Lunch Aboard the Disney Magic

I'm definitely not ignoring this coincidence.

A few weeks ago, after Chelsea's Grampa passed away, my husband I and started discussing taking the family to Disney World next year.  My husband went when he was young and Grampa would have loved to see Chelsea's excited little face.  The very next day, I received an invitation to tour and have lunch upon the Disney Magic while she was in port here in Halifax... my Disney fever went into overdrive.

It was a long couple of weeks, and I may have driven more than one person nuts with my excitement.  At last, this past Tuesday, the time had arrived.  Mickey greeted us as soon as we stepped on board, and we started our afternoon at Lumiere's, which is named after the scheming French candelabra who tries to get the Beast to fall in love with Belle in Disney's animated classic film, Beauty and the Beast.  There are a number of Main Dining restaurants aboard the Disney Magic, along with other quick service restaurants, an adults only restaurant, buffet and room service.  A very cool thing I learned is that the Disney Cruise Line has what is called a Rotational Dining system, where you can experience a different restaurant every night of your cruise, but you keep your same servers (who remember just how you like everything and will even entertain your wee ones and cut up their food!  Yes, you heard right... swoon).

Lumiere's serves classic American fare during lunch, and I loved how the menu was just so, so... Disney (seems to be my new word for perfect).  It's so rare (this was a first for me), where I can see a menu with such upscale items as Butternut Squash Risotto along side a Corn Dog or Grilled Cheese Sandwich for the kiddos.  Lumiere's decor is so elegant, yet no one would bat an eye if they heard toddler meltdown.  If you have a little one, you understand how absolutely exciting this is.

Chelsea and Daddy were off touring the Halifax waterfront while I was on board, so I indulged with a Mangoberry Margarita... 

All of the food was excellent, as I expected it would be.  I WISH I had wrote down our servers names, everyone we encountered was so professional and friendly.  I could tell that these folks really, for reals, enjoy their jobs.  I started with the Chilled Tangerine Soup with a lemon-thyme cream... it tasted like a less sweet grown-up Creamsicle almost... yum!

I then enjoyed the Pan-Seared Tilapia, mainly because it came with cheesy grits, which I oh so wanted to try and they didn't disappoint.  The fish was served with an onion marmalade and red wine reduction and it was done perfectly.

I ended the meal with the Apricot-Amandine Tartlet, along with a coffee.  No complaints at all about the food here... I can absolutely see needing to take some stretchy pants on a Disney Cruise... but there are lots of ways to burn off the calories, from the gym, the pools, dancing, wink wink.

After our leisurely lunch, we went on a tour of the ship.  Luckily for Disney, the ship was fully booked, which sadly meant we couldn't peek into any of the staterooms, but take my word that you can trust the photos you see on their website... this ship is in immaculate condition and literally shines.  

We went up to the 10th deck, where the pools and outdoor areas are and walked past Palo, the adults only restaurant, so I snuck a photo.  You might be like me and wonder how you can get any 'adults only' time with your kids on a Disney Cruise.  I am a bit of a Nervous Nelly when it comes to leaving Chelsea with anyone and I can say with 100% surety that I would leave her with any of the kids programs Disney has to offer.  I could go on and on and on about the things I learned, from the educational backgrounds of their staff, the security (including GPS bracelets!), to how they pay attention to each child's needs, likes, dislikes and even fears.  I really don't want to leave anything out on what I feel is the most important aspect of a family cruise, so to learn more, visit their website.  The kids are not simply being cared for, they are being taught, entertained, stimulated and most of all, having the time of their lives.

Back to the tour...

This is the pool area especially for the little ones, hi Mickey!

It's just out of shot, but there is another pool here, which in the evenings is covered with more of this stage and outdoor activities (including fireworks) abound.  Note the screen so you can watch your favourite Disney movies while you work on your tan.  Speaking of movies, there is of course, a theatre inside the ship, playing the newest Disney flicks, sometimes before they even hit the theatres.

Here is the adults only pool, which has a couple of hot tubs as well... ahhh.  Sadly we ran out of time and missed out on a tour of the spa... but I think if we had they may have ended up having a few stowaway Mommies on board.

More than once during my mini mini Disney Magic vacation I found myself close to tears just by the awesomeness of it all.  Having never been to Disney, I turned into a bit of a child myself and the magic and wonder that is displayed on board is first class.  It's great to learn that cruising is not something that has to wait until Chelsea grows up, or something we have to do and leave her home... we can go as a family and all get everything exactly how we want it.

Coincidence?  More like an omen... let the vacation planning begin!

I really, really encourage you to see all of the vacation options provided by Disney Cruise Line.

Thank you Disney, for having me! (Angela... mwah!)

Disclosure:  I did enjoy a complimentary lunch/tour of the Disney Magic, but no other compensation was received.  This post is, as always, just me and my own opinions... and in this case, some gushing too.