Review: Lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – May 2021

Hi everyone!

Last week we went to Whispering Canyon Cafe for lunch at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Our last visit to the restaurant prior was in February 2020 and we only just started dining inside restaurants a couple of weeks ago. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is located inside my second favorite resort at Walt Disney World (Disney’s Polynesian Resort is my favorite, it was the resort my family stayed at when I was a kid/teen in the 70s & 80s).

Here is a look at our Whispering Canyon Cafe experience!

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is inspired by turn-of-the-century National Park lodges. I recommend enjoying a walk around the resort after dining.

Whispering Canyon Cafe is located just inside the entrance to the resort, off to the left hand side. At the time we arrived, there was a Cast Member taking temperatures (temperature checks will be phased out for guests in the coming days).

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with all-you-care-to-eat skillet options at all three meals.

There are some small changes to the restaurant since we dined here last, including the plexiglass and also a kids play area was not there.

The menu is posted on the wall. We did not receive a menu at the table, but a QR code. There is an all-you-care-to-enjoy Signature Skillet along with a couple of sandwiches, a bison burger, an Impossible burger, a salad and starters. The dinner menu has some different offerings.

This is the main dining area, which doesn’t look different than my photos from February 2020. What is different is that it seemed much quieter. Whispering Canyon Cafe is known for being boisterous but it was wasn’t anywhere near what we’ve experienced before. Our server (Dustin) was really fun though.

We were seated outside of the main dining area, which we preferred. We weren’t too close to other tables.

Dustin made the meal memorable, starting with bringing an extra-small Diet Coke with the regular sized one. He also threw the straws on the table and other things you expect at Whispering Canyon Cafe.

We ordered the All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Signature Skillet. It costs $24.00 per person for lunch and does not include a drink or dessert (you can see the menu on the Walt Disney World website). The skillet includes:

Maple-Chipotle Barbecued Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Citrus-Herb Chicken, Smashed Potatoes, Buttered Corn, Charred Carrots, Roasted Peppers, Sautéed Green Beans. Plant-based Option Available Upon Request.

First we received cornbread, which was a really good start to the meal.

The skillet was very similar to our last visit. The food is delicious, I enjoy the chicken and vegetables and Jeff had more of the other meats.

There are times you just want comfort food, and Whispering Canyon Cafe – just like Trail’s End at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground – fits the bill. The Western style fare pretty much tastes like you’d expect it to. The chicken was moist and had a nice flavor. Jeff enjoyed the ribs enough to get a second helping.

Jeff liked the sauce on the ribs. What we find with the skillets is that it may not be the best of each item we’ve ever had, but the skillet items are all consistently flavorful and go well together.

Dustin asked if we wanted to order any more of the items. In the end, we chose carrots, corn and ribs – they came out in a smaller skillet.

Last year we tried a few desserts, including the Whispering Canyon Pioneer Chocolate Cake. We were too full on this day to order any dessert but maybe next time. For the lunch skillet price, Whispering Canyon Cafe is a decent value on Walt Disney World property and a nice getaway from the parks. Two weeks ago we went to the Biergarten at Epcot (which I have not yet written up), and the price was $46 plus tax and tip including soft drink and desserts – that meal also includes entertainment.  I always enjoy the Biergarten but that is more of a big meal out for us. Some of the guests around us at Whispering Canyon were ordering nachos or sandwiches, not everyone orders the skillet.

Here is a look at a chandelier. I love the theming in the restaurant.

Artwork is on the walls.

The lobby of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is stunning and offers a large fireplace (there are a number of fireplaces in public spaces at the resort).

Whispering Canyon Cafe has always been a solid choice for dining. Also open at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is Geyser Point Bar & Grill, which is an outdoor (covered) dining option which we also enjoy.