Food Favorite: Whispering Canyon Cafe

Over the course of the past couple of years, I've shared my favorites about Walt Disney World. It's no secret that I'm slightly obsessed with Ohana and all things bread pudding with bananas foster sauce. However, I do have other food favorites around Walt Disney World - one of them being Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney's Wilderness Lodge.

It's been a few years since I've eaten here, but I do love it for all three meals - breakfast, lunch, and dinner! 

Tucked just inside the grand lobby of the Wilderness Lodge is Whispering Canyon Cafe. If you happen to visit the lodge during meal times, you can't miss it!

Don't be alarmed by your server's name - they are in it to have a great time and you will too! The servers here are full of shenanigans and will leave you laughing until your side hurts!

Hands down, my favorite menu item is the "Skillet". It's an all-you-care-to-eat style option and comes with an assortment of great food items.

For breakfast, the skillet includes: Scrambled Eggs, Western Home Fries, Bacon, Sausage, Waffles, Buttermilk Biscuits, and Sausage Gravy.

For lunch, the skillet includes: Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Roasted Glazed Chicken, and Western-style Sausage served with Mashed Yukon Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, and Cowboy-style Baked Beans.

 
Finally, for dinner, the skillet includes: Mixed Greens tossed in an Apple Vinaigrette Dressing and Fresh-baked Cornbread (not pictured). Featuring Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Roasted Glazed Chicken, Beef Brisket, and Western-style Sausage served with Seasonal Farm Fresh Vegetables, Mashed Yukon Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, and Cowboy-style Baked Beans.

Apart from a slice of smores cake for dessert (which I don't have a picture of), I haven't tried any additional food options from this restaurant - although looking over their menu definitely makes my mouth water!

Another fun option here are the milkshakes - you can order a milk shake as your drink and it's also "all-you-care-to-enjoy"!

Not that anyone NEEDS that much sugar, but it sure is fun to order a refill! :) 

It's been a while since I've visited and this restaurant is included in our plans for February. I can't wait to go back!

Remember that "good time" I mentioned above? Well, if you need ketchup, your server might make you ask for it...really loudly...as in to the entire restaurant. You might end up with 12 bottles of ketchup on your table!! 

Also, if you've just run your very first full marathon that morning and can hardly move by the evening, they might make you stand and do the hokey pokey. Yep. True story.

The food options here make for a GREAT post-runDisney race meal, by the way!

We were told to "hold up our medals". Well, my husband thought he would be funny and hold up his "metal"...aka his fork. Lordy...see what I live with?! 

This restaurant is definitely best when visited with friends. Your servers will make sure you have a good time and laugh until your sides hurt! You won't leave disappointed, that's for sure!

Have you ever tried Whispering Canyon Cafe? If so, did you like it? What's your favorite meal to eat here?

Dinner at Be Our Guest (Without A Reservation)

Ever tried obtaining a dinner reservation for Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom without any luck? Me too. Called 180 days in advance at exactly 6 a.m. and everything was booked? Yep, same here.

This past November, the unbelievable happened…let me tell you my story.

We spent the Monday after the Wine & Dine Half at the Magic Kingdom with our friends. We also happened to have MVMCP tickets for that evening and we had early dinner reservations for Liberty Tree Tavern. Around 4 p.m., someone suggested that we “try” at the Be Our Guest Reservation desk to see if they had any availability. I was incredibly skeptical from start to finish – a table for SIX? Yeah, right…ok sure.

Two of our friends had eaten at Be Our Guest for dinner in the past and were able to obtain seating right as they opened (around 4 p.m.) without a reservation.

We approached the reservation desk and were told that we had to check with the cast members who were standing in front of the castle gates for availability. We walked around and asked if they had any openings for a table of six (long shot, right?)….they checked their books, then said….YES! Wait…WHAT? They said YES? I am pretty sure I died and went to heaven right then and there.

Just like that, we were IN! I’d eaten at BOG for lunch (quick service) but never dinner so this was definitely a treat for me (and all of those in our group)! The Cast Member who seated us was super sweet and even allowed one of the children in our group…or grown adult children, whatever…to hold Lumiere as we walked  to our table. It was rather cute.

Oh yes, and about our Liberty Tree Tavern reservations, they were taken care of! We were on the Dining Plan and since we were using our DP credits somewhere and didn’t just bail completely, and we notified the cast member at check in, we didn’t receive a charge.

The castle was gorgeous and even decorated for the Christmas holidays! A perfect way to start our evening at MVMCP!

After we were seated, our waiter told us that we could walk around, take pictures, and enjoy the castle!

I loved the snow!

This garland along the wall was another favorite of mine!

Before long, dinner was served!

I had the pork with cauliflower “mashed potatoes” and asparagus. Y’all, this was delicious.

Jason had the Grilled Strip Steak with veggies and steak fries. He really liked his as well!

Before long, it was time for one of the best parts of the meal…dessert!

Our waiter came around to our table with this cart and we were able to choose our desserts from there. (I like the “look and see” aspect!)

Jason chose a holiday special, the egg nog cupcake.

I ordered the Grey Stuff (of course)! It was delicious (obviously)!

On our way out, we stopped at the library to tell the Beast thank you for being a great host!

We had a wonderful dinner and the “surprise” element of it all made that much better! The power of Disney Magic!

Moral of the story: if you’ve tried all other outlets (calling 180 days in advance at 6 a.m., calling repeatedly after that, etc.), just ASK once you arrive. All they can say is no….you have a 50/50 chance of having them say yes! :) If you don’t have a reservation, I do recommend arriving at the reservation desk as soon as they open (at 4 p.m.).

Have you ever eaten at Be Our Guest? What were your thoughts? Did you love it/hate it?