Review: Pride Lands – Feast of the Lion King on Disney Destiny
Disney Destiny brings several firsts to the Disney Cruise Line fleet, but nothing is quite as ambitious—or as talked about—as Pride Lands – Feast of the Lion King. This dining room is unique to Disney Destiny, blending a full theatrical show with an adventurous, African-inspired menu and immersive theming straight out of the Pride Lands.
If you are unfamiliar with the Disney Destiny - read our full guide and review here.
If you’re trying to decide whether it’s worth the hype, here’s our honest, experience-based review.
Watch our full dining experience here:
What Is Pride Lands – Feast of the Lion King?
Pride Lands is one of the ship’s three rotational dining restaurants and the only one with a dedicated Lion King dinner show. While you eat, the story unfolds through live singing, percussion, dance, and narration. It isn’t a full retelling of the movie—it’s more of a musical celebration built around the film’s most iconic moments.
Atmosphere & Décor
The restaurant is huge, which immediately gives it a very different feel from the more intimate spaces on the rest of the ship.
What We Loved
Beautiful theme work: textured surfaces, Pride Rock-inspired stone, carved details, woven elements, and stylised animal motifs.
Lighting used as storytelling: warm sunrise tones, dramatic dusk shades, and cool night-time colours that shift with each chapter of the show.
A grand, immersive space that really leans into the world of The Lion King.
What Didn’t Work as Well
It’s loud. On our first night onboard, it was difficult to get to know our servers because of how noisy and busy the space was.
The pacing feels rushed due to the show timing, which won’t suit everyone.
Depending on your seat, you may have a limited view.
Concierge guests get preferred seating, so non-Concierge guests might not have the best sightlines.
The theming is genuinely impressive, but don’t expect a quiet or relaxing dinner—it’s very much a high-energy space.
The Menu at Pride Lands
One of the biggest surprises here is how ambitious the menu is for Disney Cruise Line. It leans into African-inspired flavours while still offering familiar options.
Our Notes on the Menu
We found spice levels are extremely mild, even on dishes that sound bold.
We liked a lot of the flavours (coming from the UK, we’re used to Peri Peri thanks to Nando’s), but some guests may find the dishes a little exotic.
There’s a good balance between adventurous items and safe classics.
Full Menu
Bread Service
Mosbolletjies Bread – Mint Coriander-Cumin Yogurt Dip
Appetizers
Curried Apricot Chicken Sosaties – Grilled Chicken Skewers, Tri-color Quinoa Pilaf, Red Chermoula (GF, DF)
Kiara’s Black-Eyed Pea Hummus – Matbucha, Carrot-Green Mango Atchar, Toasted Tiger Bread
Peri-Peri Shrimp – Chili-Garlic Shrimp, Creamy Boerenkaas Pap, Toasted Corn, Peri-Peri Sauce (GF)
Pumbaa’s Cocktail Ya Matunda – Passion Fruit, Pear, Pineapple, Cantaloupe, Coconut, Guava, Coriander-Chili Bear Lime Dressing (GF, plant-based)
Romaine Heart – Cucumber, Tomato, Onion, Mint, Parsley, Radish, Sumac Yogurt Dressing, Pita Sippets
Green Papaya Salad – Long Beans, Red Chili, Peanuts, Grape Tomatoes, Palm Sugar-Lime Dressing (plant-based)
Sweet Potato, Lentil and Coconut Soup – Pumpernickel Croutons
Roasted Red Capsicum Soup – Pão Bread Crostini, Sun-dried Tomato Sofrito
Entrées
Signature & Adventurous
Pan-seared Corvina – Yam Purée, Shiraz-braised Pulled Oxtail, Crisp Shallots (GF)
Pan-seared Berbere Spiced Roasted Chicken – Tomato-Red Pepper Rice, Fried Plantains, Blistered Tomatoes, Green Harissa (GF, DF)
Ras el Hanout Spiced Tomato-braised Lamb Shank – Bulgur Wheat, Mint, Spinach, Summer Squash, Pomegranate Arils (DF)
Baked Mushroom and Lentil Bobotie – Masala Lentils, Soufflé Topping, Turmeric-Raisin Rice (Vegetarian)
Cape Malay Shrimp Curry – Coconut Curry Sauce, Basmati Rice, Cucumber Sambal, Butter Roti
Vegetable Tagine – Slow Cooked Zucchini, Garbanzo Beans, Eggplant, Olive, Dried Cherries, Tomato Broth
More Familiar Options
Roasted Prime Rib of Beef – Loaded Baked Potato, Broccolini, Carrots (GF)
Sarabi’s Roasted Beef Tenderloin Salad – Halloumi, Artichokes, Garbanzo Beans, Spinach, Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette (GF)
Grilled Grain-fed Sirloin Steak – Baked Potato, Asparagus (GF, DF)
Roasted Breast of Chicken – Red Quinoa Tabbouleh, Baby Carrots (GF, DF)
Oven Baked Filet of Salmon – Jasmine Rice, Bok Choy (GF, DF)
Desserts
Warm Chocolate Malva Pudding – Apricot Jam, Cream Sauce, Vanilla Ice Cream
Creamsicle Cheesecake
Passion Fruit Layer Cake
Milk Tart – Cinnamon Custard, Pineapple Compote
Ice Cream Sundae
Zebra Sundae – Cookies ’n Cream Ice Cream, Chocolate Wafer Cookies, Fudge Sauce
No Sugar Added
Coffee Crème Dome – Lady Fingers, Kahlua Espresso, Mascarpone
What We Ate (Our Honest Take on Each Dish)
We tried a good range of dishes so we could get a proper feel for what Pride Lands is aiming for. Some were lovely, some less so, and a few sat somewhere in between.
Mosbolletjies Bread with Mint Coriander-Cumin Yogurt Dip
Soft bread, but the yoghurt dip felt strange and out of place—more suited to a curry than a bread starter. We’d have preferred butter.
Curried Apricot Chicken Sosaties
A pleasant dish with tender chicken and a gentle sweetness. A nice, safe start to the meal.
Kiara’s Black-Eyed Pea Hummus
Underseasoned and a bit mismatched. The bread was great on its own but didn’t pair well with the hummus.
Peri-Peri Shrimp
One of the dishes we enjoyed the most. Plenty of flavour, very mild warmth, and everything on the plate worked well together.
Sweet Potato, Lentil and Coconut Soup
Thick, sweet, and comforting. A solid soup.
Roasted Red Capsicum Soup
Genuinely tasty—sweet, tangy, and nicely seasoned. The crostini was a bit soggy, but the soup itself was very good.
Entrées We Tried
Pan-Seared Berbere Spiced Roasted Chicken
Well cooked with good flavour. More paprika than heat, but enjoyable and a good choice.
Ras el Hanout Spiced Lamb Shank
Tender and rich with a warm, comforting sauce. A reliable, tasty option.
Cape Malay Shrimp Curry
A bit disappointing. Thin sauce, very mild flavour, plain rice, and a thick roti. Not bad, but lacking the depth the dish usually has.
Sarabi’s Roasted Beef Tenderloin Salad
Looked great and offered something different. The beef was good, but the dressing was quite bland, so the dish didn’t fully come together.
Desserts
Warm Chocolate Malva Pudding
The best dessert of the night. Warm, rich, and really satisfying.
Milk Tart
Mild and slightly bland — not bad, just not memorable.
Ice Cream Sundae
Zebra Sundae
A classic. Ours arrived melted, so it was more like a milkshake, but still tasty.
Pride Lands Dinner Show
The Show – The Best Dinner Show on Disney Cruise Line
The show features a small but talented cast:
Two singers
Two drummers
One dancer
One percussionist
Despite the small cast, the performances are excellent — especially the female vocalist. The music is easier to follow than Coco and less child-focused than Frozen, making it appealing to a wider audience.
Show Segments
Circle of Life
I Just Can’t Wait to Be King
Hakuna Matata / The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Endless Nights
Sunrise
We Are One
Dance Interlude
Shadowland
Can You Feel the Love Tonight
He Lives in You
Circle of Life (Reprise)
A brilliant mix of upbeat and emotional moments.
Final Thoughts — Is Pride Lands Worth It?
Yes — as long as you know what you’re walking into. Pride Lands is:
Loud
Busy
Fast-paced
Absolutely packed with energy
But it’s also:
Beautifully themed
Home to the best dinner show on the ship
More adventurous than typical Disney dining
A memorable experience from start to finish
