by Natasha Szostak | Jul 10, 2022 | DCL Food, DCL News, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Wish

For the first time in, well, EVER … there’s a Frozen -themed dinner show at sea. Here’s why Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure was our team’s favorite meal on the Disney Wish.

Our team was cordially invited to this royal engagement party as part of a recent Disney Wish media preview .

Is this a celebration worth melting for? What’s on the menu? And who really stole the show? Keep reading to find out.

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT: Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure includes plot details from Frozen II. Continue reading at your own risk!

Elsa takes the stage at Arendelle. Concept Art via Disney Cruise Line

Picking up right where Frozen II left off, Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure invites you to celebrate the engagement of Queen Anna and Kristoff. 

Putting together a royal gala is no easy task. Luckily, the happy couple knew the perfect person to get the job done. Hoo-hoo! Can you guess who they hired?

That’s right! The Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post and Sauna’s humble shopkeeper, Oaken, has a new business venture. Since the events of Frozen II , he’s expanded his trading post and is now the proud owner of “Oaken’s Hearty Party Planning Service … and Sauna.” And according to our team, he stole the show! 

During the course of your enchanted evening, you’ll be treated to live performances of Frozen hits by local Arendelle musicians. If you’ve ever wanted to hear Oaken and Kristoff duet on “Let It Go,” … this dinner party can’t be missed!

❄️ WDW Magazine Review: “We were treated to the best rendition of ‘Let It Go’ I’ve ever seen,” says our Communications Director, Tatjana.

The final performance of the night is a true spectacle. Elsa takes to the stage to light up the dining room with her icy magic. 

Anna makes an appearance at Arendelle. Concept Art via Disney Cruise Line

Want to mingle with your favorite Frozen characters? Olaf and Oaken will stop in the aisles in between performances to chat with guests and each other. 

Kristoff and Anna may also stop by your table. Anna will happily show off her engagement ring if you ask to see it!

❄️ WDW Magazine Review: Due to the theatrical nature of the dining experience, the night unfolds on a strict schedule. As Tatjana notes, “You’re not guaranteed to talk to all the characters. You might get to, but they need to keep the show moving so you may not.”

As soon as you step inside Arendelle on the Disney Wish, you’ll see that the Main Dining Room has undergone a royal transformation. There are even gold bust sculptures of Anna and Elsa as you walk in.

Dining tables are situated around a center stage where the evening’s entertainment will take place. The setup hit our CEO, Stephanie, right “in the feels.” 

❄️ WDW Magazine Review: “As a theatre kid, I loved the in-the-round performance space and the great cast energy,” says Stephanie.

Guest can’t pick their seats, so you may end up with an obstructed view of the stage (like our team did) if you’re not sitting right next to it. Luckily, the characters do stroll through the aisles at various points in the evening so there are still opportunities to get a closer look at them. 

The ceiling uses invisible fiber optics technology to create Elsa’s magic. Meanwhile, the real-time ocean views on the panoramic windows are replaced with the colorful lights of the Aurora Borealis.

While attending a Disney media event last year, Stephanie noted that the table settings at Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure were “by far the most intricate of the three main dining experiences on the Disney Wish.” The edges of the plates feature hidden character silhouettes and the napkins are embroidered with Anna’s signature crocus.

Catering for the engagement party is, of course, provided by Oaken’s “Hearty Party Planning Service.” The menu is influenced by Nordic cuisine and the Frozen story. It’s the type of hearty, home cooking that reminded Stephanie of the foods her Finnish nana would make for her when she was a child.

Blushing Oaken’s Chilled White and Green Asparagus. Photo by Danny Shuster

Elsa’s Royal Baked Scallops. Photo by Danny Shuster

❄️ WDW Magazine Review: “Very tasty,” says our Creative Director, Danny.

Jarlsberg Cheese & Rosemary Ham Tart. Photo by Danny Shuster

❄️ WDW Magazine Review: Tatjana says this dinner appetizer would make an amazing breakfast option: “I now wish I could have this for breakfast everyday. The baked apple and pear compote on the side was sooo yummy.”

Troll Valley Baby Field Greens. Photo by Danny Shuster

❄️ WDW Magazine Review: Stephanie ordered the Nordic Salad while our Social Media Coordinator, Aly, opted for the Troll Valley Salad. Both were very fresh and well seasoned.

Split Yellow Pea Soup. Photo by Danny Shuster

❄️ WDW Magazine Review: Tatjana’s sea bass entrée was cooked perfectly: “Light crisp sear on it and so flaky!” Unfortunately, the vegetables were a miss. They were barely cooked or seasoned. 

Arendelle Kjottkake. Photo by Danny Shuster

Juniper Spiced Roasted Chicken Breast. Photo by Danny Shuster

Queen Iduna’s Potato Lefse. Photo by Danny Shuster

Norwegian Pancake Roulade. Photo by Danny Shuster

Troll Family’s Rock Chocolate Bar. Photo by Danny Shuster

“It’s Elsa’s Coronation Sundae!”. Photo by Danny Shuster

Olaf’s Campfire S’mores Bar. Photo by Danny Shuster

All of your favorite Frozen characters appear at Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure on the Disney Wish. But who would’ve thought a humble shopkeeper would steal the show? 

While our team was disappointed by their obstructed view of the stage, they still had an incredible time thanks to the characters wandering the aisles. 

The Norwegian-inspired menu has plenty of hearty options. For smaller appetites, the Olaf’s Campfire S’mores Bar on the kid’s menu is a fantastic (and tasty) dessert option.

As this was a media preview, Tatjana wondered if what our team saw was a scaled-back version of the full show. She thinks there may be more lights and even snow added in for future sailings, but that’s unconfirmed at the time of writing. 

Hoo-hoo! Looking for more Disney Wish coverage? Check out the DCL Magazine Instagram and DCL Magazine Facebook page. Don’t forget to join the waiting list for DCL Magazine too!

Thanks to Disney for hosting us during the Christening Cruise of the Disney Wish. As part of a media preview we were able to enjoy a 3-night sailing, tour the facilities, speak with Imagineers and Cast Members who brought the ship to life, visit Castaway Cay, and enjoy many of the onboard offerings. #DisneyCruise #DisneyWish #DisneyChristening

WDW Magazine is not associated with The Walt Disney Company in any way—we’re just big fans!