Skipper Canteen "push"

[AngiTN]

You can't "find" what isn't there. When a guest presents a TIW card, the server has to hit the TIW button on the computer and is then prompted to swipe the card. It automatically discounts the meal and adds the grat. Restaurants that don't participate in TIW don't have a TIW button option on their screen. Not a servers fault at all

The PP knows that. It was a joke to say they need to accept TIW

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I'm finding all the bad reviews so depressing.

1) When thy don't put the effort or the money into a place, it turns out like this.
2) Disney got lazy and cheap and this is what was the result.

 

[soniam]

I am still not put off by the bad reviews. I am not going thinking that it's going to be Victoria & Albert or anything either. My biggest disappoint is the lack of jokes and Jungle Cruise character and the lack of souvenir mugs. I know At first, I was worried about the kids menu, but then I saw the steak. DS loves steak, and so few WDW places have it on the kids menu. DH would probably eat about anything on the menu. I thought the fish dish, not the fish collar appetizer, looked good, and very few people have said anything about it. I figure it probably won't be worse than Friar's Nook or Pinocchio's, which is probably where we would end up eating. It will be more expensive though. I decided nothing looked interesting enough at MK (done LTT & BOG) to make an ADR, except Skipper Canteen, which decided not to take them. We will probably do Columbia Harbor House for lunch, so I know we will have had a good meal for the day. Plus, there isn't much that Dole Whip or a churro can't fix The arepas look good. DH and DS hate beans, and I gave them up with carbs and dairy. I never really thought BOG was that great anyway. I think it's good, especially for Disney, but it's about on par with, maybe not quite as good, as our local La Madeleine. But you know, it's Disney, not NYC or New Orleans. I don't think a Tiana's place would have been very good. I like the theme and love New Orleans food, but I don't know if Disney can do it justice. I think we would have heard the same complaints, too exotic/not exotic enough. It's like Mexican food at Disney; I just can't bring myself to eat it, since I live in Texas.

 

[Micca]

[QUOTE="soniam, post: 55041945, member: 432825". It's like Mexican food at Disney; I just can't bring myself to eat it, since I live in Texas.[/QUOTE]

I would bet that the overwhelming amount of Mexican food eaters in the U.S. prefer the "Tex-Mex" variety. Sure there is something to be said for authentic Mexican cuisine, but is that what most folks at WDW are seeking? No reason they couldn't offer both, especially considering how easy and CHEAP it is to make Tex-Mex dishes.

 

[Disneylover99]

1) When thy don't put the effort or the money into a place, it turns out like this.
2) Disney got lazy and cheap and this is what was the result.

So what do you think their fix should be? Overhaul the menu? Retrain the Skippers?

 

[Nancyg56]

So what do you think their fix should be? Overhaul the menu? Retrain the Skippers?

I have not been to the SC, so my suggestions are based solely on the reviews I have read.

First, I would add ADR's. Yes, we all know this place is open, but Disney has trained us well. Make ADR's ahead of time. Cancel in a timely manner or get charged a fee. Basically....plan ahead. This is a TS restaurant and most people need to book them ahead, so add it in.

Then I would take a hard look at the menu and the prices in relation to the serving sizes. There seems to be several that are sent back repeatedly. THE Chefs need to revisit those dishes and make some changes. I have seen photos of the meals. I would leave with buyers remorse, I think, so with my crew I am not choosing it at this time. The dishes are way too small for the prices, even for Disney price standards.

I would also add some traditional kids meals. My family is not difficult and we eat everywhere, but I need to know that if I have a little one in tow, I don't have to feed her bread. My DGD was game to try anything, but there were days when all she wanted was nuggets or that mac and cheese. My little ones who travel with us are the same, they eat just about anything, but I am not going to force them to eat some of what is on the menu. How difficult is it to keep a few bags of frozen nuggets and boxes of kraft on hand JIC?

Then I would work on the Skippers. You advertise Jungle Cruise Skippers, you need to produce. I realize it takes time, but it needs to be a part of the experience.


I am not sure that I would go so far as to say that Disney was lazy, but I will say that they missed a golden opportunity here. Look at BOG. People want more than character meals in the MK. They want more than buffet if they want a TS restaurant. If I had a voice in this restaurant, I would not have chosen JC, I would have chosen Pirates. But since that ship sailed, I would work on what I had and make this more of a signature style meal.
Not necessarily a 2 credit meal, but one that offered a real dining experience, good food with decent portions, and servers who were part of the experience. I would offer ADR's and honestly, I would offer a signature cocktail. I get the ban on alcohol...I really do, so I would not offer "hard" drinks, but some sort of punch or snagria style cocktail would be nice. Theh cocktail should be one that translates well to virgin versions, and it would be in a souvenir glass.

 

[Disneylover99]

I would not have chosen JC, I would have chosen Pirates.

This is the crux of it for me. I don't particularly like the JC or the corny jokes. But I was excited to have another TS option.

I think they need to offer ADR's and add an alcoholic signature drink.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

1) The new Skipper Canteen is somewhat of a disappointment.
. . . to guests
. . . to WDW
2) The word is out, and the attendance is not stellar.
. . . people are simply not lining up to gain access
. . . at other new eateries, people would stop by, eager to try it out
3) In fact, WDW wants Cast Members to make a special effort to actually recommend to guests that they attend!
4) We casually call this a "PUSH".
5) From our official notification:
"As a reminder, the Jungle Skipper Canteen, a new Adventureland eatery, is now open at Magic Kingdom Park. Please encourage Guests to visit the restaurant podium to inquire about availability. We are not currently offering reservations for this location.
With a storyline extending from the nearby Jungle Cruise attraction, this new table service dining adventure is like no other. The crew of the World Famous Jungle Cruise serve up a side of signature jungle skipper humor with every meal in one of three curiously quirky dining rooms. Dishes include grilled steak, head-on shrimp and a rice noodle bowl, topped off with vanilla chiffon cake or African-inspired chocolate cake for dessert. Themed, non-alcoholic specialty drinks such as the Punch Line Punch and Schweitzer Slush are an adventurous addition to any meal."

What is the reason for the bad reviews?
Bad food? Bad atmosphere? Bad prices? All of the above?

 

[Anal Annie]

What is the reason for the bad reviews?
Bad food? Bad atmosphere? Bad prices? All of the above?

Pretty much, yes. The food IMO is just OK and the prices are high for the quality / quantity. The atmosphere is OK but it seems that the servers are either really good "skippers" or they don't get into character at all and this leaves the entire experience lacking the magic everyone was hoping for. We would only return if they add it to the TIW card. It was our most expensive meal over the course of a week and there was no alcohol involved. It's simply not the kind of place that should be your most expensive meal over the course of a week!!!!!

 

[dkrauss]

I have not been to the SC, so my suggestions are based solely on the reviews I have read.

First, I would add ADR's. Yes, we all know this place is open, but Disney has trained us well. Make ADR's ahead of time. Cancel in a timely manner or get charged a fee. Basically....plan ahead. This is a TS restaurant and most people need to book them ahead, so add it in.

Completely agree...........a must do!

Then I would take a hard look at the menu and the prices in relation to the serving sizes. There seems to be several that are sent back repeatedly. THE Chefs need to revisit those dishes and make some changes. I have seen photos of the meals. I would leave with buyers remorse, I think, so with my crew I am not choosing it at this time. The dishes are way too small for the prices, even for Disney price standards.

Actually a good point...........didn't happen to us, but we were just excited to be there.

I would also add some traditional kids meals. My family is not difficult and we eat everywhere, but I need to know that if I have a little one in tow, I don't have to feed her bread. My DGD was game to try anything, but there were days when all she wanted was nuggets or that mac and cheese. My little ones who travel with us are the same, they eat just about anything, but I am not going to force them to eat some of what is on the menu. How difficult is it to keep a few bags of frozen nuggets and boxes of kraft on hand JIC?

Since I'm an old man ........didn't think about during our January visit. However when we visit with my niece and nephew in November it would help since they probably would prefer something more familiar.

Then I would work on the Skippers. You advertise Jungle Cruise Skippers, you need to produce. I realize it takes time, but it needs to be a part of the experience.

This issue should get better............in fact it must...........it should be the big reason to go!

Doug

 

[mrzrich]

I feel like most families have that one picky person who doesn't like "exotic" flavors. Most restaurants realize this and stick at least one "safe" item on the menu.

The chef who created this menu totally ignored that picky family member, which is a shame. By alienating "Mr Picky", the restaurant doesn't just lose that customer, they lose his wife "Mrs Adventurous", and their two kids "Jane Curry" and "Billy Siracha"

 

[PirateSAM]

Ate at JNC Skipper Canteen yesterday! It was a great experience and I will go back again later this week or next.

First off, YES, it's pricey...this is WDW afterall. We spend so much to vacation here, I find it silly to not have a good time and try new things because of price.
Yes, they don't serve alcohol. But I guess that I'm outside the norm because I don't need spirits to enjoy myself either.

My seater provided me with a quick tour and the back story of the place. She even pointed out her favorite highlight... err, the highly hung light! I was seated in the S.E.A. room. What a wonderful space. The seater pointed out the portrait of Dr. Albert Falls amongst the artifacts from his many adventures on display and told me the story behind it.

When my server arrived she was quite polite. She seemed as if she might play it straight because I was just a table of one. I was not going to let her off the hook. She took my order and off she went. I looked around the room and formulated my plan on how I was going to bring her out. You see, it's give and take, we all laugh at the corny one liners because it's fun to play along. Shortly, she returned with my bread and honey dip. Most people here have complained that they don't like it. That the flavors don't go well together. I would have to disagree! It is different, but very tasty.

This is when I set my plan into action. I pointed to the pieces on display opposite me and asked if she could tell me about one particular piece that I found quite interesting. I could see she was caught off guard by my inquiry. She apologized and said she didn't know the origin of the piece. But that Alberta Falls hadn't shared the back story on all the pieces as she was traveling and they had not received that information yet. Alberta was still cataloging all the artifacts from her grandfather's adventures and that they hoped to learn about that piece soon because she also found it interesting. (Good comeback! Kudos to her.)

After a short wait, the food runner brought my entrée, the Tastes Like Chicken...Because It Is. OMG. Absolutely delicious. Not too much, not too little. The portion was perfect. The vegetables, the rice... all of it tasty. My only complaint was with the dish...literally, the dish! Oddly shaped three-sided thing that made it very difficult to rest an eating utensil without it sliding down into the food. I ended up using the bread plate.

When my server returned to check on me, I provided her what I thought the origin of the artifact I inquired about may be. This is when she broke character and complimented me, saying she would have to use it if ever asked again because it was good story.

To finish my meal, of course I had to order the Kungaloosh! based on the recommendation of the guy from Huntsville sitting at the table next to me. His looked very decadent! One word - Mmmmm. What a wonderful concoction.

My compliments to the chef and all those at Skipper Canteen! What a great experience that I can't wait to have again!
My advice to fellow Disney-philes... try it out.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Doug,
It doesn't take, a trained Chef to interpret Macaroni, Spiced Meat and Bechamel, it screams Hamburger Helper. Granted,it may be exceptional Hamburger Helper, but I don't travel half way across the country to waste my time and my money for this type of offering. What I am trying to say, and evidently not very well is: with the talent of the many WDW chefs, surely they could do better. We may just have to agree to disagree.
Thumper

It's pastitsio, not hamburger helper. It's not a cheeseburger mac as the menu implies because it's not in cheese sauce. Pastitsio is often called greek lasagna. It has spiced ground meat layered with the bechamel and macaroni topped with cheese and then baked.

It's one of my favorite foods and I thought their version was delicious, but if I hadn't read on here that it was actually more of a pastitsio than a cheeseburger mac like the menu implies, I would have been a little disappointed.

 

[BudgieMama]

I love the look of the menu (although slightly concerned everything will be hot-spicy!) Spices I like, heat I don't!

It's provisionally in my plan for our August trip but only if we can get an ADR at that stage. I don't want to waste my time rocking up to be told to come back in a couple of hours or whatever. If I turn up to eat it's because I'm hungry. If there's much more than a 20 minute wait, I'll go to CS.

 

[happymommy]

It doesn't appeal to me. If they served adult drinks it would.

 

[DISNEYSC]

We went over Christmas but not sure we'll be back. It was pretty pricey. We loved the theming but I think we spent over $200 for lunch (party of 6). Glad we did it to "check the box" though and would recommend everyone give it a shot once.

 

[sleepydog25]

1) When thy don't put the effort or the money into a place, it turns out like this.
2) Disney got lazy and cheap and this is what was the result.

In a nutshell, this is spot on. It's as though Disney wasn't sure to play it safe or go full bore. As a result, they did neither. The food is decent but not memorable except in its blandness. The prices aren't awful, but they aren't commensurate with the level of food preparation even by Disney standards. That some of the servers joke and others don't (ours were solidly in the middle) suggests the training has been haphazard. Go all in or don't do it at all. As for ADRs, I give them a pass on this one, as in we don't mind not being able to get one at all. For years, people have hammered Disney dining for making ADRs so regimented and so necessary that the spontaneity has all but disappeared. So, they put out a new restaurant without ADRs. . .and they get slammed by the pro-ADR side. That's the classic no-win situation. I would do SC again, but I'm not in a hurry to do it again, and that's the issue. They haven't created a must-do eatery, just a maybe-do one. I'll say it again: they need to go all in or go safe.

 

[ellie05]

We ate there during the soft opening and we will go back next time we are in the MK. Our server was is character we got a lot of cheesy jokes and great interaction. The food was hands down the best TS we have had in the Mk. We had a couple of the appetizers they were all good although DH did say the sauce for the dumplings didn't pair off very well but overall he was satisfy with the appetizer. They had run out of mugs and ingredients of some of the speciality drinks which to me was unacceptable specially considering it was day 3 and they weren't even officially open. Clearly management drop the ball in that one. I really hope that they don't change the menu. I could not stand another burger, pasta place .


The lack of ADRs is a problem we had to make the decision to cancel BOG and hope it will be open and the wait time wouldn't be bad. We are glad we took the chance.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

So what do you think their fix should be? Overhaul the menu? Retrain the Skippers?

1) Overhaul the menu.
2) After all, it is a TS location.
3) I think Skipper retraining and enhancement will come along as the eatery matures.

 

[Anonymous Sandwich]

We have left a spot open in our plans next week to try this. Doesn't sound like there is a risk of not getting in!