Archive for July 19th, 2009

Most people seeing the kids and their fathers galloping around the lobby at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge would be surprised to learn that they are having dinner.  It’s the delightful Whispering Canyon Café where fun is at the top of the menu.  Diners can expect the same type of basic, hearty foods as are found in neighboring Ft. Wilderness – barbeque, cornbread, and mashed potatoes are popular fare in this neck of the woods.  The big draw here is the interaction with the servers.  Men in particular seem to be the butt of jokes, much to the delight of the children.

Here are some of the ways to elicit a response:

• Chew gum
• Wear a piece of clothing from Universal or Sea World
• Ask for a drink refill
• Mention spending the day at a non-Disney attraction
• Tell your server who’s birthday or anniversary it is
• Have a male member of your group ask where the restrooms are
• Challenge your server to a gun fight
• Ask where you can buy some chewing gum at Walt Disney World
• Complain that your straw is too short
• Ask for ketchup
• Drop a utensil and ask for another one

The décor is rustic with chunky furniture, lazy-susans on the tables and wagon-wheel lighting fixtures. Down-home table settings include jelly jars and bandanas.  The main dining room is open to the magnificent lobby and tables closest the lobby side offer a pleasant view of the comings and goings.

Review: “Whispering” Canyon is a tongue-in-cheek name for this raucous restaurant.  Guests staying at the Lodge are often awakened by the early-morning greeting, “COOOOME AAAAND GEEET IIIT,” complete with triangle accompaniment and delivered by a server obviously chosen for her vocal talents.  In fact, after complaints from the poor souls trying to sleep in the rooms surrounding the lobby, management made the decision to open for breakfast at a slightly later hour.

Food is simple and plentiful, with “Canyon Skillets” at every meal offering the dine-till-you-drop option.  This is a restaurant that’s not for the shy, or anyone looking for a peaceful meal, but lunch is generally quieter than breakfast or dinner.  Those preferring a less “participatory” experience might request seating in the smaller dining room at the back of the restaurant.   Keep in mind that experiences will vary and not every server will be at the top of his game every day.   Make the decision to go with a happy heart and if your server isn’t as enthusiastic as you were hoping for, then enjoy the antics around you.  There’s always at least one table of diners who don’t know about the “theming” and they are fun to watch.

Menus
breakfast
lunch
dinner
dessert

Whispering Canyon Cafe

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort

Breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Lunch 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Dinner 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.