Disney Dream Royal Palace Review

Ah, such a beautiful palac--wait, where are all the princesses!?

Have you ever thought about dining like royalty? No, not like the Targaryens from Game of Thrones in a dark and dreary castle, but more like a Disney Princess in a well-lit restaurant, full of colors and that extra charm Disney is known for. Well, friends, welcome to the Royal Palace, a name fit for princesses and queens! The Royal Palace is exclusive to the Disney Dream, a complimentary restaurant that is not only for dinner, but also for lunch and breakfast. Yep, Disney Princesses work almost 24/7 to show how they love us all.

The Royal Palace looks incredible and truly seems like it could belong to either Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty. Speaking of them, there are paintings and artworks all around adorning the walls, and they all look top-notch. The ceiling is also beautiful, with intricate details in gold and white.

The food is French-American, and overall, I’d say the Royal Palace is mostly… okay. For a name like that, I wish the Disney Princesses made an appearance, but I guess this experience is reserved for the Royal Gathering meet & greet. This is also an older, classic restaurant on an older Disney cruise ship, so it’s understandable that it doesn’t have as many features as some of the brand-new restaurants.

What we like about the Royal Palace

Disney Dream Royal Palace tables.webp

The Royal Palace is perfect for those who love the Disney Princesses. The walls and entrance are adorned with amazing details that hint at fan favorites like Belle, Tiana, Cinderella, and other princesses, with the overall quality being top-notch. If your children love the princesses, there's a good chance they'll love this place. The atmosphere is one of the best on the Disney Dream, rivaling, if not surpassing, that of the Enchanted Garden.

The food is above average, which is a perk that applies to many Disney Cruise restaurants. Disney just knows how to make great food that’s a step above other companies, and it’s great to see that a rotational dining restaurant also offers excellent options. The menu features French-American cuisine, with favorites like Gaston’s Escargot Gratinée and the Salmon Royale.

Like the Enchanted Garden, this venue is also open for breakfast and lunch. I’d say breakfast here is better than at the Enchanted Garden, as it offers more options to choose from. Breakfast and lunch are not buffets; lunch is a 3-course meal, similar to the Enchanted Garden.

What we don’t like about the Royal Palace

Disney Dream Royal Palace food 2.webp

What we don’t like about the Royal Palace is similar to our feelings about other restaurants like Triton’s and the Enchanted Garden: there’s nothing particularly special about it. Sure, the venue is beautiful, but the menu feels a bit safe. This is one of those restaurants that’s a Jack of All Trades, and since it’s even open for lunch and breakfast, it makes sense that they wouldn’t feature any shows or offer something that would blow your mind.

It’s a bit disappointing that with a name like this, there are no meet-and-greets. Some years ago, there used to be a parade inside the restaurant with all the Disney Princesses, but they stopped doing that. While Disney never marketed this venue as a restaurant for meet-and-greets, I know a lot of families come here expecting to meet Belle or Cinderella and are disappointed to find out they’re sleeping and letting their guests dine without them…

Disney Dream Royal Palace menu appetizers.webp

Appetizers

Duck Confit Slow-Cooked Duck Leg pulled and Garnished with Dried Cranberries and Walnuts
Iced Lobster and Jumbo Shrimp with Green Asparagus, Horseradish Cream and Dill Dressing
Gaston’s Escargot Gratinée Herb-marinated Snails with Finely Chopped Mushrooms, topped with Garlic Butter
Breaded and Deep-Fried Brie with an Orange and Cranberry Chutney

Salads & Soups

French Onion Soup with Gruyere Cheese Crouton
Potage Parmentier Leek and Potato Soup
Farmhouse Salad Baby Spinach, Asparagus, Cherry Tomatoes and Fingerling Potatoes served with a Goat Cheese Crostini and an Olive Vinaigrette
Red Wine Bosc Pear Salad Arugula, sliced Red Onions and crispy Lardons dressed with a Sherry Wine Dressing and served with a Red Wine Poached Bose Pear

Entrées

Disney Dream Royal Palace menu entrees.webp

Conchiglie Pasta with Buttered Lobster, tossed in a Tomato Shrimp Tarragon Brandy Sauce with Lemon Basil
Oven-Baked Salmon Royale crowned with King Smoked Salmon and Horseradish Crust accompanied by Sautéed Swiss Chard, Truffled Cauliflower Purée and White Wine Beurre Blanc
Crispy Roasted Duck Breast with Cabbage, Shallots, Honey Parsnip Mash, and a Duck Red Wine Jus
Roasted Rack of Lamb Medium with Dauphinoise Potatoes, Buttered Brussels Sprouts and a Burgundy Rosemary Sauce
Chateaubriand-Roasted Filet Steak Roasted Filet Steak, crushed New Potatoes with Shallots, Buttered Green Beans, Red Wine Jus, and a Béarnaise Sauce on the Side
Wild Mushroom-Stuffed Pasta in a Vegetable Broth topped with Watereress, Shaved Parmesan Cheese and Paprika Oil Drizzle (vegetarian)
Grilled Marinated Tofu, Roasted Zucchini, Eggplant, and Red Peppers on Israeli Couscous and a Lime-Cilantro Drop (vegetarian)
Ahi Tuna Niçoise seared Ahi Tuna with Green Beans, Potato, Olives, Red Onions, sliced Egg, and Parsley-Garlic Vinaigrette (light)
Grilled Grain-fed Sirloin Steak (light)
Slow Roasted Breast of Chicken (light)
Oven Baked Fillet of Salmon (light)

Desserts

Disney Dream Royal Palace menu desserts.webp

Grand Marnier Soufflé served with Grand Marnier Crème Anglaise
Apple Tart Tatin Caramelized Baked Apple served with Vanilla Ice Cream
Tahitian Vanilla Crème Brûlée with Almond Biscotti (Gluten Free without Biscotti)
Strawberry Shortcake Sundae Strawberries, Vanilla Ice Cream, Whipped Cream and Shortcake
Classic Opera Gâteau layers of Toconde Sponge, soaked in Coffee Syrup, Chocolate Ganache and rich Buttercream
Duo Chocolate Slice layers of Brownie and Truffle Mousse with a Berry Crème (no sugar added)