Fort Wilderness, Trail's End, Tri-Circle-D Ranch, and Campfire Singalong

[spiderann]

Any tips for someone who driving in to visit Fort Wilderness for a meal at Trail's End and wanting to visit the ranch, maybe take a wagon ride, and enjoy the campfire/movie? Specifically looking for the following info:

1. How EXACTLY do we get to Trail's End? I'm not clear on where to park, where to get on the internal bus, etc.
2. How much time to plan for a dinner meal at Trail's End?
3. Is the wagon ride worth it for teens?
   
4. How close to the horses are you able to get when just visiting the ranch? Any other animals?
   
5. Is the campfire/singalong more for younger kids or would good-natured teens enjoy it too?

 

[Wood Nymph]

I can answer some of your questions:

How EXACTLY do we get to Trail's End? I'm not clear on where to park, where to get on the internal bus, etc.

You would park by the main entry gate and take the internal bus to Trails End. All of the internal buses go there, but I think the yellow route is the shortest _ whichever one goes straight up the middle of the resort.

How much time to plan for a dinner meal at Trail's End?

Since it is a buffet, then you can probably eat in less than an hour.

How close to the horses are you able to get when just visiting the ranch? Any other animals?

You will walk past a pony corral on your way from the bus stop to the restaurant. There is also a horse barn behind the buildings, just past the pony corral. It will be on your left as you walk from the bus stop toward the restaurant. I'm not sure what time the barn closes, though.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I can't answer all your questions, we took Disney transportation there a couple of weeks ago so not sure about parking and unfortunately it rained heavily in the early evening so we missed out on the wagon ride.

We did enjoy our dinner at Trail's End, I would plan for an hour (we are slow eaters so took a little longer). Also, I would request the main dining room, we were seated downstairs really in the bar area, as far from the buffet as you could get. Not so great with a 4yo and unsteady grandma, I had never been there before and didn't realize how far it was or we would have to go up and down stairs for the buffet when we first sat down. The fried chicken was great as were the ribs and brisket.

There were tweens and teens enjoying the campfire and singalong, sounds like your kids would like it as well. Our family of all ages had a good time.

 

[spiderann]

I can answer some of your questions:

You would park by the main entry gate and take the internal bus to Trails End. All of the internal buses go there, but I think the yellow route is the shortest _ whichever one goes straight up the middle of the resort..

do i park at the wildnerness lodge?

 

[Wood Nymph]

do i park at the wildnerness lodge?

No. There is parking at the Fort Wilderness gate.

 

[spiderann]

No. There is parking at the Fort Wilderness gate.

Thank you. For some reason I was really confused about where to park and I could've sworn people were saying you had to park at wilderness Lodge

 

[sharadoc]

We had to park at Wilderness Lodge and take the bus over on Thanksgiving because it was crazy busy.only time I ever saw that.