Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: Cooking the Old-Fashioned Way

“Down-home”, good old-fashioned cooking reflecting the spirit of the American pioneer tempts modern-day appetites at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge…

The majestic lobby…

Mealtime traditions of the grand lodges of the late 1800s are captured, from the types of food and cooking methods to the dining-room ambiance of the lodge’s restaurants: chefs slow-smoking meats and serving up fresh fruit cobbler for dessert; high, wood-beamed ceilings, and dormers framing views of waterfalls, tall pines and Bay Lake.

Dining options at the 728-room lodge include: Whispering Canyon, a family-style cafe; Artist Point, the resort’s signature restaurant featuring Pacific Northwest cuisine; cafeteria-style Roaring Fork; Cub’s Den, a retreat for kids; and Territory Lounge.

 

Whispering Canyon Cafe

Overlooking the expansive, log-structured lobby, Whispering Canyon Cafe offers a family-style, all-you-can-eat feast in an American West motif.

“We hope to achieve a homelike feeling with old-fashioned cooking served family-style,” said Chef Lorene Vanetti.  “We are using natural cooking techniques — smoking, grilling and barbecuing — which are consistent with the time period the lodge reflects.”

Aromas of breakfast meats, home fries and scrambled eggs welcome hungry pioneers to breakfast. As high noon approaches, you can choose our family-style skillet lunch or pick from our full a la carte menu featuring hot and cold sandwiches, salads and a full-choice dessert board.

Suppertime features an all-you-can-eat sampling of oven-roasted chicken, pulled pork, smoked pork ribs and smoked brisket, served with salads, vegetables and home-made breads.

Just don’t ask for the ketchup!!!!

 

Artist Point

The beauty and the mystery of the American Northwest is recalled at Artist Point — a specialty restaurant decorated with dramatic landscape art from the era. The eatery offers an elegant yet casual dining experience with a light wood design, a high-beamed cathedral ceiling, and dormer windows allowing natural lighting to illuminate. The windowed restaurant allows a panoramic view of the courtyard, waterfalls and Bay Lake.

Traditional Northwestern dinner specialties include cedar-roasted Pacific king salmon, braised buffalo short rib and pan-seared duck breast. All wines are from the Pacific Northwest.

Territory Lounge, Roaring Fork, Cub’s Den

Between Whispering Canyon and Artist Point is Territory Lounge, themed with Teddy Roosevelt in mind for his contribution to the National Park system. Territory Lounge is open daily, serving cocktails, specialty drinks and Pacific Northwest wines. Appetizers and snacks are available from 5-10 p.m.

The Cub’s Den is a children’s dining and entertainment facility offering video games, movies and fun food for kids, such as hot dogs, pizza and ice cream.

Roaring Fork Snacks and Arcade serves up grilled sandwiches and snacks — cafeteria style — 24 hours a day. Trout Pass, the resort’s pool bar, offers hot dogs and cold sandwiches.

Nestled in the back lobby is the library — a cozy retreat for reading, writing letters or relaxing by the majestic three-sided stone fireplace.

So have you visited the Wilderness for breakfast, lunch or dinner?