The cheesy brisket is good. . .not great but good. Though not listed on the menu, they make waffle fries (there's a picture of them with the bison burger on the Disney site), and they are excellent! The crispy fried oysters are also surprisingly tasty--not the best I've had but far from the worst. You just need to ask for more of the miso tartar sauce or simply more lemon. Drink selection is very good, the beer selection is solid. Wine selection is fair. Very pretty venue that pipes in music during the fireworks at MK during the evening. You may know this, but keep in mind that if you're staying at WL, then FW is a one-mile walk away. Now, we love making that walk, especially in the mornings when we head over to Trail's End for their breakfast buffet (one of the better values and hidden gems in the World), but realize it will take you a good 15-20 minutes or so to make the Tavern.
The trail doesn't close; however, it's not lighted, either. People often see wildlife along the walk--we've seen deer, turtles, lots of squirrels, rabbits, and even a hawk once. The trail "head" is now clearly marked with signage sponsored by New Balance. It begins at the confluence of walkways between the main Lodge, VWL, and the bus stop. Can't miss it. (As a side note, there used to be a nature trail that paralleled the lake shore for about a 1/3 of a mile before it turned up to join the paved path--that sadly disappeared when the new construction began.) While I wouldn't mind walking the paved path in the dark with a good flashlight, I'm not sure how many people would do so. Once it's dark, the boat is probably the better option. I believe food is available up until closing at GP; after all, it is really just a bar with bar food. However, I'd likely not push it that late. Oh, and in case you didn't know, they do offer bike rentals at WL.
