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

[kbelle8995]

I would love to see Bonfamille's return over at New Orleans French Quarter. I really miss this full service restaurant and it would be a perfect fit for Tiana.

 

[JWigs]

I was so excited for skipper canteen even stalking it because we are coming in 40 days with grandpa for the first time.

But after seeing the menu, we skipped it altogether due to the prices and also the food. My DH is a super picky eater and I can't justify paying $20 for what I can get back home for $8.

If they'd make the menu less upper scale and more enjoyable and affordable we would try it out.

 

[pjweaver]

I'll agree with what many have said. I am a picky eater, but will try new things if I have a general idea of what I am eating and the price isn't too high. I think that Disney saw the success of BOG at lunch and kept on that push. The food sounds interesting, but I am a meat and potatoes guy at heart, so 50's prime time fits me better for less money.

 

[kbelle8995]

Skipper Cantina is an all day Lunch/Dinner menu a practice at Disney I have less than fond feelings for. Can't we go back to separate lunch and dinner menus.

 

[OKW Lover]

Please don't mess up our food, and please don't call a chicken & sausage gumbo, made with a roux "creole." That's all I ask!

So true! My wife is from Lafayette and there is a huge difference between creole and cajun cooking!

 

[jzuzphreek]

So true! My wife is from Lafayette and there is a huge difference between creole and cajun cooking!

So, obviously you married well!

 

[kbelle8995]

So true! My wife is from Lafayette and there is a huge difference between creole and cajun cooking!

Well we can refer it as I usually do. DELICIOUS.

 

[OKW Lover]

So, obviously you married well!

Yes I did!!!

 

[dkrauss]

My wife and I enjoyed our lunch at the Skipper Canteen. We thought the food was very good.........albeit pricey . New things, especially in this vain can be a 'acquired' taste (pun intended ). I think the idea is solid here.........and can/will get better with a tweak here and a tweak there. My first tweak is not going to be popular..........add it to the ADR list.

Think about this..........is the food at BOG all that? I've read many comments that its ok but I've read as many that its not. What does BOG have that makes it special? Wait for it.......................beer and wine! I'm telling you..........add beer and wine to the menu (for both lunch and dinner) and they'll be lines to get in here. Now some my believe that to be cynical........and maybe it is............but I'm not saying add a bar....................I'm saying serve beer and wine with the meal! That will bring folks in................you need to get them in the door. Once you try it............you can surely find something on the menu to love.................

One last thing...............I agree with Pete in that they shouldn't lower the types/style of food to the lowest common denominator...............the food is part of the theming. Ok add a kids meal menu..............but as Pete said..........there is a real chef here...........

Doug

 

[disneysteve]

What does BOG have that makes it special? Wait for it.......................beer and wine! I'm telling you..........add beer and wine to the menu (for both lunch and dinner) and they'll be lines to get in here.

I disagree 100%. I don't think beer and wine is why BOG is so popular. I think it is popular because of the venue itself. It is a gorgeous space that brings a fantasy realm to live. My family had dinner there a couple of years ago. I am not a pre-planner. BOG was the first ADR we had made in probably 5-7 years, and it took me several tries to get it. Neither of us had any alcohol when we went. We don't need to jump through hoops to get a drink if we want one. We went because we wanted to see inside of the place. It was very nice and I'm glad we went. I would never go again because I didn't think the food was anything special and the prices were ridiculous but I'm not at all sorry we did it once.

As for Skipper Canteen, it doesn't have the built in appeal of BOG. There aren't little girls begging mom and dad to take them in the castle (see also CRT). I also agree that not taking reservations is a problem because unlike us, many guests do pre-plan their meals. Since they can't include this on their spreadsheet, they don't consider it an option. They don't want to leave a meal to chance and hope they get in. And as many have said, the menu is troublesome for a lot of families. There is nothing really kid-friendly on the menu, especially for kids raised on chicken nuggets and mac and cheese (not that I'm a fan of that but it is reality in this country).

They need to tweak a bunch of things. Adding alcohol is not one of them.

 

[dkrauss]

I disagree 100%. I don't think beer and wine is why BOG is so popular. I think it is popular because of the venue itself. It is a gorgeous space that brings a fantasy realm to live. My family had dinner there a couple of years ago. I am not a pre-planner. BOG was the first ADR we had made in probably 5-7 years, and it took me several tries to get it. Neither of us had any alcohol when we went. We don't need to jump through hoops to get a drink if we want one. We went because we wanted to see inside of the place. It was very nice and I'm glad we went. I would never go again because I didn't think the food was anything special and the prices were ridiculous but I'm not at all sorry we did it once.

As for Skipper Canteen, it doesn't have the built in appeal of BOG. There aren't little girls begging mom and dad to take them in the castle (see also CRT). I also agree that not taking reservations is a problem because unlike us, many guests do pre-plan their meals. Since they can't include this on their spreadsheet, they don't consider it an option. They don't want to leave a meal to chance and hope they get in. And as many have said, the menu is troublesome for a lot of families. There is nothing really kid-friendly on the menu, especially for kids raised on chicken nuggets and mac and cheese (not that I'm a fan of that but it is reality in this country).

They need to tweak a bunch of things. Adding alcohol is not one of them.

Point taken, about alcohol at BOG!

However, I believe your argument about why BOG is special for young ones is the reason Skipper Canteen would benefit from serving beer and wine. Skipper Canteen is much more of an adult orientated restaurant with a more sophisticated menu (that does need a bit of adjusting for kids and cost) Which to me makes it a better fit for serving alcohol than it does at BOG.

Steve if they take "our" advise and add Skipper Canteen to the ADR system.............maybe my alcohol point is then moot Now I'm not a big drinker myself but I've been in that restaurant and I think a beer with that menu would be quite good.........but that's me

Doug

 

[rteetz]

Skipper Canteen to begin accepting same day reservations

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/skip...canteen-for-limited-time-later-this-month.htm

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Skipper Canteen to begin accepting same day reservations

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/skip...canteen-for-limited-time-later-this-month.htm

Seems to be only for a few weeks so likely a test. Interesting that there is a special website for this - so similar to BOG lunch reservations - rather than through the regular MDE process. I think one of the issues has been people looking day of for reservations and not seeing this come up as an option, so this won't fix that issue