Whispering Canyon Cafe Breakfast Review

Having breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe is by no means the worst way to start your day at Walt Disney World. When we stay at the Wilderness Lodge, we always secure breakfast reservations here at least once. So, this Whispering Canyon Cafe breakfast review will discuss our latest experience and preview a few past meals we’ve had at the restaurant.

During this stay, I was up exceptionally early one morning to take photos of the resort. Since Whispering Canyon Cafe is a table service restaurant, I secured a reservation the night before. However, this location takes walk-ups based on availability. You can join the walk-up list if you’re within proximity or stop at the check-in stand to inquire if any tables are available.

Before we get started, I think it’s best to discuss the “entertainment” at Whispering Canyon Cafe. Disney describes this dining experience on their website in one line: “Round up the whole family for hearty Western fare with all-you-care-to-enjoy skillets and shenanigans!”

Shenanigans include anything from a sassy server giving you a hard time to getting put in timeout jail for requesting ketchup. They bring the jail doors out, bars and all, and make you stick your head through them. (It’s a cardboard cut-out.)

Many guests love this kind of attention, and children find it hilarious. It’s a fun, interactive meal if you enjoy this sort of thing. Others might cringe at the thought of having attention called in their direction. I fall into the latter camp. So we always request a shenanigan-free breakfast and have always been obliged.

However, the restaurant can and will get loud if it’s busy. This will not likely be a quiet breakfast. If you have children, let them enjoy the fun. It’s not every day that someone gets to pull pranks at the dinner table.

Whispering Canyon Cafe sits off the lobby of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Brunch is offered daily from 7:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. If you’re staying at the resort, we think the restaurant warrants at least one breakfast reservation.

Getting to the Wilderness Lodge from another resort or off-property will take a little more effort. Your best bet is to use a local transportation service like Minnie Vans, Uber, or Lyft. We like to take the buses from the parks back to the resorts. But this can be difficult to do early in the morning when complimentary transportation options are only just beginning. Most importantly, the Wilderness Lodge is usually strict about letting guests park. So, if you have a car, you will need a dining reservation to gain entrance if you’re not staying at the resort.

When you arrive at Whispering Canyon Cafe, a sign welcomes you. It reads, “The goings-on can get a little loud, and that’s just the way we like it.”

After checking in, I was taken to a table that faced the lobby. This was an excellent place to sit and observe the hustle and bustle. However, it was an unusually quiet morning, even for the restaurant.

Here is a view of the restaurant from where I was seated. The opposite side is a wall of windows that looks out to the resort’s landscape.

tables and chairs with cowboys and Indians in Whispering Canyon Cafe

A few banquette seating arrangements are also available.

a table and chairs set up inside the restaurant. The chairs have Indians and cowboys painted on the back.

It’s a cheerful restaurant with vibrant decor. Theming elements include cowboys and semblances of life on the frontier.

a close look at two chairs with a cowboy being thrown off a horse painted on the back

After being seated, I was given a menu. The menu comprises a variety of all-you-care-to-enjoy signature skillets, frittatas, and a few a la carte items. On our last visit, I ordered the Carnivore Breakfast Skillet. I was saddened to learn that it was no longer an option. However, it was confusing because you can order the dinner version of the Carnivore Skillet for breakfast.

Here are the current skillet options as of this update:

The Heritage: House-made Buttermilk-Cheddar Biscuits and Sausage Gravy with Scrambled Eggs, Country Potatoes, Hickory-smoked Bacon, Pork Sausage Links, Mickey-shaped Waffles
The Lighter Side: Bircher Muesli (Swiss Oatmeal), Fresh Fruit, and Yogurt with Egg White-Spinach Frittata, Turkey Bacon, Turkey Sausage, Country Potatoes, Mickey-shaped Waffles
The Carnivore: House-made Cornbread with Honey Butter, Maple-Chipotle Barbecued Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Oak-smoked Beef Brisket, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Citrus-Herb Chicken, Country Potatoes, Buttered Corn, Charred Carrots

Each skillet is priced per person. Since they are all-you-care-to-enjoy, you can request additional sides of anything that comes with your skillet.

the brunch menu (breakfast and lunch) for Whispering Canyon Cafe — Whispering Canyon Cafe Breakfast Menu

Other breakfast entrees include:

Pepper Jack “Cheese” Frittata (Plant-Based)
Belgian-style Waffle
Fresh Fruit Plate
Western-style Benedict
Ham and Cheese Omelette
Steel-cut Oatmeal
“Jacked Up” Avocado Toast

Breakfast side items: House-made Buttermilk-Cheddar Biscuit, Sausage Gravy, Blueberry Muffin, Toast, Bacon, or Sausage Links
Kids’ Meals are also available for children ages 3-9 years old.
Check the Current Menu and Prices Here

Whispering Canyon participates in the Disney Dining Plan. Allergy-friendly and gluten free options are available. Since this is a brunch menu, lunch items are available during breakfast and vice-versa for lunch. For instance, you can order a Bison burger or a salad for breakfast. Below is a photo of the beverage menu.

The beverage menu for Whispering Canyon Cafe that includes morning cocktails — Whispering Canyon Cafe Breakfast Beverage Menu

After clarifying the skillet choices with my server, I ordered the Heritage Skillet. This skillet comes with scrambled eggs, Mickey waffles, bacon, sausage, biscuits, and gravy.

a breakfast skillet from Whispering Canyon Cafe with sausage, bacon, eggs, biscuits, gravy, and Mickey Waffles — The Heritage Breakfast Skillet | Whispering Canyon Cafe

This was an excellent option, and I particularly enjoyed the biscuits and gravy. Of course, I was looking forward to having this already. As far as the meat and eggs go, they were fine but generic at the same time. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the Mickey waffles, which is something I usually don’t order.

Ultimately, I was pleased with this meal. It was delicious and hearty. The server brought me a side of turkey sausage to try. Unfortunately, the turkey sausage was terribly tough, which was disappointing. But I had more than enough food without ordering any extras. However, I did miss the former Carnivore breakfast skillet that was previously offered.

the breakfast skillet is brought out in a silver skillet with a handle packed with food

Many years ago, I had the smoked salmon frittata at Whispering Canyon Cafe. It came with breakfast potatoes and a buttermilk cheddar biscuit. The frittata was excellent. It had large chunks of house-smoked salmon with chives blended into the soft frittata.

a frittata with a biscuit and bacon from Whispering Canyon Cafe

On another visit, I ordered the Carnivore Skillet. To date, this former skillet was my favorite option. It was a meat-focused dish that came with house-smoked ham, oak-smoked beef brisket, hickory-smoked bacon, and pork.

the former Heritage breakfast skillet with smoked meats

It also came with biscuits and gravy on the side.

a biscuit and gravy from Whispering Canyon Cafe — Biscuits and Gravy | Whispering Canyon Cafe

My son, who has severe food allergies, orders a specially prepared meal with Mickey waffles, bacon, sausage, and fruit.

an allergy-friendly preparation of waffles, bacon, sausage, and fruit

Whatever you decide, breakfast at Disney’s Whispering Canyon Cafe has a lot to offer and a unique experience you won’t find elsewhere. There isn’t any wonder why it’s included on our list of the best breakfasts at Disney World.

For more details about Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, you might enjoy the following:

For other restaurant-related reviews, we love the character breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort. If you want to know more about character meals, check out our complete guide to Disney World Character Dining. Or you can view our entire list of Disney Restaurant Reviews. Lastly, our guide to the Best Restaurants at Disney Springs will help you choose the perfect meal at that venue.

Are you planning a Walt Disney World vacation? Resorts Gal specializes in providing Disney World Hotel Reviews. That article provides a list of every single resort review we have available.

In the comments:

I hope you found this review of breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe helpful. What do you think about this kind of interactive restaurant? Would you enjoy a meal here? Do any of the breakfast items look appealing? Leave a comment below with your thoughts and experiences.