4/23/21 4/23/21

Whispering Canyon Cafe Lunch Review

Whispering Canyon Cafe, located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, offers guests a rootin' tootin' good time with shenanigans aplenty and barbecue/homestyle inspired food. While both Brandon and I have enjoyed the food at Whispering Canyon Cafe, we admittedly have not always enjoyed the shenanigans. On our last visit together back in 2017, we did not have a great experience. So, it's taken us a while to finally go back to Whispering Canyon Cafe for a meal. Spoiler alert, this dining experience definitely redeemed the restaurant for us, and we are looking forward to going back again.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in February 2021. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant a few days before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a late afternoon seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant closed for lunch at 2 p.m.). The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. We were also able to successfully check in to the restaurant using the mobile app with no issues (it has been hit or miss in our experience).

The restaurant itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. We were actually asked to wait outside versus inside before our table was ready to ensure social distancing. All cast members wore facial masks and some cast members also wore protective shields, as well. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several of the Disney Resorts, including the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk Resort, Contemporary Resort, Coronado Springs Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Old Key West Resort, Polynesian, Riviera Resort, and Wilderness Lodge Resort along with all of the theme parks. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

Whispering Canyon Cafe is located in the main lobby area of the Wilderness Lodge Resort. You can't miss the giant sign and during the normal times a lot of noise! It's a very lively restaurant with a lot of atmosphere, that's for sure.

Whispering Canyon Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant itself has a lot of great decor. There's a lot of wooden beams and Western decor. It includes bright, rich colors, in the carpet, paintings, and chairs.

Whispering Canyon Cafe - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see by this photo, there's ample seating -- a lot of which can accommodate big parties (and the restaurant is very popular with large groups). You can also see that it includes social distancing markers on tables currently.

In addition the main part of the dining room, there are a few corners and nooks for smaller tables, and we have often been seated there. Of course, the Western theme is still ever present in every part of the restaurant.

We especially like the side nooks with colorful booths for a bit of a quieter, more relaxed dining experience. Of course, if you like to be in the middle of it all, the main part of the dining room is for you!

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Whispering Canyon Cafe does have an allergy-friendly menu. You can, of course, always speak to a chef when you dine at the restaurant to discuss different options, modifications, and any questions that you might have. On this visit, we ordered primarily using the allergy-friendly menu and coordinated options with our server Lee.

We always recommend using your own judgement and comfort level about navigating the allergy-friendly menus and speaking with a chef. We do typically recommend speaking with a chef if you feel comfortable doing so, especially if you have questions or want to discuss additional options not listed as safe for you on the allergy-friendly menu (or if you have multiple dietary needs).

For my lunch entree, I decided to get the popular all-you-care-to-enjoy skillet. This came with: Maple-Chipotle Barbecued Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Citrus Herb Chicken, Mashed Yukon Potatoes, Buttered Corn, Charred Carrots, Roasted Peppers, and Sautéed Green Beans. It was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. You can make this dairy free by swapping out the mashed potatoes for roasted potatoes and getting vegetables without butter. The great thing about these skillets is that there is a lot of flexibility to customize depending on your special dietary need (they even have a plant-based option too!).

This was an absolutely delicious skillet. The chicken was very flavorful and not overly dry. The ribs were tasty. The pulled pork was definitely outstanding too. And, the veggies were all fantastic. Let's just say I totally devoured this entree happily and was very pleased with the quality of the food and flavors. I would order this again with no question -- though I'd really like to get dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe and try the other skillet options that are available during the dinner time.

Brandon and I were also served an allergy-friendly bread service. It's not marked on the menu, but be sure to ask your server! This cornbread is gluten free, egg free, fish/shellfish free, dairy free, peanut/tree nut free, and vegan. I believe it may be soy free too but didn't check on this visit. This has been served at Whispering Canyon Cafe for years, and it's always a winner. Made with Namaste Vanilla Cake Mix (believe it or not!), the cornbread is a bit more on the sweet side. But, it's a great option. If you're dairy free or vegan, be sure to ask for vegan buttery spread which is available upon request too.

While I always love this and did on this visit, it wasn't Brandon's favorite. So, your mileage may vary depending on your food preferences and the kinds of bread you like. But, it's great that restaurant offers this to guests and worth a try if it's safe for your special dietary need.

For Brandon's entree, he opted to get the Bison Burger on a House-made Bun, Chipotle Aioli, Candied Hickory-smoked Bacon, White Cheddar, and French Fries. This dish was made safe for Brandon's allergies: fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken & turkey, and cabbage.

The Bison Burger at Geyser Point -- also at Wilderness Lodge Resort -- is a favorite of Brandon's, so he was interested in comparing these two burger options. Overall, he really loved it and said that he would get this again. He enjoyed the candied bacon on the burger and even said the chipotle aioli was pretty good. It's nice to know that there are a couple of different bison burger options at the Wilderness Lodge that he really enjoys. Like me, he said he would definitely order this again.

And, of course, because Brandon can't help himself, he ordered a second side of French fries -- made in a dedicated fryer. These fries are also gluten free and dairy free too.

For dessert, we ended up splitting the Whispering Canyon Pioneer Chocolate Cake. This dish is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. Both Brandon and I loved the rich flavors of the this dessert. It was so good. I believe the restaurant is also using Namaste mixes for this cake too. If you love chocolate, this is hands down a winner!

If you want to get more information about our visit to Whispering Canyon Cafe, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.

Overall

While our experience a few years ago at Whispering Canyon Cafe deterred us from dining at the restaurant for a long time, we're both so glad that we finally gave it another try. We were both impressed by the quality and flavors of the food that we ate. And, we appreciated the accommodation to special dietary needs and our server keeping the shenanigans to a minimum. We both felt the experience warranted going back again sometime soon because we liked it that much. We are looking forward to dining at dinner and maybe even breakfast!

Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What was your experience when you dined there?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Whispering Canyon Cafe Dinner Review

Whispering Canyon Cafe, located in Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort is a table service restaurant that offers hearty Western-style fare in a unique setting that includes colorful cast members who treat you to good food and hilarious shenanigans throughout your meal. Recently, I had appetizers and dessert there with my friends Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures and Christy from Pack Your Pixie Dust.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in November 2019. It includes information about dairy free options too.

Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Atmosphere

I absolutely love Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, especially during the holiday season. Both Whispering Canyon Cafe and the lodge have a fantastic design and rustic feel to them.

Whispering Canyon Cafe Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I really loved seeing all the seasonal decor throughout the restaurant and the resort.

Whispering Canyon Cafe - Holiday Decorations / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I somehow didn't manage to get many photos that night though, so if you're interested in seeing more about the restaurant, I recommend checking out my previous lunch review that I wrote. I included a lot more photos and discuss the theme in more detail.

The Food

On this visit, none of us wanted anything too heavy, so we opted for appetizers and dessert instead of a full meal. One of these days, I do want to go back for their dinner skillets, especially since they've added some new options.

Whispering Canyon Cafe Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Like most Disney-owned restaurants, Whispering Canyon Cafe does have an allergy-friendly dinner menu. You can also always speak to a chef or manager at any time to discuss options. On this visit, we ordered directly from the allergy-friendly menu because we ordered just a few simple dishes.

For a while now, I've been wanting to try out the "Burnt Ends" Nachos which are marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. Christy and I decided to split these because we both really enjoy nachos.

Overall, we both really enjoyed these, though I think the weakest part of the nachos was the cheese sauce. I'm always super excited to see a nacho cheese stye sauce, but this one was pretty bland. And, I think we all agreed that the brisket, pulled pork, pico de gallo, and tortilla chips were all really good, despite the so-so cheese sauce. I would still get these again and split them as a starter -- though I wouldn't want to order them for a full meal.

For dessert, Christy and I attempted to split the Whispering Canyon Pioneer Chocolate Cake, which is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. But, when it came to the table, we noticed it looked pretty burnt. In fact, we tried to eat it and neither one of us could get it out of the dish. We each took a bite and decided that the cake was indeed completely burnt and inedible. This was a real shame because I'd had it on previous visits and thought it was delicious. Because it was late, and we'd eaten a lot of nachos, we opted to send the cake back and not get a replacement. It was definitely a bit of a bummer to see the cake so poorly prepared.

Overall

While I do generally enjoy the food at Whispering Canyon Cafe, this visit had hit or miss dishes. The nachos were definitely a dish I'd order again. And, while I've had delicious versions of the Pioneer Chocolate Cake before, this time the dessert was completely inedible. I might try to get it again, but it will be a long time before I do so. I think the restaurant shines with its Western fare, so I would recommend Whispering Canyon Cafe for breakfast or dinner if you like BBQ style or Western inspired meals.

Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What was your experience when you dined there?

7/7/19 7/7/19

Whispering Canyon Cafe Lunch Review

Whispering Canyon Cafe, located in Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, is a table service restaurant that is known for its wild West theme and server antics and hijinks. This is one of those restaurants, similar to 50s Prime Time Cafe that people either love or hate, depending on their enjoyment of the antics and hijinks. I admit, I can take or leave the antics, but my family is partial to Whispering Canyon Cafe. So, when my mom and stepdad were in town recently, they requested lunch at Whispering Canyon when it's a little more low-key and for the 20% off lunch prices for Annual Passholders.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in June 2019. It includes information about dairy free options.

Lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Atmosphere

I have to admit that if the restaurant didn't have such high energy hijinks, I'd probably eat at Whispering Canyon Cafe a bit more. I absolutely love the theme of the Wilderness Lodge and the wild West theme throughout the interior of Whispering Canyon Cafe, which is located off the main lobby of the Lodge.

From the moment you walk inside, you'll find charming wild West touches -- from the carpet to the chairs. I always feel like Whispering Canyon Cafe looks exactly as I would imagine a childhood Lincoln Log project to look like if it came to life.

Whispering Canyon Cafe - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Whispering Canyon Cafe is spacious and the seating is quite comfy too.

I also really enjoy any of the tables near the windows, because you get a nice chance to enjoy the wooded area near the Lodge.

The Food

Whispering Canyon Cafe offers guests with special dietary needs allergy-friendly menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can also always speak to a chef at any time if you have questions or wish to discuss additional options too. '

On my last visit for dinner, I had a terrible experience with a server who did not want to break character when I mentioned having celiac disease. Thankfully, on this visit, the server was excellent and really gauged our level of interest in antics, so that made my dining experience much more pleasant.

Side note, I absolutely love that all the drinks at Whispering Canyon Cafe are served in Mason jars. Super cute!

Also, for those who are concerned about paper straws now being served at Disney World and gluten, check out the Disney Mom's Panel response from Special Diets about this. The gist is that if it's a Disney-owned restaurant, they are using Aardvark brand paper straws that are 100% paper and do not contain gluten. Always trust you own judgement and comfort level if you're concerned about potential gluten in the straws.

For my entree, I ordered the Slow-smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich. This was made gluten free by serving it on a gluten free bun and with fries made in a dedicated fryer. The sandwich itself was served with Caramelized Onion and a Vinegar-Barbecue Sauce. It also had coleslaw on the side too. I did not ask about the dairy free modifications for this dish, but I would guess this could be made dairy free by omitting the caramelized onions.

Overall, the sandwich was good, but not amazing. Both my mom and I ordered this, and we both agreed that the sandwich was on the dry side. We got some additional BBQ sauce, but I am not a huge vinegar sauce fan. I actually ended up adding the coleslaw to the sandwich and that worked perfectly for a bit of moisture and texture. The fries were nothing special, but I always enjoy Disney French fries whenever I can get them.

Normally, I'm not a huge dessert person, but I had to order the Whispering Canyon Pioneer Chocolate Cake. It was marked as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.

I'm so glad I ordered this because wow, was it good! The cake was served in an adorable little campfire dish and was topped with a chocolate syrup. Our server told us that the version on the regular menu is the same as the gluten free version, which is pretty great. Essentially, it is a flourless chocolate cake that was super rich and delicious. My mom, stepdad, and I all got this, and we all agreed it was the star of the meal. Next time, I might just go there for an appetizer and this dessert! This is definitely a must-order if you're visiting Whispering Canyon Cafe and love chocolate.

Overall

While I don't always love the antics and hijinks at Whispering Canyon Cafe, I do really enjoy the atmosphere and food at this table service restaurant. If you're like me and prefer a more low-key meal, lunch and breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe are always good options. You'll still get lots of delicious food and the restaurant vibe is definitely more relaxed. Of course, no matter when you go, be warned if you ask ketchup, you're going to get more than you bargained for!

Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What's your experience dining there been like?

12/29/17 12/29/17

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in December 2017.

Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Whispering Canyon Cafe is a table service restaurant located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort that is known for good food and fun hijinks. If you enjoy the charm of 50's Prime Time Cafe's servers, you'll love Whispering Canyon Cafe where if you ask for ketchup, you're bound to get more than you bargained for. Recently, my family enjoyed a meal here during the holiday season. It's been 2 years since my last dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe, so I was looking forward to a some good BBQ.

Atmosphere

Whispering Canyon Cafe definitely has a rustic charm to it. Unlike the rest of the lodge and restaurants, like Artist Point, Whispering Canyon Cafe features bright colors in its decor.From the moment you see the sign, you know you're in for a rootin' tootin' good time!We visited during the holiday season. And, one of the things I loved most were the holiday decorations. Even the wreaths had a bit of that rustic decor incorporated into them.As you can see, Whispering Canyon Cafe features chairs and tables with lots of art on them. Watch out for those antics! During your meal, big and little kiddos can take a spin around the restaurant on wooden horses.We loved that the restaurant included some holiday decor to it, which made for an even more festive experience. You'll also notice that there are a lot of big tables in Whispering Canyon Cafe. We definitely noticed a lot of larger parties (including our group) dining there.

The Food

Whispering Canyon Cafe has two claims to fame: The BBQ skillets and the server antics. Usually when you dine here, you are given a card that says you want to either participate in the antics or just watch. We didn't get that option. So, our server was all antics all the time. I definitely don't mind antics, except when special dietary needs are concerned.When I mentioned that I have celiac disease, my server said, "I don't care," and it took me a bit to get her to bring the chef to the table. While I know this was part of the schtick (and even the chef got into the antics), I still was a little off put by that. Usually, the servers break character when it comes to discussing special dietary needs. I've been to Whispering Canyon Cafe enough times that I wasn't too fazed by it. But, I could see how this might be off-putting. So, just be aware that this could happen on your visit. Whispering Canyon Cafe does have an allergy-friendly dinner menu that you can look at too, which helps.Up first, I was brought the Whispering Canyon Cafe allergy-friendly cornbread with Earth Balance vegan buttery spread. The cornbread is made to be gluten free, dairy free, and fairly allergy friendly. And, it's delicious! Made with Namaste Vanilla Cake Mix as the base, if you love a more cake like cornbread with a hint of sweetness, this is your cornbread. My family actually prefers this version too.Don't forget to ask your server for more too, if you only get one piece. I could eat this cornbread just about any day.I ended up getting the All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Skillet meal which also comes with Family-style Mixed Greens tossed in an Apple Vinaigrette Dressing. This dish is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. You can make it dairy free by omitting the cheese in this dish.This was a really nice salad with bright, fresh flavors. The apple slices in it were nice -- though they were a tad grainy. The blue cheese added a nice rich tang to the salad. Overall, I think the salad is really nice both with and without the cheese. And, I really enjoy the fresh fruit in it too.Once we finished with our salad and cornbread, the table was brought out a giant skillet to share. I ended up getting my own skillet on the side, but the main All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Skillet meal is actually safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies, as is. It comes with Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Roasted Glazed Chicken, Oak-smoked Beef, and Western-style Sausage served with Seasonal Farm Fresh Vegetables, Mashed Yukon Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, and Cowboy-style Baked Beans.My family loves this skillet and everyone really enjoyed it. Brandon said the mashed potatoes were really delicious too.I didn't want the mashed potatoes for my entree and asked if I could get roasted potatoes (which are gluten free and dairy free) instead. So, I was brought my own mini All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Skillet meal. It came with Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Roasted Glazed Chicken, Oak-smoked Beef, and Western-style Sausage served with Seasonal Farm Fresh Vegetables, Roasted Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, and Cowboy-style Baked Beans. This dish is safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Milk, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies with the potato modification.The is such a hearty meal. I have to say that the oak-smoked beef was probably my favorite of the proteins, then the pulled pork. But, they were all really good. The only thing on the skillet I don't really love are the Baked Beans. They just seem like they should cook a bit longer, and I don't love the BBQ flavor in them all that much. Still, for this meal it's a huge portion with lots of great bold flavors.I was also served a huge plate of roasted potatoes on the side. And, they were delicious. Both Brandon and I ate these and were wowed by the nice roasted flavor on them. I would definitely ask for these again.

Overall

Whispering Canyon Cafe is a fun and charming restaurant to visit. The food is always plentiful and tasty, and the atmosphere makes it even better. If experiencing some hijinks during your meal is not your thing, Whispering Canyon Cafe may not be for you. But, if you don't mind a bit of silly fun throughout your meal, it's a great option for guests who enjoy a good barbecue meal.Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What did you think of your experience dining there?

11/30/15 11/30/15

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in August 2015. Whispering Canyon Cafe, located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, is one of those fun-filled dining experiences at Disney World. The cast members really get into character, and hijinks most definitely ensue. Don't believe me? Just ask for ketchup one time dining here, and you'll see what I mean.On this particular occasion, I dined with two blogger friends of mine, Amanda from Eating Out Without and Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando. Both are huge foodies like me, so it's great to enjoy a meal with fellow special dietary needs foodies.Remember those hijinks I mentioned? If you're not into all the fun, you can always observe from a distance by flipping a card at your table that states you prefer to watch. My family loves all of that, so this was a rare occasion where I didn't participate.Though the restaurant does have an allergy friendly menu, we did have some questions for the chef, including seeing if the dinner skillet could be make both gluten and dairy free, for the chef. I was excited to see that I could still get the skillet, and I couldn't wait to dig in.Up first was a house salad made with an apple vinaigrette. This was light and fresh and a nice beginning to our meal.The next course was the allergy friendly cornbread, which is a not to be missed side for dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe. Made with Namaste vanilla cake mix, it has a sweet taste to it, and is a lovely dense, cake-like, cornbread. It's a hands down favorite with some Earth Balance vegan margarine.For my skillet, I received corn on the cob, green beans, roasted potatoes (instead of mashed potatoes), baked beans, roasted chicken, brisket, ribs, and pulled pork. I have to say the pork and chicken were probably my favorites of the meal. The brisket being my least favorite. I liked the sides well enough, though I wasn't a big fan of the beans. Overall, it's a huge portion, and I was completely stuffed from this meal.I don't normally get dessert, but I absolutely had to try the new campfire style chocolate cake. I topped mine with Rice Dream non-dairy ice cream and with the heated chocolate cake, it was the perfect topping. Overall, this was a delicious way to end the meal. It was nice to have something a bit different, and I loved the ooey gooeyness of the cake. I wouldn't hesitate to order this one again.This meal was definitely a good one. Though I didn't love everything in my skillet, I enjoyed the overall meal experience and offerings. The skillet is a great value and will fill you up easily.Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What did you order when you dined there?

11/25/15 11/25/15

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in October 2015.Whispering Canyon Cafe, located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, is sure to be a rootin' tootin' good time when you dine there. Well-known for its cast member hijinks and antics (ask for ketchup, and you'll soon find out what I mean), Whispering Canyon Cafe has long been a family favorite.On this particular occasion, we dined there for breakfast, before we headed to the Magic Kingdom for a full day of in park fun. Like most Disney restaurants now, Whispering Canyon Cafe has an allergy friendly menu. You can also still talk to a chef, which I did, as I was interested in a gluten free and dairy free version of the breakfast skillet.I love how the restaurant serves up drinks in Mason jars. Watch out if you drink a lot, you might get yourself a gallon jar!My modified skillet included breakfast potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, apple raisin sausage, and allergy friendly Mickey waffles. If I were gluten free only, I also could have gotten biscuits and gravy with this skillet. You can read a gluten free only review on Gluten Free in Orlando's blog.For the most part, I didn't find this breakfast to be anything special. It was good, and there was a lot of food. My favorite part was actually the apple raisin sausage which had a mild sweet flavor to it and was something different.If you're looking for a filling and hearty breakfast, Whispering Canyon Cafe fits the bill nicely. It's not someplace I'd go all the time, but every once in a while, it's great. And for $16.49, the all-you-care-to-eat breakfast skillet is a great value.Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What did you enjoy about this restaurant?

8/6/14 8/6/14

Guest Review — Disney World with Special Dietary Needs Trip Recap Day 1

This series of guests posts comes from reader Kathleen. Her love of Disney and passion for bringing awareness to special dietary needs on her college campus makes her the perfect guest writer for Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW. I’ve been following along on her college journey where she blogs about dining at college with special diets. Check out this great article on allergy friendly dining that she wrote last fall for her campus. Thanks again, Kathleen, for taking us along on your Disney special diets journey! (if you aren’t hungry, you will be after you read these reports)I’ve broken up Kathleen’s posts, and today we’re checking out her first few days at Disney World. You can also recap with her visit to Universal Studios Orlando on her previous guest post! Hi everyone! My name is Kathleen and I’m currently a senior at NC State University in Raleigh. A few years ago, I found out about several food allergies that I have (gluten, corn, dairy, tomatoes, apples and peanuts) and ever since then, I’ve been on the lookout for new and exciting foods to try. Disney is a big deal in our family, and on our annual trip each summer, we love eating at new restaurants to mix things up. This was my third Disney trip with allergies, but my first without dairy, since I found out about that only a year ago.Disney Day #1 – 7/21After lunch at Bubba Gump’s, we packed up the car and headed over to the Wilderness Lodge to begin our Disney vacation. We hadn’t been to that hotel in over 10 years, and it was fun to go back.We had a reservation at the Whispering Canyon Café in the lobby of the hotel. Having done my research (on GFDFWDW of course!) on all of the restaurants we had reservations at for the week, including this one, I had a basic idea of what was okay for me to eat. I was looking forward to the family style platter that Sarah reviewed in her post a while back, but no one else wanted it so we ended up each getting our own entrée.The service was great. When the waiter found out about my allergies, he sent for the chef to come talk to me while he took everyone’s orders. Chef Williere came out and asked me what I was thinking of ordering. I told him that I really like pulled pork, and asked him if I could get that with the grilled vegetables. He said he would check on the gluten free sauce to make sure it was corn free, and I told him that the roasted chicken would be my back up. A few moments later, he came back to inform me that the gluten free pulled pork sauce had corn starch in it, so I ended up with the chicken. I’m glad I did, because it was the best chicken I’ve ever had. It was cooked just right, and the skin was perfection. The charred bits are always my favorite part and there were plenty. It was like half a chicken though, so I was able to bring my leftovers back to the room to eat for breakfast the next day.After we finished dinner, Chef Williere came back out to ask me about dessert. Like I said, I did my research, and I told him that my friend Sarah recommended the gluten and dairy free chocolate cake. He chuckled when I asked about it and regrettably informed me that I had to call ahead, so I wasn’t able to get that. Oh well. He told me that he’d go figure something out and surprise me. Boy, did he ever.I was expecting a pack of those enjoy life chocolate chip cookies, and I would have been completely happy with that, but he came out with a blueberry cobbler topped with berry sorbet and fresh berries. It was incredible. I couldn’t believe that it didn’t have any of my allergens in it, and told him just that. He laughed and said he was glad I liked it and to tell Sarah hello and to come visit him (just in case you forgot, Sarah! Haha). I was so impressed with this restaurant, and I convinced my mom that we had to try their breakfast and lunch if we could (which you will read about shortly – I was persuasive).Day #2 – 7/22Tuesday was our first day at the parks! It was also our first time using the magic bands and the fast pass plus system. Now, over the years, we have mastered our Disney schedules and ride orders down to an art (while planning our parks around which restaurants we go to – we’re Italian, we have our priorities). We know exactly when to get to certain rides, and what order to go on those rides to make the most of our trips. With the new system, we were even more efficient. We actually ended up having a lot more time than we thought, which means we’ll be re-strategizing for next year. Woo!Anyways, we started off at Animal Kingdom. I was particularly excited for this park because of the new Allergy Friendly Kiosk that opened up. We were planning on just getting some sort of snack since we had early dinner reservations at Epcot, but since we had just recently signed up for the Landry restaurants membership, we decided to use that to get a discount at the Yak and Yeti.As always, our server was great. He was really nice, and sent the chef out to speak to me very quickly. I actually had a lot of options, which was nice. I almost got the seafood curry (again with the curry!) but since it was a zillion degrees outside, and the curry was a large portion, and we had an early dinner reservation, I instead decided to go with the chicken lettuce boats appetizer. It was really good, and such a simple meal – I’ll definitely be making it at home. It was basically just stir-fried ground chicken mixed with a variety of vegetables that I could scoop into lettuce wraps and top with gluten free hoisin sauce and sriracha!My family ended up trying the famous fried wontons for dessert, but I knew I had a bounty of sugary options waiting for me at the allergy kiosk, so we headed there on the way out so I could get some goodies to go.I was very impressed with all of the options there. They had four Babycakes items: mini cupcakes, chocolate donuts, cinnamon donuts, and chocolate chip cookies. They also had boxes of enjoy life soft-baked cookies, rice chips and cakes, surf sweets gummies, raw granola bars, fresh fruit, hummus and veggies, and pints of Tofutti ice cream. Wow! I ended up getting one of each Babycakes item because I can’t get them in North Carolina, and because, you know, baked goods. Those cookies were the first to go, and the best chocolate chip cookies ever. I was so happy to eat them, as you can see. I spread the other three items out for the rest of the week. I don’t think I’ve eaten a donut in three years, and they were so yummy!That night, we dined at Teppan Edo, the Japanese steakhouse in Epcot’s World Showcase. I ate there on my first allergy friendly Disney trip, so I looked forward to going back. This was my first trip after turning 21 in December, so I ordered the Takara plum wine. It was really sweet, but I’m not a big alchohol fan so that was a-okay with me.The manager told me that I could get any of the entrees made without noodles, with white rice instead of the beef rice, and without any of the dipping sauces. They also provided me with gluten free soy sauce. The service was also really good. They offered to cook my food in the back instead of on the grill in front of us, but since they clean the grills very well in between each table, I told them that I’d be fine if they just cooked my food before everyone else’s. I was a little wary because the last time I went there, I ended up with a really bad stomachache, which has also happened after eating chipotle burrito bowls, so this time I decided to stay away from the rice (the common ingredient). I ordered the scallops and vegetables, and I was completely fine. I’m not sure if it was the rice or the sauce that was such a problem three years ago (pre-dairy allergy), but I’m glad that I didn’t have the same issue again. Plus, the scallops were great!Are you hungry now? Stay tuned for Kathleen's last trip report guest post which recaps days 3-6 of her Disney vacation! If you want to learn more about Kathleen’s experiences as a college student with special dietary needs, you’ll get that chance at the upcoming Food Allergy & Celiac Convention held at Disney World on November 22, 2014.

4/18/13 4/18/13

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in April 2013.Hoooowdy! I'm back for another rootin' tootin' good time at Whispering Canyon Cafe. It's been a while since I visited last and one of the biggest reasons I wanted to head over this time was to check out the newly revamped dinner menu. I've been to lunch since the menu was revamped and you find find that review HERE. I also wanted to catch up with one of my favorite chefs on Disney property, Chef Williere. Words can't do him justice--he's just awesome!

My family came with me for this meal, and we were all VERRRY hungry, having spent an afternoon moving my brother into his new apartment. Family style places are a great place to scarf down after a long day of moving boxes!Upon arrival, we all got ourselves some cool beverages. Really, we should have asked for the big Mason jars because let me tell you, we sure drank enough iced tea and soda. While getting our cool drinks, we looked over the menu. I knew that the entree choice was the family style platter. It gives you the choice of picking out 3 different meat choices including:

Kansas City style Smoked Pork Ribs
Herb-baked Chicken
Hand-carved Oak-roasted Beef Strip Loin
Citrus-crusted Market Fish
Western-style sausage
Pulled Pork

From the meats I remembered, I had a sense that the ribs were safe as was the chicken. For sides, you don't have to choose but you get:

Seasonal Farm Fresh Vegetables
Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes
Cowboy-style Baked Beans
Corn on the Cob

Chef Williere came out, and we chatted. The restaurant was swamped so I can imagine how crazy the kitchen was, plus he was at a lot of tables to assist. Who knew Sunday was an oddly busy evening there. He went over the meat options and said everything was gluten free & dairy free, except the fish. This is due to the crust that they top the fish with. However, Chef Williere could make it plain without the crust. Our table went with the pulled pork, ribs, chicken and fish. As far as the sides, everything was safe except the mashed potatoes which had dairy in it. Aw bummer. I really really liked those herb crushed potatoes from the last time we had a skillet (before it became the platter) there. Instead my option was plain rice. Really, in the end I didn't need it because I had so much other food to eat. The good news was that they still have the allergy friendly cornbread--hallelujah!!!First up, came the cornbread. Yum. I got a nice big piece and I swear my family was eying my cornbread the whole time. I did give my family some samples, including my brother & sister-in-law who hadn't tried it before. They actually really liked the cornbread, saying it was more "cornmeal" flavored that the cake cornbread that they had. I should have asked for more :)

Yum! Allergy friendly cornbread. Delish!

The one thing I will say that I actually missed from the old "skillet" days was the salad. I really liked the salad with apple vinaigrette. It made for a nice refreshing appetizer before the big meal. But as long as the cornbread stays, I'll forgo the salad!!Then onto our platter. The meats, except the fish, were all on one platter. The corn and veggies were on another (all safe for me to eat). The beans and potatoes were in separate bowls, so I was able to easily avoid the potatoes.

Ribs, chicken, baked beans

Pulled Pork, ribs, chicken, corn, and green beans & carrots

Rice, my plate with chicken, ribs, veggies

So, I have to apologize for the lack of composed photos. I sort of realized I forgot pictures mid-way through the meal. Whoops. This is what happens when you are REALLY hungry. First up, the veggies. I don't eat corn on the cob--it's a Crohn's thing. Really messes my stomach up. But the family said this was good (and they ate it all). The green beans and carrots were good but very crunchy. Another Crohn's no-no. I tried a little bit didn't want to push it. The bbq baked beans are also a little firmer than you might expect from baked beans, but I do like the bbq flavor.I have to say, my favorite part was the meat. I know if you are vegan or vegetarian, they can offer you the quinoa cakes still but in reality this place is kind of a meat-lover's paradise and maybe not the best veggie choice. The pulled pork was actually my favorite because it had a nice smoky flavor (and it wasn't sauced--this is key in pulled pork). The ribs were good. I'm always on the fence with ribs, but I liked these. Still, they are a lot of work for little in the end in my opinion! I'm not a fan of messy eating :) The herb chicken was my second fave of the evening. I really enjoy the rosemary flavor on this. I ate a couple of pieces of this. The fish was also good. It was very fairly plain--some type of cod or tilapia seasoned with salt and pepper. But it was cooked properly. That's very much the key to good fish. (and something I constantly screw up at home). Chef Williere really loaded me up with food options, so I walked away from this meal stuffed.And then it was on to dessert. Last time I had a skillet, we had a really lovely chocolate cake that the bakery had specially made for us. This time, I was glad that Chef Williere had a lovely sorbet for me. It was one of those perfect palate cleansers at the end of the meal--not too heavy, light tasting and yummy. It was raspberry sorbet, with a raspberry sauce, fresh berries. After seeing the dessert sampler my family got I think they were wishing they had the sorbet! They liked it but they were very very full.Overall, I liked the new platter. I admit, the old skillets tug at my Disney traditions and heartstrings. I miss them as much as I miss the lazy Susan skillets at Ohana. But, I do realize that change is good in restaurants in order to keep them fresh, current and vibrant. There are a few things I missed (like the salad) but overall, I think Chef Williere and the team have done an excellent job of updating the menu without losing the heart of Whispering Canyon Cafe. Most of the meats are the same, just a few changes here and there.I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10 and will definitely be back again to say hi to Chef Williere and the rest of the gang at Whispering Canyon Cafe!

11/11/12 11/11/12

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in November 2012.

Wilderness Lodge

Howdy! I just got back from a rootin' tootin' good time at Whispering Canyon Cafe. For those who have never been, it's a table service restaurant located in the Wilderness Lodge resort. It's known for its "antics" -- just make sure you ask for ketchup and you'll see what I mean! One of my favorite chefs on property, Chef Williere moved here a few years ago from 50's Prime Time and I've been so happy to see him over here (of course I still miss him at 50's!). In fact, it's been great because I've been able to eat a lots of the same items as my family. And the gluten free/dairy free (allergy friendly) corn bread is to die for! Get the dinner skillet with it, and you'll see what I mean.This was my first time ordering a la carte, as we always get the skillets. Chef Will was there that day and he helped me navigate the menu. I will say that a lot of the menu options are gluten free, which is great. I like that this restaurant has a lot of allergy friendly options. He also told me that despite the removal of the skillet for lunch, you can still get it along with many of the old options like the vegetarian quinoa cake. Being that it was early, we opted not to go for the skillet (a good choice because I was very full by the end of the meal).I ordered the appetizer of Western Chips with Buffalo Chili, Cheese Dip, and Fresh Salsa. The only thing I couldn't have was the cheese dip, so that was placed on the side. What we got was a really large portion of chips and dips. The buffalo chili was pretty good--almost had a sweet taste to it. Very hearty and went will with the chips. I imagine with the cheese dip it was great (the other guests had it with both and liked it a lot). Then there was the salsa. This was a big hit at the table. Chef Will had given us an extra portion I think of the salsa, which was great. It didn't taste like the traditional salsas to me--had again a sweet taste to it. I think we managed to scarf all of that down!

Western Chips with Buffalo Chili and Fresh Salsa

For my lunch, I ordered the Slow-smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich with Cowboy-style Baked Beans, Sweet Ancho-Barbecue Sauce, and Western Slaw. I asked if they had the Udi's buns and Chef Will said they had the sliced bread. This made me happy because that meant if I came for breakfast I could get the toast. I'm always looking for what locations serve Udi's.The sandwich was really good. I loved the smoked pork. It had a great smoke flavor and the BBQ sauce was delicious (though admittedly I could have asked for a small dish of it on the side--was great to dip fries in). The beans are also quite good. I used the bean sauce to dip my fries--what can I say, I like a good dipping sauce! The slaw was good but a little spicy. For me, especially with the Crohn's and the fact that I ate salsa that day, I opted to forgo the slaw more than just a taste. Fine because others at the table ate it. I also got regular fries as my side dish.

Slow-smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich with Cowboy-style Baked Beans, Sweet Ancho-Barbecue Sauce, and Western Slaw.

Overall, I was really pleased with my meal. The choices were great, and the food as always was really good. I was surprised how busy it was there for lunch. Means it's a great lunch option, especially if you're staying in the lodge. It was great seeing Chef Williere again and getting a great meal. Next time, I'm going to make a plan to eat dinner there because as much as I liked the a la carte options, I really missed the skillet and the cornbread!!!A solid 9 out of 10, for a great meal.

Don't forget to ask for ketchup!!!

7/15/12 7/15/12

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

Yeehaw! This was quite a meal!

**This dining experience took place July 2012.Howdy! Who's ready for a rootin' tootin' review of Whispering Canyon Cafe?! I know I'm sure ready to head back here for another meal. Yum! I haven't eaten here for dinner since 2003 (and that was pre-allergies), so I was looking forward to this meal. On top of that, I had been in contact with Chef Williere Justin, formerly of 50's Prime Time (and who many of you know has provided some really amazing experiences and darn good GF/DF fried chicken there) who is now at Whispering Canyon Cafe. I will say that there are a few chefs on WDW's property that I will follow from restaurant to restaurant because they are that good. Chef Williere might just possibly be my favorite of all chefs on WDW property. His dedication to providing safe and tasty dining experiences for guests is unparalleled. In fact, there was another guest there with allergies at the same time was so happy, our server said she must have hugged Chef Williere for 5 minutes! He's that good! So, I was very excited about this meal. We had been in contact prior to my visit, and I knew I was able to get GF/DF cornbread, and that there would be a chocolate cake made. Wahoo! Cornbread and chocolate cake sounded A-OK to me!Upon arrival, we were greeted almost immediately by Chef Williere who said he was ready for us. He just confirmed that we were having the lunch skillet (a slightly, and only slightly because it's huge, smaller version of the dinner skillet) with cornbread. He also said that he had the bakery make me a special cake. Yum! I was excited. We were also greeted by our server Jeffro, who Chef Williere said was just great. We were off to a good start!Now for those of you unfamiliar with Whispering Canyon Cafe, you should know that there are lots of fun hijinks that happen here. The chefs kid around a lot and tend to be "surly." Just ask for some extra ketchup some time. You'll see what I mean! :)We really didn't have much time at all to wait for food, which was good because we were hungry! Chef Williere brought out two huge pieces of GF/DF cornbread. Wow, it looked good!

GF/DF Cornbread! So good my family kept trying to eat it!

The cornbread was extremely moist (which those of us who bake GF/DF know that can be sometimes difficult) and delicious. It was dense and almost cake-like. The taste was phenomenal. I gave my family some to sample (they had regular gluteny cornbread), and they loved it. In fact, later they asked for some more because they liked it so much.Next up was the coleslaw. This was not mayonnaise based, so it was nice and light. But, be warned it had a slight kick to it. So, if you don't like spicy food, just keep that in mind. Still, it was extremely good.

Coleslaw

Up next, was the mammoth skillet that we were served. Mammoth is an understatement. Jeffro told us to make sure to make room, and he sure wasn't kidding! Wowie! Initially, I made the assumption that I would be brought a separate skillet; that usually happens at most restaurants, so I didn't dig in immediately. I asked our server, and he said, no the whole skillet was safe. Wow. That was pretty amazing because that never happens, not even at WDW. But, we could all share. I loved this. The skillet consisted of: BBQ pork ribs, chicken, and sausage, baked beans, garlic smashed potatoes, and corn on the cob. That's a lot of food.

A mighty skillet filled with GF/DF goodness!

My first plate consisted of chicken, ribs, potatoes, and beans. OMG. So good. The chicken was very good and moist. It tasted like it had some rosemary in it. The beans were also very good, nice BBQ flavor. Then there were the ribs. Those were a surprise, because I'm always on the fence with ribs. I either love them or hate them. These were of the love kind. Very smoky and tasty. Then there were the potatoes. Those were to-die for. I ate about 3 servings of the potatoes...seriously.

Round one of my meal...there were several!

So between the cornbread and the skillet, I was one full girl. But, we knew there was cake coming. Oh boy was there cake coming. I was talking to Jeffro, our server, at the time, but my stepdad and mom said that Chef Williere peeked out from the kitchen and gave the thumbs up signal to see if we were ready for dessert. Yep, we were! And what a surprise dessert it was! Chef said that he had the baker make a special chocolate cake. It was so amazing. The most artful and special looking GF/DF cake I've ever had on property (and the most tasty, I must say). It was also pretty huge! The cake consisted of chocolate cake, strawberry jam layered in the cake, and a strawberry jam layer on the top of the cake with white frosting and fresh strawberries. I'm still not sure how I packed all the food away or made space for the cake, but I did. It was so amazing. My family was raving about how good it was and how it did not at all taste like a "special diets" dessert.

Full view of the gorgeous cake.

Close-up view of the cake top

Cake serving. Yum!

I am telling you, when I need a special occasions cake, I'm contacting their bakery again. They have officially blown any other WDW bakery out of the park. Divine! Luckily, we were able to take the cake home with us; otherwise we would not have been able to eat the whole thing (and admittedly, I ate some for breakfast the next day!).A word about special cake orders. These have varying costs, and you can arrange this ahead of time with the bakery or chefs at the various restaurants and hotels. Typically, desserts at restaurants are usually gf/df non-dairy ice cream, cookies, house-made brownies, and sorbets. So, this was a specially prepared cake. So, if you want something like this, you'll want to contact the restaurant ahead of time and consider that there will likely be an additional cost incurred. Restaurants are also now able to order cakes from Babycakes at Downtown Disney if you prefer.Overall, I can't say enough good things about this experience from the servers to Chef Williere and his amazing staff, my whole family was blown away by this meal.Definitely a 10 out of 10! Run don't walk to this restaurant and expect a really great meal. Hijinks definitely included :)

8/9/11 8/9/11

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

HOOOOWDY! When you head to Whispering Canyon Cafe, you're in for a rootin' tootin' good time! We like this place a lot for the antics. It's a very fun restaurant...and if you've never been...well, just ask for ketchup! You should get some INTERESTING responses :)For this trip, we met up w/my friend who's gluten/dairy/soy free too. Here's what we got:We decided to share the breakfast skillet--minus the biscuits and gravy, etc. We got scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, breakfast potatoes. Unfortunately for my friend, he could not partake in the waffles, as they only have Van's frozen waffles there, and they have soy in them. I was able to get them, as they are safe for gluten and dairy allergies.

Breakfast skillet, modified...

Van's Waffles...

Overall, we enjoyed the food. Nothing fancy, but good old home cooked food. I do wish they'd get Mickey waffles here, but otherwise a solid meal.A 8 out of 10 for consistency and fun atmosphere!**This dining experience took place in summer 2011.

4/4/10 4/4/10

Whispering Canyon Cafe--Table Service--Wilderness Lodge

HOWDY! Welcome to Whispering Canyon Cafe!

This was a birthday meal for me--my 30th birthday to be exact. I knew prior to eating at WCC that they made fun of you (been there before), so I was ready for some good old fashioned teasing. But, I was also hoping for a nice breakfast. Upon arrival, the waitress let me know that the chef would be out to see me. When the chef arrived, I explained that I couldn't have milk or gluten. I decided on a ham omelet with potatoes and a GF waffle on the side. I was hoping for mickey waffles, a la Kona cafe, but alas, it turned out to be a Van's Waffle. (not that they aren't good, but I can eat them at home! I wanted a big fluffy GF/CF mickey waffle!) The chef actually mentioned that these were the last of the waffles because they'd had so many GF eaters that week. (hmm, guess they should have ordered more!) When she brought out my waffle she brought out fleischman's butter, which she said was made from corn. I wasn't sure if she meant lactose free or completely dairy free (it sounded sketchy to me), so I didn't eat it. After getting butter on my plate and on my eggs at 'Ohana, I was leary. I like not getting a scratchy throat, sneezing, and headaches.

Van's waffles and pure maple syrup.

The omelet was very tasty and so were the potatoes. In general, it was good but nothing spectacular.

Breakfast!

After my meal, they made me go around the restaurant on a wooden horse and sang to me to celebrate my birthday (sure didn't feel 30 at that moment!) And instead of a cake, they gave me a french meadow brownie. Nothing like a brownie at 9 a.m.! Thankfully, I could take it back to the room with me.

Overall, I'd give it a 7 out of 10. Service and food were OK. Nothing spectacular, but not terrible either.