MickeyBlog Restaurant Review: Skipper Canteen
Some Disney restaurants take theming more seriously than others. Sure, you could eat at a place like Pinocchio’s Village Haus and enjoy a pleasant experience.
Sometimes, you want to maintain the illusion at Walt Disney World throughout your meal, though. In such cases, you need to visit a more immersive place.


Photo: Disney
At Magic Kingdom, one place redefines immersive theming, possibly even to its own detriment.
Here’s a restaurant review of Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen, THE place to eat for Jungle Cruise fanatics…and possibly nobody else.


Photo: Disney
About Skipper Canteen
Some Disney fans take Jungle Cruise way too seriously. I’m one of them and not the least bit ashamed of it.
For people like me, the Jungle Cruise Skipper script is sacrosanct. We know many of the best jokes and can recite them along with the cast members.
For us, the idea of a restaurant that extends the Jungle Cruise experience is a dream come true. And that’s what Skipper Canteen is.
Your server pretends like they’re an extension of the Jungle Cruise attraction. You’re eating at a meeting area for the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (SEA).


Photo credit: www.mousesteps.com
In addition, Doctor Albert Falls has also built a mess hall for the commoners. Finally, a third area works as his private Jungle Room, where he keeps many of his trinkets.
You may sit in any of these three areas. However, as a SEA fan, I’d recommend that you ask for a table here if possible.



Photo: Disney
Cast members will happily encourage you to roam around the place to appreciate all the antiquities on display. It’s like Disney has expanded the Jungle Cruise line queue by an entire building.
Of course, the best part of the meal here comes down to the staff. So when you check-in, you can (and should) let the server know whether you want the whole experience.


Photo: D23
If you say yes, your cast member will go all-in on the premise that they’re an incompetent Cruise Skipper and woeful server.
You’ll hear new, terrible puns about food and locales akin to those you’d expect on Jungle Cruise.
For fans of the attraction, it’s a glorious hour of additional entertainment. Our server was outstanding, which is essential.
I have had the occasional cast member who was over it and didn’t want to play. So, I felt blessed this time.

(Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel)
The Dining Experiences
Here’s what the other shoe drops on Skipper Canteen. The cuisine here isn’t for everyone.
I’m not joking when I say that Disney altered the menu multiple times per year during its early days.


Photo: Disney
That happened because the food here would seem more fitting for the World Showcase at EPCOT. It’s chock-full of international flavors that aren’t for everyone.
Disney has added some dishes like “Tastes like Chicken” Because it is! and Irrawaddy Irma’s Hanger Steak to appeal to more basic palates (like mine).


Photo: Disney
Still, you’ll find curry, falafel, Cachapas, and Siu pork dishes on the menu. So, this restaurant caters to two sets of customers.
The first is Jungle Cruise superfans, while the other group is foodies. Skipper Canteen will feel like the mothership calling you home if you have an adventurous palate.
If you’re someone dining at Magic Kingdom and just looking for a quick meal, this is NOT the place.
Our lunch took 90 minutes, and I was mostly asleep by the end. It felt like forever, and I grew frustrated by the frequent delays.


Photo: junglecruise.fandom.com
Entrees and Desserts
We skipped appetizers this time, primarily because none of the current ones appealed to our party.
So, I had the hangar steak while my wife ordered the Curried Vegetable Crew Stew, which is a pineapple tofu dish. It’s vegan if you substitute plain rice for pineapple, but it’s vegetarian either way.


Photo: Disney
I also substituted the onion side for mashed potatoes, which aren’t technically on the menu.
I’m allergic to onions, and virtually all Disney restaurants can serve potatoes if asked.
As for the dishes, the Crew Stew has developed iconic status among tofu fans, and you’ll even find the recipe online. It packs a wallop of flavor.


Photo: Disney Tourist Blog
As for the steak, it was…fine. However, I wish I had gotten the chicken instead, as my steak was kinda chewy in pieces.
When I’ve had the chicken here, it’s been spectacular. So, there’s that. But this one’s mostly on me for choosing the wrong thing.
Also, I should mention that the delicious Crew Stew only costs $19, which is terrific for something this tasty.
We also ordered two desserts, which cost nearly the same as the Crew Stew. Our choices were the Kungaloosh! (a must!) and Panna-Connie’s Congo Lime Delight.


Photo: Disney
Disney fans know the significance of Kungaloosh as a term, which means that the restaurant HAS to get this dish right. Thankfully, it does.
We’re talking about a chocolate cake with four distinctly different flavors. You’ll also find caramelized bananas, Cashew-Caramel Ice Cream, and coffee dust that somehow stands out.


Photo: Themeparksforgrownups.com
I don’t even like coffee, yet I’m in love with how it pairs with the ice cream. Kungaloosh! is one of the best desserts at Disney.
As for the panna cotta, it’s remarkably fruity, which isn’t my favorite for a dessert. My wife ate every last drop on her plate, though. I thought she might lick it, too.


Photo: Vegan Disney
Final Thoughts
Honestly, we have a weird divide in our family. For example, I don’t eat here for the food but rather for the experience, and my wife is the same way.
However, some members of my family love spices, and this place borders on holy ground for them.



Photo: Disney
They weren’t with us this time, which is why this isn’t a glowing review. However, it’s also the crux of the debate about Skipper Canteen.
This restaurant serves pricey food. But, is the experience good enough to justify that expense when you’re not in love with the food?


Photo: Disney
I never think about it when I’m using the Disney Dining Plan. That wasn’t available during this visit, though.
Instead, we spent almost exactly $100 on this meal, which is A LOT for a relatively ordinary pair of entrees with some admittedly fantastic dessert.


Photo: Disney
The thing about restaurants is that they’re kinda like the baseball slogan: Momentum is tomorrow night’s pitcher.
With Disney meals, how you perceive the place comes down to the most recent dining experience.


Photo: Disney
Historically, I’m first in line to champion Skipper Canteen, but this meal didn’t justify the cost.
I looooved our server, though. It’s always so much better when the cast member really gets into the themed experience.
For that reason alone, I’ll still always recommend Skipper Canteen to Jungle Cruise fans.