But The Food Though

[BrokeMack]

Well, that is a tough situation for Disney. For you it may be a rut, but for others it is disappointment because their favorite menu items have been dropped since their last cruise. At least from what others have posted over the 20 years I have been on these boards.

Yeah, that's pretty much any change, be it rides, parades, etc. Disney makes a change and it divides the fanbase. Except for the Pirate Night menu. Pretty sure no one will shed a tear if it ever goes away.

 

[tvguy]

Yeah, that's pretty much any change, be it rides, parades, etc. Disney makes a change and it divides the fanbase. Except for the Pirate Night menu. Pretty sure no one will shed a tear if it ever goes away.

Or in the parks, with the Main Street Electrical Parade. How many times has that had to have been brought back due to outcry over it being canceled.

 

[Kwami]

Yeah, that's pretty much any change, be it rides, parades, etc. Disney makes a change and it divides the fanbase. Except for the Pirate Night menu. Pretty sure no one will shed a tear if it ever goes away.

I will. I actually like the pirate menu. It's got cornbread, mango, jerk chicken, and pretty good desserts. And yeah, sure, the jerk chicken isn't very spicy. But, nothing on DCL is spicy. The flavor is still pretty good for DCL.

 

[BrokeMack]

I will. I actually like the pirate menu. It's got cornbread, mango, jerk chicken, and pretty good desserts. And yeah, sure, the jerk chicken isn't very spicy. But, nothing on DCL is spicy. The flavor is still pretty good for DCL.

I don't hate the lamb shank either, but the mango soup is like eating a melted smoothie with a spoon. But it's practically a meme around here how much many people hate the pirate menu.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I don't hate the lamb shank either, but the mango soup is like eating a melted smoothie with a spoon. But it's practically a meme around here how much many people hate the pirate menu.

I have no feelings in particular about the pirate menu, but I will say, I love a chilled fruit soup - which I only ever consume on a cruise - because it's exactly like having dessert before dinner. Yum! Haha

 

[Kwami]

I have no feelings in particular about the pirate menu, but I will say, I love a chilled fruit soup - which I only ever consume on a cruise - because it's exactly like having dessert before dinner. Yum! Haha

Yup.

And the mango dip is one of the few dips that isn't mayo-based, too.

 

[bcwife76]

We were on the Wonder Dec 28-Jan 2nd which I think is the second leg of your b2b? We had zero issues with the food so as others have said, very subjective. Can you give more details as to what you found below par or just downright inedible?

 

[disneygeek401]

Not on the Wonder, but I was on the Fantasy in December. While there were one or two things I did not care for, I overall thought the food quality was pretty good.

Granted, it is mass produced cruise line food (hence why they have like 4 appetizers, 6 entrees, etc to pick from every night) but I enjoyed the food. It definitely isn't the best meal or meals I have had in my entire life, but I liked the MDR food. Food is also a very subjective topic, however.

Definitely speak with the head server next time if there are issues. I also think that the individual chefs in each of the MDRs could be an issue. I remember several months ago the team did a review of the Fantasy. I think Panda said that he had a grilled chicken breast in one of the MDRs and it was awful, but he ordered it in another MDR and it was very good. So, there could be inconsistencies in that regard.

 

[Kwami]

Definitely speak with the head server next time if there are issues. I also think that the individual chefs in each of the MDRs could be an issue. I remember several months ago the team did a review of the Fantasy. I think Panda said that he had a grilled chicken breast in one of the MDRs and it was awful, but he ordered it in another MDR and it was very good. So, there could be inconsistencies in that regard.

They're all made in the same kitchen, though...

 

[katmigordon]

Quick take from the Wish last week, I generally agree with yowcruiser (#3). We loved the new quick service. The Market was fine. We liked 1923 and Marvel, but as much as I liked the restaurant overall, I thought the food in Arendelle was not good. This was my mom's first cruise and she thought everything was pretty good (especially all the desserts).

Oh no doubt they are still hitting the desserts out of the park.
It sounds like the Wish has pretty good food which works for us as that is the next Disney cruise we want to take if we're going to take another Disney cruise.

 

[katmigordon]

After reading everything and considering my memories of the food, I think the problem was mainly Artist Palate - the problem was they put us in there 3 times. We hated EVERYTHING about the restaurant we were physically uncomfortable and the food was mostly where we ran into issues, the only thing we could really eat in there was the desserts.

Cabana's was really hit and miss
Pool Deck Food was terribad except the chicken strips which rocked.

We actually did really enjoy Triton's
And we actually did really enjoy Tiana's though I think my biggest issues in there was not understanding why they would put a restaurant in that part of the ship. The rocking of the boat was really bad there and I was dealing with being sea sick. Warning on that subject - no, non drowsy Dramamine is not just as good - it's basically just ginger pills. Which works for some, and some of us need something a bit stronger.

So thank you for making me really think this through - it seems like if we could find a way to avoid ap we might be ok.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I don't love the chairs at Animator's, they are huge and hard to move, so I could totally see that being physically uncomfortable might ruin the experience. Our last two cruises were on Wonder and Magic but they were 13 and 14 night cruises so on some nights, the menus were the same no matter which restaurant you were eating at (if I remember correctly).

I will agree that pool deck food has never been my fave. I like Daisy's because I like being able to get a warm bowl of rice or noodles, or a salad if for some reason I feel like eating salad, very rare.

Have you tried Bonine? The active ingredient is meclizine. It's what works for me and seasickness. I start taking it the day before the cruise and have to take it for at least a few days, then I'm usually good for the rest of the cruise. It is non-drowsy.

 

[MomOTwins]

Oh no doubt they are still hitting the desserts out of the park.
It sounds like the Wish has pretty good food which works for us as that is the next Disney cruise we want to take if we're going to take another Disney cruise.

All the ships IMO are hit or miss. On the Wish for example in Arendalle, my husband had a fish dish that was perfection—the sauce was innovative and complex, fish had a crisp crust and a moist interior—I still think about it from time to time. But my swedish meatballs dish was nightmarishly bad, and I love swedish meatballs whether they are high end or frozen meatballs in jarred gravy. The ones I had on the wish, however, were inedible. The noodles were so overcooked they had congealed together into a chewy, starchy lump. The sauce was both sour and bitter at the same time. And the meatballs were dry and crumbly and completely bland—like someone took a lump of ground meat and cooked it for an hour with no salt, panade, herbs or anything else to give it flavor or texture.

We’ve learned with DCL a few guidelines: First, ask your server for recommendations and listen to them (I broke my own rule with the meatballs, the server did not recommend them but as mentioned I love swedish meatballs and thought they’d be impossible to mess up, haha). The servers do know what the duds are and want you to have a good meal. Second, order a few extra dishes for sharing at the table—then you’ll never go hungry if something is bad. Third, book the adult only restaurant at least once. We’ve rarely been wowed by MDRs, though we usually have pleasant meals when we follow guidelines 1 and 2. But Palo and Remy have always been standouts and give an opportunity for you to feel more indulgent food-wise on the cruise.

Also, I can’t fault DCL too much having recently been on Princess and found their food to be pretty universally terrible, including in all the upcharge restaurants. The cruise model of feeding 4000 people all they can eat does necessarily mean a lower quality compared to a land restaurant to a certain extent.

 

[MomOTwins]

Have you tried Bonine? The active ingredient is meclizine. It's what works for me and seasickness. I start taking it the day before the cruise and have to take it for at least a few days, then I'm usually good for the rest of the cruise. It is non-drowsy.

I second this recommendation. I would not be able to cruise without bonine.

 

[mamaburrito]

I have no problem with them not changing menus but they should have perfected the items by now. Though I’m always happy when we are surprised with some Indian food.

 

[sethschroeder]

We had zero issues with the food so as others have said, very subjective.

People love to say this to defend Disney and others. Its not only subjective it is also objective.

I have personal taste but I can at the same time review food based on ingredient quality, quality of prep, quality of cook, quality of seasoning, and quality of delivery.

Its why someone can both say something tastes great but also is not great food or is an amazing dish but not something they care for.

I used to travel half the year and eat a ton of places. My personal taste is subjective but the overall review of a restaurant or dish I relay to others is objective typically.

If you order beef medium rare but is cooked to 150 that is objectively bad. If you order a steak and it has gristle running through it that is objectively bad. If you order pasta and its premade great value out of a box that is objectively inferior to daily made fresh pasta.

 

[Dug720]

why they would put a restaurant in that part of the ship.

Same location, just different deck than Animator's. Most MDRs on most ships I've been on (not just Disney) are at the aft of the ship on lower decks.

 

[katmigordon]

Have you tried Bonine? The active ingredient is meclizine. It's what works for me and seasickness. I start taking it the day before the cruise and have to take it for at least a few days, then I'm usually good for the rest of the cruise. It is non-drowsy.

Once I scored some reg Dramamine from Guest Services I was ok, but it took me a hot minute to realize that my wife had not actually gotten me the Dramamine I asked for. She was trying to be sweet because she didn't want me to be sleepy - not realizing that it wasn't the same at all.

 

[katmigordon]

Same location, just different deck than Animator's. Most MDRs on most ships I've been on (not just Disney) are at the aft of the ship on lower decks.

I don't understand why they don't put them mid ship like Triton's a more stabilized space better for those who suffer sea sickness, making it easier for them to consume food in that area.

Either way our second trip through Tiana's while I was properly medicated was much better.

 

[Kwami]

Same location, just different deck than Animator's. Most MDRs on most ships I've been on (not just Disney) are at the aft of the ship on lower decks.

The Dream-class ships only have one restaurant aft, thankfully. Disney seems to have somewhat gone backwards with the Wish since that ship has one aft and one almost aft, with only 1923 midship.