Whispering Canyon Café

[mjlass11]

I posted this over on the restaurants board, but didn't get many responses, so was hoping for better luck here.

4 adults going to WDW for 4 days first week od December (have never been over holidays). One day we have dedicated to touring resorts and DHS and prefer to go to DHS during evening hours to see Osbourne lights. Is Whispering Canyon Café a good idea for late lunch? None of us need anything fancy. Have seen that Wilderness Lodge is a must see during the holidays. Any other suggestions on must see resorts/restaurants during holidays? Thanks

 

[Crystal_27]

We went for a late lunch at WCC in September, 2008 (during free dining last year) and it was a ghost town! There were maybe 6 other tables that were occupied. The food was still great, but the service (and the antics) were pretty absent. It was still a good choice, and I agree that seeing the WL decorated for the holidays is a must!

You might also want to check out the GF for the holidays (although I'd avoid 1900 Park Fare for dinner - - at all costs ). The GF has an incredible holiday display, including a huge gingerbread house.

 

[job09]

My kids didn't enjoy this rest. I was surprised but it was the least popular of all our meals. I would recommend going to 1900 Fare at the Grand Floridian, beautiful at xmas.

 

[Muushka]

We are not big fans of WCC for meals other than breakfast. But the WL has a great CS (Roaring Fork) that we have enjoyed many lunches at. They have freshly made salads (to order) and sandwiches. And from what I hear, their cup cakes are to die for. If it is nice outside, it is very pleasant to take your food out on the patio and enjoy the views.

WL is (to us anyway) the Christmas hotel. While GF is also not to be missed.
WL is more homey and GF is more, grand!
And they have that awesome gingerbread house.

 

[Anthony1971]

If you like a lot of meat the endless skillet is good-- Ribs and pulled pork were the best of what was given. The food is good BBQ style meat nothing fancy. I ate there once and would go back. Not the top of my list but if I were staying at VWL or am at the resort for some reason I would eat there again.

 

[Dizny Dad]

I'm with Muushka - Roaring Fork for Lunch.

We have only done WCC once. The food was OK but nothing to write home about. The service - you have to be in the mood for antics. I didn't like most, but will agree they would be fun for kids. (server throwing the straws up in the air when serving drinks, a small portion request that was absurdly tiny, etc.)

Your plan to visit the resorts for the Christmas decorations is a superb one! We enjoy it also. And the Osborne lights are so cool, it snows on you!

 

[DenLo]

We ate there with a group of eleven around 1:00 pm. By the time we finished there wasn't hardly anyone there. The food was good. I had a fish (I can't remember which one) that was pretty good. Everyone else enjoyed their food. The antics were hit and miss. If a member of your party enjoys joking with the wait staff the more fun occurs. It does get pretty noisy when the kids are riding around on the stick ponies. We'd go for it again.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

If you like a lot of meat the endless skillet is good-- Ribs and pulled pork were the best of what was given. The food is good BBQ style meat nothing fancy. I ate there once and would go back. Not the top of my list but if I were staying at VWL or am at the resort for some reason I would eat there again.

My thoughts exactly. We enjoyed it well enough and would go back although there are many places we would go to first, but our experience there was just fine.

 

[iluveeyore]

This is a favourite place of ours, and during the holidays it's even better. We always go for a late lunch, as it's much cheaper than dinner time to get the All-you-care-to-eat skillet - includes chicken, sausage, ribs, baked beans, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and wonderful corn bread. We also like that the antics are a bit less at lunch time as we're there to eat and enjoy the lobby decor. I would choose that if I were you - you'll enjoy the food and the atmosphere. You can see the tree in the lobby from anywhere you sit in WCC. Then you could take the boat or a bus over to MK and take the monorail to the Grand Floridian to see the lobby there - the gingerbread house is a must-see.
Enjoy - I'll be there Dec. 13-16 and can't wait to show my Dad the decorations with my sister for his birthday!

 

[mjlass11]

Thanks everyone!!!!!

 

[backyardponder]

Make sure you have one kid order a glass of Pepsi. Also, make sure another kid asks for ketchup.

Edited: Well, I just saw OP isn't taking any kids. That's ok. Do it anyway!

 

[tp1830]

I went to WCC for breakfast and was so impressed that i went back for dinner...what a total opposite experience.

Breakfast was SUPER awesome...beyond my wildest imagination...the food was good but the service was amazing. Dinner, on the other hand, was a super disappointment. (never been there for lunch)

I'd say to go for a late breakfast...its closing down and that gives more time for the fun stuff.

One note...if MT is there (thats her name)...make sure you wait and wait and wait, but have her as the server. She is by far the funniest person you'll ever meet. Its not too bad of a wait...but she is definitely worth it. Make sure you read up on the thigns to ask/say/do while you're there...it'll enhance your experience 10x.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Well, since DD and I both got food poisoning at WCC dinner last year, I can't recommend it! Perhaps the breakfast is better. We didn't find the service to be all that great. The lobby was gorgeous, though! I'm sure it's even more so at Christmas. Enjoy touring the resorts! What a great idea.

 

[mjlass11]

I think I'm going to book a late lunch, hopefully the antics aren't too bad (some will be fun). We all like BBQ, plus it's on TIW. I hope I don't get too much ribbing becaue I do like Ketchup I will definitely post a TR afterwards

 

[sleepydog25]

WL is my favorite place to go, but I've tried WCC twice with both experiences rating a subpar grade. The food is decent, but not what I'd call good, and service both times (two different years) was simply put, awful. Granted, others have tried and loved WCC, but it's just not a place I can recommend, especially for the price you will pay. As a couple of others have mentioned, you'd be better off grabbing a sandwich or salad at Roaring Forks (just down the hallway from WCC) and taking them outside if the weather is nice.

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

We had an impromptu lunch here just on Aug. 23.
We had tried to secure a reservation here for dinner, but with free dining, it was totally booked. So on our check in day (at VWL) we decided to just walk up and see if we could be seated. It was around 2 pm and it was pretty empty. We were seated within 10 minutes. The food was excellent, very fresh. I loved the ribs! I enjoyed dining there for lunch, as someone mentioned earlier, there aren't as many antics going on!

 

[islandtimect]

If you're looking for beautiful decorations at the resorts, don't forget to visit Jambo House. The Xmas tree was a spectacular 4 stories with unique decorations. We had our family's Xmas photo taken in front of it spur of the moment.

 

[ToddyLu]

Last Dec was our first time eating here. We had reservations at 4:45 or 5p.m. Got seated before the dinner crowd. When things started getting loud we already had our food and becasue we were 4 adults the antics were spent on the tables with kids. The food was great. Actually the steak I had there was better, IMO, than the one I had a Ca Grill. I liked it so much that we have it booked on 10/31 at 5p.m. before the MNSSHP. The resort is beautiful. I would do like the other posters and have a late lunch or early dinner.

 

[smep013]

I woud not recommend this restaurant unless you really like the idea of the all-you-care-to-enjoy BBQ skillet. It is tasty.

That being said, I have had two subpar experiences there and will not return.

One was lunch, was service was fine, but the restaurant was dirty, and the other was a dinner, which was my worst Disney Dining Experience EVER! Bad service, really bad. They did comp our meal and the manager made every attempt to smooth it over, so that was appreciated, but it just leaves a very sour taste in my mouth!

If you are heading over to Wilderness Lodge to see the decor - why not do lunch at another nearby resort - like Kona at Poly or at GF?

 

[DisneyDreamers2007]

This is my DH's favorite restaurant in WDW, so we have and will in the future always visit WCC. Late lunch is a great option because the restaurant is uncrowded, the prices are better than dinner and you can use your DVC card for a 10% discount at lunch!

Going for dinner is fun too...afterwards you can walk out to the lagoon & watch the electrical parade go by & then take the boat to MK (time it so that you are watching the fireworks from the boat for a special treat)!