Skillets, shenanigans, and more: Is Disney’s answer to Dick’s Last Resort worth it?
I like a certain level of sass in a waiter or waitress.
A little playful teasing and some good-natured banter can add to the dining experience. Especially, in places like Disney where making memorable experiences is part of the gig.
But I like my sass with guardrails. I don’t want things to go too far. It’s why I don’t like places like Dick’s Last Resort, where going too far is the point. I’m not paying good money to get roasted like Tom Brady. If I want to get my feelings hurt, I can go on the internet or call my Grandma Gullion in Ohio. Jeffery Ross ain’t got nothing on Grandma Gullion.
That’s why I’ve been a little hesitant about going to Whispering Canyon Cafe located within Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. In addition to its all-you-care-to-eat barbecue options, the cafe is known for shenanigans, hijinks, and tomfoolery.
Now, I know a Disney property is unlikely to get as mean as they sometimes do at Dick’s Last Resort, but there are restaurants on property which the waitstaff is paid to get a little edgy, so I’ve steered clear.
However, on a recent trip we decided to give it a go. Here’s what we found.
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What is Whispering Canyon Cafe?
As we said before, it’s chiefly a barbecue place located within the Wilderness Lodge that specializes in shenanigans and all-you-care-to-eat skillets, though you can order main claim entrees including a cedar plank salmon or a char-crusted New York strip. With the Wilderness Lodge connection, it’s a got a Disney-fied wild west theme that’s not too far from the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.
The atmosphere is loose and playful. There’s a running gag that involves all the ketchup in the place being taken from table to table whenever anyone asks for it. Kids are given wooden hobby horses to ride around the dining room while music plays and diners wave their napkins above their head like lassos.
The staff is supposed to be a little sassy and playful.
For instance?
It was our youngest’s birthday, and instead of having the whole restaurant sing for her like they did some others, our waitress belted out:
“Here’s your birthday song. Sorry, it’s not very long.”
What’s on the menu at Whispering Canyon Cafe?
Mostly a variety of all-you-care-to-eat skillets.
There’s the Traditional – Oak-smoked Beef Brisket, Pork Ribs, Slow-smoked Pulled Pork, Citrus-Herb Chicken, Western-style Sausage, Smashed Potatoes, Baked Beans, Buttered Corn on the Cob, Sautéed Green Beans.
The Pig – Braised Pork Belly, Barbecued Pork Ribs, Slow-smoked Pulled Pork, “Piggy Wings,” Western-style Sausage, Smashed Potatoes, Buttered Corn, Sautéed Green Beans.
The Land and Sea – House-smoked Salmon, Citrus-Herb Chicken, Spicy Plant-based Sausage, Charred Portobello, Barbecued Cauliflower, Roasted Potatoes, Roasted Carrots, Sautéed Green Beans.
And the Plant-based – Maple-Chipotle Barbecued Jackfruit, Spicy “Sausage,” Mustard-glazed Beefless Tips, Herb-brushed Trick’n Chick’n, Roasted Potatoes, Oven-roasted Carrots, Sautéed Green Beans, Charred Peppers.
Skillets on the brunch menu are $26. They include the Heritage, which features more breakfast-style options like Mickey Waffles and biscuits and gravy. The Carnivore, which is essentially the traditional dinner platter at a lower price point. Brunch is served until 2 p.m.
There are also more main entrée choices on the brunch menu if you don’t feel like tackling a whole skillet.
How is it?
For the most part, very good. I think that Disney, in general, does barbecue quite well. The pulled pork, brisket, chicken, and sausage are all either very good or excellent. The ribs are good and flavorful, but they don’t quite fall off the bone the way you’d hope. The smashed potatoes were delicious, and the green beans fresh with a nice crisp. The corn on the cob was underwhelming, but when you’re getting a massive skillet of barbecue, the corn is kind of an afterthought, anyway.
And yes, it’s all-you-care-to-eat, but I can’t imagine many people care to eat much past the first skillet. It’s a lot of food, and it’s heavy with a lot of pork products. I don’t know that Whispering Canyon Cafe is what you want if you’re going into the parks, especially if it’s hot.
Ideally, you’ve got a room there in the lodge where you can take a little post meal nap. We went on a non-park day, spent most of the day knocking around Disney playing mini-golf and hitting the pool. then returned to our hotel to rest afterwards.
Is it worth it?
When that bill hits for a party of five, it’s a serious moment. I was seriously regretting some life decisions at that point. But you get a lot of good food, you get a lot of extra fun and hijinks, and you’re making memories. Plus, nowadays, if you order an adult entrée at any sit-down restaurant, you’re paying $20-$30. Especially, if you’re getting all you can eat ribs, barbecue, and more.
We ate at a little mom and pop Italian place that same trip off property, and our bill wasn’t THAT much less.
Worth, is ultimately a matter of perspective. I’d say yes, what you get in the total package is worth it, at least once.
I don’t know if the Whispering Canyon would be a place we’d return to every time we go to Disney. However, as an occasional change of pace? It certainly is somewhere we’d go again.
