Trail’s End at Fort Wilderness is Closed.
Walt Disney World announced that Trail’s End at Fort Wilderness Campground will close in Spring 2023 for refurbishment and reimagining. In this post, we share details plus commentary about our disappointment and the delicate balance between nostalgia and casual guest feedback. (Updated April 22, 2023.)
Trail’s End is now officially closed, with the following appearing on its DisneyWorld.com page: “Trail’s End Restaurant is closed for refurbishment and will reopen in summer 2023. During this time, P&J’s Southern Takeout mobile ordering and The Chuck Wagon food truck are available.”
This closure was not announced in advance by Walt Disney World to the public. There was a statement put out to the media, which was identical to that released to Cast Members at Fort Wilderness. Even that didn’t indicate an official closing date; one was surmised by the (lack of) posted hours and (lack of) ADR availability for Trail’s End. What follows is the original news and our commentary about the closure of Trail’s End…
April 22, 2023 Update: Only a few days after closing, Walt Disney World announced New DVC Cabins Coming to Fort Wilderness Campground. The proposed plans call for more than 350 new cabins to replace the existing cabins at the resort, which will soon be ready for a refresh. The new cabins would be built with an eye toward the environment, utilizing the footprint of the existing cabins and taking advantage of more energy-efficient features.
Additionally, there are a collection of improvement projects already underway at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground that are designed to enhance the guest experience. Examples include proposed pool and walking trail enhancements as well as new expanded dining experiences at Trail’s End Restaurant and Crockett’s Tavern, with more exciting news to come.
It’s now obvious that the closure of Trail’s End is one such “collection of improvement projects” at Fort Wilderness. As will be made clear in this post, we have a tremendous amount of nostalgia and memories for the Trail’s End buffet. However, we also recognize that Fort Wilderness is in serious need of more practical dining options and amenities for serve guest needs and preferences, and this could be a step in that direction.
Our sincere hope is that Imagineering undertakes these updates with care, and in keeping with the character and charm that makes Fort Wilderness such a special place. The campground is beloved by its many fans for its quirkiness. It does need a modernized food court; it does not need one with generic, bland, and uninspired design. Keep Fort Wilderness Weird, Disney.
Walt Disney World has lost something special. We once described Trail’s End as the kind of joint where Chuck Norris and Sarah Connor arm wrestle as the “World’s Most Interesting Man” lies on the floor passed out from moonshine (his drink of choice now that he realized Dos Equis sucks) while Cool Hand Luke and Conan the Barbarian snap selfies with that glorious restroom mural. Trail’s End doesn’t need a ‘secret’ S.E.A. room because The League of Extraordinary Badasses who patronize Trail’s End are egalitarians who dine among the people.
It’s not just fictional film characters who seek sanctuary and shenanigans at Trail’s End. We once saw Baby Sinclair bopping Big Al over the head with a frying pan while he and Sam Eagle were debating the most patriotic dessert. (Bacon-topped doughnut sundae with maple syrup.) None of that is hyperbole–all of that stuff actually happens on a daily basis at Trail’s End, one of Walt Disney World’s hidden gem table service restaurants. Or should I say, happened at Trail’s End.
Up until closing in March 2020, those type of hijinks occurred on the regular at Trail’s End. It was an unpretentious all-you-can-eat buffet consisting of a formidable lineup of comfort food favorites, running the culinary spectrum from ‘potato’ to ‘fried’ to ‘pork’ to ‘dessert.’ Trail’s End was a fever dream of decadence and deliciousness and old timey atmosphere, the quintessential eatery of the original Vacation Kingdom of the World.
I could ramble on and on, and have done exactly that in our three different reviews of Trail’s End (here, here and here). The problems with that are two-fold. One, words cannot do it justice. Trail’s End is one of those if you know, you know type of things. It was lightning in a bottle, the whole being so much more than the sum of its parts. Reading a review today might prompt a “that’s it?” reaction, but I can assure you…that most definitely was not it.
The more prominent problem is that this is all past-tense. When it finally reopened, Trail’s End returned as a family-style restaurant with a perplexing menu that swapped out fan favorites for uninspired options that were similar to other modified menus of the phased reopening era. We and other Trail’s End fans railed against this, but sadly, our voices were not as loud as ‘Ohana noodle aficionados.
We didn’t mince words denouncing the modified menu, and refrained from doing the family-style meal at Trail’s End as a matter of principle. Nevertheless, we held out hope that the regular meal service would return alongside Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. After all, the two share a kitchen and previously had partially overlapping menus. It only made sense to restore the former glory of Trail’s End when that dinner show returned last summer. Sadly, that never occurred.
We’ve continued to hold out hope since then, assuming that Trail’s End diehards were likewise rejecting this family-style meal service. With each new announcement of restaurants returning to normal buffet service, we figured Trail’s End wouldn’t be far behind. Now we know that won’t be the case.
Walt Disney World has announced that Trail’s End Restaurant is going to close for refurbishment sometime in Spring 2023. There are currently available Advance Dining Reservations for both breakfast and dinner through April 2023, so it doesn’t appear it’ll close before then.
Trail’s End does not have hours scheduled starting April 17, so it appears that the restaurant will close after the peak of spring break season, which ends on that Monday. Accordingly, the last day of operations for Trail’s End at Fort Wilderness appears to be April 16, 2023. This has yet to be officially confirmed by Walt Disney World and is subject to change.
In any case, the location that’s currently Trail’s End will reopen later in 2023 as a “marketplace concept with expanded quick service options” according to journalist and Disney insider Scott Gustin. Train’s End will no longer by a table service restaurant. (For those curious, the connected Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue will not be impacted.)
From what we understand, the decision to transform Trail’s End from a table service restaurant to a marketplace is in response to common feedback from guests who stay at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. That’s probably a long time coming, and should perhaps be unsurprising given the proliferation of food trucks at Fort Wilderness over the last several years.
For me, Trail’s End is a good representative example of the chasm between regular guests and diehard Walt Disney World fans. This is something we’ve touched upon from time to time when it comes to resort room reimaginings, but it’s worth discussing in greater depth here.
Normally, we’re skeptical of Disney using the lines “by popular guest demand” or “in response to feedback from our guests” as shields to justify unpopular decisions. It’s worth noting that this is not the case here–Walt Disney World has proffered no rationale for this change. Rather, it’s what we have heard–and isn’t a particularly new development.
There’s no reason to doubt that this is true. Again, Fort Wilderness has seen an increasing number of food trucks, and had tweaked its approach with the undersized P&J’s Southern Takeout (which we also love and have tried to draw more attention to over the last few years).
All of these were band aid solutions, attempting to address the issue but not fully resolving it. If you were to tell me that Fort Wilderness scores poorly for dining, and that the most common complaint from guests is the lack of convenient counter service options, I’d absolutely believe it.
This is at odds with the feedback from fans like us, who are absolutely devastated by this news. Trail’s End has been the source of many fond memories for me, from my parents taking me as a small child to us taking them in more recent years. It’s been a place we’ve frequented with friends after runDisney races, Destination D23 weekends, and fan events.
For us, Trail’s End was an integral part of Walt Disney World history; dining there felt like stepping back in time and visiting the Vacation Kingdom of the World. A rebuff to the notion that you can’t go home again. Similarly, it was a source of history; the setting of memories we made with family and friends. If laughter were the measure of a restaurant, Trail’s End would be the undisputed champ for us.
It’s not as this is unique to our family and friend circle. We know there are many others who have indelible memories from and of Trail’s End, and this news is sure to be met with an outpouring of grief and fond farewells from a small segment of the fan community. To be sure, it will very much be a vocal minority–Trail’s End doesn’t have the fanbase of ‘Ohana. Rather, it’s a restaurant that is very important to a very small number of fans.
Therein lies the rub. It’s undoubtedly exceedingly easy for Walt Disney World management to justify the decision to do away with Trail’s End in favor of a marketplace concept. Again, I don’t doubt that they have the guest feedback and satisfaction survey data to support the change.
Someone more cynical might contend that Disney purposefully undercut the popularity of Trail’s End with the family-style meal to make this change and have it be met with less outrage. After all, Trail’s End is a shadow of its former self; many of its long-time fans don’t have interest in the current family-style meal. (I don’t know if we’ll do one last “goodbye” meal or be satisfied with our memories of the real deal.)
While that ploy is possible, I’m skeptical that Walt Disney World would play the type of long game that involved losing out on profits or unrealized revenue to give cover to an unpopular decision. Disney is perfectly comfortable making changes that alienate and anger fans without undertaking such elaborate pretenses.
Rather, I think there’s probably a fundamental difference in how diehard Walt Disney World fans experience things and regular guests experience them. We would self-describe ourselves as huge Trail’s End enthusiasts who ate there often pre-closure.
What that means in practical terms is that we dined at Trail’s End about once or twice per year. Even when we did multi-night stays tent camping or staying in the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, we typically only did Trail’s End once for breakfast/brunch and once for dinner.
By contrast, a first-timer or infrequent guest staying at Fort Wilderness who is totally uninvested in Walt Disney World history or its culinary scene might eat at an on-site counter service restaurant a half-dozen or more times over the course of their vacation.
A marketplace is something they’d use with regularity, even if they leave with zero fond memories of the cuisine or setting. It would serve a practical purpose, and its absence would be a strike against the vacation and intent to return or recommend metrics.
This is something we also see with Walt Disney World resort refurbishment projects. Some of the most vocal detractors aren’t people who actually book stays at resorts with regularity (to be sure, some do). Rather, most like the idea of themed resorts and want things to remain as they remember them (fondly) from formative stays that first nurtured the nostalgia that now fuels their fandom.
(This conflict between casual and diehard guests is probably a topic worth exploring in greater detail, rather than buried in an announcement about a relatively low-key resort restaurant closure, so I’ll cut this short here.)
From that perspective, I can appreciate Disney’s dilemma and understand the justification for making this change. That doesn’t mean that I accept or excuse it. From my perspective, this feels like Disney taking the path of least resistance–a road taken all too often these days by a company that built a reputation on exceeding expectations.
There are a multitude of venues at Fort Wilderness that could become food courts or marketplaces. There’s also the opportunity to build something new in more centralized location to the campsites and cabins. Just because the campground is lacking in well-rounded counter service restaurants does not mean the only viable solution was replacing Trail’s End.
Likewise, if there’s an issue with the numbers Trail’s End has been doing, other solutions could’ve been proposed and attempted. For one, the buffet could’ve been restored months ago–when Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue reopened, at the latest. If that didn’t offer the necessary boost, Walt Disney World could’ve done something to weave Trail’s End into the 50th Anniversary celebration, especially since few restaurants “speak to” Disney history geeks as much as this one.
Ultimately, that’s really what grinds my gears with the decision to close and convert Trail’s End Restaurant. This is a location with a cult following, and Disney knows it. The company could’ve tried to figure out why it resonates so strongly and built upon that to reach a wider audience. With a location near Magic Kingdom, great food, and a quirky personality, Trail’s End could’ve become a (popular) hidden gem favorite among more than just a passionate subset of the fanbase. The foundation was there–Trail’s End had the beloved qualities you can’t fake or manufacture.
Instead, the company is taking the easy way out. I don’t doubt for a second that the end result will improve overall guest satisfaction metrics. But I also don’t believe for a second that the replacement will forge new fans or be a source of goodwill, or even memories that will last a lifetime. As an organization in the business of packaging and selling nostalgia, Walt Disney World needs to be better about realizing that they need that, too.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of this news of Trail’s End Restaurant closing for refurbishment and replacement by a quick service marketplace? Thoughts on Trail’s End as a hidden gem and source of fan nostalgia and memories? Disappointed by this change, or do you not care about Trail’s End? (It’s okay, not everyone is a fan.) Agree or disagree with our assessment? 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!
Have enjoyed Fort Wilderness and Trails End for 30 or more years. It’s such a disappointment now.
It was very special,
Disney has ruined the nostalgia. Every time they renovate a resteraunt it’s never the same. They did it at Wildreness Lodge, Grand Floridian etc….The cafe at Wilderness Lodge used to have numerous desserts and menu items. Now that’s all gone. So, if Disney is renovating Trails End it will come back a shell of what it once was with a revised menu. That’s not what a majority of people want. It’s all about cutting cost for them.
Railroad – Understadable because costly to maintain and dangerous – If you hike into the bushes North of Cottontail Curl, across the canal, there is still some track in there, not just old ties.
River Country – paranoia about brain eating amoeba or something
We used to be able to swim in the lake. There was even a swim platform. See amoeba comment above.
The atractive rock seawall and ropes along the lake – This was neccessary from a legal stand point from the tragic incident when a 4 year old was attacked and killed by a Gator at Grand Floridian
Mickey’s Backyard BBQ – Thanks to the pandemic torpedoed Reflections
Petting Farm – Not sure why they did away with this probably some kind of legal exposure from fleas or farm odor
Speeder boats – Why haven’t they come back
Pontoon boats -You could rent those without a guide
Remember the old Terry trailers they looked nasty
First Trails end Closure – Obviosly the pandemic brought this down but when it reopened with the new family style breakfast and dinner the food did not have the same variety. Frankly the newer version of Trails End won’t be missed as much as the old Buffet. One can only hope that the new Market style food court will be awesome.
We can miss the old Ft Wilderness but, lets remember change is inevitable and we can still make fantastic memories in what I consider the nicest Campground in the world!
P.S. Don’t dare mess with our Electric water parade Disney
Been a fan and guest since 1975 and 55 visits. Bring back the buffet and leave EXACTLY as it is. Change for change sake is not inevitable. All the beautiful historical items too!!
Pioneer days are part of America!! The carryout is great and sufficient for grab and go.
The article about closing Trails End (Buffeteria) actually caused anxiety! My heart is there and my husband who died in 2020 would be sooo upset. He loved it!! Jeeze!
Tried the Family Style but not “it” and pretty much same as Whispering Canyon at Lodge.
I am now upset!!
Nothing says Disney Magic like a “ marketplace concept “. Disney planning is just unimaginative money- grubbing, at this point. They have thrown billions down the Disney+ rathole, because everyone else was doing it. They had to create unimaginably bad new “ content “ like She-Hulk on it, because, hey, mangling the Lord of Rings into the unwatchable LOTR The Rings of Power worked so well for Amazon Prime, right? ( Destroying the Star Wars franchise was also a deft touch. )
The only thing the present Disney management seems capable of is wringing every last dollar out of achievements built by those who came before them. They have nothing to contribute.
As a FW aficionado Trails end was at least a once per camping trip fried chicken famiky dinner to go. But the real, the most only question is, will the bar still be there? Sipping on my smoke Turkey while swinging on the wooden deck watching people and life pass by is my favorite past time aside from my morning golf cart-deer sighting excitement. So Tom, will the bar still exist?
Talking about trails end reminds me, Tom, have You seen the costumes those poor cast members have to wear at Wilderness lodge? I feel so bad for them, having to wear a heavy ivory, way outdated long sleeve shirt…. With a scarf no doubt, why can’t they wear a nice forest green polo with kakis or jeans? That would match the resort so much better then those outdated things. Do you have any pull down there with costuming?
Tom, this is likely old news, but do you know why / when they stopped boat travel directly from Wilderness Lodge to Fort Wilderness? We had a reservation last Thursday morning at Trails End and made the (really bad!) mistake of driving to Wilderness Lodge with the intent of taking the boat over. (Instead of correctly taking a resort boat or the monorail directly to the resort boat docks in front of the Magic Kingdom). Even the security gate at Wilderness Lodge made no mention of not being able to take the boat directly over when we mentioned why we were parking there. This is such a MASSIVE inconvenience to Wilderness Lodge guests (who have to take a boat over to the Magic Kingdom and then a separate boat back to Fort Wilderness – repeat for the return trip) that I wouldn’t even consider going there. You can’t walk OR get there directly via boat any longer. Parking at Fort Wilderness and hopping on the bus and sitting through all of the camp site stops is terrible as well. I guess Fort Wilderness guests who want the WDW masses to stay away are happy, but anyone else – good luck getting back and forth to something like Hoop Dee Doo Review in under an hour’s travel time.
As far as Trails End goes, the food is still tasty there even with the more limited menu and the absence of the buffet. They were even able to offer gluten free rolls and waffles – something I don’t believe any other restaurant was able to accommodate the whole week we were there. (Either that or we just didn’t press the issue enough elsewhere.) The retro-fitted camper / food truck is a great aesthetic touch. (Even though that’s probably been there for at least a couple of years now too.)
There is a bus that runs between Fort Wilderness from the Settlement stop to Wilderness Lodge. Why no one
… Why no one told you that is surprising
(No idea why the previous comment submitted with these words truncated)
My family has so many wonderful memories at Trail’s End and it makes me so sad that they closed it. I still can’t believe it. We went when they changed it to family style and it was awful. As much as we love WDW (I’ve been going since 1972) bought the bricks at MK years ago, got proposed to at the Caribbean, my daughter had her senior pics done at Wolderness Lodge and MK, my family has run many marathons there.. long Disney history. As changes keep happening, I’m really beginning to see that the Disney I fell in love with is no longer. Yes, things change, but WDW used to be an amazing experience and now you just pay more and more and receive less and less. Thanks for all of the memories, Trail’s End..,. We will miss you
Been coming since 1972. This rips me apart. I agree they could have used their minds a little more and expanded on the way to make it more successful. So many memories there. I’m heartbroken! All they need to do was steer more people there from other places lost river country now this. I’m so bummed!!!!
Hi Tom,
We just came in for a five day stay at the Fort campground. Been coming to WDW for over 25 years now and have made some great memories.
Thank goodness we had breakfast at Trails End this morning! We are big fans and although we preferred the former buffet style it was still good and enjoyed the atmosphere and view of Bay Lake.
I agree with all the points in your article and understand change and today’s need for speed eating to get to the parks.
Maybe there’s a ray of hope. We did see the old Light Parade last night on Bay Lake which was great!
Yes we are sentimental softies and enjoy the little hidden gems.
Hey Tom! I stumbled upon your article about the closure of Trail’s End at Fort Wilderness Campground in Disney World and I have to say, I’m quite disappointed. As someone who loves to explore all the food options at Disney World, I’m sad to see that one of the more unique dining experiences will be closing its doors.
It’s always a shame to see a beloved establishment go, especially one with such a rich history as Trail’s End. Your article did a great job of outlining the background of the restaurant and what made it special. From the homey atmosphere to the delicious comfort food, Trail’s End was truly a hidden gem at Disney World. I’ve always appreciated the fact that it wasn’t as crowded or busy as some of the other dining locations in the park, making it a great place to escape and unwind.
While I understand that change is inevitable, it’s still difficult to accept when it affects something we hold dear. I hope that Disney World will come up with something just as special to replace Trail’s End. Until then, I’ll be reminiscing about my favorite dishes from the restaurant and hoping for a future where I can once again enjoy a meal at Trail’s End. Thank you for sharing your insights and providing us with a trip down memory lane.
Hey Tom,
I just read your article on the closure of Trail’s End at Fort Wilderness Campground in Disney World, and as a frequent Disney-goer, it definitely caught my attention. Your detailed analysis of the potential reasons behind the closure was very insightful, and I appreciate the effort you put into investigating the issue.
It’s always a shame when a beloved Disney establishment closes its doors, especially one as unique as Trail’s End. As you mentioned, the rustic atmosphere and affordable pricing made it a popular spot for families and regulars alike. I’m sure many people will be disappointed to hear the news, and I can only hope that Disney has plans to replace it with something equally charming and accessible.
Overall, I appreciate your thorough coverage of the situation and your dedication to keeping us Disney enthusiasts up to date on the latest news and developments. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for any updates on the future of Trail’s End and Fort Wilderness Campground. Thanks for sharing your insights with us!