Review: ‘Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King’ is ambitious but delicious feat on Disney Destiny
The new “Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King” dinner theater experience onboard the Disney Destiny cruise ship is an ambitious but delicious feat, and “I just can’t wait” to eat there again!
Entertainment photos by Steven Diaz / Disney
For decades, “The Lion King” has been a bona fide pop-culture phenomena. The iconic 1994 Walt Disney Animation Studios film spawned reimagined adaptations, including the wildly successful Tony-winning Broadway show and a stage production at Walt Disney World.
And now Disney Cruise Line is taking its shot, showcasing the story of Simba in an entirely new way at Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King. Exclusive to the Disney Destiny, the growing liner’s seventh in the fleet that sailed its Maiden Voyage on Nov. 20, 2025, the new restaurant is one of three which guests will visit during their sailing.
I had the opportunity to dine there twice during preview cruises and get a behind the scenes look at the restaurant with Walt Disney Imagineering.
Here’s what to expect and my honest thoughts on Disney’s newest dining concept.
What is Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King?
If you’re familiar with Disney Cruise Line, know there have been several dinner theater concepts in the past, including a “Frozen” show aboard the Disney Wish, “Coco” on the Treasure, a Tiana’s Palace-inspired venue aboard the Disney Wonder, and now Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King on the Disney Destiny.
These are part of rotational dining and included in the price of your cruise. The restaurants themselves are immersive, and guests dine surrounding a stage where a live production unfolds throughout the course of the meal. Menus are also tied into the theming. I’ve sailed aboard every member of the fleet and have had the opportunity to dine at each one of these ship-exclusive restaurants.
Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King is a first-of-its-kind, musical retelling dinner experience that details Simba’s journey to his destiny (from cub to king!) through live performances, an immersive setting, and themed foods.
Let’s dive into each element.
The setting
“This is my kingdom! My destiny!”
You’re fully immersed from the get-go in a feast for the eyes with lush textures, bold colors, and immense detailing all tapping into the spirit of Africa. Guests first enter by passing through a long corridor. This featured some of my favorite details, including a carved woodwork design that was inspired by Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World. The wood detailing throughout is in contrast to colorful art pieces and eye-catching patterns.
Once inside the main dining hall, technology plays a huge role while keeping an authentic, earthy feel. I was drawn to large “windows” throughout the room that depicted a Savanna sunset and sunrise. Inspired by artwork from the film, these transformed the space as the meal progressed. Additional lighting and special effects enhanced the room, like torched lamps that changed colors during the show. And at the center, a tiered stage that mimics an African drum is where the live show takes place. The sights and sounds are all working together to evoke the feel of the Savanna.
The menu
“Stick with me, and you’ll never go hungry again!”
Disney’s culinary team is more than well versed in serving authentic African flavors. After all, the restaurants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge are considered some of the very best at Walt Disney World. So, when it came time to visit this new cruise restaurant, I was excited to try everything on the menu, including recipes that members of the culinary team enjoyed with their families while growing up.
The African-inspired menu is built around dishes, spices, grains, and sauces from different regions of the continent. And Disney did not hold back with aromatic flavors of cumin, turmeric, and red chili. With that being said, it felt approachable, and I think even a pickier eater will have no problem finding something they’ll enjoy.
I tried the entire menu over my two visits and there were some clear winners, including some of the best dishes I ate while on board the Destiny. For starters, I loved the curried apricot chicken sosaties. The chicken thigh was marinated and cooked to perfection and served with an addictive red chermoula. This dish was juicy, very flavorful and well-seasoned. A vegan green papaya salad also impressed, bursting with freshness and flavor.
For entrées, the pan-seared berbere spiced roasted chicken and Cape Malay shrimp curry were both hits (the latter was paired with naan and I could not stop dipping it in the sauce). A dining partner agreed that this was some of the best food aboard Disney Cruise Line and that specifically the spiced tomato-braised lamb was the best she had had at any Disney rotational dining. On my second visit, my thoughts remained the same for these star lineups.
When it came time for dessert, there was a safe (and adorable) zebra sundae, but I was wowed by the milk tart that paired a sweet short bread crust with cinnamon-spiced custard. It was delicate with just the right amount of sweetness. For drink pairings, there’s themed cocktails that use African spirits and a line-up of South African wines.
A note on spice levels: I have a high tolerance for spice and didn’t find anything to be spicy, but instead flavor-packed. For kids looking to play it safe, there’s simple bites, like mini cheeseburgers.
On longer sailings, a second themed menu will be offered.
The show
“Hakuna Matata!”
Everyone knows the story of “The Lion King,” so the creative team’s challenge was in creating something different from the many ways it’s been experienced around the world. To do so, Disney set out to recreate a traditional African boma, a sort of family-focused, communal gathering spot to dine and socialize with live music and storytelling. I have experienced an authentic boma in South Africa and think they nailed it at sea.
African storytellers, singers, drummers and dancers took to the stage dressed in traditional garb playing authentic instruments. The show shared Simba’s journey with familiar favorites performed, like “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” and a show-stopping “Circle of Life.” There are also numbers from other incarnations of “The Lion King,” including a moving rendition of “He Lives in You,” which originated in the 1995 album “Rhythm of the Pride Lands” and was later used in the movie’s sequel and Broadway show. An original song, “Serengeti Rain,” was also created exclusively for the restaurant. Performances are live with some enhanced background work, including vocals from the South African Broadway cast members of “The Lion King.“
It served all the nostalgic feels. And my table couldn’t help but sing and dance along in our seats. This is not background music, but a full-blown Simba-fueled concert. The entire production was very high energy and lively (something to keep in mind if anyone in your party has sensory issues). I do believe seating matters for this show. On my second visit, I had a stage side seat with impeccable views, which engaged me more than my first visit where I was seated further out.
Final thoughts on Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King
The food alone is a major reason why I can’t wait to dine at Pride Lands again. Flavors were bold but felt familiar, and there was more than one dish that wowed. Hands down, it was some of the best, most well executed dishes I’ve had on any Disney ship.
Another standout was the space itself: it felt alive. And that’s in part thanks to the special effects and lighting technologies used. Architecture was a crucial part of the storytelling and tied it all together. There was so much thoughtful detailing that went into every aspect of the space; I really enjoyed exploring. After far as setting, it’s the most immersive, detailed yet for any of Disney’s dinner shows at sea.
The performances were no doubt incredible, and it was ever apparent the length Disney went to in creating an authentic African experience that celebrated the beloved soundtrack while feeling fresh and new (no easy feat, I might add). We were transported to the Savanna while cruising the ocean!
With that being said, there might be a disconnect between the show and kiddie cruisers. It’s a sophisticated production that maybe lacks the whimsy, playful nature of Disney Cruise Line’s other dinner shows. (I’ll never forget the pure euphoria I experienced at Tiana’s Palace when I paraded around the room to a rollicking rendition of “Dig A Little Deeper” with jazz-loving alligator Louis: it’s a core memory.) I’m not sure if something like puppets, used in other adaptations of “The Lion King,” are the answer (and Disney made it clear they wanted to steer away from that for this). During our dinner, kids in attendance did seem to be engaged with an interactive menu that encouraged play and craft.
No doubt Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King was a lofty undertaking to pull off, seamlessly blending the sounds, sights, and flavors of Africa with a story so well-known and beloved. And the amount of heart and soul poured into this experience was palpable. It’s absolutely a highlight of Disney Destiny and not something to skip.
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