8/26/19 8/26/19

Cove Cafe on the Disney Dream

When we're cruising the Disney Cruise Line, one of our favorite places to relax and chill is Cove Cafe. This adults-only coffee shop is the best spot for a good cup of coffee or a specialty coffee drink. You can also get snacks throughout the day and cocktails in the evening too. On our most recent 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream, our stateroom was just one deck below Cove Cafe. So, we spent a lot of time in this relaxing coffee shop.

*These gluten free dining experiences took place in May 2019. It also include notes about dairy free modifications and shares information about the fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free options available through this coffee shop too.

Cove Cafe on the Disney Dream

Atmosphere

Both Brandon and I really love the low-key and relaxed atmosphere of Cove Cafe. There's plenty of cushy seating throughout the cafe. Whether you're grabbing a quick caffeine boost on-the-go, or want an after-dinner cocktail, you'll find all types of options for seating to accommodate.

Cove Cafe on the Disney Dream / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We especially enjoyed the seats near the front of the cafe that are have large windows and are brightly lit during the day. This was a particularly favorite spot for us during the afternoon. We got a chance to chat with our favorite barista Agung from Indonesia while we were seated there too.

In the evenings, we both prefer the back of Cove Cafe, which is a bit more chill and quiet. Of course, no matter what preference you have for seating, you'll find lots of great options in the cafe.

Food & Drink at Cove Cafe

Unlike most locations on the Disney Cruise Line, the beverages served at Cove Cafe are NOT included in your cruise fare. This includes all of the coffee and tea drinks, as well as any other beverages (including water and alcohol). The food options, such as pastries and antipasti offered at Cove Cafe ARE included in your cruise fare and will not cost extra. If you're unsure about pricing, one of the friendly baristas at Cove Cafe can help go over the options.

If you are a coffee drinker, do make sure to pick up one of the Cove Cafe Coffee Club cards! We made sure to get one on our cruise, and we were able to get a free specialty coffee drink by the end of our cruise. It's definitely well worth picking up. And, it does not expire. So, you can use it on multiple cruises. In fact, we have one at home just waiting for our next cruise!

I wouldn't consider myself a big coffee drinker anymore. I gave up coffee for many years after my Crohn's disease diagnosis. But, I've been able to reintroduce it a bit here and there. So, I am always happy to find other options besides coffee at a coffee shop.

Cove Cafe does carry Republic of Tea hot and iced tea. For those who are gluten free, you'll appreciate that The Republic of Tea is the first and only tea brand in the United States to obtain certification by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO).

On one of our visits, I did get the iced Darjeeling tea. It was good and a lot larger than I expected. Given that most of the iced tea served on the Disney Cruise Line is Gold Peak Tea, this was a huge step-up for an iced tea lover. I may have to try some of the other teas the next time we're on a Disney Cruise!

I did try coffee on a few other occasions on our cruise. The first time I got a latte with almond milk. One of the great things about the ship is that they do also offer non-dairy milk options too. I believe they also carried soy milk in addition to almond milk on the Disney Dream.

If you are concerned about cross-contamination, you can always ask your barista to use a clean frother for your non-dairy milk.

On another occasion, I ordered an iced latte with almond milk. Because we were cruising during the warmer months in the Bahamas, I definitely preferred the iced latte format.

For those who might be interested in coffee syrup flavors, always double-check the ingredients in the syrups. I believe Cove Cafe was using the DaVinci brand of coffee syrups at the time of our sailing.

Because of being gluten free, I tend to stick to simple coffee drinks. But, Brandon ordered quite a few more elaborate coffee drinks during our visits to Cove Cafe. First up was the Mocha Latte. As you can see, he ordered his drink with regular milk which was much more frothy and than the drinks I ordered with almond milk.

Brandon said the mocha latte was really excellent and would get it again. As you can see from the photo here, our barista Agung was awesome at making sure that both Brandon and I got delicious drinks and that they were beautifully presented!

But, by far, Brandon's favorite coffee drink was the Moka Experience offered by Cove Cafe. At $12, it's a little pricey, but it was well worth it for what you get.

This dish included chocolate truffles, espresso, chocolate syrup, RumChata, and whipped cream -- among other things. He said it was rich and decadent and by far the best coffee drink he ordered.

No matter what type of drink you order, don't forget to pair it with a snack or two. I can't have any of the breakfast pastries, but I'm always a big fan of the antipasti options during the evening time at Cove Cafe. Brandon and I tend to get a little snack at Cove Cafe a few hours before dinner, especially if we have late dining.

The antipasti options included Parmesan cheese, prosciutto, and marinated olives. We both skipped the olives and opted for just Parmesan and prosciutto on our visits.

If you're gluten free or have other special dietary needs, don't hesitate to ask the baristas to bring you fresh items from the back area of the coffee shop too. They are always willing to accommodate too! Generally, I find the evening snacks to be much safe and limited in gluten because they are typically antipasti platter items.

As you can see, we got antipasti options on several different trips. If you're a fan, it's definitely worth a visit.

Overall

Cove Cafe is one of our favorite go-to spots for coffee and tea drinks. With options for gluten free, dairy free, and vegan guests -- including non-dairy milk -- there's something for everyone at Cove Cafe. If you're a fan of snacks, you can often find evening time snacks that are gluten free there too. If you have allergies like fish/shellfish and peanut, you'll be in fairly good shape there too. If you have other nut allergies, do make sure you check ingredients, especially in flavored syrups!

No matter what your special dietary needs are, you're sure to enjoy Cove Cafe as much as we do too!

Have you been to Cove Cafe on any of the Disney Cruise Line ships? What was your experience with this coffee shop?

7/19/19 7/19/19

Royal Palace Debarkation Breakfast Review on the Disney Dream

It's amazing how quickly a cruise can go by. Just like that our 3-day cruise on in May on the Disney Dream was over. Because we dined at Royal Palace the evening before, we were assigned Royal Palace as the location for our debarkation breakfast. Guests also have the option to dine at Cabanas the morning the cruise debarks. But, we always prefer the assigned rotational dining option for an a la carte breakfast. Because we had late dining, our debarkation breakfast was around 8 a.m. -- early, but not nearly as early as our previous debarkation breakfasts.

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

Debarkation Breakfast at Royal Palace

Atmosphere

It's always so sad on the day we leave the ship! I do appreciate that Disney Cruise Line has magical touches, even as you're debarking.

Disney Cruise Line - See Ya Real Soon / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I always get a few photos of the See Ya Real Soon signs throughout the ship. It's both sad and gives us something to look forward to because we're always thinking about our next cruise!

Royal Palace - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Even though we had a later breakfast, as you can tell, Royal Palace was pretty deserted. A lot of guests do skip breakfast or head to Cabanas instead.

Royal Palace - Sarah with Menu — Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I may be smiling in this photo, but we both didn't want to leave the ship at all. Three day cruises never feel like enough time when you're sailing on a Disney Cruise ship.

The Food

Breakfast during debarkation includes a limited menu. This means that if you're interested in items like allergy-friendly Mickey waffles, they won't be options. That's because the ship is essentially debarking and re-embarking the same day. So, the crew really has a tight turn-around to get the ship ready for the next set of cruising guests.

Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Although Brandon is not a big breakfast person, he did get breakfast during debarkation. We both ordered cold beverages, including orange juice.

Usually, I try to order easy but filling breakfast items to help fuel us for our drive home. I got a ham and cheese omelet which is gluten free. It can be made dairy free by omitting the cheese. Overall, as omelets go, this was good but nothing special. Still, given how quickly debarkation breakfast goes, I was pleasantly surprised by how decent this was.

Even though you can't order allergy-friendly Mickey waffles during debarkation breakfast, you can get allergy-friendly pancakes. These are gluten free and dairy free, and they are made using the King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Pancake & Waffle Mix. I have to admit, that I think I liked the pancakes better than the waffles. Super tasty and definitely a breakfast option I'll get again.

Royal Palace - Eggs — Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon opted for something very simple -- scrambled eggs and bacon. His breakfast entree was fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. He is happy with something simple and small, though we both agreed he got a fairly substantial portion.

Overall

While debarkation breakfast is never fancy, we always appreciate being able to get one last meal on our cruise. It's a nice way to cap off the sailing and get a little bit more of the Disney Cruise Line magic in before we head back home.

Have you been on a Disney Cruise? How do you dine for breakfast on debarkation day?

7/16/19 7/16/19

Royal Palace Dinner Review on the Disney Dream

A three day cruise goes by fast! And, on our last night of our 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream, we had our last rotational dinner at Royal Palace. It didn't feel too much like a new experience that night because we'd been at Royal Palace so much over the course of three days. But, we both really enjoy the Royal Palace dinner and the options available to us there.

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

Dinner at Royal Palace

Atmosphere

Because I've posted so many Royal Palace reviews, I won't share too many photos of this Disney princess inspired restaurant. But, you can see and read more about it in my breakfast and lunch reviews.

Royal Palace Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I'm not sure if I mentioned it in earlier reviews, but we had the later dinner seating at 8:15 p.m. This was our first cruise dining this late. And, while we were both a bit skeptical about it at first, we actually really loved late dining. In fact, we both agreed that we will always book the second dining on every trip from now on. For us, it gave us a lot more time to digest and not feel rushed in the afternoon after excursions, relaxing, or getting back on the ship.

I did want to include a comparison photo for you of dinner. As you can see, the atmosphere is totally different in the evening when the restaurant is much more crowded. That's one of the reasons I love eating there at breakfast and lunch. The low crowds are just such a nice change of pace.

Royal Palace - Table Setting / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I love the adorable napkin shapes throughout the ship's restaurants. This one is perfectly themed for Royal Palace.

The Food

Royal Palace is hands down our favorite of the three main rotational dining options for the food. While we Enchanted Garden is our favorite restaurant overall, we both agree that the food at Royal Palace tends to be much more our speed. So, we actually ate food that was entirely from this restaurant instead of requesting items from other dining locations!

Another shoutout to our assistant server Cristel from Mexico! She completely rocked the entire cruise and really made our dining experience pleasant. From start to finish, she really made sure we enjoyed our meals and always had our double drinks!

I forgot to take a photo of the Ener-G allergy-friendly rolls. But, we did manage to get a shot of the olive tapenade that was served as an accompaniment to the rolls. I really loved the saltiness of the olives, while Brandon preferred to skip the tapenade and just use butter on his rolls.

Royal Palace - Iced Lobster & Shrimp — Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For the second time on the cruise, I ordered the Iced Lobster and Jumbo Shrimp. This is gluten free but contains dairy. It can be easily made dairy free by omitting the sauces. If you are a seafood lover, this is an excellent classic steakhouse appetizer.

For Brandon's appetizer, he ordered the Breaded and Deep Fried Brie. This is fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. This is one of his favorite appetizers because he is a huge brie fan.

Although I didn't order it this time, I have actually been able to pre-order this dish to be gluten free on a previous cruise. If you're gluten free and really love the idea of this, I highly recommend pre-ordering it, as they cannot make it on the fly.

Royal Palace - Leek Soup — Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We both also ordered the Leek and Potato Soup. It's one of our favorites, and it is gluten free, fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. It is also vegetarian. If you enjoy soup, I highly recommend this option, especially for gluten free guests since it requires no modifications to be gluten free.

Both of us also ordered the Chateaubriand-Roasted Filet Steak with Crushed Potatoes and Green Beans. Neither one of us could have the Bernaise Sauce that normally comes with it. With this modification, this dish was gluten free, fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. The potatoes do contain dairy, so if you're interested in this, you may be able to swap out the potatoes with advance notice.

Both of us really enjoyed the entree. And, we both agreed that the mashed potatoes were actually the best part of the plate. I think that's partially because our steaks were both overdone. Mine was especially well-done.

Brandon's was a bit more rare, so be sure to tell your server if you have a particular concern about meat temperature and cook.

Royal Palace - Creme Brulee — Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, we were both served Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brulee. This dessert is both gluten free and peanut free. Brandon said it was just OK, and I skipped this because I do not like Creme Brulee usually.

I was also extremely bummed because I had pre-ordered the Grand Marnier Souffle, which my friend Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures has ordered on her cruises and raved about. When I asked our server Allen about it, he said the kitchen told him they couldn't make it. I will definitely be asking about it again on a future cruise, just in case they can make it on that sailing.

Allen did bring out the allergy-friendly dessert of the night, which was the same dessert Brandon had at our embarkation lunch. A combination of a cookie and brownie topped with raspberry sorbet, it was a much better option than the creme brulee. This dessert is gluten free, dairy free, vegan, peanut free, and free of the top common allergens. I am still bummed I didn't get the Grand Marnier Souffle I pre-ordered, but I'm at least glad I had a decent dessert option.

Overall

Royal Palace is definitely a great meal during your rotational dining options. It's a favorite of ours for the excellent food options and overall experience. If you are on your cruise, don't skip out on this restaurant during your sailing. It's definitely worth the experience, especially if you're a fan of French and steakhouse inspired fare.

Have you been to Royal Palace on the Disney Dream? What did you think of the dinner options there?

7/16/19 7/16/19

Cookie's BBQ Lunch Review on Castaway Cay

Cookie's BBQ is one of three restaurants on Castaway Cay, Disney's private island. On our recent 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream, we had lunch at Cookie's BBQ, which is the main restaurant on the island, and the location that handles special dietary needs requests. On our last two cruises, we've pre-ordered our lunches, and this has worked really well for us. So, Cookie's BBQ is our go-to spot to eat.

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

Lunch at Cookie’s BBQ

Atmosphere

Somehow I always manage to forget to take a lot of photos of Cookie's BBQ when we eat there. I'm sure this is due to being super relaxed and chill while we're on the island!

Cookies BBQ - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When you go to Cookie's BBQ, you'll want to find the giant boat with potato chips on it. This is exactly where you need to go to check in if you're pre-ordered food or to talk to a coordinator about special diets options.

Cookies's BBQ Potato Chips / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

You can always grab a bag of plain Lay's potato chips too while you're there. These are individually packaged and gluten free and dairy free too!

Cookie's BBQ - Fruit — Cookie's BBQ / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of the things I always appreciate about the food options with Disney Cruise Line is that they always have lots of fresh fruit and vegetables around for guests to grab and take with them. Cookie's BBQ is no exception. They have tons of fresh fruit available. And, I always make sure to grab at least one plate of fresh pineapple, mango, and grapes.

Cookie's BBQ / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Another nice touch is that while you're on your way to your picnic bench to enjoy lunch, you'll find fresh condiments individually prepared by cast members. This is great for those of us with special diets who need to avoid cross-contamination.

The Food

Although we didn't pre-order food at any other location, we always make sure to pre-order our lunch on Castaway Cay. In May 2018, we didn't pre-order and attempted to eat at the Serenity Bay BBQ (the adults only restaurant). And, I had very limited options. So, we've pre-ordered on the last two cruises and had great success.

One important note about pre-ordering. It does not guarantee that you get your food the moment you walk up to the restaurant. What it does is help the restaurant and coordinators prepare the right amount of food for special diets guests and help streamline the process when you arrive. We sadly saw a guest who came to Cookie's BBQ who was extremely irate that the special diets food options for her kids was not ready immediately. For us, even with a small wait, we're just grateful we can eat safely while we're on our cruise, so I do recommend having a little patience and understanding with the cast members who are helping make your experience safe and delicious.

After speaking with a coordinator who found our order, we were given a number to take with us to whatever picnic table we wanted to sit at. While Brandon grabbed us a table, I went to get some fresh fruit. I don't know what it is, but I swear the fruit on the cruises is so fresh. I could eat the pineapple they serve for days!

Cookie's BBQ - Gluten Free Burger — Cookie's BBQ / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

A cast member arrived at our table with only one of our orders. Unfortunately, the coordinator got confused and only grabbed my pre-order and not Brandon's. So, the cast member went to prepare Brandon's food, which did arrive pretty quickly considering.

I pre-ordered a cheeseburger on a gluten free bun, French fries, and grilled mahi mahi. Everything was gluten free, and the burger could have been made dairy free by omitting the cheese. While I wouldn't say anything we get at Castaway Cay is super amazing, we both really just enjoy a basic grilled burger while we listen to the ocean nearby. I also really enjoy the grilled fish too.

You'll find that there are other options that are gluten free safe too -- like the grilled chicken, potato salad, and coleslaw. Always double-check with a coordinator to confirm that the items you're interested in are safe for your special dietary need. I also recommend that when you pre-order that you ask for specific items that you want. We have found that if you're too vague, you're likely to get plain and bland food. The more specific you are, the better your experience!

As you can see, Brandon got virtually the same thing -- minus the fish because of his allergies. This burger was fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. He was served a regular gluten-filled bun since that was safe for his special dietary needs.

Overall

We both really enjoy the simple pleasures of getting classic BBQ food when we eat at Cookie's BBQ on Castaway Cay. There's something charming and nostalgic about eating BBQ at a picnic table and lounging afterwards on the beach. If you have special diets, I strongly recommend pre-ordering your food and eating at Cookie's BBQ (and avoiding Cookie's Too and Serenity Bay BBQ) for the best special dietary needs options while you're at Castaway Cay.

Have you been to Cookie's BBQ on Castaway Cay? What did you get when you dined there?

7/16/19 7/16/19

Royal Palace Breakfast Review - Disney Dream

Royal Palace on the Disney Dream really was our home away from home on our 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream. That's because it's not only one of the three main rotational dining options on the cruise ship, but it's also the location for a la carte breakfast and lunch while you're on your cruise. So, we ate there a lot!

*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.

Breakfast at Royal Palace

On day 3, I had breakfast at Royal Palace as we docked at Castaway Cay. Since Brandon is not a breakfast person, I went down for some allergy-friendly Mickey waffles while he woke up and got around for our relaxing day on Castaway Cay.

Atmosphere

Because we dined at Royal Palace so much on this cruise, you'll see lots of photos in all of my reviews of breakfast and lunch.

Royal Palace Entrance Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Since Royal Palace is themed after the Disney princesses, you'll find lots of royal touches throughout the restaurant, including paintings and other decor.

Royal Palace Breakfast Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

During my breakfast, I was seated near the porthole windows on the side of the ship.

While it didn't make for the most amazing views in the restaurant, I really didn't care because I had some fantastic views of Castaway Cay.

Royal Palace View / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

There's nothing quite like enjoying a leisurely breakfast while your cruise ship docks into port at Castaway Cay. If you dine early at Royal Palace (the restaurant typically opens at 8 or 8:30 a.m.), do ask for a seat by the windows. It's worth asking for the amazing views!

The Food

Because we were at Castaway Cay and would be having BBQ lunch on the island, I wasn't planning on ordering anything too filling at breakfast.

I do always order an iced tea for a little bit of caffeine and an apple juice to get my day started.

After I had been seated, our server Cristel from our main rotational dining experiences saw me. She wasn't a part of my breakfast server team, but she did come over to say "hello." She noticed I didn't have any gluten free pastries at my table and insisted on bringing me some, which was very nice of her. I ended up with two of the Kinnikinnick brand cinnamon sugar donuts. These are gluten free, dairy free, and free of the top common allergens. I always enjoy these donuts and do tend to get them at least once on our cruises.

Since I'd already ordered my favorite gluten free Eggs Benedict earlier on the cruise, I knew I wanted to get allergy-friendly Mickey waffles this time. I was able to get Allergy-Friendly Mickey Waffles with Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Cream, and Bacon.

The waffles are gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and free of the top common allergens and are made using the King Arthur Flour Pancake & Waffle Mix. This is change from previous cruises where they were using mixes like Namaste to make the waffles.

Overall, I really liked the waffles, especially with the blueberry compote and strawberry cream (the cream contains dairy). You can also get your waffles served with plain maple syrup too. The combination of the blueberry compote and strawberry cream were just perfect and made the waffles really special -- as opposed to getting them with just maple syrup. I would definitely get these again on a future cruise.

Overall

Royal Palace continues to be my go-to spot for a la carte breakfast on the Disney Dream. I'm really glad it's there as an option, because I much prefer the low-key and relaxed atmosphere there than at Cabanas, which can get really busy some mornings. Plus, these allergy-friendly Mickey waffles and toppings might be my new favorite breakfast entree on the Disney Dream. They were the perfect way to start my day on beautiful Castaway Cay.

Have you been to Royal Palace on the Disney Dream for breakfast? What did you think about their special diets options?

7/16/19 7/16/19

Enchanted Garden Dinner Review on the Disney Dream

Enchanted Garden on the Disney Dream is one of the three main rotational dining restaurants. On our recent Disney Cruise in May, we had dinner here on our second night, which was also pirate night on the ship. After our last several cruises, Enchanted Garden has become one of our favorite restaurants to dine in for its charming theme and delicious entrees.

*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 Enchanted Garden

Atmosphere

Enchanted Garden is themed after the gardens of Versailles. So, you'll see lots of beautiful garden-inspired touches throughout the restaurant.

Enchanted Garden Entrance Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

From the moment you step inside, you'll see beautiful garden murals and lights.

Enchanted Garden Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The lighting does change throughout your meal and goes from day time to sunset. I love some of the charming seating options in here, including the tea-cup inspired booths. We've been lucky enough to have been seated in these several times and always love them.

Enchanted Garden Fountain / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The centerpiece as you walk into the restaurant is a beautiful water fountain. I absolutely love getting photos of it after our meal when the lighting looks more like twilight.

Enchanted Garden Lighting / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We always look up, down, and all around whenever we're in a Disney restaurant. That's because you'll see so many beautiful and themed elements just about everywhere. My favorite in Enchanted Garden are these beautiful flower lights.

Enchanted Garden - Table / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We were seated towards the middle of the restaurant, and we had a good vantage point of the restaurant without being in too congested of an area.

The Food

Because we were on a 3-day cruise, even though we dined at Enchanted Garden during pirate night, the menu was still Enchanted Garden's regular rotational dinner menu.

Enchanted Garden / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For our bread service, we were both brought the Ener-G allergy-friendly rolls, which are gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, vegan, and free of the top common allergens, with some hummus. While Brandon ate the rolls, he's not a fan of the hummus, so he skipped that. Overall, I enjoyed the bread service. If you're a hummus fan, you'll enjoy this version which is fairly mild in flavor.

I have to shout-out our assistant server, Cristel from Mexico. She was a total rockstar throughout our cruise and really took great care of us. She was also super on top of beverages. In fact, she learned quickly what drinks we liked to order and brought us double drinks at all times throughout the meal.

She was also awesome when I saw her during breakfast at Royal Palace and even insisted on bringing me gluten free pastries when she saw I didn't have any. And she wasn't even my server during that meal! She was really excellent and definitely went above and beyond during our cruise, so if you get a chance to have her as a part of your service team, you'll be well taken care of.

While we absolutely love Enchanted Garden's theme and the entrees served there, sometimes we go a little off-book when we dine there. Luckily, we learned several cruises ago that you can order items served at any of the three main rotational dining options during your meal. Because I'm not a big fan of any of the appetizers at Enchanted Garden, I requested the Iced Lobster and Jumbo Shrimp that is normally served at Royal Palace.

This dish is marked gluten free on the Royal Palace menu and can be made dairy free by omitting the sauces. This is always one of my favorite appetizers. And, I like it so much that I ordered it twice on this cruise. If you're a seafood fan, this is always a great option.

Enchanted Garden - Soup — Enchanted Garden / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon was also not feeling any of the appetizer choices from Enchanted Garden that night. He ended up getting the French Onion Soup from Royal Palace again. This dish is fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. He really enjoys this soup a lot. And, he was still so glad that he could get soup on the cruise pretty much as much as he wanted. This continues to be a real winner in his book.

Enchanted Garden - Indian Food — Enchanted Garden / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because I wasn't all that excited about the Indian food options I had the previous night at Animator's Palate, our server Allen wanted to make sure I got some options that I really loved. I was served a plate of curry chicken, scented rice, and curried potatoes. This was all gluten free.

This second serving of Indian food did not disappoint. And, as you can see in this photo, I was one happy camper.

My favorite main dining entree is also at Enchanted Garden. So, Allen brought me a plate of the Marjoram Scented Roasted Chicken too. Although I couldn't eat everything, I did put a major dent in the dinner. The roasted chicken is so flavorful and tender, that it continues to be tops for me for entrees. I also really enjoyed the whipped sweet potatoes, sautéed spinach, and the chicken jus served with this too. This entree is marked gluten free on the Enchanted Garden menu.

For Brandon's entree, he ordered the Slow Roasted Prime Rib. This was a gluten free (marked on the menu), fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. Overall, Brandon really liked it, but did think the prime rib was quite fatty for his taste. We both totally forgot until after he'd ordered that he had loved the seared pork tenderloin medallions served at this restaurant on our last cruise. He could have ordered this, but chose not to because he was already feeling pretty full.

Even after stuffing myself silly with all the food I ordered, I still managed to have some room for dessert. Though it's not marked gluten free on the menu, I was served the Orange Yogurt Cake. Having been to Palo many times, this was absolutely the same orange almond cake served there for dessert.

The cake itself is gluten free and dairy free, but the accompaniments contained dairy. I loved the actual cake itself -- it's one of my favorite desserts on the ship. But, the solidified yogurt rectangle served on the plate was just weird and kind of gross. Next time, I'd just ask for the dessert minus the yogurt and cream sauce.

For Brandon's dessert, he ordered Chocolate Garden Torte which came with a coffee cream and was peanut free. Even though he's not a big dessert person, he loves chocolatey desserts. This one was a real winner, and one he'd get again.

Overall

We both really enjoy the atmosphere and entrees served at Enchanted Garden. With a beautiful garden theme and pleasant dim lighting, we always look forward to our dinners at this rotational dining location.

Have you been to Enchanted Garden? What did you think of the restaurant and food?

7/16/19 7/16/19

Royal Palace Lunch Review on the Disney Dream

Royal Palace always feels like our home restaurant when we're cruising on the Disney Dream. That's because we tend to eat there quite a few times for a la carte breakfast and lunches throughout our sailing. On our recent May cruise on the Disney Dream, we ate there several times, including once for lunch. I had already had breakfast there that morning. So, we had a late lunch after a relaxing few hours in the Rainforest Room in Senses Spa. It's a great way to rest, relax, and recharge. And, after our time there, we decide a refuel at lunch was in order.

*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.

Lunch at Royal Palace

Atmosphere

As I mentioned in my breakfast review of Royal Palace, the restaurant is themed after Disney princesses.

The restaurant has a very different feel to it during the day time. And, we both really enjoy how relaxed and low-key it is. We went closer to the end of lunch service, so it was quite empty. But, our overall service and experience were still beyond excellent.

Royal Palace Seat View / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We were docked in Nassau, Bahamas that day, and so our view wasn't the most amazing, it was still nice to have a window seat with some views outside.

Royal Palace Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Our table was also in a nice cozy corner, which we really appreciated. It was nice to just relax and not feel rushed during our lunch.

The Food

On this cruise, we didn't pre-order any of our lunches, as we have on previous cruises. Both of us agreed that you don't really need to pre-order a meal, unless you have a really special request. We have found the restaurants to be really accommodating even with all of our special dietary needs.

Royal Palace Lunch - Allergy Friendly Rolls — Royal Palace Lunch / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We were each brought a bread service -- I was served the Ener-G allergy-friendly rolls, which are gluten free, dairy free and free of the top common allergens and vegan. During lunch, they weren't that well-heated. But, if you can get them well-heated, they are always a nice accompaniment to any meal.

Brandon was given the regular bread service as the bread was peanut free. He wasn't too keen on the bread throughout our cruise and felt that the gluten free rolls were sometimes better than the gluten-filled ones he was served.

Royal Palace - Ahi Tuna Nicoise — Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my appetizer, I ordered the Ahi Tuna Nicoise which is marked gluten free and dairy free on the Royal Palace lunch menu. This has been a go-to appetizer for me on several cruises now. I really love the fresh flavors and how light is is. It's a great way to start a meal or as a main entree if you're feeling like eating light.

Royal Palace Lunch - Meat & Cheese — Royal Palace Lunch / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon started with the Sliced Serrano Ham with Manchego Cheese and Tomato Bread. This was fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. Overall, he really enjoyed the meat and cheese portion of this appetizer but wasn't as keen on the tomato bread. He's ordered this on several cruises too and enjoys it quite a bit. If you're gluten free, they can make this GF by omitting the bread.

My friend Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures had posted about some really tasting looking allergy-friendly chicken tenders on her Baja cruise on the Disney Wonder. They looked totally different than any of the ones that you can get at Disney World, so I knew I had to try them on our cruise.

I was able to order allergy-friendly chicken tenders, French fries, and steamed vegetables during lunch. The tenders and fries are made in a dedicate fryer to avoid cross-contamination. Overall, I was so happy I ordered these. There were super crispy and really delicious.

In hindsight, I should have asked what brand they were using. But, I was enjoying them too much and too relaxed and just plain forgot! I will absolutely be ordering these again and investigating where else I can order them on the ship. I have heard that you can get them at Cabanas, Flo's Cafe, all of the main rotational dining restaurants, and through room service.

Brandon really wanted to get the lamb burger on the Royal Palace lunch menu, but it contained fish in the burger patty, so it could not be modified. Instead, he got the Classic Cheeseburger and French fries. His fries were also made in a dedicated fryer, and the entire meal was fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. Brandon did enjoy the burger but said it wasn't anything too special.

Royal Palace Lunch / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my dessert, I was served the allergy-friendly dessert of the day -- a vanilla cake with vanilla frosting layers, raspberry non-dairy whipped topping, and fresh fruit. This was gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and free of the top common allergens. Overall, I really enjoyed this. The cake was a little dry and dense, but the light and airy raspberry whipped cream on it was fantastic and really made the dessert. I would definitely order this dessert again.

For his dessert, Brandon was served the Italian Style Ice Cream Sundae with Dulce de Leche Ice Cream, Caramel Sauce, and Whipped Cream. This was peanut free, and I believe he did not have the biscotti crumble that is normally in the sundae included in the version he was served. Brandon is not a huge dessert person, so while I think he enjoyed it, I'm not sure it's something he'd go out of his way to order.

Overall

Royal Palace for lunch continues to be our preferred way to enjoy lunch when we're dining aboard the Disney Dream. It's low-key and relaxed and gives us a lot of options and flexibility for our special dietary needs. I think I may have found my go-to lunch choices on this visit too!

Have you been to Royal Palace on the Disney Dream for lunch? What did you think of the options available to you?

7/15/19 7/15/19

Royal Palace Breakfast Review on the Disney Dream

Royal Palace, on the Disney Dream, is one of the three main rotational restaurants for dinner. It also happens to be open for a la carte breakfast and lunch during your cruise. On our recent cruise in May on the Disney Dream, I had breakfast at Royal Palace on two of our cruise mornings.

*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.

Breakfast at Royal Palace

I much prefer breakfast at Royal Palace to the buffet options at Cabanas or Enchanted Garden because I like the ability to get a variety of options without the hassle or worry of a buffet and cross-contamination. I also find that Royal Palace tends to be fairly quiet, making for a much more pleasant overall breakfast experience.

Atmosphere

Royal Palace is inspired by Disney princesses. So, you'll see lots of royal touches throughout the restaurant. Because we dined at Royal Palace a lot during the cruise for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I'll be showing lots of photos of the overall theme throughout those reviews.

One of my favorite parts about breakfast at Royal Palace is how calm and low-key it is.

As you can see from the photos here, there really aren't a lot of people dining a la carte each morning.

Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One tip that I always have for dining here during breakfast or lunch is to ask for a seat near the windows -- especially if you can get one with a lovely ocean view. I have often had great views in the morning when sitting near those windows.

On this visit, I had an interior table, but it was close to the hallway which had portholes. So, there was still plenty of sunshine flooding through.

The Food

Royal Palace's a la carte breakfast menu does mark some options gluten free. But, you can also talk to your server about additional options too. Dishes like allergy-friendly Mickey waffles aren't on the regular menu but are available upon request.

You can also pre-order your breakfast at Royal Palace by ordering your meal the night before with your server. Because we've been on the Disney Dream quite a few times, I decided not to pre-order for breakfast on this cruise. But, we have pre-ordered in the past, and it can be really helpful, especially if you have specific plans or activities to go to. It won't ensure your meal is ready the moment you sit down, but it will help speed the general preparation process a bit.

Day two of our cruise was our Nassau, Bahamas day. Brandon is not a huge breakfast fan, so while he was getting up and showered, I went down for breakfast at Royal Palace before we disembarked to get our passports stamped and a brief look around of Nassau.

I started the meal with a few breakfast beverages -- my favorite iced tea and apple juice -- while I looked over the menu.

Royal Palace - Eggs Benedict — Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of my favorite breakfast entrees is the gluten free modified Eggs Benedict. You can order this gluten free by swapping out the gluten-filled English muffin for gluten free buns. I ordered the classic Eggs Benedict. But, you can also order two other versions gluten free too (one has salmon and the other has rosemary ham).

If you can have dairy, this is a terrific breakfast option. I ordered this a few times on our Disney Cruises, and I have always found the eggs to be well-poached, and the Hollandaise sauce to be excellent. This is always a must-order for me at least one of the mornings on a cruise.

Royal Palace - Muffins — Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

My server also offered me Udi's Double Chocolate Chip Muffins. On our last cruise, I was served Kinnikinnick Chocolate Chip Muffins which are one of my favorites. But, Disney Cruise Line is no longer serving these. So, Udi's it was. I wasn't all that keen on the muffins (which are gluten free and dairy free) because they just taste like dry chocolate cake to me. But, I'm glad they are available to guests!

Overall

Royal Palace's a la carte breakfast is a must-do for me when I'm on the Disney Dream. It's a great way to have a low-key and filling breakfast. As you'll see from other reviews, you can also get other items like allergy-friendly Mickey waffles and pancakes. If you're on the Dream, definitely make plans to have breakfast there for delicious and safe options without the hassle or rush of the buffet at Cabanas.

Have you been on the Disney Dream? What did you think of the breakfast options at Royal Palace?

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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?

5/24/18 5/24/18

Enchanted Garden -- Embarkation Lunch -- Disney Dream

*This dining experience took place in May 2018.

Embarkation Lunch at Enchanted Garden

We recently went on a 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream. Disney Cruise Line offers some unique dining experiences, including adult dining and also offers rotational dining, where guests dine at a different restaurant each night of the cruise. One of these restaurants is Enchanted Garden. While we did dine there for dinner, we also got a chance to dine here for lunch on embarkation day.When my mom and I went on the Disney Dream back in 2014, we also ate at Enchanted Garden during embarkation. But, it was a buffet then. Now, Enchanted Garden offers an a la carte menu. Guests wanting a buffet can still enjoy the buffet up at Cabanas on deck 11. Because I have found the buffets to take a bit of time to get special dietary needs meals, we decided that Enchanted Garden might be a calmer and easier bet. In addition to my special dietary needs, Brandon is also allergic to fish and shellfish, and we wanted to make sure he was extra safe on the cruise ship where there's a ton of seafood.

Atmosphere

The theming in Enchanted Garden is set to represent the gardens of Versailles in France. You'll see lots of whimsical touches and bright colorful decor.Our favorite part of the restaurant had to be the entry seating which included gorgeous booths. On embarkation day, we actually got to sit in these as we were one of the first groups in the restaurant. They're beautifully themed and super cozy!You'll notice lots of garden theming even in the ceiling of the restaurant, as well as the light fixtures.And, of course, the centerpiece of the restaurant is a beautiful fountain.As you can see, the lighting in this restaurant is quite beautiful. We loved it at night, when the lighting changed quite a bit. But, more on that in our dinner review!

The Food

Of course, the big thing we were there for was the food. Neither of us had eaten much for breakfast, so we were ready for a nice lunch. Our server during lunch was not our regular server (you get a team of servers that follow you to you each restaurant for dinner). But, Jude, who assisted us, was a rockstar. He asked immediately if we had special dietary needs and worked to ensure we both had something tasty and safe.The Disney Cruise Line does not offer an allergy-friendly menu, like the Disney Parks, but they do note gluten free, dairy free, and vegetarian dishes on the menus.As I learned on my 2014 cruise, there are often more dishes than are noted that are actually safe to eat or easy to modify when asked.If you have a special dietary need, usually, you will discuss options with your server who will speak to the chefs on your behalf. I have heard others say chefs have come to their table, but that has not been my experience, except at Cabanas, Palo, and Remy.Prior to ordering, Jude brought me some gluten free and dairy free rolls. Disney Cruise Line is currently serving Ener-G rolls at most main dining locations. They do not offer vegan buttery spread, so guests with dairy allergies or intolerances or are vegan should ask about extra virgin olive oil. Unfortunately, during this meal, the rolls were not well heated and turned hard as a rock almost immediately, so I didn't really eat much of them.For my appetizer, I ordered the Sliced Smoked Salmon with Lemon and a Honey-Mustard Dill Sauce which was marked both gluten free and dairy free on the menu. Overall, I thought this was good, but not amazing. I really enjoyed the mustard though and thought it paired very well with the salmon.For my entree, both Brandon and I got 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. The potato did contain dairy. So, if you are dairy free, you can swap out for a plain potato. Because I've reintroduced dairy back into my diet, I did not modify the dish. This was a very solid entree, though quite filling for a lunch. We both agreed that the double baked potato was our favorite part of the lunch entree.For dessert, there are no options marked on the menu gluten free or dairy free. Jude brought me a Chocolate Mousse with Chocolate Syrup that was gluten free but did contain dairy. I have seen a ton of photos online of vegan diners who have had different types of mousse made for them with dairy free options, so it's worth asking if you're dairy free too. I took a few bites of this, and I really enjoyed the light, chocolatey flavors of the mousse and thought it was a nice ending to the meal.

Overall

We both agreed that dining at Enchanted Garden for lunch on embarkation day was a much calmer and easier option than Cabanas, which was kind of nuts. We both felt we had decent options and were pleasantly surprised at how solid the meal was. We're already thinking about another cruise and definitely would visit Enchanted Garden for lunch again too! Huge shoutout again to our sever Jude for this meal. We literally saw him at other points on the cruise, and he always remembered our names and that we had special dietary needs. Talk about Disney Cruise Line magic!Have you been on a Disney Cruise? Where do you go on embarkation day for lunch?

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?

10/29/14 10/29/14

Royal Palace -- Lunch -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.Dining at the Royal Palace on the Disney Dream was perhaps my most favorite for breakfast and lunch of the cruise. Located on deck 3, this restaurant was a la carte for both breakfast and lunch when we dined there on day 2 of our cruise.Having dined at Royal Palace for breakfast earlier that day, I was familiar with the set-up and how the ordering would work here a la carte. In fact, the team actually remembered me from breakfast when we came in for lunch later in the day after our Nassau excursion.After having such a decadent dining day on day 1 with two lunches at Cabanas and at Enchanted Garden along with our 3 hour dinner at Remy, both my mom and I knew we needed to eat a little lighter on day 2.We were glad to see that the menu had some lighter options, including several salads. When our server asked what I was interested in, I asked if the assorted seafood sample for an appetizer was OK. For my entree, I requested the lemon chicken salad, and for dessert I ordered the citrus fruit cocktail that was on the appetizer section of the menu. I was in luck as none of my entrees needed modification for gluten free and dairy free.The assorted seafood sampler was very similar to the options available at the buffets on embarkation day with a crab claw and shrimp. The shrimp here was slightly seasoned which was very nice (and much better than plain peel and eat shrimp). I really enjoyed the bay scallops which were marinated in citrus. These were nice and sweet. The crab claw was good, though it could have used a sauce. Though it doesn't look all that appetizing, I loved the lemon chicken salad. With fresh papaya (yum!) and chicken marinated in coconut milk and lemongrass, the flavors were fresh and light. The salad was topped with a vinaigrette.Funnily enough, the chef did ask the server to ask me if coconut milk was OK for me to consume. It sometimes cracks me up when people assume coconut milk is milk because it has the the word milk in it. As one friend put it, "that would be a very interesting kind of cow if it produced coconut milk." If I had dined at Royal Palace again on the trip, I would have definitely ordered this entree salad. It was delicious! For dessert, I had the fruit cocktail salad. This was super weird. My mom and I both ordered it and neither one of us got the almonds that the dish claimed to have in it. The only mint was a small sprig on the top of the cup. It was literally a bowl of grapefruit segments and a couple of orange segments. I can't have grapefruit, due to medication, so I skipped this dish once I realized what was in it. To me, this was just not a citrus cocktail salad!Overall, my mom and I really enjoyed Royal Palace for lunch. We thought it was the perfect mid-day meal, especially since we had Palo reservations that night. We both said we'd love to go back to Royal Palace and have lunch again on our next Disney Cruise (and yes, we're already planning).Have you been on the Disney Dream? What did you think of Royal Palace?

10/29/14 10/29/14

Royal Palace -- Lunch -- Disney Dream 2014

10/27/14 10/27/14

Royal Palace -- Breakfast -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.Royal Palace located on deck 3 of the Disney Dream is one of the ship's regular rotational dining locations. Inspired by classic Disney films like Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast, Royal Palace serves French-inspired, continental cuisine fit for a king or queen for breakfast, lunch and dinner.My mom and I stopped at Royal Palace for both breakfast and lunch on day 2 of our Disney Dream cruise. Both meals were a la carte. For breakfast, we were seated at our own table and found the restaurant to be fairly quiet. It opened at 8:00 a.m., and we arrived shortly after the opening. (Note: on day 3 of our cruise, they opened at 8:30 a.m.) This was my favorite breakfast of the trip, both for my meal and the ambiance. The breakfast menu itself was fairly lengthy with options that included, yogurt, fruit, hot cereals, cold cereals, sweets (pancakes and waffles) and savory dishes. I was told by my server and many folks prior to my cruise that the ship could make allergy pancakes and had Van's waffles on-hand. Our server took our drink orders, while we looked over the menu. I got unsweetened iced tea and apple juice. Day 2 was our Nassau, Bahamas day and with an excursion planned, I knew I wanted a hearty breakfast.Since I did not pre-order my breakfast, having dined at Remy and not my regular rotational dining the night before, I consulted with my server and the head server Robert. Pre-ordering is not required for meals, though some servers suggested it to help speed along your meal process. I never pre-ordered any meal (and I actually tried a couple of times but my servers said it was not necessary) and didn't find it to be too cumbersome or too long of a wait. I decided to order the Express breakfast entree which is basically the same as the American entree at most Disney World restaurants. It contains eggs, breakfast meat and potatoes. I also asked for a side of allergy pancakes on the side. The breakfast entree that was brought out to me was huge. And extremely generous with the breakfast meat. I was not able to get the breakfast potatoes as they were hash browns that contained gluten, so the team doubled up on other portions of my entree to make up for the potatoes. I wouldn't say this entree was anything special. The scrambled eggs were good, as was the ham. I wasn't too keen on the breakfast sausage and the bacon served is the same stringy bacon you get at Disney World quick service breakfast. It was filling though, and I definitely did not go hungry.The star of my breakfast were the gluten free dairy free pancakes. These were delicious. Whoever cooked these did a stellar job. They were crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked. I think they used Bob's Red Mill pancake mix for the base. My only complaint? The server poured the maple syrup for me, and I could have used more! This girl loves maple syrup! Out of all of the breakfasts I had on the Disney Dream, this was my favorite. I thought they cooked the allergy pancakes the best, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. We tried to go here again on day 3 but they opened later, and we had Castaway Cay to explore! I also dined here for lunch on the same day and had another good meal here, so stay tuned for that review! I never did get to eat dinner here, but I heard many guests say that this restaurant was their favorite rotational dining dinner.Have you been on the Disney Dream? Did you eat at Royal Palace?

10/27/14 10/27/14

Royal Palace -- Breakfast -- Disney Dream 2014

10/26/14 10/26/14

Remy -- Dinner -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.As a first time Disney Cruise Line vacationer, I knew that I wanted to take advantage of the adult dining experiences available to guests on board the ship. These include Palo (which I also dined at) and Remy. Both adults only dining experiences are available for guests to book in advance (which we did) or while on the cruise (if still available). Each restaurant comes with an "upcharge" per person -- Palo is $25 per person and Remy is an extravagant $75.Because it was my first cruise, and I'm a foodie, I knew I wanted to dine at Remy. I had read amazing reviews of Remy from my friend Sarah at Eating WDW and Dawn from Mouse Chow. I also knew that Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando had dined there and said it was one of the best meals she's ever had. Well, that sold me right there! Remy is French inspired - taking it's name from the Pixar film Ratatouille. It's fine dining at its best with luxurious courses and decadent cuisine. Essentially, this is the Disney Cruise Line's version of Victoria & Albert's. Our meal took a full 3 hours, and this review will be pretty lengthy! If you're the drinking sort, now's the time to pour yourself a glass of wine for this review read!We ended up dining at Remy on our embarkation day. With a reservation at 6 p.m., my mom and I packed our dress clothes in our carry on's just in case our luggage arrived in our stateroom late. Remy's dress code is fairly fancy (cocktail dresses and pantsuits), and in hindsight we would have been better off dining there on day two or three of our cruise so that we felt less rushed on day one.After we gussied up, we made our way to Remy, located on deck 12 (and a bit of a challenge to find the first time!). The lobby area of Remy is shared with the other adult dining, along with the Meridian Lounge. While we waited for our table, we sat in the lounge (meeting up with our friends who were dining at Palo that evening), taking in all the views and ambiance.The head server of Remy, David, came to seat us. We were both blown away by the elegant decor and refined look of the restaurant. The touches from Ratatouille were subtle and charming. We had an amazing view of the ocean from our table.The restaurant knew of my special dietary needs ahead of time and were well prepared for me, noting right away that they knew I was gluten free and dairy free and not to worry as they had lots of options available for my meal. This was one of those touches that both Remy and Palo had and that I really appreciated about the adult dining experiences.Our server Andre came to our table to prepare the cocktail "Collette" table-side. It's Remy's signature cocktail and is brought complimentary to your table as a welcome to the restaurant. Made with Taittinger Champagne and pear vodka, then garnished with fresh raspberry, dried apricot, and mint leaf, it looks and sounds sumptuous. Andre said that they would make me a safe version (interestingly, the dried apricot contains gluten). Essentially, I had champagne with a few garnishes. It was delicious!As we enjoyed our cocktail, Andre went over the menu at Remy. Remy's menu was created by Chef Arnaud Lallement, a Michelin 3-star chef whose famed restaurant is located outside of Reims, France, and Chef Scott Hunnel from award-winning Victoria & Albert's at Walt Disney World Resort. So when I say it's decadent, I'm definitely not kidding.The menu features a la carte options and two tasting menus created by both chefs - Saveur created by Chef Arnaud and Gout created by Chef Scott. You are able to mix and match, creating your own menu or choosing the prix fixe menus as is.Andre suggested that they combine both of these menus for me, with most of my options coming from Saveur with a few chosen from Gout. All of Andre's suggestions sounded great to me, except the duck. I'm not a huge duck fan, so I was skeptical. However, I told him I would give it a try, being adventurous. My mom also chose to mix and match tastings.Before our first course, we were treated to an amuse-bouche (bite-size hors d'œuvre). Remy is famous for their tomato soup cube amuse-bouche. I figured as a gluten free and dairy free diner that this one would be off-limits for me. And when our server brought out two of them to our table, I assumed this was a mistake. However, I was beyond thrilled when they told me that the restaurant had a special version for me using gluten free breadcrumbs.The server suggested we let it cool for 1-2 minutes, then place it in our mouth allowing it to melt without chewing (and FYI, don't bite down on it; you will have tomato soup explosion in your mouth - most unpleasant!).Dawn from Mouse Chow likened this to a Willy Wonka-esque experience and that is the perfect way to describe it. It literally exploded tomato soup in your mouth. Such a crazy and delicious experience. Starting the meal off with this certainly put our meal on a high note (bonus points to Remy for using gluten free breadcrumbs)Next up was our bread course. My mom enjoyed a variety of delicious breads, while I was served an Ener-G roll. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't do anything to this, except heat it up, as Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando had an amazing version of the bread when she dined there. I will give the team bonus points for providing me with non-dairy butter. Adding coarse sea salt to the non-dairy butter made the Ener-G roll more palatable.Before our traditional tasting courses began, we were also treated to Remy's version of Ratatouille. My mom's version came with olive oil gelato which looked amazing. Mine came with a cherry tomato and some additional garnishes. This dish was light and fresh and the seasonings were perfectly balanced.My first dish was the tomato tarte. At first glance, it's beautiful but doesn't look like anything particularly special; however, it's the accompaniment that really brings the dish to a magical (and another Willy Wonka-esque) experience.Served with a glass of "essence," this cold broth was the key to unlocking this dish's unique flavors. I was instructed to take a sip of this cold broth first, then take a bit of the tomato dish presented to me. Repeating these steps would create a unique tasting and bring all of the components together.Now, I have to say the broth was out of this world. The amount of rich flavor in this was beyond compare. Adding the bites of tomato and tomato puree created another dimension and a taste I couldn't quite put my finger on. Andre said most people say it reminds them of deconstructed gazpacho, and I immediately recognized that familiar taste as soon as he mentioned this. This dish and the amuse-bouche were my most memorable dishes of the meal, creativity and taste.Up next came the lobster with chermoula. My mother had this as her first course, and she raved about it, so I was glad this came as a second course for me. The lobster was light and sweet and the chermoula was spicy and robust. Combined together, it made for a really flavorful course.Both my mother and I both had black cod as our next course. My mom is not a fish eater but she likes cod, so this seemed a good fit for her. I adore all fish, so I was happy to have a very seafood heavy tasting. Served with parsnips and a clam jus (mine made dairy free), this dish was excellent. It had a lot of earthy, umami flavors to it, particularly from the clam jus. The parsnips were divine. The cod itself was like butter, falling apart very easily.Now, this is where our meal took a slight turn. My mom found something in her fish that was both unpleasant and unappetizing (not a bone). While I won't go into too many specifics (suffice it to say, it was not particularly pleasant), the restaurant did take both of our plates away, bringing us a substitute course for the cod. It's a shame because the cod was delicious, though on the upside I was given what turned out to be my favorite course of the night.My substitute course was halibut served with a pea puree and a pea sauce. The halibut itself was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The pea puree and the pea sauce were the stars of this dish filled with intense pea flavor and containing a touch of brightness from lemon juice. The radish was a nice accompaniment, but for me, this dish was all about the peas. This dish was perfection.My last meat course was the duck. Served with fennel, oranges and sweet potatoes; it was reminiscent of duck a l'Orange. I'm not a huge fennel fan, but this was very subtle. The orange sauce and orange segments were delicious and paired well with the duck. The duck itself was well cooked and didn't taste as gamey as I often find duck. The sweet potatoes were bananas good, and I wished there would have been more on my plate.While I would say this was probably my least favorite dish of the meal, it was still expertly prepared and quite delicious. I'm just not a duck person.The next course was a cheese course. Sadly, I was not able to enjoy this one. I was surprised the restaurant didn't bring me something else as a palate cleanser to enjoy while my mom ate her cheese course (which she said was amazing). It's a bit of a bummer to be served an empty plate! Not that I was hungry, but it would have been nice to see that added touch.For my dessert course, I was served a fresh fruit salad. It was beautifully garnished with edible gold leaf and flowers. However, I didn't find this to be anything spectacular. The diced fruit was dressed with a bit of juice and black pepper. It was pleasant and a nice palate cleanser but I would have loved to have been given something decadent like my mom's chocolate dessert.The next evening we dined at Palo, and they made me a spectacular dessert that wasn't as pretty as this one but blew it away with taste.Next up was a candy course. My mom was served a huge platter of chocolates and other candies. Because of not being able to have dairy, I was brought 2 homemade marshmallows and 2 homemade lollypops. I was glad to see that I had these as options, though I would have loved to have been given a few more marshmallows to make up for the fact that I couldn't eat the chocolates. The marshmallows were delicious, and I could have eaten about a dozen of them, easy.During this course, I also ordered tea. They had several loose-leaf teas to choose from including the Monkey Picked Oolong which is what I chose. It was fresh and earthy and the perfect accompaniment to the sweet marshmallows. My mom chose coffee and said it was the best coffee she had on the ship.As our 3 hour meal came to a close, we were presented with roses and a box of chocolates for my mom. This is another one of those touches that I'd love to see Remy extend to those who have special dietary needs. It would have been lovely to take a box of marshmallows back to my stateroom with me.Overall, despite one hiccup in the meal, we found Remy to be an outstanding restaurant and an amazing experience. The food was beyond compare and the service was exemplary. I was impressed by how they handled my special diets and found the meal to be a once in a lifetime experience spent with my mom. I wouldn't say that I would dine at Remy on every cruise (certainly not at $75 a person) but it's a wonderful spot for a special occasion.For adult dining at a more reasonable price, I highly recommend Palo, and will be reviewing it here on the site, as well.I'm so glad I went to Remy and look forward to going back there again. I'd love to try the brunch sometime, as I've heard it's amazing. Have you been to Remy on the Disney Dream? What did you think of your experience there?

10/26/14 10/26/14

Remy -- Dinner -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.As a first time Disney Cruise Line vacationer, I knew that I wanted to take advantage of the adult dining experiences available to guests on board the ship. These include Palo (which I also dined at) and Remy. Both adults only dining experiences are available for guests to book in advance (which we did) or while on the cruise (if still available). Each restaurant comes with an "upcharge" per person -- Palo is $25 per person and Remy is an extravagant $75.Because it was my first cruise, and I'm a foodie, I knew I wanted to dine at Remy. I had read amazing reviews of Remy from my friend Sarah at Eating WDW and Dawn from Mouse Chow. I also knew that Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando had dined there and said it was one of the best meals she's ever had. Well, that sold me right there! Remy is French inspired - taking it's name from the Pixar film Ratatouille. It's fine dining at its best with luxurious courses and decadent cuisine. Essentially, this is the Disney Cruise Line's version of Victoria & Albert's. Our meal took a full 3 hours, and this review will be pretty lengthy! If you're the drinking sort, now's the time to pour yourself a glass of wine for this review read!We ended up dining at Remy on our embarkation day. With a reservation at 6 p.m., my mom and I packed our dress clothes in our carry on's just in case our luggage arrived in our stateroom late. Remy's dress code is fairly fancy (cocktail dresses and pantsuits), and in hindsight we would have been better off dining there on day two or three of our cruise so that we felt less rushed on day one.After we gussied up, we made our way to Remy, located on deck 12 (and a bit of a challenge to find the first time!). The lobby area of Remy is shared with the other adult dining, along with the Meridian Lounge. While we waited for our table, we sat in the lounge (meeting up with our friends who were dining at Palo that evening), taking in all the views and ambiance.The head server of Remy, David, came to seat us. We were both blown away by the elegant decor and refined look of the restaurant. The touches from Ratatouille were subtle and charming. We had an amazing view of the ocean from our table.The restaurant knew of my special dietary needs ahead of time and were well prepared for me, noting right away that they knew I was gluten free and dairy free and not to worry as they had lots of options available for my meal. This was one of those touches that both Remy and Palo had and that I really appreciated about the adult dining experiences.Our server Andre came to our table to prepare the cocktail "Collette" table-side. It's Remy's signature cocktail and is brought complimentary to your table as a welcome to the restaurant. Made with Taittinger Champagne and pear vodka, then garnished with fresh raspberry, dried apricot, and mint leaf, it looks and sounds sumptuous. Andre said that they would make me a safe version (interestingly, the dried apricot contains gluten). Essentially, I had champagne with a few garnishes. It was delicious!As we enjoyed our cocktail, Andre went over the menu at Remy. Remy's menu was created by Chef Arnaud Lallement, a Michelin 3-star chef whose famed restaurant is located outside of Reims, France, and Chef Scott Hunnel from award-winning Victoria & Albert's at Walt Disney World Resort. So when I say it's decadent, I'm definitely not kidding.The menu features a la carte options and two tasting menus created by both chefs - Saveur created by Chef Arnaud and Gout created by Chef Scott. You are able to mix and match, creating your own menu or choosing the prix fixe menus as is.Andre suggested that they combine both of these menus for me, with most of my options coming from Saveur with a few chosen from Gout. All of Andre's suggestions sounded great to me, except the duck. I'm not a huge duck fan, so I was skeptical. However, I told him I would give it a try, being adventurous. My mom also chose to mix and match tastings.Before our first course, we were treated to an amuse-bouche (bite-size hors d'œuvre). Remy is famous for their tomato soup cube amuse-bouche. I figured as a gluten free and dairy free diner that this one would be off-limits for me. And when our server brought out two of them to our table, I assumed this was a mistake. However, I was beyond thrilled when they told me that the restaurant had a special version for me using gluten free breadcrumbs.The server suggested we let it cool for 1-2 minutes, then place it in our mouth allowing it to melt without chewing (and FYI, don't bite down on it; you will have tomato soup explosion in your mouth - most unpleasant!).Dawn from Mouse Chow likened this to a Willy Wonka-esque experience and that is the perfect way to describe it. It literally exploded tomato soup in your mouth. Such a crazy and delicious experience. Starting the meal off with this certainly put our meal on a high note (bonus points to Remy for using gluten free breadcrumbs)Next up was our bread course. My mom enjoyed a variety of delicious breads, while I was served an Ener-G roll. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't do anything to this, except heat it up, as Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando had an amazing version of the bread when she dined there. I will give the team bonus points for providing me with non-dairy butter. Adding coarse sea salt to the non-dairy butter made the Ener-G roll more palatable.Before our traditional tasting courses began, we were also treated to Remy's version of Ratatouille. My mom's version came with olive oil gelato which looked amazing. Mine came with a cherry tomato and some additional garnishes. This dish was light and fresh and the seasonings were perfectly balanced.My first dish was the tomato tarte. At first glance, it's beautiful but doesn't look like anything particularly special; however, it's the accompaniment that really brings the dish to a magical (and another Willy Wonka-esque) experience.Served with a glass of "essence," this cold broth was the key to unlocking this dish's unique flavors. I was instructed to take a sip of this cold broth first, then take a bit of the tomato dish presented to me. Repeating these steps would create a unique tasting and bring all of the components together.Now, I have to say the broth was out of this world. The amount of rich flavor in this was beyond compare. Adding the bites of tomato and tomato puree created another dimension and a taste I couldn't quite put my finger on. Andre said most people say it reminds them of deconstructed gazpacho, and I immediately recognized that familiar taste as soon as he mentioned this. This dish and the amuse-bouche were my most memorable dishes of the meal, creativity and taste.Up next came the lobster with chermoula. My mother had this as her first course, and she raved about it, so I was glad this came as a second course for me. The lobster was light and sweet and the chermoula was spicy and robust. Combined together, it made for a really flavorful course.Both my mother and I both had black cod as our next course. My mom is not a fish eater but she likes cod, so this seemed a good fit for her. I adore all fish, so I was happy to have a very seafood heavy tasting. Served with parsnips and a clam jus (mine made dairy free), this dish was excellent. It had a lot of earthy, umami flavors to it, particularly from the clam jus. The parsnips were divine. The cod itself was like butter, falling apart very easily.Now, this is where our meal took a slight turn. My mom found something in her fish that was both unpleasant and unappetizing (not a bone). While I won't go into too many specifics (suffice it to say, it was not particularly pleasant), the restaurant did take both of our plates away, bringing us a substitute course for the cod. It's a shame because the cod was delicious, though on the upside I was given what turned out to be my favorite course of the night.My substitute course was halibut served with a pea puree and a pea sauce. The halibut itself was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The pea puree and the pea sauce were the stars of this dish filled with intense pea flavor and containing a touch of brightness from lemon juice. The radish was a nice accompaniment, but for me, this dish was all about the peas. This dish was perfection.My last meat course was the duck. Served with fennel, oranges and sweet potatoes; it was reminiscent of duck a l'Orange. I'm not a huge fennel fan, but this was very subtle. The orange sauce and orange segments were delicious and paired well with the duck. The duck itself was well cooked and didn't taste as gamey as I often find duck. The sweet potatoes were bananas good, and I wished there would have been more on my plate.While I would say this was probably my least favorite dish of the meal, it was still expertly prepared and quite delicious. I'm just not a duck person.The next course was a cheese course. Sadly, I was not able to enjoy this one. I was surprised the restaurant didn't bring me something else as a palate cleanser to enjoy while my mom ate her cheese course (which she said was amazing). It's a bit of a bummer to be served an empty plate! Not that I was hungry, but it would have been nice to see that added touch.For my dessert course, I was served a fresh fruit salad. It was beautifully garnished with edible gold leaf and flowers. However, I didn't find this to be anything spectacular. The diced fruit was dressed with a bit of juice and black pepper. It was pleasant and a nice palate cleanser but I would have loved to have been given something decadent like my mom's chocolate dessert.The next evening we dined at Palo, and they made me a spectacular dessert that wasn't as pretty as this one but blew it away with taste.Next up was a candy course. My mom was served a huge platter of chocolates and other candies. Because of not being able to have dairy, I was brought 2 homemade marshmallows and 2 homemade lollypops. I was glad to see that I had these as options, though I would have loved to have been given a few more marshmallows to make up for the fact that I couldn't eat the chocolates. The marshmallows were delicious, and I could have eaten about a dozen of them, easy.During this course, I also ordered tea. They had several loose-leaf teas to choose from including the Monkey Picked Oolong which is what I chose. It was fresh and earthy and the perfect accompaniment to the sweet marshmallows. My mom chose coffee and said it was the best coffee she had on the ship.As our 3 hour meal came to a close, we were presented with roses and a box of chocolates for my mom. This is another one of those touches that I'd love to see Remy extend to those who have special dietary needs. It would have been lovely to take a box of marshmallows back to my stateroom with me.Overall, despite one hiccup in the meal, we found Remy to be an outstanding restaurant and an amazing experience. The food was beyond compare and the service was exemplary. I was impressed by how they handled my special diets and found the meal to be a once in a lifetime experience spent with my mom. I wouldn't say that I would dine at Remy on every cruise (certainly not at $75 a person) but it's a wonderful spot for a special occasion.For adult dining at a more reasonable price, I highly recommend Palo, and will be reviewing it here on the site, as well.I'm so glad I went to Remy and look forward to going back there again. I'd love to try the brunch sometime, as I've heard it's amazing. Have you been to Remy on the Disney Dream? What did you think of your experience there?

10/25/14 10/25/14

Enchanted Garden -- Embarkation Buffet -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.Day 1 of my vacation on the Disney Dream began with lunch at Cabanas. While the meal itself wasn't anything spectacular, I was able to find some options to fill me up before I began exploring the cruise ship. I also wanted to find the elusive Special Dining Session supposedly found on the ship for guests with special diets.None of the staff seemed to know where it was, so my mom and I ventured to Enchanted Garden (after exploring the ship for a while) to see if we could find it. Enchanted Garden is located on deck 2 of the ship (where our stateroom was located, so it was convenient).My friends, the Disney Hipsters, had suggested an elevenses lunch while on the cruise ship, and my mom and I thought that was a great idea!The restaurant is set to resemble the gardens of Versailles, and it's a quaint and beautifully decorated restaurant. From the charming booths to the fountain in the middle of the restaurant, there were an impressive amount of small details and touches in this restaurant.Like Cabanas, lunch on embarkation day at the Enchanted Garden was a buffet. However, at this location, you were seated and had a server who took your beverage order.Before being seated, I let Rexon, our server, know that I had special dietary needs. He said this was not a problem, and he said he would walk with me through the buffet to see what I might be interested in. He also let me know that all of the food for my meal would be brought from the back and to not take anything off the buffet to avoid cross-contamination. I really appreciated this and found my experience at the Enchanted Garden vastly different from the chaos at Cabanas (understandable, as the only restaurant open at the time).There were some items that looked interesting, including a grilled chicken with a pineapple salsa and salmon wrapped in ham that I had seen on Gluten Free in Orlando's Disney Dream review. I asked about those, and I also requested some asparagus (which I adore) and some antipasti.On my way back to the table, I did take a bit of time to take photographs and look around the restaurant. I loved this restaurant's decor and wish I had enjoyed another meal there.Once I got back to our table, the assistant server (usually in charge of beverages at your table) took my drink order. I ordered unsweetened iced tea, and as I learned, they do not use Gold Peak tea like Walt Disney World does. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. I drank a lot of water on this cruise!It didn't take long at all for my food to come out. Rexon brought all of my food and included a couple of desserts for me as well.I was a bit bummed to see plain chicken and plain salmon, having asked for the versions on the buffet. As I learned throughout the cruise, being very specific in your requests is important, as the restaurants will typically serve you the plainest food possible to ensure safety (at least in my experience on this cruise).My guess is as long as the sauces were safe, they would have served me the versions on the buffet instead of making me new items, but I do truly appreciate that they wanted to make me safe options. And for those wondering, they do cook items for special diets guests in a separate area of the kitchen on separate equipment. I was very glad to hear of that!The salmon and chicken were both fine; nothing special. The asparagus was dynamite, having been sauteed in extra virgin olive oil with some garlic.The antipasti was definitely my favorite part of this meal. The prosciutto and olives were the perfect light lunch (considering I was on lunch number 2!) The beef was not my favorite cured meat, so I didn't eat much of that one.For dessert, Rexson brought me Enjoy Life Snickerdoodle cookies (love them!) and the dreaded Jell-O. I'm not a huge Jell-o fan to begin with and especially not since there was a period during my initial Crohn's diagnosis where Jell-o and liquids were the only things I could eat. Add in that it's green Jell-o (gross) with fruit in it (double-gross) and meringue. Um, no thanks. I tried one bite and promptly decided that this Jell-o was not for me.But, I really appreciated that Rexson brought me some options! And I was very glad to see Enjoy Life cookies on board the ship.Overall, I thought Enchanted Garden was a much better option as an embarkation lunch than Cabanas. It was much quieter and definitely easier to navigate. The buffet itself was almost identical to the one in Cabanas (just smaller) and the staff went above and beyond to assist me with safe options.As I later learned from my friends, the special dining session on our ship was located at the Royal Palace restaurant. I never did get a chance to go there but I'm glad to have learned where it was held. I hope that the Disney Cruise Line does a better job in the future of keeping their staff up-to-date on these and where they are located (especially, since I was encouraged to attend it).With my stomach full from lunch number 2, my mom and I settled into our stateroom on deck 2 and then went to the DVC Member Welcome Reception. We sure kept ourselves busy until dinner the first night which was at Remy, one of the adult dining locations on the shipHave you been on the Disney Dream? What did you think of the Enchanted Garden?

Cove Cafe on the Disney Dream

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Debarkation Breakfast at Royal Palace

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Dinner at Royal Palace

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Lunch at Cookie’s BBQ

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Breakfast at Royal Palace

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Dinner at Enchanted Garden

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Lunch at Royal Palace

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Breakfast at Royal Palace

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Dinner at Animator's Palate

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Embarkation Lunch at Animator’s Palate

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Embarkation Lunch at Enchanted Garden

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Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW