Casey’s Corner, Plaza Ice Cream & Trail’s End Restaurant Reopening at Disney World
Walt Disney World has announced the reopening of fan-favorite restaurant Casey’s Corner, plus Plaza Ice Cream Parlor at Magic Kingdom, Trail’s End at Fort Wilderness, and Disney Family Night Dinner. In this post, we’ll offer opening dates, Advance Dining Reservation timeframes, plus what else we can expect from WDW dining for the next few months.
It’s good to see more dining locations returning at Walt Disney World, which has become a weekly occurrence. If you look at our recently-updated List of Open & Closed Restaurants at Walt Disney World, there really aren’t a ton of noteworthy ones still shuttered. It’s mostly a mix of less popular locations and high-profile Signature Dining at this point. To us, it “feels” like more is closed than is actually the case, in part because several spots we love have yet to reopen.
The other reason the closures feel more significant than they are is because capacity remains depressed. As coved (yet again) in What’s Returning to Walt Disney World in 2021 & 2022, it’s almost entirely a matter of staffing at this point. There’s more than enough demand to bring back every single closed restaurant—and to fill more tables at the locations that are already open. The biggest impediment is that operational locations are short-staffed and ones that have yet to reopen need to hire and train new Cast Members. We go into more detail there, but we won’t further rehash that here since we bring it up in almost every dining post. Suffice to say, fresh-faced College Program participants are now all around Walt Disney World and hiring/training continues. Things are getting better!
On with the good news in this week’s Walt Disney World restaurant reopening update: Casey’s Corner on Main Street, U.S.A., will reopen June 30, 2021 with their classic all-beef hot dogs. Just in time for the return of the Happily Ever After fireworks, you’ll be able to order a Chili-Cheese All-Beef Hot Dog or those legendary Corn Dog Nuggets with cheese sauce.
The shockingly good plant-based Loaded Slaw Dog (plant-based sausage topped with pickled slaw, barbecue vegan aïoli, and roasted corn relish) is also back at Casey’s Corner! Additionally, there will be a Frozen Mint Julep Lemonade to go along with your hot dog. Mobile Order will be available at Casey’s Corner.
It’s been an open secret that Casey’s Corner would reopen this week, so not really a huge surprise there. It’s been closed for such a long time not due to lack of demand, but because of the difficult for Cast Members to physically distance behind the counter and backstage.
With physical distancing dropped, Happily Ever After returning, and the Fourth of July right around the corner, bringing back Casey’s Corner was the distinctly patriotic thing for Walt Disney World to do. Sam Eagle Approved!
The following week, hand-scooped ice cream will soon be served again on Main Street USA, as Plaza Ice Cream Parlor hosted by Edys will open. Plaza Ice Cream Parlor will return on July 7, 2021 with all your favorite flavors on a cone or in a cup. Fat-free and no sugar added, as well as plant-based non-dairy options, will also be available.
Additionally, Barq’s Root Beer Floats and Coca-Cola Floats are back. With all this writing, I’ve worked up quite a thirst. I think I’ll take one of those new-fangled trolleys down to the Main Street soda fountain and meet the boys for a cold sarsaparilla on July 7. Sam Eagle *and* Progress Dad Approved!!!
Over at Animal Kingdom, Eight Spoon Café is now open and offers their delish Baked Macaroni & Cheese (with or without pulled pork). Apparently, the Pulled Pork Jelly Donut Sandwich is back. Never had it, but that sounds intriguing.
Also at Animal Kingdom, Dino Diner will reopen July 4, 2021. You can grab a Dino-Rama Chili-Cheese Dog or a Corn Chip Pie. You can even get your churro fix at Dino Diner. What the heck, Sam Eagle and Baby Sinclair Approved!
Before we get to our last location, Walt Disney World has announced a new summer offering for the entire family starting June 30, 2021:Disney Family Night Dinner. This family-style dining bundle includes a take-out shareable meal that serves 3-4 people, sweet treats, and an original card-type game inspired by Disney characters.
Disney Family Night Dinner is available nightly from 5 to 10 pm through Mobile Order at Caribbean Beach Resort and Grand Floridian Resort. Here are the two resort locations offering Disney Family Night Dinner:
Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort:
- Roasted Jamaican-style Chicken
- Fried Yucca
- Cilantro Rice
- Seasonal Vegetables
- Caribbean Pull-apart Rolls with Onion Jam and Guava Butter
- Decorate-your-own Mickey and Minnie Cookies
Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:
- Garden Salad — Tomato, cucumber, carrots, and a duo of dressings
- Savory Lasagna — Three cheese lasagna with tomato sauce
- Two Mickey-shaped Cheese or Pepperoni Pizzas
- Minnie Cheesecake with strawberry sauce, whipped cream, and fresh berries
This actually sounds potentially promising, with the Centertown Market option being especially intriguing–it sounds like a partial version of the new family-style meal at Sebastian’s Bistro about which we recently raved.
Finally, Trail’s End Restaurant at the Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort will reopen July 17, 2021 with family-style skillets for breakfast and dinner.
You’ll be able to start your morning with an oven-fresh pastry basket and berry granola yogurt parfait for the table, followed by a family-style skillet with Mickey waffles, smoked brisket and eggs, bacon, sausage, and cheesy potato casserole. Adults can order Moonshine Morning Cocktails, a Pioneer Mimosa with passion, orange, and guava juices and a Mountain Mary with moonshine.
Dinner at Trail’s End will start with hushpuppies and skillet cornbread with a chopped garden salad for the table. The family-style Smokehouse Skillet comes with pecan-smoked brisket, rotisserie chicken, andouille sausage, fingerlings potatoes, green beans, and buttered corn on the cob. Dessert is the Covered Wagon Sundae, with ice cream, toppings, brownies, cookies, and chocolate-covered bacon.
Pork spare ribs, peel n’ eat shrimp, and cornbread-crusted salmon are available as add-ons to your meal at Trail’s End for an additional charge.
Excuse me?
Rotisserie chicken? Fingerlings potatoes? Ribs at an additional charge?! I’m sorry, this is absurd. I feel like I’ve had a lot of patience with Walt Disney World modifying menus and serving styles given staffing shortages, supply chain woes, and other operational realities, but this is just too much.
In this case, I also know that it’s not necessary to give the new menu a pass for circumstances outside Disney’s control because the good stuff is still available at P & J’s Southern Takeout! One of the things we’ve been hyping for months is the Glorious & Great Value Feast at Walt Disney World, even recommending people taking a midday break from Magic Kingdom to head over to Fort Wilderness to order it.
This dinner menu for Trail’s End honestly feels like it was created by someone who had never been to Trail’s End and has no idea what made it popular among diehard Walt Disney World fans and Fort Fiends. We usually give things the benefit of the doubt, and try them before passing judgment. Not here. We’ll be putting our money where our mouths are, skipping the new menu at Trail’s End, and doing P & J’s Southern Takeout instead. Most definitely NOT Sam Eagle, Progress Dad, Baby Sinclair, or Big Al approved.
Ultimately, we have several items of great news for Walt Disney World dining, and one piece that’s so perplexing, it’s honestly unbelievable. It feels like an awful (and unfunny) late April Fools’ Day joke. I was surprised when the new menu for ‘Ohana came out and left off the noodles, because it seemed like low hanging fruit.
However, I didn’t think it was a huge deal since ‘Ohana has such name recognition, popularity, and momentum behind it that Walt Disney World fans and first-timers alike would make ADRs hard to come by regardless. ‘Ohana is the Le Cellier of a decade ago–it could rest on its laurels and coast on its reputation for a while. (I might even argue that had already started to happen pre-closure.)
Trail’s End is a totally different story. With this, Disney has essentially gutted the iconic menu, removed what people love, and put other items behind a paywall. Not only that, but Trail’s End is not ‘Ohana. Casual guests aren’t making the trek out to Fort Wilderness–it’s just fundamentally a different audience.
Even though dining demand far exceeds available capacity, I’m not convinced that Trail’s End will book up with this new menu. While Trail’s End has its own diehard fanbase, we’re the type that is more hardcore and less likely to tolerate changes like this. My suspicion and hope is that fans reject this menu, and force Walt Disney World’s hand into bringing the familiar favorites–and the buffet itself–back. This new menu at Trail’s End is an abomination. What’s next, is the majestic mural that graces the gallery in Fort Wilderness being removed, too?!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of this news of restaurants reopening at Walt Disney World? Excited for the return of Casey’s Corner and Plaza Ice Cream Parlor? Thoughts on the new menu options at Trail’s End? Disappointed that they’ve totally gutted the beloved menu there, or do you not care about Trail’s End? (It’s okay, not everyone is a fan.) Hoping for more ‘restored normalcy’ announcements in the near future? Planning on going to Walt Disney World this summer, or holding off until the start of the 50th Anniversary celebration? Does this have you optimistic or pessimistic for more dining to reopen at Walt Disney World? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
The 10 men, and I do mean MEN, in that mural are all headed to P&J’s…and then to Casey’s before heading to the ball game. Don’t mess with our manly, sacred art gallery!
Which reminds me to join the choir: Any idea when there might be word about Hoop Dee Doo? I’ve given up any chance it’ll be open during our visit that straddles july/August, but it’d be nice to know when it’s back.
Trail’s End is also huge for the Food Allergy community (though we miss Chef TJ before the pandemic). This new menu doesn’t offer key beloved items for families with food allergies…and in fact increases unsafe food options. We loved taking the boat over from contemporary, kids playing on the beach and then watching the fire works. It was a mini-escape during our trips. This definitely impacts our resort selection for our upcoming trip now that Trail’s End is off the table.
Any news on the Hoop Dee Doo ?
Any news on Hoop Dee Doo?
Going in September, hoping it’s up and running by then. Getting a little nervous.
Thanks for bringing this great news! Was just there a few months ago and there were so many eating options not available. Great to see these openings!
Any word of Hoop dee doo??
I recently stayed at All Star Movies. A housekeeping manager I spoke with said they were
getting All Star Music ready to reopen, but he did not know a date, but he thought it would be in the near future. Excited Casey’s is reopening. I have 3 trips coming up in the fall, hoping annual passes go back on sale by my first trip.
Going in December and staying at Ft Wilderness and was looking forward to the buffet at Trails End. Booooo
Any rumors when Yachtsman is going open, if ever?
Baby Sinclair! Aw, I still miss Dinosaurs.
And yep, Trail’s End sounds utterly awful. Hope they get that fixed sooner than later.
Looks like the cost at Trails End will be 29.99/adult and 17.99/child per the website.
I can’t speak to how many staff-hours it actually is to make most of these dishes vs. the originals, but like most of the WDW changes they may be designed to save labor. Rotisserie chicken, sausage, and that Edy’s ice cream bowl replacing my Straw-berry Short-cake *can* be made with a lot less prep time. On the other hand, P&J’s is out of the same kitchen, and most of those (maybe labor-intensive) dishes are already being made.
Unless few people are eating via P&J’s, that’s not long for the World as-is.
The costs keep going up and the perks keep going down. Bob Chapek is the Grinch who is making Disney unaffordable or at the very least unattractive to stay on site. I’ve never been to Trails End but it’s just the latest in a long line of cuts that used to be included in your stay – Magical Express, magic bands, less entertainment/more costs, less food/more costs.
People that go every year will now be every 2 or 3 years. I was one of those people and want to treat my family but am getting really disgusted.
I didn’t see any mention about ADRs. Is Trails End just a casual dining option with no reservations? As someone staying at the campgrounds in July we need SOMEWHERE to eat even if it’s not ideal. I’m just sad it’s not Hoop-Dee-Doo.
I predict this will result in a large reduction in revenue to Trail’s End restaurant. Who is going to drive to Fort wilderness then spend 15 minutes taking the bus to the restaurant for this generic magic kingdom fare?
Did they feel that theming has no place or is unimportant in a restaurant in the campground? Must be!
I think you’re correct–over time. In the near term, there’s such a shortage of ADR options that this might be “successful” for at least a few months. I sure hope not, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re able to fill tables at Trail’s End for the remainder of this year.
The news about buffets, and Trails End specifically, is very much in line with Chapek’s plan to leverage “…yield management gains, and [the] cost management at the same time.” While yield management is often used to describe hotel/cruise ship pricing structures it can be applied to every part of the business. They’ve seen that guests kept coming for the same price while getting less during the pandemic. Chapek has (essentially) said that he feels APs were underpriced. If Iger was all about acquisitions Chapek is about increasing prices and while delivering less to lower costs. This is his philosophy and what he knows how to do. I expect to see this type of change at every level of the parks–it’s Chapek’s company now.
“They’ve seen that guests kept coming for the same price while getting less during the pandemic.”
They’ve seen some guests kept coming while getting less. Let’s not gloss over the fact that capacity was significantly reduced–to the point the parks were operating at a loss. And now, restaurants are operating at significantly reduced capacity as park attendance increases.
I’m not saying you’re wrong or that Chapek doesn’t think like this (I’m sure he does). Simply that we need to see where things stand when the dust settles and Walt Disney World is operating completely normally and pent-up demand has been exhausted.
Yet another disappointment. The menu at Trails’s End makes absolutely no sense. We can get rotisserie chicken at Costco but we go to Trail’s End for their delicious chicken, ribs, mac n cheese and don’t forget about the desserts.
Any word on when Port Orleans will open? We’re about to go on our third trip with sadly . . . no beignets yet.
I suspect we’ll get a Port Orleans announcement fairly soon. It’s all a matter of getting CMs hired and trained.