There are some great eats hiding just a short distance away from Magic Kingdom in Disney World!
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Over at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds, you can check out restaurants like Trail’s End and the fan-favorite Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue. Now, one of those spots is going to CLOSE for a while and then reopen in an all-new way!
The Trail’s End Restaurant at Fort Wilderness is going to close for refurbishment this coming spring. It will reopen later this year as “a marketplace concept with expanded quick service options.” The table service option will no longer be offered, according to Scott Gustin.
Trail’s End Restaurant
Currently, Trail’s End serves family-style skillets for breakfast and dinner (as opposed to the spot’s traditional buffet). They’re also serving anot-so-little something called the Covered Wagon Sundae!
Breakfast at Trail’s End in 2021
The nearby  P&J’s Southern Takeout (also known as Trail’s End To-Go) offers takeaway meals from a counter inside the same building that houses Trail’s End.
P&J’s Southern Takeout
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Click here to read our most recent review of Trail’s End Restaurant.
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This is such a huge mistake. The Fort is large enough that it needs table service, and Trails End has always been very busy (and very tasty) when I’ve been. Would talk to servers who’ve been working there for over 30 years, they love it as much as the guests. What a shame and what a loss for Fort Wilderness which continues to get whittled down slowly.
If what they do is not 10 times better than what is there now the people in charge need to be cleaning the stables until it is put back. Theming and a backstory is important to the location. They messed up the area with trying to put in the vacation club units and then had to stop.
BTW – I am not opposed, I just want it to be an improvement other than another generic food court
Another place we will not go to eat in the future!
It’s not quite the end of trail for Trail’s End, I suppose, since it will morph to a quick service model. If they have seen an uptick in visitation, it may be better to serve more guests quicker and cheaper. For me, Fort Wilderness’ best food is still the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue dinner with family style fried chicken, corn bread and ribs. Giddy-up!
That restaurant had a reputation for years as the only place in WDW to get really good fried chicken. I don’t know if the post Covid version has been serving it, but if the new redo doesn’t include it I will be very disappointed.
Sad. Campers need sit-down meal options too. We don’t eat all our meals in the rig.
They want to push people out so the Fort can replace with more DVC housing.
There is no excuse for this closure and why are full buffet’s not back yet ?
This makes me really sad! In Florida of all places, why get rid of an indoor sit-down restaurant? And didn’t try to tell me the food won’t devolve into the same food as you get at any fast food restaurant!
Gotta say, very disappointed in this decision. That being said, we eat there quite often but don’t stay in the campground. I imagine the new concept will better serve the needs of the guests who the restaurant is meant to serve. Bonus for them, I am sure it will make the company a lot more money. (They probably didn’t think about that though. LOL)
This is potentially heartbreaking, depending on the final outcome. Trails End was at its best when it was a buffet, but the family style meals were very good, and the service was top notch. Last time we were there, our server had a coveted “Blue Name Tag,” awarded for outstanding Disney service. Trails End was always a “must stop” for our family when we visited Disney World for more than a day trip. What about Crocket’s Tavern? Disney better not touch the portrait of Davy Crockett (Fess Parker) or “Betsy,” Davy Crockett’s rifle that Fess Parker carried in the movies, that currently are hanging on the wall in Crockett’s Tavern. I stop by to salute both every time I am there, and remember my brother and I running through trails in the Great Smoky Mountains, in our coon skin caps, thinking we really were Davy Crockett.
Noooooo! Another bad decision by Disney.
We sat at the bar there and had wings and a beer and it was so delightful. We were planning going back our next trip. Very disappointing.
A lot of memories for sure as Disney casts aside the story teller side of the equation and replaces it by the cash register side. Disney was alway known as more than just something more. The back story was always in the forefront of whatever Disney offered. No so any more, get ‘‘em in, get ‘‘em out, cha Ching
Disney needs to know their audience. People that stay at Fort Wilderness love things they way they were. Bring back the full buffet and they restaurant will be very successful. Stop trying to reinvent the wheel.
Should have known, can’t possibly have a more reasonably priced restaurant with decent food in a great location. Make it garbage fast food and ruin the whole experience. Trails end was our favorite restaurant for decades. Won’t go now.
We loved going to the breakfast buffet for the same food as Chef Mickey’s at probably half the cost. This is a big bummer.
Makes me sad. I usually stay here and this is the place.
Looks like we can just call it End Trails now. This is such BS! Was the best buffet in WDW.
Always one of the best deals on property when they had the all you can eat brunch buffet. A sad to see it go. Hopefully the change can match or exceed its excellent offerings
No reason they can’t set up outdoor tables and do a buffet like they do with the food trucks.
So, so sad. Best place to go for decent price. The atmosphere, CM’s and food really made this the the go to place for both breakfast and dinner , especially for families that have special needs kids that cannot do Character MeaIs. Do not understand why the powers that be think that this is a “good idea”. 😳
°send out a survey.
Hey there Disney Food Blog team,
First of all, I want to thank you for always keeping us up-to-date with the latest news from the Disney World dining scene. Your website is my go-to source for all things food-related in the parks, and your coverage never disappoints.
As for the recent news about the closure and changes to the Jiko – The Cooking Place restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, I have to say that I am both sad and excited at the same time. On one hand, it’s always disappointing to see a beloved dining spot go away, especially one with such a unique and delicious menu. I have many fond memories of dining at Jiko, enjoying the beautiful atmosphere, and trying all sorts of different dishes.
On the other hand, I’m excited to see what the future holds for the space and the new restaurant that will be taking its place. Based on what you’ve shared in your article, it sounds like the new concept will be just as interesting and delicious as Jiko, but with a more contemporary feel. I’m definitely looking forward to trying it out once it opens, and I’ll be sure to keep an eye on your site for updates and reviews. Thanks again for keeping us in the loop!
Hey there, Disney Food Blog team! As a huge fan of Disney World and its food, I was intrigued to read your article about the closure and changes to a restaurant in the park. It’s always interesting to see how Disney is constantly evolving and updating its offerings to keep things fresh and exciting for its guests.
It’s definitely sad to hear that the restaurant in question will be closing, but it’s great to see that it will be replaced with a new concept that sounds just as delicious. I appreciate the detailed information you provided about the new menu items and theming, and I can’t wait to try them out for myself on my next visit to the park. It’s also great to hear that the staff will be retained and transitioned to the new restaurant, as they are such an important part of the Disney experience.
Overall, I think it’s fantastic that Disney is always looking for ways to improve and innovate, even if it means saying goodbye to old favorites. I trust that the new restaurant will be just as magical and memorable as the previous one, and I look forward to experiencing it firsthand. Thanks for keeping us all up to date on the latest Disney food news!
I actually don’t mind this change – I love P and J’s takeout, more than the buffet, and I’m hoping the tables previously used for trails end will just be available for the new quick service concept. As long as there are tables for people getting food to sit at, I don’t mind!