Are you a fan of the beloved Jungle Cruise in Adventureland in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World? I certainly am! It was a no-brainer that I HAD to eat at Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen. You can make Advanced Dining Reservations (ADR) via the My Disney Experience App, or you can try your luck for an open table by asking at the host stand. We did not have a reservation but were given a 15-minute wait time around 5:30pm on a busy summer Sunday evening. We were able to walk through the cue of Enchanted Tiki Room during our wait, but our table was ready before the show even started (that is how quick the wait was).
The hostess and servers are all in Skipper character with the same humor as the Skippers navigating your boat on the Jungle Cruise ride, so be prepared to laugh! We were seated in the main dining area, the Crew Mess Hall, and the theming was just what a Jungle Cruise fan like me would want! Bright colors, jungle artifacts and hidden quirks all around that surprise you and keep things interesting.
The two other dining rooms are Falls Family Parlor and the secretive S.E.A. Room. In the S.E.A. Room, you’ll find evidence that suggests here is where Dr. Albert Falls held secret meetings with members of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers. All around, you’ll find tidbits of the story of Dr Albert Falls who founded the Jungle Cruise for cargo purposes. Per the story, when he passed, the company was taken over by his granddaughter, Alberta, for tourism when business plummeted after the decrease in expeditioners on jungle waters. You could spend hours just reading and observing all the story-telling decor at every turn of this restaurant.
The adventurous menu includes unique tropical alcoholic and virgin beverages, appetizers and entrees, as well as an impressive kid’s menu. This is one of the few places you are served alcohol in the Magic Kingdom.
The cuisine offered here is influenced by Asia, Africa, and South America flavors. You’ll notice more plant-based menu items than at other sit-down restaurants in the park, but you’ll have no problem finding chicken, fish, lamb and beef items as well. Deciding on our order was honestly the toughest part of the whole dining experience here because everything looked delicious! Our server was Don and we were really impressed with his service. I was torn between salads and the entrees. I asked Skipper Don if I could taste the curry sauce used in the Curried Vegetable Crew Stew before committing to the order and he was kind enough to grab a tasting from the kitchen. It was amazing! We ordered the stew and the “A lot at Steak” Salad. Both orders were so delicious.
We could not stop commenting back and forth on how surprisingly good the food was for a theme park restaurant and how shocked we were at how satisfied we both felt with our meals! Some picky eaters may be turned off by first glance of the exotic fare served here, but I encourage you to take time and read through the menu because there is really something for everyone.
I will most definitely return to Skipper Canteen with the whole family again! I am looking forward to trying the Shiriki Noodle Salad, the Jungle Green Salad, the Falls Family Falafel and the S.E.A Shu Mai dumplings!
The “Create-Your-Own-Meal” option on the kid’s menu (for Children 9 and under) is a breath of fresh air for parents. Here, your kids can pick their own entree, plus two sides and their choice of drink. The Junior Skip’s Mac and Cheese with seasonal vegetables and Mango-Lime Sorbet is sure to be a home-run with my picky eater. I also love how the kid’s menu highlights allergy-free foods making it easy for families to enjoy the cuisine with any number of restrictions.
Skipper Canteen is hands down one of the most entertaining and delicious sit-down restaurants in all Walt Disney World parks. Be sure to make a dining reservation here and give this adventurous cuisine a try on your next trip. You’ll lose your head over how good the food is (just watch out Trader Sam doesn’t come to collect it)!
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Written by Jamie Lee McIntyre, Disney Mom and Blogger at Hakuna Moscato Moms, and Contributor to The Kingdom Insider. Jamie is a Registered Dietician and Nutritionist, and an avid runner. She’s been fortunate to participate in many runDisney races, her favorite being the 2017 Walt Disney World Marathon.
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