3/2/20 3/2/20

Animator's Palate Dinner Review on the Disney Dream

On day 2 of our 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream, we had dinner at our second rotational dining option -- Animator's Palate. Admittedly, both Brandon and I don't love this restaurant as much as the others on the Disney Dream, both for the theming and food. We just find the general experience underwhelming, and neither of us really likes the combination of classic Disney animation with what's essentially Turtle Talk with Crush from Epcot. Everyone has different preferences though, and we both did find dishes that we enjoyed while dining at the restaurant.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in January 2020. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as a review of fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Animator's Palate

Atmosphere

Animator's Palate is inspired by Disney animation and classic Disney characters. I do enjoy some of the brightly color nods to animation and the fun designs featured in the carpet and chairs.

Animator's Palate - Table / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I do kind of miss the old table markers at Animator's Palate, but these new ones featuring a paint brush are still pretty cute too.

Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Our visit to Animator's Palate was during the cruise's Pirate Night, so we both got into the theming a little bit with pirate bandanas!

We both enjoyed the restaurant's color scheme as it changed throughout our meal, which is definitely very charming. If you want to read more about the restaurant's theme, check out some of our other reviews, including our review from this cruise of our embarkation lunch.

The Food

When you sail on the Disney Dream for 3-night cruises, you don't get a special pirate menu. But, other guests who have sailed on 4-night cruises on the Disney Dream have shared the newly launched Pirate Night allergy-friendly menu.

On this cruise, we were given the regular rotational allergy-friendly menu for Animator's Palate. Since this was our first cruise with the new allergy-friendly menus, we were looking forward to checking out the options. It's important to note that we were given these menus the night before and asked to pre-order our meal, which we did. We ordered items both from the allergy-friendly menu and the regular menu, as well.

Already on day 2, our Assistant Server Gedde was well-prepared for me and my unsweetened iced tea love. In fact, throughout most of our cruise, he made sure I always had two iced teas so that I was never without a beverage, which was so nice.

Animator's Palate - Allergy-Friendly Rolls — Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Both Brandon and I were served the allergy-friendly Ener-G rolls to start. We both agree that when well-heated, these rolls are super delicious.

For my appetizer, I ordered the Sliced Serrano Ham with Grilled Zucchini and Squash with Marinated Olives and Roasted Peppers from the allergy-friendly menu. This dish was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies.

Overall, I really enjoyed this appetizer. The Serrano ham was so good, and I loved the olives and grilled zucchini & squash. This is a dish I would definitely order any time we're at Animator's Palate. It was light and refreshing and the perfect start to a meal.

Animator's Palate - Food in Photo is NOT Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the Sliced Serrano Ham with Manchego Cheese and Olive Tappenade from the regular Animator's Palate menu. This dish was safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Cabbage, and Chicken & Turkey Allergies.

Brandon has ordered this several times when we've dined at Animator's Palate and always says it's very good.

Whenever I got to Animator's Palate, I simply must order the Salmon Tartare. This dish is marked gluten free on the regular menu and does contain dairy.

If you can have dairy and love fish, this is an excellent appetizer to get. The flavors are fresh, bright, and vibrant. And, the quality of the salmon is excellent. It's a hands-down must get for me every trip and didn't disappoint this trip either!

Animator's Palate French Onion Soup in Photo is NOT Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW — Animator's Palate French Onion Soup in Photo is **NOT** Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon couldn't help but order his two favorite soups again from Royal Palace. This included French Onion Soup and Potato Leek Soup. Both of these were safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Cabbage, and Chicken & Turkey Allergies.

One of the great hidden facts about Disney rotational dining is that you can always order dishes from any other restaurant menu that's being served the same night as your meal. So, if you like a dish from another restaurant, you can always request it! Just check with your server. Because Brandon can't easily get soup with his chicken & turkey allergies, he definitely eats as much of it as he can when we're cruising and they're safe options.

I'm not usually very keen on the entrees served at Animator's Palate. And, I have to admit, even the new allergy-friendly options didn't seem all that appealing either. I ended up choosing Animator's Palate night to order one of my favorite things on the Disney Cruise Line -- Indian Food. Our Head Server Sudhir took care of my request and ensured I had some tasty Indian food to enjoy on night 2.

My Indian food meal included lentils, chicken curry, and basmati rice. Everything was gluten free, and I believe everything may have been dairy free too. This entree didn't disappoint, and I was so excited to enjoy it. Everything was so flavorful! If you're interested in Indian food while on your Disney Cruise, be sure to ask your server team about this as an option.

For Brandon's entree, he ended up getting the Lamb Chops, which I believe were from Royal Palace. The entree normally comes with Brussels Sprouts which are a part of the cabbage family (which Brandon is allergic to). They modified the dish to remove the Brussels Sprouts and add double potatoes instead. This dish was safe for Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, Cabbage, and Chicken & Turkey Allergies.

Overall, Brandon said this was a good dish -- though I think his biggest complaint is that he never feels like there's enough meat with lamb chops. He enjoyed the potatoes a lot and is always glad when he gets double potatoes!

For dessert, I ordered the Chocolate Fudge Brownieserved with Raspberry Cream. This dish was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut Allergies.

This dish was outstanding, and it might have been my favorite dessert of the entire cruise. The dairy free & vegan raspberry cream was so good. Light and fluffy and not too overpowering with raspberry flavor. And, the chocolate fudge brownie was super rich too.

For some reason, I could not find a photo of Brandon's dessert. I'm not sure if this is because we were served the same dessert or if he skipped it. The hazards of not writing up your review until a month after your cruise!

If you want to see more about our overall cruise experience and see our dining reviews on video, check out our vlog series that we posted on YouTube!

Overall

While Animator's Palate may not be our personal favorite restaurant of the Disney Dream's 3 main rotational dining options, we were impressed by the allergy-friendly menu appetizer and dessert menu options. And, we always appreciate that our server teams go above and beyond to ensure we have delicious and safe meals each night of our cruise.

Have you been on the Disney Dream? What do you like to order when you dine at Animator's Palate?

2/17/20 2/17/20

Animator’s Palate Embarkation Lunch Review on the Disney Dream

Recently, we just returned from a wonderful 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream to celebrate my birthday. It was a great way to spend a long weekend, relaxing, and enjoying all that Disney Cruise Line has to offer. The Disney Dream currently departs from Port Canaveral, so a weekend getaway on DCL is a lot easier for us as Orlando locals. One of our favorite traditions whenever we board the Disney Dream is to get embarkation lunch. Currently, it's located at Animator's Palate.

Embarkation Lunch at Animator’s Palate

As guests with special dietary needs, both Brandon and I prefer dining at the a la carte embarkation lunch instead of going to the ship's buffet - Cabanas. That's because we feel like we can talk through the options and not feel like we're waiting forever for our meal. This method works well for us, but of course, if you do dine at the buffet, be sure to speak with a head server and chef to help ensure you have safe and delicious options. If you're curious about the process at Cabanas, check out my friend Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures blog posts about Cabanas on the Disney Cruise ships.

Atmosphere

I have to admit, that Brandon and I both find Animator's Palate to be our least favorite of the three main rotational dining options on the Disney Dream. This is a restaurant that you'll dine at at least once while you're aboard the Disney Dream. And, it's also open during embarkation lunch currently.

Animator's Palate - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of the reasons we don't like the restaurant as much is because it can get quite loud. To add to this, we generally find the combination of classic Disney animation with what is essentially Turtle Talk with Crush from Epcot into one restaurant a bit odd. While we don't hate the restaurant, we just don't love the atmosphere and food overall during main rotational dining meals.

At embarkation lunch, we find the restaurant to be a little more relaxed, though on this visit, we both agreed it was a bit louder than it has been in the past.

Animator's Palate - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

There are a lot of cute Disney touches throughout the restaurant. I do like the Mickey Mouse inspired chairs.

Animator's Palate - Carpet / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

And, I have to say I personally think my favorite part is the sparkly Disney-inspired carpet. I don't know why, but I just love it.

The Food

The Disney Dream introduced allergy-friendly dinner menus for each of the three main rotational dining options on the ship sometime in late 2019. We'll go into detail about these at our dinner, but it's important to know that they don't offer allergy-friendly menus at any other meal. This includes embarkation lunch.

Your server team will work to ensure you have safe options throughout your meal. We had a great experience at our last embarkation lunch when we cruised in May 2019 and knew we'd be fine this visit too.

Animator's Palate - GF Rolls — Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

After we were seated, our server team noted our special dietary needs and quickly brought us some Ener-G rolls to start our meal. These are gluten free, dairy free, egg free, fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, and soy free. They are also vegan.

While I'm always served these rolls, it depends on the restaurant we're dining at and the regular bread served there for Brandon. Because of his peanut and hazelnut allergies, he is often brought Ener-G rolls too to help avoid cross-contamination. Both Brandon and I actually enjoy these rolls when they're well-heated. In this case, they definitely were, and they were a great way to start the meal.

One of Brandon's favorite things about the Disney Cruise Line is that he can usually enjoy the soups served in the restaurants. Because he's allergic to chicken & turkey, we always have to ask about the soup base to ensure it's vegetarian. Brandon loves soup, so it's always disappointing when he can't enjoy it. On this visit, he was able to get his two favorite soups on the Disney Dream, including this Potato Leek Soup.

We both ordered this as an appetizer. The soup is gluten free, fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, and chicken & turkey free. It does, unfortunately, contain dairy. If you're dairy free, I do recommend either the smoked salmon appetizer or a side salad if you're dining at the a la carte Embarkation lunch.

Brandon ordered a second appetizer as a back-up just in case the soup was not going to be safe for him. so, the restaurant brought him both. He ordered the Beef Empanada with Red Chimichurri. This was fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, and chicken & turkey free. This contains gluten, so this is not an option that is safe for those who are gluten free.

For the most part, Brandon does enjoy this dish. He's ordered it before and found it to be tasty, though maybe not his favorite thing.

For my entree, I ordered the Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad. It can be made gluten free by omitting the croutons. The dish does contain dairy and fish, so if you have those special dietary needs, you'll want to avoid this one. If you can have dairy and are looking for something a bit lighter, I highly recommend this. It's definitely a nice easy-going lunch, and I never leave feeling too full when I order this at embarkation lunch.

Brandon got the Sliced Roasted Beef Sirloin with Double Baked Potato and Green Beans. This is a dish I've ordered in the past and one of the dishes, the servers almost always recommend to me as a gluten free option. This dish is gluten free, fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, and chicken & turkey free.

This has been Brandon's go-to entree at the Embarkation Lunch for quite a while now, and it's definitely one he will be getting again. He's a big fan of the baked potato especially.

For dessert, I always get the Chocolate Marquise Bombe which is the restaurant's no sugar added dessert. I usually hate no sugar added desserts, but there's just something about this chocolate mousse. I find the flavors to be light, creamy, yet rich. I can definitely recommend this to guests who are gluten free and can have dairy.

Brandon usually gets the Welcome Aboard Ice Cream Sundae, but the servers brought him the Cookies n' Cream Cheesecake before we could even request dessert. He's not usually a big fan of cheesecake, so he said this was OK, but not amazing. This dish was safe for fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, and chicken & turkey allergies.

If you're interested in seeing and hearing our first impressions or want to see a bit of our cruising experience, check out our Disney Cruise Vlog that we did while we sailed on the Disney Dream. Day 1 includes this Embarkation Lunch and lots more!

Overall

While it may not be anything special in terms of the options, both Brandon and I really do enjoy the Embarkation Lunch at Animator's Palate on the Disney Dream. We love the relaxed atmosphere and the servers ability to help ensure we have a safe meal without feeling rushed or in the way like we do at Cabanas. We also really enjoy some of the standard dishes at the a la carte lunch. They make for a perfect way to begin any Disney Cruise.

Have you been on a Disney Cruise? Which do you prefer - a la carte lunch or buffet lunch during embarkation?

7/15/19 7/15/19

Animator's Palate Dinner Review on the Disney Dream

On the first night of our 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream in May, our dinner was at Animator's Palate. Having already had embarkation lunch there earlier that day, we were getting double-duty with Animator's Palate on day one. But, since this is our least favorite of the rotational dining options on the ship, we weren't too sad to be dining there all in one day and eating at the other restaurants the rest of the cruise.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in May 2019. It includes information about peanut free, fish/shellfish free, and chicken and turkey free options.

Dinner at Animator's Palate

Atmosphere

In my review for embarkation lunch, I talked a lot about the theme of Animator's Palate. I won't post as many photos in this review. But, I would definitely encourage you to read through the embarkation lunch post if you're interested in learning more or seeing additional photos.

For our cruise, we were designated table 32 at all three of the main rotational dining restaurants. Prior to our cruise, we requested to have a table with no other guests. And, we were both happy to see that this request was able to be accommodated. It's never a guarantee, even with a request, but we've been lucky to have it honored every time we've cruised.

One of the main differences from the embarkation lunch to dinner is that the restaurant does change its lighting quite a bit from light, bright colors at the beginning of your meal (similar to what you see during embarkation lunch) to a bit more dark during the end of your meal.

The visual cues are a nice way to transition the start and finish of your dining experience. You'll also notice this use of lighting in Enchanted Garden too, which we'll talk about in our review of that restaurant.

You'll also see lots of turtle and Finding Nemo inspired art throughout the restaurant too.

Brandon snapped this photo of me with my Animator's Palate menu. I love that if you move the menu side to side or up and down, the animation actually changes.

The Food

As I mentioned, Animator's Palate is our least favorite restaurant on the ship. Part of this is the very loud atmosphere (even with second dining, we found the acoustics in the restaurant make it quite loud). The other part is the food. Neither one of us gets very excited about most of the food offered there.

Animator's Palate - Salmon Tartare — Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I have two exceptions to that. The first is the Smoked Salmon Tartar. This is marked gluten free on the Animator's Palate menu and does contain dairy. If you can have dairy and like seafood, this is an outstanding appetizer. It's super flavorful and really surprised me the first time I had it. I always order this every time we dine at Animator's Palate. It's that good.

Since Brandon is also not that keen on the Animator's Palate menu, he was struggling with what to order. One of the best tips I've learned over the years is that if you don't like something on a menu, you can actually request items from the other main rotational dining restaurants during your meal.

With this in mind, Brandon requested by the Leek and Potato Soup and French Onion Soup from Royal Palace. Both of these are made with vegetable stock, so they are also vegetarian options. They are also fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. Brandon loves both of these soups, so this was a double soup win for him.

Animator's Palate - Indian Food — Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Another great tip that I've learned is that you can often ask for Indian food, as the ship prepares various Indian dishes every night of your cruise. They aren't listed on any menu, but your server can help arrange options for you, depending on your special dietary need. In my case, since I wasn't feeling like any of the entrees from Animator's Palate, I asked for Indian food on our first night.

Unfortunately, I should have been more specific about what I was interested in with our server Allen. That's because I ended up with two gluten free, dairy free, and vegan dishes that I wasn't particularly fond of. I was served some plain rice, curried okra, and lentils in a tomato sauce. The lentils weren't terrible, but I really disliked the okra. It was poorly cooked and very slimey. Allen did offer to bring me any other entrees that I might like, but since I'd already eaten quite a lot with bread and my appetizer and planned on ordering dessert, I skipped any additional food. So, lesson learned. Be specific whenever you can!

Animator's Palate - Beef Tenderloin — Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the Ginger-Teriyaki dusted Angus Beef Tenderloin. This was fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. He said that while the steak was well-cooked, he wasn't all that keen on the sauce included with the entree.

The other dish that I always order when we dine at Animator's Palate is the Crunchy Walnut Cake. It is marked gluten free on the menu, and is so delicious. I absolutely love the candied walnut crust and the soft chocolate cake in this dessert. It doesn't look like anything fancy, but it's a great dessert.

For Brandon's dessert, he ordered the Cookies n' Cream Sundae. This was a peanut free dessert. This has been a dessert he's ordered several times on our past cruises, and I know it's one of his go-to's for an easy dessert. I don't think it's anything special, but if you can have ice cream and gluten, it's not a bad option.

Overall

While Animator's Palate isn't our favorite of the main rotational dining options on the Disney Dream, we were both glad that the restaurant could easily accommodate us -- even going above and beyond to bring us Indian dishes and appetizers from other restaurants. The next time we cruise on the Dream, I could see us skipping this restaurant in favor of going to Palo or Remy (the adult dining locations) instead.

We are looking forward to trying Animator's Palate on one of the classic ships like the Magic and Wonder. You can read more about those from our friend Alexis at Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures.

Have you been to Animator's Palate on the Disney Dream? What do you like or dislike about this restaurant?

7/15/19 7/15/19

Animator’s Palate Embarkation Lunch Review on the Disney Dream

In May 2019, we were lucky enough to take another 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream. While it was a short cruise, we always love being able to get away from it all -- even if it's just for a short long weekend. Departing from Port Canaveral, it's an easy drive for us and the Disney Cruise Line terminal at this port makes it super easy to get in and on the ship early in the day. After an easy embarkation, our first stop is always embarkation lunch.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in May 2019. It also includes information about peanut free, fish/shellfish free, and chicken and turkey free options.

Embarkation Lunch at Animator’s Palate

Embarkation lunch options on the Disney Dream include an all-you-care-to-enjoy lunch at Cabana's -- the ships buffet restaurant -- or an a la carte lunch, which is currently being held at Animator's Palate. Because of our special dietary needs, we always choose to go to the a la carte lunch. It's much easier to navigate and talk through our special dietary needs without feeling like we're being rushed and without worrying about major issues of cross-contamination.

This was also Brandon's first cruise after being diagnosed with peanut, chicken and turkey allergies (we already knew about his fish and shellfish allergies), so we really wanted to ensure that he was safe and that we could speak with the service team about lunch options for him too.

Atmosphere

Animator's Palate is one of the three main rotation dining restaurants on the Disney Dream. It's also the only main rotational dining restaurant on all of the four current Disney Cruise Line ships. Each one has their own twist on Disney animation. On the Dream, Animator's Palate is inspired by Crush the turtle from Finding Nemo. If you've ever been to Turtle Talk with Crush at Epcot, you'll find this restaurant's theme very familiar, especially during dinner where Crush will actually talk to you.

During embarkation lunch, Animator's Palate is usually fairly quiet and low-key. You'll get plenty of opportunity to explore the restaurant and take a look at its impressive animation theme.

Animator's Palate - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I love how touches from the support beams to the decorative elements all take inspiration from classic animation.

Even the carpet is pretty magical too! Check out the adorable not-so-hidden Mickey on the carpet near our table.

The theming truly covers every inch of the restaurant. Even the tables and chairs get in on the theming action.

I love how the table markers on your table even look like paint brushes.

The Food

Embarkation lunch at Animator's Palate includes a small but varied menu of options. Guests with special dietary needs will notice that the lunch menu includes a few notations like gluten free, dairy free, and vegetarian. But, we always recommend you talk to your server about options. Even on this visit, I was able to get something not marked gluten free with an easy modification.

With Brandon's allergies, we definitely needed to consult with our server team too because nut free and other allergens are not listed on the embarkation menu.

Animator's Palate - Embarkation Lunch Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Unlike Walt Disney World, you will rarely have a chef come to your table to discuss options. Usually, you'll tell your server dishes you might be interested in, and they will consult with the kitchen to see if it's safe. It can take a little bit of time, but in our opinion, it's well worth the effort.

While we pondered our appetizers and entrees, our server team brought us rolls to start once the kitchen team confirmed they were safe for us. I was given a basket of Ener-G allergy-friendly rolls with butter and margarine. These rolls are gluten free and also cover the top common allergens too. While, I wouldn't say they are the best rolls I've ever had, if they are well-heated, they are a nice addition to any meal.

Animator's Palate - Bread Service — Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Bread service in this photo contains gluten but is fish/shellfish, peanut, chicken & turkey free.

During this meal, Brandon was served the regular bread service. Depending on the meal, sometimes he was given regular gluten-filled bread, and at other meals he was served the Ener-G rolls. It really depended on what bread they were serving that day. He was not particularly fond of this bread service, as he said the rolls were not heated and very hard and crunchy.

One of Brandon's favorite things when we dine on the Disney Dream is soup. We were both quite concerned that he would not be able to get soup on this cruise because chicken broth is a common soup base. We were super excited to learn that many of the soups were vegetable broth based so that they could also be vegetarian (and in some cases vegan).

Both of us ordered the Leek and Potato Soup. This is gluten free, fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. It does contain dairy and cannot be modified to be dairy free. If you're gluten free, be sure that they do not serve the soup with the soda bread. We both really enjoy this soup, and it's one I actually ordered on multiple occasions during this cruise. It's very mild in flavor and a great comfort food soup.

Animator's Palate - Embarkation Lunch Empanada — Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because Brandon didn't think he'd be able to get soup, he also asked if the Beef Empanada with Red Chimichurri was safe for him to eat. He was doubly surprised when he got both the soup and the empanada. The empanada was fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free.

While Brandon said it wasn't his favorite thing during lunch, he said he would definitely order it again.

On our previous other cruises, I have ordered Sliced Roast Beef Sirloin, which Brandon ordered on this cruise. I have really enjoyed that entree, but on this cruise, I was looking for something a little lighter during lunch. I mentioned that I was interested in the Chicken Caesar Salad if it could be made gluten free.

Luckily, this was an easy gluten free modification and only needed the croutons removed to be GF. This was the perfect lunch option for me, as it wasn't too heavy, but it had a nice amount of protein with it. This made eating several courses and dinner later that night a lot easier too! While the dressing contains dairy, you might be able to get a different dressing to make it dairy free. On our next cruise, I'd definitely order this again.

Animator's Palate - Embarkation Lunch Beef — Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the Sliced Roast Beef Sirloin. This dish was gluten free as is. But, it needed the sauce removed to be fish/shellfish, peanut, and chicken & turkey free. I believe the sauce contained chicken broth.

Brandon said this was as good as it has been on the previous cruises, though we both agree that we find the embarkation lunch sirloin a little on the fatty side compared to the cuts we've had during dinner. Still, if you're a red meat person, this is a great hearty lunch option.

Animator's Palate - Embarkation Lunch GF Dessert — Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, I was served the Chocolate Marquise Bombe with chocolate mousse and raspberry sauce. This is the no sugar added dessert on the lunch menu and is gluten free, as is. While I typically really dislike sugar free desserts, this mousse is really good. I had it on our last cruise and really loved it. I was super excited to get this again, and it was just as good as it was the first time I had it. I will definitely continue to order this at embarkation lunch!

Animator's Palate - Embarkation Lunch Allergy-Friendly Dessert — Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon was served a dessert that we both ended up getting a few times during the cruise. This is an allergy-friendly dessert that is part chocolate chip cookie and part brownie. It is topped with raspberry sorbet. The dessert is gluten free, dairy free, egg free, fish/shellfish free, peanut/tree nut free, and vegan.

Brandon liked this dessert better than I did, as I would have preferred it to be either a cookie or a brownie instead of the combination of both. I think I'd also rather have a non-dairy ice cream instead of sorbet too. But, Brandon really enjoyed this at lunch and on future dinners too.

Overall

Both Brandon and I agree that we both much prefer the low-key and relaxed atmosphere of the a la carte embarkation lunch at Animator's Palate to the busy and chaotic buffet lunch at Cabana's. Though the lunch menu may be limited, we both found excellent options during our embarkation lunch. It's definitely a much less stressful experience for guests with special dietary needs and gets your cruise started on a positive and delicious note.

For more about Cabana's, check out the reviews from our friend Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures on her blog.

Have you been on a Disney Cruise? Where do you have lunch on embarkation day?

11/16/18 11/16/18

Animator’s Palate Dinner Review on the Disney Dream

*This gluten free dining experience took place in October 2018. It includes notes about dairy free options too.

Dinner at Animator’s Palate

Animator's Palate is one of the three main rotational dining restaurants on the Disney Dream. On our October 2018 3-day cruise, we had dinner at Animator's Palate on the second day of our cruise. It was both pirate night and Halloween costume night, as well, since we sailed on a Halloween on the High Seas themed cruise. During the shorter cruises, the pirate night menu is the same as the regular rotational night, so you won't get any special menus when you go. Both Brandon and I were looking forward to this restaurant the least on our cruise, because neither one of us liked the menu here all that much.

Atmosphere

Both Brandon and I love the theme of Animator's Palate, which is inspired by Disney animation. Our biggest complaints about the restaurant are that it's very noisy and that the seats are pretty close together.

We do love all of the decor and theming. But, as you can see, it's a pretty packed restaurant in terms of space.

Animator's Palate - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I have to admit that I was absolutely loving all of the Halloween costumes on our cruise. Shout-out to the table next to us that dressed up as life-size Beanie Babies!

One of my favorite little touches in Animator's Palate is the table marker you get on your table. I love that it looks like an paint bucket with brushes in it.

Since it was both pirate night and Halloween night, we decided to go with the pirate theme. We each wore the pirate bandanas given to us in our stateroom. As you can see, I decided to wear mine in a subtle way. The great thing is you can dress up or not in whatever way you feel most comfortable, which is great.

Animator's Palate - Table Games / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Although not a theme of the restaurant, I do love that your servers will share table games with you. On this trip, our assistant server shared several with us. A few we recognized, but some of them really tricked us. I won't share any secrets or surprises, but it's a nice touch when you dine during dinner.

The Food

Animator's Palate, like all of the main rotational dining restaurants, have menus that note which items are gluten free and dairy free on their menu. Having dined at Animator's Palate for dinner back in May 2018, I knew that I wasn't all that excited about the menu options. In fact, I actually used a few pro-tips to help make a fantastic meal this trip. Keep reading for those!

Animator's Palate - GF Rolls / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Up first, our server Jude brought me some Ener-G rolls with extra virgin olive oil and herbs. While I still don't love the Ener-G rolls, I will give our service team props for making sure they were well-heated on the trip. Both Brandon and I really liked the extra virgin olive oil with herbs too.

Animator's Palate - Salmon Appetizer / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The one thing I had to order at Animator's Palate was the Smoked Salmon Tartar with Dill, Capers, Onions, Pickles, and a Horseradish Cream. It is marked gluten free on the menu but does contain dairy. Oh goodness is this appetizer good. I loved the smoky salmon and the combination of salty flavors with the rich salmon. It is a must-order anytime I'm Animator's Palate. And, I highly recommend it for anyone who likes seafood and can have dairy.

Animator's Palate - Chicken / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Here's where my pro-tips started to come in. On our last dinner at Animator's Palate, I ordered Lemon-Thyme Marinated Chicken and just found it to be very boring and bland. I had learned prior to this cruise that you can actually order any dishes from the other main dining rotational restaurants when you have dinner. So, I asked if I could get the Marjoram Scented Roast Chicken with Crushed Sweet Potatoes, Buttered Baby Spinach, and a Thyme Red Wine Chicken Jus from Enchanted Garden. I was so happy to hear that this was an easy request.

This is such a delicious entrée, and I love all the accompaniments with it. It didn't disappoint again this time either. Everything was very flavorful and the chicken was super moist. I have to admit that if we have dinner at Animator's Palate again, I'll probably request this dish if we aren't dining at Enchanted Garden due to adult dining reservations. It's so good.

Animator's Palate - Indian Food / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

My other pro-tip is that the Disney Dream actually prepares Indian food just about every night of your cruise. It's not listed anyway, and you kind of have to know it exists. On our last cruise, I got some bonus Indian food when the table next to us got it one night. This time, I actually spoke to John, our head server, about it and pre-ordered a gluten free plate of Indian food the night before our dinner. I was also told that the Indian food menu changes every night too.

Omigosh was this amazing. I got what I had on our previous cruise, and it was the hands down best thing I ate on the cruise. Of course, I love Indian food, so I am easily pleased by any plate of curry. I was served Curry Chicken, Spiced Potatoes, and Basmati Rice. Everything was expertly cooked, and I seriously could have eaten platefuls of this. I may have to order Indian food every night on my cruise from now on!

Animator's Palate - Walnut Cake / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, I ordered the Crunch Walnut Cake with Dark Chocolate Mousse and Raspberry Coulis. This is marked gluten free on the menu and does contain dairy. I really enjoyed it last cruise. So, I knew I had to get it this time too. Next time, I may skip dessert because I was SO full from everything I ordered during dinner. But, it was so worth it for the Indian food.

Overall

While both Brandon and I love the theme, we both agreed that Animator's Palate just isn't our favorite restaurant. We find it way too noisy and crowded when we dine there. We both would skip this in favor of dinner at Palo or Remy on our next cruise. That being said, I loved the smoked salmon and being able to get an entrée from Enchanted Garden and my bonus plate of Indian food.

Have you been to Animator's Palate? What did you think of your experience there?

11/7/18 11/7/18

Animator's Palate Embarkation Lunch Review on the Disney Dream

*This gluten free dining experience took place in October 2018. It includes notes about dairy free options too.

Embarkation Lunch at Animator's Palate

Animator's Palate, located on the Disney Dream, is one of the ship's main rotational dining restaurants for dinner. On our most recent cruise in October 2018, we learned that Animator's Palate was now the restaurant available for guests interested in having a table service lunch on embarkation day. On our previous cruise on the Disney Dream in May 2018, it was Enchanted Garden. On embarkation day, guests can dine either at the table service restaurant that is open or have lunch at Cabanas -- the ship's buffet option. We always prefer the table service option because it's much quieter and it's also much quicker for guests with special dietary needs. I have found Cabanas to always be extra slow when it comes to bringing out my food. So, Animator's Palate it was when we arrived on the ship.

Atmosphere

Animator's Palate is inspired by Disney animation. And, you'll find lots of design elements reflecting art and animation.

Animator's Palate is a restaurant that is currently on every single Disney Cruise Line ship -- although the theme and focus is slightly different in each version of the restaurant. On the Disney Dream, you'll find a show that features Crush from Finding Nemo. It's sort of like Turtle Talk with Crush at Epcot. During embarkation lunch, there is no show. But, you do get to enjoy the restaurant's elaborate theming.

I love how the table markers look like a film reel and a paint bucket filled with paint brushes. It's just another great touch to the theme.

As you can see from this photo, the dining room includes chairs that resemble Mickey Mouse, ceiling posts that look like pencils and paintbrushes, and other various touches of animation. I actually really loved that our embarkation lunch was at Animator's Palate so we could look at the restaurant's décor more closely while the restaurant was slower.

The Food

Embarkation Lunch includes a specific lunch menu that is unique to that meal. It is a bit more limited than other menus for dinner or even the regular lunches offered during the cruise. The menu does list items that are gluten free and dairy free. But, I do recommend speaking to your server about options.

Animator's Palate - Embarkation Lunch Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our previous embarkation lunch at Enchanted Garden, I ordered items that were marked GF directly from the menu. On this visit, I did ask if the Leek and Potato Soup might be a safe gluten free option minus the bread. The server noted that he would check with the chef to confirm.

Animator's Palate - Beverages / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

While we waited, we did order drinks. We always get a gin & tonic to celebrate our cruise upon embarkation and did so on this visit too. I also ordered an unsweetened iced tea. One quick note about straws. Like Disney World, the Disney Cruise Line is getting rid of straws. You can get paper straws if you ask though.

Animator's Palate - Ener-G Rolls / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Before our soups arrived, I was brought Ener-G rolls with butter. Currently, Disney Cruise Line does not carry Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread, so if you're dairy free, you'll want to ask for extra virgin olive oil or another substitute for the butter. I am never a big fan of the Ener-G rolls -- mostly because they are not well heated. I was pleasantly surprised at lunch to find that they were actually well heated, which was great.

Animator's Palate - Leek Soup / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Our server also brought me the Potato and Leek Soup minus the bread, as he confirmed that this soup is gluten free (it's also naturally fish/shellfish free) with that simple modification. The soup does contain dairy. So, if you're gluten free and dairy free, I recommend getting a salad or smoked salmon appetizer at embarkation lunch for a gluten free and dairy free option.

Brandon and I both got this soup, and I was pretty impressed with it. I liked the texture and flavors and would definitely order this again.

Animator's Palate - Sirloin / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We also both ordered the Sliced Roasted Beef Sirloin with Double Baked Potato, Green Beans, and a Thyme Red Wine Jus. This was marked gluten free and is also fish/shellfish free too. Since we had ordered this on our last cruise in May, we both knew we enjoyed it and that it would be great option. I did have better steak options throughout the cruise. But, this definitely hit the spot on embarkation day. We both agreed that we thought the best part of this entrée is the double baked potato.

Animator's Palate - Chocolate Mousse / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my dessert, I was given the "chef's choice" which turned out to be a chocolate mousse with white chocolate candy swirl and a raspberry mousse. This was gluten free but did contain dairy. Overall, I really liked this dessert, though I think I liked the mousse I had at Enchanted Garden during embarkation lunch on our last cruise a little bit more than this one. Still, it did end up being one of my favorite desserts of the trip. I always recommend speaking to your server about additional options if you're gluten free and dairy free, as they do have desserts for both special dietary needs.

Overall

We enjoyed the embarkation lunch at Enchanted Garden. The table service embarkation lunch continues to be our personal preference. And, we'll definitely be dining at whatever location is open for this on any future cruises that we take. We love the quieter atmosphere and convenience that it provides for guests with special dietary needs.

What has your experience been with embarkation lunch on the Disney Cruise Line?

1/26/15 1/26/15

Animator's Palate -- Debarkation Breakfast -- Disney Dream 2014

Animator's Palate Debarkation Breakfast Menu

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.

Sailing away on our 3 day cruise on the Disney Dream was such a wonderful time, and I can honestly say those 3 days flew by so quickly. With amazing meals that included Palo and Remy, it's a wonder I didn't come back gaining 10 pounds! So, as you can imagine, our final breakfast aboard the Disney Dream was bittersweet.When you dine at your debarkation breakfast you eat at the same location you dined the night before, rather than the traditional rotational dining. For us, this meant dining at Animator's Palate again.The breakfast is also a standard menu served at all of the dining locations and is different from the regular a la carte breakfast menu. Additionally, be prepared to dine early. I think we were at our breakfast by 6:30 a.m. There are two seatings for breakfast, and you'll dine really early (like we did) or a little later in the morning (but still fairly early) depending on whether or not you dined at the first or second dinner seating. You have to be completely out of your stateroom around 8 a.m. so dining early was OK by us.Our head server and server assisted me with my breakfast options. What I really wanted was the corned beef hash and eggs, but unfortunately, it contained gluten. I ended up with the Route 66 entree minus the hash browns (which also contain gluten) and a side of gluten free & dairy free pancakes. I also got an apple juice and iced tea to wake myself up!For my main entree, I would say this was just OK. Like my breakfast at Royal Palace, I didn't think it was anything to write home about but was sufficient in both portion and taste. Next time, I think I'd ask for just ham and bacon and skip the sausage, as it wasn't my favorite.The pancakes were just OK here as well. My favorite version of the gluten free and dairy free pancakes were definitely at Royal Palace - they were really well cooked and perfectly crisp on the outside. Cabanas was my least favorite (they were practically inedible). These were somewhere in the middle of those two.The restaurant is busily trying to prep for the next breakfast and to get you off the ship promptly, so don't expect this to be a very relaxing meal. Everything came out super quick and the servers were working hard to shuttle everyone out as efficiently as they could. My mom and I had our dining table to ourselves that morning, as our table-mates didn't join us (they were debarking and then getting back on the ship for another 3 day cruise - lucky ducks!), so that made for a really lovely last meal on the ship.I have to say that overall my Disney Cruise Line experience was wonderful. Once I learned a lot of the ins and outs of how the ship handles special diets, I was able to eat a lot of amazing things. If you are looking for really customized meals, the adult dining is the way to go. We loved Palo and Remy a lot and plan on dining at Palo on every future cruise that we do (and I'm dying to try out brunch!).After our short cruise, I can easily see why others love the Disney Cruise Line so much. You can read about gluten free cruise reviews from Alexis over at Gluten Free in Orlando. She has posted several cruise recaps.Have you ever been on a Disney Cruise? What were your favorite meals?

1/26/15 1/26/15

Animator's Palate -- Debarkation Breakfast -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.Sailing away on our 3 day cruise on the Disney Dream was such a wonderful time, and I can honestly say those 3 days flew by so quickly. With amazing meals that included Palo and Remy, it's a wonder I didn't come back gaining 10 pounds! So, as you can imagine, our final breakfast aboard the Disney Dream was bittersweet.When you dine at your debarkation breakfast you eat at the same location you dined the night before, rather than the traditional rotational dining. For us, this meant dining at Animator's Palate again.The breakfast is also a standard menu served at all of the dining locations and is different from the regular a la carte breakfast menu. Additionally, be prepared to dine early. I think we were at our breakfast by 6:30 a.m. There are two seatings for breakfast, and you'll dine really early (like we did) or a little later in the morning (but still fairly early) depending on whether or not you dined at the first or second dinner seating. You have to be completely out of your stateroom around 8 a.m. so dining early was OK by us.Our head server and server assisted me with my breakfast options. What I really wanted was the corned beef hash and eggs, but unfortunately, it contained gluten. I ended up with the Route 66 entree minus the hash browns (which also contain gluten) and a side of gluten free & dairy free pancakes. I also got an apple juice and iced tea to wake myself up!For my main entree, I would say this was just OK. Like my breakfast at Royal Palace, I didn't think it was anything to write home about but was sufficient in both portion and taste. Next time, I think I'd ask for just ham and bacon and skip the sausage, as it wasn't my favorite.The pancakes were just OK here as well. My favorite version of the gluten free and dairy free pancakes were definitely at Royal Palace - they were really well cooked and perfectly crisp on the outside. Cabanas was my least favorite (they were practically inedible). These were somewhere in the middle of those two.The restaurant is busily trying to prep for the next breakfast and to get you off the ship promptly, so don't expect this to be a very relaxing meal. Everything came out super quick and the servers were working hard to shuttle everyone out as efficiently as they could. My mom and I had our dining table to ourselves that morning, as our table-mates didn't join us (they were debarking and then getting back on the ship for another 3 day cruise - lucky ducks!), so that made for a really lovely last meal on the ship.I have to say that overall my Disney Cruise Line experience was wonderful. Once I learned a lot of the ins and outs of how the ship handles special diets, I was able to eat a lot of amazing things. If you are looking for really customized meals, the adult dining is the way to go. We loved Palo and Remy a lot and plan on dining at Palo on every future cruise that we do (and I'm dying to try out brunch!).After our short cruise, I can easily see why others love the Disney Cruise Line so much. You can read about gluten free cruise reviews from Alexis over at Gluten Free in Orlando. She has posted several cruise recaps.Have you ever been on a Disney Cruise? What were your favorite meals?

11/7/14 11/7/14

Animator's Palate -- Dinner -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.When it came to regular rotational dining on my recent Disney Dream cruise, my mom and I chose not to dine at any except Animator's Palate for the majority of our cruise, as we wanted to take advantage of the adult dining locations Palo and Remy. We did request ahead of time that our rotational dining include Animator's Palate on our last night, and luckily, that request came through!We were looking forward to Animator's Palate more for the atmosphere than the food but were curious to see how the rotational dining option would fare. We were also curious about the seating arrangements since we'd spent the majority of our cruise dining solo at our meal tables. When we were seated we found out we were at a table for 4 and that our dinner table mates were another mother daughter pair. Our assistant server, server, and head server were hilarious as they were like, "oh you finally showed up!" and were actually all very lovely and accommodating. They were well aware of my dietary needs and said they'd be taking good care of me.The decor in Animator's Palate is cute, with lots of fun and whimsical touches. Animator's Palate is on all of the Disney Cruise Line ships and each has a distinct theme. The Disney Dream's is Finding Nemo. Super cute!The Animator's Palate menu actually lists gluten free and dairy free options, which was interesting. I noted the shrimp salad said it wasn't dairy free, and when I asked about it they said it was because of the egg (which is not really dairy). So, if you think you're interested in a dish, let your server know because it might actually be safe or easily modified. First up, my server brought me Ener-G rolls. They weren't heated that well, but smothered in extra virgin olive oil, I was able to eat a bit of them. First up, I ordered the roasted red bell pepper salad with zucchini and red onion salad served in a balsamic vinaigrette. This was my least favorite part of my meal. The salad was super bland and the dressing did not even remotely resemble a balsamic vinaigrette (there was not hint of balsamic at all). It said it came with cilantro but I could see or taste any. Next time, I'd look for something else as a starter.Next up, I ordered the shrimp salad with cucumber, red onion and hard boiled egg. It wasn't at all what I had envisioned but I actually really loved this. The shrimp was marinated in dill (which I love) and the dish reminded me of Scandinavian shrimp salad (if you don't know what I'm talking about, visit an Ikea cafeteria!) It wasn't minced or small, so it was rather like a chop salad but tasty. If you don't like cucumber or red onion, probably not the dish for you.For my entree, I chose the snapper with scallops, crushed potatoes and a salsa verde. This dish was OK but not great. I liked the snapper, the asparagus, the lone scallop and the sauce. However, the dish was totally not as described. This salsa verde did not resemble any salsa verde I've ever had...um, to begin with folks salsa verde is green. Hence the verde point for those who speak Spanish! The crushed potatoes were actually mashed potatoes and they omitted the dairy for me. I wouldn't say it was a terrible dish just needs a different description.For my dessert, I was told they had a chocolate cake for me. The lighting on this photo is bad, but it was nicely presented. It came with Hershey's chocolate syrup. I had heard that the chocolate cake might also be sugar free, but when I asked they couldn't tell me for sure. It wasn't a bad chocolate cake and satisfied me at the end of the meal. I think they might have used Namaste mix for the cake.Overall, I can't say that I loved Animator's Plate or was wowed by the food. However, it was filling and fairly tasty. Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando also noted that on her review from the Disney Dream. We also dined here on debarkation day for breakfast, so stay tuned for that review! Have you been to Animator's Palate? What did you order when you dined there?

11/7/14 11/7/14

Animator's Palate -- Dinner -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.When it came to regular rotational dining on my recent Disney Dream cruise, my mom and I chose not to dine at any except Animator's Palate for the majority of our cruise, as we wanted to take advantage of the adult dining locations Palo and Remy. We did request ahead of time that our rotational dining include Animator's Palate on our last night, and luckily, that request came through!We were looking forward to Animator's Palate more for the atmosphere than the food but were curious to see how the rotational dining option would fare. We were also curious about the seating arrangements since we'd spent the majority of our cruise dining solo at our meal tables. When we were seated we found out we were at a table for 4 and that our dinner table mates were another mother daughter pair. Our assistant server, server, and head server were hilarious as they were like, "oh you finally showed up!" and were actually all very lovely and accommodating. They were well aware of my dietary needs and said they'd be taking good care of me.The decor in Animator's Palate is cute, with lots of fun and whimsical touches. Animator's Palate is on all of the Disney Cruise Line ships and each has a distinct theme. The Disney Dream's is Finding Nemo. Super cute!The Animator's Palate menu actually lists gluten free and dairy free options, which was interesting. I noted the shrimp salad said it wasn't dairy free, and when I asked about it they said it was because of the egg (which is not really dairy). So, if you think you're interested in a dish, let your server know because it might actually be safe or easily modified. First up, my server brought me Ener-G rolls. They weren't heated that well, but smothered in extra virgin olive oil, I was able to eat a bit of them. First up, I ordered the roasted red bell pepper salad with zucchini and red onion salad served in a balsamic vinaigrette. This was my least favorite part of my meal. The salad was super bland and the dressing did not even remotely resemble a balsamic vinaigrette (there was not hint of balsamic at all). It said it came with cilantro but I could see or taste any. Next time, I'd look for something else as a starter.Next up, I ordered the shrimp salad with cucumber, red onion and hard boiled egg. It wasn't at all what I had envisioned but I actually really loved this. The shrimp was marinated in dill (which I love) and the dish reminded me of Scandinavian shrimp salad (if you don't know what I'm talking about, visit an Ikea cafeteria!) It wasn't minced or small, so it was rather like a chop salad but tasty. If you don't like cucumber or red onion, probably not the dish for you.For my entree, I chose the snapper with scallops, crushed potatoes and a salsa verde. This dish was OK but not great. I liked the snapper, the asparagus, the lone scallop and the sauce. However, the dish was totally not as described. This salsa verde did not resemble any salsa verde I've ever had...um, to begin with folks salsa verde is green. Hence the verde point for those who speak Spanish! The crushed potatoes were actually mashed potatoes and they omitted the dairy for me. I wouldn't say it was a terrible dish just needs a different description.For my dessert, I was told they had a chocolate cake for me. The lighting on this photo is bad, but it was nicely presented. It came with Hershey's chocolate syrup. I had heard that the chocolate cake might also be sugar free, but when I asked they couldn't tell me for sure. It wasn't a bad chocolate cake and satisfied me at the end of the meal. I think they might have used Namaste mix for the cake.Overall, I can't say that I loved Animator's Plate or was wowed by the food. However, it was filling and fairly tasty. Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando also noted that on her review from the Disney Dream. We also dined here on debarkation day for breakfast, so stay tuned for that review! Have you been to Animator's Palate? What did you order when you dined there?