Cruising the Disney Dream with Rachel

We are often asked about dining on Disney cruises, luckily our friend Rachel recently went on the Disney Dream and shared her experience with us all. Thanks Rachel!

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This review reflects my experience from September 2017.

I had the opportunity to take my very first Disney cruise aboard the Disney Dream on September 1, 2017 for a 3-night Bahamian cruise. I was traveling with a large group to celebrate my cousin’s wedding. When checking in online for the cruise to get a boarding time, I made sure to include “vegan” as my special diet. This alerted staff during my nightly dinners that I would be requesting a vegan meal.  Meals were all inclusive except for Palo and Remy restaurants, specialty drinks and some treats at shops.

Breakfast

The three main restaurants were open at breakfast and we were able to choose where we wanted to go each morning. I requested tofu scramble, pancakes and potatoes each morning. I was also able to get fruit. The servers working breakfast were not the same servers who traveled with us for dinner each night.

Lunch

Cabanas buffet was open daily for lunch. I only ate here once. I requested vegetable sushi and the sushi chef working made mango avocado rolls for me.

Room Service

I ordered room service twice. My friend really wanted to order cookies and almond milk on our first night, and we were laughing when they delivered a whole box of cookies and a carton of almond milk. Our stateroom had a mini fridge where we kept the almond milk for the rest of the trip.

After the day at Castaway Cay, I called and asked if they could make a personal vegan pizza. They were carrying Daiya cheese and made the perfect little pizza for me. 

Dining Rotation

You choose your dining rotation when booking the cruise. Each night, we had dinner at one of the 3 main restaurants on the ship. The servers, whom we met on the first night, traveled with us each night to the next restaurant, and also served us our last breakfast before debarking.

Royal Palace

Unfortunately, there were no appetizers on the menu that were vegan. My entrée was pan seared tofu, roasted zucchini, eggplant and red peppers on couscous. My dessert was a strawberry-filled chocolate cake with a side of strawberries. The meal was okay. It was not my favorite meal, but I felt satisfied.

Animator’s Palate

This was my favorite dinner experience of the trip. Animator’s Palate is animation-themed and a very interactive restaurant. The walls changed colors and Crush the turtle came out on various screens to interact with guests that were seated near edges of the restaurant. My server brought me allergy friendly rolls and non-dairy butter. 

I ordered the butternut squash soup from the menu which was vegan without the sour cream drizzle. I craved this soup for weeks after my trip! My entrée was not something included on the menu.

My server spoke to me the night before and asked if I liked Indian food. I explained that I did and he said that he would be sure to have something for me at Animator’s Palate. My server brought me samosas for appetizers. My entrée was Indian-spiced potatoes, Chana masala with Roti (Indian flatbread) and basmati rice. For dessert, I was brought chocolate mousse with a side of strawberries. This was my favorite meal of the trip! 

 

Enchanted Garden

I was not thrilled with my meal at this restaurant. Allergy-friendly rolls and non-dairy butter were available. I ordered the cucumber garden roll for an appetizer as well as the heirloom tomato soup which was vegan without the added sour cream.

The entrée was not-so-great. I ordered the pearl-barley cakes with shallots, and leeks. It was very salty and I did not finish it. For dessert, I had chocolate-filled cake with a side of berries.

Castaway Cay

On our last day, we spent the day on Castaway Cay which is Disney’s private island. After a bike ride across the island, we spent the day at Serenity Bay, the adult-only area of the island.  After having a large breakfast and because of the intense heat, I wasn’t very hungry.  A buffet opened up for lunch time hours with an entire section of fruit which included strawberries, mango, pineapple, papaya, cantaloupe, honeydew, and grapes. I ate 2 plates of fruit, but did not get anything else and did not explore or ask about other options.

Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats

For an extra cost, mango and blueberry sorbet was available. The Snacks with Character allergy-friendly cookies were also available.

Frozone Treats and Fountain Drinks

On Deck 11, fountains were open 24-hours on each side of the ship next to the pool. The down-side to this was that you needed to walk next to the pool area to get a drink and the ground was often wet. Also right next to the pool was Frozone Treats where you could get a Dole Whip with or without rum. I got one, but did not get a picture of it!

Overall, I had a great time and I never went hungry! I was impressed by the amount of things there were to do on the ship! Castaway Cay was stunning, but I’m unsure what other food options there were on the other side of the island.  You are free to go on and off the ship while at port.