It is a big week for restaurant and snack news in Disney World.
Trail’s End
We’ve been gearing up for one of the biggest days of the year in Disney World — EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival — which begins on July 27th, 2023. But, did you know that a popular restaurant that had closed for a refurbishment and redesign was scheduled to reopen this week as well? Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground was set to open on July 27th as a new quick-service concept, but it has opened its doors early for a soft opening and we went to check it out. Come see how it went!
In the past, this location was a table-service spot that served family-style skillets for breakfast and dinner. With its new remodel, this dining spot changed into a quick-service restaurant that has a “fresh, new look that enhances the resort’s quaint charm and honors its heritage at the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort, with warm wooden furnishings, beamed ceilings, and rustic accents.”
Could it be?! 😱 Trail’s End at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort has soft-opened! Follow along as we check it out! pic.twitter.com/OmA5TKR874
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) July 26, 2023
First off, we noticed that the dining room got a nice refresh!
Dining room
Some decor on the walls highlights these rustic accents.
Decor
Crockett’s Tavern down below also got a refresh.
Crockett’s Tavern
How cute are these cow print chairs?
Crockett’s Tavern
Over where the food is served, there are a lot of options to consider.
Here’s a look inside the newly soft-reopened Trail’s End!
📍 Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort pic.twitter.com/sVdk6Ns48F
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) July 26, 2023
There is a grab-and-go section with tons of hot food items to choose from.
There’s a new grab-and-go section at Trail’s End! 🤠
📍 Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort pic.twitter.com/YmXuBj5Cq0
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) July 26, 2023
We spotted Pecan-smoked Brisket…
Pecan-smoked Brisket
…a Rack of Ribs…
Ribs
…various sides to choose from, and more!
Sides
There is also a cooler with another section of entrees to choose from.
Entrees
Here is a look at the menu.
Entrees menu
At another window, we spotted Pizza by the Super Slice!
PIZZA
You could choose between Cheese, Pepperoni, Vegetable, and Smokehouse — or order a whole pie at the register.
Pizza
Like many of Disney’s hotel quick-service locations, there are a lot of grab-and-go snacks to choose from.
Snacks
We spotted some allergy-friendly chips and cookies…
Allergy-friendly chips
…as well as candy and assorted nut bars.
Candy
There is a large beverage station with a cooler full of drinks…
Beverages
…as well as a station with hot coffee.
Coffee
Lastly, we can’t forget the sweets! There is a bakery case with pastries and other desserts.
Bakery case
You’ll also find a counter with hand-scooped ice cream, available in a cup or waffle cone!
Ice cream
If you don’t want grab-and-go food, there is a traditional menu you can order from.
Let’s take a look at the new lunch and dinner menu at Trail’s End! 👀 What’s calling your name? pic.twitter.com/16jjEvfPdB
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) July 26, 2023
Don’t forget this spot will also serve breakfast!
And we can’t forget about Trail’s End’s new breakfast menu too! 🤠 pic.twitter.com/3LkU2CN158
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) July 26, 2023
We ordered a few things to see how this place held up — let’s take a look!
Full spread
First up, we tried the Pioneer Berry Salad.
Pioneer Berry Salad
We also ordered the Smokehouse-style Pizza — it looks hearty!
Smokehouse-style Pizza
Next up, we tried the Fried Chicken 2-piece Meal which came with Corn Bread, Cole Slaw, and Mashed Potatoes.
Fried Chicken
Here’s a look at that Cole Slaw.
Cole Slaw
For our last entree, we picked up the Chicken Wrap.
Chicken Wrap
This wrap is made with a new House-made Blueberry BBQ Sauce!
Chicken Wrap
For dessert, we tried the Strawberry Shortcake.
Strawberry Shortcake
It had a generous portion of Strawberry Sauce!
Strawberry Shortcake
Finally, we ordered the PB&J Cupcake.
PB&J Cupcake
What an opening! We’ll be releasing a full review of this restaurant soon, so stay tuned!
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Will you be trying this newly reopened spot? Let us know in the comments below!
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Food selections and prices are very similar to those at Roaring Fork at Wilderness Lodge, Captain Cook’s at the Polynesian, Good’s Food to Go at Old Key West–which is not a bad thing, but the old Trail’s End was unique in that it offered comfort food in a reasonably priced buffet, which is not the case at many of the other buffet offerings. Plus I liked the treatment diners got from the waitstaff. Sigh….Just feeling nostalgic.
I think this is a good change. The vast majority of guests at Fort Wilderness have their own kitchen so a table service restaurant isn’t a high priority for them. But, it’s nice to have an option to grab something quick and relatively inexpensive if they don’t feel like cooking in their cabin or RV.
I don’t like the changes & don’t ever intend to go. The only reason Disney got rid of Trails End was to save money for the company- they stopped caring about guests preferences long ago. What did they do with the buffalo head & the beautiful portrait of Fess Parker? Always looked forward to seeing those when dining. We were Ft. Wilderness regulars every Christmas staying in a cabin, but we won’t be going there ever again. So many changes to the Fort over time, but this is the last straw. Goodbye Ft. Wilderness😢
I’m sorry to see the full service option at Fort Wilderness go. Maybe, if Reflections is revived, there will be good full service options there. I too hope that many of the beloved Wild West/Americana elements are still there at Trail’s End. I get that things have to be refreshed and some things will change. Some changes will be good, some won’t. Disney makes a lot of money from people who go there to share second and third generation stories and experiences. If they insist on completely changing everything, I hope they know where their new loyal customers are coming from, because even my 20-somethings are getting fed up with some of the things that Disney has chosen to change, and they’re already having different thoughts and feelings about a family vacation tradition that has existed since 1971.
I’m confused. Can you clarify whether all of these food items are grab-n-go? Or are some more like Order over the counter? Like at all other Disney Resort Food courts?
Thanks DFB
Hi Brandon. It’s a little bit of both. Some items are grab and go while others can be ordered at the counter.
Another cash grab getting rid of the buffet
MY FAMILY USE TO BE REGULARS, LOOKED FORWARD TO BUFFET AT TRAILS END. SORRY TO SEE IT CHANGE. TRAILS END WAS UNIQUE AT ONE TIME. THATS GONE. PROBABLY SO ARE WE. YOU NEED TO CARE MORE ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS!