There isn’t a lot of firsthand information available online about Olaf’s Royal Picnic aboard the Disney Wish. That’s why I am SO excited to be able to share my family’s experience at this exclusive event!
What Olaf’s Picnic Is
Completely exclusive to the Disney Wish, Olaf’s Royal Picnic is a highly coveted onboard event. It is not available on Disney’s newer ships like the Treasure or Destiny, even though they are the Wish’s sister ships.
During the picnic, attendees are served finger foods and desserts. You get to enjoy a special show featuring favorite Frozen characters in an all-new story! The children are also presented with a bunch of rare merchandise.
If you’re wondering whether adults can book Olaf’s Royal Picnic without kids, the answer is a very firm NO. You have to have a child between the ages of 3 and 12 to attend this experience. The good news is that the whole family can attend with that child!
How to Get Tickets to Olaf’s Royal Picnic
As a first-time cruiser, I went bonkers the day I finally booked Olaf’s Royal Picnic. When my booking window opened for our Disney Wish cruise, we got last pick after more experienced cruisers. So naturally, this experience was already sold out. According to our cruise’s Facebook group, it had been sold out since Platinum cruisers could book.
But I am not so easily defeated! I kept checking the DCL Navigator app several times every day leading up to our cruise to see if any spots opened up. Lo and behold, one evening while waiting for our food at Applebee’s, the button appeared to make a reservation! And to my astonishment, I was able to book all four members of my family to attend. The event immediately said “Sold Out” again when I was done.
This all happened about two and a half weeks before we were scheduled to set sail. So if there aren’t any spots available when you go to reserve the experience, don’t give up hope!
Number of Attendees
When we actually attended Olaf’s Royal Picnic, I counted fewer than 20 families in the restaurant. I’ve read that as many as 30 families were present at other picnics, which means the number is likely based on the total number of people rather than the total number of groups. If larger families book tables first, that probably reduces the number of reservations left.
Since there are over 1200 staterooms available on the Disney Wish, this puts the Royal Picnic in “top tier” exclusivity for a Disney-related event.
The Price Tag
There’s a hefty cost associated with Olaf’s Picnic, no doubt about that. Currently, children between the ages of 3 and 12 are $250 each, while everyone older than that is $75 per person. Children 13 to 17 years old can attend, but they do not get any gifts. Teenagers can’t take their younger siblings alone – at least one adult 18 or over must be present.
What to Wear to Olaf’s Royal Picnic
My family and I did not go beyond “cruise casual” to attend the picnic. My daughter was the exception, as she chose to wear her white Frozen 2 Elsa dress. It happened to be the same one Elsa wore on the ship! Many other families were dressed in a similar fashion, with lots of polos, t-shirts, and shorts all around.
That being said, I don’t think it would hurt to dress up a bit for this experience if you have the chance. In the beginning, Dags walks around the room to each table. At one point, she commented on how so many people were “dressed for the occasion.” To me, this implied that such a special occasion might warrant a special outfit. But there is no strict dress code to attend the Royal Picnic, other than the usual rule of avoiding bathing suits and coverups in the main dining rooms.
Entering Arendelle
It should be no surprise that Olaf’s Royal Picnic takes place in Arendelle, the new Frozen-themed restaurant aboard the Disney Wish. However, guests who have previously eaten dinner in Arendelle will notice that the space is slightly transformed during the picnic! Our Disney Wish dining rotation had us in Arendelle the previous night, so we definitely noticed the changes.
Tons (and tons) of summer flowers and colorful streamers adorn the space, from the entry sign and columns to the chandelier above the stage in the middle of the venue.
The tables used for the picnic are also covered in classic red-and-white checkered picnic-style covers. Sunflower-and-bee centerpieces rest on each table, too.
Characters in Olaf’s Royal Picnic
The characters featured in the picnic are similar to those featured in the nightly dinner show in Arendelle. That said, things were a little different on our cruise! We saw Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff at both dinner and the Royal Picnic. Oaken, while our favorite character at dinner, does not make an appearance at the picnic.
However, a totally *new* character named Dagmar Birgir – we call her Dags – kicks off the special event. She introduces herself as Anna’s childhood best friend and current lady-in-waiting to Queen Anna.
Now obviously Olaf’s Royal Picnic wouldn’t be right without the title character Olaf present! Rather than a cast member inside an oversized Olaf costume, we got to experience a sensational animatronic Olaf that’s steered around the restaurant atop a serving cart.
Not only is the Olaf puppet fabulously made, but it is also still voiced by the unmistakable Josh Gad!
Olaf’s Unpredictable Appearances
Here’s the thing. For our cruise, seeing Olaf at the picnic was extra special because it was the only time we ever saw him. I’ve learned since then, however, that he is also usually present at the dinner shows each night! His availability is apparently based on how finicky the Olaf animatronic is at any given time.
In fact, our Royal Picnic was originally scheduled for the first day of the cruise (at sea) but was pushed to the Nassau day. We found out this is because they had to get a new Olaf ashore after the previous one had fallen off the cart! This could be why the attendance at our picnic seemed particularly low if some families canceled last minute in favor of pre-booked excursions in Nassau.
We presume the Disney Wish chose not to include Olaf in the dinner shows for the last two nights of our cruise so that guests who missed him the first two nights wouldn’t feel cheated. Fair enough. All that said, it would appear the Disney Wish also has a full-sized Olaf costume that is used for Frozen events in the Oceaneer Club as well as the dinner show and Olaf’s Royal Picnic. Sometimes.
Honestly, we’ll never know the rhyme or reason behind why sometimes the costume is used, sometimes the animatronic, and sometimes nothing at all. Just cross your fingers and hope for the best!
Food and Desserts Served
There is no menu to choose your treats from. Instead, there is an excellent selection of sandwiches, pastries, and desserts brought to the table, with enough on each plate for everyone to enjoy. Because there was no menu, I can’t tell you with 100% certainty what was in any of the stuff we ate. But I can tell you what I think we were served, to the best of my ability!
Drinks
Everyone gets a drink. Children are offered lemonade or water, while adults are offered tea or water. I’m sure if I’d wanted lemonade or my child had wanted tea, though, we would’ve been accommodated.
Snacks
First of all, there were four types of finger sandwiches. This is what I tasted:
- Tuna salad
- Egg salad
- Cream cheese and (finely diced) cucumber
- Salami and cream cheese (I’m least sure about this one)
There were also slices of small tortilla wraps filled with ham, cheese, and a condiment, which may have been a seasoned mayonnaise. This was my favorite non-dessert item! We also received scones filled with fresh berries and drizzled with royal icing.
Desserts
Once we finished our finger foods, we were brought an equal amount of desserts! The first was like a combination of a brownie and custard, though the custard was firm on top and the bottom tasted more like cookie dough. It was great!
We also had creme-filled cookie sandwiches heavily dusted in powdered sugar and in the shape of Mickey’s head. A fruity red jam was smeared on the inside of the cookies, and they were heavenly.
But my absolute favorite dessert of the picnic HAD to be the one that, at first glance, appeared to be an ice cream bar.
It’s not an ice cream bar. While it may sound odd, once you bite through the white chocolate coating, your teeth will sink into the most delicious carrot cake bar you’ve ever had in your life. Trust me, even if you’re not a carrot cake fan, you will be blown away by these bars. They are dense, moist, sweet, and just… YUM!
Specialty Treats
My children were each given a special dessert that my husband and I weren’t, and that was the ice cupcakes.
While my kids didn’t eat much of them, I simply didn’t have room left to try one myself after eating everything else (whoops). But I could tell they were chocolate cupcakes with a massive heap of bright white buttercream on top and a white chocolate Olaf stuck on top.
What Happens at Olaf’s Royal Picnic
During the picnic, several favorite songs are performed by Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Dags, and even Olaf, including:
- “In Summer”
- “Fixer Upper” – featuring the Rock Trolls!
- “Let it Go”
- “Reindeer(s) are Better Than People”
Kristoff even gets the kids to help him perform his reindeer song with the help of their new mandolins, which is really cute.
I want to note, though, that while Elsa is sometimes singing live at other Disney parks and shows, she is most definitely lip-syncing to Idina Menzel at the picnic.
The show also includes a brand-new storyline. I don’t want to spoil the ending for those who hope to attend (you can contact me if you want the spoilers). But it involves a special surprise for Olaf! After the picnic, each family gets several minutes with Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff to chat, hug, get autographs, and take pictures. DCL will take photos, but you are welcome to use your phone as well.
Olaf’s Royal Picnic Souvenirs
The good news about the exorbitant cost of this experience is that the kids do go home with a ton of keepsake gifts. All of it is specially labeled with “Olaf’s Royal Picnic,” making it truly rare Disney merch. These are the items they receive:
- A nice, large cinch bag featuring Olaf’s face
- An Olaf baseball cap
- A domed drink tumbler with a twisty straw
- A plush rock that literally transforms into a rock troll
- A woven necklace made with magic crystals
- A mandolin with an attached pick
- An activity book with crayons, stickers, and punch-outs
- A fleece picnic blanket that folds up for carrying
Only the children ages 3 to 12 attending the Royal Picnic are presented with gifts. Naturally, this is why their ticket prices for the event are so much higher. 13- to 17-year-olds are charged the adult price because they don’t get the swag. Womp womp.
Another gift that was not advertised is a special leather-bound photo print of our kids with Kristoff, Anna, and Elsa after the show! We received two (one per child) and found them on our stateroom bed later that day. You receive this whether or not you’ve purchased the photo package.
We also got the digital photographs, but we had purchased the unlimited photo package ahead of time.
Is Olaf’s Royal Picnic Worth It?
This is a very subjective question, but my personal answer is that Olaf’s Royal Picnic is 100% worth the cost. Here’s why.
Exclusivity
The picnic only happens once per cruise, the number of attendees is kept extremely low, and this show only happens on the Disney Wish. Disney doesn’t get much more exclusive than that.
Content
The show itself is really cute and well thought out. The animatronic Olaf, if you’re lucky enough to meet him, is astounding. And there’s another… version… of Olaf I don’t want to give away, but I was thoroughly shocked and entertained by its appearance!
Swag
The sheer volume of gifts is very much worth the ticket price when you consider how much the items would normally be priced individually. Add the fact that they are specifically branded to the picnic, and you’ve got yourself some high-value merch to take home. I am not one to re-sell these types of precious goodies, but you could easily get your money back by selling them on eBay.
Memories
The looks on my kids’ faces throughout all of it were priceless. They marveled at each and every gift they were handed. Olaf and the rock trolls had them mesmerized. When Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff each came by our table, they were visibly twitchy and excited.
Those Carrot Cake Bars
I’m kidding… sort of. Listen, the reality is that your kids probably won’t eat half of what’s served at the picnic. If you want to get your money’s worth out of the food, you’ll probably have to eat it all yourself. But I would’ve eaten all of the carrot cake bars if I’d had the stomach space.
With all of that said, we are very much a Disney family. Both of my children were already fans of Frozen. For us, this made the experience feel extra cool. If you’re cruising with Disney more for the luxury and less for the characters or merchandise, then you might want to leave the picnic reservations to someone who will thoroughly appreciate them.
Tips for Olaf’s Royal Picnic
Here’s what I wish I’d known before we attended the Royal Picnic!
Book Concierge
Book a concierge room if this is a MUST-DO for you. I wish I was kidding, but the reality is that the Wish has more concierge rooms than any other DCL ship, and concierge cruisers get first dibs on just about everything – including Olaf’s Royal Picnic.
Concierge is a LOT more expensive – like twice the price of other Disney Wish verandah rooms. I know we couldn’t swing that, no matter how important the picnic was to me. But if you can, go for it!
Don’t Give Up on Reservations
People cancel or change their cruise plans all the time! Plus, Disney might just add a few open tables closer to sailing if the spots have been taken up by larger families. When you get on board, you can also head to Guest Services and ask to be added to the waitlist. You might not get a spot, but they often give some kind of “pixie dust” to waitlist guests they’re unable to accommodate!
Be Flexible
Olaf’s Royal Picnic was moved to a totally different date on our cruise, and it happened at the last minute. If going to the picnic is really important to you, you might need to be prepared to give up other excursions or onboard activities.
Dress Up (A Little)
As mentioned above, we weren’t given any kind of dress code ahead of time. But since this is a very special occasion celebrating Olaf, I don’t think it would hurt to err on the side of fancy! Sundresses and polos would be perfect. It is a picnic, after all!
Go REALLY Hungry
I did NOT expect to be served the volume of food we received. We’d eaten a fairly normal lunch about three hours prior, and I wish we’d just grabbed a snack or skipped lunch completely. While I was able to consume all of the delicious offerings at the picnic, I was hardly hungry for dinner. Fortunately for us, the change of date had the picnic fall on Pirate Night, and that menu is fairly skippable anyway.
Have Extra Luggage Space
Bring an extra carry-on if you’re flying. I was able to shove all of their gifts inside their Olaf cinch bags (they are good-sized bags), but only barely. Carrying them individually counts as two additional personal items on a flight! So taking another suitcase to pack them (and any other souvenirs) in just makes things easier to deal with.
You’ll Meet Frozen Characters Either Way
If you just can’t get into Olaf’s Royal Picnic no matter how hard you try, it’s not the end of the world. You should see meet-and-greets with Anna and Elsa on the schedule for both kids and adults to interact with them throughout the cruise. Oceaneer Club also hosts a “Coronation Celebration” event that usually features Anna, Elsa, AND a costumed Olaf. While adults aren’t allowed to attend, it will give your little ones an opportunity to hang out with their favorite snowman!
But while Kristoff might stop by your table during your dinner at Arendelle, unfortunately, the Royal Picnic is the only way I know of to get some extended one-on-one time with the big lug.
The Royal Court Royal Tea
If all things Frozen aren’t really your family’s thing, you might be wondering if the Royal Tea Party from the four older Disney ships has made its way to the Wish. The short answer is no. Olaf’s Royal Picnic has apparently taken the place of the Royal Tea rather than supplementing it.
In my opinion, this is a great move. The Frozen movies are wildly popular, and Olaf’s picnic is more appealing to both boys and girls. Plus, you still have a chance to meet all of Disney Wish’s available princesses at the Royal Gatherings which are held for a couple of hours once or twice per cruise. When we went to the Royal Court Royal Tea on the Fantasy, we only got to meet three of the five princesses on board anyway.
Final Thoughts
I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to attend Olaf’s Royal Picnic with my children while they are still young enough to really feel the magic. Of course, I feel the magic too, but there’s definitely a “lost period” somewhere between 13 and 22 where we just don’t appreciate Disney as much as we should! Or was that just me?
If all of this has convinced you that you simply MUST go, I wish you all the luck in the world and hope some pixie dust takes you there! Looking for other ways to make your cruise special? I’ve got more info about the Disney Wish!
- Disney Wish Halloween on the High Seas
- Best drinks at the Hyperspace Lounge
- A complete Disney Wish review
- Snorkeling at Castaway Cay is a great way to have some totally free fun!
I just want to know, on what day was the Olaf’s royal picnic at, during your cruise. Did they have it all 3 days or just one of the cruising day?
Hi Marie! Olaf’s Royal Picnic only happens once per cruise, making it an extra-special experience! Ours was supposed to happen on the day at sea (day 2), but it was pushed to Nassau day (day 3) so they could pick up a new Olaf animatronic.
We just attended this event and I read your blog before hand. There were 20 families and we got a good front row table. I’d pay anything for this expensive experience. I won’t do it again, but it was the only reason why I chose “the Wish” for our first cruise. I only went on the ship for this event. It was the best birthday present for me and my 4 year old.
Did you see any children under 3? My son is 4 and my daughter will be almost 3. I know she would love to participate and is more mature than my son. I understand the age restriction but just curious 🙂
Hi Amber! Disney is very strict about age cutoffs and we didn’t see any toddlers at the picnic.
I got lucky by checking back!! I scored a spot for me and my fellow traveler. Thanks for all the info!
Yay! Persistence pays off!!
Hello Everyone,
One note of caution. We just did this experience and had a second row table, and it is not the same experience. You get to watch your child watch other children get the experience first. We were presented food after everyone else. We had to ask if she could say hi to Olaf as he was just going to wave to her, while other kids were high giving him and taking pictures. FYI, we had the Olaf in a big costume. Also the meet and greets during the event were awkward because Anna, Christoff and Elsa had to squeeze between tables and chairs so there were no great video or picture moments because our daughter was on the opposite side of the table. We were highly disappointed. Disney cast members said they valued our feedback and never thought of any of these things but $400+ later it was not as magical and event.
Thanks so much for your perspective, Mike! I can definitely see how the experience would change based on your seating arrangement. What a bummer! 🙁