Royal Palace Breakfast Review on the Disney Dream
*This gluten free dining experience took place in January 2020. It includes information about dairy free options.
Breakfast at Royal Palace
On our recent 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream, I had breakfast a couple of the mornings at Royal Palace. This dining option, located on deck 3, midship, is my go-to spot for a la carte breakfast. It's my personal preference, as I find Cabanas (the buffet) on the ship to be a little overwhelming. I personally don't enjoy the lengthy waits to get even simple items like gluten free muffins, so I opt for Royal Palace breakfast almost every time. On this visit, I dined by myself (as Brandon is not an early morning person), and I also pre-ordered my breakfast the night before.
Atmosphere
I actually prefer dining at Royal Palace during the day because it's much brighter and lighter inside. And, you get great views of wherever you are in port or at sea.
Royal Palace Entrance Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Because it was early, I had a good chance to relax and enjoy a low-key meal experience.
Royal Palace - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Royal Palace currently opens on the Disney Dream around 8 or 8:30 a.m. I found that on both days, the restaurant was fairly quiet around that time.
Royal Palace - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
I had a nice cozy corner booth, which was very nice. It gave me a chance to just wake up and take in some of the beautiful Disney princess inspired decor and theming.
The Food
Unlike the main rotational dinner options, breakfast and lunch on the Disney Dream do not currently offer an allergy-friendly menu. This is no probably though, because you can either 1) pre-order your food the evening before with your head server or 2) the server team at breakfast can help you navigate any options.
On this visit, I did pre-order breakfast at the suggestion of our head server Sudhir. He and I chatted quite a bit the night before because I asked about pre-ordering Indian food. Sudhir is from India, and he promised he'd make sure I got Indian food every night for the rest of the cruise.
When I was pre-ordering breakfast, Sudhir made several suggestions and asked if I wanted hash browns. On previous cruises, I was told this was not an option. But, Sudhir said he would work Disney magic to make this happen. I would recommend that you always talk to your server to discuss options and ingredients, because from my experience ingredients and product offerings can change from sailing to sailing.
Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
After I was seated at breakfast, I ordered my normal morning drinks of Apple Juice and Iced Tea.
Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
I had planned on only getting my pre-ordered breakfast, but my server insisted I get something else while I wait. Because I didn't want anything too heavy, I opted to get the fresh fruit plate, which came with mango, papaya, strawberries, grapes, and blueberries. This was a nice light way to start my morning, and Disney always has excellent fresh fruit on the ships.
Royal Palace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
For my entree, I always get Eggs Benedict on a gluten free bun, at least once on our cruise. It's a must-order for me, and it's become a cruising tradition. While it's not the best or fanciest Eggs Benedict, it's really tasty. I am always pretty amazing that they manage to perfectly poach the eggs too. If you're dairy free, do ask the servers about other options like allergy-friendly Mickey waffles, omelets, scrambled eggs, and more.
And, of course, the hash browns were amazing. They were extremely hot and very fresh. I would definitely get these again, and I'm so glad that Sudhir made Disney magic happen with these. So good!
If you're interested in learning more about this meal experience or want to see what else we did on our Disney Cruise, check out our Disney Cruise Vlog!
Overall
Royal Palace never disappoints when it comes to a delicious and relaxed breakfast experience. I absolutely love the breakfast options there. It's a great way to start the day, and I'm always glad that I get up early and take the time to go there. It's a must-do on every Disney Cruise!
Have you had breakfast at Royal Palace? What did you think of the special dietary needs options?