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Disney Food Disney Parks Other

Review and Food Photos: Breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe in Disney World’s Wilderness Lodge

Whispering Canyon Cafe is a casual table service restaurant located just off the lobby at Walt Disney World’s Wilderness Lodge, and it’s known for its antics that are decidedly not whispering. But you might recall that a couple of years ago the Canyon reportedly grew quieter — check out the changes here!

Whispering Canyon Cafe

I revisited after the changes were made and found the restaurant’s energy to be a shadow of its former self (click here to find out why!) But since then, Whispering Canyon Cafe introduced new skillets, so we’re back again!

Atmosphere

A fixture of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Whispering Canyon Cafe is a massive restaurant known for the antics of the servers who are your fellow pioneers.

Whispering Canyon Cafe

And as mentioned before, the antics have been toned down a bit in order to keep the rowdiness from spilling out into the lobby of the hotel, but the servers are definitely still a bit irreverent! Think about the servers at 50’s Prime Time Cafe, if you’ve been.

Wilderness Lodge Holiday Decor

Despite the toned-down antics, this restaurant definitely still has a personality all its own. And you’re still likely to end up with a super-large drink or a dozen bottles of ketchup if your server senses you’re in need of a little something extra!

Whispering Canyon Cafe

Eats

I’m here for breakfast to see how the most important meal of the day stacks up!

Breakfast Menu at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe offers a variety of eats to please just about everyone in your group, from carnivores to vegetarians. Cocktails and specialty beverages are identified at the top of the menu for those on Disney Dining Plan who receive a complimentary drink (and those not on the plan who’d still like to imbibe!).

Breakfast Menu at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Meat-lovers are up first with one of the restaurant’s All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Signature Skillets: The Carnivore. This skillet includes House-Smoked Ham, Oak-Smoked Beef Brisket, Hickory-Smoked Bacon, Pork Sausage Links, Scrambled Eggs, and House-Made Buttermilk-Cheddar Biscuits with Sausage Gravy.

With the exception of the biscuit, this is a decent option for those following a keto diet. And everything is pretty good. If you like to start your day heavy on the protein, this is a good choice!

The Carnivore All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Skillet

There are two Benedicts on the menu, including the Traditional Eggs Benedict which consists of two Poached Eggs atop a House-Made Buttermilk-Cheddar Biscuit with House-Smoked Ham, Hollandaise Sauce, and a side of Country Potatoes. This is fine, if uninspired.

Traditional Eggs Benedict

The Vegetable Eggs Benedict is a good option, too. It consists of two Poached Eggs atop a House-Made Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuit with Tomato, Smashed Avocado, Cilantro-Lime Hollandaise Sauce, and a side of Fresh Fruit.

The flavors are good here, with the fresh avocado and the Cilantro-Lime Hollandaise offer a bit of a welcome twist. The side of fruit…is mostly melon, so be forewarned. You might want to swap out for the potatoes!

Vegetable Eggs Benedict

Traditional breakfast items include pancakes — called Flapjacks on the menu! These come with Bourbon-Maple Syrup (ask for straight maple if you prefer) and a choice of Hickory-Smoked Bacon, Pork Sausage Link, or Fruit. These were fine but definitely a bit pricy for what you get at $14.

Flapjacks

The Belgian Waffle comes with Fresh Berries and a side of bacon or sausage. No Mickey-shaped waffle for the grown-ups; but if you’re really craving a Mickey waffle for breakfast, you’ll find some on the kids’ menu! (Remember when they had those cute pinecone-shaped waffles way back in the day? Memories!)

We found the Belgian waffle to be nice and crisp, and it was a solid option for breakfast.

Belgian Waffle

The Bircher Muesli (Swiss Oatmeal) comes with Fresh Fruit, and Yogurt. This is a great choice for those looking to fill up without getting weighed down.

Steel-Cut Oatmeal

And the antics? They were so/so again. We received the extra-large soda after finishing a normal-size drink quickly, and there were ketchup deliveries, too.

Giant Soda!

We still feel like the carefree fun of the old days is subdued somewhat, but if you haven’t been to Whispering Canyon Cafe, you’ll likely still get a kick out of its current level of irreverence!

Note that the kids’ hobby horse races DO still happen.

Nosh or Not?

Whispering Canyon Cafe may be right for you if:

  • You’re looking for an option that will really fill you up — the all you can eat skillets can help you out there!
  • You want to experience the restaurant’s notoriously fun antics.
  • High protein meals are your jam — again The Carnivore Skillet will do the trick!
  • You want to take a break from the Magic Kingdom for a meal without traveling too far away. Wilderness Lodge is only a quick boat (or bus) ride away!

You may want to skip Whispering Canyon Cafe if:

  • A loud, rowdy dining atmosphere is not your thing.
  • You’re looking for super unique or inventive menu items.
  • It’s date night or another special occasion — the antics are fun, but they don’t make for the most romantic experience!

Overall

The meal and experience were fine overall — not the best meal we’ve had on property, but still filling with some tasty menu items! The skillets are a great option if you’re looking to really fill up, but in general, the food feels pretty standard rather than memorable. We’ve also had some issues with service at WCC recently. It seems like the restaurant is chronically understaffed, and so that can mean very long waits if you need anything extra at your table.

We used to be much larger proponents of this restaurant, but having been several times at the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020, things have definitely been slipping. With so-so food, meh-to-bad service, and the restaurant just not really hitting the mark atmosphere-wise any longer…it’s probably not a must-do unless you’re staying at Wilderness Lodge.

Check out these NEW menu items that recently made their way to Whispering Canyon Cafe!

Have you had breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe? Let us know what you thought in the comments!

Related posts:

  1. Review and Food Photos: Whispering Canyon Cafe Dinner at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge!
  2. Book Brunch at Disney World’s Grand Floridian Cafe Right Now. You’re Welcome.
  3. Review: Breakfast at Wilderness Lodge’s Roaring Fork…And Some Seriously Amazing Chicken and Waffles

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney resorts, Featured, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, Wilderness Lodge, belgian-style waffle, disney healthy, disney keto, disney oatmeal, disney resort, disney vegetarian, Disney World, disney world resort, disney’s wilderness lodge, Eggs Benedict, flapjack, keto, muesli, steel cut oatmeal, table service vegetarian, vegetarian eggs benedict, Whispering Canyon Cafe

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Disney Merch Disney Parks Other

Disney Just Dropped ANOTHER Incredible Round of Mega Limited Edition Epcot Posters!

Grab your gear and get ready to travel the world with these limited edition Epcot Pavilion posters!

Spaceship Earth

Fans of Epcot’s World Pavilions, you’ve gotta see these new posters!  We covered the water-inspired attractions of Epcot and now we’re packing our bags and to look at the newest collection from Disney! Canada, Japan, China, and Germany are your destinations for this trip so buckle up and strap yourself in as we take a look at these limited prints by designer Stacey Aoyama.

Before we jump in, we wanted to warn you that there are only 100 posters in stock for each design. So they are VERY limited-edition! UPDATE: It looks like these posters have sold out online. We will let you know if they end up being restocked.

First up we’ve got a beautiful poster dedicated to Canada! We can immediately recognize the trademark Totem Poles that sit outside the pavilion and a gorgeous green and gold color scheme.

©Disney

Click here to snag the limited edition Canada poster! 

Next, let’s pack up our things and head to Japan! This poster features the iconic pagoda bathed in fireworks.

©Disney

Click here to purchase the Japan poster! 

The next poster in this limited edition collection is China! A stunning red and gold, this poster showcases the Temple of Heaven and a gorgeously illustrated Chinese Dragon.

©Disney

Get your very own China Pavilion poster here!! 

Finally, it’s time to end our journey in Germany!  Check out this totally neat reimagining of the German pavilion!

©Disney

Click here to get the Germany Pavilion poster! 

These four posters are available on shopDisney for $90 each!  Remember, though, they are INCREDIBLY limited so be sure to act fast if you want to snag one for yourself!

Check out MORE limited edition posters here!! 

Have you been collecting these limited edition posters? Let us know in the comments below!

Related posts:

  1. What’s New in Epcot — a Birthday Cake Muffin, 2020 Merch, and a TON of Construction!
  2. Tables in Wonderland Members: Check Out This Whisky-Inspired Event Coming to Disney World!
  3. CONFIRMED! Santa Hat Cotton Candy Is The MUST-GET Holiday Snack at Disney World!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, Epcot, Featured, Special Stuff, Walt Disney World, canada pavilion, China pavilion, Epcot Posters, germany pavilion, Japan Pavilion, Limited edition poster, shopdisney

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Disney Food Disney Parks Other

Ghirardelli Gold Rush Caramel Sundae at Disney Springs

Ghirardelli

There’s an incredible new ice cream sundae at Disney Springs! If you’re seeking a cool dessert, then consider visiting Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate for a great day at Disney Springs.

The Gold Rush Caramel Sundae consists of vanilla ice cream, sea salt, diced almonds, caramel sauce, and whipped cream with a Ghirardelli Squares White Chocolate Caramel.

You can see a video of what the ice cream sundae looks like in our Instagram.

We’re trying a new dessert at Disney Springs. “Gold Rush Caramel Sundae” – Vanilla ice cream, sea salt, diced almonds, caramel sauce, and whipped cream with a Ghirardelli Squares White Chocolate Caramel. You can find it at Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop! . .  @disneyworldavenger . #ghirardelli #disneysprings #icecream #waltdisneyworld #disneyworld

A post shared by Chip and Co (@chipandco) on May 30, 2020 at 5:47pm PDT

Overall, the Gold Rush Caramel Sundae is a fantastic new menu item at the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop. The vanilla ice cream at Ghirardelli is always great quality, plus the caramel sauce is decadent and pairs well with the toppings. Despite being a chocolate-lover, I enjoyed the caramel and vanilla flavors. The white chocolate caramel square adds to the sundae with its rich and creamy flavor. This is definitely a refreshing dessert I would recommend for anyone looking to escape the summer heat!

The Fools Gold Caramel Sundae costs $13.75 plus tax. The ice cream sundae is big enough to share, but you might just eat the whole thing once you taste it! Next time you visit Ghirardelli at Disney Springs, consider trying this sweet treat. We’re sure you’ll love it as much as we did!

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Disney Snacks & Treats, Disney Springs, News, Parks & Resorts, disney dessert, Ghirardelli, Ghirardelli disney Springs, ice cream sundae

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Disney News Disney Parks Disney Vacations Other

Shanghai Disneyland Resort now accepting Advanced Reservations for General Admission

Shanghai Disneyland Resort

Great news! Shanghai Disneyland Resort is now accepting Advanced Reservation for General Admission tickets.

Here is more information on their website:

Please note that at this time Shanghai Disneyland is currently open for visitation on an “Advanced Reservation” only basis, with enhanced health and safety measures and controlled capacity.

Tickets are available via the resort’s official online channels and official travel partners’ channels, with a limited number of tickets available each day. Guests are required to purchase dated admission tickets prior to their arrival, and Annual Pass holders must make a reservation for their visit date and time through the resort’s official online channels before their visit to the park.

Beginning 13:00, June 1, 2020, guests with General Admission tickets will be able to make a reservation to Shanghai Disneyland from June 3 through June 7. For reservations for visits after June 7, please read the “General Admission Ticket Advanced Reservation Procedures and Requirements” for more information by clicking here.

Please read the press release of Shanghai Disneyland’s reopening announcement issued on May 6, 2020 for detailed operation measures and ticketing information by clicking here.

Shanghai Disneyland began Phase Openings on May 11th to guests and has been slowly reopening experiences like stage shows.

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Shanghai, Advanced Reservation, General Admission tickets, Shanghai Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland Resort

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Disney Guides Disney Parks Other

Disney World Has a “Season” You Didn’t Know About! Here’s What It Is and How To Plan For It!

While most of us are just regular people who like to enjoy a nice time at Disney World to relax and unwind, there is another group of super-human athletes that come to Disney to COMPETE!

It’s Mickey!

We’re talking about football players and cheer squads (along with their entourages!) which can sometimes flood Disney World Resort with THOUSANDS of peppy peeps!

If you’re not a cheerleader or proud cheer parent, you probably don’t have a clue when these major sporting events are held, or how they could impact your trip to Disney World! That’s why we want to give you a quick rundown on when these cheerleading championships typically take place — and what you can expect if your vacation dates coincide with Disney World’s Football and Cheer Season!

December

Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer and Dance Championships

While several cheer competitions are held from January to May at Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, one of the biggest youth sporting events actually takes place in December.

Pop Warner Merch

Last year, Pop Warner ran from December 7 to December 14 and brought athletes from over 64 national football teams and 400 cheer squads to Orlando to compete. Trust us when we say things can get a little hectic if Pop Warner catches you off guard! Disney even makes a special line of Pop Warner merch for the participants!

Learn more about the impact Pop Warner can have on your vacation plans here!

April – May

Numerous Cheer Championships

The next batch of major cheer tourneys crops up in springtime with the USASF Cheerleading Worlds happening in late April as well as the International Cheerleading Union World Championships (ICU).

Minnie Stops By to Lead a Cheer

The Summit, which is the last All-Star competition of the season, normally takes place in early May along with the D2 Summit typically held right after. All of these championships bring in lots of kids and spectators, so let’s explore how this might affect your vacation as a non-participant!

Check out what else could possibly come to Wide World of Sports this year!

Crowd Levels at the Disney World Theme Parks During Cheer Events

At the Beginning of the Competition

So, there’s good news and bad news. Here’s the good news first: these highly-trained athletes are here mainly for one thing and one thing only — to compete. Everything else (even Mickey Mouse!) is pretty much secondary.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Many cheer coaches won’t even allow their teams to visit the theme parks until AFTER they’re eliminated from the competition, so you might not really experience anything out of the ordinary until the first few days are over.

Check out our tips for avoiding crowds at Disney World here!

Towards the Middle and the End of the Competition

Once teams start dropping out, THEN you’ll start to see kids showing up at the parks. And once these championships are over, many teams make a point of staying an extra day or two to blow off a little of that competitive steam. Cheerleaders tend to travel in packs, so you’ll probably see some large groups of ’em (look for the BIG cheer hairbows!), but all in all, we’ve never found crowds to be THAT bad.

Magic Kingdom Sign

As long as you’ve got your FastPasses booked well in advance, you should be fine with normal to slightly above normal crowd levels (and noise levels) for a few days of your trip.

Check out some of the BIGGEST time-wasters at Disney World (and tips for how to avoid them) here!

Possible Closures

And for the Worlds Competition (the one in April), Disney’s Hollywood Studios typically holds a private after-hours party for cheer squads, meaning regular park guests will get the boot a few hours early. This is usually posted in advance on the displayed park hours, so you can plan around it — but be sure to be looking for it!

All in all, you really shouldn’t feel too much of a crunch at the parks. Now Disney World’s hotels, on the other hand, are a different story altogether.

Disney World Resorts During Cheer Events

Disney World resorts are where things start to get a little more noticeable.

All-Star Sports

Since each cheer squad is comprised of several members who often need to stay at the same hotel so they can practice, you might find yourself in the middle of an impromptu pep rally if you’re not careful!

Disney World’s Value Resorts

Cheerleaders will often stay on property at Disney World with Value Resorts being a popular option. Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, (not surprisingly) Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, and Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort tend to book up with these groups during the competitive season.

This Makes a Great Cheer Practice Spot, so Be Ready!

These groups can be found practicing on the hotel grounds at times, so if you find yourself at one of these hotels, be prepared for a little (okay, a lot) of extra energy and noise at the resort! Also, during those first few days of competition, the practices can be EARLY. So…we guess you won’t be missing Rope Drop after all?

See how some of these resorts celebrate Disney World’s Cheer Season here!

Disney World’s Moderate Resorts

While Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is a moderate resort, it’s conveniently located near ESPN Wide World of Sports and many convention-goers choose it for its extra amenities.

Gran Destino Tower

If you’re staying at any of these resorts we’ve just mentioned, you’re more likely to see groups of pre-teens and teens stunting or training in common areas. They usually aren’t too rowdy, but you could hear cheering or music, which depending on your level of tolerance, might encourage you to stay elsewhere.

Learn more about Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort here!

Disney Springs During Cheer Events

You might find Disney Springs to be a little more bustling during the cheer comps, especially in the evening when the groups are looking to enjoy some retail therapy and do some carbo-loading for the big day ahead. Shops might be a bit busier while restaurants tend to book up more quickly.

Kate Spade X Minnie Mouse Collection

If you’d rather not deal with the extra crowds, do Disney Springs earlier in the day while the kids are still competing.

Click here to check out ALL of the Disney Springs restaurants!

Transportation During Cheer Events

Many of the cheerleaders use Disney World’s ground transportation. This means you might experience some delays on your end due to the increased demand for buses.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

You might also end up on a bus filled with cheerleaders or have to wait for another bus since an entire cheer squad just filled up a bus that’s heading to or from the parks.

Incredibles Bus

Check out these ten simple tips that will make your Disney World vacation WAY easier!

Either way, we think it’s still pretty manageable to go to Disney World during Cheer Season as long as you manage your expectations and know what you’re getting into. We’ve been at Disney World many times during cheer competitions and have worked around the crowds with relative ease.

Magic Kingdom

There might be some craziness, crowds, or extra noisiness at times, but for many of these youngsters, competing in a national championship at Disney World signifies a major athletic achievement in their young lives.

To learn more about some of the transportation options Disney World has to offer, click here!

In the end, we ALL have something we hope to gain from going to Disney World, whether it’s a shiny cheer trophy or just a Mickey Pretzel! Thankfully neither are mutually-exclusive and we can all make some special Disney World memories that will last a lifetime whether we’re in it to win it or just have a relaxing vacation!

Have you ever visited Disney World during Cheer Season? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

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  3. DFB Video: How to Master the Disney Dining Plan

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: All-Star Resorts, Animal Kingdom, Art of Animation, Coronado Springs Resort, Disney Springs, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Pop Century Resort, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, aoviding crowds, April, buses, championships, cheer season, cheerleaders, cheerleading, competitions, competitive season, crowd levels, d2 summit, december, Disney World, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, International Cheerleading Union World Championships, large gatherings, large groups, major sporting events, May, pop warner, popular resorts with cheerleaders, private parties, resorts, the summit, tournaments, transportation, USASF Cheerleading Worlds