Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen Review | Magic Kingdom Dining
Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen, commonly known as Skipper Canteen, is a table-service restaurant located in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom. Inspired by the legendary Jungle Cruise attraction, this restaurant brings the same pun-filled humor and adventurous spirit to your dining experience.
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The theming is rich with explorer artifacts, quirky details, and nods to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (SEA), making this restaurant a must-visit for Disney fans who love hidden details and storytelling.
We’ll break down why we have dined here a number of times, and what makes this restaurant a fun choice for adventurous families!
Overview of Skipper Canteen Restaurant
This restaurant is full of puns and will keep you on your toes! Cast Member servers keep the experience lively with Jungle Cruise-style jokes and witty banter throughout your meal. This adds a fun and immersive touch to the meal, especially if your family are fans of the Jungle Cruise ride.
Take some time to walk around the restaurant and enjoy all of the details. There are tons of nods to the well known ride and explorers, even the books on the shelves play a part in the story!
Ambiance and Layout
The restaurant is divided into three themed dining rooms: the Crew’s Mess Hall, the Jungle Room, and the S.E.A. Room, each offering a unique atmosphere with plenty of Easter eggs for guests to discover.
From the moment you step inside, you feel like you’ve entered the headquarters of the Jungle Navigation Company, run by the same witty skippers who guide boats through the Amazon, Nile, and Mekong Rivers. The restaurant is filled with quirky artifacts, explorer-themed memorabilia, and nods to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.), which connects to other Disney attractions worldwide.
- The Crew’s Mess Hall – This is the largest and most open of the rooms, resembling a rustic gathering place for Jungle Cruise skippers. It’s filled with maps, globes, travel gear, and mismatched furniture, giving it the feel of a well-loved, well-traveled space.
- The Jungle Room – Once the private quarters of Dr. Albert Falls (yes, the same Falls from the famous Jungle Cruise waterfall joke), this room has a more intimate, library-like atmosphere with wood-paneled walls, antique bookshelves, and relics from far-off expeditions.
- The S.E.A. Room – Tucked behind a “secret” bookcase entrance, this hidden gem is a former secret meeting place for the Society of Explorers and Adventurers. It’s adorned with ornate woodwork, historic-looking portraits, and mysterious artifacts, creating a more refined and exclusive ambiance.
Skipper Canteen leans into humor with signs, props, and even the server interactions filled with Jungle Cruise-style puns and wordplay.
Skipper Canteen Menu Selections
When it comes to the menu, Skipper Canteen stands out from other Magic Kingdom restaurants by offering bold, international flavors. The menu features a mix of Asian, African, and South American-inspired dishes, making it a great choice for guests looking for something different from traditional theme park fare.
(This menu image is from a past timeframe, and Baa Baa Lamb Chops are no longer on the menu!)
Popular dishes include the “Hardy Har Char” Siu Pork, Tastes Like Chicken (Because It Is!), and Dr. Falls Signature Grilled Steak. For those with a more adventurous palate, options like the Sustainable Fish or Nile Nellie’s Noodle Bowl provide a refreshing departure from standard theme park burgers and fries.
Do note that many of the menu items at Skipper Canteen include soy as an ingredient, so if you are soy avoidant you’ll have a limited menu to choose from. Dishes often incorporate soy sauce, marinades, or other soy-based elements. Check with your server if you are avoiding soy! For plant-based diners, the Curried Vegetable Crew Stew provides a delicious, flavorful option.
The desserts are equally inventive, with treats like the Kungaloosh! (a chocolate cake with banana and caramel flavors). And our kids always like getting the Volcano Cake with their kids meal.
The menu at Skipper Canteen is a welcome departure from standard theme park fare, offering diners a chance to try something adventurous while still being family-friendly.
Not So Secret Menu Items
Skipper Canteen at Magic Kingdom has been known to offer a “secret menu”, featuring off-menu items. While these secret items may change, some past offerings have included the Pao de Queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) served with chimichurri sauce and the Seafood Stew, a flavorful dish packed with fresh seafood in a spiced broth.
Try the cheese bread, it’s amazing! This is one of our family’s favorite theme park dishes! We order it every time we dine here. These two photos show the secret menu item ordered at two different trips to the restaurant, so you can see this one remained consistent.
To access the secret menu, ask your server if there are any off-menu specials available—sometimes they may have a fun surprise! Since these items are not officially listed, availability can vary, but it’s a great way to experience something extra special and unique at this already adventurous dining location.
Reservations and Planning
Reservations are recommended but not as difficult to secure as some of the other Magic Kingdom dining spots. If you know you want to dine here, I recommend getting reservations when your dining options open at 60 days (plus length of stay for Disney Resort guests) to make reservations.
This is one reservation that I typically can get reservations for during my trip with relative ease. However, if you’re unable to find a reservation, using a reservation alert service like MouseDining can help notify you when a spot opens up.
Meal Pricing at Skipper Canteen
The pricing at Skipper Canteen falls in the mid-range for table-service dining at Magic Kingdom. Entrées typically range from $23 to $41 per adult, with appetizers around $10 to $17 and desserts costing about $9. While it’s more expensive than quick-service options, it offers a more immersive dining experience with fresh, globally inspired flavors.
For families, the kids’ menu provides smaller portions priced at around $11 to $15 per meal.
Compared to other table-service restaurants in the park, Skipper Canteen is a good value for those wanting a break from traditional theme park food while staying within a moderate budget.
Taking into account the quality of the food combined with the unique ambiance, we felt like the pricing was well matched with the experience you receive.
Rating Skipper Canteen Restaurant at Magic Kingdom
Skipper Canteen is a fantastic choice for guests who enjoy adventurous flavors, immersive Disney storytelling, and a good dose of humor with their meal! We really enjoy this one!
Whether you’re a dedicated Disney fan who loves Imagineering details or just looking for a fun and unique dining experience, Skipper Canteen offers an ambiance that is equal parts whimsical, adventurous, and full of Disney storytelling magic.
Our family enjoys this one, because the menu works well for us. The families that I wouldn’t recommend this dining option for would be: if your family doesn’t like Asian leaning cuisine; or if you have a number of food allergens to work around. This meal may be trickier for everyone to find something they will like to eat in those situations.
Check out our guide to Magic Kingdom and some of our favorite quick service locations too!
Disclaimer:
** All opinions are unbiased and independent. This post contains affiliate links. Moms with Mouse Ears is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
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