MASSIVE REVIEW: Everything You Need to Know About Dinner on the Disney Magic Cruise Ship

By Jessica Wedinger
Posted on Posted on July 4, 2024

We recently just set sail aboard the beautiful Disney Magic, the first ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet.

One of the best parts about taking a Disney Cruise is all of the food! Across all of Disney’s current ships, there are three main dining rooms, and aboard Disney Cruise Line, you will get to partake in rotational dining. This means each night, you get to rotate restaurants, and your server team rotates with you. This allows passengers to have a different dining experience throughout their cruise. 

When we sailed aboard the Magic, we were on a three-day cruise, which meant we got to try all three dining rooms’ specialty menus. Depending on your cruise length, there are other menus to supplement the extra nights. For example, there is a Pirate Night Menu for sailings longer than three days. 

Depending on what you select while booking your cruise, you will be given one of two dining times: early seating (normally 5:45 PM) and late seating (normally 8:15 PM). 

The Disney Magic’s three main dining rooms are Lumiere’s, located in the lobby atrium on deck three; Rapunzel’s Royal Table, located on deck three aft; and finally, Animator’s Palate, located on deck four aft. 

Each of the three main dining rooms has its own theming unique from one other and offers a menu that matches the vibe of the dining room. 

Rapunzel’s Royal Table

Rapunzel’s Royal Table is the newest restaurant aboard the Disney Magic, and it was rethemed in 2018. It is Rapunzel’s birthday celebration, and you are all invited! 

As you are being seated, some of Rapunzel’s friends from the Snuggly Duckling will greet you. As the night goes on, live music will be played by musicians from the Kingdom of Corona.

Even Princess Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder make an appearance! At the end of the night, there is even a lantern festival! Throughout the restaurant, you will find nods to the film Tangled. Look at the walls, and you will find some of Rapunzel’s paintings. Keep a close eye out for Pascal!

Now for the food: Dinner starts with a bread service. At Rapunzel’s Royal Table, the feature bread is Pretzel Bread served with a Mustard Dipping Sauce. Sometimes, we find that pretzel bread can be too tough on the outside, but this is the nice, soft kind of pretzel bread. 

The mustard sauce is not overly tangy but creamy, and we think it goes perfectly with the pretzel bread. We also think this bread service fits the restaurant’s vibe really well!

While sodas, teas, juices, and coffee are included with your meal, you can also order specialty drinks for an additional fee. 

First, we tried the Smolder Cocktail. We found this drink to be super sweet, but the elderberry helps add a tiny amount of bitterness to cut that. This drink is more floral in flavor, and we did not feel like the cotton candy flavor came through. It honestly reminded us a bit like a children’s cough syrup.

We also tried the Floating Lantern Cocktail. This cocktail was primarily Prosecco, but the other ingredients gave it a fruity, peachy flavor. It still tasted like wine and would appeal to those who like Moscato.

Now for the appetizer course. First, we tried the Corona Shrimp, which is very popular. If you want seconds, we suggest telling your server right away. We loved this dish; it is a big piece of shrimp, and while ours was slightly overcooked, the bread crumbs were so good.

It also went nicely with the pea puree, which helped balance out the fried shrimp. It was also served with a potato wedge, which was tasty but nothing too important to the dish.

We then tried the Snuggly Duckling Platter. This is almost like a charcuterie board, minus the cheese. The pumpernickel bread was soft and doughy. The salami and prosciutto were salty and just the right amount of fatty. 

The portions were just the right size. The German mustard was also a nice touch, with a slight bite and a rich and tangy flavor.

We also tried the Ahi Tuna Tartar. We find that appetizers like this are always a wonderfully refreshing option since, on a cruise, you can be loaded with food nonstop. This appetizer was a delicious medley of flavors that came together nicely with a really strong variety. It was fresh and subtly fruity because of the mango and tangy with the veggies. There is also a kick of wasabi. 

This made for an exciting bite, especially in combination with the sauce. The texture was also nice and lightly crisp. It is a great palate cleanser before your next dish.

During the soup and salad course, we tried the Maximus Salad, and honestly, it kind of tastes like something a horse would eat. The potatoes were nice and mustardy, and the cucumbers had a nice vinegar tang. 

The carrots and greens were not really dressed. We found this to be a nice light appetizer, but it was not special.

It’s time for the main course! We first had the Pan-seared Sea Bass Filet, which is a Disney Cruise Line favorite! It reminds us of the Sea Bass that you can order on both the Dream and the Fantasy in Enchanted Garden. 

While we love this dish, it is kind of bland. The fish itself is cooked really well and has a nice meaty texture while still being a high-quality piece of fish. The sauce on this one is kind of a bland addition; we feel like if they would add more, it would be better. It has a light lemon flavor, and we also liked the mix of veggies that it came with.

We also ordered the Oktoberfest Lemon and Thyme Roasted Chicken. This dish was moist and juicy but overall a little bland. We were hoping for more in the jus, but it did not add much flavor. The potatoes were salty and soft with a slightly herby flavor. This was fine but nothing special.

We will say if you are looking for a safe and simple entree, this is great for picky eaters. Otherwise, you might be better off ordering something else.

Lastly, we ordered the Captain of the Guards Roasted Prime Rib of Beef. This was by far the best prime rib we have ever had on Disney Cruise Line, and it really shocked us. It was incredibly flavorful and juicy. The twice-baked potato had a fun presentation but was not as saturated with flavor as we would want out of a baked potato; it was not salty enough. Overall, the tender prime rib is what dreams are made of!

Now for dessert. We first ordered the Warm Braided Apple Strudel. This was tasty but nothing special. It is a fine strudel. The pastry was a bit tough to cut but still easy to chew, and it had a delicious cooked apple. We honestly would have traded the vanilla sauce for a bit more butter pecan ice cream, but it was a comforting combo—there’s nothing like a hot dessert with cold ice cream. 

Since it is Rapunzel’s birthday, of course, we had to try the Birthday Cupcake Sundae. This was SO TASTY. The sweet ice cream and raspberry syrup paired well together.

The cupcake was a bit dry, but this is a super fun kids’ option!

The next dessert we tried was the Signature Dessert, the ​​Gothel Black Forest Tower. This dessert was rich and creamy and very cocoa-y. The fruit inside was syrupy and tangy, which complemented the chocolate nicely. We liked this one, but it is very heavy and very rich. It is good if you love chocolate!

Finally, we tried Rapunzel’s Fry Pan Sweet Bread. We found this to be somewhere between pan dulce and a churro-like pastry. This time, when we tried it, it was a little bit tough and stale.

It was difficult to cut, but it was not terrible. It was also not incredible. The ice cream and chocolate syrup improved the dish a bit, but it wasn’t that wonderful warm pastry and cold ice cream combo. The presentation is cute and fun for kids.

Lumiere’s

Next up on our rotation, we dined at Lumiere’s. This restaurant is more of the Magic’s “fancy” restaurant. Themed after Beauty and the Beast, you will find nods to the movie as well as a mural of Belle and the Beast. The menu here can also be found at Triton’s on the Disney Wonder as well as Royal Palace on the Disney Dream, and Royal Court on the Disney Fantasy.

The bread service here is our least favorite when getting on a cruise. It is a Warm French Country Bread with an Olive Spread. The bread is crusty but not quite soft enough. It is also not super crunchy either, so for us, it is kind of just meh. The dip is fine; it is just a little boring and tastes like black olives.

For our appetizer course, we first tried the Iced Lobster and Jumbo Shrimp. We think this dish is great. It is a chilled tiny piece of lobster, but it has great flavor. We also love the creamy, buttery tang of the pink sauce served with the lobster.

The shrimp is size-able and perfectly cooked. It is a little heavy on the dill, but we liked it. This is a good appetizer to get for a light portion.

Next up for the appetizer course, we tried the Breaded and Deep-Fried Brie. The friend breading was nice and crispy, while the brie was subtle and creamy.

This dish was a little greasy. The dipping sauce was tart and sweet but not overpowering. This was lovely and light and was a nice way to start the meal.

We also got the iconic Gaston’s Escargot Gratinée. This dish is lightly salty and mushroomy. Even though we do not normally like this type of flavor, it is one of the best appetizers aboard Disney Cruise Line. It is chewy and juicy and one of those appetizers that everyone steals a bite of. It is also served with bread to soak up all the butter, although the bread is a bit tough. 

For the soup and salad course, we first tried the French Onion Soup. This dish was tasty! The cheese pull was amazing, and the broth was very flavorful. We wish that there had been more onion because the soup was mainly just bread and broth. Overall, this soup was good.

We also tried the Potato and Leek Soup. This soup is warm and savory and gives off comfort food vibes. It is creamy and exactly what you want out of a potato soup. It is a little heavy for a summer vacation, but it is so delicious that it is worth it. It is also a great size but still light enough to be an appetizer. 

Now, it is time for the main course. We tried the Chateaubriand-Roasted Filet Steak. This dish was nice. We thought the steak was salty, well-cooked, moist, and flavorful.

The Bearnaise sauce was light and tangy, elevating the steak and complimenting the hearty meat flavor nicely. The green beans were a bit firm for our liking, but they were seasoned well. Overall, this dish was a simple meal that will fill you up.

Next, we tried the Oven-Baked Salmon Royale. The salmon was salty and fresh, as well as sweetly buttery. The panko crust added a nice crunch and texture.

The horseradish could potentially be a turnoff, but it wasn’t overpowering. It is dished well, and the white wine blanc adds a nice element to the dish. This is a nice meal that is not going to weigh you down after a long day of eating endless soft serve. It was nice and light.

We also ordered the Conchiglie Pasta. When we ordered this, our server told us that most people did not like it very much. He told us to pick something else, and he would bring me the Conchiglie Pasta. If I did not like it, he could bring me another main course. We ended up asking for a backup, just in case. The pasta had a super weird flavor. We think it was the Brandy flavor coming off in a weird semisweet, almost starch quality. We would not recommend this. It also had very little lobster, and the weird sauce totally masked the lobster, so this is 100% a skip for us.

We also tried the Crispy Roasted Duck Breast. This was so tender and juicy but still had an amazing crispy skin on top. The honey parsnip puree was so tasty and super smooth. It was slightly sweet and hearty.

We also tried an entree from the vegetarian portion of the menu. We got the Wild Mushroom-Stuffed Pasta, and honestly, this pasta was only okay. It had a lot of mushrooms, which we liked, but it was kind of bland and did not have many interesting qualities outside of the basic mushroom flavor. We wish it would have been creamy instead of brothy.

For dessert, we started with the Grand Marnier Souffle, and we loved it. Getting a souffle on a cruise is a must for us because it is such a unique dessert that it is also difficult to make at home, and you can’t really find it in restaurants very often.  This was not a stellar souffle; it was a little eggy, but it was still a good pick. We loved the creme anglaise and the way the citrusy Grand Marnier flavors burst through.

We also ordered the Signature Dessert, the Classic Opera Gâteau. It was as rich and decadent as you’d expect. The chocolate ganache is extreme. You really need to like chocolate to order this.  It is heavy, deep, spongey, and moist. We like chocolate but would prefer a more classic Tiramisu since it has a similar vibe.

We also ordered the Apple Tart Tatin. This was a caramelized baked apple served with vanilla ice cream, and it was great!

The apples were spiced with cinnamon and perfectly tender without being too soggy or overbaked. The ice cream was a nice addition to cool things down and balance out the richness of the caramelized apple.

Animator’s Palate

We then dined at Animator’s Palate. While this restaurant can be found on the Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy with the same menu, the dining room is identical on the Magic and Wonder. On the Dream and Fantasy, the dining room is also identical but much more updated compared to the Magic and Wonder. 

The show also differs between ship classes. On the Magic and Wonder, Fantasia Mickey will come out once the restaurant is fully “animated.”

For the bread service, this is by far the best bread service on board! It is a Garlic and Herb Foccacia with a Roasted Garlic Dip. The bread itself does not particularly stand out, but the garlic dip is delicious. We could literally eat it with a spoon!

For our appetizer course, we started with a Tomato Tarte. This dish has fresh tomatoes and a bit of shaved goat cheese. This is not a real standout, but lighter flavors. If you want to have a heavier main course, this is a great option to have before ordering the main.

We then ordered the Black Truffle Pasta Purseittes, a staple of Disney Cruise Line. We love this dish so much that we have multiple orders for it. We look forward to them on every cruise. The pasta is perfectly al dente and filled with delicious truffle cheese, which is not overwhelming but has a great truffle flavor. This is paired with a champagne sauce that you want to drag every bite through.

For the soup and salad course, we ordered the Baked Potato and Cheddar Cheese Soup. This is pretty delicious! It is a simple potato soup that is creamy and cheesy. We love the bacon bits and scallions. This soup is very comforting and warm.

We also tried the Creamy Butternut Squash Soup. This was so savory! It was creamy and earthy. We loved it, but it could have used a bit more seasoning.

For our entrees, we started with the Grilled Tuna Steak. This is typically our first choice at Animator’s Palate! It is a hearty chunk of tuna that is perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor.

We love the pesto and aioli it comes with. If you want fish for your entree, you should order this.

We also tried the Lemon-Thyme Marinated All-Natural Chicken Breast. This is a nice, well-cooked cut of chicken with a lot of juicy flavors. The marinade gives the skin a lot of complexity without turning off a picky eater. The sour cream mashed potatoes are the star of the sides; it is a nice thick mash without too many chunks.

We also ordered the Pennette Bolognese. This was just okay for us. The pasta was cooked just right and the sauce was slightly acidic from the tomatoes. This is super filling, but it could have used a little bit more seasoning. Overall, it is a very safe option.

Lastly, we ordered the Ginger-Teriyaki dusted Angus Beef Tenderloin. The beef was tender and juicy, but the wasabi flavor in the potatoes was nonexistent. All we tasted were creamy and earthy mashed potatoes.

This one was a little bland and did not wow us. The barbecue reduction was rather watery and was mostly flavorless. Overall, we were expecting this dish to pack a punch, but it was rather weak.

We were so full from our meal that we skipped dessert. 

We love the way Disney Cruise Line does rotational dining. It is so fun to move dining rooms and be with your server team throughout the cruise. As always, stay tuned to AllEars.net for more!

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