SEE UPDATE: All Hands on Deck Cheese Plate Returns To the Disney Cruise Line’s Room Service Menu
Due to guest feedback… Sorry, this cannot be true. Due to Disney Cruise Line’s continued effort to squeeze every possible vacation cent from their loyal and first time cruisers the room service menu has been changed for 2016. Comparing the menu from 2015 to 2016 there are a slew of additions and some surprising changes. Surprising because some of the items dropped have been replaced with up-charge items. The notable changes include the loss of guest favorites such as the All Hands On Deck cheese plate, Fruit Bowl and Buffalo Chicken Wings. This is where it gets good. Rather than the small bowl of fruit and the small cheese plate DCL is now only offering guests ridiculously priced offerings from their In-Room Gifts.
This must be a joke? Almost $30 for a fruit platter that you could almost make yourself in Cabanas or pick up from Daisy’s De-Lites. Obviously, this assumes you can still get fruit from those locations. In place of the All Hands On Deck cheese plate shown below, you can order the $38 dollar Fruit and Cheese Platter. I will admit it is a huge upgrade and not terribly far off from a platter from one of our favorite places, The Wine Room in Winter Park. The Wine Room offers a selection of 5 artisans cheeses for $30. I realize I am comparing something on land to a cruise ship with a Disney premium, but if DCL is selling us a premium experience I will use the Wine Room artisan cheese selection as a baseline for judgement. However, I think it is stupid for DCL to replace a small cheese plate with an premium treats. These two offerings are not even in the same league.
Time to compare the old and new room service menu. Starting with the items no longer available from Disney Cruise Line’s room service:
- Salad Nicoise
All Hands on Deck cheese plateFresh Fruit Bowl- Steak Sandwich (*see below)
- Grilled Salmon Steak
- Four Cheese Pizza
- Vegetarian Delight Pizza
- Sliced Ham, Turkey and Swiss Chesse Sandwich
- Chicken and Guacamole Fajita
Buffalo Chicken Wings
New and altered room service items included:
- Chicken Caesar Salad
- Greek Salad
- Mixed Garden Salad
- Grilled Salmon Salad
- Cheese Pizza
- Margarita Pizza
- Grilled Cheddar Cheese Sandwich
- New York Steak Panini (this appears to be a modified version of the previous Steak Sandwich)
- Key Lime Pie
I’d like to thank Michelle McKnight for sharing this photo she took of the menu on the Fantasy on January 9, 2016.
Below is the typed out version of the 2016 Disney Cruise Line Room Service Menu which has been added to the Room Service menu page along with past versions.
Soups and Salads
- Caesar Salad
Crisp Romain lettuce with Grilled Chicken, Baguette Crouton and creamy Caesar Dressing - Greek Salad (NEW)
Cucumber, Red Onions, Olives, Feta Cheese, Oregano and a Red Wine Vinaigrette - Mixed Garden Salad (NEW)
Mixed Leaves with Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Carrots, Peppers, Red onions with a choice of dressings (Ranch, Raspberry, Italian and Balsamic) - Grilled Salmon Salad (NEW)
with Iceberg Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes, Visalia Onions, Cucumber and Lime Marinated Cracked Wheat - Creamy Tomato Soup
with Herbed Crostini - Chicken Noodle Soup
All American Fare
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Crispy Chicken Tenders
served with Barbeque Sauce - Hot Dog
served with French Fries - Cheeseburger/Hamberger
served with French Fries and Coleslaw
Pizzas
All pizzas baked with Mozzarella Cheese and tomato Sauce
- Pepperoni
- Cheese (Altered)
- Margarita (NEW)
Freshly Made-to-Order Sandwiches
All sandwiches served with a side of Coleslaw and Chips
- New York Steak Panini (Altered)
with Caramelized Onions and Horseradish - Tomato, Basil and Mozzarealla Panini
- BLT
Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Mayonnaise on Tasted Bread - Grilled Cheddar Cheese Sandwich (NEW)
Desserts
- Daly Cake Selection
- Key Lime Pie
- Chocolate Chip Cookie
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
In-Room Amenities ($)
- Family Fruit Medley – $29 (NEW)
Features a selection of seasonal fresh fruit and berries – perfect for sharing $29 - Fruit and Cheese Platter – $38 (NEW)
Features a selection of Manchebo, Gruyere, Brie, Aged Gouda and Boursin cheeses accompanied with nuts, fruit, crackers and honey. - Nature’s Delights – $21 (NEW)
Features a selection of seasonal fresh fruits and berries.
Snacks ($)
Please call In-Stateroom Dining for prices.
- M&M’s
- Buttered Popcorn
- Salted Peanuts
- Salted Cashews
Wines and Beverage Packages ($)
Please call In-Stateroom Dining for offerings and prices.
Full Wine List and Cocktail List
Please call In-Stateroom Dining for offerings and prices
Beer and Soda Packages
Buy 5, get the 6th for free
- Package 1: 6 Domestic Beers Choice of Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light or Miller Light
- Package 2: 6 Imported Beers Choice of Heineken, Amstel Light, Beck’s or Corona
- Package 3: 3 Imported and 3 Domestic Beers
- Package 4: Sodas Choice of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Ginger Ale, or Orange Soda
- Package 5: 6 Bottled Waters 20 oz. bottles of Dasani or 16 oz. Evian Mineral Water – Buy 5 and get the 6th for free
- Package 6: 24 Bottled Mineral Waters 20 oz. bottles of Dasani – Buy 20 and get 4 extra free
For Ice Delivery to your stateroom, please speak with your Stateroom Host or Hostess. You may also dial Room Service or Guest Services from your telephone.
never ordered room service on any of my 11 cruises
if we ate something in the room we went to upper decks and brought it back
that being said i am not sure why they keep on doing this
if i saw that cruises prices increases were being held back i could accept it but i dont see that as the case
this will not effect me but i dont like the trend
Are uncrustables still available?
Boo
That’s depressing. We loved the cheese tray when we got it! 🙁
Well, cheese and fruit is really expensive to purchase wholesale and given the fact that Disney Cruises are bottom bargain, what did you expect?? (Tongue firmly in cheek) Seriously, I am not happy. The fruit and cheese trays were one of those “extras” that we looked forward to. Going on the Magic next month. Who do I complain to?
DCL –> https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/help/email/
We really appreciate you highlighting this. I hope dcl is listening. Although we have only ordered pizza and mickey bars through room service, it is very upsetting to see Disney continue to limit options and service on their cruise line. They should be increasing options and service. Their profits are higher than ever and fuel costs are at rock bottom. Even though we have averaged two disney vacations yearly (2015 will be two cruises and one week at wdw beach club resort) and travel across the country to do so, every time we attend the dvc presentation we hesitate to sign on. This is why. We have realized that we want to be able to walk away when we are pushed too far. Because as enticing as Mickey is, we can watch his movies and vacation elsewhere. I hope dcl realizes this. We don’t come for the characters. In fact in all of our cruises and even with four children we have not taken one character photo or stood in line for one meet and greet. Your blog is great. Thank you.
I so agree with you! We love the Disney ships for many reasons – but they are going to end up pricing our family out if they continue the trend. We have never bothered with room service, it’s just the principle here that seems to get to me.
Major bummer! We order that fruit and cheese platter as appetizers almost every night to have with our wine. I suppose I’ll just have to bring a plate back to the room from lunch to store in the fridge. Boo hiss!!
Altered menus are not uncommon with subtle tweaks here and there but removing popular items always stand out. Hopefully Disney will avoid the growing trend of charging for room service.
Dennis, I welcome menu changes and tweaks. Removing popular options and offering a $20 – $40 “substitute” is, well at least to me, greedy.
“Dennis, I welcome menu changes and tweaks. Removing popular options and offering a $20 – $40 “substitute” is, well at least to me, greedy.”
Agreed 100%. Not to mention just incredibly stupid from a business perspective. Disney is generally a smartly run company, someone had to know this wasnt going to go over well.
I am so sad about this. I will definitely be writing a letter.
This kinda pisses me off. Prices go up and amenities go down. They are not making it unaffordable, they are making it unwantable. So may things are not there any more yet they still charge more. Seems like Disney is all bout the Dollar these days. I loved the salmon and the wings. Many days when the kids were little that’s what I had for dinner as the kids slept. I guess I’ll just have some dried chicken nuggets and some mac n cheese now.
I hope your just saving up for a new ship disney! Prices up extras down….ahh the disney magic.
I can’t not believe it no more chicken wings and chicken fajitas o noooo one more reason to stop selling with disney but it all costumer fault and some people the complaint for everything
Disney seems to be lowering their standards to that of other cruise lines while maintaining the extra cost. I can cruise on NCL or Princess for half the amount DCL charges but have always cruised Disney for the service level and meal options. I think I have my last DCL cruise booked.
Jeff, While there have been various policy changes and increased fares, the one thing that has not changed in my experience is the level of service from the cast and crew members aboard the ships. Shoreside is where these decisions are being made. The crew is left to deal with the fallout on board. In a way shoreside is causing the cast and crew to go over and above to justify shoreside decisions.
I understand things have to evolve (can’t drop off items for signatures anymore because it was becoming time consuming for the cast members) but a few slices of cheese, how much could that really cost them? We ordered one almost daily to hold us over until late dining. My feeling is that as more people found out about it, more people ordered it and Disney figured they can probably hire a few less people if they didn’t have to deliver those daily. It breaks my heart, but with a spring break cruise about $7K for 3people, we are going to have to look elsewhere.
Jennifer,
The sad fact is that shoreside decision makers do not care if they price families out because they can just fill that stateroom with a family with deeper pockets that could potentially spend even more onboard with extra food purchase, merchandise and alcohol.
I’m a seasoned cruiser will be a first timer on Disney next May on the Dream I notice that its very expensive to start with and the need to pay for room service snacks is crazy…To begin with portions are very small…. How do they justify the price?
Julio, Room service is free. However, some items are listed for a fee.
The price keeps going up and what make DCL stand out from the crowd is evaporating. This is so sad. I have been looking at other cruise lines and some include all alcohol and excursions for a comparable price as DCL. Hmm.
The LITTLE things are what we love about our Disney cruises. What a disappointment.
I’m going to be a voice of dissent here. First, the price of oil is down but I would expect that the cruise line doesn’t see quite a low a price as we do at the pump.
If you think about the cheese platter, first they have to order the food, load it on the boat, store it in refrigerators the run on shop diesel, you order it, someone has to cut all of that to order and deliver it to your room when you want it. They don’t just take the food off the line at cabanas. It does cost them more not in just food cost but in labor as well.
They don’t just have people waiting around for room service. As a matter of fact, did you ever look around to see where your wait staff is working during the day. They all have other jobs not just waiting on you at night. My son saw our assistant server working at the chicken fingers place on deck 11 during the day. I spent the day in the cabin because I had caught the stomach bug. They brought me a six pack of soda and crackers but by dinner time I was feeling better. They had sent me a dinner menu and I ordered from the same menu as my family. To my shock, our assistant server delivered the meal to my stateroom. These kids (and they are kids) work 7 days/70 hours and that is the standard in the industry.
If you were to compare a spring break trip for 3 people on the cruise to a spring break trip at Disney, I don’t think you would find much savings by staying on land. You still have to pay for the room, then tickets to the park and food. In all the trips we have done, we have always found the cruise to be a better deal. It’s definitely a higher quality of service.
I really don’t think that Disney is doing this to save a few bucks on employee expenses. They are selling you luxury and a safe, fun place to take your kids. My kids are 23 and 16 and they definitely don’t want to wait in line to see characters. But I wouldn’t go another cruise line. First you pay more for less. On deck 11, there is a soda and coffee station that you can get drinks from at any time. On other cruise lines, that is not available and you pay for every drink including with dinner. With a cabin of 4 people, that adds up.
Disney also has the cleanest ships around. Yes, I got the stomach bug but that happens on all cruise lines. The ones you hear about are the ones that it gets out of control. Ever notice that you can’t even seem to walk past an elevator without someone behind you cleaning off the buttons and a hand railing on the stairs.
While you were on the cruise, did you talk to your cabin steward, a custodian, or any other cast member that wasn’t wearing dress whites? Do you smile and say hello to people as you pass? If you do you learn a lot about how things run and you get better service. On our last cruise, my poor cabin steward got the worst end of things. My 16 year old wanted to sleep in and this put him behind everyday. But he knew all our names and when my son lost his key card (yes at 16), he let him in so that he wouldn’t have to wait in the hallway for me to come back to the room. I can remember passing by another cabin and hearing a conversation between another guest and their cabin steward regarding the kids napping and when the room would be empty. The cabin stewards have lots of rooms to clean and if you have the privacy sign up, they have to keep checking the door. If they don’t clean the room, they can get in trouble. They work morning until around late dinner service and our cabin steward had to clean our room many nights during our dinner service. Yes, the cabin stewards and the wait staff get tips but they also earn them.
Contrary to their reputation, Disney is not as money grubbing as people think. Did they raise the ticket prices recently, yes. But if you watch their competitors, every time Disney raises their prices so doesn’t Universal (Sea World is just trying to get in enough people to pay for their fish bill). Universal takes it in pure profit because they don’t raise employee pay or benefits. As a matter of fact, they pay at a lower scale but they always make sure when Disney ups their prices they do to. Ever go to Universal and try to find someone to ask a question? There isn’t anyone to ask. Have you gone to Universal and bought a “Fastpass”? It cost $50-$100 extra (beyond the daily ticket price) and only covers about 6-10 rides. Disney implemented the fastpass years ago and everyone who buys a ticket get three fastpasses. For profit? No, to even out the wait time on the more popular rides. No one is happy if they have to wait an hour to ride a ride, but when you give them a choice they are less grumpy.
We just went on our 11th cruise and 10 were a party of four. We have over time moved up from and inside stateroom to an ocean view with a veranda. But we don’t pay $7K for three people. We joined the vacation club 12 years ago and the cruise line is by far the best deal. It’s not just for families and my husband and I have gone on the cruise by ourselves. My daughter spent her 15th birthday on the Mediterranean sailing. Imagine our surprise when we saw the server from our first cruise on the streets of Barcelona AND he remembered our kids – 5 years after the cruise. My kids got to see Italy and France while still sleeping in the same bed. We didn’t need to lug suitcases all over. My son got to have an American hamburger for dinner every night. Our next cruise will be the British Isles for my son’s 18th birthday.
Ask yourself, did you really pick the Disney cruise line because of the room service menu? If you want to have things like a cheese plate delivered to your room, then plan ahead and pick a smaller room. You’ll save way more than $39. If you compare prices, you’ll find that you’d be paying more on another cruise line for both the cabin and the cheese plate.
By now if you’ve read through this entire post, you’re thinking “boy has she drunk the kool aid” and you could say I have but happily. We had been going to the parks for many years before we ever considered the vacation club. We bought into it because it allowed us to stay at a nicer resort for less money (when you figure overall expense). We never would have gone on a cruise if it weren’t for the vacation club, but 12 years later we now use our vacation club almost exclusively for the cruise line. Although, I’m hoping when the kids are out of the house to do one of the Disney Adventures (maybe Macchu Picchu, sorry for the spelling).
Thank you, Elizabeth, for taking the time to write that. It is refreshing to hear a voice of reason. Disney is not cheap, but the same things that make it “not cheap” are the reasons we love it.
Fantastic post. You hit the nail on the head! I can honestly say I have only ordered room service once on the 8 Disney cruises I have been on and that was for a pot of tea. People are always complaining that the menu’s do not change in the MDR and now they are complaining that they have changed the room service menu. Disney will never win with these people.
I just find it sad you cruised the Mediterranean, saw Italy and France, and yet your son ate a hamburger every night.
So what? Maybe he has a good reason maybe he is fussy whatever it’s not your place to pass comment on other people’s children
Do they still provide mickey bars?
WOW, the cheese and fruit were one of the things we would order for snacks/meal for out picky eater (4 year old). So, now we would have to get extra food from when Cabanas is open and take it back to the room on our Alaska cruise.
So, why cruise with DCL over premium cruise lines like Princess, Celebrity ect? DCL has raised their prices enough, that the cost difference is negligible.
The daily cake selection appears to be on the new menu per the picture. Right under Desserts it says “Please call In-Stateroom Dining for the daily cake selection.” I will miss the All Hands On Deck, though, as it was individually sized and I could pick on it for a couple of days.
Now I’m wondering if the castaway club platinum amenity gifts have altered again. It was initially sparkling wine, fruit platter, chocolate truffles, or that premium cheese platter. When I last sailed (September), the choices were reduced to just the sparkling wine or the fruit platter (I think the Nature’s Delights pictured above). Have the options changed once again?
“The daily cake selection appears to be on the new menu per the picture. Right under Desserts it says “Please call In-Stateroom Dining for the daily cake selection.” ”
Good catch. We sail Jan 24th. My daughter was definitely looking forward to that, and the warm cookies and milk in the evening. I will see if its still available.
Whats exceedingly stupid about the disappearing cheese tray is how exceedingly easy it is to either grab some from one of the buffets to store in your in room fridge, or bring some on from shore excursions each day.
It was a relatively inexpensive bit of “pixie dust” that many people looked forward to before dinner, that now cost more than dinner at Palo! No one in their right mind is going to pay $38 for cheese and grapes, and if DCL loses customers as a result their change will be a net loss for the company.
Yes, good catch. I missed this and have corrected the post. Sorry.
Thanks! I missed the line for the daily cake selection. The Platinum Cheese plate has not been around for quite some time.
Usually just get breakfast items from room service. I always get a full cheese tray with meats from the Cove Cafe at night and store the leftovers in fridge until I get a fresh one the next day. No up charge from the Cove for this.
We have taken several Disney cruises, but have never ordered room service. We always bring food down to the room from Cabanas, etc.
My understanding was that room service is ‘complimentary’. If this correct? If so, then the issue is that a previously ‘complimentary’ item has been replaced with an over priced item.
I don’t mind paying more for a Disney cruise. Whenever we have cruised elsewhere, we find that we miss the ‘Disney way’. But eventually there will be a point where the additional cost can no longer be justified. 🙁
Very Disappointing! Have the breakfast items changed also?
Just my thoughts on this matter if the mouse keeps taking away the cheese along with other items *charter signed items, alcohol policy, charter breakfast, cake of the day* and going up on prices they take away the Magic of a Disney cruise. It’s not really about these small items : it’s about Disney doing things and offering things that another cruise line does not. Disney perks I guess you would call it. If they take all this away where does that leave them = just like all the other cruise lines just way more expensive. I am a cruise lover and Disney and the little perks is what keeps up coming back but take away all the perks and not sure if my family will keep coming back.
The never ending GREEDINESS provided by “yours truly” –Karl Holz!!
The DCL product keeps getting watered down!
Based on his background, do not underestimate Anthony Connelly (Sr VP of Operations).
The funny thing about this is it would seem to reduce the very profitable alcohol sales. (Huh you ask?) My wife and I love sitting on our verandah or in our room looking out the window and reading. And when we do,we often love staying put and let someone bring us a bottle of wine and a cheese plate. But without the cheese plate, I’m not really going to want to have a bottle of wine without some kind of snack, and nothing else on this menu really appeals. So now I’m either going to have to head out and track down a snack to bring back or we’re just going to go out, or I’m just going to say forget it, I want to read my book. I could be wrong, but I’m guessing there are others like us. Just a thought on how this might backfire on Disney from a room service profitability standpoint.
Loved ordering the cheese plate. I am like others and disappointed with the yearly prince increase while the little things that we loved are being taken away.
It would not surprise me if we see Mickey Bars being taken away next.
Disney provides something entirely unique and wonderful but they are too expensive. They are overpriced compared to all of what’s out there. I’ve loved our Disney cruises but if I want an affordable, relaxing cruise, I choose someone else. I swear Disney finds out what people like and/or want and then they figure out a way to squeeze more money out of you. Something that used to be free and people love it? CHARGE them for it!!! The average family cannot afford them or they go into major financial hock to do so. Other cruise lines provide wonderful, clean, cruises with friendly, helpful staff, too…not just Disney. If other cruise lines can offer their cruises for so much less, then why can’t Disney? You can go rock climbing, surfing, ice skating, etc., etc., on other ships. Disney isn’t the only one out there, albeit it’s uniqueness. And that’s why my 4 weeks of cruising this year is on Princess. There’s no way I could afford a 2 week cruise all over Norway and the Britsh Isles including a transatlantic crossing home.
Rob, I think it needs to be cleared up. Nothing was ever free. We all paid for these “included” things with our cruise fare. They are now, slowly transitioning to a nickel & dime-ing cruise line.
Yes, I totally agree with you…nothing is ever free. I understand the concept of cruising, “all inclusive”, etc. The cost of the cruise itself covers a majority of “included” things. What I object to is that Disney has started “removing” those “free” things and are now charging extra for stuff that once was included. I’ve always known that photos were an additional cost, the specialty restaurants, alcohol (we’re LDS so we don’t drink; this never was an issue for us), etc. I find the prices of almost everything associated with Disney, whether it be a Disney store, the amusement parks, the cruise lines, are all going up, up, up. I do NOT see our wages increasing so exponentially as Disney is raising their prices. We simply cannot afford them much anymore. We stopped getting the annual passes to Disneyland (which, by the way, are more expensive for 2 Calif. parks vs. 4 Florida parks!). We can no longer get free parking with Triple A tickets. Up, up, up…they’re pricing themselves out of the normal families. I refuse to go into debt to take one of their cruises, go to a park, etc. There ARE alternatives, albeit without the “Disney flare” and we’re chosing to go that route. The whole room service debacle is just the final straw. We’re not forsaking Disney; we’ll still do what we can, when we can afford it. It’s just sad to see Walt’s dream of a family vacation being turned into a greedy, money-grubbing corporation.
We rarely order room service – there is so much food available all over the ship. Our sons have ordered pizza occasionally. If we want fruit or salad – we head up to the top deck and pick out the fruit we want, then bring it back to the room. So, overall we’re not impacted.
I know someone on The Fantasy now and I told her this. She messaged to tell me she was able to order the All Hands on Deck with no upcharge…so there’s that anyway…
All of this is very disappointing. And the fact that every change seems to be released one after the other doesn’t really help… I know they probably have hired some consultant to analyze all their structure cost and decide what should go but they are getting more and more away from their core brand values and what they used to advertise as their best selling point (real all inclusive vacation for families).
They should know that it will eventually hurt their sells and brand reputation which is one of the most difficult thing to repair.
I don’t think there is a real issue here. I’m willing to bet that you will still be able to get some of the items that have been remove, if you simply ask for them. On one of our first Disney cruises, the Head food server told us that we really could order ANYTHING even if not on the menu, if the cook and kitchen had the means, they would prepare it. It’s been 7 cruises now, and not once have we been refused and off menu item. This also applies to park food service, they will also be pleased to make up an off menu item. ” I wouldn’t even begin to compare DCL with everyone else, they are head and should above 99% of the cruise industry. Gee, would I prefer a higher priced DCL trip or a potential sick trip, man overboard, drunk and disorderly Carnival cruise? No comparison. A little upcharge for a few items, not really even relevant to an actual cruise, isn’t all that bad.
Just got the following response from my complaint to DCL:
We regret the disappointment expressed in your email.
It has come to our attention that there were some onboard directories
that contained incorrect information regarding Room Service offerings.
These have been corrected and all menus have been updated. While we
always review our menu offerings, at this time the Room Service menu has
not changed and favorites like the ‘All Hands on Deck’ platter remains a
delicious option for our Guests.
We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.
Sincerely,
Diane
Email Guest Services
Disney Cruise Line
Well that’s great to hear!
Great work scott nice that you can effect change
Stew, There is no way I had anything to do with this. It was everyone who contacted DCL via email, the phone and comments on social media and forums.
But you rally the troops