Trails End Dinner and Breakfast Review

[christinou]

We go every summer to Fort Wilderness and generally have a meal there each time, it seems that every year, we have enjoyed it less. When we went last year, they were not replinishing food as quickly as it should have been done, the line was wrapping all around the restaurant, and they were putting aout 4 or 5 pieces of chicken at a time.

 

[nbodyhome]

I love everything hanging on the walls! And that big bear is fun!

I've never had a problem with them replenishing yet, unless it's at the end of the mealtime (moreso on items like baked goods).

 

[lawnspecialties]

Took the family tent camping this past weekend. We decided ahead of time that we would eat at Trails End in Crockett's Tavern rather than complicate a one night trip with the added logistics of campsite cooking.

Before I throughly trash this restaurant I want to mention that our family enjoys eating at many different Disney restaurants at least once or twice a month.

To begin with, the decor is disappointing, I'm being kind here. I looks like it has not received any attention since it opened. The ceiling reminded me of the Haunted House only the cobwebs and dust were real.

Anyone that has ever eaten at a Cracker Barrel has enjoyed a much nicer setting. Disney should consider that model when they finally update this venue.

I was inspired to write this review after listening to a DIS unplugged pod cast about Fort Wilderness. Their praise for this restaurant is hard to imagine and I wonder if or when they actually ate there.

Breakfast was pedestrian, on a par with what you can find in many motels that offer full breakfast buffets included in the room price. If this meal had been complimentary I would still register my complaints. The $50 plus dollars it cost my family of four to experience this culinary calamity merely added insult to injury. If I could give one word of advice to the chef it would be that salt is a seasoning not a flavor.

Of course if I was a faster study I might have taken dinner the night before as fair warning. I didn't and I suffered for my error.

Speaking of dinner, the only positive I can come up with is that it was better than breakfast. in particular the desert selection was abysmal. The highlight of which they call "Down Home baked fruit cobbler". It was no more than a fry pan of canned apple pie filling sprinkled with crumbles.

I know it sounds like I'm one of those jaded tourists that never manages to get in the Disney spirit. I'm really not and can recommend any of several fine Disney buffets. (Cape May I love) This just does not happen to be one of them. Maybe the fact that it serves a more captive audience allows it to make money without making an effort.

Dinner rating on a ten scale
Food 4 stars
Atmosphere 2 stars
Service 7 stars
Value 2 stars

Breakfast
food 1 star
Atmosphere 2 stars
Service 6 stars
Value 1 star

Hey! Don't be too disappointed. You didn't even get their pizza. It's so bad, it's almost famous.

 

[Donna]

I love everything hanging on the walls! And that big bear is fun!

I've never had a problem with them replenishing yet, unless it's at the end of the mealtime (moreso on items like baked goods).

OR, close to a HDD show's eating time.
I think comparing something like this to Cape May is not apples to apples. There is a big price difference and the Cape May Cafe is in a deluxe resort area.

 

[terri01p]

That's one good thing about disney there are so many places to eat that you aren't confined to one thing. I have not ate at Trail's End yet..but will of course be trying it to form my own opinion. Some people rave about 1900 Park Fare, we personally hated this buffet, was to over priced for the type of food it was serving, plus it consisted of things I would normally never eat, you will read all day long how their strawberry soup is to die for, well I took one bite and hated it, it was like liquid jello to me...so I guess to each it's own.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I strongly urge people to take the review to heart and stay away from TE. That way, there will be more food for me and no problems getting a seat.

 

[stillh2o]

I love Cape May I’ve eating there 5 times, but the time before last meal at Cape May I got food poisoning it was just I and the other 2 people in our group never got sick. So we took a group of my Employees to Cape May for one of their dinners out. Well all 18 of us got food poisoning and 7 had to go to the hospital. I have eaten at TE for about 20 years and have never had food poisoning. So I will take the Basic TE food over the 2-½ days of vomiting the great meal my group and I experience from Cape May.

 

[terri01p]

I strongly urge people to take the review to heart and stay away from TE. That way, there will be more food for me and no problems getting a seat.

 

[Minnie3]

I don't remember what the name of our server was...He was young and said he just moved there not long ago... This was in December, he was really nice. The service there is great!!!!Ribs were good in the buffet..

 

[Kissimmee]

sometimes there are those you will never please.

That really wasn't a very fair comment.

I'm sorry that some people took my review personally. My purpose was not to dissuade or insult anyone that enjoys Trails End. If someone has already eaten there then they know if they like it and don't need me to help make up their mind. Rather, my intention was to give my assessment so that others can make an informed judgment.

It does not upset me that others posted they don't fancy Cape May or it sent them to the hospital. I know I like it and is enough for me.

 

[nbodyhome]

I strongly urge people to take the review to heart and stay away from TE. That way, there will be more food for me and no problems getting a seat.

That is too funny! But I TOTALLY agree! It's sometimes too hard to get a seat, I actually have to often make a reservation to eat there.

I also agree on not comparing it to Cape May. It is a smaller buffet, but I don't have an endless tummy to try everything at every buffet! I am just fine with a smaller variety of food, as long as there is enough that I like. Trails End is a much simpler buffet, and I have never had a bad meal there. I will check for cobwebs and dust the next time, about 2 weeks from now (I'm meeting friends for a long lunch). I didn't notice any dust or cobwebs this past time and I love the bear and the decor there. I don't want them to change that.

 

[MickeyMacks]

In particular the desert selection was abysmal. The highlight of which they call "Down Home baked fruit cobbler". It was no more than a fry pan of canned apple pie filling sprinkled with crumbles.

Aww man, I hate it when you go to a restaurant that serves canned apples and frozen pastry or some such and passes it off as "home baked" - that always cheeses me off, too!

They only restaurant allowed to get away with canned apples in pie is McDonalds and they don't have any "home-baked" pretensions!

LOL - maybe Trails End is for people who really want that rustic atmosphere and food that tastes like what they'd make at home themselves?

 

[Kissimmee]

That is too funny! But I TOTALLY agree! It's sometimes too hard to get a seat, I actually have to often make a reservation to eat there.

I also agree on not comparing it to Cape May. It is a smaller buffet, but I don't have an endless tummy to try everything at every buffet! I am just fine with a smaller variety of food, as long as there is enough that I like. Trails End is a much simpler buffet, and I have never had a bad meal there. I will check for cobwebs and dust the next time, about 2 weeks from now (I'm meeting friends for a long lunch). I didn't notice any dust or cobwebs this past time and I love the bear and the decor there. I don't want them to change that.

Actually I compared TE to Cracker Barrel not Cape May. I only referenced Cape May when I tried to explain that my dissatisfaction with TE was not a general knock on Disney.

I have no argument with someone that finds $55 for a family of 4 a fair price for the breakfast they offer. For comparison Here is TE and Golden Corral..

Trails End
All-You-Can-Eat Buffet includes:
coffee and hot tea

fresh fruit
omelet of the day
scrambled eggs
sausage and bacon
beef hash
Mickey Waffles
hot cinnamon spice apples
sausage gravy with biscuits
grits
oatmeal
assorted cereals
Fresh baked pastries

Price: $11.99 Adult; $7.99 Child (3-9)

-----------------
Golden Corral

Bacon
Bacon and Cheese Quiche
Blueberry and/or Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Corned Beef Hash
Creamed Chipped Beef
Eggs, Scrambled
French Toast
Golden Waffles
Hash Brown Casserole
Hash Browns
Made to order Omelettes
Plain Pancakes
Sausage Gravy
Sausage Links
Sausage Patties
Spinach Quiche
Split Smoked Sausage
Texas Toast
Fresh Baked Rolls, biscuits and pastries
Fresh Fruits

Juice
Apple Juice
Orange Juice
Orange-Guava-Passion Fruit

Adult 7.19 Senior 6.69 Child 4.99​

 

[Kissimmee]

Aww man, I hate it when you go to a restaurant that serves canned apples and frozen pastry or some such and passes it off as "home baked" - that always cheeses me off, too!

They only restaurant allowed to get away with canned apples in pie is McDonalds and they don't have any "home-baked" pretensions!

LOL - maybe Trails End is for people who really want that rustic atmosphere and food that tastes like what they'd make at home themselves?

One funny note: They serve the same pie filling in the morning with Cinnamon instead of Crumbles and call it Cinnamon Apples. I got a chuckle when I saw that.

The bottom line is pretty simple. Disney could do a lot better with this venue.

I personally think they should look to Cracker Barrel for some Ideas. Ever notice how Cracker Barrels are tucked away behind the other Businesses on the Main Road. You need to have a real strong product not to require the frontage exposure.

 

[Swimnoid]

We usually eat one breakfast and one lunch or dinner per trip which is twice per year. Sometimes its better than others. When they had the national triathlon championships there last May the dinner we had was GREAT and had lots of different things on it. Breakfasts run pretty much the same but IMO not bad. They have started to offer less it seems each time we go. They used to have french toast and/or pancakes in addition to Mickey Waffles but not anymore. But I pretty much get my fill of good hot food. I do agree about the desserts at dinner though. Need work!

In Dec DH and I went to the grocery and then stopped at Sizzler for their breakfast buffet. TE was better.

 

[nbodyhome]

Pricewise, you can't compare TE with Golden Corral. It's like comparing the Concourse Steakhouse to Lonestar. Offsite restaurants will almost always be cheaper for what you get. I can cook at home cheaper than both! But I prefer Trails End for the service and atmosphere occasionally.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

I agree Trail End could use an up dated buffet, I usally do not eat there for the Buffet but I love there Nachos and a Beer at Crockets Traven, I do like the atmosphere... I miss when Crockets use to serve a great Steak!! Maybe thats waht TE should do become a Steak House!!

 

[farmman]

Last time I was at FW there was a 60 min. wait for dinner at Trail End it can't suck that bad who would wait 60 min. for crap.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Kissimmee hit the nail on the head "Disney could do a lot better"
While I still enjoy TE, its getting harder and harder to justify the expense considering the downsizing and diminishing quality of the food. back whent hey had Buffalo roast and special things like that it was easier to justify.

I would be curious of the ratio of campers vs other resort guests at TE. I heard several folks comment over Chritsmas (while on the bus) that they thought it was a hassle getting to TE. The ones I encountered were all on the DDP, would they have come to TE otherwise? Could be that the difficulty in getting ressies at other places because of the DDP is bringing in folks that ordinarily wouldnt come to TE. There is an ongoing debate of the effects of DDP on Disney restaurants in general so I think its hard to put any problems into context because the DDP clouds the situatuation.

While others are eating at more Disney restaurants, our family has cut back. The trip last Christmas was the most prepared food we have ever brought. With the decent size fridge in our TT and 2 hungry teenagers we had to economize to afford the trip.

Scott

 

[nbodyhome]

Last time I was at FW there was a 60 min. wait for dinner at Trail End it can't suck that bad who would wait 60 min. for crap.

Well, I can't say that I've never seen anybody wait an hour for bad food (no matter where it is!)