Magical Kingdoms Disney Blog

Where can you eat until you burst and not have to part with a penny?

Onboard the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder ships!

Although, strictly, you’ve paid for all of your meals as part of the cruise package, the fact that you don’t have to pay for food once onboard (apart from Palo) does make it feel like it’s free.

Disney Cruise Line is unique in the way the dinner rotations are set up. Each evening, guests dine in one of three different onboard restaurants, rotating between the three each night. But despite the restaurant they are in, they’ll still be sat at the same numbered table, with the same dining companions, and the same wait staff. 

When you first check-in at Port Canaveral you’ll be handed a ticket that shows the dinner rotation for your stateroom. For a 4-night cruise, it might read-
APLA  

A is Animator’s Palette
P is Parrot Cay
L is Lumiere’s (T for Triton’s on the Disney Wonder)

Your table number will also be shown on the ticket. This will be the table you are seated at each evening, despite which restaurant you are in.

On your first evening you’ll be introduced to your dining team - the Head Server, Server and Assistant Server. They will move with you to each restaurant, along the way learning your preferences and becoming your new friends.

What do you want to eat tonight?

Choose from an enticing four course menu, featuring a wide selection of dishes to suit every taste. Even if you’re the fussy type you can just choose something plain and simple, like a steak or chicken breast with potatoes and veggies.

Can’t decide what to have?

If you can’t choose between the Lemon Peppered Oven-Baked Stuffed Chicken or the Veal Chop encrusted with Parmesan and Herb Crust, you don’t have to! Just ask your server if you can try both and they’ll be happy to oblige! I’ve known people with three, count ‘em, three dessert plates in front of them. Your server will be more than happy to oblige your indecision!

Each night features a different dress code, ranging from casual to formal. Formal night is a great excuse to get dressed up! Men can get away with a shirt & tie, but many choose to wear a suit, or even a tuxedo. Tuxedos can be booked prior to your cruise and the company will then deliver them to your stateroom for you. On formal night, women can be seen wearing anything from pantsuits or skirts, to fancy ballgowns.

Cruisers can also enjoy theme nights, starting with “Pirates IN the Caribbean” night on all cruises. The evening begins with a pirate themed dinner, with the menu presented on a treasure map scroll. After putting on your complimentary pirate bandana, you can start your dinner with Pirates Golden Pasta Envelopes or The Buccaneer’s Sun Ripened Pineapple, and finish it with Shiver-me-timbers White Chocolate Cheesecake or Walk the Triple Layered Chocolate Gangplank Cake. Then it’s up on deck for party time! Watch as Minnie and friends party on stage, then Mickey zooms in on an overhead zip line, followed by a fantastic fireworks show at sea. If you’ve still got room left after dinner, head for the late-night dessert buffet where you can choose from a tempting array of delicious desserts.

On 7-night or longer cruises, diners are treated to a number of different theme nights, including the Master Chef dinner, Captain’s Gala and ‘Til We Meet Again. Each with another menu full of dishes to tempt your tastebuds.

And then there’s Palo…

Palo is the adult’s only restaurant, and a very formal affair it is! This delightful restaurant must be booked in advance, and is very popular, meaning bookings often fill up quickly. It’s the only onboard restaurant where you’ll have to pay for your meal, but it’s worth every penny of the $15 per person charge. The dress code is formal and you’ll be treated to a feast of Italian delicacies from the extensive menu.

Brunch is also available here on cruises of 4-nights or more. Again, at $15 per person, but well worth it as you choose from the buffet which features caviar and a delicious array of desserts.

If you don’t want to dress up for dinner, or simply want a casual meal, head to the self-service buffet restaurant (Beach Blanket Buffet on the Wonder, and Topsider Buffet on the Magic) or one of the fast-food counters (Pluto’s Dog House, Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, or Scoops/Goofy’s Galley).

Room service is also available for those who don’t want to leave their stateroom.

Soft drinks are free onboard, while dining in the restaurants, or from the 24 hour beverage station. However you will be charged for alcoholic and specialty drinks.

Breakfast and lunch can be enjoyed as a casual affair in the buffet restaurant, something more formal in one of the sit-down restaurants, or in your room if you want to get an early start to the day.

Whatever your tastes and preferences the dining is sure to be a highlight of your Disney cruise, and you’re likely to disembark a few pounds heavier!

© 2008 Magicalkingdoms.com

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Nothing is free at Disney World, right?

Wrong!

Although you have to pay to get into the parks, and for meals, there are quite a few things you can do or get for free.

* Watch Wishes for free!
You don’t have to pay for admission to the Magic Kingdom to be able to watch Wishes fireworks. A great view can be found on the beach at the Polynesian, and the marina at the Grand Floridian. The view is all the more better for the event fireworks, such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, when they let perimeter fireworks off too. Depending on the fireworks schedule you may just catch a glimpse of the Electric Water Pageant while you’re there!

 * Free Scrapbook Supplies
If you’re a keen scrapbooker or just starting out you can find various items around the World which you can use in your vacation scrapbook. Park maps, kids’ menus, napkins, Resort maps, Resort newsletters and stationery from the deluxe Resorts can all be used and are all free.

* Monorail
Have some spare time but no spare money to visit the Parks? Hop onboard the monorail! You can visit each one of the three monorail Resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian), take a walk around and explore the theming, or relax in a hammock on one of the beaches. If you ask the monorail Cast Member nicely you may even be able to ride up front in the driver’s cab. Remember to ask for your free co-pilot’s license if you do!

* Free Ice Cream
Sign up for the Disney Vacation Club tour, which is free and there’s no hard sell or obligation. You’ll be picked up from your Resort and listen to a presentation followed by a tour of the sample rooms at Saratoga Springs Resort. After which you’ll get a free ice cream sundae, and dropped off back at your Resort.

* Email home
Send a free email postcard from Innoventions at Epcot.

* Downtown Disney
You don’t just have to visit Downtown Disney to shop! At peak times there may be singers or musicians on the stage at the Marketplace. The kids will love splashing around in the play fountain near the Art of Disney store in Marketplace, or building new creations at the Lego Store.

* Free Drinks
Enjoy free tasting of Coca-Cola products from around the world at Club Cool in Epcot, located in Innoventions Plaza in Future World. Try the Beverly if you dare!

 * Free Buttons
Celebrating a special occasion, maybe a birthday or anniversary? Call in at Guest Relations at any one of the Parks and pick up your free button/badge. They’re available for birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoons, and 1st visits.

* Campfire and Sing-along
Join Chip and Dale at Fort Wilderness Campground for a nightly sing-along, followed by a Disney movie shown on a giant screen.

* Petting Farm
Young children will love seeing the ducks, rabbits and other small animals at the petting farm, located at Fort Wilderness Campground.

* Free Tours
Some of the deluxe Resorts offer free tours at certain times of the day, ask at Resort Guest Services for availability and schedule.

* Resort Activities
If you’re staying at one of Disney’s Resorts, ask at Guest Services if they have any kids’ activities going on. Many do, with the Animal Kingdom Lodge offering a great schedule of free activities.

* Kidcot
Make World Showcase at Epcot more fun for kids by visiting the Kidcot stations at each World Showcase pavilion. Here kids can make a free craft, adding bits to it at each country’s station.

Do you know of any free activities that aren’t listed? Let us know if you do!

© 2008 Magicalkingdoms.com

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