Artist Point vs. Whispering Canyon Cafe

[Lisa F]

I know it sounds like a stupid comparison, but this is my situation:
Kiddo and I are spending a few days in the parks prior to a 4 night Disney Dream cruise departing on a Monday. On the Sunday before, my parents are flying in to join us on the cruise. We are moving into a 2 bedroom at Copper Creek all together and would like to plan dinner before our fireworks cruise departing from the WL.

My dad does not travel very well so dinner and a fireworks cruise on a private boat is about the right speed for him, he would not deal with the crowds in the parks.

My parents tend to like simple food and would probably be disinclined to dissect a "fancy" sounding entree to simplify it. My son is also a picky eater but he LOVES steak (filet even better) with mac and cheese. it is his favorite Disney meal, first tried at the CA Grill. He is not super picky about his mac and cheese and seems to like most of them, even some with "stuff" in it. I have zero problems with him at Disney Signatures, between how his picky tastes fall and how great they are at working with him, he'd eat at signatures all the time if I let him

I would like to take my parents to AP because I prefer signature dining... but the menu seemed too challenging for them last time I looked. Now it seems like they have a steak menu with 3 kinds of steak, a pork steak and a bison steak and you just get to pick your sides. None of the sides look super challenging... french fries or mashed potatoes or mac and cheese. My son was looking forward to the bbq platter at WCC but he'd trade that for filet and mac and cheese in a heartbeat I think.

My dad can be kind of a grump sometimes so I'd just like it to be a nice dinner. It is likely he'd get the steak at either restaurant. I worry that the noise/chaos level at WCC might be problematic for him, but I also worry he'd see "shrimp cocktail" on the menu at AP and ask if he can just get it with regular cocktail sauce and be told "no." So trying to balance easy/convenient with their needs is a bit of a challenge. None of the other MK area restaurants really do it for me enough to make it worth the hassle of getting there.

We are planning breakfast at WCC before leaving for the cruise the next morning, so the other reason I am inclined toward AP. But still feeling very unsure. Boy is it hard to manage other people's good time!

 

[steg]

AP, assuming your dad and kid would be ok with the "spins" put on the sides, right now the mac and cheese is truffled but the potatoes are "normal". Before the potatoes had spruce salt and were cooked in duck fat and the mac and cheese was "normal". If you think they'd be ok with stuff like that the definitively AP, I can't see going to WCC with the concerns you mentioned.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We have dined at both restaurants and prefer Artist Point. It is such a lovely atmosphere and so much nicer than the hustle and bustle of WCC. The chefs will make adjustments for you if you ask. It sounds like your father would be more comfortable at AP, too.

 

[dgthree]

If you've got a breakfast ADR at WCC, I wouldn't go there twice. On the Artist's Point menu, there seem to be some more and less fussy sides - the mashed potatoes with butter and cow's milk being the simplest of all. I'd think a steak and mashed potatoes would work out well for the picky eaters, and the ones who want to go for something a bit more fancy could do so.

 

[DisDINK]

I LOVE AP. We go every trip and have had fantastic service. Might I suggest...GO EARLY. The first seating is 5:30. The staff is usually super laid back and because it isn't packed, they are super happy to help. It is also very quiet and the lighting is nice. Not too dark not too bright. I almost always get a salad, filet medium rare, and some dessert. The food is usually pretty basic even if they fancy up the description. For example they had a nice garlic mashed potato and some fancy fall root veggie thing...it was roasted carrots and beets with like sage butter or something...steak, mashed, and some carrots. It was basic...I get his frustration but if he and/or you know what your dining party likes, just be nice and ask for it. I find that AP in particular tends to make it happen without it being a thing...I also find AP to consistently have the best steak on property.

 

[Lisa F]

I LOVE AP. We go every trip and have had fantastic service. Might I suggest...GO EARLY. The first seating is 5:30. The staff is usually super laid back and because it isn't packed, they are super happy to help. It is also very quiet and the lighting is nice. Not too dark not too bright. I almost always get a salad, filet medium rare, and some dessert. The food is usually pretty basic even if they fancy up the description. For example they had a nice garlic mashed potato and some fancy fall root veggie thing...it was roasted carrots and beets with like sage butter or something...steak, mashed, and some carrots. It was basic...I get his frustration but if he and/or you know what your dining party likes, just be nice and ask for it. I find that AP in particular tends to make it happen without it being a thing...I also find AP to consistently have the best steak on property.

That is great to hear! That's the kind of place I need I think, more quiet and laid back and flexible. I have always experienced a lot of flexibility over the needs/wants of my picky child but he's a kid My dad is the kind of person who will see calamari with a spicy remoulade on the menu and ask "can't I just get plain sauce?" (like the waiter is supposed to know that it is SUPPOSED to come with marinara sauce and that is what he means by "plain sauce.") I love both myself but could live without one or the other depending on how it is served (or even RI style.. but I digress!)

I also live by the rule of "go to first seating for minimal hassle." I like the first seating at 'Ohana dinner... no waiting, window seat, fresh food, good service. I do first lunch seating at Coral Reef... always get a seat by the tank, service is always relatively quick. I do first seating at Cali Grill, always get a window table and we watch the sunset and can come back for fireworks if we want to and the meal doesn't get dragged out. I am definitely a fan of the first seating when wait staff is fresh and tables are not full and the kitchen is not backed up and you get seated at prime tables with no waiting. My parents also prefer to eat on the earlier side as well.

If you've got a breakfast ADR at WCC, I wouldn't go there twice. On the Artist's Point menu, there seem to be some more and less fussy sides - the mashed potatoes with butter and cow's milk being the simplest of all. I'd think a steak and mashed potatoes would work out well for the picky eaters, and the ones who want to go for something a bit more fancy could do so.

as long as it is just good I doubt he will pay that much attention to how the sides are phrased... I might have to let him know the pomme frites are just fries though we're going in february so who knows what tweaks will be made for winter but this format works ok for us I think!

We have dined at both restaurants and prefer Artist Point. It is such a lovely atmosphere and so much nicer than the hustle and bustle of WCC. The chefs will make adjustments for you if you ask. It sounds like your father would be more comfortable at AP, too.

Well different kinds of comfort but it seems like he could be made comfortable with the menu. I also HATE the idea of going to the same restaurant twice when there is the opportunity to go somewhere else. plus i personally want to have the mushroom soup But I'm willing to be flexible for family peace!

AP, assuming your dad and kid would be ok with the "spins" put on the sides, right now the mac and cheese is truffled but the potatoes are "normal". Before the potatoes had spruce salt and were cooked in duck fat and the mac and cheese was "normal". If you think they'd be ok with stuff like that the definitively AP, I can't see going to WCC with the concerns you mentioned.

The kid would be fine with the truffled mac and cheese (i just know his tastes)... he more has texture issues sometimes, I don't think truffle oil would bother him and most typical add ins to mac and cheese (crunchy things on top etc) do not bother him at all either. He likes the Biergarten mac and cheese for example, which is not typical "kid box stuff" and does not mind crumb/fried onion toppings or bacon/onion type mix ins. Hopefully they won't deviate TOO much from that kind of stuff between now and february! of course my kid will eat both fries and mashed potatoes so not really super worried about him honestly!

We'll do WCC for breakfast after everyone has had a chance to sleep (and sleep in a bit) plus I have heard the antics are more low key (sometimes nearly nonexistent) in the morning. Plus that bacon eggs benedict sounds good to me (i am a benedict ho!) and my dad can order his "two eggs over easy with bacon and home fries" because that is actually an entree there (that's what he always orders for breakfast, doesn't even look at the menu!)

Thanks for all the great feedback!