Trails End Buffet

[zanharst]

Hi Guys,

Have been lurking and reading all this great information for years and finally decided to become a posting DIS member myself

We are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge for 9 days in August and I am thinking about trying out the Trails End Buffet at Fort Wilderness for the first time. I know it will be a little bit of a transportation hike for us, but I am a New York living transplanted Florida girl and i sure do miss my Southern Fried Chicken!!!!

Wondering what experiences and opinions anyone may have regarding this dining location? Is it worth the hike from AKL? I will be traveling with two children ages 10 and 15 and think they may like this location as well.

Thanks in advance for any replies!

Kristin

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

It's usually pretty quiet there , at leas the time I got there it was. It's pretty cheap for a buffet and I find FW so nice

If you really want the food then it is worth going
Mind you its not the best food you'll ever have in your entire life but its pretty good!

 

[dissybroad]

We've always stayed at Fort Wilderness, I love the atmosphere. Maybe you could catch the singalong with Chip & Dale or the outdoor movie after dinner.

 

[dissybroad]

P.S. Welcome to the Boards!

 

[iluveeyore]

If you're not picky about your food, then by all means try it - DH and I tried it a few years ago, and we joke about the comparison to the Vegas Vacation movie when Clark and Eddie were at the buffet - "I'll have some yella, some blue and some green" - some of the choices were questionable and we didn't feel good after we ate there.
We've really enjoyed the food at Boma at the AKL - something for everyone and delicious. Also, Cape May cafe buffet was good, and we also enjoy eating at the Wilderness Lodge at the Whispering canyon Cafe every trip for the all-you-care-to-eat skillet (late lunch is best as it's cheaper but the food's just as good as dinner).
You'll get varying opinions on every restaurant at WDW - we find it's best to just try what we think we might like and judge it for ourselves. Had some really nice meals that way instead of missing out if we had listened to everyone else's opinions. Enjoy your trip and your taste-testing around WDW!

 

[VikingInMouseEars]

Trails End is one of the places we eat at every trip, along with Cape May and Ohana. The food is simple but the fried chicken and the ribs are great. It is also much cheaper than other WDW buffets and even when on the dining plan we pay out of pocket here. You can also take the boat over to Fort Wilderness from Magic Kingdom do it makes the journey more interesting than riding the bus.

 

[zanharst]

P.S. Welcome to the Boards!

Thanks!! And thanks guys for the quick responses...

Kristin

 

[CamColt]

We tried this for the first time last summer and we all enjoyed it so much we had to go back in December, on a very short trip(3 nights), and we are booked again for next month.

My 10 year old is beyond picky and he found a good number of items that he would eat there.

 

[bballmom56]

We have eaten there the last 3 times we have been there. It is not fine dining, but we certainly find a good selection. The fried chicken is very good. DH likes the ribs. As others have said, it is quieter and less expensive than many other restaurants and it is fun and different to be over at Fort Wilderness. Plan to do it on a day when you are at MK. As mentioned, you just hop on the boat for a nice relaxing ride past Wilderness Lodge. Easy as pie!

 

[WdwforLife]

Lotsa good food!!!! Lol.

 

[Jitzy]

This is one of my husbands favorite restaurants. He really likes it. The fried chicken was delicious as usual. The ribs were a little dry that night. The cornbread was very moist and delicious. The salmon was very good, but it usually is. All of the sides were good and fresh. On the dessert bar, there was warm apple cobbler, cookies, brownies, ice cream and a toppings bar.

We will be back next month for another trip.

 

[zanharst]

After reading the replies think we will give it a whirl! I don't have any expectations for fine dining, just looking for some good fried chicken!! Boatrights used to have great buttermilk fried chicken but I checked and it is no longer on the menu Also wanted to try to see a part of the WDW resort that I haven't seen before and thought the boat ride over might be nice for our arrival day as we have nothing else planned for that day except for pool time..

Thanks again

Kristin

 

[bballmom56]

That sounds like a good idea! Just take the bus from AKL to MK and then go to the boat dock.

 

[zanharst]

Once you arrive at FW is it far from the boat dock?

 

[bballmom56]

No, not at all far. Just walk off the dock and continue straight. You pass the little store on the left. Trail's End will be up a little farther on the right. If you come to Pioneer Hall you have gone a little too far. It's just before that in the same building.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

One time when we went we actually took a boat to the Wilderness Lodge and we kinda wondered around for awhile there then took the boat from Wilderness Lodge to FW it was so nice to enjoy both resorts. If you have time I thought I'd suggest it!

 

[burberryplaid]

We enjoyed it when we were there a month ago. the food was pretty good (especially the ribs) I think your kids would love the little sundae bar. If you wanted to make an evening of it, you could do the campfire & movie afterwards.

It's not the best food I've ever had but it's decent and I think it's worth a shot.

 

[WdwforLife]

We enjoyed it when we were there a month ago. the food was pretty good (especially the ribs) I think your kids would love the little sundae bar. If you wanted to make an evening of it, you could do the campfire & movie afterwards.

It's not the best food I've ever had but it's decent and I think it's worth a shot.

Where can one find information about this campfire and movie and other activities offered whence forth at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground?

(I'm not really that astute. But I had an itchin' to pull some fancy talk. But seriously, where? Lol. Thanks.)

 

[DebbieB]

That sounds like a good idea! Just take the bus from AKL to MK and then go to the boat dock.

Be sure to allow enough time. I stayed at AKV last summer and took this route. It took 1 hour, 15 minutes. I was meeting friends and was late. Just missed the boat and had to wait.

 

[kimsuenew]

Is it considerably cheaper than other WDW buffets? Does anyone remember the price per person? Are there any characters at all there? TIA!