Can someone tell me about Trail's End?

[hart6066]

We are going to be on the Dream and will have about 5 hours to kill before heading home. We were thinking of going to Fort Wilderness--we have never been to that resort and thought there might be some fun things to do. It looks like Trail's End is al a carte now? Is it a restaurant or a BBQ setting? Can anyone give any details? Thanks!

 

[Jeanieblue114]

Trail's end is a buffet for breakfast and dinner
menu here
http://allears.net/menu/menu_teb.htm

For lunch they have an ala cart menu
http://allears.net/menu/men_traillunch.htm

We have always really enjoyed it for any dining choice. And we have really enjoyed the lunch menu very much a couple times.
At lunch the place is pretty much empty.
The buffets are pretty busy though and you should make a reservation.
It is one of the more reasonable priced restaurants at disney for cash paying guests as well.

There are a few things to do there...walk around, look at the general store, there's a Circle D ranch horse barn that houses the Disney working horses and also has a lil nook of a museum of Walt's horses (free). There are also horse drawn carriage rides and wagon rides, and horse riding depending on when you are there (for a fee).


I don't know where you will need to be after your visit to the Fort but make sure to leave PLENTY of time for travel.
Keep in mind that you can get to the Fort by bus but it is an exceptionally long wait for Disney buses there.
If possible, I'd take the boat to Magic Kingdom and then go on bus, monorail or whatever from there so it's faster.
Make sure you alot for an hour to 90 minutes to get to and from the Fort...especially if you use the buses for your transportation.

 

[nepean]

We have eaten dinner several times at Trails End, but we will not be returning after our last experience. The food was warm not hot and the selection had shrunk on the buffet. We had a person with us with a nut allergy and there was not one item on the desert bar they could eat. We had informed them of the allergy when the reservation was made. Previously they had ice cream or something to substitute. I have had better meals at McDonalds. In the past the food was plentiful and hot. The service was good but this time it was horrible. We were there in late December.

Nepean

 

[Johnny_B]

I was there for the first time in Oct for dinner. I loved it. The selection is so much better than other Disney buffets and the price is much lower! Wonderful atmosphere also. I will definitely return. LOVED the baked potato bar!

 

[Tinkerbellah]

My mom,dad,sister & niece all LOVED the breakfast!!! I missed it b/c we had a different ADR. From how happy my family was w/ it, I would like to try. They'll say if it was just ok or bad. They only had great things to say about it. Fort Wilderness is beautiful & peaceful. I love the property & theme of the area.

 

[mikera329]

Love, love, love Trails End! Dinner buffet was so good, it put my then 11 yr old son into a food coma! He had 3rds on everything! Very nice/rustic restaurant atmosphere, grounds are beautiful, lots to see. Boat ride to and from MK is wonderful as well. And the cornbread, delish! A must do for our family

 

[GAN]

We haven't been in a few years, but we always thought it was a great value for the offerings. Glad to see some more recent reviews.

 

[Tricia's mom]

I liked the buffet last time we were there. I also liked that there was stuff to do while there and it was quiet and relaxing.
Be honest with yourself of how much time you actually have to spend... BE Honest. remember that Disney transportation is sssssssssssssssssllllllllllooooooowwwww.
They have an area with animals, a playground. Its a great place to spend some time. Go for a free boat ride on the ferry boat...lots to do till kill time and still get some Disney feel.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

besides pony rides and the horse barn, the animals are gone now and put over in the animal kingdom petting zoo.
it's a shame..was always fun to play with them there.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Our Ratings of Trails End: (rev 10/4/11)
. . . food price value: B
. . . food quality: B
. . . food quantity: B
. . . food prep speed: B
. . . food selection: C
. . . seating quantity: C
. . . seating comfort: C
. . . eatery atmosphere: B
. . . eatery convenience: D
. . . staff friendliness: B
. . . staff attentiveness: C
. . . character interaction: n/a

NOTE: The above ratings are for breakfast and dinner,
which have good, tasty comfort food. We like them both
as dining alternatives, as they are reasonably priced,
especially for Disney. Lunch, however, is far-far behind
in quality and value. In Spring-2011, they changed lunch
menus and we no longer recommend midday Trail's End.
For dinner, try the "make-your-own-potato" bar.

 

[North of Mouse]

Regarding the bus service. We have camped here for many years and find the "internal" bus service the best it has ever been - ALL "color" buses go from outpost to settlement area. But the external buses to parks,etc. can indeed be hit or miss. We have gone an entire vacation with waiting hardly more than 10min. for a bus to having to wait nearly every time 20-30 min. It's really a mystery to us how the wait time can vary so much So to be on the safe side, we always allow extra time.

 

[Conan the Librarian]

I Love Trail's End. It's just a fun place to go.

My current favorite is the Fried Chicken on a Waffle. It's a savory/sweet dish that just works!

Give it a try.

 

[mickeysbestfriend]

as an option to doing the Hoop Dee Do (we didn't want to eat that late) and found that the buffet served many of the same foods and some that the Hoop didn't . We made ressies for lunch when it was still listed as a buffet and were disappointed to find it had become a menu only meal and although the food was denet, it wasn't what we had our hearts set on. The fries were bad...limp and soggy.. sent them back and they brought me something called chuckwagon chips....like fresh fried potatoes..

We are planning two breakfasts there in ten days.....I will report back after we have!

 

[Jeanieblue114]

there is such a small crowd at lunch time that they have gone to an ala carte menu.
we have really enjoyed everythign on it specifically the shrimp and grits, BBQ, and the chicken and waffles especially (didn't like the new rosemary syrup but can ask for regular syrup).
the dinner buffet is out of the same kitchen as hoop dee do. it's the same food except that HDD has their own salad dressing and hey have strawberry shortcake.
But if you have a special event in Trail's end, they bring straberry shortcake (for bdays and stuff).
The manager told us everything at HDD besides those are served at Trail's end.