Where Should You Eat at Fort Wilderness?

Part of the joy of becoming a Disney Vacation Club member is that you become something of a foodie. Since your membership lasts for decades, you take countless Disney trips. During each visit, you encounter new restaurants, all of which exemplify Disney dining. 

Today, let’s discuss DVC’s newest property. Where should you eat when staying at The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort?

Your Cabin’s Kitchen

Let’s use Occam’s razor here. One of the joys of staying at a Fort Wilderness Cabin is that you’re on your own. Your traveling party enjoys the seclusion of a standalone hotel room. You’re on your own.

As such, you may prefer to cook in your Cabin. It’s cheaper and more intimate. Plus, you choose all the ingredients and recipes. 

The Cabins feature a full kitchen, freeing you to cook anything you want. Still, you’ll likely prefer rustic, hearty cuisine. So, you can pack your own food if you drive to Disney. Alternatively, you can order grocery delivery to stop your cupboards. 

There’s nothing more wholesome at Fort Wilderness than enjoying a picnic at your Cabin. Of course, you may prefer to grill instead. I’m happy to report that there’s a charcoal grill that comes standard with each Cabin. As Disney points out, you must supply your own charcoal, but you can buy some at the Meadow Trading Post. 

Quick Service and Lounges

You’ll find several Quick Service restaurants in the area. The Friendship Boats provide transportation from the campground to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and the monorail resorts. So, you can dine at any of the expected places if you want.

There’s no real need to leave Fort Wilderness, though. You’ll discover everything you need at the campground, including basic spots like The Chuck Wagon. This place sells hot dogs, chips, popcorn, and other quick bites. You can even grab a drink here, although the menu is small. 

When you prefer a few more options, you should try Meadow Snack Bar, which you’ll find at Meadow Swimmin’ Pool. This snack shack serves a few more entrees, some tasty desserts, and even a few cocktails.

Both of those options are fine when you’re hangry and need a quick fix. When you’re in the mood for something more substantial, you’ll follow the crowd to Trail’s End Restaurant, a Fort Wilderness institution.

Disney revamped the menu last year, but this place still serves all your favorite campfire dishes like pulled pork and BBQ ribs. You can order fried chicken or a “Settlement Skillet,” which includes all three proteins. 

Finally, we have everyone’s favorite, Crockett’s Tavern, the place to go when you want moonshine. Disney imports Ole Smoky White Lightnin’ Moonshine from East Tennessee, and it packs a wallop. 

By the way, they sometimes sell Strawberry Shortcake and cornbread. These are the same items you’ll find at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. Speaking of which…

The Unforgettable Dinner Show

We cannot mention Fort Wilderness without discussing the dinner show that defines the place. The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue recently turned 50, making it older than many of the people reading this. 

In 1974, a group of Disney interns created a little show. It was a combination of vaudevillian silliness and homespun humor, making each performance feel like a little slice of Fort Wilderness. 

Disney recently modernized the show and (finally) improved the lighting and sound. Even after the changes, you’ll notice several people in the restaurant singing all the words to every song. It’s that iconic.

For that matter, so is the food. Some DVC members can recite the menu by heart, as it’s still mostly the same after 50 years. The star dishes are crispy fried chicken and BBQ ribs, but you’ll also tear through the coleslaw, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and baked beans. Obviously, you’ll get the Strawberry Shortcake and cornbread, too. It’s a decadent meal and a delightful show. 

Table Service Restaurants in the Area

The only “fancy” meal at Fort Wilderness is Hoop-Dee-Musical Revue, and describing that as fine dining feels wrong. It’s like a combination of Cracker Barrel and Famous Dave’s. 

So, you’ll need to take a boat or a bus when you want a memorable Table Service meal. Wilderness Lodge is the closest property, and I don’t need to tell you about its exceptional restaurants. You can choose between Whispering Canyon Café and Artist Point. 

The boat also takes you to Magic Kingdom, where you can switch from the Red Launch to the Gold Launch. These boats will carry you to the monorail resorts. So, you can dine at Citricos, Grand Floridian Café, and Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Meanwhile, Disney’s Contemporary Resort hosts the highly underrated Steakhouse 71. It serves some of the same dishes as The Wave… of American Flavors, but also…steak. When you want something more upscale, California Grill is an option as well. 

Finally, for more of a laid-back meal, I’d suggest ‘Ohana or Kona Café at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. While you’re there, you could also hang out at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto or grab a Dole Whip at Pineapple Lanai. 

Still, I reiterate that when you’re staying at Fort Wilderness, I’m squarely of the opinion that you should prioritize campfire chow. It’s the more thematic way to hang out at the campground.