Back in the day, when my boys were younger, one of our favorite table service restaurants at Walt Disney World was Whispering Canyon Cafe. Located in Wilderness Lodge, this restaurant is a relaxing boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom. This proximity made it a family late lunch favorite. We love to leave the hustle and bustle of a the park mid-day for a fun and filling lunch.
On our December Disney trip during our Magic Kingdom day, I checked the My Disney Experience app looking for a table service meal. On our 4 day trips we usually do one table service meal but we hadn’t booked one for this trip. Magically, there was an opening for two at 7:15pm, so I booked it. We left the park early so we could resort hop on the monorail loop and see all the Christmas decorations before we headed to Whispering Canyon Cafe via boat from the Magic Kingdom.
We checked in at about 7:00 and then sat in the lobby near the beautiful Christmas tree until our buzzer told us it was time to eat. It had been 9 years since I last ate at this restaurant and we think 11 years for Ron. The menu has changed and it’s been simplified since my last visit.
Starters:
- Smoked Beef and Vegetable Soup
- Burnt Ends Nachos
- Maple-Chipotle BBQ Braised Jackfruit Dip
- Whispering Canyon House Salad
Skillets:
- The Traditional
- The Pig
- The Land and Sea
- Plant-Based
Entrees:
- Char-crusted New York Strip
- Cedar Plank Salmon
- Pan-Fried Red Quinoa Cakes
Ron chose The Traditional Skillet and I chose The Pig. As always, it was too much food! The Traditional includes: Oak-smoked Mustard-Barbecued Beef Brisket, Maple-Chipotle Pork Ribs, Slow-smoked Pulled Pork, Citrus-Herb Chicken, Western-style Sausage, Smashed Potatoes, Buttered Corn, Sautéed Green Beans and The Pig includes: Braised Pork Belly, Maple-Chipotle Barbecued Pork Ribs, Slow-smoked Pulled Pork, Mustard-Barbecued ‘Piggy Wings’, Western-style Sausage, Smashed Potatoes, Buttered Corn, Sautéed Green Beans. I learned I love braised pork belly and I don’t like piggy wings. I’m also not a fan of the Mustard-Barbecue, probably because I don’t like mustard. BTW the corn bread is AMAZING!
I am very happy to report that the fun is back at Whispering Canyon Cafe…though a bit toned down. Back in May of 2018 there was a huge kerfuffle on social media when it was announced that the hijinx and hilarity at Whispering Canyon was going away due to guest complaints. These are the reasons guests visit the restaurant over and over again. Getting straws thrown at the table, skillets slammed down, huge beverages brought to those who suck down their sodas too fast and of course, people running across the restaurant to deliver ketchup to those who ask for it. Unfortunately, guests who didn’t research the restaurant and guests who stayed in the DVC rooms directly above the restaurant complained about the noise. BOO on YOU! Thankfully, while the decibel level in the restaurant has been lowered, the fun is still there.
All-in-all we had a great visit to Whispering Canyon Cafe. To top off our night, we caught the Magic Kingdom fireworks from our boat and then outside the park entrance. It was a beautiful site before we re-entered the park for a few more rides.
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