By Holley Long
Walt Disney World is constantly updating its services, from the park reservation system to rides, in order to make sure its guests have a more convenient and comfortable visit. One such update has been ongoing since the beginning of the year. Disney announced that the beloved Trail’s End Restaurant would close for refurbishment back in January, and now the restaurant has finally reopened—with some changes.
What is Trail’s End Restaurant?
Tucked away in the back of Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground (in an area called the “Settlement”) is the cozy Trail’s End Restaurant. The restaurant is in the same space as other places of interest, like the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue dinner show, Crockett's Tavern (which has also seen some changes in offerings) and the Settlement Trading Post, which has essentials and other merchandise.
Fitting for the campground setting, Trail’s End has a cabin theme, with large exposed wooden beams, wooden chairs, and an abundance of outdoorsy decor adorning the walls. The restaurant has always served delicious meals inspired by hearty home cooking, but it closed this spring in order to make some adjustments to the structure of how that food is served.
How did the restaurant change?
Before it closed earlier this year, Trail’s End was a table service restaurant that served all-you-can eat family-style skillets for breakfasts and dinner. This was already a change, as before the COVID-19 pandemic, Trail’s End was an all-you-can eat buffet.
As of July 27, though, the restaurant has transformed again. While Trail’s End got a fresh new look—but still keeping with the rustic country theme—the biggest change is it now has a marketplace concept, which offers even more quick service options. The restaurant will still have comfort foods and desserts on its menu, but it’s now packaged more conveniently for guests to enjoy at their campsite, lodging, or on-site at the tables throughout the Settlement.
What does the restaurant serve now?
As mentioned, the family meals like barbecue and fried chicken are still on the Trail’s End menu, but the refurbishment comes with fun additions to give guests more breakfast and dinner options.
On the breakfast menu, you'll find classics such as Mickey-shaped waffles, and croissant and biscuit sandwiches. There are also southern sides including biscuits & gravy and bread pudding to add to your meal.
One new addition as a lunch or dinner option is the on-stage pizza station. Here, you can enjoy pizza by the slice or order a whole pie for your group. Along with pepperoni and cheese pizzas, the station can also make a smokehouse-style pie with brisket, sausage, and pepperoni, or a roasted vegetable pie for non-meat-eating guests.
There’s an assortment of entrees and salads to order as well, or, for guests in a rush, there are hot and chilled Grab-and-Go sandwiches, snacks, and more.
And don’t forget about dessert. There are classics like the Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich and Premium Bar, but you can also order old favorites like strawberry shortcake, banana pudding, and the plant-based lemon-blueberry trifle.
Crocket's Tavern
Some other new additions are happening over at Crockett's Tavern, where they now have a menu of food offerings in the new lounge setting to pair perfectly with their new and returning cocktails. These new items are all part of a special heritage program to celebrate the resort's 50 year history, crafted by Guest Experience Managers Hunter Bernreuter and Eric Borgsmiller.
These small bites include sliders, cauliflower bites, a charcuterie board, and more! For something sweet, there's also a small dessert trio with flavors of s'mores, strawberry shortcake, and banana pudding.
Images by the Walt Disney World Resort
Overall
The change to Trail’s End Restaurant’s serving structure is meant to give guests more flexibility when it comes to mealtime so they can spend more time enjoying the Disney magic. If you decide to check out the updated restaurant, you can reach it by boat from Magic Kingdom, Contemporary Resort, or Wilderness Lodge, or by bus from any Disney park or Disney Springs (just note you’ll have to transfer to the Fort Wilderness internal bus system upon arrival).
No matter how you get there, though, we’re sure the delicious food will be worth the trip!
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is one of Disney’s original lodging centers. As the name suggests, guests can stay at fully-equipped campsites and enjoy the great outdoors, with wildlife like deer and rabbits roaming throughout 750 acres of pine and cypress forest.
For those who enjoy nature but don’t want to give up the comforts of a home, the resort also offers private cabins with a modern kitchen and facilities. With space for six adults to sleep, staying at a Fort Wilderness cabin can make for a fun and unique Orlando family vacation!
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