Greetings, friends from across the multiverse! Join us as we give a full tour and review of Worlds of Marvel restaurant on the Disney Wish and the current “Quantum Encounter” show featuring Ant-Man, The Wasp, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, and Captain Marvel. If it feels like there is a growing number of Marvel restaurants at Disney properties around the world, it’s because there is: PYM Kitchen, Stark Factory, Pym Test Kitchen, and Shawarma Palace among them. In total, this sailing version is one of the more disappointing experiences in the Marvel themed entertainment multiverse.
Exterior
Outside the restaurant are two giant murals of Marvel heroes. One features The Wasp, Iron Man, Black Widow, and the beloved Black Panther.
The other mural features Spider-Man, Ant-Man, Captain Marvel, and Captain America (Steve Rogers).
Interior
The hall to the restaurant is lined with hexagons and a large Worlds of Marvel sign. The metal doors at the end feature the Avengers “A.”
The meal is themed around a technology showcase, so the logos for companies such as the Worldwide Engineering Brigade (as seen at Avengers Campus), Pym Technologies, Stark Industries, and more can be found.
Inside on the ceiling is a large lit-up arc reactor.
The hexagons continue inside in glowing blue. Other technological-looking designs can be found around the restaurant as well.
The tables are pre-set with glasses, burgundy cloth napkins, metal plates and flatware, and a drink menu. At the center of each table is a Quantum Core. The number on the base of each core corresponds with your assigned table number.
The table is set with Avengers plates and silverware as well as a Quantum Core.
The metal plate has the Avengers symbol.
The flatware also has tiny Avengers symbols at the ends.
The Quantum Core glows with a honeyed light. There’s a set of buttons on each that guests can interact with throughout the show.
The salt and pepper shaker is interesting…
The Quantum Encounter
The presentation kicks off with a Disneyland reference. “Miracles from Molecules” was the theme song for Adventure Thru Inner Space, which closed in 1985 to make way for Star Tours. The Sherman Brothers’ song can be heard in a new orchestration during the presentation as well. This is the highlight of the meal for Disney fans.
Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne are here to show us how the Quantum Cores at our tables can be used in conjunction with the regulator on their lab table to make things shrink or enlarge.
Scott first wants to address the, um… well, the theory that he should have shrunk down and entered Thanos’ body before increasing his size in order to kill him from within.
For the demonstration, Scott wants to shrink down his suitcase, so it fits under the bed in his stateroom, as well as a towel swan he crafted. This could be a reference to a similar bit in the former Honey, I Shrunk the Audience attraction.
It does not go according to plan.
A Spider-Bot with a Wasp tactical upgrade can be seen.
More mishaps occur, prompting silliness from Scott and snark from Hope (don’t miss another “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” reference).
Captain America arrives after detecting a large energy signature in the area, and he brings Ms. Marvel along for the ride.
The Wish is under attack from Ultron and his army of robots.
Ms. Marvel does not follow the posted safety warnings.
We won’t spoil the full show, but backup does arrive.
Captain Marvel swings in to lend a hand, before being pulled away to deal with Kree missiles (in a reference to Avengers Assemble: Flight Force at Disneyland Paris).
Watch the full Quantum Encounter show in our video below.
A majority of the show takes place on screens, and when it isn’t happening, there are clips of technology from Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and Disney+ shows. Sadly, the physical appearance of any characters is held until the end and lasts just a few moments. Many guests in the crowd were expecting a dinner show, but instead got something more akin to Sci-Fi Dine-In or 50’s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where you watch a screen during your meal. While the Quantum Core is fun to play with and the show itself is very well written, it does come off as a strange choice that left a number of guests disappointed. Sadly, things only get worse with the food…
Worlds of Marvel Menu
The front of the menu is embossed with a golden Avengers “A” symbol.
The menu is themed to the technology showcase, and most of the dishes are inspired by Marvel locales such as Wakanda and Ta Lo.
Bread Service
Marble Loaf with Red Bell Pepper Dipping Sauce
The low ceiling and hard surfaces of the restaurant lead to a loud environment, so I thought I heard our server say he had brought us a “Marvel loaf”. Once we broke into it, I felt pretty dumb as it was obviously a marble loaf. Sadly, the bread was dry and lacked flavor. The red bell pepper dipping sauce was a highlight, though, as it was sweet and creamy with a nice roasted flavor, a delicious accompaniment for lackluster bread service.
Showcase Apps
Smoked Salmon (Stark Industries)
Minneola, English Cucumber, Crème fraîche, Dill, Chive, Salmon Caviar
I hope you like cream cheese and salmon because that is what this tastes like. Seeing as it is Crème fraîche, the texture is much smoother than cream cheese, but the dill and chive really create the flavor profile. Obviously, this comes across as more of a brunch item than a dinner one, but it ended up being one of the more edible options of the evening. The salmon was fresh and not overly fishy.
Steamed Bao Buns (W.E.B.)
Seared Ginger Orange Pork Belly, Toasted Sesame Seeds, Pickled Daikon, Spring Onions, Mirin Soy Honey Glaze
The bao bun is fine, but there’s nothing remarkable about it. It wasn’t the best piece of pork quality-wise, nor was it very sizable. The bun itself wasn’t prepared perfectly and was perhaps undercooked.
Hearts of Palm Ceviche (Wakanda Design Group)
Tamarillo, Sweet Potato, Purple Onion, Lime, Cilantro, Bell Pepper, Infinity Stone Popcorn
Based on our experience, vegans will likely love this dish, while anyone else might be confused by the offering. The sauce lacks a lot of flavor, but the vegetables were very fresh and cut into nicely-sized pieces. It is a rather small portion, but you could always ask for more of anything while at dinner on Disney Cruise Line.
Crispy Breaded Fried Shrimp (Pym Technologies)
White Cheddar and Corn Grits, Bell Peppers, Collard Greens, Smokehouse Barbecue Sauce
Another unremarkable dish. The quality is probably about what I could accomplish given a frozen shrimp at home, but the accompaniments were a step above. I would probably ask for a bowl of the grits alone if it was possible, but my taste buds may have gone askew given the low quality of a majority of this meal.
Wakandan Salads
Heirloom Tomato Salad
Escarole, Arugula, Purple Onion, Black Beans, Blue and Red Corn Chips, Parsley, Bearss Lime
Another vegan option, this one is rather dull. It’s overly dressed, but the ingredients are fresh enough. The presence of the corn chips is odd and does nothing to elevate the dish.
Iceberg Wedge
Candied Pecans, Smoked Bacon Lardons, Black and Globe Radish, Maytag Blue Cheese
This was awful. Very little of the lettuce was an acceptable quality for a luxury cruise, the presentation was messy, and the dish overall lacked any items of interest.
From the Sokovian Kettle
“Kartoffelsuppe”
Creamed Potato Soup, Carrots, Celery, Knockwurst, Thyme
Not the best version of a potato soup I have had, but perfectly enjoyable. It was quite creamy, well seasoned, and chock full of bacon.
Cream of Porcini Mushroom Soup
Sour Cream, Red Beet, Lemon
There was not enough cream, nor enough mushrooms in this soup. Mediocre is how I would best describe this, again, well below what would be expected standards for such an experience.
Entrées Assemble
Berbere Spiced Pork Chop (Wakanda)
Wakandan Vegetable Pilau, Pomegranate, Red Pepper Sauce, Rainbow Chard, Roasted Scallion
One thing I can say without a doubt about Disney Cruise Line is that the Cast Members are among the best in the industry. What I really love about the service staff is they are always honest and will tell you what they think is good and what they think is not, which is sometimes frowned upon at Walt Disney World restaurants. Our serving team went out of our way to tell us NOT to order the pork chop, but for the sake of the review and your awareness, here we are.
Honestly, it was the driest, most over-cooked piece of meat we have ever been served in a Disney restaurant, so take the server’s word for it.
Chicken Schnitzel (Sokovia)
Panko-crusted Chicken Breast, Butter Sautéed Potatoes, Caramelized Onions, Long Green Beans, Lemon, Anchovy, Capers
This is probably my favorite of the entrees, which isn’t a great proclamation given the fact that it is just a fried chicken breast. It is covered in a nicely seasoned Panko-crusting, and the breast itself was moist and delicious, as well as offered in a filling portion size. This dish is probably intended for picky eaters, but it ended up being one of the few items I would order again if I had to eat here.
Seared Turbot Filet (New Asgard)
Sweet Pea Purée, Roasted Heirloom Carrots, Romanesco, Pancetta, Tarragon Sandefjord Sauce
While labeled as turbot, it was so poorly prepared that we couldn’t tell if it was or wasn’t. The accompaniments did little to save the dry, under-seasoned fish.
Golden Mystic Pasta (Kamar-Taj)
Caramelized Scallops, Angel Hair, Chardonnay Lemon Saffron Cream, Roasted Vine Tomatoes, Savoy Spinach
This is covered in a gross, unidentifiable cream sauce which was separating (as you can see in the pic). Meanwhile, the pasta was gummy in texture, and the scallops were gritty. I would call this the Tony’s dish of the sea.
Delmonico Rib-eye Steak with Black Truffle Butter (Madripoor)
Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes, Green Asparagus, Carbernet Reduction
It was perfectly fine: cooked correctly, sizable, and the accompaniments were solid offerings as well.
Vegetarian
Ricotta Gnocchi (Wakanda)
Fontina Cheese, Caramelized Grape Tomato Confit, Broccoli Rabe, Arugula Pesto
In the 15 years of WDWNT, I have eaten some truly horrible theme park dishes, but I never expected that one of the top 10 most disgusting I would ever review would be on a Disney cruise. The dish was slimy, with what felt like a glue-like consistency. It was also gritty as if it was reheated, but the worst part of all was the taste. The flavor came across so artificial in nature that it felt like perhaps we were ingesting chemicals. On top of that, the broccoli rabe was the least fresh vegetable I have ever had in my entire life.
Shiitake and Tofu Udon (Ta Lo)
Udon Noodles, Baby Bok Choy, Tofu, Red Onions, Kombu, Enoki Mushrooms, Miso Shiitake Broth
It’s nice that this is on the menu as it’s a break from the style of the rest of the menu, but the broth tasted like dishwater. The noodles were very undercooked, and the tofu was particularly bland (even for tofu). The provided condiments do little to save it other than adding sweetened and spice, all of which do little to repair the inedible dish. If cooked properly, this could be a good offering, so here’s hoping they figure it out.
Lighter Note
Lamb Shawarma Salad (Shawarma Palace NYC)
Slow-roasted Cumin spiced pulled Lamb Leg in mini Pitas, with Iceberg, Endive, Romaine Lettuce, Sumac Onions, Vine Tomatoes, Pickled Red Cabbage, Roasted Chickpeas, Cucumber, and Lemon Yogurt Dressing
While available on some of the other ships and at the other restaurants on this boat as well, it’s a solid healthier option. The lamb is a little dry, but it is lean. Overall, it’s a little underdressed, but it might be better than a majority of options on the Worlds of Marvel menu.
Dessert Menu
The dessert menu is cutely themed as a “top secret” manila folder containing Pym Technologies secrets.
The case file has schematics for the quantum core. There are several notes relating to the function, but most concerning is the unsolved equation with a note to ask Hank Pym.
A hidden Mickey?
The item descriptions are written on “sticky notes” and feature commentary from Scott Lang.
“Shrunken” Brownie Bites
Something done right, seemingly once the chefs realized that very few of the dishes were themed to the restaurant. A bowl of tiny brownies was brought out prior to the desserts. These were slightly above a pre-packaged, grocery store item level of taste and freshness, making them instantly one of the highlights of a rather poor meal.
Subatomic Sticky Date Pudding
Salted Coconut Macaroon, Balsamic Caramel Glaze, Vanilla Ice Cream
This was probably the highlight of Worlds of Marvel on the culinary side. It’s exactly what you would want it to be: sticky and very sweet, moist cake smothered in caramel. The ice cream offsets everything nicely for a winning combination.
Quantum Key Lime Pie
Key Lime Curd, Raspberry Gel, Whipped Lime Ganache
This was too sweet and not tart enough for what it is supposed to be. We would not recommend it.
Nano Dobos Torta
Layered Cake, Rich Chocolate Truffle Cream, Caramel
It was forgettable, a rather standard chocolate and caramel dessert that is very one note in taste.
Wakanda Flourless Chocolate Beetroot Cake
Chocolate Beetroot Cake, Pepper Crème, Milk Chocolate Soil
We found the cake to be dry and pretty gross, despite a very pleasant presentation.
Cheesecake Byte
Fresh Berries, Strawberry Jelly, Whipped Cream
A marvel-ous dessert! It was creamy and dense, a really fantastic cheesecake topped with very fresh, high quality fruit. The graham cracker crust was thick enough to offer a nice crunch and added flavor to each bite.
Pym Doughnut Sundae
Dulce de Leche Ice Cream, Pecan Brownie, Caramel Fudge Sauce, Chocolate Glazed Mini-doughnut, Whipped Cream
Again seemingly aimed at picky eaters, each table service restaurant on the Wish offers a unique sundae. Ice cream does feel like a cruise staple, so they feel right at home here, and this seems to be the most themed dessert at the restaurant featuring a “shrunken” doughnut on top. It won’t change your life, but who doesn’t like a brownie sundae? The dulce de leche ice cream is a nice touch, and the doughnut was fresh enough. All-in-all, it was a perfectly enjoyable treat.
Drinks
Aesthetically, the drink menu is a thinner version of the main menu book.
Am I the only one that wants Marvel Coke bottles with these soda labels?
Quantum Core Sipper Drink – $20
Vanilla Ice Cream, Simply Mango Pineapple, Pop Rocks
This is intended to come in the Quantum Core Sipper, but initially, we were told they didn’t have them. Later, they magically found a bunch of them, but it does offer a chance to see the drink inside.
It’s a perfectly enjoyable shake with mango and pineapple flavoring, as you might expect.
Widow’s Bite – $10
Scapegrace Gin, Fever Tree Indian Tonic
Not a bad cocktail, but perhaps a little too sweet for a gin and tonic drink.
The Stinger – $12
Zignum Mezcal Reposado, Blueberry, Grapefruit
The sweetness of the blueberry puree completely masked the grapefruit, and it definitely muted the smokiness of the mezcal. It’s a good enough drink if you don’t want the expected mezcal taste, but if you were expecting it, this will be a disappointment. The giant, sugary lollipop swizzle stick is a nice touch.
Wakanda Tasting Lab (Drink Trio) – $20
Starr Rum 7 Yrs, Vusa Vodka, Bayab Gin
A taste of cocktails developed by Wakanda Design Group mixologists, using ingredients cultivated on Mount Bashenga.
Purely a gimmick for the indecisive, there’s nothing that really ties these beverages together. Again, every sit-down restaurant in the Disney Wish dining rotation has one of these, so it felt forced in some venues, this being one of them. On top of that, they all had the wrong garnishes in them.
They were, in total, all unremarkable; I wouldn’t recommend getting them. If you can make it through dinner without a cocktail, I’d hold out for a trip to Keg & Compass or another of the ship’s fantastic bars.
Quantum Core Souvenir Sipper – $20
Here is the aforementioned Quantum Core Sipper that is supposed to come with the milkshake drink. This was probably the coolest souvenir we bought on the ship and made me actually glad that I suffered through the food here.
When lit, it’s a really cool replica you can take home.
Overall
I love Ant-Man and The Wasp; in fact, that film is one of my favorites in the entire MCU, so I was very excited for this experience. While the film portion was very funny and charming, I could’ve watched it on Disney+ and had the same enjoyment. It’s a great little film, but it does little to make for an immersive dinner experience on a cruise ship. This, on top of the most terrible or forgettable menu, led to the lowest point of the cruise for us. Thankfully, both Arendelle and 1923 were enjoyable and made up for this experience aboard the Disney Wish.
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