Trail's End End

End of the Road for Trail’s End – Now What?

Published on by thewildernessprincess

After decades of serving ribs and fried chicken, it appears that sit-down dining service is coming to an end at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground and Resort. This news was first announced by journalist Scott Gunter and soon confirmed by Trail’s End cast members.

The caveat is that Hoop Dee Doo (vaudeville-style dinner show) will remain, but that’s not a realistic option for dining more than once on a trip (or every couple of years).

Prior to the pandemic, Trail’s End was considered to be THE hidden dining secret at the Walt Disney World, with breakfast and dinner buffets that were delightful and affordable – at least compared to many of other WDW offerings.

trail's end breakfast
Pre-pandemic, the breakfast buffet at Trail’s End was a favorite for us and thousands of others. Reservations were tough to get.
trail's end buffet
One of many, many stations at Trail’s End Buffet, before the pandemic. It reopened as a far less popular family-style restaurant.

Once Trail’s End opened after the pandemic, it was no longer a buffet, but had skillet meals similar to those at nearby Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge. Personally, I never had the desire to try the new arrangement, opting to stick with P&J’s Takeout,  the food trucks, and our trusty grill.

Pj's takeout
The current very popular PJ’s Takeout likely occupies the same space as the “marketplace” would.

With the introduction of external food trucks, the new family-style dining at Trail’s End never really became a hit. Trail’s End slimmed down its hours in 2021, offering dining only 3-4 nights per week.

ft wilderness food trucks
Food trucks in the Settlement Area within a stone’s throw of Trail’s End were a pandemic addition.

According to reports, the last meals will be served in the coming months and Trail’s End will be converted to a fast-food type of marketplace – I’m thinking a smaller version of the marketplace at Art of Animation or something similar to Roaring Fork at Wilderness Lodge.

Roaring Fork at Wilderness Lodge.
Roaring Fork counter-service at Wilderness Lodge
Roaring Fork cupcakes Wilderness Lodge
Young guest looks at bakery items at Wilderness Lodge self-serve.

Even though many of us old-timers have fond memories of Trail’s End, the experience is a far cry from what is was in the 1980s and 1990s, when happy campers enjoyed  Make-Your-Own-Pizza and special meals such as spaghetti night. So, even though it’s devastatingly sad, some argue that fast food will fulfill the needs of more campers than the current arrangement.

Others see it as the end of the world as we know it.

But all of this begs larger questions.

What Will this Mean for the Yummy Food Trucks?

As I’ve stated before, I personally think food trucks are the best addition to Fort Wilderness in many years. Not only are the food offerings mighty swell, but they add a summer camper ambiance to the Settlement Area a few nights a week.

fort wilderness food truck roundup
One of many food trucks that makes an appearance at Fort Wilderness a few nights each week.

But won’t they now be in direct competition with the new Trail’s End fast-food concept? Hopefully, this experience will remain.

And what about P&J’s Takeout with its fried chicken family packs to go? It’s hard to imagine that there would be two versions of takeout in the same location.

Where’s the Boat and the Trail to Wilderness Lodge?

Another argument in favor of this transformation is that Fort guests can eat a similar meal at nearby Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge. But for this to work, we need the return of both the boats that go to and from directly between the resorts as well as the one-mile walking/biking trail that connects the Fort to the Lodge. These two changes would make it more palatable.

wilderness trail
Our favorite trail in WDW, from Fort Wilderness to Wilderness Lodge, is still closed even though Reflections (resort) construction ceased.

What About the Decor?

One concern is that the refurbishment will rid us of those Davy-Crockett relics that have been hanging around since the beginning of time. You know, the big stuffed bear, the hodge podge of tin pans, and all that decor that looks a little like Cracker Barrel, but better.

Trail's End Disney World closing
Wall decor at Trail’s End.

Impact on Day Guests to Fort Wilderness

fort wilderness bus driver
Many day guests currently take a bus from the Fort Wilderness Outpost to reach the Settlement Area, which includes Pioneer Hall, Trail’s End, and the barn.

Finally, let’s think about what it means for day guests. Getting a reservation at Trail’s End for breakfast was one sure-fire way to get in and enjoy the resort for a few hours. Particularly, during holidays, it can be difficult to get past the guard gate unless you have a reservation of some sort.

Of course, going from the boat at the Magic Kingdom directly to Fort Wilderness is another route for day guests. But this plan will take nearly an hour, depending on crowds and your luck.

With the petting farm gone and now Trail’s End, we can expect to see less traffic in the Settlement Area for now. This means fewer bus drivers will be needed as well as other types of workers. Maybe this is part of the plan.

Will Crockett’s Tavern Survive?

Crockett's Tavern
Crockett’s Tavern inside of Trail’s End at Fort Wilderness.

Fort Wilderness’ only full-service bar is the legendary Crockett’s Tavern, overlooking Bay Lake. The challenge is that it actually sits inside of Trail’s End. We can only hope that the powers of Walt Disney World stay completely out of this territory. Remember the Alamo!

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