Quality sit-down table-service dining in Walt Disney World is important. Many of the so-called “advance dining reservation” locations are at worst good, but generally really good. In 2015 the Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen opened for business. We’re no strangers to theme parks or dining at them. We’ve been regularly dining there since they’ve opened and here’s our review from our visit in November of 2024.
The lore of Skipper Canteen and the Jungle Navigation Co.
The Skipper Canteen is a restaurant that’s themed around the Jungle Cruise attraction. Over the years the Jungle Cruise has gotten a cult-like following. Different jokes and puns used by skippers of the attraction boats have been sewn into a lore that surrounds Dr. Albert Falls. The Jungle Navigation Co. is said to be currently run by Falls’ granddaughter, Alberta.
Taking into consideration the adventure theme of both the Jungle Cruise and Skipper Canteen restaurant, the menu reflects that. WDW notes the type of dining to be “African, Asian, Latin, Casual Dining.”
Skipper Canteen, our former opinions
My two roommates and I have been regularly dining over the years at Skipper Canteen since it opened. The first time we dined there was not long after they launched. We enjoyed the offerings then and committed to returning. The food was flavorful and unique – especially for Disney dining at the Magic Kingdom.
Truth be told, my eldest roommate, she’s been grappling with options since, though. It seems like some of the menu options did change since they opened and she laments that the restaurant was “better back then.” I think she’s had a string of a few dishes she just was not into, but we do keep coming back for more.
Our most recent visit
We found ourselves in the Magic Kingdom on Monday, November 25th, 2024. A total sidebar, the crowds were awful on that Monday before Thanksgiving. Probably the worst we’ve ever seen. We had visited Gaston’s Tavern for breakfast knowing that we had reservations for a late lunch at the Canteen. The three of us each ordered entrees, we shared an appetizer, and my eldest roommate and I shared a dessert.
The ambiance of Skipper Canteen is designed to embrace adventure. It has a very studious yet in-the-field feel to it.
Orinoco Ida’s Cachapas
We ordered the Orinoco Ida’s Cachapas for our appetizers. These cool little bites are like mini Venezuelan tacos. The meat is a beer-braised beef and it’s nestled into small corn pancakes. Going along for the ride with the beef was corn, Fresno pepper, and an avocado cream.
These little units were delicious and a perfect appetizer to get diners going. The best way I could sum it up in one sentence would be, “A delightful and refreshing mini taco on a mini pancake with a solid punch of cilantro-lime.”
Dr. Falls Signature Grilled Steak
The Dr. Falls Signature Grilled Steak was tasty and cooked perfectly. The medium rare sliced hanger steak was artfully garnished with flavorful infusions from the other ingredients. The menu states that the dish is cooked “saltado-style,” which is a type of stir-fry common in Peruvian cuisine. The roasted peppers, tomatoes and onions complement the steak. The dish is prepared with a flavor burst of aji amarillo aïoli, a semi-spicy Peruvian condiment.
This was the first time I had the Dr. Falls steak. Both my eldest roommate and I got it. I found it to be topps, while my dining partner was whelmed. Not overwhelmed, not underwhelmed. Just whelmed. I’m starting to question her pallet while we’re visiting Skippers!
Want my quick answer? “The Dr. Falls Signature Grilled Steak is a medley of flavors balanced out by an underlayer of French fried potatoes,” would be my description. I crushed my entire dish. Completely.
Kids’ Create-Your-Own Entrées
Our junior adventurer ordered from the create-your-own-entrée kids menu. He got bold. For his main dish, he got the Sizzling Savanna Grilled Steak, which comes with two sides. Our little G balled out and selected chocolate-covered banana pieces and the volcano cake as his side dishes. He yelled “Kungaloosh!” when he ordered! Okay, he did not, but that’s what I heard when he decided to make that lunch his own.
Since the independent minded diner picked two dessert options for his sides, his steak looked very sad on his plate alone. He said his steak was, “okay.” Which is upsetting because he loves steak.
The problem? We were told that he could not pick the temperature of his steak. When I approached one of the managers, after forgetting to tell our waiter how he wanted it, I was told that all the steaks on the kids’ menu are prepared “done.” She said that’s Disney’s policy. Disappointing.
I will note that he ordered steaks at other restaurants in WDW parks (at The Brown Derby and Space 220). Both steaks were off the kids’ menu, and he was able to get them medium, as he prefers them. So who knows.
Espresso
Well, this is anti-climatic. It was dessert time and I like espresso. So I get one after a meal from time to time. The espresso at the canteen was good. I have yet to have a bad WDW espresso, for the record.
Kungaloosh!
Not only an exclamatory statement, but also a dessert. The fairer of my roommates and I shared a Kungaloosh while our little adventurer crushed his desserts, double fisting them – #parentsoftheyear.
What’s the Kungaloosh? “An African-inspired Chocolate Cake with Caramelized Bananas served with Cashew-Caramel Ice Cream topped with Coffee Dust,” is how the menu describes it.
This was a good dessert. My disappointments were that it needed more bananas and ice cream. To be frank, there’s never enough ice cream – except those Boathouse desserts at Disney Springs. At the time of dining, I described the “cake” as a “Daddy Warbucks-rich brownie,” it was chocolaty.
Overall experience during our November 2024 visit
I love Skipper Canteen. Our latest go at dining there, I enjoyed very much. Again, my fairer roomie seems to be on the fence, but does have us keep coming back.
That particular visit, we had Skipper Todd as our waiter. He was FANTASTIC! Skipper Todd, massive hat tips to you. Walt Disney World Resorts, you have a great worker there. So Kudos! to you Skipper Todd! May your jokes continue to be cornier than the cachapas!
We will be returning. I’ll probably take a crack at the noodle bowl or “Hardy Har Char” siu pork on my next visit. If morale does not improve, there’ll be two diners ordering off the kids’ create-your-own entrées menu!
As for now, Kungaloosh! fellow Society members!
