WDW Dining Reviews: Skipper Canteen, Trail’s End, & Hollywood Brown Derby (October 2021)

As I get ready to head back down to Walt Disney World next month, I realized that I failed to share with you all some of my dining experiences during my last trip back during WDW’s 50th Anniversary celebration around October 1st. I decided to lump these dinners together because they weren’t at a new restaurant (unlike my Steakhouse 71 review) or part of a festival review (similar to my latest Food & Wine Festival reviews). Today, here is a quick look at my meals at Skipper Canteen, Trails End, and The Hollywood Brown Derby.

Jungle Cruise Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen

This is, by far, my favorite place to dine at when I am in the Magic Kingdom. It’s themed after one of my favorite old-school attractions, The Jungle Cruise, and they have some really great dishes. Although the menu has been tamed down in comparison to years past (I mean, you could get a fully fried fish with bones and all!), it’s still a fun place to dine.

I actually haven’t dined in the Mess Hall area in quite some time, so for this solo dining adventure, it was nice to sit back and just enjoy the ambience.

I decided to get the special “secret menu” appetizer, which consists of a bunch of mini cheese breads served with a chimichurri sauce. While it’s really good, the bread seems to be the same one that was served at the Brazil booth during last fall’s Food & Wine Festival at Epcot. Additionally, the sauce reminded me of the one I could get at Steakhouse 71. So, tasty it was, original…maybe not so much.

For my entree, I had the “Hardy Har Char” Siu Pork. It’s a dish I have had before, ad it still was really good. Tasty and not too spicy. For me, it’s one of the better dishes at Skipper Canteen.

I opted out of getting a dessert. Instead, I got a dessert-like drink in the Adventureland Colada, made with DOLE Whip Pineapple soft serve, coconut cream and passion fruit. It was REALLY good. However, you say “DOLE Whip” to me and I am down.

Overall, it was a great solo dinner. Affordable and delicioius. I will always recommend this place to others.

Trail’s End Restaurant

Prior to the pandemic, Trail’s End Restaurant, which is located at Pioneer Hall inside The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, was a buffet style place. However, in order to reopen, it had to be reformatted to an All-You-Care-to-Eat Family-style Dining place. This is similar to how Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is styled. For this dinner, my friend Stephanie joined me to check out the new way of offerings.

We started off with a Bread Basket, which included goat cheese chive biscuits, hushpuppies, and skillet cornbread. The breads were served with pimento spread and honey butter… and all was delicious.

Next was a salad, which was pretty normal except it included a bacon vinaigrette.

The “entree” was the Smokehouse Skillet. Pecan-smoked brisket, smoked chicken, andouille sausage, poatoes, green beans, and corn on the cob. Served wth both a chipotle bbq sauce and a Carolina mustard bbq sauce. I was not a fan of the sausage, but the brisket, chicken, and potatoes I could have eaten all night.

The meal ended with a Covered Wagon Sundae. Ice cream, brownies, cookies, and chocolate-covered bacon? YES, PLEASE! It was amazing.

The only reason I wouldn’t be coming here more often is that, for me, it’s a hassle for me to get there when I don’t have a car or am staying at a resort with a boat connection to it. That resort is difficult to navigate on the best of days. However, for those who can get to Pioneer Hall easily, I’d tell them to go. I am not sure when/if Trail’s End will revert back to a buffet style. However, until that time, this is an acceptable option for dining there.

The Hollywood Brown Derby

Now, I have not dined here at The Hollywood Brown Derby, located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, since the mid- 90’s with my grandparents. I honestly can’t give you a valid reason, especially since I loved getting their signature Cobb Salad when I used to go. Last fall, my friend Matthew invited me to join him for lunch there when the person he made the reservation with couldn’t join him on the trip. So, I decided to head back after 25+ years.

I started the meal with their Lobster Bisque Soup. Since I dined there, this soup has been removed from the menu. I am not sure if it’s a seasonal item, or if it was permanent. That being said, while the soup was good, I’m not sure it was worth the price tag. The portion was quite small.

And then I had the Cobb Salad. I ended up adding chicken to it, which probably was overkill. Why’s that? The salad already came with turkey. Whoops! Even with all the fowl, it was a really good salad.

While The Hollywood Brown Derby is considered a Signature Dining Restaurant at Walt Disney World, the Cobb Salad is most definitely affordable ($20 pre add-ons) if you are looking for a great meal while at the theme park. And to those wondering… yes, you can just go in and get the salad and a drink. You aren’t required to get an appetizer or a more expensive meal.

Well, there you have it. Three small dining reviews from Walt Disney World. I will be back at down there in a couple of weeks to check out the Festival of the Arts at Epcot and more. Dining plans have not necessarily been finalized yet, but I amz sure I will have more to share with you guys after I get back.