We had dinner at the Whispering Canyon Café on July 16. We saved this place until the end of our trip because wed eaten there twice on our last WDW trip in 2003 (we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge that time) and loved both the antics and the food.
This time, I was overall disappointed. The food, while decent, was not at all memorable or even as good as Crystal Palace or Chef Mickeys.
For an appetizer, I ordered the salad and received a plate of mostly iceberg with a basic vinaigrette dressing. We were on the DDP, but if Id paid the menu price, I would have been quite steamed at spending over $7.00 (yes, thats right) on a mediocre salad.
The kids had grilled cheese and chicken fingers, all standard Disney fare and what one would expect. DH ordered meatloaf which he liked and couldnt finish. I ordered grouper and did not enjoy it much. It was okay, certainly, but just not nearly as good as the meals wed had earlier in the week at Kona Café, Mama Melrose and Ohana. The fish was bland and overcooked. On the contrary, on our previous trip, I had ordered a special (not on the regular menu at WCC) which was also grouper but just so delicious and much different than this one.
Desserts were a disappointment as well (maybe wed been spoiled by Kona!). I ordered chocolate cake which was very standard cake. DH had an apple pie with ice cream which was again decent but not special. The kids had worms in dirt which they liked.
There has been much written about the atmosphere here as well. Because wed visited in the past, I was hoping for a good time but also aware of what I'd read on these boards about those antics being toned down. I definitely noticed a change since the last time.
Our server was certainly pleasant enough, but the extent of the antics we witnessed included our server halfheartedly tossing our straws on the table, kids calling for ketchup, and a teenage girl at another table being told to sing Happy Birthday to her brother. There were pony races, but the kids activities were almost non-existent compared to those at Ohana.
On the contrary, when we visited on our previous trip, the servers almost seemed to be competing with each other about how to engage the guests. Even the food was better before. Unless we were staying at WL, I would not make a special trip over to the Whispering Canyon, which is really sad because it was one of our favorites before.
This time, I was overall disappointed. The food, while decent, was not at all memorable or even as good as Crystal Palace or Chef Mickeys.
For an appetizer, I ordered the salad and received a plate of mostly iceberg with a basic vinaigrette dressing. We were on the DDP, but if Id paid the menu price, I would have been quite steamed at spending over $7.00 (yes, thats right) on a mediocre salad.
The kids had grilled cheese and chicken fingers, all standard Disney fare and what one would expect. DH ordered meatloaf which he liked and couldnt finish. I ordered grouper and did not enjoy it much. It was okay, certainly, but just not nearly as good as the meals wed had earlier in the week at Kona Café, Mama Melrose and Ohana. The fish was bland and overcooked. On the contrary, on our previous trip, I had ordered a special (not on the regular menu at WCC) which was also grouper but just so delicious and much different than this one.
Desserts were a disappointment as well (maybe wed been spoiled by Kona!). I ordered chocolate cake which was very standard cake. DH had an apple pie with ice cream which was again decent but not special. The kids had worms in dirt which they liked.
There has been much written about the atmosphere here as well. Because wed visited in the past, I was hoping for a good time but also aware of what I'd read on these boards about those antics being toned down. I definitely noticed a change since the last time.
Our server was certainly pleasant enough, but the extent of the antics we witnessed included our server halfheartedly tossing our straws on the table, kids calling for ketchup, and a teenage girl at another table being told to sing Happy Birthday to her brother. There were pony races, but the kids activities were almost non-existent compared to those at Ohana.
On the contrary, when we visited on our previous trip, the servers almost seemed to be competing with each other about how to engage the guests. Even the food was better before. Unless we were staying at WL, I would not make a special trip over to the Whispering Canyon, which is really sad because it was one of our favorites before.
), but I'm not sure if I should cancel and just dine in the Roaring Fork and use my TS for another restaurant... I know as a family we will not be involved in the sillyness of the place, just watching (we're kind of shy 
).
