If you want an inexpensive, fun and filling family feast near Magic Kingdom, this post has you covered. We share the best value holiday meals at Walt Disney World that also offer a break from the Christmas crowds. It’s better than most alternatives, does not require Advance Dining Reservations, and gives you a chance to catch your breath and see a different side of WDW.
Note that this is not a traditional Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. There are plenty of great “on-theme” table service restaurants that serve special holiday menus for those who want a regular sit-down dinner. The simplest and most straightforward recommendation there for Magic Kingdom guests is the year-round menu at Liberty Tree Tavern (or Diamond Horseshoe–but the vibe is better at LTT). This is more casual; a feast enjoyed with family or friends in a laid back environment fitting for Christmas-time at Walt Disney World.
If you’re visiting in November or December, you should be aware that several of the Worst Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World are on the horizon. You’re going to encounter heavy crowds, high wait times, and long lines in Magic Kingdom during the holidays–even for food. That’ll likely happen numerous times during the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. Our goal with this post isn’t just a great family feast, but an escape from those peak season crowds at Magic Kingdom, too.
One of the things we recommend doing right now if you’re visiting Magic Kingdom is either heading back to your resort for a midday break or doing a long table service meal. Basically, a reprieve from the crowds during the busiest time of day.
There’s also the unfortunate reality that the dining scene at Magic Kingdom leaves a lot to be desired (have we mentioned that before?!), and is easily the weakest of all four parks at Walt Disney World. There are a few bright spots, but we spend a lot of time in Magic Kingdom, and there’s only so often I can eat at Pecos Bill or Columbia Harbour House.
Table service restaurant options are better, but then there’s the matter of price. And sometimes we just don’t want to have that type of a meal, or do want to take a break from the chaos and crowds of Magic Kingdom. As a result, we often find ourselves eating at the Contemporary, Grand Floridian, or Polynesian. Sometimes, we even venture beyond what’s walkable along the monorail loop and head to the untamed Wilderness (Lodge or Fort).
Anyway, this recommendation starts with taking the boat to Fort Wilderness for a leisurely escape from the hustle and bustle of Magic Kingdom, and a full-on feast…
Our fantastic feast for the holidays is at Trail’s End Restaurant.
Note that this spot has changed over the years. It used to be known as P & J’s Southern Takeout or Trail’s End To-Go. This changed as part of the new DVC Cabins at Fort Wilderness conversion, during which Walt Disney World reimagined the dining options at Trail’s End Restaurant and Crockett’s Tavern.
The most controversial component of this project was converting the beloved buffet at Trail’s End Restaurant into a marketplace food court. We loved the old Trail’s End Restaurant in large part because it was quirky and charming. It had a cult following and resonates with so many longtime Walt Disney World fans for a reason, and a major source of the appeal was its quaint and unique style.
We’ll always miss the old Trail’s End Buffet, but admittedly, we’ve already gotten more use out of this new hybrid dining venue and will continue to do so during future stays, especially given that we’re big fans of the new controversial Cabins at Fort Wilderness. The overhauled Trail’s End lacks the personality of the old buffet, but it’s more practical–at least for us.
I actually like that Disney subdivided this space into a seating area for Trail’s End and another distinct seating area for Crockett’s Tavern. There is something to be said for a greater variety of options, and ones that are easier and faster–something for which we have a newfound appreciation as parents to a toddler.
Having a food court/counter service restaurant and a sit-down lounge/casual restaurant under one roof is good for most guests staying at Fort Wilderness, as there are only so many times per trip you can do a buffet (or so I’ve been told).
Here’s what the inside of Trail’s End Restaurant looks like inside now:
Note that the final few photos are of the new-look Crockett’s Tavern, which has more dedicated space as a result of the reimagining. It can be a bit confusing trying to figure out where Trail’s End ends and Crockett’s Tavern begins.
We’ve seen several guests with food from Trail’s End Restaurant told they can’t sit in the seating area for Crockett’s Tavern. It’s an innocent mistake, but still a bit of a hassle to move your food and family. To avoid running into this issue yourself, sit in the upper tier of the seating area if you’re dining at Trail’s End. The lower level is Crockett’s Tavern.
Although it’s not the subject of this post since nothing it serves qualifies as a ‘feast,’ but we enjoy Crockett’s Tavern. It’s a nice low-stakes lounge, and a good option when we want a mid-tier sit-down restaurant. It’s slower that Trail’s End, but not a marathon meal. It’s a relaxed and reasonably-priced spot at which we’ll dine during future Fort Wilderness stays.
Turning back to Trail’s End Restaurant, the marketplace now features an on-stage pizza station where you can order a hot slice or the entire pie. There are a couple of new and unique options: Smokehouse Pizza and Roasted Vegetable Pizza. Classic pepperoni and cheese are also still available.
I’m a fan of the Smokehouse Pizza, which is topped with house-smoked brisket, sausage and pepperoni. The photo above makes it look pretty unimpressive, I realize, but it doesn’t do it justice. This pizza is actually pretty tasty. The pepperoni and sausage are exactly what you’d expect, but the brisket is shockingly flavorful and juicy, and adds a lot. The crust is also nice and doughy.
It’s not going to win any awards or anything, but it’s a meat-forward guilty pleasure that’s very filling and reasonably priced. I feel kind of silly trying to endorse this pizza when the only photo I have of it looks like that, but I’ve had it a couple of times now–so I liked it enough to order more than once. And at a spot with countless indulgences, that should be a ringing endorsement.
To put the Smokehouse Pizza into perspective, the only options around Magic Kingdom that I like as much or more are the Buffalo Chicken Flatbread at Gasparilla Island Grill (pictured above) and the Vegetable Flatbread at Contempo Cafe. Those present better, but the Smokehouse Pizza is every bit as delicious. (The Buffalo Chicken Flatbread edges it out by a bit, but not from a bang for buck perspective.)
For $23, you can easily feed a few adults with the Smokehouse Pizza, making the per person cost as low as $5 to $7. My guess is that the average family of 4-5 is going to be perfectly satisfied by this. (I’ve never done the full pies, only the individual slices.) Larger parties or guests staying at the campground could order one of the Smokehouse Pizzas and one of the Vegetable Pizzas to mix things up.
It’s my understanding that if you order the Vegetable Pizza, this goes from guilty pleasure to health food. That version of the pie features a garlic-seasoned blend of red pepper, green pepper, red onion, yellow squash, and mushroom. Although I can’t vouch for it (meats are my area of expertise), it looks good–better than the simpler cheese or pepperoni options.
The Hot Grab & Go Market at Trail’s End Restaurant are filled with a variety of items with all the fixin’s to fit your fancy.
This area features pecan-smoked whole chicken or brisket, and a rack of pork ribs. Sides are available by the pound including macaroni & cheese, cowboy beans, mashed potatoes, and more. There’s also a cold marketplace area with sandwiches and salads; I have zero experience with any of these. Trail’s End serves up classics like cheeseburgers, plant-based vegetable burgers, chicken nuggets, and french fries.
For some comfort food, the Homestyle Meals feature cornbread, coleslaw, and mashed potatoes with gravy and your choice of barbecued ribs or fried chicken. These are the stars of the show, and what we’ve assembled you here today to discuss.
These are available from the Hot Grab & Go Market at Trail’s End Restaurant or via Mobile Order:
There are two family style meal options, the Barbecued Ribs Full-Slab Meal served with Cornbread and choice of two 1-pound Sides for $31.99 and the Fried Chicken 8-Piece Meal served with Cornbread and choice of two (2) 1-pound Sides
Available sides include Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Cowboy Beans, Coleslaw, Macaroni and Cheese, French Fries, Potato Salad and Macaroni Salad. Note that there are also individual entree sizes of both family style meals available.
There’s also the Settlement Skillet, which adds Pulled Pork to the mix. This is a good option for a solo traveler or those of you who have distinctly unpatriotic parties who want something other than fried chicken and ribs. Also note that Mobile Order doesn’t have access to all sides for whatever reason–you should be able to order Cowboy Beans or Mashed Potatoes without Gravy, too.
We ordered both and did this fantastic feast for Thanksgiving one year when we lived in Florida, and I’m trying to turn it into a family tradition during our annual Christmas-time trips to Walt Disney World.
This is one of my favorite holiday meals in all of Walt Disney World. I feel compelled to add an asterisk that it’s one of my favorite guilty pleasure meals since it’s not fine dining or anything truly special, but honestly, it’s one of my favorites overall. No asterisk needed.
This combined family feast offers abundant portions of delicious comfort foods, and is a great option for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or whatever holiday you’re celebrating. Sam Eagle once described this meal as Distinctly Patriotic and shed a single tear while devouring these meats all by himself. It’s true.
Walt Disney World indicates that each of these family feasts serves 2-3 people, but they also say the Mezzo Metro pizza at Via Napoli and Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream both serve 3-5 people, and the two of us have eaten those in one sitting.
That would mean that these two family feasts combined could, in theory, serve 4-6 people. I’m not so sure about that. Regardless, don’t let “the man” tell you how many people it takes to conquer a meal.
As much as I’d love to stare down this glorious feast, say challenge accepted, and attempt to devour it in one sitting, I know my limits. Maybe if I were a few years younger and still in my competitive eating prime, but alas. It doesn’t help that “the man” is my doctor, who has advised cutting back on theme park food. Challenge not accepted.
In actuality, we’ve/I’ve savored this family feast every time that we’ve/I’ve ordered it. The ribs, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, and cornbread from Trail’s End are all fantastic. That is one of the things that has not changed with the move from buffet to marketplace. Accordingly, I wanted to savor and prolong this meal as much as possible, not feel sick the rest of the day.
I don’t know how much of a review of this food is necessary, but to be clear: these are Walt Disney World culinary classics. If you’re a longtime Walt Disney World fan who has never dined at Trail’s End, modify your plans now and do this. You can thank us later.
Everything you see pictured here is fantastic. Note quite best of their class at Walt Disney World because there are arguably a couple options at Disney Springs that surpass each. (Grand Floridian and Old Key West are home to the best fried chicken.)
However, they’re all top 3. Easily. From the ribs right on down to the cornbread.
Everything here is at least on par with what’s served at Whispering Canyon Cafe over at Wilderness Lodge, to put things into perspective. (And this will cost all but the biggest eaters far less than those skillets.)
This high praise does not apply to the Coleslaw or Cowboy Beans. This might be a controversial stance, but coleslaw and beans are a waste of my time and stomach space. There’s a reason the photos here depict a meal that doubles up on Mac & Cheese and Mashed Potatoes. Those are the all-star sides.
I know some people rave about the Cowboy Beans, but I’m not one of those people. Beans are beans. At their absolute best, they can be pretty decent. Still nowhere nearly as good as even mediocre mac & cheese or mashed potatoes. I’m sorry if this offends your culinary sensibilities, but beans are, quite frankly, the side item equivalent of turkey burgers.
The total cost for all of this food is around $65 after tax as of Christmas 2025.
That’s a lot of money, but this is also a lot of quality food. This is the same stuff that’s served at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, which now costs $70+ per adult. Granted, that’s an all-you-can-eat meal and a show, but there are obvious limits on how much the average person can or will eat.
I can make four meals from this Trail’s End family feast. That’s without going into competitive eating mode (doctor’s orders), but it’s also while having a filling meal. I’m not finishing up still hungry.
The total cost comes out to about $16.25 per meal for this. It’s more food than you’ll get with the more expensive Settlement Skillet, albeit with a bit less variety.
Given the price and overall quality of the food, we’d consider the family feasts at Trail’s End Restaurant a good value by Walt Disney World standards. This is realistically on par with the “real world” prices we pay for comparable meals at 4 Rivers Smokehouse when doing takeout there. That’s saying a lot.
If you have a family of 4 or more, or are staying in the Fort Wilderness Cabins, this family feast is a great option (it holds up when microwaved). If you’re a smaller party and are only visiting the Fort, the ribs and fried chicken entrees work just fine. A couple could order one of each and then split them.
In addition to the seating inside Trail’s End, there’s also plenty of seating all around the Settlement area of Fort Wilderness, including the patio and picnic tables closer to the beach Lakeshore Lodge construction zone.
We’ve dined at one of the picnic tables on the patio with this great view many a time. The only thing that could make this better is eating on the rocking chairs, but that’d be a recipe for disaster given my clumsiness. There’s a reason virtually every shirt I own has food stains (I prefer “battle scars”).
If you want to burn off some calories after that holiday feast, we’d strongly recommend a stroll over to the new Tri-Circle-D Ranch, home to the “Happiest Horses on Earth” plus a variety of historic displays. It’s cool and well checking out.
Officially, the Tri-Circle-D Ranch is open from 10 am until 5 pm daily. Unofficially, it should be open later during the heart of the holiday season. Last year, we visited at around 7 or 8 pm in December, with the reason for the extended operating hours being the cozy carriage rides that are offered.
For Christmas 2025, the Holiday Sleigh Rides return to Fort Wilderness. These 25 minute sleigh rides fit up to 4 adults, or 2 adults and 3 small children. Take in the magic of the holidays with a cozy carriage or sleigh ride through festive campgrounds and woodland beauty.
Delight in Holiday Sleigh Rides starting on December 1, 2025 and running through December 30, 2025. (Just in time for our favorite week of the year at Walt Disney World–another reason to visit then instead of the runner-up in mid-November!) Each Holiday Sleigh Ride costs $80.
We haven’t done the Holiday Sleigh Ride (yet), so I can’t make a recommendation one way or the other. However, we’re planning on remedying that, as our daughter loves the horses. Visiting the stable last year was literally the highlight of her Walt Disney World trip!
This is obviously straying from the topic of the family feasts, but we love Fort Wilderness and I’m going to take any excuse to tout its offerings. Plus, the feasts alone may not be enough to convince you to visit, whereas Tri-Circle-D Ranch and/or the Holiday Sleigh Ride might!
Of course, no visit to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground and Pioneer Hall would be complete without a stop at this majestic mural that graces the gallery of Fort Wilderness, but belongs in a museum.
Always have to stop in to pay my respects to this fine art on any visit to Fort Wilderness. (If you know, you know.)
From there, wander down to some of the loops to check out the ambitious decorations. You’re sure to find multiple sites that look like they raided a Home Depot’s inflatables aisle.
Ultimately, it should be easy to see why we love Fort Wilderness and recommend a diversion from the chaos and crowds of Magic Kingdom. Trail’s End is one of the better restaurants in the ‘wilderness district’ and offers comfort foods that are perfect for family feasts.
This could take you about as long as a table service meal inside Magic Kingdom, while being considerably cheaper and offering a nice break from the world’s busiest theme park. It also gives you an opportunity to slow down and see one of Walt Disney World’s most unique “resorts.” It’s not just a filling and fun family feast–it’s a fantastic experience for those of you who visit Walt Disney World to make memories with your families, not just do as many rides as possible, checklist-style.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you done the family feasts at Trail’s End Restaurant? If so, what did you think of the meals? Are you a fan of these foods? Considering doing this as a holiday-time feast during your holiday visit to Walt Disney World? Think this is a good idea for a relaxing escape from the midday crowds at Magic Kingdom? What about visiting Tri-Circle-D Ranch or strolling the campsite loops looking at the decorations? 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!
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