One thing that I really LOVE about Walt Disney World is the variety. There are so many different rides, attractions, shows and places to eat! The options are endless, so trips to the parks or Disney Springs, or the hotels, are always filled with new experiences.
A fun way to experience a whole new side of Disney, is with their dining options! We LOVE to try out new restaurants, and as much as we do adore finding a new great place, we do have our trusted faves that we continuously go back to (I’m looking at you Via Napoli, Grand Floridian Cafe, Hoop-Dee-Doo, Yak and Yeti and Sci-Fi Dine In)!
But this post isn’t about a restaurant we frequent. This post is all about a dining destination that was until recently, one we have never ever experienced….Skipper Canteen.
Jungle Navigation Co. LTD. Skipper Canteen, or just Skipper Canteen, is a full-service restaurant located in the Adventureland section of Magic Kingdom. The theme is very reminiscent of the Jungle cruise ride. The story behind the eatery is that the same skippers who guided you through the jungle, opened this quirky restaurant. There are three dining rooms, all with an overwhelming adventure theme (imagine books and artifacts everywhere). You really feel as though you just stumbled across this place in the middle of an exotic jungle.
Before lunch, we took a quick ride on the Jungle Cruise (I thought that was the perfect way to start off our meal)! If you can get a Fast pass, definitely try and snag one so you can ride the Jungle Cruise right before your meal… it just helps you appreciate everything so much more!
Skipper Canteen serves African, Asian, and Latin inspired foods. I’d looked at the menu before and was always a bit scared to come here… Eric is a VERY picky eater, so I wasn’t sure if he’d like it! However, we’ve eaten at Jiko, Boma and SAANA and he’s loved EVERYTHING he ate at all of those places (which if you didn’t know all of those Animal Kingdom Lodge restaurants serve African inspired dishes)!
For lunch, Eric and I both got lemonades. I ordered the “Tastes Like Chicken” Because It Is! and Eric got the “Hardy Har Char” Siu Pork.
My Chicken dish consisted of crispy fried chicken, served with jasmine rice, veggies and chili glaze. My chicken was super yummy! The chicken was very crispy and the chili sauce packed just the right amount of heat.
Eric’s pork dish was made up of char-siu marinated pork served with jasmine rice and veggies. He really liked his meal. I tried his pork and it was very tender and so flavorful.
For this occasion, I wore a Lilly Pulitzer ¾ sleeve tee paired over some navy shorts, pink glitter Keds and of course some super appropriate mouse ears! This pair is PERFECT for cruising in the Jungle, a meal at Skipper Canteen (or a trip to Animal Kingdom)! Shop them here.
We both felt that the meal was really delicious and a welcome change from the typical theme park fare of tenders and hamburgers. I really like having a sit down meal while in the parks because it allows you to decompress and relax (however, not every trip warrants a full on sit down meal… sometimes you’re in a large group or in a hurry and a quick meal is more ideal). But if you have the time, definitely try Skipper Canteen. We will definitely be heading back!