In all the hub-bub of the Star Wars and Toy Story Land announcements this weekend, this little item of news from the D23 Expo may have passed under your radar. The official name and theme for the new restaurant coming to Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom has been revealed.
The “Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen” will feature world famous Jungle Cuisine (inspired by Africa, Asia and South America) in its several unique dining rooms. These rooms, including a crew mess hall and a once-hidden secret meeting room of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (more about the SEA on this post about Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar at Disney Springs), will be filled with Jungle Cruise themed experiences and decor. Additionally, the staff will be Jungle Cruise Skippers (presumably on their days off from navigating the rivers of the world).
Although it hasn’t been confirmed, it is believed this location will be quick service for lunch and sit-down for dinner, similar to “Be Our Guest” in Fantasyland. It has also been rumored that like BOG, limited alcohol service will be available with your meal.
“Skipper Canteen” is currently under construction. Opening day is planned for sometime later in 2015. Stay tuned for more.
I don’t see the staff-are-also-skippers thing working or lasting. Attractions and food divisions are totally separate operations, and job descriptions do not overlap–and aren’t rewritten easily (see: unions). I think the role of restaurant host / hostess will be a “skipper” in the sense that their costuming and official are that they “are” skippers (like Haunted Mansion CMs are maids and butlers). But not that they also work on the Jungle Cruise in a totally unrelated and independent operations division.
I’m not sure they LITERALLY mean they will work both attractions; just that the characters in the restaurant will be “off-duty Jungle Cruise skippers”. You are right that the logistics of having cast members do both would be challenging to say the least.
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