Disney Dream — Dining Overview

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If you’re like me, one of the best parts of any vacation is finding new places to eat. Well, we found lots to enjoy on our too-short stay on the new Disney Dream.

For families, the Dream offers your basic fast-food options at Cabanas and Flo’s Cafe, with counters themed after various characters from the Disney-Pixar film “Cars,” both located on Deck 11.

Cabanas is a food court, with 16 specialized food stations, each designed like a beach cabana with colorful awnings. Disney details decorate the area, including a flock of seagulls from the Disney-Pixar animated film “Finding Nemo.” Two hand-crafted mosaic tile walls — each more than 25 feet in length — depict an underwater scene from “Finding Nemo.” In the evenings, the restaurant transforms into a table-service casual dining experience, where dinner entrees are cooked to order.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here are some photos to give you an idea of the area and the fare.

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Flo’s Cafe, which includes Luigi’s Pizza, Fillmore’s Favorites and Tow Mater Grill, is for those looking for a quick bite to eat near Donald’s Pool on Deck 11. Pizza, sandwiches, and the like are on the bills of fare.

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There are also frozen treats available in the Donald’s Pool area on Deck 11. Eye Scream (with a Monsters Inc. theme) and Frozone Treats (The Incredibles) feature ice cream and smoothies, respectively.

When it comes to table service restaurants, the Dream has several moderate spots that range from simple to elegant.

The Enchanted Garden is a casual restaurant inspired by the gardens of Versailles. By day, the restaurant feels like a brightly lit conservatory, not unlike Walt Disney World’s Crystal Palace. There are trellises with green arches, and custom glass “flower” light fixtures drop down from above. More than 600 light panels arch across the ceiling like a glass canopy.

At night, the ambience magically transforms to an evening scene with a twinkling field of stars overhead. The light-fixture flowers “bloom” and become infused with color, wall sconces open to become beautiful folding fans, paintings are illuminated in a nighttime perspective and the centerpiece fountain is basked in shimmering light.

Breakfast and lunch are buffet, dinner is full-service, with specialties such as grilled New York strip steak, pan-seared sea bass and lobster ravioli.

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Royal Palace is inspired by classic Disney films like “Cinderella,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty.” There’s a hand-blown centerpiece chandelier with glass slippers and marble floors, and gold accents around the room.

At Royal Palace, guests feast on dishes such as lobster and jumbo shrimp, escargot, Dijon-roasted rack of lamb and beef tenderloin with lobster medallions. The wine list features an excellent selection of Old World wines. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at this restaurant.

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Animator’s Palate is a “re-imagined” version of the signature Disney Cruise Line restaurant that brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room. The venue is decorated with an animator motif, reinforced by pillars throughout the restaurant fashioned like huge pencils and brushes. There are character sketches, maquettes (three-dimensional character models), film strips and other tools of the animation trade. Scenes and characters from popular Disney and Disney-Pixar films adorn the walls. As a special nod to Mickey Mouse, the contemporary dining room features red and yellow colors and a trademark design — Mickey Mouse pants with two bright yellow buttons.

But after diners are seated, the restaurant is transformed: You’re magically transported to an undersea world with views of a coral reef all around, setting the stage for a special visit from Crush, the sea turtle from the Disney-Pixar film “Finding Nemo.” More than 100 video monitors on the walls of the restaurant are involved in the dinner show experience. Crush character swims from window to window, “working the room,” engaging guests in real-time conversation about his life and world.

The cuisine combines fresh flavors with culinary flair, with selections such as smoked salmon tartare, stir-fry vegetables, lemon-thyme chicken and a trio of veal. Wines from California and the Pacific Rim complement the menu.

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Of course, you can always dine in your room. Room service offers you the chance to feast on fresh, made-to-order meals in the comfort of your stateroom.

But if you’re looking for something a little more refined, the Dream can accommodate you. Two “adult” dining options are sure to please.

I was lucky enough to dine at Palo the second night of our two-night cruise. I knew from reading about Disney’s Magic and Wonder that Palo was an upscale Italian restaurant exclusively for adults, but I had no idea that the whole experience there would be so special.

Palo features a semi-circular design, with floor-to-ceiling windows and raised banquettes along one side. Custom art, warm wood tones and rich red, green and gold jewel tones create a refined, Italian-inspired décor.

Palo features both antipasti selections and six different kinds of pizzas to start with. It also has fresh pastas, seafoods and meats prepared with Italian touches. Desserts include classic tiramisù and Palo’s signature chocolate soufflé, which I must admit is worth the half-hour wait it takes to prepare!

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Finally, there is Remy. Remy, Remy, Remy. While I didn’t have the chance to experience an actual meal in this exclusive restaurant, billed as the Disney Cruise Line’s first-ever premier dining spot, I did attend a private tasting there, which allowed me a glimpse of the decor and a few bites of what’s on offer.

From the outset, you know this is a special place. Dining at Remy requires an additional charge of $75 per person, in addition to the cost of wine and alcoholic beverages. Wine pairings selected from the French list are an additional $99. Plus there’s a dress code that requires men to wear a dress jacket, dress pants and shoes (ties are optional). For the ladies, cocktail dresses, evening dresses, pant suits or dressy skirts and blouses are the options.

Located on Deck 12 Aft, across from Palo, Remy features French-inspired, gourmet cuisine by two award-winning chefs, Chef Arnaud Lallement from l’Assiette Champenoise, a Michelin two-star restaurant just outside Reims, France, and Chef Scott Hunnel from award-winning Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney World Resort. The entire concept is executed by executive chef Patrick Albert.

The decor borrows, subtly, from the hit Disney-Pixar film “Ratatouille.” The softly lit main dining room with seating for 80 is designed in art nouveau style, while the famous Remy character is subtly and artfully integrated into the design of the upholstery. A private Chef’s Table dining room, Chez Gusteau (inspired by the fictional Paris restaurant in “Ratatouille”), seats eight. Guests also may be seated in the glass-walled wine room, Remy’s Vault, amid more than 900 bottles of wine.

Dinner at Remy starts with a signature chilled Taittinger Champagne cocktail made tableside, followed by eight to nine small courses complemented by a stellar wine list. Menu items include smoked bison with fennel salad and blood oranges; lobster with vanilla, bisque and lobster roe foam; wild loup de mer; Australian Wagyu; a tomato tart with Parmesan espuma; coastal turbot with vin jaune sauce and gnocchi, and young pigeon pie with foie gras, spinach and tomato. Desserts include a vanilla-poached pear and a dark chocolate praline with cocoa sherbet.

From Remy’s Vault, 22 wines are selected as the best of the best, presented by white-gloved sommeliers in an elegant velvet box that opens like a book with the name of each wine engraved on a silver-plated plaque. The list includes a 1947 Château Cheval Blanc, another nod to “Ratatouille” (the wine requested by the movie’s food critic). Considered one of the best vintages in the world, a single bottle of Château Cheval Blanc retails for $25,000.

As you can see, dining on the Disney Dream, does indeed range from the sublime to the ridiculous!

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You can find the menus for many of these restaurants HERE. (More menus are being added daily, as fast as I can type!)

NOTE: Members of the AllEars Team were invited on this media cruise, which was paid for by the Disney Company.

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Debra Martin Koma wrote about food, travel and lifestyle issues for a number of local and national publications before she fell in love with Walt Disney World on her first visit — when she was 34! She's returned to her Laughing Place more times than she can count in the ensuing years, and enthusiastically shares her passion with readers of AllEars.Net and AllEars®. Deb also co-authored (along with Deb Wills) PassPorter's Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line, a travel guide designed for all travelers to Walt Disney World who may require special attention, from special diets to mobility issues.

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20 Replies to “Disney Dream — Dining Overview”

  1. Hi, thanks for all the useful info. Do you know how cold/warm the pools are at the end of January? Also, how about the water at Castaway Cay and at Atlantis in Nassau?

  2. We have a cruise at the end of January 2012 on the Dream for the first time. Trying to find out what the dining rotation is for the 4-night Bahama cruise. We have a reservation at Remy and want to decide to keep it or see if we’re dining at one of the new restaurants.

  3. We are leaving for our Dream cruise in a week. I am very cocerned about the dress code. I have a 14 yr old boy, can he wear dress shorts each night to dinner or does he need pants? Also do the men have to wear pants to dinner or can they wear dress shorts? One last question do the men need dress shirt for the dining or can they wear polos?

    Deb Koma replies: I checked with Deb Wills on this, since she has cruised with Disney MANY times. She said, “I think if a 14 year old wears dress shorts he would be fine! In terms of men — polo shirts are FINE, dress shirts not needed. On nights deemed casual, I’m guessing dress shorts for men would work, but not on the other nights.”

  4. Are young children allowed to wear khaki shorts to dinner (in the Royal Palace, Animator’s Palate, etc)? Thanks for your help!

    Yes, they can 🙂

  5. I’m concerned about the casual dining code. It states, “no shorts”. I’m curious if it includes dressy khaki shorts as well. Not sure what to bring for my boys to wear.
    Thanks.

  6. Hi Deb! Thanks for all the great info. I just got off the Dream last weekend and had a fantastic time. This summer, I’m taking my 16 year old sister on a 5-night cruise. I’ve been telling her about the ship and she is thrilled. One question we both have – did you discover whether the drinks at the coffee bar in Vibe have any fee associated? Or is it all-you-can-drink coffee and smoothies there for the teens?

  7. Do you happen to know the time of the early dinner vs late dinner? I am trying to book the babysitting in advance online.

    Thanks!

    Deb Koma replies: Early seating is at 6, late seating is at 8:30 p.m.

  8. What food items are an additional cost?

    AllEars: Dining at the 2 specialty restaurants are an extra cost. Palo is $20 per person for dinner and Remy is $75 per person. Smoothies are an additional cost as are any alcoholic beverages. Regular and decaf coffee and tea are included in the cost, specialty coffees and teas are additional.

  9. How is the coffee??

    Deb Koma replies: LOL! That’s a good question. I only had coffee at Animator’s Palate the morning before we got off the ship, and I didn’t think it was too bad at all.

  10. For the poster that asked about gluten free dining: While we haven’t been on the Dream (yet!), we have sailed gluten free on the Magic and did not have a problem our entire trip! Make sure you advise DCL prior to the cruise and you will have nothing to worry about! Both my daughters are gluten free and they ate like princesses the entire week. Breakfasts and lunch took a bit longer but our amazing dinner team (Michelle, Liam and Jason) had warm gf rolls and treats waiting for the girls each night and took their orders in advance so there was no extra wait. I can’t wait to cruise with DCL again, the Dream looks amazing:)

  11. I recently had the opportunity to dine at both Remy and Palo. Both were delightful.

    My wife and I had two separate five course meals, one prepared by the French chef, the other by the American from V&A.

    My wife’s langoustine first course was one of the most heavenly things I’ve ever put in my mouth, and my smoked bison second course was delicious. The only mis-step of the entire evening was the Australian Wagyu beef we both had. Not only was hers overcooked, both of our cuts were tough – completely out of character with near-fork-tender Wagyu beef.

    Our server and the maitre’d immediately asked what they could do to make up for the disappointment. We were brought the cheese cart and each selected three to five delicious cheeses, while the wine steward poured us both another glass of superb Bordeaux, a 2003 St. Gloria from the St. Julien growing area. Speaking of wine, my wife ordered a glass of white to begin her meal, and finished with a glass of red. I chose the five course wine pairing, and I must say that the sommelier, young Alex, hit it out of the park on all five selections, from the starting riesling that went with my lobster to the lovely Sauternes to accompany dessert.

    Our desserts were good (hers, a rich chocolate dessert) and sublime (the most exquisite poached pear I’ve ever had). These were followed by two additional desserts from the chef by way of apology – hers was a white chocolate purse of Meyer Lemon cream filling, and mine was a lemon and light pastry combination that I can’t recall the name of. I can tell you that it was, however, easily the best dessert of my life.

    Following THAT, the chef sent out several more sweets – nougats, fresh caramels, home-made marshmallows (to die for), hand made lollipops and a couple light pastries with honey glaze.

    Even with the miscue of the beef, this was one of the best meals I’ve ever had.

    Palo was lovely as well – the Sicilian marinated and grilled shrimp were a big hit at our table, and my Ossu Bucco was perfect over saffron risotto. It also came with a proper marrow spoon, so that I could extract the considerable (it was a large shank section) sweet marrow from the center of the bone. My wife’s ravioli was rich and meaty, fully aligned with the exceptional Amarone that I sprang for.

    And as already reported, the chocolate souffle was perfect – adding into its center some creme anglaise, hot chocolate and (at our server’s recommendation) a scoop of vanilla gelato was gilding the lily – great dessert!

    Dinner at Remy, as you might expect with five courses, was leisurely. At Palo, with only antipasti, appetizer, entree and souffles all around the four of us, took just over three hours – a bit long, we felt, but great food nonetheless.

    At only a $20 premium, Palo is a bargain – not only for great food, but also for the quieter adult-only atmosphere. Remy stretches you at $75 per head more, but in my estimation was well worth a special splurge.

    Of course, selecting fine wines will add further to your bill, but this is part and parcel of eating ashore, so I was not at all troubled by it on these special nights.

    I recommend Palo with ease, and Remy with great enthusiasm, but only for those wishing a very, very special evening of food.

  12. Deb, Thank you for sharing all of this with us, everything looks so wonderful! I am just curious if you happened to read about any Gluten Free options on board? I know that the Disney parks has made everything so easy for those with allergies, so I’m imagining the Cruise line would not let me down?
    I can’t wait until I too can experience the Disney Dream! 🙂

    Deb Koma replies: Jan, I did not see any specific mention of gluten-free foods on the ship, sorry, but I imagine that if you notify your server they will do everything they can to accommodate you — just as they do in the parks. Deb Wills is on the Dream’s maiden voyage this week — I’ll be sure to remind her to ask about this!

  13. Going on the Dream in just one week and looking forward to everything the ship has to offer, including the amazing dining experiences! What was the dress code for dinner in the main restaurants? Is there a “formal dinner?” Also, do you recall seeing any soft pretzels in the quick service restauarants? Thanks!

    Deb Koma replies:

    There is a fairly strict dress code for Remy and Palo, the two more exclusive restaurants. For Remy, the dress code requires men to wear a dress jacket, dress pants and shoes (ties are optional). For the ladies, cocktail dresses, evening dresses, pant suits or dressy skirts and blouses are the options. For Palo, Dinner dress code is dress shirt or jacket for men and dress or pantsuit for women — no jeans. Brunch and High Tea are “cruise casual” — no jeans, shorts, swimwear or tank tops.
    The other three restaurants are billed as “family dining”, so I think resort casual clothing is appropriate — although Royal Palace seems to be a bit more elegant and you might want to dress a little nicer for it.

    As for soft pretzels… I don’t remember seeing any, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t there. There was just so much to take in! I’ll ask Deb Wills to check when she’s on the Maiden Voyage this week.

  14. I understand that there is a charge for the smoothies, but what about the ice cream?

    Deb Koma replies: No, as I understand it, there is no extra charge for the ice cream.

  15. Remy sounds wonderful! Just curious about seating; if it’s just my husband and I in our party, do we sit with other guests as well? Going for our anniversary in June!

    Deb Koma replies: Oh, no — you have your own table. This is a very upscale, exclusive restaurant. As I noted, there’s a $75 surcharge per person just to dine here, and of course your wine and other alcohol is extra, too. But just from the few samples I tried, it’s well worth it. I’ll look forward to your comments when you return! Happy Anniversary!

  16. I was wondering what the price of a bottle of beer is. They also have a deal where you get 6 beers in some type of cooler, do you know the price of that? You can buy that on Castaway Cay. Also, can you list the children’s menu for the sit down dinners? We’ll be traveling with 5 picky kids. We’ll be there for the 2/17th cruise, can’t wait. Also, is there a place where we could check the water temperature, we booked a snorkle cruise and wanted to make sure the water was warm enough to go.

    Deb Koma replies: Let’s see if I can answer all these questions!

    1. I believe a bottle of beer was $5.25 but I can’t find it on any of the menus I took photos of. We’ll find out and publish on the site when we do.

    2. I don’t know about the beer cooler, but I do have info on a Wine plan that I haven’t gotten online yet.

    3. We will get the kids’ menus online as soon as we can. We’re working on it!

    4. I saw water temps posted on a board when I first arrived at Castaway Cay, but I’m sure that the cast members will be able to tell you even before you disembark that morning.

  17. What is the best seating/show time to book?

    Deb Koma replies: That depends on your preference, really. It seems that lots of families with children go to the early dinner seating, so you might want to take that into consideration.

  18. Wonderful photos and video of all the very beautiful ship views and restaurants. Thank you for taking the time to write and show this great report.

  19. Thanks for the great information! We will be crusing on the Dream in July! Are there children’s options in the sit-down restraurants? I have a son who eats pizza and little else. Thanks!

    Deb Koma replies: I’m sure there must be — it’s a Disney ship, after all! I just forgot to ask about children’s menus, sorry. Deb Wills be back on the Dream this week — she’ll check then.

  20. Fantastic, Deb!!! I cannot wait to experience the dining myself.
    Do you happen to recall if there is sushi anywhere on board?

    Deb Koma replies: Yes, Mary Jo, I did see some sushi (try saying that 3 times fast!). Cabanas has a sushi section — I didn’t try any, but it was freshly made, looked great!