Disney World has plenty of restaurants to choose from while you’re on vacation. From quick service to full table service meals, you’ll have a wide range of options.
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
However, as we say, one thing is certain about Disney World: it will change. We have seen restaurants close and change a lot over the years. Recently, two restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios have been set to close — Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano and PizzeRizzo. That had us wondering if Disney fans are tired of seeing restaurants close, so we asked our readers, “What have you HAD IT with as far as restaurant closures in Disney World go?”
Trail’s End
Over at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, Trail’s End saw a BIG change in 2023. After a year-long closure, the restaurant reopened as a quick-service spot with market-style service. If you’re a longtime Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue fan and you want to indulge in the fried chicken or the strawberry shortcake, you can stop here and get them for cheaper. However, not every Disney fan is happy about the change.
Trail’s End
A reader, Julie, wrote, “I was extremely disappointed when Trail’s End was converted from a sit-down buffet to a cafeteria restaurant.” Before the reopening in 2023, the restaurant was a family-style meal when Disney World reopened after the pandemic closure.
Breakfast at Trail’s End in 2021
Before the global health crisis, Trail’s End ran as a beloved buffet. The shift from buffet to the quick service style is a big change, and we understand why there are guests who are not happy about it.
Hot foods
Mickey’s Backyard BBQ
Several of our readers shared that they are sad that Mickey’s Backyard BBQ closed in 2018. This was a fun event, held at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campgrounds, that brought together the best parts of summer fun — BBQ, picnics, music, dancing, and…Disney characters! You were able to join Mickey and Friends for a family-style dinner, complete with line dancing, rope tricks, and a dinner show. Nothing has taken the place of Mickey’s Backyard BBQ since the closure, so maybe with some begging (and pixie dust), it could be brought back!
Mickey’s Backyard BBQ sign
Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn
Amy shared, “Pecos Bill, when they used to have a hamburger toppings bar, I miss that.” Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe is a quick-service restaurant located in Magic Kingdom. Before 2020, this restaurant was known for its large toppings bar for their burgers, including pickles, lettuce, and more. However, it is still missing after 5 years.
No full topping bar
Tomorrowland Terrace
Tomorrowland Terrace, located in Magic Kingdom, is another restaurant that has Disney fans annoyed. Kat shared, “I want the Tomorrowland terrace to open up as either a quick service or a sit-down.” Another wrote in response, “that needs to be better utilized.”
Tomorrowland Terrace
Tomorrowland Terrace is typically only open seasonally on peak crowd days in the park. It does serve, however, as the location for the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Viewing Parties in the evenings.
Firework Party at Tomorrowland Terrace
Artist Point
A reader really took it back to the original Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Don wrote, “Original Artist’s Point at Wilderness Lodge was *amazing*!!!” In 2018, Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White opened as a Character Meal.
Storybook Dining at Artist Point
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Not sure who is responsible for the restaurant changes at WDW, but many of the quick service locations – particularly in the Magic Kingdom – have become utterly unacceptable. High cost, low quality food tells me Disney simply doesn’t care about guest experiences anymore. We now plan visits accordingly dining off property.
Mama Melrose was one of the first restaurants my girlfriend and I ate at on our first Disney trip. We loved it and have a real sentimental connection with it. But now it is gone so we will never be able to eat there again. I get Disney will always be changing but closing the Muppets and destroying that whole area is despicable.
Our son got food poisoning at Pecos Bill. It destroyed two days of our Disney vacation. Good riddance!
I agree about Trails End. They had the best, most affordable, weekend brunch buffet. It was a must do for every trip. I also miss the toppings bars at places like Cozmic Rays and Pecos Bills and when Ohana had waiters bringing the skewers of meat to your table instead of the new version.
Resturants have closed and changed since all the parks first opened, so this is nothing new. Although we have or had our favorites, it’s a business decision for Disney an d there is nothing we can do about it. Just like all resturants everywhere, menu’s are always changing, and many go out of business. In the end , it is what makes money and what doesn’t.
As far some restaurants closing, some just hve to just like the one’s in the Muppet area to make room for new areas. They are completely revamping the whole area, so of coaurse they have to close down the resturants there. Yeah I get it, but unfortunetly but we get what they give us, not what we want.
But I will say this. With all the land Disney World owns in the Orlando area, why do they get rid of atttractions and restaurants, when the have plenty of room to bulid nw ones seperatly? They could easily built a Monster Inc and Carsland area seperatly instead of getting rid of the Muppets area and Tom Sawyers Island. They will spend billions on new hotels, but they are reluctant to expand the existing parks and/or biuld a new additional park(s).
I miss the Polynesian review at the Polynesian resort….
Super unhappy about Mama Melrose. Although I understand progress happens, they should figure out a way to re-open elsewhere. Plenty of places with mediocre food that could be replaced.
Trail’s End as table service was a huge loss. There were already three quick service places and the lounge at Fort Wilderness. They basically just shut down the table service piece and made seating for the quick service. They should have changed the name or kept the quick service name (P&J). It was insult to injury to continue to call it Trails’End. And the offerings when we went were sad. I guess it has changed, but they weren’t offering the fried chicken or any of the previous staples when we were there last. Although I’m not certain that we even set foot in Trail’s End on our very last trip, so it was probably a couple of years ago at least.
Trails End and Mama Melrose were two family favorites. We were lucky enough to get to Trails End a week before they closed. Unfortunately we were not able to make a final trip to Mama Melrose. They will be missed.
Mama Melrose’s was a favorite with us too. I know it was ‘controversial,’ with many people not liking it, but it was always packed (no matter what time of year) and we were rarely disappointed. I am hoping that somewhere brings back some of their more popular items – the mac and cheese that was servedwith the NY strip there was fantastic. We’re excited enough about Harryhausen’s as part of Monsters land, but even as much as I like sushi, I don’t see a sushi restaurant being a big park hit. I don’t even think western hibachi would be a good idea (omg the heat). I hope it’s at least fusion, preferably with some menu nods to it’s predecessor.
Have eaten just about everywhere in my 50 years to Disney under my belt and most guests will agree that the weakest link in the Disney chain has always been food service. Generally speaking, over priced and just not that good, or tasty. Disney definitely has not focused on the guest experience including the quality issues. To bad, I almost never dine with Disney in any park any more.