WDW Review: Skipper Canteen (Adventureland)

A couple of days ago, I posted my review of one of the new eateries at Walt Disney World: Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar. Today I take a look at another new eatery: Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen. Located in Adventureland over at the Magic Kingdom, Skipper Canteen’s story ties it to the “world famous” Jungle Cruise. According to legend, after a struggling cargo shipping company started offering guided tours of the local jungles, Alberta Falls, granddaughter of original Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. owner Dr. Albert Falls, decided to open the company’s home offices and offer a place for travelers to relax and eat unique cuisine. Located only a short walk from the actual ride, the restaurant occupies a portion of the former original opening day Adventureland Veranda Restaurant, a quick service eatery which combined a “patchwork” of cultures visually while serving mainly Asian dishes (corporate sponsor from 1977 to its’ closing in 1994 was Kikkomon).

With the opening of Skipper Canteen, Disney is doing something that they have not done with a table-service restaurant in years… NO RESERVATIONS. For the time being (and from what I have been told the foreseeable future), they are only taking walk ups for dining. While this is great for the casual guest who decides to dine there last minute, for those of you who like to plan and guarantee seating for a meal… you are out of luck. That being said, my friend Emily and I decided to eat at Skipper Canteen for an early lunch, getting there shortly after they opened for lunch. Both lunch and dinner carry the same menu, so that’s a plus.

The first area you visit when you arrive at Skipper Canteen is the Porter’s Post, which includes the check-in area and both indoor and outdoor seating areas for guests to be called to dinner. I really like how they redesigned one of the popular outside seating areas of the old Veranda restaurant and made it the new entrance to Skipper Canteen.

Once you are called to be seated, there are three different rooms that you can be seated in. First is the Mess Hall, the main dining room which was once the crew dining quarters for Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Next is the Jungle Room, the former formal dining room for the Falls Family. Last is the Sea Room, the secret headquarters for Dr. Albert Falls and his fellow explorers… which is located through a secret bookcase opening. All three of these locales are beautifully decorated from the journeys of the Falls family.

The menu at Skipper Canteen offers various dishes inspired by South American, African, and Asian flavors. The menu itself is quite visual and inviting, including a letter from Alberta Falls herself.

I ended up starting the meal off with the Schweitzer Slush… named after the brilliant Dr. Albert… Slush. Duh. It was quite flavorful with the frozen apple and passion fruit juices. Emily decided that she needed the boba balls more than I did.

We shared as an appetizer the Falls Family Falafel… YUM! I could have had more of that white bean dip and cucumber salad, that’s for sure. It was so good.

For the meal, I had the Skip’s Mac and Cheese. I am not big on spicy flavors, and this dish provided a hint of spice without being too much. I loved the creaminess of Bechamel sauce, and the Chinese broccoli on the side was delicious.

Emily chose to have the Trader Sam’s Head-On Shrimp. Now, Emily likes spice… I mean, she loves it. Craves it, one could say. That being said, even though she asked for it to be extra spicy, she felt it was still bland. I tried some of the sauce with the five-grain rice and it had quite a kick to it for me, who doesn’t like spice. I think with dishes like these, the level of spiciness is different for each person. She also had the Chinese broccoli, and enjoyed that as well.

Overall, I had a wonderful experience. Emily did not have as good of an experience, mainly because she was hoping to be blown away with spice (not sure if Disney would ever do that). We both really admired the theme and decor of the restaurant. I will most surely be back on a future visit, as there are a lot more dishes I want to try.

Have you had a chance to dine at Skipper Canteen yet? What was your experience? Let us know!