Well, Disney's done it again - created a restaurant so visually stunning that you'll want to live there, but with food that'll make you question if the chefs were under a sleeping curse. I've now dined at Princess Restaurant aboard Disney Adventure three times (yes, I'm a glutton for punishment), and I'm here with the honest truth about what works, what doesn't, and how to navigate this royal dining experience without ending up disappointed.
The Good, The Bad, and The Royal Reality
Let's start with what Princess Restaurant gets absolutely right: the atmosphere is pure magic. Walking into different themed sections representing various Disney princesses feels like stepping through a fairy tale storybook. The Belle library nook with its floating books? Chef's kiss. The underwater Ariel section with the shifting light effects? Stunning. Disney's Imagineers clearly poured their hearts into this space.
But here's where my enthusiasm hits a wall - the food quality is frustratingly inconsistent. After three visits, I've noticed the kitchen struggles with timing and temperature control. My perfectly cooked salmon on night one became overcooked fish leather on night three. This isn't the Disney dining standard we're used to, and frankly, it's unacceptable for a cruise line charging premium prices.
What You Should Absolutely Order
Despite my criticisms, there are genuine gems on this menu that'll make your visit worthwhile. Here's what I'm ordering every single time I return:
- Belle's Library Soup - This French onion variation with gruyere and fresh herbs is consistently excellent and perfectly themed
- Enchanted Rose Dessert - Not just Instagram bait; this rose-flavored mousse with gold leaf is legitimately delicious
- Character Bread Service - Each table gets themed bread shaped like different princesses, and it's surprisingly fresh and flavorful
- Ariel's Garden Salad - Simple but executed well, with quality ingredients that taste fresh
The soup, in particular, surprised me. I expected it to be all show and no substance, but it's genuinely one of the better soups I've had across the entire DCL fleet. The cheese pull alone is worth the photo opportunities, and the flavor has depth that shows someone in that kitchen actually cares.
Skip These Menu Disappointments
Now for the hard truths - these items consistently underdelivered across multiple visits:
- Cinderella's Royal Chicken - Dry, overseasoned, and served lukewarm more often than not
- Beast's Braised Beef - Tough meat that tastes like it's been sitting under heat lamps for hours
- Rapunzel's Pasta Tower - Gimmicky presentation can't hide bland, overcooked noodles
- Aurora's Salmon - This pains me because salmon is usually foolproof, but the execution is wildly inconsistent
The chicken dish particularly frustrated me because it's clearly designed to be a crowd-pleaser for families, but kids are going to struggle with how salty and dry it consistently arrives. For a restaurant targeting families with young princess fans, this feels like a major oversight.
Strategic Dining Tips for Princess Restaurant
After multiple visits, I've developed a strategy that maximizes the experience while minimizing disappointment. Book the earliest seating possible - around 5:45 PM if available. The kitchen performs notably better earlier in the evening, and you'll have more time to explore the different themed sections without crowds.
Consider treating this as a "dessert and atmosphere" experience rather than expecting a full satisfying meal. Order the soup, skip the entree (or share one if you're curious), and focus on the dessert and the ambiance. You can always hit the quick service options later if you're still hungry.
Request seating in the Belle section if possible - it's the most photogenic area, and coincidentally, it's where I've had the best service. The servers assigned to this section seem more knowledgeable about the menu and better at managing timing.
The Bottom Line: Manage Your Expectations
Look, I want to love Princess Restaurant. The concept is brilliant, the theming is top-notch, and there's clearly potential here. But Disney needs to address the kitchen consistency issues before this becomes a truly great dining experience rather than just a pretty one.
Should you dine here? If it's your first Disney Adventure cruise, yes - experience it once for the atmosphere and stick to my recommended orders. If you're a repeat cruiser, you might want to request a dining change to spend more time at the ship's stronger restaurants.
Disney Adventure is still finding its sea legs, and I'm hopeful that Princess Restaurant will improve with time and guest feedback. Until then, go in with realistic expectations, order strategically, and focus on creating magical memories with your little (or big) princess fans. Sometimes the Instagram photos and family smiles are worth more than a perfect meal - just don't expect both quite yet.