PICKY EATERS: Navigating the Menu at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen in the Magic Kingdom

Shannen Ace

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PICKY EATERS: Navigating the Menu at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen in the Magic Kingdom

Are you traveling to Walt Disney World with children who are difficult to feed? Do you have food restrictions like allergies? Are you just a picky eater?

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Then we’ve got a new series for you! Introducing Picky Eaters, starring me, Shannen Michaelsen, and my sister, Colleen Siler. Colleen and I have been picky eaters our whole lives. In this series, we take our pickiness to different restaurants around the Walt Disney Resort and discover just how easy it is for people like us to eat there.

We recorded our first episode before Walt Disney World’s temporary closure (and before serious concerns about coronavirus, we are properly social distancing now). Read about our experience and watch the video below.

For this pilot episode, we visited…

Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen

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Ironically, we ate at the Skipper Canteen the same day one of Jungle Cruise’s ships sank. Thankfully, we stayed dry inside away from the action.

The Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen is one of Disney World’s newest restaurants and promises a pun-tastic experience comparable to its corresponding attraction. It also has some of the wildest menu items of any Disney World restaurant and is known for frequent menu changes since it opened in late 2015. You can read some reviews of the current menu here.

Now Colleen and I are not fans of most sauces or vegetables. Which makes eating at Skipper Canteen difficult. We appreciate their attempts to keep us healthy, and we are willing to try new foods, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to like it.

Here’s what we ordered.

Punch Line Punch – $5.50

I ordered the Punch Line Punch, one of the Skipper Canteen’s specialty non-alcoholic beverages. A mix of tropical fruit juices and mango purée, it was a refreshing drink and a good start to the meal. It was an especially nice cool-down after we almost ran to our reservation (which you can see in the video below). Colleen and I both liked the Punch Line Punch and would recommend it to our fellow picky eaters who enjoy a fruity drink.

Schweitzer Slush – $6.50

Colleen ordered the Schweitzer Slush (say that five times fast), described as “Frozen Apple Juice and Passion Fruit topped with Bursting Green Apple Boba Balls, first concocted by the noted explorer and humanitarian, Dr. Albert Slush.” This was another nice fruity drink, however, Colleen and I don’t like boba balls. The squishy round texture makes me uncomfortable. Colleen also had trouble even getting a sip of the drink because the straw was so clogged. But if you’re a fan of boba balls, this might be a fun option for you instead of the Punch Line Punch.

And if neither of these drinks appeal to you, every Disney restaurant serves my go-to favorite: water.

Pao de Queijo – $12.00

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We ordered this Brazilian cheese bread from the “Not So Secret” menu. This menu also featured four different types of sangria and shrimp in a cup.

This gluten-friendly cheese bread was a big step for Colleen, who is a person who does not like cheese. This is one picky thing we disagree on, as I could eat cheese with pretty much any meal.

But Colleen made the adventurous choice and tried the Pao de Queijo. Her review? Bad. She still does not like cheese.

I enjoyed these little bread balls, and had actually tried ones at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival, where they are usually found at the Brazil booth. They are by no means my favorite cheesy appetizer (that goes to mozzarella sticks), but they’re light and easy to eat. Not to mention, they’re a great gluten-free option for anyone who needs that. They also came with a smearing of cream cheese chimichurri sauce, but we didn’t try that. We were not quite that adventurous.

“Tastes like Chicken” Because it is! – $24.00

This is what I like to see in my meals: chicken. And the “Tastes like Chicken” meal was definitely the most successful part of the lunch.

This crispy-fried chicken is served with jasmine rice, chili glaze, and seasonal vegetables. I’ll be honest, I did not know what all of the vegetables were, but there were carrot strips and carrots are one of the few vegetables I enjoy. The chicken was indeed crispy and just thinking about it now has me craving more. I am not joking when I say I could eat chicken for every meal and this fried chicken has a thumbs up from me. The jasmine rice was simple white rice, which might not be interesting for some, but was perfect for me. The only thing I didn’t like about my meal was the chili glaze. It was just drizzled on top of the chicken, so I could mostly eat around it, but it was just too spicy for me. Yes, I am white.

That being said, if you aren’t a fan of chilis or glazes, it would be easy enough to ask for this meal without it. And everything else on the plate was just the right amount of simple for a picky eater like me.

Dr. Falls Signature Grilled Steak – $36.00

Colleen ordered this New York strip steak, with vegetable and chorizo farofa, caramelized onion purée, and red wine reduction.

Honestly, we don’t know what most of those words mean. We definitely know steak, and Colleen did ultimately like the steak. It was tender, and the red wine reduction wasn’t a dealbreaker sauce. That being said, she didn’t eat the rest of the dish. She tried the farofa but didn’t like the grainy texture, and she didn’t like where it got onto the steak.

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If you don’t like it when your foods touch, these dishes might not be for you. In fact, if you’re a picky eater or traveling with kids, this entire restaurant might not be for you. We definitely recommend taking a look at the menu online before making a decision.

Take a closer look at these dishes and hear our final rating of Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen in our video below!

4 thoughts on “PICKY EATERS: Navigating the Menu at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen in the Magic Kingdom”

  1. Finally gave the Canteen a chance two Sunday’s ago for our last supper. Was always skeptical about the menu but we were absolutely surprised. Loved the steak salad and the chicken noodle bowl. The flavors were just outstanding!

  2. You guys are hilarious!!! Hats off to you for trying one of the more adventurous menus out there! (The Cachapas are my fav) I appreciate this so much, having 4 kids under 10 who are all picky eaters. Kid’s chicken noodle soup isn’t bad there either. Try the Garden Grill next. It’s a MUST for us every trip, all fresh and simple good food, b/l/d, and the atmosphere is fantastic…but request a booth!

  3. I really enjoyed your video! You were both fun to watch, I was laughing thinking about how eating with you all would be like eating out with my own 3 sisters. Keep the videos coming so I know where to take them next time we are at Disney.

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