Your Guide to Dining and Drinking on Board the Disney Wish
Many things set apart Disney from other cruise lines besides Disney characters. In addition to the overall level of service throughout the ship and their attention to detail throughout the ship, we’ve always been impressed with the food quality and service. That was present for us with the latest Disney Wish dining options.
Disney has done a great job of reimagining life on a cruise ship with their newer ships. And that includes the Disney Wish, launched in 2022. They have once again raised the bar on the quality of dining and drinking on the Disney Wish. We recently completed a three night cruise on the Wish and had a chance to sample some of the new offerings from the kitchen and bar.
Disney Wish restaurants feature three main dining options so you are guaranteed a night at each of the three new dining experiences. Disney’s rotational dining on the Wish features an adventure in the World of Marvel, a musical performance from the cast of Frozen and a nostalgic trip back to 1923.
World of Marvel
Located on deck 4, dining at the World of Marvel is a great experience for Marvel fans. One of Disney’s strengths at its theme parks is the way they create settings in areas where customers might have to queue up and wait. The entrance to the Marvel dining area does a great job of setting the mood for the adventure ahead.
This is Disney’s biggest ship and that means the dining areas are bigger too. Despite the rooms being bigger, you can feel like the tables are on top of one another. This is very noticeable when getting to and leaving the room.
Like other Disney dining experiences, they provide a large number of screens to follow along the story that they are telling you as you enjoy your meal. The video show, shown between courses served by the dining staff features Ant Man and the Wasp from the Marvel universe of characters. The show is engaging as well as funny.
The show is also interactive. Your centerpiece on the table not only tells you your table number but also is an integral part of the show that evening. Disney Magic Bands, for those that choose to use them, also light up during part of the evening’s activities.
Be patient and you’ll get a photo opportunity with a Marvel character at your table. Have your camera ready, because the opportunity is quick!
As for the food, there is something for everyone. The main menu is inspired by Marvel movie settings and features a range from classic all-American fare to rich African flavors.
Arendelle
Fans of the Disney classic Frozen will love the theatrical dining experience at Arendelle. Located on deck 5, you will be entertained with song and dance inspired by the movie and produced with the flair of Disney you’d expect.
Unlike other Disney Cruise dining, Arendelle has a stage in the center of the room to feature musical performances from Elsa and Olaf in between courses of Norwegian-inspired cuisine.
Those familiar with the movie will recognize many familiar faces. They also feature a small group of folk-style musicians that perform as well strolling throughout the room.
Because there are more members of the cast, there are more photo opportunities here than at Marvel. The entire team makes it around the circuit, offering you a chance to see your favorite Frozen character.
1923
Of the three main dining areas, the best was 1923 in terms of food. The dining area, split into two dining separate areas named after Roy and Walt Disney, is filled with rare and unique Disney memorabilia.
Located on deck 3, you will feel like you’re having dinner inside a Disney museum. We also enjoyed breakfast several mornings on board inside the 1923 dining area.
In case you didn’t know, the name 1923 is for the year that The Walt Disney Studios was founded. The dining room conjures up nostalgia from the early days of Disney while serving you delicious cuisine inspired by the golden state of California.
Marceline Marketplace
The food overall on the Disney Wish was better than we’ve experienced on other Disney ships. And that is not to say that it was bad on other ships within the line. Disney Wish dining has raised the bar on something that they already excelled in. That is on display at the buffet on deck 11, called Marceline Marketplace.
Marceline is the small town that Walt Disney grew up in back in Missouri. The imagineers wanted to create a new experience for the ship’s buffet.
Typical buffets on the Disney ships have one big line with one or two spots you can go to grab a salad or perhaps dessert. The approach at the Marceline Marketplace was more food stations with smaller lines and bigger selections.
There are good and bad things to report when it comes to this experience. On the negative side, this is an area where the larger ship and bigger crowds were a definite issue. With the additional food stations for selection, you had more lines which spilled over into a very disorganized mob of people trying to move through the area. No signage was obvious and not enough crew members were trying to help guide people through, which is surprising for Disney. As a general rule, Disney’s performance in logistics and moving people around their parks is a corporate strength.
With the additional food stations, you gain more selections. All your favorites from other Disney ships will be there, including plenty of peel and eat shrimp, carving stations, and more.
Marceline Marketplace serves up breakfast and lunch favorites from 10 different food stations. The quality and selection were excellent, including an Asian food station with excellent potstickers.
Another improvement at Marceline versus other Disney ships we’ve been on is the availability of beverage stations. Rather than one on each side of the room, there are several stations ready for your beverage refills, which makes it easier as you navigate around the room with full glasses.
Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods
Aboard the Disney Wonder and Dream, we’ve spent a lot of time at Goofy’s Galley, picking up burgers, hot dogs and fries, or perhaps a slice of pizza at Pinocchio’s Pizzeria.
Deck 11 on the Disney Wish features Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods. This is another upgrade by Disney, providing better quality food and a wider variety.
You can still pick up pizza, burgers and hot dogs. They are available at Daisy’s Pizza Pies and Goofy’s Grill. If those favorites do not match the mood of your taste buds, then check out the other shops ready to serve.
You can choose one of several favorites, all serving up generous portions. Food stations available include Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue, Donald’s Cantina and Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream, in addition to Goofy’s and Daisy’s.
Mickey’s Smokestack was a favorite of ours. You can enjoy a variety of delicious smoked meats. Disney also serves up a wide array of sauces, complimenting the ribs, chopped pork, brisket and sausage links. Any respectable barbecue restaurant needs to have quality sides, and Mickey’s Smokestack doesn’t disappoint. They offer collar greens, mac n cheese and cornbread to round out your on deck treat.
Donald’s Cantina, located next to Mickey’s serves up Mexican favorites similar to Chipotle. Sweet Minnie’s is the soft serve ice cream station that is a regular feature on Disney ships. On the Disney Wish, the ice cream machines are manned with ship personnel to help serve guests.
Inside Out: Joyful Sweets
One of the premium food opportunities on board the Disney Wish is Inside Out: Joyful Sweets. Themed after the movie of the same name, Joyful Sweets has specialty candy, cupcakes, ice cream and gelato for sale. If you’re not a fan of the free soft serve, or just ready for something different then Joyful Sweets might hit the spot. They offered about two dozen unique flavors to satisfy your sweet tooth. Inside Out: Joyful Sweets is located just outside of Marceline Marketplace on deck 11.
Disney Wish is a boat full of upgrades. That is also the case for the various bars on board. Along with poolside service for your favorite exotic drink, there are some creative spaces set aside for a relaxing drink while you’re on vacation.
The Rose
On deck 12, you’ll find a hidden gem with some of the best views on board the ship.
The Rose is tucked away near Palo and Enchanté.
This adult exclusive venue is a romantic stop pre- or post-dinner. On other ships within the Disney fleet, you can sneak into the bar near Palo even if you don’t have a reservation. Not sure that is the case on the Wish, but you can try.
At The Rose, the dress code is enforced, and you should dress accordingly.
Keg & Compass
Step back in time to hoist a drink at the Keg & Compass. Located on deck 5, this bar is styled with a theme of an 1800s Norwegian sailor’s map room. It is a great spot for a thirst quenching beverage and a filling snack surrounded by a rich folklore of Norse seafaring.
Plenty of great drinks to try, but the recommendation is an Old Fashioned Glogg. Made of port wine, bourbon and Viking spices, this specialty drink goes down easy.
Need a snack in between meals? Might we recommend the large Bavarian pretzel, accompanied by two complimentary dips – cheese or mustard.
The drinks, the snacks and the atmosphere make it a perfect place on board to take a break. Disney has always lacked a true sports bar on other ships, and the Keg & Compass fills that void on board the Wish. You will be able to watch live sports, news and major broadcast events without interruption.
Star War: Hyperspace Lounge
Maybe the biggest upgrade on board the Disney Wish is the Star Wars themed bar on deck 3. Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge offers an immersive experience and unique cocktails and mocktails for all ages.
The experience begins as you approach the entrance. Hit the button and enter a bar in a galaxy far far away.
Because it is so well done and the popularity of Star Wars is as big as ever, this bar is very popular. We first went there when we got on board and squeezed in for a brief look around. We found the crowds to be much more manageable and easily got a table stopping by during the day of a port day.
The drink menu offers a variety of galactic drinks themed on the Star Wars franchise. It has the feel of Oga’s Cantina at Galaxy’s Edge at Disney Studios theme parks.
Disney imagineers work their magic at this bar. They create the feel of the bar zooming forward in hyperspace mode, bringing different scenes from your favorite Star Wars movie to life right outside your window. You’ll see friendly and unfriendly ships passing by, along with spectacular battle scenes beautifully displayed.
As for the drinks, you’ll find plenty to choose from for all ages. Some of the coolest looking and best tasting drinks are non-alcoholic, and appropriate for kids.
Our favorites were the drinks that featured the staff making smoke filled bubbles. In addition to drinking, you get a chance to try and catch these floating spheres filled with smoke.
Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge was our favorite place for a drink while on board. It is worth checking in multiple times during your vacation to find a time when you can drop in and experience this unique space.
Other bars aboard the Disney Wish
Triton Lounge on deck 5 is a small space bar offering unique drinks and karaoke throughout the Day. For those that love the Cadillac Lounge on other ships, you’ll want to check out Nightingale’s on deck 3. Nightingale’s is a classic piano bar, serving up your favorite drinks and classic music from Frank Sinatra to Billy Joel and everything in between.
Inspired by the movie The Princess and The Frog, The Bayou on deck 3 is a quaint spot to drop in for a New Orleans themed drink. Complete the mood with an order of a New Orleans tradition of beignets, served fresh and hot for you.
Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement
Whenever we’re on a Disney ship, we carve out time from our busy schedules to enjoy a meal at Palo. On other ships, Palo is an Italian inspired restaurant, offering brunch or dinner. The adult only restaurant is always a culinary highlight on vacation.
On the Disney Wish, you have a couple choices for that special meal on board. Palo on board the Wish is a steakhouse. And since we’ve had Palo many times, we decided to give Enchanté a try.
On deck 12, Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement is the top of the line restaurant on board, serving up brunch and dinner. We didn’t want to miss one of the main dining areas since we were only on a three night cruise, so we made our reservation to give brunch a try.
Arnaud Lallement is a French chef who has dreamt up the various small plate courses that made up our brunch. Lallement is the chef and owner of the gastronomic restaurant L’Assiette Champenoise in Tinqueux near Reims in France. The restaurant obtained its third Michelin star in 2014.
Every table offers spectacular views, very attentive staff and simply the best meal we’ve ever had.
The menu varies, but the quality of the food and presentation remain top-notch, as you would expect from a Michelin rated restaurant.
We were able to sample a variety of inspired dishes. Highlights included amazing sourdough bread, wagyu beef filet, organic chicken breast, potato gnocchi, and more. Every plate was delicious and only helped build anticipation for dessert.
Enchanté‘s dessert did not disappoint. They presented some small chocolates to sample. The highlight though was a lemon curd tart that looked like a piece of art.
Our photos do not do justice to this dessert, which looked freshly picked that morning off a magical lemon tree. The lemon flavoring inside was delightfully smooth, while the outside of the lemon provided a candy crunch to savor.
The food and drink aboard the Disney Wish once again reminds you that while you are paying more, you are getting more with Disney too. The service throughout the experience was very good, and only topped by the delicious offerings throughout the ship.
