Whispering Canyon

[dlnsmmy1]

I am looking for a review from disers who were recently at whispering canyon restaurant at wilderness lodge. We are staying at the lodge in August and would like to go there for lunch/dinner. However my mom and dad went a year or so ago and she was embarrassed to tears by one of the waiters antics and left without eating. I don't mind a little fun and humor but I think this person went too far. She noticed that if you asked for ketchup they brought you a table full, and then apparently that person had to give out the ketchup to any customers that asked for some then on. Well my mom went to the table to retrieve the ketchup or something like that, anyway the waiter made a huge deal about it, pointed her out to the entire restaurant (at this point she is still playing along) he then proceeds to hand her a stick pony and told her she had to ride it around the lobby saying I will not steal ketchup. Not wanting to make more of a scene around herself she obliged. When she returned he told her she was not loud enough and had to do it again. (this is the point where she stopped playing) My mom is a very quiet person and the waiter refused to leave her alone until she did it again. She quickly ran through the lobby and when she got back to my dad picked up her purse and walked out, bursting into tears. They left without eating a bite. Since then I have been very hesitant myself to go there but since we are staying at the resort it will be the most convenient place to ear. So I was wondering if they are still as over the top as they used to be or have they toned it down a little? Thanks for any info you have.

 

[daisyduck123]

We just are there on May 15, dinner, 6:30pm ADR for a group of 8.

We did not see any adults embarassed like that...although there was a little girl celebrating her 6th b-day & they called over all the little boys to sing happy b-day to her (my DS9 included). About 15 boys came over. After singing, the CM asked them to each give her a b-day kiss. You should've seen how quickly some of those boys turned around & walked back to their tables!! One little boy did kiss her hand, btw.

Anyway, I'm sorry that happened to your mother. That's awful!

 

[Lynne M]

It's still the same. Some say that the wait staff can tell who doesn't want to 'play', and will leave them alone, but as you discovered, that's not always the case.

My friend wanted to have breakfast there when we stayed at VWL in March, because, as you said, it's the most convenient restaurant. We told the host that we didn't want to participate, and wanted to sit in the back 'quiet' section behind the wall. He stuck us right in the middle of the action, so you can't count on that either.

I think that sometimes the staff assumes that if you go there, you must want to play along. Given your mother's past bad experience, I'd avoid the place like the plague if I were you. She's bound to be nervous, waiting for something to happen.

Consider the Trail's End buffet at FW, or the Concourse Steakhouse at CR. Both are a short, pleasant boat ride away. And room service is excellent at WL.

If you absolutely must dine at WCC, I'd make sure to tell the host and your server, very clearly, that you DO NOT want to 'play along' in any way.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We were there in December for dinner. I think our waiter kept the antics at just the right level. He tossed some cocktail napkins and straws at us after taking our drink order. He could tell that I was into it because I kept asking for more straws and he kept throwing them at us. When our boys needed ketchup, the guests from another table brought us all of their (about 30 bottles). Within 5 minutes, a table yelled for ketchup and we took them all but one of the bottles (in case the boys wanted more). That was the end of our ketchup obligation.

I think the waiter could tell that our 11 year old was a little leery of the jokes. Our son has Asperger's Syndrome and he tends to take things very seriously. He thought the ketchup was funny but he didn't want to help us take it to the other table (he doesn't like approaching strangers). He shot a few comments at the waiter here and there and I think the waiter picked up on the fact that he wasn't so much into jokes. The waiter did bring him the giant glass of Sprite when he asked for seconds but didn't push any other jokes with him. I think it was just the right amount of fun for us!

 

[lou7401]

This place isn't funny - I can't see the humour at all frankly. My kids were mildly amused at a few things but overall it wasn't something that we enjoyed. The food was so-so.

It's not that we are humourless or don't like these sorts of places - we love the Dick's Last Resort chain where they are rude and make you wear embarrassing hats - but WC is just plain stupid.

There are so many better places at WDW. But each to their own!!

 

[kapoof]

if you had such a bad eperince last time i wouldn't even think about returning. i can't imagine putting up with such nonsense. i think a bit of fun and silliness is fine, but to resort people to tears...good heavens!

 

[KMZOB]

I just made reservations for our first night there to celebrate our anniversary (not a romantic dinner I know, but a family one ) I am hoping they are not overbearing. I had heard that they were fun and a little silly. I don't want our dinner ruined.

 

[budbeerlady]

If you still really want to go there I have been reading that lunch is less lively than dinner. We have a lunch ADR, I hope there is some silly but not too much.

 

[garris3404]

If you are shy and that type of atmosphere bothers you, don't go. Also avoid 50's Primetime Cafe. We went on our last trip for dinner. We had a blast. The kids did the ketchup thing twice. The food was OK.

 

[danielle782001]

We have been several times for all three meals. We really enjoy the food and atmosphere. It is noisey and the servers are "characters" but we have never experienced problems like some that are being described here. I agree, lunch times seems a bit more calm. Yes, they make a big deal out of the ketchup- it does come from every table when you ask for it. So we don't ask the server... We just ask a table near us for it. The kids are invited up for the pony races, but my son was left alone when he declined. My boys are well- behaved when they go because they are into watching all that is going on around them. The food has been great every time we have been (at least we think it is good). The menu is a bit limited and it is not fancy! We enjoy the breakfast the most. The nachos on the lunch/ dinner menu are fantastic.

We have ADR for our trip in October. We feel that we cannot miss it if we are staying there.

 

[Tam1067]

We had a lackluster server last time, and mediocre food. I think the servers are not always so good at judging the guests. On our most recent trip (we have eaten there three times), my kids would have loved to play along or be teased, and our server did nothing beyond tossing a few straws on the table. It all depends on the server, and you cannot guarantee the type you'll get there. What you mom experienced is really awful, but I can say I never saw anything that outrageous.

I did read that about a year ago, the management there toned down the behavior considerably. We could tell that compared to previous visits, the last one was more subdued overall, though it's still noisy and the kids still run pony races.

We also found the quality of food had declined a lot since our previous visits there, so we won't be returning.

It's possible your mom went before the toning down went into effect because the timeframe you're describing is about a year ago. And apparently, they toned it down because a lot of guests were upset.

 

[holcomb-mania]

I go to restaurants for the food, not entertainment. We like WCC and go almost every trip. The wait staff there can't force you to do something you don't want to do.

IMO, based purely on the OPs post, don't go. If the food isn't enough to get you there, and you are actually worried about being harrassed against your will, don't go.

 

[pozey]

If you are shy and that type of atmosphere bothers you, don't go. Also avoid 50's Primetime Cafe. We went on our last trip for dinner. We had a blast. The kids did the ketchup thing twice.

I agree with this......if you are shy......don't go.

As for my family.......we LOVE IT!!

My DW has had to ride the stick pony around the restaurant singing "Happy Birthday" to my son.

It is funny how people's perception and opinions vary.... Some say they go too far, others say they get no interaction at all. Every visit and every customer is different.

 

[dlnsmmy1]

Thank you to everyone for your replies. My mom did go before the toning down happened. We heard that alot of people had complained at that they were supposed to be making some changes. My mom will not be with us on this trip. just my husband and two kids ages 6 and 3. They would love kid pony races, and I don't mind those sort of antics either. I will have to think about this one. Maybe we will try lunch and see how it goes.

 

[kimis]

We eat there every Feb for lunch. We love it. I have never noticed anyone embarresed to tears but I do have a very shy granddaughter so I can understand that it can happen. Give it a try--just keep your mom out of the limelight or tell the waiters beforehand not to talk to her. enjoy

 

[highlander]

Aww, come on! Live it up a little. Stop taking everything so seriously. You're never going to see the people in the restaurant again and it's rare that we're all able to let out hair down, laugh at ourselves and others, and have something fun to talk about for months after.

Take your kids for breakfast. Ask for M.T. Wallet. She's very loud, can be abrasive, but also very perceptive and gentle with children. My daughter hated her at 5, was a little afraid at 7, loved her at 8, and we have pictures with MT each year to remember her by.

I had to ride the pony too. That's what happens when you want to try to match wits. If you tell the server up front, before you sit down, that someone in your party might want to just observe instead of participate, they all will take that into account. My sister couldn't be more conservative and uptight, and I tipped MT off to that and she was wonderful in how she dealt with our entire party.

I say go and get in the flow with the staff. Talk to your neighbors in the restaurant. Ask for ketchup. Have your kids get up from the table 5 times so that they get tied to their chair. Ask how many times they reuse the coffee grounds. Try to get yourself put in jail. Find some reason to keep the conversation moving with the servers.

Isn't that why we go to Disney World - to have fun?

 

[summerlandjeff]

We had lunch at WCC on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007.
We enjoyed the food, especially the ribs and corn bread, the "antics" were OK, not anything outrageous, but the service was sub-par, no just plain bad.

After being seated, our waitress took a full 10 minutes to stop by and take our drink order and fill us in on the restaurant (this was our first trip). Once the drinks were ordered, it took another 10 minutes to serve them. Then we waited again a good 15 minutes for her to come back to take our food order! What's the deal, we thought. Is this part of the "act". Once the food was ordered we enjoyed watching the goings on, and thoroughly enjoyed the food. But wait, something's missing????...... Oh yey, were is our waitress ? A half hour after our meal was served she stopped back to offer dessert. Yikes, I thought, how long will this take? Another 15 minutes was the answer. How about the check? Tack on another 15 minutes and she showed up with, you guessed it, the wrong check!!! We got the check almost an hour and forty-five minutes after walking in! I don't know if she was new, over worked or just confused but that was hands down the worst service I've encountered in Disney !!

It will be a while before the memory of that trip wears off enough to return to WCC!

 

[dreamin_disney]

i feel for your poor mom. I would have walked out too. I think the fun should be to a point. Like the long straw, large mug etc but when everyone in the resturant has been called to focus on one person, i think it too much. The pony races should be for those who want race. We are going for the 1st time not for the antics but for the all u care to eat skillet. I was thinking of asking df to ask for ketchup but didnt realize he's have to pass them back out.

? do i just ask for tomato sauce in a bottle?

 

[vicki_c]

As one who recently made 2 circuits on the stick pony around the WCC yelling Yippee-Cai-Ay (to bail my DS out of jail), I thought it was a little much. I played along, but have no need to go back again very soon. Now I need to find DH's video of the whole event before he puts it on his MySpace page. I told him there could be a divorce in his future...

PS - this was 2 weeks ago, and I didn't find it toned down at all - can't imagine what it was like if it was toned up more than it was!

 

[sanapunk]

If you don't want to be involved in the antics, you can asked to be seated away from the main dining room. We went in Sept. and were seated in the farthest area from everything. They still made fun jokes with us, brought my byofriend a huge jug of soda! But we didn't feel uncomfortable.