to dinner. The servers will collect the placements, and the drawings magically become a special part of the entertainment.
Delicious Food
Appetizers include smoked salmon tartare, sliced serrano ham, black truffle pasta, and tomato tart. The choices for soups and salads are butternut squash soup, baked potato cheddar soup, an arugula salad, and a chicken salad.
Entrees are pasta bolognese, tuna steak, thyme-seasoned chicken breast, herb-crusted pork, and ginger-dusted beef tenderloin with wasabi mashed potatoes that are a fantastic explosion of flavors – and I’m not a huge red meat eater. The wasabi mashed potatoes are a don’t miss – even if you opt not to get the beef, ask for a side of wasabi mash – it’s that good.
Desserts at the Animator’s Palate include
- A lemon icebox pie.
- Cookies and cream sundae.
- Crunchy walnut cake.
- Cheesecake with a layer of chocolate fudge.
Early or late dining
Guests will choose between early or late dining when booking their Disney Wonder cruise. Early seating is at 5:45 p.m., and second seating is at 8:00 p.m. This may vary by cruise, and when the Disney Wonder is in European or South Pacific ports, the dining times may be pushed later. Once you choose, you’re locked in, and there is no flipping back and forth between early or late seatings.
I always opt for late dining and did so even when my kids were little – they’re teenagers now. I find the second dining less crowded and more relaxed. The wait staff must turn the dining rooms between the first and second dining sessions so the atmosphere isn’t as inviting for guests who want to linger over their dessert. If you can handle eating a little later, I think you have a better dining experience if you choose second seating.
The Animator’s Palate menu doesn’t vary from ship to ship, and that’s OK. This menu has been honed, perfected, and popular with DCL superfans. I wouldn’t mind seeing them expand the menu, but my feelings would be hurt if some of my favorites disappeared.
Additional Dining Included On the Disney Wonder
There are many other places to eat included in the cost of your Disney Wonder cruise. There’s a very popular buffet, food stations on deck, and room service.
Cabanas
Cabanas is the Disney Wonder’s buffet eatery. Serving a wide variety of items for both breakfast and lunch, Cabana’s offers indoor and outdoor seating.
Room Service
Most room service items on the Disney Wonder are included in the cost of your cruise. A variety of soups, salads, pizza, sandwiches, and desserts (even Mickey ice cream bars!) can be delivered to your room 24 hours a day. Really.
Certain items on the room service menu are not free, so make sure you’re paying attention when you order. Alcohol, canned soda, and snacks such as candy and popcorn aren’t included.
Pete’s Boiler Bites
Burgers, hot dogs, tacos, chicken fingers, and more.
Pinocchio’s Pizzeria
Enjoy a slice of cheesy, delicious pizza pie.
Eye Scream Treats
Unlimited soft-serve ice cream is a Disney Cruise Line favorite.
Daisy’s DeLites
This pool deck quick service option has lighter options such as fruit, sandwiches, salads, and bowls.
Preludes
Preludes are the concession stand near the theater that serves popcorn that you can smell a mile away, candy and other snacks, sodas, and alcohol. You can also order from a server in the theater before the show starts.
Cove Cafe
The Cove Cafe serves specialty coffee and tea, with and without alcohol. Aside from the self-service coffee machine in the Concierge Lounge, the Cove Cafe is the only place to get decent coffee on the ship, and if you like your morning java, make sure you’re budgeting for it.
While the drinks at the Cove Cafe aren’t included in the cost of your cruise, the snacks are.
There are usually a variety of pastries in a display case that are free to adult guests (the Cove Cafe is located in the adult-only area of the ship. If you visit between 5:00-7:00 p.m., you might get lucky and find antipasto.
Adult Fine Dining on the Disney Wonder
The Disney Wonder has one adult-only fine dining venue, Palo. There is no Remy on the Disney Wonder, only the larger ships have two adult fine dining options. If you’re looking for a sans kids dinner or brunch date, a coveted reservation at Palo is the way to go.
Disney Wonder Adult Dining Experience: Palo
Palo serves dinner and brunch on sea days. Dinner is $45 per person, and brunch is $40 per person. The prices are always subject to change. I’m a big fan of Palo Brunch. Although the buffet portion of Palo Brunch is no more, the current menu is more than ample, and you’re brought an antipasto tray early on in the meal with most of the things the old buffet used to have.
The brunch menu includes tasty delights such as soups, waffles and pancakes, benedicts and omelets, and Italian-inspired dishes such as calzones, pizza, pasta, and chicken parmesan. The current dessert menu includes a light vanilla berry panna cotta, a limoncello torte, and traditional tiramisu. While I can’t find fault with the desserts, the brunch menu is so excellent and robust that I didn’t have much room. I didn’t think any of the desserts were worth saving room for, and I recommend you go for it and sample as much of the brunch menu as you can hold.
They’ll keep bringing you food as long as you can handle it.
For dinner, Palo has an extensive selection of steaks and seafood that are a little more thoughtfully prepared than what you’ll find on the main dining room menus. If you’re a foodie or really crave a good steak or premium seafood, book your dinner at Palo.
The Palo brunch atmosphere is elevated and bright. The sparkling ocean views add to the ambiance. The dinner vibe is more romantic and shadowed. If you arrive before sunset you’ll be treated to dreamy views from the restaurant’s many windows, but after sundown, the darker ambiance takes over, making it cozy and intimate.
Palo Dress Code
Formal or semi-formal attire is recommended. Dress casual attire with a polished look is permitted (such as dress pants, jeans in good condition, collared shirts and blouses, and lifestyle shoes). Clothing such as T-shirts, swimwear, and sports attire is not permitted in Disney’s adult-exclusive dining spaces.
Bars on the Disney Wonder
These spaces are open to guests of all ages before 7:00 p.m. After that, they are adults only.
Azure
Azure is an ocean-inspired retreat that’s a great place to relax with a drink and conversation after dinner. If you seek more activity, Azure is often the spot for adults-only entertainment such as games, variety acts, silent disco, live music, and more. Check the Navigator app for the schedule of activities.
Cadillac Lounge
This whimsical car-inspired bar is sophisticated without being at all stuffy. Adults can listen to live piano music, enjoy a drink, and take in ocean views.
Crown & Fin Pub
O’Gill’s Pub is a British pub-themed sports bar and lounge where guests can catch sports on the big-screen TVs or enjoy a trivia game. There’s often a pub grub-style buffet in the evenings if you find yourself a bit peckish.
Signals
A pool bar is located near the adults-only pool.
Promenade Lounge
This “blink and you’ll miss it” lounge on Lounge on Deck 3 is a fun, tucked-away spot to enjoy a cocktail before dinner.
The Always Family-Friendly D Lounge
Looking for a family-friendly place to hang out and enjoy games that everyone can play? Check out the D Lounge on Deck 4 for family quiz shows, karaoke, and more.
Dining on Disney’s Castaway Cay
Most Disney cruises leaving from Port Canaveral include a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. If being on a private island in the Caribbean sounds super-dreamy, let me assure you, it is!
Better yet, most of your food and drinks are included at Castaway Cay. A barbeque lunch buffet with burgers, hot dogs, chicken, salmon, and all the fixings is served from about noon until about 2:30 p.m. Make sure to listen to the announcements; they’ll let you know when lunch is being served. The buffet includes soft drinks and soft-serve ice cream. Extras like alcoholic beverages and smoothies are not included.
Choices galore and you won’t go hungry on board the Disney Wonder
Whether your style is a grab-and-go burger on deck while hanging out at the pool, swanky fine dining, or sampling the delights in one of the ship’s three main dining rooms, the Disney Wonder offers endless, tasty dining options.
Disney Wonder Ship Facts
The Disney Wonder is 964 feet long, has 11 decks, and 875 staterooms that can accommodate 2,700 passengers and 950 crew. The ship’s atrium features Art Nouveau styling and a statue of Ariel from The Little Mermaid. All Disney ships have unique stern art, and the Disney Wonder’s stern art features Donald Duck and his adorable but mischievous nephews.
The Disney Wonder is my forever favorite ship. I’ve sailed on the Disney Magic, Disney Wish, and Disney Dream and I’m booked on the Disney Fantasy. I love the layout and intimate feeling of the smaller ships and I think the Wonder has the best food.
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