Posted on by

Return to Venues Listing

Animator's Palate

Animator's Palate is one of the cruise line's rotational restaurant venues inspired by Disney Animation.

LOCATIONS
Ship
Location
Status

4 Aft
7/30/98 - Present

4 Aft
8/15/99 - Present

3 Aft
1/26/11 - Present

3 Aft
3/31/12 - Present

One of the most popular restaurants on the Disney ships, features animation-adorned walls and larger high- definition flat-screens to provide the best views of the animation magic that takes place all around. Furnishings all around the interior of the restaurant, including custom-built Mickey Mouse chairs, provide a fun feast for the eyes, while the delectables and dishes provide a feast for the palate.

Animator’s Palate aboard the Dream class ships are a re-imagined version of the signature Disney Cruise Line restaurant that brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room with wall-to-wall whimsy inspired by classic animator’s studios.

Design highlights include pillars throughout the restaurant fashioned like huge pencils and brushes, character sketches, maquettes (three-dimensional character models), film strips and other tools of the animation trade. Scenes and characters from popular Disney and Disney•Pixar films adorn the walls.

Depending on the length of itinerary and ship class, guests may experience two different dinner experiences to captivate and delight the entire family. On the class ships, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, the standard show is called Drawn to Magic, The standard dinner experience on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy is Undersea Magic. The second show, Animation Magic, is similar across the Magic and Dream class of ships.

‘Drawn to Magic’

A heaping helping of entertainment is served up during the “Drawn to Magic” dinner animation show aboard the classic ships. The venue, cloaked from floor to ceiling in a classical black and white motif, tips a nostalgic hat to old-time animation in the Steamboat Willie era of Disney’s animation past. Over-sized digital canvases line the walls of Animator’s Palate, where unseen artists sketch character portraits in real-time throughout the meal.

Pixie dust heralds the final element of animation, completing the arc from sketch, to pencil test, to ink and paint, leading to the result—storytelling. As dinner begins to wind down and desserts are selected, a grand “Drawn to Magic” finale begins, immersing guests in an animated show about a hero’s journey through Disney and Pixar animation from wishing upon a star to happily ever after.

The tale begins as the room darkens so that the illuminated digital canvases can tell the story of dreams, featuring iconic wishing moments from films like Tangled, The Princess and the Frog, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty and more. “When You Wish Upon a Star” tugs at heartstrings, as guests reminisce with the characters, of dreams and wishes.

For the finale, scenes from classic and modern Disney films play on canvases around the room, as the walls flash with moving watercolor medleys, bathing the black and white room in full color. The celebration comes to life, with a parade of color and “transformed” wait staff, led by Sorcerer Mickey.

‘Undersea Magic’

One evening on the Dream class ships, after diners are seated, the restaurant goes through a transformation: Guests are magically transported to a shimmering undersea world where views of a coral reef environment are all around them, setting the stage for a visit from Crush, the sea turtle from the Disney•Pixar film “Finding Nemo.”

Enter Crush, a most-excellent ambassador of the oceans and seas. The animated character swims from window to window, “working the room,” engaging guests in real-time conversation about his life and world.

‘Animation Magic’

During select sailings on the on the classic ships, as guests are seated at their tables, they are invited to draw a character of their own using a simple template on their placemat. Then, just before dinner, house lights dim and a sprinkling of pixie dust illuminates the room.

On several large monitors around the room, Mickey Mouse appears, places the Sorcerer’s hat upon his head and begins the show. He invites guests to sit back, relax and enjoy a taste of animation as a montage of memorable food-themed moments from Disney and Disney•Pixar films is shown, set to the tune “Be Our Guest.” After the number is complete, guests’ drawings are whisked off to Mickey Mouse, who is conjuring a magical final act.

After dinner, Mickey returns for the exciting finale. With a musical crescendo, he works his magic and conjures the guests’ drawings—now fully animated and brought to life—into the onscreen action.

A parade starts as Mickey leads the guests’ drawings in a march across the screens around the dining room. The animation becomes more elaborate as the drawings step into scenes from beloved Disney movies, skipping and dancing side-by-side with characters such as Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket, Cinderella and Snow White.

At the conclusion of the show, Mickey returns to say “so long” while credits roll on screen showing each guest’s name listed as a guest animator. To commemorate the experience, guests’ drawings are returned to them with an added touch: a golden seal proclaiming them an official Disney animator.

MENUS

Below is a list of menus from Animator's Palate.

RECIPES

Below is a list of recipes assocated with the Animator's Palate.