Skipper Canteen menu changes?

[Praying Colonel]

Ugh! I wish they would focus on execution and allowing ADRs a day in advance (so I can cancel my back-up ADR without a penalty) instead of giving us more of the same type of food found everywhere else.

And since when is head-on shrimp exotic?

THANK YOU! They keep rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

Leave the menu alone, do ADRs the way they do for other TS restaurants and start taking TiW.

 

[Jennasis]

This is great. I really wanted to try this place and enjoy the ambiance of a sit down restaurant in Adventureland, but is it too much to ask to have a cheeseburger or some mac and cheese on the menu? Maybe they could try and 'exotic' it up with some swiss cheese or something, but this will make it much easier to go and sit down and eat. Maybe they will have some exciting chicken nuggets with a mild Thai dipping sauce?

Mostly I am just happy that EVERYONE can enjoy this place now.

There IS mac-and-cheese on the menu. Not that generic plastic Kraft garbage served everywhere, but it is mac-and-cheese. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?restaurant.id=653

 

[AquaDame]

I like having variety... hopefully they are just tweaking some things and not doing an overhaul! Personally I'd be okay with there being certain restaurants we wouldn't eat at that others would enjoy...in fact I can think of many at WDW that fit that bill.

 

[Golfjbc89]

I think its sad that Disney tries to do the right thing by having this adventurous menu and now they have to change it because from what it sounds like, the restaurant wasn't doing enough business. I understand they're in it to make money and if the restaurant is getting more business that also means the other TS places can more easily handle their capacity. That being said I think Disney has "simple" food in the MK because thats what the majority of people will eat. If people are affraid of "head on shrimp" then disney has not choice but to remove it. Its sad but the only option for them, i was looking forward to going their on my next trip to WDW, but at the same time i understand their change.

From the people that were willing to eat there i've only heard great things. sad day..

 

[loves to dive]

If a restaurant serves food that I don't like or a member of my party doesn't like then we don't eat there. I don't complain that I don't get to eat there because somebody in my party has made the conscious choice to dislike certain foods (even children). And if the aversion to food is because of medical reasons be an allergy or otherwise, then we just avoid that restaurant anyway. That's life.

OR, we do eat there and the picky person has to find something to live with on the menu.

My husband would sooner die than to eat anything that lives in the ocean. I would sooner die than to eat anything that has any type of fruit in it. Have a family member with a peanut allergy . Haven't come across a restaurant yet we've had to cross off our list... though if they turn the canteen into just another restaurant then we'll cross that one off the list for sure.

Yes, yes, yes to the picky person has to find something to live with on the menu. As I stated, if we tried to cater our eating out to everyone in our family, we would never eat out. Maybe one time I'm not thrilled with the menu but I'll find something, the next time honey is going to have to suck it up. I've always insisted my son at least try something, how do you know you don't like it if you don't try it. Even me, who hates seafood, has tried the darn slimy fishy raw grainy raw oysters.

 

[MJ6987]

I predicted when it first opened that it was a matter of time before they dumbed down that menu - too adventurous for the average American theme park tourist.

 

[Lisa F]

There IS mac-and-cheese on the menu. Not that generic plastic Kraft garbage served everywhere, but it is mac-and-cheese. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?restaurant.id=653

They're calling it mac and cheese, but it isn't. Lots of signatures have "not htat generic plastic Kraft garbage" and do an actual cheese sauce with pasta. But anything with "spicy ground beef" is not mac and cheese. It's something else and it may be delicious but it is not a good option for kids who like plain food.

 

[minnie mum]

I havent read through all of todays posts, but for those wondering just how bad the menu changes will be, it looks like it's going to be gutted.

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/04/jungl...en-restaurant-to-undergo-radical-menu-change/

The menu is expected to radically change, with almost all of the current offerings going away or moving to another restaurant at Walt Disney World (the head-on shrimp are moving to Tiffins at Animal Kingdom).

I'm REALLY disappointed that they've chosen to go this route. Another interesting dining spot down the drain.

 

[piccolopat]

Too many restaurants at Disney, especially in Epcot, have been dumbed down to be more Americanized. I believe a lot of that has to do with the restaurants having to control costs due to the dining plan but at least some of it has to do with some people wanted to eat at places that are different but not actually wanting to eat food that is different. Too many kids miss out on the joy of eating because they are allowed to limit themselves to what they are used to eating at home. I get that way is easier for parents sometimes but then they can always go to restaurants that serve what their kids like to eat. Our DD was raised to try everything and she loved looking for the strangest thing on the menu. We just missed the SC opening when we were there in December and hope it stays close to its roots by the time we return. One idea would be for them to bring back our favorite from when it was the Adventureland Verandah. Anyone else remember the teriyaki burger with pineapple?

 

[mmmears]

This is really sad. There are so many places at WDW to get boring food, plain food, American food, etc. I will admit that, while we were hoping to try Skippers last month, we didn't because of the no-ADR policy that was going on at the time. Had they accepted ADRs we would have booked a lunch or dinner there. Oh well...

 

[quagmire0]

There must have been REALLY LOW demand/many complaints for these menu items to be totally removed like this. I can sorta understand that due to the location and theme that they may need to homogenize the menu to cater to people of all tastes, but why not do that and keep the more 'exotic' items? Having said that, I'll probably try it out anyway, just because I'm slightly intrigued by the theme.

 

[jenjersnap]

I never got to try the menu...it opened just after our last trip. Really sad to read this.

 

[HubbDave]

It does seem kind of quick to completely overhaul it so soon. Not even 6 months. I wonder if business is slow more due to the ADR thing or the food choices or the pricing? I still will try it out at some point but will feel sad if the food is just Rainforest Cafe-ish

 

[Nancyg56]

I don't think it is at all unreasonable that when you are sitting down and spending $30-50 or more per person to eat a meal that everyone enjoys their meal. The examples you gave are examples of finding places where everyone in your family could get something they enjoy, either by modifying something on the menu or having alternate choices other than the main theme of the restaurant that you could choose from (choosing shrimp instead of fish is a good example). It can be tough to accommodate everyone's tastes and maybe not everyone will have every restaurant as their favorite, but I would never drag my family to a place where they could only eat cole slaw and potato salad while everyone else is enjoying a nice meal. I am traveling solo with my 8 year old and every single choice I made are places where he would enjoy the food too... mostly buffets because it takes the pressure off of him wasting a whole meal if he tries something new. there are other places I would pick if it were just me

We do not have picky people in the family, but we all do not like the same things. I understand that my group may all not "like" the place for dinner, but at least everyone should be able to find something to eat. If not, we will choose a different restaurant. I do not believe that adding a few choices, especially on the kids menu, would result in dumbing down the menu. I think that if the restaurant is making a huge overhaul of the menu, there is more wrong than relatively few kids items. I rather doubt that it is the head on shrimp keeping folks away.

Quite right. And the current Skipper Canteen menu includes things I can eat. If they replace it all with burgers and nuggets, it becomes yet one more WDW restaurant I have to cross off my list. I'll understand if they feel they have to make the change, from a numbers perspective, but it'll still be a disappointment.

But FWIW, I still found the Aunt Ethel comment funny

So if SC changes the menu you may be stuck with simply burgers and dogs? I have no inside scoop as to the issues that this restaurant suffers, but I have read enough to know that until they begin to have consistent quality, service, and customer experience, and I think ADR's at least 24 hours out, this place is going to sink.

BoG has other kid choices even if not nuggets.

The big deal is as an adult I have no desire to eat "plain food du jour" but I have a kid who does. I'm sure a lot of adults are in my situation. So having plain kid options at places that serve more interesting food expands my options and it should be no skin off the nose of anyone who wants to suck the contents of a shrimp head while the thing stares at your chin.

I agree. I am not saying remove all entrees that are not "Americanized", but if this place wants families to patronize it might be best to add a few things that children will want to eat while on vacation.

I think its sad that Disney tries to do the right thing by having this adventurous menu and now they have to change it because from what it sounds like, the restaurant wasn't doing enough business. I understand they're in it to make money and if the restaurant is getting more business that also means the other TS places can more easily handle their capacity. That being said I think Disney has "simple" food in the MK because thats what the majority of people will eat. If people are affraid of "head on shrimp" then disney has not choice but to remove it. Its sad but the only option for them, i was looking forward to going their on my next trip to WDW, but at the same time i understand their change.

From the people that were willing to eat there i've only heard great things. sad day..

This board is filled with reviews that have been less than stellar, from the quality of the food, especially in relation to the cost, the lack of consistent size of entrees, the guest experiences that range from awesome to just plain bored.

No business can remain in business if they cannot even entice enough people to eat during busy lunch and dinner times in a crowded Magic kingdom. There is something drastically wrong with this restaurant. I honestly do not think that simply reworking the menu will solve the problem.

 

[HubbDave]

Based on a quick sampling of dining reviews that had Skipper Canteen in the title on here it seems to be pretty mixed between positive and negative. I did not do a statistical breakdown but seems 50/50

Did Rusty do one?

 

[Nancyg56]

Based on a quick sampling of dining reviews that had Skipper Canteen in the title on here it seems to be pretty mixed between positive and negative. I did not do a statistical breakdown but seems 50/50

Did Rusty do one?

I don't know, but IIRC< he is not SC biggest fan.

 

[HubbDave]

I don't know, but IIRC< he is not SC biggest fan.

My brother ate there in Feb and gave it a "meh" review. Does not plan on trying it again for now. But I wanted to give it a whirl. We shall see

 

[DLgal]

They should focus the menu on Asian style "Americanized" food like the Adventureland Verandah (Presented by Kikkoman!) used to serve. Chicken teriyaki, sweet and sour, rice bowls, Asian style burgers and sandwiches, etc. Even my super picky kids LOVE Asian foods like chow mein and tempura (chicken and veggies).

Look how popular 'Ohana is! And Kona Cafe. Bring that style of food to SC and watch it become the most popular restaurant in MK!

 

[3smithboys]

I may be one of the "on the fence" people that are the issue..... I would love to try SC but I make my ADRs 180 days out... I have an ADR on our MK day that I would happily give up to try SC if I could do it without charge...

I enjoy different foods like curries and we eat all kinds of different ethnic foods... (as well as burgers!) I'm not a fish eater, but enjoy seafood... I love shrimp, but would never eat the shrimp dish at SC because I will not eat food that is looking back at me - no way - no head on shrimp!

I have no problem with the menu the way it is... I can find something to eat on it now... I would have like to try the shrimp dish... so if they take the heads off, I'd love that! I'd rather they add things if they feel they need to so that more people could try SC...

 

[Matty_Disfan]

There IS mac-and-cheese on the menu. Not that generic plastic Kraft garbage served everywhere, but it is mac-and-cheese. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?restaurant.id=653

Whoah. This is America, not Egypt. I will stick with my Macaroni and FREEDOM.