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Least Secret Menu Item Ever

There resides something within us as humans that we enjoy knowing or having something others do not. Theme parks play off this idea with concepts like lightning lanes, early theme park admission, and dessert parties. Our friends at Chick Fil-A gets the benefit of this because people crave the chicken sandwich even more when it is Sunday. Humans want what they cannot have and want to know secrets that others fail to know. Fans of the Disney theme parks love hearing some new rumors for example. Ironically, I am typing this review during the big D23 event in California. The hype just to know something new about the Disney corporation’s plans draw lots of attention.

On a lesser scale of this apparent human trait, the idea of a secret menu item at restaurants causes people to want to try it. Our friends over at Universal Orlando have mastered the secret of exclusive menu item for just their passholders during passholder appreciation days there. Even in Universal Orlando’s marketing they speak about how others will be jealous of you with exclusive/secret menu items since others did not know about it.

Walt Disney World restaurants also use this trick. They currently use it in a different way. In another review, I wrote about the secret menu appetizer at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’. For that example, you do need to know to ask or hope someone tells you the code name “Gator Sticks.”

Yet, over in Magic Kingdom, one of the longest running “secret menu” items still can be found. At “Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen” or “Skipper’s Canteen for short, guests may order a secret menu appetizer. However, this qualifies as the worst kept secret in terms of Disney dining. I could bore you with all the supposed reasons this appetizer remains “off menu” but I would really like you to read more of this article. Thus, I will refrain.

In case you do not know, the Pao de Queijo at Skipper’s Canteen qualifies as this marginally secret menu item. Depending on which server you get when dining here, they may just tell you about it before asking for your drink order. Like I said, this appetizer fails to be very secret.

As the name indicates, these are Brazilian style cheese bread. This type of bread has grown in popularity at Orlando area theme parks in recent years, especially at food festivals. These come to your table as balls of cheesy bread. The cheese bread also gets served alongside some poblano cream cheese and chimichurri sauce. Though these are off-menu and infrequently not available, they cost $13. If you are a drinks and appetizer type person, this secret menu item might go well with you beverage. Also, considering slightly more upscale alcoholic beverages are rumored to come to this table service dining location, the right combination might be here for you.

So, how is the cheese bread here? In simple terms, they offer good flavor. This cheese bread will not change your life. Still, you will not feel you wasted your money on these either. My companion for a recent meal ordering these compared them to an asiago cheese bagel that I love. This cheese bread can be heavy but for $13 you get a good portion size.

The sauce and cheese with them add to the experience in a positive way. The sauce adds a bit of spice but nothing like the Dan Dan Noodles in terms of spice. The bread can be very doughy or chewy. Some might find it a bit too chewy though I feel it helps when mixed with sauce combination. When I had this last month, I found them slightly lower quality then previously. Yet, of course, diners often romanticize things they enjoyed previously.

Overall, this makes a solid appetizer at a reasonable theme park table service price. Even your picky eater will enjoy these. Based on the portion size, these appetizers can easily be shared. Finding decent food at Magic Kingdom can be difficult sometimes. As you might imagine, I used MouseDining for this reservation. In fact, I changed this reservation at least five times. If the full character dining adventures for over $60 with Beast or Cinderella do not meet your needs, making an advance dining reservation at Skipper Canteen could be your dining solution while at Magic Kingdom. As always, eat like you mean it!

Skipper Dan’s Dan Dan Noodles from Skipper Canteen

Restaurant Reviews By Jon Self August 30, 2022 Tags: skipper canteen No Comments

During my most recent trip to Magic Kingdom to enjoy Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, I decided to dine at “Skipper’s Canteen.” Of course, as a theme park food blogger, I must point out the official name of this restaurant is “Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen.” I think you can see what most people refer to this place as Skipper’s Canteen. Also, this table service dining restaurant correlates to the Jungle Cruise attraction. I rode the Jungle Cruise attraction later in the evening after a meal at Skipper’s Canteen.

If you have ridden Jungle Cruise, then you know to expect lots of “corny” jokes. The Skipper’s Canteen continues that trend. So, expect plenty of jokes but do not expect good jokes.

On the evening I went I used mobile check-in for my advance dining reservation made with assistance of MouseDining.com. I then got comfortable in a chair in the covered outdoor waiting area. The Cast Member outside suggested I wait there. A few minutes later, I got a push notification from “My Disney Experience” telling me that my table was ready. I checked with the Cast Member. They said to continue to wait that my table was not actually ready yet. I understand these mix-ups happen. However, my spouse checked inside and was told that our table was indeed ready. Like I said, these things happen. Also, with Disney technology, we should know to double-check based on large number of glitches that commonly happen.

My main intention to visit Skipper’s Canteen involved ordering a new menu item, the “Skipper Dan’s Dan Dan Noodles.” These basically replaced the “Perkins Thai Noodles.” For the record, Disney Parks Blog recently said several new items existed here. However, a few of those have been around for a while. These noodles started appearing on menu at Skipper’s Canteen in mid-July unlike the Hangar Steak advertised as new but it arrived way earlier in year.

This noodle entrée costs $26. The menu description reads “thin noodles tossed in a savory spicy chili sauce topped with crispy pork, pickled mustard greens, radish, and cucumbers.” The server warned me that these noodles would be spicy. Yet, they used to do with the Perkins noodles sometimes also. I would not define the Perkins noodles as spicy previously.

Dan Dan Noodles with Tofu

So how were these when I had them? In fairness, these noodles did offer some legitimate spice. I would define it as spicy by theme park levels. Still, this would not be as spicy as if you ordered this at a more authentic dining establishment somewhere else. In comparison to the “spice heat” level of several of the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party food items I would try later, this paled in comparison on spicy heat scale.

The flavor of this deserves consideration. The spice level fits this dish well. Most importantly, the components all brought decent flavor with them. Compared to Dan Dan Noodles served at other area theme park resorts, this makes a better option. Also, the seasoned pork brings a nice flavor to this dish. The pork also came well prepared.

My Dan Dan Noodles

However, this one comes with a higher price point than other places. The standard peril of being hungry within Magic Kingdom causes budget concerns. Yet, $26 for this within Magic Kingdom rates as expected. I found the portion size a bit smaller than expected though. Though the vegetables provide nice flavor, I struggled with the texture of them. I have issues with some cooked vegetables regarding texture so this might not be a surprise.

As expected, this new menu item fits the pattern and theme at Skipper’s Canteen. The food here will rarely blow you away. However, the food should always function as a good option. Can you find better options at Walt Disney World? Yes, however, at this price point within Magic Kingdom, a better value for this level of food might be tough to find. You will need to enjoy a touch of spicy food with your meal for this one. All in all, I see this new menu item as a good inclusion to Skipper’s Canteen. As always, eat like you mean it!