Disney Wish Arendelle Restaurant – What is the Experience Really Like?

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This Disney Wish restaurant is probably the one out of the three rotation dining restaurants which is going to evoke the strongest reaction.

When you sail on the Disney Wish you will visit each of the three main dining restaurants at least once. These are:

• Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure
• 1923
• Worlds of Marvel

Disney Cruise Line has a unique concept of rotational dining. What this means is that you will dine at each main dining restaurant at least once on your cruise.

If you have a cruise of more than three nights, at least one of the restaurants will be visited again.

The really great thing about rotational dining is that not only do you get to experience very different restaurants on each Disney Ship, but also that your Servers rotate with you.

So you will get the same dining team each night and this allows the excellent Disney Cruise Servers to get to know you so that they can provide you with the best dining experience.

When details about the design of Disney Wish first began to be released it really was no surprise that there would be a restaurant themed after the hugely successful Frozen movie.

Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure Restaurant Overview

Every Disney Cruise ship restaurant has a back story.

For Arendelle the story is that you are invited to Anna and Kristoff’s engagement party which is held in a wing of Queen Elsa’s Arendelle Castle.

As you would expect there will be songs and dancing, as well as visits by your favorite characters.

The entertainment and design really are Disney at its best.

However, there is one huge issue that we will talk about later.

Try and see the restaurant when it is open and there aren’t any diners there.

Take some time, perhaps when you first board Disney Wish and you are just working out how to get around, to visit Arendelle. The doors are open and you can go into the restaurant.

This way you get a real sense of all the attention to detail and design touches that you will probably miss if you just experience this Frozen restaurant to eat dinner.

You walk down a very long corridor to reach the seating area.

Take some time to look at all the beautiful pictures on the wall, including some which are straight from the Frozen movie.

The detailing everywhere is just so well done.

However, what is really not well done is the overall layout of the Arendelle restaurant.

Be prepared that most of the tables are large and are very very close together.

They are so close together that you may as well have had banquet-style tables as there really isn’t any space between them.

This was my biggest problem with the Arendelle restaurant experience and it is for many others too.

However, the food and the entertainment do make up to some extent for the overly crowded seating situation.

What is on the Arendelle Menu?

The Disney Wish Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure Menu

Smorgasbord (Appetizers)

• Anna’s Koldtbord “Hot” Smoked Salmon, Smoked Fiord Trout Horseradish Lefse, Salmon Gravlax, Sweet Shrimp, Dill Honey Mustard, Crisp Knackerbrot

I really enjoyed Anna’s Koldtord. The Dill Honey Mustard Sauce was just right and the combination of all the other flavors was a great way to start the meal in Arendelle.

• Blushing Oaken’s Chilled White and Green Asparagus Pea Tendrils, Heirloom Tomatoes, Radish, Dill
• Elsa’s Royal Baked Scallops Shrimp Tarragon Bisque, Rainbow Carrots, Leeks, flaky Pastry
• Jarlsberg Cheese & Rosemary Ham Tart Gala Apple, Williams Pear Compote

I have to say that I did not expect the Scallops to arrive looking quite like this! But once I got over my initial surprise I soon pronounced this one of the best appetizers on the Wish.

The same can’t be said about Blushing Oaken’s Chilled White and Green Asparagus. It lacked flavor and the presentation was pretty mundane.

Salads

• Nordic Cucumber, Potato & Carrot Salad Baby Oakleaf, Lolla Rossa Lettuce
• Troll Valley Baby Field Greens Vanilla, Apricots, Brioche Croutons, Candied Walnuts, Lingonberry Dressing

Both the soup and the salad were pretty mediocre and definitely not a stand out.

From the Kettle

• Sven’s Favorite Carrot Soup Caraway, Rye Sippits
• Split Yellow Pea Soup Pulled Ham Hock, Pannekaken

Bread Service

• Six-Grain Viking Loaf With Roasted Onion Dip

Entrees

Note that the Pan Seared Cod has now been replaced with Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass.

• King Agnarr’s Dry-rubbed Roasted Pork Tenderloin Buttered Chard, Honey Butternut Squash, Yukon Gold Potato Purée, crisp Shallots, Red Currant Port Wine Reduction
• Pan-seared Chilean Sea Bass White Asparagus, Petite Leeks, Savoy Spinach, Romanesco, Peas, Kohlrabi, Rainbow Carrots, seared Scallop, Pea Tendrils, Mjod Vinaigrette
• Arendelle Kjottkake Braised Meatballs, Rosemary Cream Reduction, Egg Noodles, Lingonberry Chutney
• Juniper Spiced Roasted Chicken Breast Scallions, Duck Confit Double-fried Potatoes, Estragon Wild Mushroom Ragoût
• Garlic & Thyme Roasted Beef Rib-Eye Double-baked Potato, Buttered Broccoli, Sweet Honey-Roasted Carrots, Cabernet Jus

The Pan-seared Chilean Sea Bass was another definite favorite of mine.

Vegetarian

• Queen Iduna’s Potato Lefse Marjoram Butter Crust, Heirloom Carrots, Spinach, Celeriac, Green and White Asparagus, Baby Brussels Sprouts, Leeks, Aquavit Jarlsberg Cream
• Käldolmar Plant-based “Beef,” Savoy Cabbage, Brown Rice, Carrots, Celery, Dill Yogurt Drizzle

Lighter Notes

• Seared Salmon Salad Fennel Seed Quinoa, Boston Bibb, Oakleaf, Spinach, Endive Lettuce, Red Cabbage, Green Onion, Soft Egg, Cucumber, Dill, Whole-Grain Mustard Dressing, Honey Biscuit Streusel
• Grilled Grain-fed Sirloin Steak
• Slow-roasted Breast of Chicken
• Oven-baked Fillet of Salmon
  The above three entrées are served with Garden Vegetables and your choice of Steamed White Rice or Baked Potato

Dessert

• Eplekake, Apple Cake Caramel Sauce, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Florentine Almond Crunch
• Norwegian Pancake Roulade Pancake, Lingonberry Jam, Gjovik White Chocolate Cheesecake
• Kvafjordkake Butter Cake, Baked Almond Meringue, Vanilla Cream, Berry Compote

The Norwegian Pancake Roulade was a surprise as I am not sure what I expected from the presentation but it definitely wasn’t those incredibly delicate rounds of pancake.

It was incredibly light and really just a wonderful way to round off the meal.

The Kvafjordkake was good too and very nicely presented with the snowflake meringue. The “It’s Elsa’s Coronation Sundae!” was also very nicely presented.

Ice Cream Sundae

• “It’s Elsa’s Coronation Sundae!” Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, Marshmallows, fresh Whipped Cream, Snowflakes

Signature Dessert

• Troll Family’s Rock Chocolate Bar Chocolate Cake, Pistachio Cookie Rocks, Elderflower Meringue

No Sugar Added

• Citrus-Almond Cake Lemon Almond Cake, Buttermilk Ice Cream, Orange Fennel Salad

Disney Wish Arendelle Restaurant Kids Menu

All of the Disney Cruise Ship restaurants have a drinks menu with Cocktails and Zero Proof Drinks that are unique to that particular venue.

I was of course tempted by the Frozen Fractals cocktail as not only is that one of my favorite lines from the infamous “Let it Go” ballad, but it also involves Moet and Chandon Ice.

Although this picture doesn’t really capture it as well as I would have liked, this drink is sparkly!

It tasted pretty good as well!

Disney Wish Arendelle Restaurant Kids Menu

Starters:

Sven’s Sweet Carrot Soup with buttery croutons

Trolls’ Garden Salad with your favorite choice of dressing

Main Event: 

3oz Sirloin Steak and Grilled Shrimp – entrees served with fresh vegetables and your choice of smashed potatoes, steak fries or macaroni and cheese. 

The Royal Corn Dog – with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce. entrees served with fresh vegetables and your choice of smashed potatoes, steak fries or macaroni and cheese. 

Barbecue Chicken Pizza – entrees served with fresh vegetables and your choice of smashed potatoes, steak fries or macaroni and cheese. 

Mini Cheeseburger on Brioche Bun – entrees served with fresh vegetables and your choice of smashed potatoes, steak fries or macaroni and cheese. 

Disney Check Meals: 

Elsa & Anna’s Baked Salmon with brown rice pilaf, roasted cauliflower florets, and blueberry crunch parfait. Served with a choice of small low fat milk or water. 

Kristoff’s Whole-Wheat Penne Pasta with Meatballs – tomato sauce, steamed carrots, and apple slices. Served with a choice of small low-fat milk or water. 

Desserts: 

Olaf’s Campfire S’mores Bar – Graham Cracker, Roasted Marshmallow, Oreo Cookies, Double Chocolate, Vanilla Ice Cream

Mickey Ice Cream Bar

Selection of Assorted Ice Cream

Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure Show and Entertainment

If you enjoy the Frozen movie you are going to enjoy this show.

The stage is pretty much in the center of the room, but unfortunately, many of the tables really don’t get a great view.

However, even if you don’t get a view, you can certainly hear the show.

Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf, and Oaken all appear in the show.

However, the main performers are exclusive to this Arendelle experience, and whilst we don’t know their names or their story they look as though they could certainly be friends with the main characters of Frozen.

The singing and entertainment are excellent. You will hear your favorites although some of them are certainly presented a little differently.

Olaf looks a little awkward on his trolley but obviously, there are logistical difficulties with how to present him!

The show is loud. There really is no getting away from it, it is loud.

If you are not a Frozen fan you will probably want to request a table far away from the stage experience.

But for those who relish everything from the Frozen movie, this restaurant will certainly satisfy.

The performers are amazing and here is enough of the traditional and some interesting twists on the original to keep you entertained.

How is the Food at Arendelle on the Disney Wish?

Overall I really enjoyed the food and so did my table mates.

There were a lot of good choices on the menu and the food reflected the Nordic influence without being inaccessible or too far away from what the Disney guest palate is used to.

The presentation was very good and there were definitely some standouts on the Arendelle menu.

I particularly enjoyed Elsa’s Royal Baked Scallops. The flaky pastry was just right and the sauce with the scallops was very tasty.

Another surprise was the Norwegian Pancake Roulade which was the perfect end to the meal.

Often the desserts are a little heavy, but this was really light and something just that bit unexpected. I would certainly order it again.

And of course, those Frozen Fractals all around were the perfect sparkly drink if you just want to indulge your inner Elsa.

Final Thoughts About Arendelle on Disney Wish

Disney Wish Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure is a beautifully themed restaurant with some excellent menu choices.

If you have children who love Frozen then you will probably have this as first on your list of favorite Disney Cruise Ship restaurants.

Unless you are seated at one of the many tables which really does not have a view of the show.

We completely lucked out as we were right next to the stage.

However, we were a table of adults so really couldn’t see any logic in having that space when really it would have been best suited to families with young children.

Arendelle is wonderfully themed.

The walk down the long corridor with all the pictures and the incredible attention to detail really sets you up for the Frozen experience.

However, and this is a really really big problem, the Disney Wish Frozen restaurant has the tables packed in so close to the point of being unpleasant.

Rarely have I ever seen the distance between tables in any restaurant let alone a Disney Cruise main dining restaurant being so close together.

And rarely have I ever seen the Servers have such difficulty getting around the restaurant. The spaces between the tables are uncomfortable for the guests, but let’s not forget that the servers have to deal with this as well.

Even though I enjoyed the food and the entertainment was good, when I am picking which night to visit Palo or Enchante Arendelle will be the restaurant that I choose to skip. I really didn’t want that to be so but it really was.

The restaurant which it is most similar to in concept is perhaps Tiana’s Place on Disney Wonder.

Whilst the show in Arendelle is very good, and the performers are amazing, it really doesn’t get the sense of participation that Tiana’s Place does.

I realize that Arendelle is a much larger restaurant than Tiana’s but there doesn’t feel like the sense of involvement and fun that the Disney Wonder restaurant has.

And for me, those tables are just so very very close together and so many have no possible chance of seeing the stage, it’s a bit of a disappointment for me.

Many others I spoke to seemed to agree.

I hope they get the design of this restaurant, whatever its theme, sorted out for Disney Treasure.