Disney’s popular Animation Magic dinner show, where guests draw their own characters and later see them animated on the screens in Animator’s Palate, is no longer offered on most itineraries under seven nights. Currently, Animation Magic is only scheduled on select sailings of seven nights or longer on the Disney Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy. Guests on shorter cruises generally will not experience it.
Animation Magic used to be a highlight of Animator’s Palate because it combined a special menu with one of Disney’s most interactive and memorable moments. Families loved watching their drawings come to life, and many guests still consider it one of the best rotating dining experiences Disney has ever done.
On shorter cruises, Animator’s Palate instead runs a simpler experience featuring Turtle Talk with Crush, the interactive Pixar show also found at some Disney parks. During dinner, Crush appears on the screens and interacts with guests at selected tables. Some families enjoy the novelty, especially younger children who love Finding Nemo, but many cruisers feel the show is less impressive than Animation Magic.
A common complaint is that the audio and timing can be awkward, especially in a noisy dining room, and that Crush may only interact with a handful of tables. Guests often report that they can hear him talking but do not feel involved in the interaction. Because of this, many people miss the energy and “wow” factor of the original Animation Magic experience.
For now, if seeing Animation Magic is important to you, the safest bet is to choose a 7-night itinerary on one of the four classic ships. Cruises on the Disney Wish and Treasure do not offer Animation Magic, even on longer sailings, because their restaurants use different entertainment concepts.
