It’s been months of waiting and wondering since the moment it was announced… but at last, the wait is OVER.
Welcome, Adventurers, to the Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen!!
That’s right, Jungle Cruisers! The Skipper Canteen is currently in soft openings! (Remember, soft opening means that there are no guarantees that the restaurant will be in operation during your visit and is not currently accepting Advance Dining Reservations. But, it IS occasionally open for walk-ups during this still-in-testing period!)
The official opening of the Jungle Skipper Canteen is set for Wednesday, December 16th.
No word yet on when Advance Dining Reservations will be accepted, and we’ll look forward to keeping you posted. But we know that you’re itching to see what’s behind the doors of the Canteen as much as we were. And far be it from us to keep any of you hungry Jungle Cruiser Passengers waiting any longer!
After all, the WORLD FAMOUS Jungle Cruise Skippers are eagerly awaiting your arrival…
Skipper Canteen Entrance
Atmosphere
Alberta Falls welcomes you to the Jungle Skipper Canteen! Alberta, of course, is the granddaughter of Dr. Albert Falls, the founder of the Jungle Navigation Company, which was originally a cargo shipping venture.
Dr. Albert Falls
When cargo business took a downturn, Alberta decided to open up cruises to passengers, thanks to the suggestion of one of her Skippers. (Perhaps you’ve been on one yourself 😉 ?)
Skipper Canteen Story
The success of the Jungle Cruise business was so great that Alberta decided to open up the home offices to hungry cruise passengers, pre-or-post cruise!! And that’s where YOU come in…
Jungle Cruise passengers are seated in one of three rooms. We’ll start our quick look around in the Crew’s Mess Hall…
Crew’s Mess Hall
Crew’s Mess Hall
Crew’s Mess Hall
Crew’s Mess Hall
Crew’s Mess Hall
Don’t forget to check out the crew’s bulletin board while you’re there!
Crew’s Bulletin Board
Crew’s Bulletin Board
Crew’s Bulletin Board
Perhaps you’ll be seated in the more ornate Falls Family Parlor.
Falls Family Parlor
Falls Family Parlor
Falls Family Parlor
Falls Family Parlor
Falls family history will teach you that Dr. Falls was a member of the Society of Adventurers and Explorers, or S.E.A., and he used to host fellow members in the once-hidden Secret Meeting Room of the S.E.A.
S.E.A. Room
S.E.A. Room Seating
S.E.A. Room
S.E.A. Room
FYI — here’s one of the best seats in the house!
S.E.A. Room
S.E.A. Room
And what’s a Jungle Cruise passenger supposed to nosh on in such surroundings? We know you’ve been waiting…
Eats
As promised, “World Famous Jungle Cuisine” is on the menu at the Skipper Canteen! So what does that mean, exactly? Let’s take a closer look, section by section! (By the way, the menu is the same for both lunch and dinner at the moment, and both meals are table service.)
The beverage menu features a mix of hot and cold drinks, including the headliner Punch Line Punch (‘cuz what’s any Jungle Cruise without one or eighty or those 😉 ) and Schweizter Slush! Note that there is NO ALCOHOL on the menu currently. Those Moscow Mule cups are just for show.
Beverage menu
Schweitzer Slush in Souvenir mug
Schweitzer Slush in Souvenir mug
Appetizers include the Falls Family Falafel and the S.E.A Shiu Mai.
Appetizer Menu
S.E.A Shu Mai
S.E.A Shu Mai
The entree choices are impressively extensive! We tried the Char Siu Pork, the Skip’s Mac and Cheese, and the “Tastes Like Chicken” Because It Is!
Entree menu
Char Siu Pork
Skip’s Mac and Cheese
Skip’s Mac and Cheese with Spiced Ground Beef
“Tastes Like Chicken” Because It Is!
And we can’t forget the lil’ Skippers…
Kids Menu
Hope you’re still hungry, passenger, because we’ve got dessert!
Dessert Menu cover
Dessert Menu
Now how could we possibly resist ordering ANYTHING by the name of Kungaloosh?!?
Kungaloosh Dessert
Kungaloosh Dessert
We also grabbed the Sugar-Crusted Congee Pudding and the Coconut Bar with Pineapple-Basil Compote and Vanilla Cream.
Sugar-Crusted Congee Pudding
Coconut Bar with Pineapple Basil Compote and Vanilla Cream
Oh, and here’s one more thing before we go 😉 …
The Backside of the Menu
(C’mon… you had to know that joke would make it’s way in this place somewhere 😉 ).
Overall
Well, THIS is where we leave you hangin’… because there’s so much more to see and taste! We hope you’ve enjoyed this first look, and we can’t wait to bring you our full review SOON!!
What do you think of the Skipper Canteen so far? Please let us know with a comment!
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This post has me totally excited and hoping I’ll be able to score an ADR for my June trip.
The menu actually looks really good- exactly what Magic Kingdom needed.
From the pictures, the decor and theme-ing doesn’t look all that impressive- not the super immersive stuff Disney is capable of doing so well. I’m holding out hope that being there in person is a different story. Excited to eat here, hopefully in January!
Thanks for the super quick article- as always, you guys are on top of it! 🙂
Brings back memories of the Adventures’ Club!
Hugely disappointing that there are no alcoholic specialty drinks. I wont even bother going.
Is this a table service meal on the dining plan? Also looks amazing!! Sounds like there are some good vegan options 🙂
I don’ need to drink at my meals, so I’ll be very happy to try this new eatery.
We just got back three weeks ago so this will have to go on our list for next trip. I wondered if they would serve alcohol, but maybe they are mindful of the controversy that blew up around serving wine and beer at BOG. I agree with Essie; don’t need alcohol to enjoy the food and beverages offered. We enjoy a drink now and then, but we’ll have plenty of opportunities elsewhere in the World. Food looks good though!
I’m a little bit torn about this place. We are going in late January so I would probably be able to snag an ADR. Based on the menu, this is definitely a place me and DH would try. But that kids menu looks a little adventurous for my somewhat picky three-year-old. She wouldn’t eat mac & cheese with beef in it, nor would she eat fish or soup. I wonder if they could make the mac without beef. Hmmmm I will have to think about this one….
This fits very well within MK which needs eateries with a diversified menu. My family an I will make this a must do in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the nice write-up AJ.
what does the p.s. say at the end of the skipper story – the logo is blocking it.
Rachel- it says Ps: thatvwas rude, please get out.
Went there this morning, the theming in the mess hall was more basic, the other rooms, however, were incredible. The food was quite food, all the skippers were in top form, and would definitely come back!
Some of the offerings sound pretty good. I want to go in to see the parrot light fixture alone!
This looks great! We’re not a ‘hamburgers and chicken fingers’ family. This restaurant gives an update that the Magic Kingdom really needed- an expansion into more international flavors. I was also excited to see an allergy free menu with lots of options. Bravo!
Looks like fun! And although I like a drink with my meal, it’s no big deal that I can’t get one while at MK (except at dinner at BiG). Can’t wait to visit. The Kungaloosh looks great – except for the banana. Is it only on top?
Completely changes the backstory of the Jungle River Navigation Company as originally written.
Looks pretty good. Not many restaurants in MK are all that interesting to us. This might make us finally do a table service restaurant here.
My husband and I are so excited, both by the memories of the adventurer’s club and the great fun of the jungle cruise twists. Can’t wait!
Awesome! I’ve been hoping this re-imagining of the Adventureland Verandah would be a full-time table service location, and that it would offer some unique new dishes. I can’t wait to read the full review, and to try it out myself next month.
I totally <3 this whole set-up!! From the authentic decor, the parrot chandelier, the serving vessels, the drinks in the copper and of course THE food!! Yes, the food is a perfect fit! Can you give up the name of the chefs responsible for such a great venue? Let's give them credits due, celebrities in their own right! Thanks Disney for keeping the parks and dining alive!! … a fellow cook ; )
I have been checking for this update everyday. I knew this would happen that they would open up reservations while I’m on my Disney cruise and I won’t be able to make them. I really want a reservation for 12/20, but don’t get off the ship until 12/18. Maybe not too many people will know about this yet and I’ll get lucky.
Went to see it today! Couldn’t stay to eat and asked if they would be taking reservations since we would be back in MK tomorrow and they told us that they are going to be a walk up only restaurant, not taking any reservations ever. Looked great though, and can’t wait to try it tomorrow! Also, the skipper we talked to was in character the whole time even though we were just asking questions, which I greatly appreciated.
This looks delicious! Too bad there is nothing on the kid’s menu that my picky daughter would even think about eating, so I will probably not get a chance to go here.
Great write up AJ and DFB Team.
This menu just does not hold any appeal to me at all…however, to each his own. I am hoping the new will attract people and I can get reservations at some of my other favorite places.
Why does it say Dr. Falls was a member of the Society of Adventurers and Explorers, but lists the acronym as “S.E.A.”? It seems it should be “S.A.E.”.
This is definitely on my “To Try” list on my next trip. It sounds wonderful!
Yay! Happy to see a creative looking vegetarian item on there – that acorn squash with the curry stew in it looks great!
I wonder if the Pho with the Tofu option would be vegetarian – anybody know?
Thanks for the preview. I’m glad they’re not serving alcohol. I don’t need it with my meal and I don’t think alcohol should be served at Magic Kingdom anyway. Plenty of fun without it and keeps MK more child oriented. Menu looks good. Also glad to see vegetarian options. Wondering what is gluten free on the menu. Does anyone know?
Menu looks really good, and really excited about S.E.A.getting incorporated into the theming. You can find some more references at BTMRR and at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar state side.
Oh my oh my it looks so good! I’m a foodie through and through and I’m looking forward to eating here!
I agree what others said about the kids menu. I see this not going over well with the vast majority of kids. Hopefully they will change this a little or add something a little more traditional from a kids menu.
The Kungaloosh! dessert looks great, but the original Kungaloosh! drink from the Adventurer’s Club was mostly orange/strawberry, with some blackberry thrown in.
I gotta say I’m a bit disappointed at first glance. Seeing as this is a restaurant for jungle skippers I was expecting less of a ‘fancified menu’.
I always thought I was open minded when it comes to trying new things, unfortunately nothing on this menu looks appealing to me. That Sucks.
Have they announced if this will be included in the Tables in Wonderland discount?
The food looks ok but at a premium price. I am going to pass. I couldn’t find anything that interest me on the menu.
This is a welcome addition to the restaurant options in MK. So many have flatbread pizzas, burgers or hot dogs and overall are bland. We like to expand our horizons when on vacation and even in Disney World. I can get the other stuff at Applebee’s anywhere so why not be an adventurer even if it is just make believe.
We’re adventurous eaters, but this menu does nothing for me. Seems to scattered, unfocused. We’ll be skipping the Skipper. But that just means more open tables for you!
Not going to lie …. I think I have the same glasses chalices.
I love the kids menu options. My little ones get very tired of burgers and chicken nuggets. This looks great!
We ate at Skipper Canteen yesterday and loved it. The beef in the arepas appetizer was amazing, although I though the portion of beef and black beans overwhelmed the two small corn cakes. My mother and I both had the barbecue pork tenderloin, which was the best dish we tasted on a trip that also included meals at the California Grill and the Boathouse. We sat in the main dining hall which, while not as ornately themed as the two smaller rooms, has its own attractions, such as the offices for certain of the skippers (with their names on the door windows a la windows on Main Street) on the second floor and sound effects of clattering dishes and mechanical noises that made us chuckle. We also loved the special drinks and coveted the special tin mugs so much that we paid extra to take them home as souvenirs. Overall, the most amazing thing to us was how together this restaurant was on only its second day of service. Our waiter made sure we had new utensils between courses and each dish was delivered to the correct person, which almost never happens. Best of all, we were able to use our Tables in Wonderland Discount! While we did not get too many punny jokes from our server this time (although he did give us a “tour” of the menu and asked if we were done exploring it), I was far happier to have a civilized, sit-down meal in Adventureland. After all, it’s a jungle out there!
I ate here Sunday night (12/13) and had a mixed experience, mostly due to service because our skipper wasn’t really on the ball and made it very clear that they were in soft openings.
Food from an adult perspective was great – I had the steak salad, wife had the pork, and both were excellent.
I agree with the previous comment though about the kids menu being far too adventurous – it felt like it was written by a chef who’s never had to cater to kids before … conceptually intriguing, but just not realistic. My toddler doesn’t want flank steak or sustainable fish, and the mac ‘n cheese we finally ordered for him mostly got eaten by me because he wouldn’t take more than one bite of it.
Would’ve liked to see some tropical alcoholic drinks on the menu as well – fruit punch sans rum only works for me if I’m doing breakfast at Boma! All in all it’s a neat concept and the text-for-table feature is a nice addition, but it still needs some polish on both the menu and the service.
BTW, I can confirm that they DO accept Tables in Wonderland for a cool 20% off! 🙂
I am also excited to see they appear to have vegan options. Thanks for the review!
We had lunch there on Monday, and have a couple of thoughts:
First, it’s very refreshing to see another high quality restaurant come to the Magic Kingdom.
Second, this was totally worth it. My Wife had the “Tastes Like Chicken Because It Is!.” It was, of course, just like chicken, but with the stir fried veggies and fried rice, it was a great twist on what we expected. I had the “Curried Vegetable Crew Stew”. This was a spicy dish, but for you carnivores in the crowd, don’t be fooled by the fact that it’s all vegetables. It was full of flavor and very filling.
I was glad that we were able to get in this restaurant as “walk-ins” before its regular opening because I see it headed the way of Be Our Guest in terms of its popularity. Walk-in service just isn’t going to happen once the word gets out about this place.
I was lucky to eat here on Sunday, and arrived 20 minutes after their first soft opening began. At that time the wait was 45 minutes. During the soft opening, only about half of the tables are being utilized while the cast members practice with real guests, which of course will affect the wait times. All of the cast members stay in character, a la Jungle Cruise puns, which is lots of fun. It seems to be as much an attraction, as a table service restaurant.
Many of the flavors just do not appeal to me. I ordered the Schweitzer Slush in the souvenir “copper” mug (why not??) which I loved. I tasted more papaya than apple juice, which I appreciated (since I don’t really like apple juice very much), and the squishy apple balls on top were a kick! Ethiopian bread was delivered, which was tasty, but I was only able to eat a few bites because it was heavy with spices (flavorful spices, not hot spicy). I also had the steak with yucca fries (!!!) and avocado, all of which were tasty. I couldn’t resist Kungaloosh for dessert, which was yummy, but the chewy brownie was a bit too heavy and chewy. The cashew caramel ice cream on top was absolutely scrumptious.
The servers warn you that the desserts are on the small size, which was a little disappointing, since I often choose my table service restaurants by their dessert selection!
Going in 3 wks. Anyone know when you can make ADRs or. An you just walk in now?
I read somewhere that Skippers Canteen was going to remain a “walk-in” restaurant. But I wouldn’t take what I say as fact. I’d verify it first.
We went last night. We waited 10 minutes (8:00 pm). The arepas was great. We would go back just for that! The pork was good but not a repeat order and the steak salad was fantastic! The specialty sodas were just okay as was the bread they give you. Overall it is a beautiful place with the funny cheesy jungle cruise vibe finished off with some great good. A HUGE plus to the MK dining options!
My family of 5 just ate at the Skipper Canteen on 1/24/16. It was around noon and we just walked in (it appears that many do not know of this restaurant’s existence yet…or they were all at BOG).
We were mixed. The theme was great, some of the “skippers” seemed uncomfortable with their “scripts”.
The food was good…but not great. I like where they are going but I think the recipes need to be tweaked a bit. The mac-and-cheese was good, but the beef was more sweet than savory which sorta threw me off. Same with the noodle bowl. It would have been great if the broth was more savory. I think the adventurous menu may be turning some people off…but we were very happy to see something different that wasn’t a hamburger, hot dog or grilled chicken.
The sticking point for me…our bill was $165 for 5 people. No Dining Plan allowed. No TIW allowed. No Passholder Discounts allowed. And this is without alcohol! We eat at the very best restaurants Disney has to offer and this was one of the most expensive meals we had during our trip. $165 for lunch is just crazy!
We will probably give this place a 2nd try. It would be great if it turns into a must-do restaurant.
Tamara B — Thanks so much for sharing your experience and reviews with us!
We are a family of 5, APs, and figured we would stop in to see if we could grab lunch at 11:15 without a wait. First time trying it out, but excited for a change of pace MK menu. No wait and the Skipper experience going to the table was enjoyable. Almost like being on the JC. The comedy carried over to the wait staff who was also very attentive. Now onto the menu. We had an early dinner planned at HS, so we didn’t want to eat heavy, but there is always time for a drink. Not here my DFB friends, which we knew in advance but could have gone well with the meal, plus the JC jokes would have been that much better. Soft Drinks it is! Adults at the table had apps for the most part as the menu really did not offer a mid priced meal. It’s either $9 apps or a $30 entree. Another miss. The food overall was ok. Nothing wowed us, but nothing was bad. As for the kiddos at the table, blank stares at the menu. Happy for the Zootopia themed menu, but not so much at the food choices. Where is the “tastes like chicken and fries because it is” meal. As a side note the cooks will remove the beef from the Mac n cheese for the kids if needed. We left without having dessert, so no comment there. All in all, a fun experience, but expensive without having a sorely needed bar tab. The no alcohol is a really big miss here and could easily have changed our lunch into a mid day eating experience.