Flo's V-8 Cafe on the Disney Dream

The husband and I were lamenting the other day because we miss “our ship.”  It was near dinner time and we were wistfully reminded of the ease of obtaining food on the Disney Dream.  In addition to the three main dining rooms and Cabanas, Deck 11 offers even more choices with Flo’s V-8 Café.

Taking a nod from Cars, Flo’s V-8 Café features Luigi’s Pizza, Doc’s Grill, and Fillmore’s Favorites.  These three “counters” are located mid-ship on Deck 11 on the Disney Dream and feature their own “road” painted on the floor.  Guests can get their tank refilled typically from 11:00 am until late in the evening, 11:00 pm or midnight.  Hours of operation are posted in the daily Navigators.

Luigi’s Pizza offers a variety of pizza toppings and features a “pizza of the day” advertised on a sign on the counter.  The boy’s favorite is BBQ chicken pizza.  Various selections are displayed in the glass case and you order by the slice or slices.

Doc’s Grill is known for its burgers and then some.  Hot dogs, brats, fish burgers, chicken strips, fries, veggie burgers, and chicken sandwiches can all be found on the menu.  A wide selection of condiments are available just across from Doc’s Grill.

Fillmore’s favorites features salads, fresh fruit—either the whole fruit or cut and sliced in a bow, yogurt, deli sandwiches, wraps, pasta, and grilled panini sandwiches.

As you can tell this is the place for a quick meal or a quick snack.  With self-serve ice cream just around the corner, and drink stations on the other side of the pool, it is hard to imagine ever having to leave this area.

Having now sailed 10 nights on the Disney Dream, we have figured out how to make the most of Flo’s V-8 Café.  Here are our hints and tips:

• The square plates at Luigi’s pizza are great for carrying drinks from the drink station.  One plate can hold 4 cups.  So, we ask for a plate from Luigi’s and head to the drink station to get our drinks then return to Luigi’s to place our order.  The plate of pizza goes on top of the drinks.  Stacking the plates and the drinks makes it easier to carry if you are taking it to your stateroom or another location.
• Hold the fries.  At Doc’s Grill if you are ordering for more than one person but don’t have extra hands, ask them to put more than one “entrée” on a plate and then hold the fries or put a few on the side.  We can get a cheeseburger, chicken strips, and brat all onto one plate—again, easier to carry.
• All of these locations share the same kitchen.  If you want pizza and a cheeseburger, tell them at either location before taking your plate.  The crew will pass your plate to the next counter inside the kitchen, other items will be added, and you can pick up your plate at the next counter.  The crew prefers this rather than you handing them a plate that you have already taken from the other counter to have additional food added at the next counter.
• If you are eating anywhere other than Deck 11, be sure to use the midship doors to get to the midship elevators as they open automatically.  For me, this is the best addition to the Disney Dream as usually just one of us heads out to get a snack for all of us.  Multiple plates and drinks means hands are full so an automatic door is appreciated.

When people ask me why a Disney Cruise vacation is our easiest vacation, especially if traveling with children, I give examples of how easy it is to feed your kids on the ship.  If the boy is hungry, we can get him fresh fruit, pizza, and a glass of milk within minutes and it is all included in the price of our cruise.  Imagine trying to do that at a Disney park!  And, now that he is older, he is able to do that for himself; all you can eat pizza and ice cream equals paradise for a 10 year old boy.

What if you are sailing on the Disney Magic and Wonder?  Well, these same offerings are available on Deck 9, with Pluto’s Dog House, Goofy’s Galley, and Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, they just aren’t as conveniently located as Flo’s V-8 Café.