Second guessing Whispering Canyon???

[Annabelleasb]

All of my breakfast & dinners for my upcoming trip are character dinings. (for the kids of course) I booked Whispering Canyon, about a month ago, based on reviews & atmosphere. I have recently read A LOT of bad reviews about this place. I know everyone has their own opinion but I want an overall feel for this place. Any suggestions??? Thanks!

 

[Kae]

We like it. We have always had good service. I like the fact that some of the party can order all you can eat or ala cart off the menu.

Kae

 

[tortoni]

We were there at the end of November and we all agreed we would never go back. My kids are 12, 14 and 17. Food was okay, nothing special, and that has always been our experience. I guess its the "antics" that have worn thin on us. At first, it all seems cute, the ketsup on the tables, the serving carts galloping like horses, but after a while, it got too noisy and annoying. Plus, 2 of us ordered the skillet and they did not bring our requested seconds (we only asked for more corn) until we were ready to leave. Now, if my kids were younger, they might have gotten more of a kick out of this, but for us, we will not be going back.

 

[slenderella]

We went there in 2006 and it was the worst experience we had the whole trip. The atmosphere was fun, but our waitress was awful . That is not to say that they are all bad. We will not go back. We just did not enjoy it at all. You can always try it and see how it is. Who knows, you might like it.

 

[sandym718]

We thought it was just OK, we won't be going back. The food wasn't bad, just wasn't great (other than the cornbread - loved that!). We have a restaurant with a similar skillet-type meal here at home and it's MUCH better food. Our server was TERRIBLE, it just took forever for everything. The antics are cute. actually it was good that our server wasn't around - our kids did enjoy watching the antics at the other tables, but they're shy, so I"m not sure they would've enjoyed doing any themselves.

I doubt you'd have an awful time, might just not be the best. I can't say "definitely don't do it", but it's not a place I'd recommend highly. Sorry, that's probably not much help!

 

[tlriv5]

We went in Oct. 2006 on free dining with 3 DD's. They were 11, 8 and 8. We loved it! The food was very good and plenty of it. Our server wasn't over the top, but she did a great job getting us what we needed. I had read that it was loud, but it wasn't too loud for us. It would be if we were trying to have some conversations with a lot of adults. This is the one restaurant we are going to definitely repeat this year when we go back. Oh, we all got the skillet meal and it was very good!

 

[ellenmiele]

Our family found it to be loud and a little annoying - not as hilarious as we had expected. The food is pretty good. All that said, I was glad we went because I see WCC as one of those Disney experiences that everyone should do once.

 

[BeckyH]

We were there in August 07 for breakfast and had a great time. It was our last meal before coming home and was a great way to end our trip. My boys 12 & 14 thought it was fun and we all enjoyed our meals.

 

[psu1978]

As has been said many times, you can find bad (and good) reviews on every restaurant at WDW. My meat and potatoes family loves Whispering Canyon because the all-you-can-eat barbeque skillet is right up our alley. We have been twice and both times we left very happy and VERY full. I think it comes down to personal preference - I look at the menus and, if it sounds like our kind of food, we give it a shot. Believe it or not, we go there for the food, not the antics. Of course we do not have gourmet tastes.

 

[Tam1067]

We have had three dinners there, the most recent in 2006. We won't be going back because as others have said, the atmosphere is not that "fun" for us, and our food and service were nothing special.

We've just started planning our dinners for the next trip, and no one asked for WCC. There is just not a real reason to do it. That said, we found is fine, and if we were staying at the WL, we'd probably do it again. It's just not worth the trip.

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

We loved WCC! The skillet was really good - everything was hot and fresh, as well as tasty! The Smores cheesecake is worth the visit alone!

If you go, request Candi Kane as your waitress - she was really fun!!

We're definitely going again this summer! I have an in depth review in my Dining Report

 

[septbaby]

You've stated you've booked all the breakfast ADRs with the kids in mind. Maybe this one should be for you. If you think WCC would be fun for you keep it. If not find something that you'd like. There is so much at Disney for the kids I think parents sometime feel guilty doing something for themselves.

If you want one good non character on the quiet/unique side consider some of these:

Grand Floridian Cafe (beautiful, classic menu)
Boma (buffet gets raves)
Spoodles (also has an all you can eat skillet)
Kona Cafe at the Poly (unique items)
Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club (buffet or ala carte menu)

 

[Annabelleasb]

ok---Now I may change my reservations.......(septbaby)...thanks for the suggestions! thanks to everyone else too!!

 

[bjgrazi]

This is the first time WCC is not on our list of things to do. Our last 2 times there we did not enjoy the food. It just wasn't a good meal. We've been a total of 4 times.

 

[RxforDisney]

We were there at the end of November and we all agreed we would never go back. My kids are 12, 14 and 17. Food was okay, nothing special, and that has always been our experience. I guess its the "antics" that have worn thin on us. At first, it all seems cute, the ketsup on the tables, the serving carts galloping like horses, but after a while, it got too noisy and annoying. Plus, 2 of us ordered the skillet and they did not bring our requested seconds (we only asked for more corn) until we were ready to leave. Now, if my kids were younger, they might have gotten more of a kick out of this, but for us, we will not be going back.

That is what we like about it. Our kids are 3 and 5, and we don't feel like we are constantly getting on to them for being too loud, etc. And, they love the antics. Even though it is loud at times, it makes for a more relaxing meal for us overall.

Oh, and we get the family skillet. My kids absolutely LOVE the chicken. It is usually the best they eat all week.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) WCC can be a fun place to eat.
2) But, remember that this is guest interaction.
3) The better the dining crowd, the better the CM's - and visa versa.
4) When the dining people get into it, the experience can be really neat.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

We went last week and won't likely go back. Food was so-so at best. There are much better options at WDW IMHO.

 

[seobaina]

We went in April 2006 and had a great time. The food was fine, our waiter was fun and the atmosphere was good. Yes it was loud, but that's kinda the point. Oh, be warned though, we were dragged into the thick of things. As an all adult group we thought we'd be safer but no... LOL We got to give out the kid's certificates, once they'd done the pony express (which was fun) but then my friend and I were also made to do the pony express ourselves...around the ENTIRE hotel foyer, not just the restaurant

 

[DisneyRN51207]

We like WCC. Our first trip together in 2004 we went to check out WL and were hungry and decided to check the place out. We liked it so much we went back on our honeymoon in 2007. In a place where adults are invited to be children again, they made us ride the stick ponies around the entire WL lobby and sing "you are my sunshine". Good times! We went back in Dec. 2007 and plan to return in Feb 08.

 

[Kris10luvsDisney]

I think it might depend on the age of your kids too. The last time we were there, my DD was 3 1/2 and she loved the pony express and all of the other fun things we did during our meal. I can see how older kids would find it a little hokey and not be that into it. The other thing I like about it is that there is noise and it's okay for the kids to get down from the table and run around a little bit. Anyone w/ kids under 5 knows how hard it can be to get your kids to sit still and be quiet during their meals. These are 2 things I have to deal with when we are at "regular" restaurants, so it's nice to not have to worry about that here!

We are going to WDW next week and booked WCC again and can't wait