Ahoy and welcome to planDisney, Jade. I know planning a cruise with a picky eater can make it hard to dive right into thoughts of a carefree cruise, chasing an endless horizon. One early comfort I can provide:
Disney Cruise Line offers unbelievable service for all guests.
In the event this is your first Disney Cruise, I am going to share a bit more than your question to give you a sense of a vacation aboard a Disney ship, particularly with dining options. Unfortunately for your son, microwaves are a fire hazard and are not allowed for safety reasons. But, I hope the options available to your son suit his taste.
First, Disney Cruise Line has
rotational dining. With this, your dining team joins you each evening in one of the main restaurants. When I cruised with someone with food allergies, she enjoyed only having to tell the server the first night. Since they are with you each evening, our server was ready each of the following nights with options for her. I've also cruised with a friend with severe food allergies. Her server reviewed the next night's menu, so they were prepared with a delicious meal she could enjoy. Once onboard, you can see your dining room rotation and all the menus on the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. It makes it easy to plan, knowing, too, that the dining team will work with you as much as they possibly can to find options that work.
For lunch, each ship has a buffet-style dining room serving breakfast and lunch with so many options. This is
Cabanas on the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Dream and
Marceline Market on the Disney Wish. These restaurants are designed to cater to all guests, with options from comfort foods to carving stations. There are also quick-serve restaurants and 24/7
room service, included with your cruise. I love room service, especially on days at sea. We have also picked up lunch at Flo's Cafe and taken it back to our stateroom to enjoy some quiet time while taking a break in the day.
I know many parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder try to prepare their children as much as possible for new experiences. The
Information for Guests with an Autism Spectrum Disorder may be helpful as it shares what to expect on a Disney Cruise. This guide is useful but focuses a lot on sensory issues and strategies. You might also want to review the broader
Information for Guests with Disabilities or Medical Conditions, as there may be additional guidance for your needs.
I know as parents we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make everything go smoothly and be magical for our kids. I fell in love with Disney Cruise Line on my first cruise, feeling like I had found a destination that understood that desire, wanted to be a part of the magic for my children, and cared that I had a vacation as well. I hope you find the same.
Please come back to planDisney with any other questions.
Bon Voyage!
Jana