Disney World is ALWAYS changing, and that means that even restaurants come and go.
We’ve said goodbye to restaurants over the past few years, while new restaurants have been announced for the resort. Now, one restaurant at a Disney World resort is getting a HUGE overhaul that will completely change it.
Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will be closing for a refurbishment this spring (which is RIGHT around the corner). It WILL reopen, but it will be a LOT different. It will no longer be a table service restaurant, but instead, it will be reimagined “as a marketplace concept with expanded quick service options.”
The restaurant previously was changed when it reopened after Disney World’s historic closure. It previously served buffet-style meals, but reopened with family-style service. It was still a table service restaurant, though — that will no longer be the case.
That doesn’t leave a lot of options for dining available at Fort Wilderness. There is the Chuck Wagon, a food truck with a limited menu of burgers, salads, and snacks. The Meadow Snack Bar at the Meadow Swimmin’ Pool will also remain open. Guests will also be able to visit Crockett’s Tavern, although the focus there is more on drinks than food. Some bar snacks are available, though.
With the restaurant not reopening until later this year, that might mean you’ll need to make additional plans for dining, especially if you’re looking for table-service meals in the area. Your best bet will be to visit Disney’s Wilderness Lodge — you’ll find similar food to Trail’s End at Whispering Canyon Cafe.
Another good option might be Geyser Point Bar and Grill. A character dinner is also available at Wilderness Lodge, Story Book Dining with Snow White at Artist Point.
You have a few options for getting to Wilderness Lodge from Fort Wilderness. There’s bus transportation that runs between the two resorts. You can also take a water taxi from Fort Wilderness to Magic Kingdom, where you can catch another water taxi to Wilderness Lodge. Getting a rideshare service, such as Uber or Lyft, might be another option.
So keep that in mind if you have a stay booked at Fort Wilderness this year — you may need to figure out other options for food.
As always, we’ll let you know about any other closures and refurbishments at Disney World, so be sure to check back with AllEars for more!
Who Does It Better? Disney’s Fort Wilderness vs. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
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Will you be staying at Fort Wilderness soon? Will this impact your trip? Let us know in the comments!
Trails End was our favorite restaurant pre pandemic. We do not stay at Fort Wilderness but all ways took the boat from Magic Kingdom. Very dissapointed
I am wondering if the cabins are classified as a moderate resort hotel that usually has a table service option. Will they get an value resort label now and come down in price or do they just expect us to not notice. I always stay in the cabins but I am going to chose a different resort because I am missing out on several items that are present in other moderate resort
Hi Christine! They’ll still have a table service restaurant on site. Hoop Dee Doo will still be there.
Trail’s End was actually my favorite restaurant on property and always made plans to have one or more meals there. I do not stay at Fort Wilderness, but would make my way over. It was usually more low key, but had the buffet, just great down home cookin’. I will miss it.
Having never stayed at Fort Wilderness, I don’t have the same perspective that those who have.
However, it seems to me that a quick-serve restaurant may be MORE convenient to the guests than a sit-down family style restaurant.
More options, less time spent eating. Still lots of sit down options throughout the resort.
Still want a sit-down breakfast? Make a reservation at whatever park you’re heading to that day, or a nearby hotel.
Still want a sit-down lunch, before a mid-day break? Same deal- eat at the park before you head back.
Another cleverly themed and fun restaurant to be replaced by blah, cafeteria style. Do better.