The Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground tends to be overlooked by many guests, but it is a really interesting place to visit especially if you have never seen it before. It is a truly unique location within Disney World.
Fort Wilderness features variety of fun and exciting offerings found nowhere else at Disney with everything from horseback riding and archery lessons to making s’mores with Chip and Dale at a nightly sing-along campfire.
Like any other Disney resort, Fort Wilderness also offers a variety of dining opportunities. Mickey’s Backyard Barbeque (held seasonally on Thursdays and Saturdays only) features an all-you-can-eat buffet along with a live country band, line-dance instructor, and appearances by your favorite Disney characters.
The Hoop-De-Doo Musical Review has three shows nightly in Pioneer Hall at 5:00, 7:15, and 9:30 featuring singing, dancing, and comedic skits along with pails (literally) of American favorites such as fried chicken and barbeque ribs.
But if you are looking for just a regular sit-down meal, Fort Wilderness has a restaurant that tends to be overshadowed by these other dining experiences. The Trail’s End Restaurant may not be the most glamorous or well-known dining location at Disney World, but it is definitely a restaurant worth checking out if you are visiting Fort Wilderness.
Overview:
The Trail’s End Restaurant is located adjacent to Pioneer Hall in a section of Fort Wilderness known as “The Settlement.”
One of the reasons why this restaurant may not be very well known among Disney guests is that it is somewhat out of the way and it can take a while to get there. From Magic Kingdom, you can take a boat to Fort Wilderness followed by a short walk from the dock to the restaurant. From any of the other parks, however, Disney buses drop guests off at “The Outpost” near the front entrance of Fort Wilderness and from there you must get on an internal resort bus that will take you to The Settlement. Because of its isolated location, Trail’s End probably receives most of its business from guests staying at Fort Wilderness.
Up until recently Trail’s End has featured an all-you-care-to-eat buffet throughout the day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The breakfast buffet featured traditional items such as scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and Mickey waffles. The lunch and dinner buffets included, among other things, the same fried chicken and barbeque ribs served at the Hoop-De-Doo Review. While the restaurant still offers the same breakfast and dinner buffets, Disney has decided to try out a new a la carte menu for lunch and I decided to go check it out first-hand.
Atmosphere:
I can best describe the atmosphere of the Trail’s End Restaurant as casual-rustic. The restaurant has a very laid back and informal feel that makes it a great dining location for the entire family. At the same time, the restaurant’s remote location means that it is far less crowded than many other dining locations found inside the theme parks. This makes it a great alternative for those guests looking for a quiet meal (especially at lunchtime) and to escape the hustle and bustle of the parks for a little while.
The restaurant’s theme is that of an old-western, frontier tavern or hunting lodge and the walls are adorned with many items you would typically expect to find in this setting. Tea kettles, pots and pans, snowshoes, horseshoes, washboards, saws, ceramic jugs, and even a wooden canoe are just a few of the period pieces that lend a sense of authenticity and history to the restaurant.
And, of course, what frontier tavern or hunting lodge would be complete without an assortment of wild animals on display?
However, I was a little disappointed to find that the attention to detail was not at the same level as you find in many other Disney dining locations. This is unfortunate because the restaurant’s frontier theme and wilderness setting lend themselves so well to a completely immersive dining experience.
While the restaurant has a definite overarching theme, I felt that it was not carried out as far as it could have been. For example, the ceiling is supported by wooden beams meant to give the restaurant a log cabin feel, but this is betrayed by white ceiling tiles and a generic tile floor. It does not really make you feel as though you are actually eating in a rustic frontier tavern. While many other Disney restaurants have the unique ability to transport you to a completely different time and place through highly themed and detailed décors, the Trail’s End Restaurant falls a little short in this area.
The Menu:
The main reason I wanted to try Trail’s End was to experience the new a la carte lunch. It is a menu that offers some traditional Southern favorites as well as some more unique items. The menu is made up primarily of old-fashioned comfort food, with such classic Americana offerings as grits, hush puppies, and fried chicken. While it may not be a gourmet meal, Trail’s End features home-style food that is simple but satisfyingly good.
Appetizers are limited to Beef Chili with Beans ($6.49), a Mixed Greens Salad ($5.49), and the Soup of the day ($6.99), but the entrée choices are far more interesting.
There are a good variety of entrees that offer something for everyone, whether looking for a hearty meal or something on the lighter side. In many cases the accompaniments and sides are just as intriguing as the main course itself.
The Spicy Grilled Shrimp and Andouille Sausage ($16.99) is served over cheese grits, the Grilled Pork Chop ($17.99) is accompanied by Hoppin John (a southern version of rice and beans), and the Fried Green Tomatoes ($15.99) come with fried green beans and sweet potato fries.
The menu also features an Angus Chili Cheeseburger ($13.99) topped with chili, cheddar, and Swiss cheese and served with sweet potato fries as well as the Angus Chuck Bacon Cheeseburger ($12.99) topped with bacon and cheddar and also accompanied by sweet potato fries.
On the lighter side there is the Fresh Berry Salad with Chicken ($12.99) tossed with raspberry vinaigrette, fresh berries, blue cheese and candied walnuts. However, the most interesting, and unusual, option on the menu is the Fried Chicken and Waffles ($13.49), which my server explained was one of the more popular lunch choices.
The dessert choices are few but interesting nonetheless and include Wilderness S’mores ($4.79), a dark chocolate mousse layered with graham crackers and topped with toasted marshmallows drizzled with chocolate sauce, a Warm Sticky Bun Sundae ($4.99) layered with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, and whipped cream, and Angel Food Cake ($6.99) with fresh berries and raspberry sorbet.
For my meal I chose the Pan-seared Catfish ($14.99) which came served with coleslaw and corn-chive hush puppies. As someone who grew up in New England, this type of food is something far different than what I am typically used to and while I found it to be somewhat more exotic, someone from the South would probably think it rather commonplace.
I had never had catfish before and it is actually a very mild flavored fish. The fish was pan-seared perfectly so that it was golden brown on the outside but still moist, light, and flaky on the inside. The catfish came coated with cornmeal that provided an added texture to the dish that was more coarse and crunchy than a flour or breadcrumb coating, but I felt it was a little dry.
The fish would not have had much flavor if not for a spicy horseradish sauce that accompanied it and provided a much needed kick to the dish. The sauce was very strong and definitely not for the faint of heart or people who are not fans of horseradish. The hush puppies served alongside the catfish were very soft and light, but a little dry. Mixed inside the hush puppies were pieces of corn and bell peppers that provided some added flavor and a little spiciness. Overall, the catfish and hush puppies were both good, but I was disappointed with the coleslaw because it was very dry and had little flavor.
For dessert I decided on the Warm Sticky Bun Sundae. This was definitely the highlight of my meal. The dessert features a pecan sticky bun topped with vanilla ice cream, a combination that I had never seen before but one that works really well. The sticky bun and the vanilla ice cream present two totally different flavors and textures, but they compliment each other perfectly. The sticky bun itself was nice and soft, and although it was served warm I wish it had been a little warmer. The pecans added even more texture and flavor to the dessert in addition to the whipped cream and caramel that topped the sundae. The dessert may be simple, but it was something unique. The combination of a sticky bun and ice cream may seem unusual at first, but the two paired together to create a very tasty dessert.
Service:
It was only recently that Trail’s End made the switch from a buffet lunch to an a la carte menu and I could tell that the servers were still getting used to the change. Up until this point, the restaurant had always featured a buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and thus a conventional sit-down meal is a major change for the servers. The service was a little slow and, although it did not happen to me personally, I did witness some confusion in orders coming out of the kitchen and meals being brought to the wrong tables.
That being said, I could tell that all the servers were trying really hard and doing the best they could to adapt to this changed lunch format. I was very happy with my server. While he was still getting used to the new menu and had a sheet of notes providing descriptions of the different dishes, he really went out of his way to make sure that everything about my meal was satisfactory. He was a grandfather-like figure who referred to me “partner” and seemed genuinely interested in how I was enjoying everything. This is a quality that I noticed among all of the servers in that they seemed to be very personable and really cared about the service they were providing.
Dining on a Budget:
Trail’s End is actually a very affordable dining location for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Breakfast features an all-you-care-to-eat buffet for $15.99. That is quite a bargain when compared to the Crystal Palace breakfast buffet for $20.99 or breakfast at Chef Mickey’s for $26.99. While Trail’s End breakfast may not feature Disney characters or have a selection of food as elaborate or extensive as these other restaurants, it still offers a hearty and filling meal with many traditional breakfast favorites.
Likewise, the all-you-care-to-eat dinner buffet for $22.99 may be one of the best values on Disney property, especially when you consider that dinner at Chef Mickey’s costs $34, Boma’s dinner buffet is $30, and the dinner buffet at Cape May Café is $26.99.
Again, I am not saying that Trail’s End is on the same level as these other restaurants, but it is a much more affordable option if you are looking for a buffet meal. The a la carte lunch also features many reasonably priced selections, with most entrée items on the menu ranging from $12.99 to $14.99. One of the best values on the menu may be the Chicken and Waffles for $13.49 because the portion size looked to be absolutely huge.
The Overall Experience:
I am the kind of person who always likes to try different things and this is especially true in regards to restaurants. The Trail’s End Restaurant is not one of the most popular or well-known dining locations at Disney World, but just because a restaurant is not crowded all the time does not mean that it is not good. It may not be the best meal that I have had at Disney, but the food was still good and featured large portion sizes at a reasonable price. I am definitely glad I tried the Trail’s End Restaurant at least once and, in fact, there are still several other items on the lunch menu that I wish to taste.
While I will probably not purposely make a special trip to go back to the restaurant again, if I ever find myself at Fort Wilderness I will not hesitate to eat there. Even though it may not be one of my “must-do” Disney restaurants and its isolated location makes it a little bit of a hassle for most guests to get to, the Trail’s End Restaurant is definitely worth a visit for anyone staying at Fort Wilderness or if you are looking for a dining experience that is a little different and off the beaten path.
Have you dined at Trail’s End recently? Share your experience and read what others have to say! AllEars Rate and Review Trail’s End Restaurant
Read Andrew’s first blog, a review of House of Blues in Downtown Disney.
My family and I just visited Trail’s End for the first time, and we loved it! We spent a few hours exploring Fort Wilderness, as we had never been there. I do wish that we had known that we could not drive to Pioneer Hall, and for once, a rather un-helpful cast member working the security gate at the entrance to Fort Wilderness did not bother to explain it to us, either. But, we figured it out, and ended up meeting some of the friendliest cast members down around Trail’s End and the Tri-Circle-D Ranch.
We loved our meal at lunch time. My husband had the grits, sausage, and grilled shrimp. I tried it too, and it was absolutely delicious, but the sausage was very spicy! I had the waldorf chicken salad sandwich with homemade potato chips, and I enjoyed it. It’s also worth noting that the kids meals are huge! Our son had a cheesburger, mixed vegetables, fruit cup, drink, and choice of dessert (cookie or ice cream.) His portions were very large for a child’s meal, I thought. It could easily be shared by more than one.
We’ll definitely go back, it was on the less-expensive end of disney dining, not-crowded, very laid-back, we loved it!
I was very disappointed to travel from the MK to Trails End in early October this year to find that the lunch buffet had been removed. I found the menu lacking in anything I really wanted to eat from the original buffet, and eventually settled for the chicken & waffles simply because I wanted the Fried Chicken. When I returned home, I emailed Disney Guest Relations to express my displeasure with the change. A couple days later, I got a phone call from a Disney Cast Member who told me that my comments had been passed along to Fort Wilderness management, and that the new ala carté menu was only a “test”, expected to end in January or February 2011. My fingers are firmly crossed that the lunch buffet will be restored at that time.
We ate here for the first time last week. We did the breakfast buffet. I also noticed that the “theme” seemed just not quite all there as I could see fluorescent tube lighting in the servers area from where I sat. I thought the food decent, but not as good in either selection or quality as Crystal Palace or Fresh at the Dolphin. I’m glad I tried it but doubt we will ever go back.
What are my options for getting to TE if I am not staying at FW? The park and ride the bus idea does not thrill me. Someone mentioned a boat ride. Where can we catch the boat and how often does it travel? Thanks!!
ALLEARS: Boats run from the Magic Kingdom
We have enjoyed Trail’s End Kitchen for years because of it’s remote location, quietness and comfort food. I have always thought of Trail’s End Kitchen as a sort of 1950s dude ranch kitchen, rather than an older hunting cabin. To me the floor and ceiling tiles along with the other decor were a great reminder of dude ranches I stayed at as a kid – kinda tacky. Isn’t the floor of Crockett’s Tavern wood?
I wish you’d taken a picture of the chicken and waffles because I can’t imagine what this would be……the regular fried chicken on the bone or cutlets? With a whole waffle or what?
We had reservations for lunch and switched to dinner because of the new ala carte menu. Dinner was delicious!
Regardless, been going to Trails End for 15+ years either when staying at FtW or somewhere else on property. The breakfast is the best value on property, although I can see its been pinched by the “menu consolidation” that seems rampant throughout WDW.
The buffets use to be more extensive, the sausage gravy was way thicker, and the breakfast pizza was to die for. But the ambiance of the place and the friendliest wait staff on property more than makes up for it. The food is still a great value, but the biggest complaint with this buffet is that “outsiders” that obviously have NEVER been in a “rustic” setting or even a buffet for that matter. Cutting in line and taking a spoon from one dish and putting it in another is frowned upon 🙂
One other bonus is to sit outside in a rocking chair while your kids play on the playground right out front. A great way to start or end a day!
Quite frankly, the “journey” to get to Trails End is enjoyable, at least the boat ride to it. Taking a leisurely boat ride from MK in the morning with my coffee is certainly an enjoyable way to start the day.
We have always eaten at the Trails End every time we visit (which is around every 6 months). We were never much for eating lunch so we never even experienced the lunch buffet, so I’m not sure if we would try it this new way either. However, I am glad the breakfast and dinner are still all-you-can eat (and hope they stay that way too)!
We discovered the Trails End Buffet a 4 years ago and have been going there every year since. We usually go for an early dinner. The boat ride from Magic Kingdom is a relaxing break and the walk up from the docks is pleasant. As for the food, YUM YUM YUM! The price has gone up significantly from 4 years ago but is still the best deal on Disney property. Thanks for the lunch review, maybe next time we’ll go for a mid day break and try it!
Susan: My family stayed at FW this last March and we found out the hard way that you can’t drive to Trails End. You drive to Fort Wilderness Outpost and park there then take an INTERNAL bus to the Settlement. We went for dinner and really enjoyed the ribs.
I didn’t mind going here when my family and I came to the parks last time. The biggest complaint we had about it was the fact that if you are coming from other resorts you have to drive there.. then park and hop on a Disney bus to take you through the campground to get to your food.
Also coming from one of the states that consistently serves this type of food often.. this really isn’t a big deal, especially when you had to wait 20 minutes for a bus to take you on a 10-15 minute ride through the grounds to get to the main area just to eat.
All and all the food is good, but we believed it wasn’t worth it in the end waiting to enter and leave by bus, if the food was positioned closer to the parking lot.. then perhaps it would be worth more than a visit. Again the food and atmosphere is good, just not worth the long wait and bus ride to get to it. 🙂
This has been one of my favorite hidden gems for years. Although the prices have increased the past couple of years this is still the best value on property for breakfast and dinner. Looking for a beverage change the pink lemonade is a great thirst quencher. Fried chicken is probably my favorite dinner item. Have never had a problem with getting dinner reservations except in May could not get reservations for any night–no explanation. Transportation wise it is really relaxing to take the boat from Wilderness Lodge or the Contemporary. Also, take the time to enjoy the rocking chairs on the porch after dinner–very relaxing.
Is it possible to get there by car? Would you still have to take a Disney bus? Sounds like a fun experience if you can get there without the buses.
We always enjoy a meal @ TE when in the world. Hubby really goes for that meat-n-potato kind of meal. Add all-you-care-to-eat to that and, well, there’s a happy man at my table! Our favs include the chili, the chicken and ribs. Our servers are always fun and we’ve never had a bad meal. Nice to watch the fireworks from the beach after dinner, too!
we love this restaurant-especially if wanting to start with a great breakfast on a budget-it is just as good food but when you add your family up it is a big savings over other buffets on property
We were very surprised that Crockett’s Tavern, which services Trail’s End with bar drinks, does NOT stock Fess Parker wines. My goodness, the man was a Disney Legacy, produces great wines from the Santa Barbara area, and they are moderately priced. Although Fess Parker wines are available at several restaurants around property, NOT at Crockett’s Tavern. The manager we asked about that unfortunately did not know who Fess Parker was, so that conversation didn’t go very far. Yes, they did have one wine from the Parker Station label, one of his, but not the main label wines. Disappointing.