new blog: Is Magic Kingdom's "Skipper Canteen" taking on water?

[rteetz]

Oooh - LOVE this whole idea, I would DEFINITELY go there! And yes, I LOVE beignets, and usually make a point to go to POFQ to get them (and a muffaletta) during a trip, and soak in the atmosphere at this gorgeously-themed resort.

That's where it would make the most sense POFQ.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Personally the menu really appeals to me and my family can't wait to try it when we go in July (hopefully they don't change things too much before that).

I do think some adjustments could be warranted though. It seems like the items all have exotic sounding names (how many people know what Fish Collar is? Does Head-on Shrimp scare people?) - even if the actual dish probably isn't that crazy if they would just try it ... and then the few things that have "normal" names are different version that might alienate people (looking at you mac & cheese)

And with most people traveling to WDW in groups/as a family if only a portion of the group really doesn't want to eat somewhere, especially a table service location, then the group will mostly likely have to pick something else if they don't want to split up

I agree with some of the comments on the blog that for the price I wouldn't want to risk not liking it.

I agree with this. Why am I going to pay $9.50 (or more) for something I am unsure my kids will eat vs $5.99 elsewhere for something they will

I also wonder if the non-ADR aspect is making people compare this (from a price standpoint) to counter service locations rather than other table services. But still, if you are worried your child won't eat something even just the appearance that it is more expensive will turn you off that much more

 

[Accident]

I didn't even notice the blog, just saw the video pop up on youtube, I like it.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

That's where it would make the most sense POFQ.

I definitely miss Bonfamille's Cafe, the sit down restaurant that used to be at POFQ. For breakfast the customary "pastry or bread basket" was the beignets, and the black skillet breakfasts they used to serve there (in an actual cast iron skillet) were the best! I ate dinners there a few times (I think they were closed for lunch, if I remember right, you had to eat @ the food court) but used to try and eat breakfast there at least once a trip. It was also very pretty inside.

 

[JJZMgailey]

I love this! Is this gonna be a reoccurring thing?

Not sure if it will be reoccurring, but sometimes the best magic is the surprise magic like this!!!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Not sure if it will be reoccurring, but sometimes the best magic is the surprise magic like this!!!

um, aren't you reading the thread about ADRs? Obviously the best magic is the kind you plan at 6am 180 days in advance

 

[lesliekatya]

I'm also one of the people who feel it's a little expensive for something I may not like, but I think one of the biggest problems is the way it's showing up on MDE. It shows up as "no tables available," not walk ups only. If I didn't already know it was walk up only I'd think it was fully booked.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I'm also one of the people who feel it's a little expensive for something I may not like, but I think one of the biggest problems is the way it's showing up on MDE. It shows up as "no tables available," not walk ups only. If I didn't already know it was walk up only I'd think it was fully booked.

This is the first I've heard about that fact, but I certainly would think that isn't helping matters!

 

[JJZMgailey]

I'm also one of the people who feel it's a little expensive for something I may not like, but I think one of the biggest problems is the way it's showing up on MDE. It shows up as "no tables available," not walk ups only. If I didn't already know it was walk up only I'd think it was fully booked.

That's so weird; I don't even see the "Find a Table" button in MDE for Skipper Canteen. Makes me wonder if something is being worked on as we speak [type] so it's showing like that?

 

[kbelle8995]

I definitely miss Bonfamille's Cafe, the sit down restaurant that used to be at POFQ. For breakfast the customary "pastry or bread basket" was the beignets, and the black skillet breakfasts they used to serve there (in an actual cast iron skillet) were the best! I ate dinners there a few times (I think they were closed for lunch, if I remember right, you had to eat @ the food court) but used to try and eat breakfast there at least once a trip. It was also very pretty inside.

I miss that restaurant as well.

 

[Princess Jes]

All we hear is that people are sick of the same burgers and fries in WDW, then, a new restaurant that doesn't serve said burgers comes along and everyone wants the burgers...
Does anyone else see how crazy this is?

I'll definitely be trying SC next time I'm in the world. The food looks amazing and it's not burgers.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

All we hear is that people are sick of the same burgers and fries in WDW, then, a new restaurant that doesn't serve said burgers comes along and everyone wants the burgers...
Does anyone else see how crazy this is?

I'll definitely be trying SC next time I'm in the world. The food looks amazing and it's not burgers.

That was pretty much my reaction too ... and is further proof why there are so many places that serve burgers or Italian food at WDW - it's what people eat

I do think they could just tweak the menu and add a couple of more "normal" items without dumbing down the other options

 

[Angel Ariel]

There's a few dishes at the Skipper's Canteen I'd be interested in trying, but one thing I don't like is this trend of one menu for lunch and dinner both. While I might be OK with those prices for a sit down dinner somewhere, they're high (IMO) for lunch. We don't go to Le Cellier any more for much the same reason.

The children's menu could also use a chicken dish that's not soup. As a young toddler when we last visited WDW with her, she was starting to eat solid foods, but not beef or flank steak..just wasn't able to with the amount of chewing for those proteins. Soup and Noodles weren't really possible at that time either. Fish was a favorite of hers, and that's a great option at SC, but some kind of chicken dish would be appreciated as well (no, I'm not suggesting chicken nuggets ). It's not even about it being less adventurous..I actually like how the children's menu looks overall. I just think it's geared more towards the older side of ages 3-9 than the younger side (also keeping in mind that many kids start eating kids' meals before age 3).

 

[SorcererHeidi]

I do think they could just tweak the menu and add a couple of more "normal" items without dumbing down the other options

Agreed, Max. And personally, I think the price points are WAAAAAY too high - then again, that's all over WDW, and has only been getting worse. Part of reason why it's been over 3 years for me, and no idea when next visit will be. They definitely hit my "sticking point", and it hurts.

 

[Jadeey]

I think the problem with not accepting ADRs is that the majority of guests just won't even know it is an option. We all know because we like to research and plan, but the "average" guest will either make a bunch of ADRs because someone warns them they need to and then won't be looking for any other table service, or they will get to Disneyworld only to find out that all table service restaurants need ADRs which they didn't book because they didn't know so they stick to counter service and so don't try eating at any table service.

(I know that second guest exists because that was me on my first visit. I had no idea a trip to Disneyworld required planning so I didn't do any! I got such a shock when I found out it meant we couldn't get reservations at any table service restaurants.)

 

[beastlyprince]

I haven't been to WDW for quite awhile (far too, long), so I haven't been to this restaurant. I was interested in the restaurant when the rumors first started leaking. I saw the menu and photos posted by the DIS and to be honest nothing on it appealed to me. I don't eat beef or pork, so that eliminates most items on the menu. I eat cod/schrod, but that fish item on the menu looks awful (I don't like the poultry and seafood items that I eat looking like the animal it came from, so boneless/skinless chicken breast and cod/schrod fillets is it for me).

Also, the price points aren't what I'm willing to pay. I'm the correct weight for my height. I can binge during the holidays, but normally I eat appropriately sized meals. Looking at the photos posted by the DIS I would be paying a high amount for an entrée and still be hungry when finished.
I absolutely hate that. This does not apply only to Disney dining. Locally, I'm willing to spend money on a meal, but that meal better be good, satisfying, and priced accordingly. But, you're paying for the experience ... True, but I'd rather experience something else.

From past trips to Orlando by the second day of eating chicken tenders and fries I'm dying for some fresh fruit and anything that doesn't come from
a fryolator. So, an adventurous dining menu sounds intriguing to me, but the Skipper Canteen's menu doesn't do it for me.

The Skipper Canteen's menu and price points will only satisfy a small number of Magic Kingdom customers. This menu is really adult in nature and really wouldn't appeal to children. Adults with children will look at the menu items and prices and quickly move along. A menu this "adventurous" seems really out of place at the Magic Kingdom and would perhaps be better suited for EPCOT and maybe Animal Kingdom.

 

[beastlyprince]

All we hear is that people are sick of the same burgers and fries in WDW, then, a new restaurant that doesn't serve said burgers comes along and everyone wants the burgers...
Does anyone else see how crazy this is?

I'll definitely be trying SC next time I'm in the world. The food looks amazing and it's not burgers.

There's a big range of food items between burgers/fries and the Skipper Canteen's menu.

On one of my trips to WDW a long time ago one of the restaurants at the Magic Kingdom (I think it was Cosmic Rays) and Captain Cooks at the Polynesian Resort had a bbq shredded chicken sandwich that I really liked. I ate it three times on that trip. They removed it from their menus sometime after my trip. Disney can have alternatives to burgers/fries and they can have more adventurous food items, but the Skipper Canteen's menu seems misplaced in the theme park that is most associated with children.

 

[smiths02]

My family and I don't just eat burgers, nuggets, and mac and cheese. Even my 3 year olds eat at hibachi places, Chinese places, Mexican, Lebanese, etc.
I still have problems with the menu:
--The standard Disney thing of having one steak, one chicken, etc. Yes, they do offer a few extra things, but if you compare it to an ethnic eatery where I live, the menu is TINY.
--This leads me to my family wanting to try new things but not liking certain things. I know level of heat, ginger, cilantro, curry, fish, etc. all have someone in my family who will not eat it. Then there is me who won't eat broccoli...and almost everything there comes with broccoli. That really leaves one thing on the menu for everyone.
--Too many cultures represented on menu. I get it, it's the Jungle Cruise, but it might be too many things that don't go together. Boma and Sanaa and Tokyo Dining do alright and they are not burgers and nuggets...so what is it about this place?

 

[safetymom]

I really wanted to love this restaurant but there really isn't anything on the menu I care for. I think it is a little too exotic. Now give me a place that has fried chicken, salad, etc and I am there.

 

[kbelle8995]

It's too bad that this is not more of the success. The theming of the restaurant is an excellent one. Perhaps some additions to the menu would be workable. Some Quinoa or something like that.

I always wanted them to put a restaurant back into that location. I still remember when it was a counter service sponsored by Kikomen no less.