Skipper Canteen "push"

[Lisa loves Pooh]

the problem is, a lot of guests don't want that "weird food." and even many of those who like "weird food" are not giving good reviews. I couldn't care less about the ADRs, but no TIW? What's with that?

Don't think they will add booze but I'm anticipating a menu change.

I find this curious.

Folks complain that Disney seems to serve all the same blah food. So a restaurant opts to be creative and it doesn't work.

But Sanaa and Boma are "weird" but really good.

But when Disney comes up
with a weird food place (whether it is prepared well
Or not) and folks snub it, should we be surprised when consistent standby options that do sell get placed back on.

I look at Akershus. We loved it
In its original form. But it wasn't busy when we went. The princess meal and American-ized menu keep it full.

Hopefully if they change the menu here, they will put better prepared but still weird food versus cleverly named/themed
Amercian food that they have everywhere else.

 

[L&Lfan]

It's a damn shame what the "suits" did to Akershus to please the hoi polloi. We used to love it but we haven't gone near the place since they dumbed down the menu and added characters.

 

[sleepydog25]

I find this curious.

Folks complain that Disney seems to serve all the same blah food. So a restaurant opts to be creative and it doesn't work.

But Sanaa and Boma are "weird" but really good.

But when Disney comes up
with a weird food place (whether it is prepared well
Or not) and folks snub it, should we be surprised when consistent standby options that do sell get placed back on.

I look at Akershus. We loved it
In its original form. But it wasn't busy when we went. The princess meal and American-ized menu keep it full.

Hopefully if they change the menu here, they will put better prepared but still weird food versus cleverly named/themed
Amercian food that they have everywhere else.

I might quibble with the term "weird" to describe the food at SC (or any Disney restaurant for that matter)--the pork essentially is a variation on Chinese and Korean dishes; the shu mai simply are pot stickers; fish collar is still just fish; flank steak and strip loin are merely beef; pho is an Asian staple; and the baladi salad is still just a salad with a unique dressing. However, I fully agree that they need "better prepared" dishes. The pork was dry; the shu mai were gummy; the dressing on the salad was listless as it lacked an acidic element; and the pho was bland and nearly spiceless. Having different flavor profiles than most other eateries is a bonus, but when you don't make those flavors sing, then no one is satisfied. Well-prepared dishes are the key, and thus far, SC hasn't quite hit the target. We likely will return just to see if they've improved on what has great potential.

 

[j2thomason]

Honestly, most of the table service restaurants that I visit at Disney are more for the theming and experience than the food. I want it to be different then a regular restaurant and enjoy the cast members playing their part. There are plenty of "good food" restaurants outside the Disney bubble. I thought the menu was a little odd, too, but then I went and tried it and loved it. I always told my kids not to criticize until they have at least tried it. I think too many people are being very critical who haven't even stepped through the doorway. Go there and give it a try, then make a decision. If you don't like it, don't go back. But if your like me, it will be a regular stop on most of my Magic Kingdom days, and thankfully I won't have to plan my whole day around it since I can just walk up and the same amount of time that I normally wait when I book an ADR.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

What kind of food should they serve at a Skipper Canteen in Adventureland?

For some reason, I was envisioning it to be more South-American Amazon-themed. The Jungle Cruise isn't confined to that region, but that was what I was hoping for.

 

[butterfly71076]

Perhaps people who don't find the food interesting, or want ADRs, TIW, or alcohol, should just give up on Skipper Canteen and find somewhere else to eat. It'll make more tables available for the rest of us who actually enjoy the restaurant! I mean, if you don't like pizza, you don't go to a pizza joint...right?

just a thought ...

That is exactly what we are doing. After reading the menu, we have decided to skip SC. I am freeing up a table for a family that might really enjoy it there.

Honestly, most of the table service restaurants that I visit at Disney are more for the theming and experience than the food. I want it to be different then a regular restaurant and enjoy the cast members playing their part. There are plenty of "good food" restaurants outside the Disney bubble. I thought the menu was a little odd, too, but then I went and tried it and loved it. I always told my kids not to criticize until they have at least tried it. I think too many people are being very critical who haven't even stepped through the doorway. Go there and give it a try, then make a decision. If you don't like it, don't go back. But if your like me, it will be a regular stop on most of my Magic Kingdom days, and thankfully I won't have to plan my whole day around it since I can just walk up and the same amount of time that I normally wait when I book an ADR.

I think the price point is a bit much for people to "Go there and give it a try, then make a decision. If you don't like it, don't go back". I know I would not want to pay alot of money for a meal I didn't eat. Not only is that wasting my money and park time, but it's a waste of food. After reading the menu online, checking out pictures of the entrees, we have decided it is not going to be a good fit for our family. I don't think anyone is saying to get rid of the whole menu, but maybe add a dish or two that might appeal to people with less than exotic tastebuds.

 

[buzzrelly]

Perhaps people who don't find the food interesting, or want ADRs, TIW, or alcohol, should just give up on Skipper Canteen and find somewhere else to eat. It'll make more tables available for the rest of us who actually enjoy the restaurant! I mean, if you don't like pizza, you don't go to a pizza joint...right?

just a thought ...

Ummmm….exactly. That's what we're saying here. But apparently there are more of us who the place doesn't appeal to and that's not good for business, hence "the push," which was the whole topic of this thread.

What kind of food should they serve at a Skipper Canteen in Adventureland? Please don't tell me you want more burgers and chicken nuggets! Dios mío!

They can serve whatever they want, but they can't make me want to eat it. I'll go somewhere that the menu appeals to me more and if they happen to change the menu because of a lack of adventurous eaters such as myself, then maybe I'll give it a try.

 

[Nancyg56]

I have read more negative reviews about the quality and quantity of the food than I have about the "weird" food. I know that a restaurant needs time to work out the glitches, but I am not always willing to be part of that process. My family will try just about anything, and we tend to enjoy ethnic restaurants, so the "weird" is the draw for us. Wha tis not drawing me in is the price for what seems to be very inconsistent dishes. I also believe that if a theme park that has a lot of kids traipsing through it has a restaurant that has only items that many children will not even try, let alone eat, perhaps a compromise is in order. A children's menu with a few staples that most kids will eat will not detract from the overall theme of any restaurant, and SC is no exception. My girls would probably try the food, but if I knew they would not, I would not drag them in there and enjoy my meal while they drank water. A vacation is not the time for most families to insist the kids eat the food in front of them, knowing they hate it. They go to a place that has items that they can offer.

 

[XForeverYoursX]

I have to chime in here. The food IS jungle cruise themed. It's good from the four rivers so it's a big mix. Imagineering did a wonderful job with the details of the restaurant (the rooms are beautiful!!) the food isn't Amazing, but the dishes that are good, are awesome (stay away from the a$$ noodle bowl and you're good). I don't understand the whole furious there's no adr thing. The place is empty so you'll always get in, plus they give you a text so you can play while you wait so it's no big deal. Also, if you don't end up going to your reservation but go to another Disney restaurant, you don't get charged.

 

[j2thomason]

I have to chime in here. The food IS jungle cruise themed. It's good from the four rivers so it's a big mix. Imagineering did a wonderful job with the details of the restaurant (the rooms are beautiful!!) the food isn't Amazing, but the dishes that are good, are awesome (stay away from the a$$ noodle bowl and you're good). I don't understand the whole furious there's no adr thing. The place is empty so you'll always get in, plus they give you a text so you can play while you wait so it's no big deal. Also, if you don't end up going to your reservation but go to another Disney restaurant, you don't get charged.

I will say, I opened this restaurant and left real quick but it was due to other reasons (although no adrs really hurt them for some reason but people should really think about that one) I have some amazing friends that still work there and they're working hard but it can be discouraging when you make no money and work your butt off.

Why is it that your friends aren't making much money? Bad tips?

 

[XForeverYoursX]

Bad tips, people coming in for an appetizer and holding up the table for a long time and tipping very little because their bills are low

 

[XForeverYoursX]

Nevermind lol

 

[GaryDis]

To out there, to boring,

I'm sorry, how can it possibly be both "out there" and "boring" at the same time?

 

[XForeverYoursX]

Lol I was thinking the same thing

 

[L&Lfan]

What a silly post! To (sic) out there, to (sic) boring.

 

[DisneyDaybyDay]

Still no ADR's as of last week, food was just ok for us, nothing to write home about. I had the mac and cheese as I had heard good things, it was good, but not worth the price when you could get the pot roast mac and cheese in Fantasyland

 

[XForeverYoursX]

I'm sorry, how can it possibly be both "out there" and "boring" at the same time?

Still no ADR's as of last week, food was just ok for us, nothing to write home about. I had the mac and cheese as I had heard good things, it was good, but not worth the price when you could get the pot roast mac and cheese in Fantasyland

You can't even compare the 2 Mac n cheeses.

They aren't going to have ADR

 

[cigar95]

Last week we decided to try the fish collar appetizer, as it's probably the dish that will sounds the most "weird" to many diners.

Well, it was marvelous - it was regular fish flesh, just coming from a different part of the fish, so it looks a bit unusual in the bone that surrounds it. not only was it very tasty, but there was a *lot* of fish on it - one could have this as an entree.

And our wait was all of about 90 seconds. We were told about 20 minutes, but I had hardly gotten out of the waiting area before two text messages arrived, the second saying that my table was ready.

Won't deny it was expensive - the priciest meal of our entire trip. Apparently even the CMs don't get discounts there. As much as we liked the meal, we will probably not go back until it's less expensive, or at least a fuller value. By then, I assume the menu will be quite different, and likely less interesting. And if it gets popular, so that waits are longer, we probably won't go back until reservations are available.

My one biggest point - don't let "fish collar" scare you off. If you generally like fish, you ought to like this one.

 

[sachilles]

I understand the no ADR concept, and I like the idea. I like the idea of the non-traditional menu, as it's nice to have some different options. I like to try new things on vacation. I would like to see them add a few more simple items on the kids menu, for the less adventurous kidlets. If it's a shared kitchen that may be an off menu option?

On the concept of no ADR's it would be nice if you could put your name in, that gives you a fast pass for the jungle cruise or POC, and by the time you come out your table is to be ready(or less wait).

 

[ShannonMB]

Count me in the camp "would love to try it, think the food sounds interesting and fun, but probably won't go because I (like a lot of other people) like to have my TS secured ahead of time". If we are going to walk up, it will be to one of several (cheaper) MK CS places we enjoy. I really think if they offered ADRs I would have considered booking it for one of our MK days. Hope they change some things around and get to the bottom of the problem, because I'd love to see something new and interesting do really well. Just not willing to alter my TS strategy so much to try it, at least this trip.