For the first time I am looking at a
Disney cruise. Everything seems great apart from we are not a family who sit down to fine dining in restaurants as my tastes are unrefined. I prefer the basic buffet type as I admit I am not very adventurous food wise.
I wouldn't call the dining rooms 'fine dining' as such,but the food can be more 'classy' than normal restaurant food. I totally hear you on the 'not very adventurous food wise' issue. I, and the rest of the family, are not particularly food adventurous and much prefer a very simple, basic meat (no seasoning) and two veg with gravy (UK style!) meal. Our previous cruise we found the menus very challenging to work with, but I can certainly share our experiences with you.
On the first night, we ate very little, but were given the option of the children's menu, which all three adults ordered from! We spoke with our head server after that night as we were in two minds about returning to the dining rooms the rest of the cruise. She did a really good job of helping us out with menu choices. After the first night, we were given the menus for all the dining rooms and could choose from any. We took the soup from another dining room, however, by the time it reached us it was a little cold. Even with the multiple options, the children's menu and the light menu, we were still struggling for a 'decent' meal. So the night before last, our server asked us if we could have any meal, what would it be, and we mentioned cottage pie and spaghetti bolognese. The next night, we went to the dining room as normal and we served four individually constructed cottage pies, and a spaghetti bolognese that was big enough to dish our four great sized helpings - and we were only a party of 3!!!! So they can, and will, go out of their way to help, where they can.
I think the most important thing is to make your server aware of your situation as soon as possible, which will likely mean heading to your dining room long before the first sitting and talk with your server. If they are aware, then they can do something about it. If they don't know, they can't help. Of course, it can be difficult for them to accommodate off-menu items on the first night, but they certainly can after that. There is the light menu, which really helps, and you can always request that any sauces, seasonings, dressings be removed.
We also have an IBS sufferer in our party who reacts badly to changes in food, and certain food types like fats/oils. We had debated about not going to the dining rooms at all this next cruise and just sticking to the pool food in the evenings, but have since thought about it further. So, now, we have made a note on our booking about dietary requirements, and plan to head to the dining rooms soon after boarding to speak directly with our team. I am confident that they will be able to work with us, and us with them, to create a great experience for everyone. We are certainly going to let them try first. I hope that helps a bit.
either). Give is a try, you will probably like it just fine. Maybe it's just me but I'm paying a good deal of $$$ for my cruises, so I'm going to enjoy being waited on!!! (hope that didn't sound elitist, that's not how I meant it)
