Alright, Disney Cruise fans—it’s time to get excited.
Like, really excited. Because Disney just dropped some brand-new details about Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King, one of the main dining restaurants on the new Disney Destiny and this is going to be a next-level experience.
Imagine this: You’re sitting down to an incredible meal, and suddenly, the music of The Lion King comes to life right in front of you.
We’re talking iconic songs, legendary moments, and a full-on celebration of Simba’s journey from curious cub to mighty king.
Here’s the scoop:
While you dine, a vibrant cast of performers will take the stage for a musical journey through the award-winning soundtrack.
This isn’t just a show—it’s an experience.
Two storytellers, Mwongozo and Shaha, will guide you through Simba’s tale with soulful narration, jaw-dropping vocals, and creative costume designs that bring beloved characters to life in a totally unique way.
It’s not just the singers bringing the magic. A trio of insanely talented musicians will fill the room with the sounds of authentic African instruments, creating a vibe that’s both uplifting and unforgettable.
The show features an interpretive dancer who uses movement to reflect the emotions and themes of Simba’s journey.
Let’s hope the experience is as great as the show in Plaza de Coco where the performers, including a fabulous dancer, take the experience to the next level.
Between the incredible entertainment and the mouthwatering menu (see the sneak peek below!), this experience is guaranteed to be one of the most memorable parts of your Disney adventure.
But let’s just address the downside here. We all know that nothing, not even DCL, is perfect.
And whilst I am so excited to dine here and experience the amazing show and food, this restaurant will have a downside,
The Lion King restaurant is going to be in the equivalent space to Arendelle on Disney Wish and Coco de Plaza on Disney Treasure.
So there will be a central stage where the performers will be located. This design of Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King will have the same issue as her sister ships.
Not everyone will have a good view of the stage.
The design of this space means that the tables are very close together, and if you are seated towards the sides of the restaurant you are not going to have a great view.
The picture below is of the Plaza de Coco restaurant on Disney Treasure.
DCL cannot change the size of the room or the amount of tables that it needs for The Lion King restaurant on Disney Destiny.
So whilst the decor will be very different – the basic layout will be very similar.
I think that Coco de Plaza is much better than Arendelle for this – they have removed some of the serving stations which were in the interior of the restaurant and which completely blocked the view from some tables.
However, in such a large space it is not possible to create a design where everyone gets a fabulous view of the stage.
But let’s focus on the positive. The music and the show can be enjoyed from anywhere in the room – and it looks as though the food is going to be great!
The Menu
The Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King dining experience offers a thoughtfully crafted menu that brings together the rich flavors of African cuisine and familiar dishes that Disney Cruise Line guests have come to enjoy.
This balance ensures there’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking to try something new or prefer more traditional options.
There will be a separate kids menu and an allergy friendly menu – but no details have been released about these yet. If you want to see an example of kids menus then there are lots here which are on Disney Treasure.
Disney has released details of just some of the dishes on the menu.
- Nala’s Roasted Pork Tenderloin –?Black-eyed bean-chorizo casserole, fried yuca, thyme, and pickled purple onions
- Pan-seared Berbere-spiced Roasted Chicken –?Jollof rice, fried plantains, blistered tomatoes, and green harissa sauce
- Cape Malay Shrimp Curry – Garam masala, turmeric, cumin-coconut curry sauce, aromatic basmati rice, cucumber sambal, and butter roti
- Heirloom Tomato Kachumbari – Golden beet caviar, nut and seed dukkah-spiced goat cheese, and pea tendrils
- Pineapple Upside Down Cake – Moist yogurt cake, caramelized pineapple, cherries, and rooibos mousse
- Warm Chocolate Malva Pudding – Sweet vanilla pudding, apricot jam, warm buttery cream sauce, and vanilla ice cream
Every DCL restaurant offers a full drinks menu and includes signature drinks which are designed for that specific restaurant.
Here we get a taste of what The Lion King restaurant will have to offer:
- Can You Feel the Rum Tonight? – Starr 7 Year Oak Aged Rum, Amarula Cream Liqueur, mango smoothie mix, a pinch of cinnamon, shaken with ice, and garnished with a fresh mint leaf
- Slimy Yet Satisfying – Sprite infused with lime gelatin and garnished with centipede and worm gummies
Two Themed Menus on Five-Night Sailings
For guests sailing on five-night itineraries, there’s even more to look forward to.
A second themed menu will be offered for those dining at the Pride Lands restaurant during their second dinner seating, giving you the chance to experience an even greater variety of dishes during your cruise.
Because of the length of the sailings there won’t be a second show as not all guests would get the chance to experience this restaurant twice.
Disney Destiny Restaurants
Disney Destiny will have 2 additional rotational dining restaurants:
- 1923
- Worlds of Marvel
As Disney Destiny will be sailing mostly 4 and 5 night itineraries this means that guests will experience each restaurant at least once, and one or two others twice.
There will be a Pirate Night so the Pirate Night menu will be served in whichever restaurant you are in that night.
The menus on Disney Destiny for these restaurants will most likely be exactly the same as for Disney Treasure – you can see those here:
Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King is going to be a highlight of the Disney Destiny experience.
Let us know in the Comments if you are looking forward to this new restaurant.
Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.