Our family of 5 dined here yesterday for a late dinner and will never return. The food was decent but not worth the $32.00 per person that we paid. Our server was rude and impatient on at least 3 occurrences to both my daughter (age 10) and husband when they simply had questions re: drinks, etc. I understand how trying waitressing can be as I did this while back in college but this woman had no reason to act the way she did to us, as we were not demanding and the restaurant was not unreasonably busy. Fortunately for us, this was the only Disney restaurant that we experienced this kind of service.
Wasn't sure what to expect, but the experience was just fine for our trip 12/22/13-12/27/13. I thought there would be issues with this based on the expected crowd levels, still in test phase and the dislikes on the boards.Initial sign up we had no problems with colors, etc. Only thing to keep in mind is that if you are a DVC like us with a waitlist that gets granted, your bands need to be reconfirmed. Not the reservations for dining/FP+/etc. just the order.We were able to get FP+ times for everything we wanted as it was during the time you can get 3 "major" attractions. Times worked well for our schedule and we liked the fact we could plan on getting on the rides we wanted to without having to get up at day break and run to get a paper fast pass.Bands worked every time for room access, park entry, fast pass entry, restaurants, quick service locations, and the retail shops. Not once was there an issue so it made getting into the parks a touch easier along with paying for everything. Getting in to the room with a handful of stuff was also easier. We also found that two of us wore the bands on our right wrist while the other two wore it on the left wrist. Seems odd but that allowed us to get through the readers side by side. The only real complaint was the in park connection via smart phone was a pain some days as it was busy or having to constantly sign back in. Overall we liked being able to schedule ahead of time, not have to use room keys/park tickets and just pay for things with a quick wave in the reader.
We loved our Magic Bands and considered an honor to be chosen. It was exciting to be picked and even more exciting when we got our bands in the mail. The bands and their packaging were impressive and really made our experience seem more personal. Having the bands made things so much easier and convenient. We will cherish ours always.
After reading the horror stories on the boards, I had concerns but was also curious about the new system. If it performs for me as it did on my last trip, I think I could get used to the changes.First off: the bands. If you're used to wearing a watch, having the band on your arm will feel pretty natural. (In fact, several times I looked down at it when I wanted to see what time it was, despite the fact I don't regularly wear a watch anymore.) I liked using it as a room key, but the reader should probably be placed in a better location, possibly off the door.I didn't have a problem at the entry gates at all with my band, my mother did have an issue once getting into Epcot. It was taken care of promptly by cast. Here's a little tip: the second the Mickey head gets the swirling light, put your finger on the scanner. Helps keep things moving. And don't be afraid to jump on an open scanner.Using it to pay for meals on the (free) meal plan - no problems. Most times cast just lifted the reader up to make it flush with your band.Fastpass+: Here's where I had a bit of a concern. I didn't like trying to make decisions on rides that far out in advance. We usually go during a slower time, so waiting isn't usually an issue, and Fastpasses usually came into play if we came across something we didn't want to do right then and there, or for the popular rides like Soarin' or Toy Story Mania. So trying to guess what I'd want to do was a bit of a challenge.That said, the ability to change stuff around while in the parks came in quite handy, especially on the last day, which is our Animal Kingdom day. We were both dragging a bit, so being able to move Fastpasses into the afternoon so we didn't feel as rushed was nice.Having three slots reserved is how you should look at Fastpass+, in my opinion. You don't have to do exactly that, you have the chance to make changes as needed - assuming that is still the case once it goes live and the legacy Fastpass is gone for good.It's not all roses: I don't like the tiers, or the three ride limit, or the fact that you're limited to one park. If you purchased park hopper, you should get the ability to have FPs in all parks.I did find waiting to use Fastpasses did keep us in a park longer than we would normally. MK and Epcot are usually all-day affairs, but MGM and AK are not, but we stayed longer in the latter. (For the record, we don't think Fantasmic is worth the wait, and AK has nothing to keep you after dark, at least for now.)All in all, I was afraid that MyMagic+ would get in the way of the trip, and after using it, I feel that it certainly did not. I hope that remains the case when it's the only option at WDW.
For us as the headline says... flawless. Loved the experience to be honest. The ease of entry into the rooms, parks, FastPass+ locations was great and our 4 year old had no issues at all getting it to work. The MyExperience app was an amazing tool for us throughout our trip. We went the first week of December so crowds are somewhat light then so that may have helped, but it was great. I had heard of the FastPass+ lines not being the fastest... we didn't have any of that. As everyone knows your well thought out plans on how to navigate your trip inevitably change once you are there. The app allowed us to with ease move our experiences around and get us on the rides that we wanted, when we wanted. Being able to use the FastPass+ feature with the posted wait times that are also on the app help us to fly around the parks and maximizing our experience. Just like every trip it helps to know what to ride and when to ride it so that you can take advantage of your opportunity there, but without a doubt the MagicBand and the app enhanced it for us.Some of the cast members at the restaurants are still familiarizing themselves with the technology, but there were no errors or issues for us. We were on a dining plan and again... no issues at all.Purchasing is seemingly easier with the band... which is I am sure great for Disney, but scary for us and our self-control. It was for some reason much easier to just "put it on the room" than before... I supposed since we weren't grabbing for a card at all we didn't feel like actual money was involved. :)I am anxious to see where this can go and what enhancements will be made. We loved it and it is just in the baby stages. I am certain there will be unlimited versions of what it is now... they will tweak it and it will at least in our eyes be a valuable piece of our future visits.
The MagicBands worked fine for us and there were no real hiccups. The readers at some of the table service restaurants had trouble reading them on occasion, but they had very little impact on our overall experience.We really liked the convenience of wearing the band on our wrist, but it wasn't much more convenient than carrying a Key to the World card in a lanyard. And it wasn't any more convenient than strapping a KttW card to our wrist. The bands are nice looking, though, and not terribly uncomfortable (I wonder what I'd say about comfort if it were warmer, though).As for the FP+ part of the system, it worked for us, but we're not much of a fan. In some ways, having 3 FPs established up front was easier than only carrying one paper FP at a time around with us and then planning on when/how to get our next paper FP. At the same time, I don't particularly care for the limitations imposed on the FP+ selections. I also think it ridiculous that some attractions that have *never* needed a FP in the past are now FP+ selections. In a few cases, this created false demand resulting in unusually long lines at attractions that in our past visits were always walk-ons without a FP.Also we had another person tagging along with us that was not on our itinerary...consequently there was a great deal of coordination to make sure that they got the same FP+ selections as we had, and that was complicated more when you try to change a FP+ on the fly while in the park. In that regard, the old-fashioned paper FP system was much more flexible.I'm glad that we still had the option of double-dipping and getting paper FPs along with our FP+ selections. I'm not looking forward to the day when paper FPs go away.
We used the bands during our Oct trip and just loved them. Was able to get our fastpasts before we entered the park Made dining reservations with it could have any easier. Absolutely lovethem!
My family just got back from a quick trip for the Christmas season and had our first and most likely LAST meal at the Grand Floridian Cafe. We were all very excited to try this place given the wonderful reviews and I have to say we were horribly disappointed. First the service was painfully SLOW. It took a solid 10 minutes after we were seated for dinner for our server to make her first appearance. Not a good start. We ordered our meals. I had the burger and ordered in medium, one of my daughters ordered the chicken breast, the other the pork chop, while my wife ordered the shrimp and grits. We had to ask for bread and our drink order was not correct when it was delivered to the table. The food finally arrived and my burger was horribly overcooked. My daughters pork chop was overcooked and rubbery. My wife shrimp and grits were bland, lacking any flavor at all. The only meal that was decent was the chicken. We were all exhausted from 3 long action filled days at the parks and didn't have the energy to complain. But suffice it to say we will NOT be returning to the Grand Floridian Cafe anytime soon
I love the tile in the bathroom. It has a section of dark animals against a bright red/orange sunset. The bathroom was a decent size and had a nice, big shower. I love all the solid, dark, warm, welcoming wood. The dining table had a bench along the wall, which was very unique and the chairs had the a lion (Lion King show style) face carved into them. It's all very pretty, but the bathroom could've been cleaner. There were normal-size TVs in the bedroom and living area, so the kids could be told to go away. It's only about ten feet, but at least we aren't all on top of each other. Washer and dryer were the tiny, stacked apartment type...but better than nothing! They put the glasses away upside-down (someone should really inform them about which way of doing this is actually, scientifically, germ-wise more sanitary, aside from personal preferences), so I put them all through a wash cycle. There was dish washing powder for the dishwasher and a little mini-bottle of dish washing liquid for the sink (Palmolive, I think it was. It was green, anyway.) They have the nice, lemony-scented bar soap in the bathrooms, of which there are 1.5. We had a savannah view and saw a lot of varied animals. I got a little confused with the parking garage and where I should park inside it...my choice ended up with a lot of extra walking the first time (when we checked in), but we got it down after a while. People really drive too fast in there, so if you have little kids, hold their hands. The gift shop was on the small side, but nice enough. Sanaa seemed a little more adventurous food-wise than we wanted, so we headed over to AKL proper for Boma and fast food. If I were going to do a DVC stay again, I'd get one at Jambo to save the walk or van ride. The van wasn't in the best shape, kind of smelled and crams you in with other people. It isn't really unpleasant, but I'd rather skip that all the same. I prefer the style of OKW-type one bedrooms. This is obviously just two hotel rooms that were made into a one-bedroom kind of place and doesn't have a large, open feel to it. But it beats one room! :)
Love this place! I remember years ago coincidentally meeting my friend amy here and we both joined up at one table. The food was great, Disney's always had food above the average theme park, in that its actual food. As expected the service was friendly timely, and fit the atmosphere. I loved eating here before braving the haunted mansion, pretending I was planning to sneak in the abandoned house with my friends. I always made everything part of an adventure story as a kid, this was a great place to do it.The foyer reminded me much of the one in the short cartoon Sleepy Hollow in adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. The fireplace where they told the gruesome tale, the floor where they danced with that one way too over excited woman. I recomend it for anyone who's in that area during dinner time. This along with Pecos bill, and Village Haus are my favs in the park.
First let me get the issues we had out of the way:We stayed 1 night, went on a cruise and then came back for 7, so Disney sent us 2 sets of bands. Then when we got there and they had a 3rd set of gray bands for us. I said "well, I don't want a new set we already have 2", after hearing some horror stories I was nervous this might take forever or mess everything up, but within 5 minutes they had both sets of bands they already sent me activated and the gray bands deactivated and we were ready to go. So ultimately, it was no issue at all.It seems they have the Bio Scanners tuned way too tightly right now, which caused entry into the park to fail multiple times throughout the trip. Not really a band problem, more a bio scanner problem, but each time after trying 2 or 3 times someone would come over reset your band and allow you in. Once again, quick and easy, no big deal.FastPass +Amazing! I was worried 3 fast passes a day wouldn't be enough, but it was fine, I do hope in the future they adjust the system based on predicted attendance like they do hours, but getting the passes were easy and changing was easy. One change that stands out was when I had already been on Splash Mountain that day and Haunted Mansion was a 35 minute wait so I changed the Splash pass for a Haunted Pass and walked right in.Paying was easy, dining credit usage was easy, and getting in and out of the room was easy, although I do think they need to move the room scanners either onto the wall or towards the middle of the door.
We visited Le Cellier on this trip, and it's just not the same. They had already done away with the Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes and gone to an all day menu which didn't make us very happy, but the quality of the food this time was just not good. We got 2 different types of the Poutine, Le Cellier and Lobster they were both good, very salty, but I expected them to be due to the nature of food. The Andouille Sausage was removed from the menu as well, which was my favorite appetizer.Then came the Ribeyes, Filet, regular fries and Fingerling Potatoes which seemed like they were cured in salt for an extended period of time. They were disgustingly salty. Le Cellier is officially off our must eat places list. It's like they were told everyone goes here so let's make it expensive, oh we better get expensive ingredients, uhh we don't know how to cook these...LIKES: Poutine, Maple Creme BruleeDISLIKES: Ribeye, Filet, Fries, Fingerling Potatoes, and TONS and TONS of salt. Seems to have moved to a two dining credit meal and the quality has gone in the opposite direction.
A FEW SPOILERS BELOW SO DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW A FEW DETAILS ABOUT THE RIDE!My wife and 13 year-old daughter just got back from Disney World. We loved the old Test Track and after reading many of the reviews on this forum I was very skeptical to say the least about TT 2.0. I even suggested to my wife before we went that we may want to skip this ride all together as it was going to be a long wait and a horrible ride based on what I had read. Well, maybe it was my extreme low expectations, but I actually felt the new Test Track was not as bad as everyone made it seem.We usually get Fast Passes for this ride, but this time we couldn't as we already had Fast Passes for Soarin'. I was dreading waiting in the stand-by line as I remember the long waits from the old Test Track. We got in line around noon, pretty busy day at Epcot, and were in our car on the ride in less than 30 minutes. Pretty good if you ask me.I did enjoy the old crash test dummy stuff to look at during the wait. Looking at a fancy car that did nothing was a bit of a bore.Once in the create a car room I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was for a kid to do and my daughter loved "building" her own car. I wasn't quite sure how this all tied in with the ride until I got on the ride and even then, after they rated how your car did it wasn't clear to me how it was done or was it just a random set of scores that they gave your car to compare to others. Again, my daughter liked it so no harm no foul. I could easily see how this whole create a car room could be a bottleneck for this ride making the wait time longer than necessary but the two times we went on this ride, both in the stand-by line, we did not wait more than 30 min.As for the ride itself. It was not as good as the old TT (I liked the blocks (German and Belgian) as well as the hot and cold extreme temps), but at least they kept the familiar semi and, of course, the 65mph loop outside. And yes, On-Star was lame.My wife liked it probably about the same as me and she did not read any of these reviews before going on but my daughter loved it way more than the TT 1.0
We just visited Disney Nov 30-6. We loved having the magic bands for everything. Everything worked great. Our last day at Epcot we had one fast pass not show up but we had made a change at a kiosk earlier and maybe messed it up. Having it for dining, fast pass, key, charge was soooo convenient. Very cool.
So I was a critic of the system at first due to all the negative reviews on the board. But we were asked to test the system for our November 1st to November 9th trip. We decided to go ahead and do it that we can form our own personal opinion. Simply put mymagic was great. The first part was customizing our band which was really easy. The website froze once but we refreshed the page and it was all good. My wife had to have a pink band while I stuck to the grey. Within a week and a half our Banda were shipped. We tried them on and found them very comfortable. Fastpass + was really cool as well. My wife loved planning the entire thing out. The one thing we would complain about is how the epcot attractions were separated into groups. We also linked our Christmas party tickets to the band. Hotel room access was easy and flit h free as well as park admission the entire trip. Fastpass worked great the whole time and my wife enjoyed being welcomed by name. The band's even worked getting into the Christmas party. Overall we loved it and look forward to it again!
I spent alot of money to take my 2 granddaughters to Disney. booked the little mermaid room expecting everything that i was told and read to be a magical time. It was anything but that. The room was closer to pop century than the front of aoa. No joke, the walk was very far, especially after a day in the park. My luggage was sent to the wrong room which caused us to be late for dinner that night. When we called we were told that they were short handed and it would be 45 min before they could help us. R u kidding me! The food court was hectic and the food wasn't anything special. I really can't say anything positive about this resort. Big dissapointment. Do your homework when u plan your next trip. Reviews mean alot. I don't usually write negative reviews, but that was before i stayed @ aoa.
I was dumb and did not heed the warnings that were posted about those who are afraid of heights should avoid this ride.Because I did not heed those clearly posted warnings, I was literally TERRIFIED. and shook up for several hours afterwards. I can ride in a plane just fine or anything else that is enclosed but I could not handle the fact that my feet were dangling in mid air or that we were just barely strapped in with a seal belt that only goes around the waist and yea, that it was 40 feet off the ground. Some day someone is going to faint and fall out, or a child is going to flip out of that thing and potentially die. A bar across the front of us like most rides would have helped, along with something to hold onto when the movie makes us dizzy.I also wish there was an option to sit on a bench on the floor like they offer at Universal Studios for some of their rides or a nice safe balcony because the movie and scenery looked gorgeous , at least on those brief moments when I was able to peek with one eye open. I would have loved to have seen the whole thing b/c I love California. I hate that I am afraid, and that there are so many rides that deal with heights. No fun for us chickens.For those of you who are not afraid of heights, this ride /movie experience is so worth the wait. My family thinks its the best!
We took our first trip to Disney World in November. We weren't sure about taking the Magical Express, but decided since it was free we should. We were staying at the Contemporary Resort.Arrival: Once we arrived at the airport, it was very seamless getting checked in for the Magical Express. Unfortunately, our hotel was the last stop and we were on the bus for over an hour. But, it wasn't too bad. HOWEVER, when we got to the hotel they told us that our luggage would show up in 3-5 hours! Everything I read and the Disney people I spoke to said that it would be only 3 hours. Our bags did not show up until 11pm. (We had arrived at 6pm.) So that was a bit aggravating. Still, we got over it very quickly.Departing: The entire return trip on the Magical Express was TERRIBLE! Our departure time was for 10:50, approximately 3 hours before our flight. My family (and a lot of other people) were waiting on the bus. It showed up almost 20 minutes late! (There were no previous stops, the bus was empty.) And the bus was a Mears bus. It was old and dirty. Then the bus driver took a long time to load our luggage. It seemed that the bus was full, but we had to stop at another resort. We were there for over 25 minutes! There was only one family getting on the bus and one member was an older gentleman in a wheelchair. We felt so bad for this man and his family. First, they tried loading him onto the bus, but the driver parked too close. She had to move the bus. Then when they got him on the bus, she could not get his wheelchair secured. It seemed she did not know how to use the straps to do this. Finally, this man's sons had to move him to a seat for the trip. After all of this fiasco, we arrived at the airport only an 1.5 hours before our flight. If we travel to Disney again, we will probably arrange for different transportation to our resort.
Every single time it comes into view as I walk down Main Street I get this happy little flutter in my heart. It's truly magical.
My kids (4 and 1) sing the song from this parade all the time! The floats are beautiful and the selection of characters in the show is great. It's not even really that long, but it's still worth watching.
There is nothing quite like Peter Pan's Flight! I love how you fly through the entire story, from the Darlings' nursery, through the yard, over the city - the best part is flying over London! - and then on a flying tour of Never Land. It is a really short ride, but every moment is worthwhile. It's so much fun!
Every time I am walking through the Magic Kingdom and hear Dream Along With Mickey is on, I want to stop and watch it again!This show is so much fun. I think that it's a fantastic mix of characters -- classic Mickey Mouse and friends, a few classic princesses and their princes, Peter Pan, Wendy, and the pirates, and the evil witch Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. This line-up was a dream come true the first time we brought my daughter (then 3). - all of her favorites on stage at the same time!I absolutely love the way the classic princess movie songs are incorporated, and how the waltzing scene lends itself to a heartwarming moment and dance between Mickey and his eternal sweetheart, Minnie. And just when everything is about as sweet as can be, then we get a jolt of excitement from the entrance of Peter Pan and his pirate nemesis! The message overall is that dreams do come true if we all believe in them. The spirit of why we are all at the Magic Kingdom in the first place... wouldn't you agree?For some reason, I get all teared up watching this show. It hits a "magical" spot for me. It makes me feel like an excited little girl, and it's thrilling to see my own little girl sitting on her dad's shoulders clapping for Peter Pan and spreading her arms out like a princess dancing. I really love this show and I hope that it remains a fixture for a good long time!
Food and Wine Festival is an absolute MUST DO for us every year. Each year, in one way or another, it gets better!! Although the menu changes that happen on occasion is a let down, the experience itself is just fabulous. Some of the standouts this year were the Belgium Potato and Leek waffle w/beef, Mexico's shrimp taco (a repeat), France's beef bourguignon, Australia's garlic shrimp, Hawaii's kahlua pork slider, just to name a few. We were on the Deluxe Dining Plan (upgraded from free dining plan) and had 2 snack credits each, per day, and used them to eat around the world!! Our visit was the first 10 days of November, and although crowds were minimal during the week, the weekends were VERY crowded! I mean wall to wall people, crowded. We did not witness any bad behavior at all. Lots of singing and dancing people, but no rudeness or unruly actions what-so-ever. This is such an awesome experience for everyone, especially foodies like myself! If attending the Food and Wine festival with children, your best bet is to visit during the week, crowds are much lighter and the lines for food aren't so long. I DEFINATELY suggest visiting Disney for Food and Wine! Just incredible!!!
As other have said, it's a perfect respite from the busyness of the Magic Kingdom concourses.We love to complete not just our days at MK but our entire trip to Disney World with a contemplative lap around Tomorrowland aboard the TTA. It's a great way to wind down, chat about the memories made and get one last look at the magic below.Especially magical in the evening!
We visited Garden Grill on October 27th, with a 4:40pm reservation. It was our only Character dining experience and I must say I am so happy this is the one I went with for our first experience. The food was fantastic. My boyfriend really liked the Tilapia and I really liked the steak. When we ordered more, since I'm not a fan of my meat being red or pink I asked if I could get the steak well done. They had no problem with that, and it came out the 2nd time perfect! We both thought the turkey and the mashed potatoes were delicious. Our son really liked his kids meal as well. I can't say enough about the food. Our waiter, excellent!! I wish I remembered his name. But he was fantastic. And the older gentleman that seated us, a true delight!The characters were great as well. We had got lucky with our Chase card meet and greet earlier in the day in that it was Mickey. My son LOVES Mickey, but when we walked into the m&g he was so starstruck to see Mickey he wouldn't go near him, or talk to him. But by the time we had supper and he saw farmer Mickey walking around he did sooo much better when Mickey (and the other characters) got to our table. This got kind of long :)But, I definitely recommend The Garden Grill. It's spendy, but, the smiles and laughs from my son and the food were totally with it to me!
The refurbishment was disappointing, we used to love the old test track, the concept of the older one was better and felt more real, the new one feels like your in some fake unrealistic virtual world, my whole family agrees that the new test track is terrible.
Stayed in little mermaid room, which was very small, and not clean. It was a very far walk from entrance. We had to go outside to make calls. Our bags were sent to the wrong room. It would take too long to write the problems we had. Considering the money, it would pay to stay at Pop century. We were closer. Do your homework when you plan. Don't take the word of your travel agent.
We ate lunch here November, 2013. What a treat! We normally don't do lunch during our Disney visits but sure glad we visited Liberty Tree Tavern!! We had cheeseburgers and the turkey dinner. I was pleasantly surprised that the turkey was not dry at all, and the green beans? WONDERFUL!!!!! The Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake.. slap yer momma good!! Service was fabulous as well. We were seated within 5 minutes of our ADR time.
We attended the Wishes Dessert Party for the first time November, 2013 and don't know why after 20 something trips, we have never done this! Outstanding!!! The desserts were just out of this world, the crowds not overwhelming, service very good and the fireworks... oh my the fireworks! The cost for three adults was $75 or so, and worth every penny. This has to be experienced!!!!
We had breakfast at GFC twice during our November, 2013 trip and LOVED it. We were seated promptly, and the staff could not have been more pleasant. I ordered the eggs benedict with key lime hollandaise and absolutely enjoyed it. Cooked perfectly. Other members of my family ordered the malted Mickey Waffle, Ham and Cheese Omelette, steak and eggs, the vanilla french toast and the American breakfast. Everyone enjoyed their meal, very much. It was not crowded at all, and very quiet and charming. We will definately be back!
We dined here for the first time, November, 2013 and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. We were a family of 5 on this particular night, and were sat near a window to watch Illuminations. Service was very good! For dinner, we shared a couple of taquiza platters and for entrees shared two parillada La Hacienda platters. Wonderful!! The chicken was not dry at all, beef cooked perfectly and the chorizo, delicious! The sides that accompanied this platter were fabulous!! Definately would recommend this restaurant!!
We have had a DVC membership since 1998 and we have come to the conclusion that unless you want to spend every vacation at Disney World it is not worth it. We have tried to get into Hilton Head with no luck, we tried using the time share exchange with no luck, most recently we tried to go to the newest resort in Hawaii, again no luck. Once you buy into this, the only option that is available is Florida and usually your home resort. I got so fustrated that I sold my points for the last two years through a third party, which was totally hassle free, and used the money to go elsewhere. When you talk to member services they just tell you sorry there is nothing they can do and they even admit that Disney has oversold their timeshares and it is very difficult to get a reservation into a location besides your home resort or other DW resort. So unless you have very small children and plan on going to Disney every year, spend your hard earned money elsewhere, this timeshare is too expensive to be so restrictive!
I love roller coasters and my boyfriend told me to ride this with him. To be fair, he's done it before and loves it so much he would do it everyday. I, on the other hand, hope to never have to even be near it again. I felt so sick about 20 seconds in and could barely move for a half hour afterwards.
We dined at Yachtsman's Steakhouse November, 2013 for the first time. In a word, Outstanding! We were on the Deluxe Dining Plan, so enjoyed several courses, and each was wonderful. We all ordered the surf and turf (5 of us) and were very pleased with our meals. We had an array of appetizers; the artisenal cheeses, shrimp cocktail, charcuterie tray, Caesar Salad and Chef's Garden Heirloom tomatoes. All were simply wonderful!! Desserts were fabulous as well. We did wait about 30 mins after our ADR time, but had drinks in the Crew's Cup Lounge. Service was excellent as well! Dinner for 5, with cocktails, was $538.00. Pricey, but a great bargain if you're using the Deluxe Dining Plan. Highly recommend this restaurant!
We just got back from WDW... we were there from 11/6- 11/12, stayed at POR with Magic Bands and FP+. We absolutely loved the whole system. I was little apprehensive before we left, reading so many negatives but everything worked so well all week. We had no problems with our bands and the MDE app was wonderful to change attractions/times when we needed to. Wait times posted on the app were always accurate to the actual times of the rides. It is so much easier having a Magic Band. Not having to go through my bag every time we enter the parks. No paper fp's needed. So much easier when paying for any kind of food on the dining plan whether it was quick service or table service places... You just scan your band and enter the 4 digit pin, we thought that was great! I am REALLY looking forward to returning in November 2014 and using the Magic Bands again... they were truly wonderful from beginning to end! They are also comfortable on the wrist... I know a lot of people were concerned about the comfort of them but they really fit nicely and as the week went on, they got more even more comfy. My Magic Plus gets a BIG thumbs up from us!
Inconvenient, dated, royal rooms are not worth it. The food court is a far walk and then a madhouse when you get there. The busses are long. The royal rooms have a few extra frills but are tiny and not worth the price. The grounds and the main pool are great. That is the only positive I have. Would not stay here again. I would stay out of the park at a nicer hotel than this resort
We just used Magic Bands for our trip from 11/8-11/11. They were comfortable to wear (we tore off the grey portion so that we could wear them without the extra portion of the strap being bulky) and were very convenient - it was nice not to have to pull out paperwork at every turn and very nice not to carry both an Annual Pass AND a Key to the World card as our room key. The bands worked great everywhere - at MCO for Magical Express, as our room keys, Annual passes and a way to charge to our room. I had one small issue on the first day the first time I tried to buy something when the Cast Member said the register indicated I'd reached my charging limit for the day (??) but that got fixed quickly. It was nice to take with me during the Wine & Dine Half Marathon - normally I need to take my KTTW and AP, this time I just wore the band, which was perfectly comfortable.We had FP+ for 2 of the days of our trip and only ended up using 2 of the 6 passes we booked but it was nice to know we had them without having to physically collect them. The website is still buggy but is getting better. I had a hard time with booking some FP+ for some of the days for an upcoming trip but that seems to be working itself out slowly but surely.Overall it's a nice thing to have but not something that I feel made my trip a ton better. Having said that I'm definitely a fan of having the bands.
Recently I went to Epcot and saw Captain EO just to pass time before our fast pass time for Test Track. Hey, It was produced by George Lucas so it was ought to be good. Oh we were so wrong. It was literally torture to eyes and ears. Hooter was super annoying, as the movie went on the cheesier it got. Really stupid story line. My family wanted to leave mid-movie, while some people were yelling "Go Michael!" Are you serious? I wish we could've skipped this. Just walking around could've been funner. So happy they are going to permanately close this. It should've closed fifteen years ago.
Before I stayed here it had always been my favourite resort. It looked beautiful inside and outside! I couldn't believe our luck when we stayed here, it's very pricy but it's totally worth it!! When we arrived we where in awe of home amazing and beautiful the lobby was. The check in staff where friendly and when we checked in we had been upgraded to a garden view room! When we got to our room it was perfect! A billion times better than how I thought the room gonna be. The layout, the design, the colours -everything was perfect! Even the view from our patio was perfect -we could see stormalong bay, crescent lake and of a night we could see the fireworks from EPCOT.I love everything about this resort, some people will moan about it not having a food court but it's only a 2-3 minute walk tops to the Beach Club marketplace where you can get a variety of food and also at the Yacht Club the Captains Grille is one of the best buffets on property and every time I've been it's never been crowded or loud. Also it's just a short walk or boat ride to the Boardwalk and it's within walking distance to EPCOT and DHS. At night there is a campfire and movies on the beach.Although a lot of people think because the Yacht Club is boring because it's grey in all honesty it's the complete opposite -I sat in the Beach Club lobby and it was so loud with kids screaming and crying, where as at the Yacht Club you got none of that! It's so serene and peaceful!Likes:The Cast MembersThe atmosphere and whole hotel in generalThe poolsThe views at hotel and around it. The closeness to EPCOT, DHS, the boardwalk and the Beach Club marketplace The hotel shop has a lot of stuff they don't have in the parksThe bus stops at the Yacht Club first so your kinda guaranteed a seat lolNegatives:None!I was a huge fan of the Yacht Club before I ever stayed there and after staying there I'm now hooked lol. If anyone wants or needs additional information then you can always message me :)
I got everything set up in advance just fine but getting the times just right for our FP+ did take some time. Once we were on site everything with redeeming FP+, charging and dining plan credits worked fine. Changing the FP+ times if needed was useless when trying to do it on our iPhones the app ran way too slow or would just give us errors. Our major issue was getting into our room. The first time my husbands band stopped letting him into the room. Thankfully all the other bands still worked. Our next to last day I came back to the hotel with my 2 year old so he could take a good nap and stay up through Fantasmic that evening. I have 2 bands and 3 KTTW cards on me. Not one worked to enter the room. This was really stressful as I needed to get him down for that nap. With my son if he gets overtired he crosses over to the hyper zone and nap will not be happening. There was a housekeeper a few doors down and she was very nice and got a manager to come out to the room and let me in and yes my son got his nap and we all were able to enjoy Fantasmic.
Ok, so if you are reading this trying to figure out whether you should stay here, you need to take 2 different things into consideration. The hotel experience itself and the location. I will cut these into 2, and tell the pros and cons of each, and then you can make your own mind up...The hotel itself...it really is nothing spectacular. It does not look nice from the outside, and the inside really has nothing to do with Disney at all, except on the 4th floor. It is just like any other bland building. The problem with this is the amount of money you are spending to stay here. The place should be amazing and immaculate. Well not only is it not impressive visually, but the cleanliness of the place is deplorable for the price. The rooms are not cleaned well, the balconies have tons of bird droppings and cobwebs everywhere, and they are not taken care of in any way. I will say that the rooms themselves are nice and the layout is excellent. But from a cleanliness standpoint, it is really really bad. And if you complain, nothing changes. I have stayed here 3 times and had the same problems each time. Now after all of that is said, keep in mind, I have stayed here 3 times for a reason...The location is beyond perfect. It is the only place you can walk to the Magic Kingdom in like 7 minutes. And when you arent going there, the monorail goes firectly through your hotel and takes you right to where you want to go. It is so convenient that I overlook the downfalls everytime. There is a reason for this though. We as a family leave the hotel at 7am and do not return until at least 10pm every night. So we are never in the room. If we spent time in the room, we would never stay here. But since we only care about location, this is our place every time. A few other notes...this hotel has Chef Mickeys which is an amazing character meal. It also has the Wave, which is great for a breakfast buffet, and the California Grill, which is a top notch restaurant where you could watch the fireworks from at night. Those are all huge bonuses. So if you care about 5 stay hotels, stay away from here and stay at the GF. If you want location, this is your place!
Now it's just a lights show. Arguably one of the greatest rides in Epcot, if not the entire resort, has been completely scrapped and destroyed - and I mean completely. There are reviewers here who are saying all the props are gone, and they're right: all we have now are lights, lights, lights and obnoxious neon, and if it weren't for the actual track layout itself, you'd think you were on a whole new ride. And you are. Chevrolet and Disney completely missed the mark on this 'update'. It doesn't even live up to its name anymore - it's not about 'testing' cars, it's about designing some ridiculous contraption that none of us will ever see on a road, at least in our lifetime, and the actual test only forms a tiny section. Real cars aren't put through this anymore; I'd imagine that the whole design part of car testing takes up about 10% of the overall project, and that's what we have here. The old ride didn't need stupid designs; it put you right where you wanted to be: in the heart of the action, with a strong, relatable storyline. Now, with 2.0, it's harder to relate to, particularly for the older audience. It's too technological and trying to be too clever, and there's no story - what's the point in us, the riders? All we're doing is sitting in some SimCar that's going through a test. We're not experiencing anything. Sigh. The fact that the track is the same actually makes me sad, because it reminds me of what an incredible and unique ride this was. I just can't understand why Disney thought this needed an update; it was so fun, so unique, so worth the wait. Everyone seemed to love it. Now, I'm not even sure I'll ever ride it again. World of Motion would have been better than this.
Disney's Grand Floridian was great! It was in the prime location from the Magic Kingdom. A short monorail ride to the park and a short ferry ride back from the park. The pool area was ok, but the zero-depth entry was great for some of the little children around. The rooms were doable. If they were kept cleaner in-between guests' stay then I would be more satisfied. We found random balloons hanging from the ceiling when we got to our room. But, the layout was nice, it was spaced out to feel secluded but close enough together to feel like you are still a part of the magic. Overall, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa fell just short of maximum stars.
Well we were back again at the end of September, 2013 as I stated in my first review for a 60th Birthday celebration-mine. As was expected, the AS Music is a fantastic place to stay. We had no problems except I did have to wait 6 minutes for a bus to EPCOT once. I can not understand reviews that say they had a terrible stay at this resort, complaining about kids, noise, outdated rooms. I have been here when it was full and have never encountered any of the problems some people have complained about. The staff is top rate, the facilities are always clean and, oh yes, they finally fixed the clock poolside at the guitar pool. I encourage anyone who wants a great Disney experiance to try the All Star Music. You will not be disappointed.
After being unable to get an AP rate at my favorite resort, POFQ, my fiancé and I stayed at Riverside in May 2013. The grounds are simply beautiful - this is one of the most immersive WDW resorts I've stayed at (including 5 deluxe, 3 moderate and all value resorts, plus 2 DVC resorts). Be prepared to walk, though - it is a hike to get to many of the buildings (we were in 36) and it can be confusing. I'm pretty sure we didn't walk back to the main building the same way twice! We used the main bus stops each time because we were eating or shopping, but there are several bus stops throughout. In a fairly busy time of year (the weekend we went was extremely busy), we did not have bus problems at all. Food is good in the food court...about what you expect from a moderate (better than value, even POP). We didn't use the pool, but it was busy whenever we passed and had great ambience (including hammocks that we wish we could have used!). CMs were very friendly and helpful, and overall I'd say that POR became my second-favorite WDW resort (after POFQ). Just a great combination of theming, amenities and price (well, price compared to other WDW resorts...moderates were $99 a night with a pass holder discount just 4 or 5 years ago, now they're twice that, if you're lucky).
Wow...where do I begin...Part of our Disney experience was great dining, but this is the one DUD in the 21 meals we ate during the week. Food quality was poor, the condiment bar was a mess, garbage cans overflowing, cafeteria style was disorganized...I could go on and on. I cannot believe this meal cost me the same dining credit as Tony's Tavern or Sci Fi Drive in at DHS. Ouch - rethink this one.
It's a classic I never could miss it! I saw some people going as fast as earthly possible and people like me doing a fun ,but calm ride.
My Family used the Magic Bands this past Sunday at the Halloween party. We were there only one day, but we had zero problems. From the time we got them in the mail (the day after we ordered them) they worked perfectly with the room (Garden Wing at the Contemporary) and had no problems with our fast pass reservations. Plus it is really cool to see the light turn green. They are fast and convenient especially toting around a 4 year old. I do believe most of the negative press is, people fear change. I implore everyone to take a deep breath and relax. Life is change, it happens. Some for the good, some for the bad, but change happens. I really think everyone is going to be happy with the bands going forward, my family and I loved them and I think you will too.
Small Word is one of the most famous Disney rides.But the song is annoying and the dolls are a little creepy.But it's 2 year old paradise. There was a little girl in front of me that was dancing and was looking all around in awe!Even though I'm not 2 I still like it.
Saturday MK Check in using magic band, had issues that they had us booked multiple times with multiple rooms and to many people, but it got worked out. FP+ worked fine, except BTMR was broken and CM wasn't able to give us a FP as we had FP+. Directed us up to the kiosk that he said was near liberty bell area. Unable to find kiosk, asked another CM in Christmas store, after 10 minutes she told us that it was next to the shooting arcade in the tunnel, and it was. The system told us to use our FP+ for HM, MI, POC, Buzz, speedway, BTMR, Splash, or Space mountain, up to park closing, but it would not be valid for EMH's. The system also sent an email to my yahoo account, but I do not carry on vacation at WDW. Sunday DHS and MK FP+ for TSMM was very nice to have. Monday AK and MNSSHP Cancelled our ADR for today on Sunday, because it with FP+ makes things to rushed, and pressured. Tried here and now on MM+ application, works on Ipod, fails Samsung android devices. Tried multiple times thru the day same results. Tuesday DHS and DTD Tried here and now on MM+ application, works on Ipod, fails Samsung android devices. Tried multiple times thru the day same results. Even after verifying Andriod was up to date, and MM+ application was also. Did an uninstall and reinstall, same results. MM+ messed up when going to view FP+ times on smartphone. Had DW showing she used all her FP+'s already although we had only been in the park 20 minutes. Had to go to the kiosk area in the front of the park, were it took 30 minutes for them to get it straighten out. It took them 4 of there own mobile pads before it would read a band. They said they are having serious issues with MM+ application. Oh and straightened out means that our original FP+ time was no longer available, and made planning to get to the next FP+ selections feel rushed and pressured. Wednesday Epcot All 3 FP+'s worked without a hitch today. Thursday DHS and DTD Used FP+'s for RR and TOT. Did not use our third FP+ that day, but figured we would see what other attractions we could swap it for, but MM+ said nothing was available. Friday AK Used 2 of our 3 FP+'s, one for EE, and the other for Dinosaur. Tried to alter the third that was for Kali, but MM+ said there were not options available. Saturday MK Used all three FP+'s for BTMRR, SM, and HM. Also got a paper FP for buzz. Notes We purchased PP+ and the band does not work for attractions or character meets (this was also on their website in the FAQ area). We did loose pictures that we put on the band, and reverted back to the PP+ card only. Also when we mentioned this to one of the photographers he said the bands don't work most of the time for the pictures, even though it makes mickey go green. Also we wound up having pictures that were not ours. If you decide to try and change you FP+ option for a park that day, it seem to fail most of the time. Heard others discussing this also. The WIFI signal is not equal across all devices, our Samsung had low db, but an Ipod had better db. The WIFI signal db in the parks, etc… needs to be enhanced greatly if it is going to be usable. My magic band never got comfortable, but I am a big guy, and have 8.25" wrists. As far as I am concerned the band is a solution looking for a problem, or is a great idea without any merit. Just stick with the cards with an RFID chip. Also they will gladly sell you a "band securer" for $5.00 because the bands pop open a lot according to them. $2 billion on MB/MM+/FP+, and still the yeti is broken, the sign at the bizarre is frozen, the captains projection system at POC is broken, and the mermaids, look nothing like mermaids anymore. Lights are still burnt out all over the place on property, refrigerators are now not in the rooms except for special cases. Main pools are closed when life guards are not there. I'm thinking they need to spend money wiser.
We just returned from a 10 day, 9 night stay at Disney's All Star Movies Resort using the MyMagic+ and FastPass+. I went in expecting to love the new system even though there are some who do not like the idea, but I came out of the experience loving every minute of the deal. I set our FP+ up for mid to late day and we arrived first thing each day to whatever park we wanted to start out at and received a literal "walk-on" for every ride. Then we had the FP+ for later in the day. The MM+ experience was pretty neat, although not many attractions use it to single you out by name, yet. The big advantage was the MagicBand. This was so much simpler than carrying around a room key, cash, and credit cards for every single thing we wanted to purchase, or to get into the room. I will definately do the whole MM+/FP+ thing in the future!
Happened to be looking at my Disney account online and noticed the MagicBand and FastPass+ options were available. I was not notified in advance. So I customized and it showed up in the nifty box about 30 days out. Also did advanced online check-in. One thing about picking FP+, you can't really view and pick times at first. Just pick one of the suggestions then you can go back and pick times you really want. I wore the band for a few days to break it in and it was never a problem during the trip. But I'm usually wearing some kind of wristband anyway. Be sure to have it when you check in to the resort. When I checked in to Pop I told the CM I did online check-in and all I had to do was touch the Mickey, wait for green, and enter a pin for purchases. The pin I entered online during early check-in didn't take but re-entering took about 2 seconds. The friendly CM handed me my packet, a KTTW for backup, and a map showing me where my room was and I was out of there in about 10 minutes. This was about 6:30 PM. Minor issue #1: The door was recessed and I could not get the MB to open the door. So I used the KTTW to get in the room. After I packed I went out and practiced a bit and figured out quickly how to get my wrist in there. I didn't have to use the KTTW for my room again. No problems getting into the parks. I had used the new entry points before with my AP and it wasn't a problem then. A lot of guests were confused about how the MB/fingerprint sequence worked and most of them wouldn't skip to the second station when it was open. But the CMs were there to wave them up. I did see a few guests go through without getting double greens. I'm all Windows so I didn't have a device to change or view FP+ while in the parks. I typed my reservations manually in OneNote. I did use my Windows tablet in the room Sunday night to make changes for a Monday Epcot run. I was able to get a Test Track for 10AM and Soarin' for noon. Went to Soarin' just after 10AM and the MB didn't go green. The CM told me I could go over to the Soarin' desk and they would check for me. I looked at my OneNote and, yes, my 10AM was Test Track, not Soarin'. Doh. That was the only FP+ issue I had and it was my fault. I was also double-dipping like a maniac at all parks with the old paper FPs. The MB worked on Test Track design as well. It usually doesn't work for me with the KTTW. Minor issue #2: The point of sale devices were not easy to use. But I got a lot of practice at Food & Wine and had the 'wrist roll' technique down by the second day. I only saw one point of sale machine down and I only had to use the KTTW once. The ones that worked the best were at some of the counter service restaurants that had them hanging vertical at waist level instead of sitting on a level surface. That made them easier to use and it didn't require the 'wrist roll' technique. I gave the process a 9 just because of the point of sale being slightly tricky. Food and Wine was a really good test for this and it passed with flying colors.
It had fire water cars chasing each other. In the back I still could smell the burnt rubber from the tires.They explained how they did it very well.They even lite a man on fire. It's not for small children there was a little girl behind me freaking out because she thought the man one fire really was on fire and was worried.
We were just looking for a quick place to stop before our fastpass, so we decided to stop at ABC to get a burger. They have just average burgers and fries, but because we got the meal plan, we got a dessert with our meal. We got a cupcake, a parfait, and a chocolate mouse. They were so good, we expected a crappie cupcake, but it was really flavorful. The frosting tasted like sherbert, and the carrot cake was great. The parfait and mouse were creamy and delicious. This place should just be a dessert shop!
This show was full of stunts and had that Indy feel. You know a shows heavy-duty when they have three stages in one show! A great rest from walking all day, and incorporated a lot of fun stunts. it was better than Lights, Motors, Action, because of the variety of stunts. It had car stunts, physical stunts ( punching ,kicking, acrobats), fire ( how can you do a stunt show without fire), and good use of interesting sets. A must see!
Our family loved the Star Wars movies, so this ride was our favorite of all the rides at Disney. My little sister and my dad both get sick very easily, but this ride was fine for both of them. It truly does have different clips that they put together, so we got completely different experiences each time we rode. My sister and my mom both got chosen as the rebel spy, and that really made their day. If you liked the Star Wars movies, you will love this 3D adventure!
This was my family's first visit to WDW as a group. We absolutely loved the ride, even though some of the old gangster movies weren't really known by any of us. Our guide had a great personality, and even though we were in the back we could always hear her. The only reason I gave this a 9 instead of a ten is that little kids probably won't know many of the movies, but it is still enjoyable.
We enjoyed the character interaction, but waiting for the individual characters to come around made our dinner awkward. We wanted to go back to the buffet but we were afraid we would miss a character and there was no way we were going to wait until they circulated again. So it was that torn feeling of "should we go now & possibly miss the photo op?" or "let's just wait a few minutes more & hope they get here". So, our whole dinner was a bit awkward and timed badly. The food was ok, but nothing I am dying to try again. Our server was nice, but at the end when we wanted to pay our bill, she completely disappeared for over 20 minutes. I understand that with a buffet a server isn't going to give you as much attention as they would if they are bringing meals out to you, but it seemed like after she brought our drinks, we never saw her again. The experience was ok but absolutely over rated.
The new TT is a total let down. The old one was much better. All the adults and kids with our party were very disappointed. It was not designed with children in mind. The coolest part about the old wait line was all of the sounds and crash dummies. Now it's just a line. The ride itself was boring and unmemorable. I don't know what Disney was thinking.
i understand why a lot of lovers of the (now pop-culture-extinct) crash test dummies are miffed at change; however as someone who works in technology, I feel like they've better captured the spirit of engineering and help to explain (especially to young guests) all the tradeoffs that go into designing a new product. Yes the queue could use more scenery beyond the chevy ads and interactive kiosks, but it's definitely less boring than the Soarin' queue. My only gripe is that while the elements of science are alive in the refurb, there's really not enough "story" to tie it all together. I had heard that they toyed with a legit Tron concept briefly but opted for this more "tron-inspired art direction" approach instead. Too bad as that could have really added a more cinematic/story-driven feel to everything. The ride itself is great! huge grins on everyone in our car, especially once you get outside. Definitely worth a fast pass to avoid the long lines.
I stayed at the Contemporary from 8/5-8/8, and MyMagic+ was a huge factor for getting on rides quicker. For instance, when Pirates of the Caribbean had a 45-minute Stand-By (and no regular Fastpass tickets were being distributed) we got on in 5 minutes instead. Also, we booked a room in the Garden Wing of the Contemporary, but instead we got to stay in the main tower with a great view of MK with no additional charge, and I suspect it was because of MyMagic+. Also, we didn't have to run out, get a Fastpass, and then come back in an hour. Instead, we planned what rides to choose from weeks in advance so we knew what we doing that day. I give it a 9 because of bugs, but they only helped us. For instance, on the day we went to Animal Kingdom, we had Expedition Everest first thing in the morning, and we got to the entrance of the queue line around 20 minutes after the Fastpass expired. But thankfully, the scanner still let us through. I'm not sure if Disney intentionally gave us grace time, but whatever way it is I'm thankful for it.
Beach Club: Deluxe concierge room We arrived at the Beach Club about the time I noted in the reservation and a lovely young lady, also from Pennsylvania, was there to greet us at the front door. She led us to the concierge check in desks on the 5th to check into the room. Check in went pretty smooth-due to the Magic Bands I needed some guidance on how to pick the times for the Fastpass + selections. After a few minutes, our CM had me cruising through the My Disney Experience like a pro. Once I figured out that you could adjust the times for fine tuning, it was a breeze. After completing the check in, she walked us down to our room on the 4th floor. It was all of the way at the end of a long, winding hall, but the only request I made with concierge was to have a large balcony because my dad loves to sit outside. It had an amazing balcony and a fabulous view of the quiet pool. The room itself was spacious with a seating area and two comfortable beds. There was plenty of room for our clothing in the closet and drawer wise. Room was adorned with a ceiling fan, couch, coffee table, cabinet with mini fridge, writing desk with lamps, small dresser below television with 4 drawers, taller dresser with 4 more drawers, night stand between beds, iHome alarm clock, a wall mounted shelf next to 1 bed (nice touch for those of us with glasses!) DVD player and of course a medium sized flat panel television. Linens were soft and the bed was comfortable. We phoned housekeeping each morning to let them know we were leaving the room so they could come clean. Each time we came back the room it was made up and nap ready for my mother. A mid day break is most enjoyable to us, especially since you feel like you are spending more time in the room aside from sleeping and using the rest room. Although quiet pool may not be the best way to describe the folks that swim there because there were a few times when people needed to use their inside voice! It was a refreshing cool down for those mid day breaks and the hot tub was a nice way to unwind after walking at night. The Stone Harbor Club was great. Tasty snacks available throughout the day with more hearty appetizers and beer available in the late afternoon. It kept hungry stomachs satisfied till dinner. I do not think we will get the concierge next time, even though the service is extra special and the SHC is well stocked, we just do not need the extra food and expense. We generally eat three squares a day, although the beer and water were great because we had not visited the grocery store. I think we will be able to save some money next year opting out of the concierge service. I did love the deluxe room size though! The staff was great and did not have a problem getting us a couple bottles of water. My only complaints would be the size of the bathroom. It was very tiny in relation to the size of the room, but the vanity had a shelf beneath and two sinks to speed up the morning beautification process. The television cable hanging down was rather tacky, but not going to split hairs over it. I am already angling to coming back to the Beach Club next year. Since we spend so much time at Epcot it is so nice to be able to walk a short distance to the International Gateway and be on your merry way. I also enjoyed being close to DHS because normally we drive there, but being able to take the boat at least once was a relief. I think we will be staying there at the end of the trip next year! Besides, how do you not love Stormalong Bay?
Le Cellier is the hardest restaurant to get into on Disney property. We waited for months on a waiting list and made a special trip when our name came up. We live in central FL so easier on us than others. The atmosphere was not what I expected at all. They pack too may tables in a relatively small space. This makes for a very loud dinner. We were put next to a large family with several small children so it was even worse for us. Other than being crowded & very loud it does sort of look like a wine cellar. The cheddar cheese soup & pretzel bread sticks are to die for but you don't wait for months to get great appetizers. We were there for the steaks. We both had the house special, “Le Cellier” Mushroom Filet Mignon. Both were cooked as ordered (rare & med) but flavor was average. My first thought was I can cook a steak this good. It wasn't that it was bad but also not like I would expect from a premium steakhouse. Bottom line, the atmosphere was lacking and the food was good except for the steak which was only slightly better than average. If you are visiting Disney and want a good steak, go to Shula's Steak House in the Dolphin Hotel or Yachtsman Steakhouse in the Yacht Club Resort. Both have superior food without the hassle.
My DW and I were at the world from 10/6 thru 10/13 and were able to use the bands because we started at AKL. The bands as far as I am concerned were a huge hit and very convenient. The only issue we had was they did not open our door at AKL, but we never went down to correct because we still got the keycards also. When we moved over to WLV the bands worked get on the door. I liked being able to do the fastpass+ and not having to run all over the park to get them. The rest of our family showed up on Wed. 10/9 when were at WLV and did not have the bands so we were back on regular fastpasses and it was kind of pain having to go from end of the park to the other to get a fastpass. The only thing I did not like was not being able to use Fastpass+ at different parks since we have the park hopper option. Other than the door at AKL we never had an issue with them, they even worked at the ME when we arrived at MCO. Loved not having to dig out our room key or park ticket. The bands were even used for our Photopass and since our photopass is tied to the email address I did not even have to load up a code all of sudden the photos were there. I have to give Disney some big time kudos for the new system seems to be working pretty good.
We were very hesitant to try Coral Reef due to the inconsistent reviews we read, but decided to give it a try to judge for ourselves. Glad to decided to not listen to others, as this was mine & my husband's favorite meal of our entire trip. We requested a table near the tank and we were so excited when we actually got one! Others have complained about getting a table near the tank and having kids hanging around their table to look at the fish, but we did not encounter any of that. There seemed to be few small children there at all. The decor was breathtaking...every detail was perfect. The food was delicious and everything was done exactly the way we requested. My small complaint is about my drink...seemed to have no hint of alcohol whatsoever. For the price I paid, I'd at least like to have known it had something in it. My big complaint was with our server. She was EXTREMELY pushy with trying to make us get drinks, appetizers, add ons to our meal, etc. We encountered this nowhere else on Disney property. She wasn't just suggesting...she was aggressively pushing. We were on the DDP, so I knew we would have to pay for our 2 drinks, and a tip. I had it calculated in my head what my approximate OOP would be and when our bill came, it was $20+ more but we were celebrating a birthday, and had somewhere else to be, so we didn't quibble about it and just paid it. Come to find out, on our last meal of our trip at another restaurant, we didn't have enough table credits. After investigating this at our resort later that night, it turns out that the server at Coral Reef billed us for 6 dinners instead of the 4 that we actually used. Our resort took care of the issue, but obviously couldn't reimburse us for the OOP expense we paid to our server at Coral Reef. Wish I had her name, but I didn't keep track of it. Despite that experience Coral Reef is most definitely on our list to visit again. I refuse to allow the poor service of one in particular server sour our memory of this meal, because it was truly a wonderful one. Give this place a try...you will not regret it.
I like the progress of this project and cant wait to check it out for myself. I believe from what I have heard already that this will be an amazing experience for anyone staying at the resort. I do hope that Disney realizes as I did, while visiting the Magic Kingdom tonight that when I looked over from the Monorail platform towards the Villas at the Grand Floridian as well as the rest of the resort that the "Show Lights" are burned out all over. I think this is a maintenance issue and should definitely be addressed before the newer part of the resort sets to open. The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is an icon of the Walt Disney World Resort, it is located on the Seven Seas Lagoon with views from the Magic Kingdom this resort deserves to be noticed. THESE LIGHTS HAVE REGRETTABLY BEEN OUT FOR AWHILE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED TO "SHOW READY" QUALITY.
It was great for any restaurant!!! All the lunch entrees, apps, and desserts were great but the pot roast was incredible!!! (Clam chowder, lobster & crab dip, pot roast, salmon salad, bbq chicken flatbread kids meal, raspberry sorbet, cappuccino, & double esspresso)($100).The service was perfect as well! Coming from Boston, the prices were reasonable and the ambiance was really cool and had real New England charm about it! I would say this is a must eat if you visit the Magic Kingdom.
As an icon of the Magic Kingdom, this ride packs twice the punch. You get two tracks that are the same, but mirrored (Alpha, right turns are left turns, Omega, left turns are right turns.). The bad thing is the wait. During peak times, wait times are over an hour, and Fast Passes are almost sold out. If you go first thing, wait times aren't that bad, only 15-25 minutes. After refurbishment (2009) made ride experiences better because you don't have to get squeezed, and getting squeezed stinks. This is a must.
Overall I thought the experience was mostly positive. What I liked the most was the ability to change attractions, times or even park on the fly. Did this a few times both on the app and at a kiosk. Each time it was a relatively easy process. Another good feature is that if an attraction goes down you have the option to go to another fp+ attraction with openings without having to do anything. Only catch is that you have to monitor your selections via the app. If their is a way to get text alerts if an attraction goes down I didn't notice it. Even though I still like the key to the world card as a souvenir it was nice not having to reach for my wallet whenever I went back to the room. My biggest issues are that you can only select 3 attractions per day and that you can't select attractions in different parks. Minor issue with the readers. Seemed like there was no room for error. If I didn't hit the sensor dead on I had to adjust the band to match up perfectly. Just like some tv sensors are very touchy with remotes. Would I do it again if asked, sure. Would I pay for it, NO !! If the reported costs are true the money would've been better spent on park maintenance and new attractions. Not crazy about the idea of fast pass machines totally disappearing. My 7 rating can easily be made a 9 with some minor tweaks.
.....and definitely not Tex-Mex. We just had our second dinner-time visit (first being 2012) ...and the food continues to be amazing. From the appetizers to the desserts, the chefs have been able to 'turn up the volume' on flavor and food prep style. The menu choices are items that I would describe as being found in a Mexico City upscale restaurant. The presentation / plating of the food also lends itself to that description. My wife had the Ensalada de la Hacienda (which is a spinach salad with crumbled queso fresco, chopped tomatoes, pomegranate , toasted pignoli (pine nuts) and avocado with mustard based vinaigrette dressing). It's the ONLY salad my wife has ever ordered where she doesn't ask for the salad dressing to be served "on the side". It fits SO well with the dish, and is THAT good, that it belongs ON the salad and makes it something she waited to have again. If there was only one reason for us to go back there ...it would be for her to have that salad. The menu seems to evolve with time, and may continue to do so in the future. I say this because when dining there last year ...the waiter offered an "off the menu" entree item because the chef is trying to "mix things up". It was a grilled pork rib-eye ..with a spicy pineapple salsa ...topped with tempura battered shreds of red cabbage. It was off the charts delicious ...and perhaps the most tender piece of pork I've ever had. I had hoped that it would make the "final cut" of standards on the menu (keep in mind that when we ate there last year ...La Hacienda was still fairly new). This year there is a similar dish on the menu (which I ordered) ...and it's very tasty ....although I suppose my sentimental side wishes they had kept the dish I had the opportunity to test-taste. The service was very good, .....both times we've dined there the servers have been wonderful. It can be a bit noisy inside due to the tile floors and the high ceilings, and it is a "family" restaurant ...so there will always be the 'child factor'. Drinks are good. Had a flight of tequila with my appetizer ...and was pleased that the waitress was able to give a bit of info on each of the three selections. My wife had a one of their classic margarita's and it was perfectly made, as usual. Prices are a bit higher than last year (2012) ...but I've noticed a $2 increase in mostly all entrees at all the table services restaurants we've just visited Definitely on my list of "do again"
Preface: DW and I celebrating our 15th this past week and we were asked to test. I was not interested in it but the DW was so we said ok. Here are our thoughts: Customizing the bands: no big deal here just log in pick a color and name for each of us and 3 days later we have our fancy bands in their fancy box. Getting excited. Setting up FP+ reservations ahead of time: Since our APs expired the day before check in we couldn't reserve any until we showed up. (Big "Why?" here for Disney. I called (twice incase the first CM was wrong) and attempted to renew our APs over the phone so we would have valid passes and reserve our FP selections. We were told, twice, that they can ONLY renew our passes IN PERSON! I explained our FP+ issue only to be told they would have vouchers waiting for us if we liked but they could not renew over the phone. Big disappointment) Checking in: what should have been a quick process drug on for over 20 minutes. We were told our bands had been deactivated, the bands we have had for only a week and never used had been deactivated. We were told there was no way or reactivate them so they went to the back and got new bands. Ok, so this was really annoying and frustrating but I would expect this type of issue to be resolved by full roll out. Setting up FP+ while you're there: This was surprisingly easy and weirdly fun! After you make your initial selections you can go back in and modify individual attractions and/or times, THIS was a big +. We were no longer bound by a hard paper FP time. If our lunch took a little to long or we just didn't want to leave Tomorrow Land we could adjust our BTM time accordingly! I found myself massaging our FP times throughout the day so we wouldn't be rushed if we wanted more time elsewhere, again BIG +. Wearing the bands: I wear only two "jewelry" items, my wedding band and a watch, so I wasn't to excited about wearing something new. About day 2 the band really relaxes and you hardly know it is there. Redeeming a FP+: easy as can be. Tap, hold and when the light is green you're good to go! Final thoughts about it: IMO, Disney needs to up the entitlements to about 5, then loosing the paper FP is more palatable to me. Disney MUST improve their wireless! The park levels were about 3.5 all week and I had to keep my phone on 3G the whole time since the Dnetwork was so poor. I can't imagine what would happen during Christmas week. Disney needs to better educate folks as they approach the entrance on how to use the band, or even the RFID card, while entering the park. They could greatly reduce the bottleneck and long lines to enter if folks would just touch the band AND press their finger at the same time rather than doing one then the other. To many times you see the CMs telling folks "ok now do this, ok now do this". If they just posted some signage and told folks to do BOTH they could move us through faster :) Overall: pretty happy with the concept and hope they shake out the bugs before our December trip as I'd be happy to try it again.
I only rode this ride about 14 times on December 31 2007. It was great I hope Disney brings back the Wonders Of Life Pavilion. If they don't bring back WOL, then I hope they just bring back Body Wars.
I only got to experience it once but it was still a great show, it will be missed.
We returned this past weekend after a nice 10 day WDW visit. We were lucky enough to get in on the latest round of Magicband and FP+ testing. Here are some of my impressions, though overall I love the Magicbands and FP+. Magicbands were super easy to set-up and worked with our APs. We also had people who had no tickets and a mix of old no expire tickets. Linking through the website or apps was nothing. Those who didn't have tickets were able to purchase at the resort and have the ticket put right on the band. One thing we were told if you have old no expire or multiple tickets for one person, on link one, then use the remaining time then link the other. Sometimes the system doesn't know which to take days off of. The Magicband work pretty flawlessly for the room, park and purchases. Though the system is a tad slow at times, you have to hold the band and wait for it to read. I use RFID cards for work to access doors and they work instantly. It's not the case with Disney. Also sometimes the room doors require a few times. From talking to CM friends this is due to issues with the door locks and that not all locks have the same thickness of plastic which can have an impact on the RFID reader in the door. Purchases were simple, tap the band enter the PIN and done. Only had one time the machine didn't work. If you are poolside or at a restaurant they have mobile scanners that work the same, tap the bad enter your pin and done. Speaking of the pools, this is one of the best parts of the band. No longer do I need to worry about someone stealing my credit card, room key, ID when I'm in the pool. I got it all on my wrist. Same goes entering parks, no need to carry extra cards in my wallet. FP+ is amazing. The best part is being able to plan our day before we leave. No longer do we need to run around the park to get a FP then do whatever to kill time. Now we know where and when we have to be at a ride before entering the park and can plan the day accordingly. The app worked very well and it scheduled FP+ times around any dinning reservations. Other cool things are the new interactives that they are adding. Like the Pirates scavenger hunt in MK. You go to the little booth, you tap your band you get a map and you are off. If you are in MK do this at least once. The different interactive stations are really good and surprised us. It's so much more then a silly kiosk. We came across cannons that we set off, blow dart guns, explosions, again not cheap and not chessey. As I said overall the MagicBand and FP+ were great. They worked really well without any major issues. Besides the occasional not reading, the only other issue is the turnstile layout. Having them front to back was a silly design. If someone with a wheelchair, scooter, stroller get's hung up on the front turnstile you kinda block the behind turnstile and it gets a bit messy. Also it's a bit weird security wise at times, as guards at the resort wouldn't even scan the band when entering and would just let you through.
My wife and I stayed at the Boardwalk on our honeymoon back in 2002. We absolutely LOVED IT! The lobby, hallways, décor, etc. was beautiful. It truly felt like you were staying in a four-star luxury resort. The room was big and immaculate! The dining options were very good. Every morning we would walk down to the Boardwalk Bakery for a croissant and coffee, sit by the water and read the paper before starting our day at the parks. We would hop on a boat to go to DHS. We really liked how we could walk into EPCOT for dinner reservations. In order to go to the MK, we would simply walk through EPCOT and hop on the monorail. The ONLY drawback to the Boardwalk for me, since I have small children is that at the end of a day at the MK, you have to take a bus back to the resort. If you don't have small children, this isn't as big of a deal. If I didn't have small children, I would definitely consider the Boardwalk.
We have stayed at Coronado Springs Resort twice. The staff was wonderful. We stayed in the Cabanas last time in August for our 52nd Anniversary... A short walk to the Dig pool. I read some of the reviews and I am not sure we stayed at the same resort... I don't know what people are looking for.... We were on the Disney Dining Plan.. We ate breakfast at the Pepper Market. Our server was so great... The food was very good.. We had dinner one night at The Maya Grille... It was amazing. We enjoyed every minute of our stay. Our room was very clean, walking was great...I can't say enough about our stay. We have been to Caribbean Beach... Very nice, but I did like Coronado Springs better. We even had Gelato at Cafe Rix on our snack plan. Yummy.. When you stay at a Disney Resort you have to expect prices to be a little higher, that is why we took the DDP...
I really don't know where to start first because it impacts your trip on so many levels. I guess I'll start with the kids... We were lucky enough to be able to pre-order our bands, so I was able to pick colors. The kids LOVED that their bands were in their favorite colors...well, for the most part. DD4 is hoping they come out with a purple band, but blue was a good substitute. I even had one dad with another family jealous because I guess we were given more color options. I also like that I wasn't blindsided by it...as a number of families were given bands by surprise upon check in...and you only get gray if you're in that boat. You still got traditional KTTW cards "just in case." The first area we tested the band was the room- absolutely no problems getting into the room. I felt bad for the guys next door to us because they were not given bands and had problems with their door when using the traditional cards. Dining was a little more tricky. You have to get the band lined up just right for the scanner to read it, but once it does, it's super simple from there and I loved not having to fish out my card to pay for things. The band also helped streamline paying some too...we had family who were staying at the Dolphin with us at a number of meals and it definitely took longer for them to check out. We were not on DDP, but I'd overheard other people paying by dining credits and having no problems. I easily linked up our MNSSHP tickets to our online info prior to travel. I packed them just in case, but we had no problem getting in by just using our bands. It also let me book 3FP+s for that day because of the tickets. No problems whatsoever using them for fast pass at this point. The real problems came in when I linked in our regular park tickets. Our park tickets for our trip were complimentary tickets. I couldn't get them issued any place but Guest Relations. The first problem we ran into with them was that they only let us book 1 day of FP+...it told us we'd hit our limit and we couldn't book anything for any other days for which we had tickets. This forced us to use regular FPs on one of our days...meaning I had to rely on physical cards to issue FPs. You don't realize how much of a pain it is to fish out your cards until you get used to doing everything with your band. The other issue we had was park entry for the kids. DH and I were no issue, but apparently special tickets like comps show up differently and have a hard time reading children in the new system. So, we had a couple of times with park entry where iPad toting CMs had to help check us in. The system was such a mess at Epcot that it took about 20 min for us to get into the park since it was presenting issues for everyone. i.e. all of the readers were acting buggy. The BOG FP+ they're testing is AWESOME!!! The line was between 45-60 min wait, but we checked in at the beginning of our window (12-12:15), walked right up to the door, paid for our pre-ordered food with our band, found a table, and after a quick chk on our ticket- our food was served. I don't want to see them do this with all quick service, but at BOG- brilliant! The bands do get sweaty after a while, but I've heard powder can help. It's also nice that they're waterproof and can be adjusted down for a child's small wrist. The little slides and decorations are also cool + I love how your name is on the inside, so it's easy to see which band belongs to which person. All in all, I think the bands are a GREAT addition and would love a chance to use them again once they work out some of the little bugs we experienced.
If you're looking for a restaurant in World Showcase.. look no further. VN has exceptional food and service, as well as a relaxing and comfortable dining space. I would recommend coming here for pizza, however their entrees are filling and yummy! The character faces above the brick ovens are fun and add a charming element to the restaurant. My favorite pizza had arugula, prosciutto & melon atop it.. DELICIOUS.
We love this resort, it is what I call our Home away from Home. We have been going to the Pop Century with our kids since they were 6 years old or so and they are now 19 and 21. We all still love vacationing there. The rooms have always been clean and fresh looking the staff working there can not do enough for you. We always request extra pillows and towels and within 10 minutes of our call someone is at our door with what we asked for. When we leave the room for the day we always know we will come back to a nice clean refreshed room again. They always leave different shaped figures made from their linen supply and it is too cute puts a smile on my face everytime. We feel safe there and never worry about anything while we are there. Love it Love it Love it.
I'm gutted to hear this attraction is closing. It is a classic and something that disney can truly be proud of. It's classic 80's and would highly recommend going to see it before it closes!
love the Boardwalk. entertainment is fun, bakery is to die for, and the walk around the lagoon to beach and yacht club is within minutes. the accessibility to Epcot and Hollywood studios is simple and convenient My favorite resort by far
Been using them since 16th. No problems so far. Found it easer if you wear them with the ears towards you. Makes it more comfortable to hold it on the reader. Use the slider clip thing that comes with it to stop them popping open.
My family has used our Magicbands now for the past 2 weekends, each 3 day trips. The band isn't uncomfortable, but it makes your wrist sweat when you wear it. It's convenient to be able to wear it in the pool and be able to go up to the pool bar and get a drink without having to go to your chair and find your wallet. I like that a PIN # is associated with it so if you lose it you are still safe from someone buying items on your room. It tends to pop off when we hold our toddler and go to put him back down to walk. When paying around the parks with it, you kind of have to hold your arm in an awkward position to be able to line it up with the machines at the concession stands. I think a better idea would have been a ring because that way you can just bump your fist to the machine and you wouldn't have that awkward "my arm doesn't really bend like this comfortably" feeling. I don't think it gets you in the parks any faster. If anything, it tends to slow you down because you have to wait for the light to spin up before you place your finger on the reader. As far as fastpasses go, this idea is great. However Disney needs to allow you to choose fastpasses at multiple parks each day. I scheduled 3 fastpasses at HS at night and since we were going to AK during the day, I wanted to schedule 3 fastpasses there. But I couldn't since I used my 3 at HS already. If I could have scheduled my fastpasses at AK for that morning and HS that night, it would have made life a whole lot easier. Come on Dis, you sell Park Hopper passes, what's the point of allowing us to jump from park to park if you aren't going to let us schedule fastpasses for our entire day... Also, they should allow you to use your Magicband as a photopass so you don't have to find that little card every time you get your picture taken. We liked that when we ate at BOG for lunch, the staff could find us and serve us our food easily because we were wearing the bands. This could come in handy in the future for tracking down lost children. Overall it was a great experience and we liked the bands more than we disliked them.
Flexibility! Change FPS on the fly. Running late, use the phone and change them. Need adrs, look it up, change them. Only three fps per day, but that is all you need, the main ones. Park hopping is a thing of the past, fine by us. Is it too much planning, nope. one park per day and enjoy a dinner at a resort. We thought it would be a pain, but it really helped. For example, we have Fps for MK, switched last night to Epcot, and got all the Fps we wanted, plus you can change the times for each fp if it is not the time you want. The system gives you three attractions at three prearranged times, but if the times are not for you, just go to the app and change each one. Dont like your ADR, pull up the app and change it with availability of course. It is so easy to use the magic band to get into the parks, use Fps, food,, it is so much easier. Thumbs up! Anybody have questions, please fell to contact me at mickey2008.1 on here. And as for the new POLY rooms and longhouses, I will be posting pics soon in my trip report yet to be named, but the new POLY is awesome.
We used these bands from 9-14 of September and honestly, the only real problem we had with them is that we didn't like how the Main Street Electrical Parade Fastpass+ area was set up and managed. Yes, you had your bands scanned and was granted access but behind CM's backs, people were sneaking under the rope and pushing people and people's stuff out of the way to get a good spot and take pictures, or lied and said, "i'm just taking a quick castle picture" and then staying and inviting their family in. Good views, yes, but needs better management. Our bands worked (for the most part) at every entry point and every dining place we used them. At Kona Cafe, the server had to re-boot their scanner to get it to work with the bands. Now and then it wouldn't let us into the park but it was usually our error of using the wrong finger on the wrong hand (like using pointer on right instead of left - that type of thing). When it did give an error, someone was right over with their hand-held system scanning it. No problems using our fastpass+ reservations for the rides, the hotel explained everything we needed to know when we checked in. The app was very slow to load and froze up on my phone quite often as a result, it didn't matter if it was on wi-fi in the parks or mobile data, so I usually ended up going to one of the kiosks or our hotel to change times for the attractions. Used the fastpass+ for Wishes, was located in the rose garden and you had to be scanned and let in the gate to get in, which I liked! Great view, relaxing to sit/lay on the grass and watch it in a secluded area, less of a nightmare to get out of that small area, but once you were out of the gate, and they didn't care how long you took - then it was madness. Tips - make reservations for later in the day. I had figured that I would make them early and then that way I could get them out of the way and get the paper fastpasses for other rides, but we never really did use more than what we had and when we did use our reservations, there was next to no stand-by line early on. Bands weer not irritating, I didn't even know I had them on for the most part, no band tan even though it was very hot and humid, and really if it did, it would look no different than a bracelet or watch tan. Kind of convenient, we found. Better than making sure we had our key on us at all times, looking for it in our wallet, making sure we put it back where it was, didn't drop it, keeping an eye on our stuff at the pool and making sure we didn't lose the key when we got our stuff, etc.
The new version of test track is a total let-down. The build your own car section in the queue is cool, but once I figured out the ride is the same standard one for everyone set in a ridiculous lighting/set design that completely abandons its roots as a test vehicle, I was immensely disappointed. I think Disney needs to go back to the drawing board, and now that everyone has had their chance to ride it, good luck getting repeat visitors. What a let-down.
We were fortunate to get a lovely table by a front window, it was so cozy and felt like home:). Everyone really enjoyed the food. I was looking forward to this meal since I love all the traditional fixings for a thanksgiving dinner. I was worried with the heat that the last thing I'd want is mashed tots, turkey and stuffing. Once it was brought out, all those feelings vanished! The food was so good! They brought out gluten free rolls for someone in our party and the chef had come out before the food arrived to go everything. Dessert was out of this world, the vanilla bean ice cream had so much flavor and the warm apple cake underneath made the perfect combo. Overall- great food, great atmosphere, would go back!
Having stayed at Art of Animation if you we're not needing a family suite I would pick Pop as the best Value Resort. Everything is great, close to the main building. I love the food at the cafeteria. Nothing bad to say about it!!
Stayed in the Little Mermaid rooms with my wife. Thought the overall theming of the resort was excellent. If you are not doing a Family Suite I would probably stay at Pop Century just due to the proximity of the rooms from the main building. Everything else was great though.
Doesn't get much better than Le Cellier. I have never visited this restaurant without ordering their signature Mushroom Filet Mignon- and I don't think I ever will. It's that amazing that I don't need to look at anything else from the menu. Add a few pieces of pretzel bread and their Heirloom Tomato Salad (which is light and refreshing) and it's one of my all time favorite meals. In addition to amazing food, the service is equally as exceptional. Our waitress was probably the best server we were paired with during our entire 12 night stay. We also had a Tables in Wonderland Card that really pays for itself at this restaurant. Couldn't imagine a vacation in WDW without eating here.
Dined here in August and had absolutely no complaints. This was the only restaurant in the whole park that I had never eaten at before this last trip. I thought the ambiance was pretty and relaxing and our waiter was on top of his game. I ordered the cheese board as my appetizer and a cocktail featuring their signature St. Germain French liquor - which were both great! For my entree I had the Broiled Salmon. The presentation was different from what I was expecting, but the flavors were present and bold. It was also a great portion size. Over all, Les Chefs de France was a favorite from my trip.. and I will definitely be returning next visit.
A few notes about our MyMagic+, MagicBands, and Fastpass+ testing: Planning ahead of time was fun and overall, the My Disney Experience was fun and helpful. Though slow for a modern web application, the site gets the job done. My DW and I went in early September, the day after labor day. I forgot my MagicBand (MB) at home but was issued a new one upon resort check-in at Pop Century. Unfortunately, the front desk cast-member programmed my new MagicBand as my wife's MagicBand. So in effect we were both wearing her band. This was not a problem when paying for items, but always caused a stir when enterring attractions or redeeming fastpass+. A Guest Services cast member eventually got me a third new band, which was almost correctly (attractions, payment, etc worked fine, but couldn't enter hotel room like I could before.) Because crowds were light during our stay, the fastpass+ advantages were not immediately apparent. Worked well when needed. My biggest fastpass+ request would be to change to new attraction and new time in one action. (Currently you can either change attraction or change time. To do both requires lots of finagling. We took advantage of the Beauty and the Beast Fastpass+ option. That was a clear magic moment. A great use of the location tracker on the band, and the whole orderring/fastpass/dining process was outstanding. That restaurant also had the friendliest cast members of the whole trip. Though we had some hiccups with the replacement band (which yes, was my fault, they could have some stronger checks to make sure reissues work as desired), it is overall a great new and I think useful addition to the Disney Magic.
What a place! The decoration and seating were very comfortable. We had a reservation and were seated within minutes. Our waiter explained all of the menu options. as well as the specials and brought out our drinks. Appetizers: Bluezoo New England Style Clam Chowder was a thin soup, small amounts of bacon and potatoes and the homemade croutons. Tasty, and not your average "chowda" Yellowfin Tuna Tartare was diced pieces of tuna, with caviar and a spicy flavor. Very fresh and flavorful. Low Country Jumbo shrimp - a classic made even better. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and the okra and grits were just right. Two of us had the "Simpy Fish" with the warm crab meat sauce. Unfortunately, we don't remember the fish of the day, but it was so tasty and cooked perfectly. Filet mignon was ordered medium rare and was perfect. The "children's" portion was enough for 4 people to have large pieces of. Miso Glazed Mero was a unique dish that was as perfect as it gets. Very flavorful.
We ordered the Indian-style bread service appetizer with all 9 dips/flavors and all was spectacular! We even ordered more bread to finish the dips. Chicken and bison slow cooked was delicious! So tender and flavorful. Tandoori lamb was a huge tasty portion that can easily be shared. Tandoori shrimp was slightly spicy yet very flavorful. The view of the animals made it so exciting and fun!
We went for lunch, were seated immediately and introduced to our less-then-exciting-or-interesting waiter. We placed our order - fettuccine, cobb salad and children's grilled chicken - and waited 45 minutes for our order before my mother in law asked a waitress where our food was as we were watching people who came in after us receive their food. Within minutes, our order arrived, but it was quite obvious that the food sat for some time as the sauce on the fettuccine was pooled in the bottom of the plate and dry and the chicken cutlet was rubber and dry and inedible. Only the cob salad was good. It took our waiter 15 minutes before he stopped by the check on us and we told him how bad our food was. He merely shrugged and took the chicken cutlet away because we didn't want another made made since the other 2 in our party were nearly finished. We contacted the manager and explained our concerned and he seemed upset by it all and took the chicken off of the bill. We were still disappointed, but at least we didn't have to pay for what wasn't eaten.
we heard and read rave reviews about Le Cellier and were excited to try it out. While our service was good - had a main waitress and a trainee also - for a steak house, they sure did drop the ball. We had a reservation and were seated within minutes of arriving. The ambiance is nice, and warm and comfortable. We were greeted by all cast members nicely. Ordered drinks - $6.95 for a small pot of hot tea is a bit outrageous - dinner and desert. I ordered the filet mignon medium (warm pink center) and it came out well done. I attempted to eat it so as not to waste the food but was unable to. The waitress offered to bring out another, but at this point, everyone else was half done and I didn't want to wait, so they took it off of my bill. Desert was outstanding and the presentation of all of the food and deserts and drinks were impressive.
We always eat at Fulton's when at Disney and this time was no exception. The service was great and the dressing on my house salad was absolutely divine. I want the recipe. We got served and were on our way in no time but no one hurried us out. Fulton's is a tradition for us.
Usually Disney does everything right - unfortunately, the "new" Test Track is all wrong ! I assumed Disney would improve and upgrade the elements of the original ride. I assumed wrong. I enjoyed the "test car" experience. The new Test Track has nothing to do with a "test car" experience. The ride should be renamed "TRON" (that's what it reminds me of) - and should be avoided. I want the original Test Track back !
I stay here often. I usually stay for 10 days or more so first off the price is great for a long stay. Second, it is in the middle of the bus run when the buses do stop at all three resorts (like at park closings and early mornings). Early morning bus runs go to All Star Sports, and if the bus is not full they stop by Music for more people. Then on your way. Third reason - although i do not eat a lot at the resort, mostly grab and go breakfast, you are close enough to sports and movies to walk to their food courts. I am really a park person so i very rarely use the pools so cant really judge. Every visit I have found my room clean every day, lots of towels, soaps etc. The rooms are not huge, but often i go by myself or with one person or child so the room is big enough for the amount of time we are in the room. My main reason for staying at Music is the resort is not as huge as the moderates (have stayed in Coronado Springs, Port Orleans Riverside, and Caribbean Beach) and it seems like when you want to go to the food court you can have quite a walk, especially if you are on the other side of a lake. I would recommend it for a couple or couple with 1 child. maybe 2 small kids....but if you use the room a lot you might start to feel crowded
The ride was phenomenal. OMG. I went on a total of 10 times!! The ride is not scary so don't be afraid to ride. It's Dinoriffic!!!
We had a great experience with our magic bands and it definitely saved us time. 1 it was nice to use the band to open the room door and not have to fish for a key 2 it was also nice to use the band to pay for everything and not have to look for a key or money in my bag 3 loved not having to run to Rides after park opening for a fast pass. We set our fast pass in advance for all of the key rides and didn't have to rush or worry about getting to the parks early to run and get a fast pass 4 if we weren't going to make in time for the fast pass window we set we simply went into the my Disney experience app on my phone and pushed the fast pass time to later in the day. For example we were running late and knew we would not make our splash fast pass scheduled for 9-10 so we pushed it back to later in the day 5It was also easy to change ride selections. If we had a fast pass for pirates and it was only a 5 minute wait and we didn't want to use fast pass that we had set up in advance we simply went into the app and changed to fast pass for a ride that had a longer wait 6 LOVED the fast pass for the parade and fireworks it was amazing!!!!
Is there an example of a perfect ride? This may come close. There is absolutely nothing about this ride that isn't a themed part of the story or hokey looking. From the intricate yet derelict grand lobby to the library stuffed with TLZ trinkets, to the basement ride and giftshop its all perfect. In the lobby the tale starts immediately as you see that the elevators have suffered some accident, closed off and dented. you can also see objects from the last day of operation for the "Hollywood Tower Hotel" check in books with the 1939 date, rancid looking coffee/stains, unfinished games, cobwebs all over, mysteriously turned on lights as if to welcome you, as well as period lobby music. The music is full of jazz and happy songs that put an ironic eeriness in the room. They are complimented by their age and poor quality creating an abandoned feel even when the queue is full. It's designed to look like a crowded lobby with one huge upsettingly missing ingredient: people. Its all set up for them but they seem to have left in a hurry. Next is the library where you see props from the TLZ show. The intense scary feeling continues as your morbid hosts welcome you inside. A bolt of lightning flashes and an old tv flips on with the intro to the show. You see an episode introduction by Rod Serling and a dubbed over voice (its a scene from an episode edited to have the elevator in the back instead of a US map. Everything up until "This as you may notice is a....." is from the episode flawlessly integrated. notice the sudden scene change and how he doesnt appear again for a while). You are informed you will star in your very own TLZ episode and the background about the mysterious vanishing of two elevator shafts on the front of the building and the surrounding rooms. after they disappear withe the passengers, an elevator drops empty freefalling in open air. After the preshow its down to the basement where the only operating elevators still stand, the service elevators. Everything down here looks evil/industrial, with furnaces like angry faces ala roger rabbit ride. You move deeper and see the doors to the shafts, the elevator motors and the dial showing only 12 floors (obvi there are more by one look at the tower but there was a superstitious omission of floor 13 in many buildings of the time) as the cars before you go up you see the dial go up and the engine zap and sparkle until finally down it goes with a thud. the doors magically open to an empty car giving the appearance that its the same car and the people have vanished to the other dimension. The ride itself begins by surprising you, the door in front of you is only part of the shaft, instead you see it all moving before you. First stop a haunted hallway where through the magic of fiber optics and peppered ghost (maybe) you get quite a show. The ghosts of the passangers appear before you doing what they did as they got zapped. Suddenly they are zapped and fade like in the intro. The zapping of their out of place dimension begins to noticably effect the hall as the lightning zips up and down the doorways. you see the entire hallway vanish into the 5th dimension just as the towers did, all except the window which twirls in a vast star field until morphing into the one from the show intro and crashing to pieces falling into oblivion. silence, then your doors close on the vacant obviously-not-a-plasma-screen scene. (its 3d and you can look around because it really is there!) you shoot up the shaft as Serling comes back to announce your entry to the twilight zone. You reach the top and see that it was not just that floor effected but the whole tower's gone whack! Everything is from the intro of the show as you float out of your shaft EMV style across this bizarre landscape. You hear the little girl from the elevator as an eyeball flashes an image of your car and everything becomes stars that swirl and fade into a line that becomes too lines opening like elevator doors. You are informed you are entering an area "beyond the fifth dimension" and the "deepest darkest corner of your imagination in the tower of terror" which is the first and only name drop of the ride. Darkness as you stop waiting for what seems an eternity. then a bolt of lightning and down you go into the new randomly selected series of drops. Some of them sit in front of the old shaft doors (presumably you moved to near those invisible towers) opening to the air space created by their absence. This goes on faster than gravity (it moves with mechanics not freefall) till you hit bottom see the other seasons intro from the show and those who have made it are welcomed back and cautioned not to mess with what you don't understand. Even the exit of the ride and the shop is themed, creating a hollywood tower hotel giftshop with some neat hotel souvenirs too. All in all this is exactly what a disney ride should be. No hint of the outside world. No exposed backstage or ceilings unfinished. just fully natural, and real enough to be scary. Its got thrills, illusions, trackless systems, and a story. A must for any visit to WDW to see when thrills and imagineering are mixed right
RNRC is a Vekoma LSM launch coaster with 3 inversions. Of course with a disney Twist! Alone this ride wouldn't be much. There is one just like it in europe called X-press (formerly superman when it was Six flags holland). However the ride adds some pluses that make it more unique. And Aerosmith of course one of my favorite bands and this is how I found out about them. You meet the band in their Sound studio after taking a "tour" of Geforce records (where you see props and memorabilia) The band is in a giving mood and invites everyone to the concert they will be heading out to in a few minutes. They need to get you to the concert as fast as possible, and therefore they order a "super Stretch" limo. the next room you see an ally in LA (uh oh) but its ok because It seems to be a rich neighborhood. the ride vehicles are nicely themed '58 or so Caddy convertibles, that pull in fast from around the bend. As you climb in look for the little logos on silver plaques lining the "doorways". they're cute, and also for Rollercoaster enthusiasts, look at the little word vekoma printed on each wheel. the unique aspect starts immediately as you hear the radio blaring to life (sometimes startlingly) while you turn left into the launching part of the alley. You can see a cute traffic sign with some corney traffic reports like "All Lanes jammed so jam it!" You hear the band warming up on the live broadcast and then a countdown (sometimes) and the car peals out with a tire squeal. The ride itself isn't as well themed as the rest of it, but the music can make up for that. Playing Aerosmith songs like Love in an elevator, Walk this way, 9 lives, F.I.N.E. (F*cked up insecure Neurotic and emotional, yeah lets not say that in the park), and sweet emotion. (all cleaned up of course). they mix it up and sometimes play multiple song fragments. One of them says Love in a roller coaster at the end. The scenery is mostly plywood cutouts of famous hollywood landmarks like the sign, that donut shop, and a couple of street signs showing corkscrews and the location of the civic center which I guess is where the concert is. Its not usual disney level but to be honest it goes by fast and no one really expects animatronics on a rollercoaster cept for everest and thunder mountain and the matterhorn (ok im gonna shut up). It's the only inverting coaster in WDW and the only coaster in DHS. They did a better job with it than California screamin' and It has more inversions. I've also noticed at times like on most Vekoma coasters, It's hard to keep your head from bouncing back and fourth on the shoulder restraint but hey it kinda works with the music anyway right? Vekoma for people who don't know is a rollercoaster company responsible for all thos boomerang coasters that lift you backwards then drop you through some loops then reverse. (Sidewinder at hershey etc) and those SLC coasters like serial Thriller, Mind Eraser, That one at moreys pier, etc.
Ever wonder what life would be like if Dumbo was a triceratops? here's your chance to find out! It doesnt even make sense Why are the Triceratops' flying? I've seen rockets fly I've seen carpets fly I've even seen an elephant fly! But I'd think I'd seen about everything when I see a triceratops fly! They really gotta stop having the same ride in every park just different theming. They need to try some other ideas. They don't all have to be Hunny Hunt level or Carsland, just mix it up a bit!
Went for both breakfast and dinner and the characters were great. Just a shame the food was not as good. Considering it is supposed to be one of the better resorts the breakfast was not as good as in say Tusker house and the dinner somewhat limiting in choice.
There did not appear to be as much choice as we first thought. The atmosphere was loud and very cramped. The staff were not used to the dining plan and did not explain all the options until you tried to order something for the desert that turned out to cost two credits as opposed to one.
Have been twice whilst on the dining plan. Found there to be a good choice of food. The staff were great and the food good. Portion sizes are large and if anything that is the only complaint.
The served buffet breakfast to the table left little choice and if you didn't like it you went hungry. The speciality bread was a good if you liked that thing but if not there was no alterative. On a plus the character interaction was good.
Excellent service, food and interaction with the characters. Would highly recommend
For a deluxe resort both the quality of the food (luck warm and more than likely the day befores bagels and croissants) and the service left a lot to be desired. The server came across as rude and talked down to us as if we did not meet the standard of being there as we were staying at a lower value resort. Felt like they rushed as through as quick as possible
One of the best breakfasts we have had. Food excellent and a wide variety. Service and interaction with the characters good
Booked this under the dining plan in order to use all table services and was pleasantly surprised by the friendly service and the quality of the food. Good choices on the buffet and the entertainment was interesting!
Have just returned and once again could not go without a casey hot dog. Still tastes as good only they seem to be getting smaller
Just returned from 2 weeks stay on site and ate here under the dining plan for both breakfast and lunch. Good interaction with characters but had to wait quite a while at breakfast to see all of them. Good choice of food but would rate lunch better value than breakfast.
In an effort to maximize our experience, we ordered the "Six Course Meal", we were paying cash/not using the Disney Dining Plan. The food was absolutely beautiful. The service was wonderful. Then we tasted - UGH! Salt is NOT a substitute for flavor... Seafood Stew and Braised Short Ribs were the double main course. All we could taste was salt. Both dishes were inedible. (Important to note, I do like salty food, I'm not one of the 'no salt' types). My tongue literally seized up from the salt. This is where the service broke down, because when I explained the issue to the server, all she did was apologize... The bill for two people, including 1/2 bottle wine and iced tea came to over $200.00 - which would be fine if the food was any good. The following night we went to Wolfgang Puck's in Downtown Disney and had an outstanding meal... Steer clear of Kouzzina!!!
We were selected 8/3-5 for our AKL stay. We are also annual passholders. Before our vacation, we did not like the idea of having to wear a band and pick our fastpasses in advance, as we thought this would limit our flexibility. We opted to participate to find out for ourselves what the experience would be like, rather than remain critical in our ignorance. We ordered our MagicBands and selected our FP+ for our entire vacation week (we moved to the Poly after our AKL stay; we could not use the MagicBands for room entry or charging at the Poly, but the bands were still valid for our admission and FP+) Two minor complaints about wearing the bands: they can make your wrist sweaty, and can interfere with your ability to wear a watch or bracelet. My husband solved his dilemma by carrying his band in his pocket and taking it out when he needed to hold it against a scanner. PROS for wearing the band: No need to dig around for a KTTW card at park entry No need to carry KTTW card to the pool (band is waterproof) or fitness center or on a run No need to carry cash or credit/debit card if band has charging privileges We are planners and know which park we are going to in advance; thus, it was easy to make our FP+selections. PRO: No more early-morning sprint to the the fastpass machines for Soarin' or Toy Story! Stress eliminated ~ we knew we had a ride time. On a day we were running late, we simply logged into MDE and changed our FP+ times. When RnR went down, we received an email alert that said we could wait for the ride to become operational again and then ride it at a different time, or we could exchange our RnR FP+ for another Studios attraction. We waited for RnR (which was down only an hour.) CON: The MDE app is cumbersome and slow. We were also able to obtain paper fastpasses with our APs, so we realize we had the "best of both" this vacation. However, we were pleasantly surprised with the ease and convenience of MM+.
My family and I will be staying a PORS Sept 28th - Oct. 5... I was able to access the Magic Band customization and FP+ reservations approximately 45 days from when we were scheduled to check in. However, I noticed that I had to do an online check-in in order to be able to access the system. I am not sure if this is necessary or if it was coincidental. I customized the Magic Bands for my family and then started making FP+ reservations. Although I could pick attractions fairly easy, I didn't always get the times I wanted. However, once I made the reservations (close to the times I wanted) I exited the system and realized that I could go back in and adjust the times per attraction reservation. Bottom line, pick your attractions and then go back in a adjust your times to when you want. A quick note on the Magic Bands...it appears as though customization can be changed but must be completed by a certain date (30 days prior to check-in date). Once you reach the 30 day mark customization is no longer allowed and a message states that the bands are being prepared for shipping. Magic Band customization ended on the August 28th, and on August 30th I received an e-mail stating that the Magic Bands were on the way. That same day I came home and found the Magic Bands waiting for me, two days after customization ended. The Magic Bands had been shipped overnight via UPS. The bands were very easy to take on and off. Another tid bit of information is that there is a grey strip that runs along the outside of the band. The grey strip is on every Magic Band and can be removed in order to make the band smaller for younger children. I have two sons, ages 4 and 6, and removed the strip in order to get a better fit. It was easy to do. At this point I only have two minor disappointments: 1. I have been trying to make reservations for lunch at BOG because I read you could with FP+. However, whenever I try to access the system it states that FP+ is not available for the date I choose. I have tried for every day we are there just to see but still no luck. I am hoping as time gets closer they will update the system and I'll be able to make a reservation; and 2. I was hoping to utilize FP+ for Wishes and/or the parades but those options were never available. In reading other threads it appears as though they will only offer those reservations during busier times of the year. Maybe I'll get lucky and it will open up closer to time. Aside from these very minor issues everything seems great and I am satisfied.
Without doubt the best located hotel in WDW, if you enjoy the sights and sounds of Epcot. An easy stroll from your room straight into the world showcase, via the International Gateway, between UK and France. A slightly longer but equally easy walk in the other direction will take you to Hollywood Studios. If walking sounds too energetic then take the boat. Buses are provided to all other areas of WDW. The villas are very well appointed. I have stayed in both a 2 bedroom and studios. I would always choose to stay here if it is available. The one and only downside is the parking. Great if you want to use Valet every day, not great if you are bringing in groceries from the store or coming back late from the parks.
We have lost count of our stays in this resort. We have stayed at All Stars once and AKL three times, but Port Orleans is our favorite. There is nothing about this resort that we would improve. We are in good physical shape so the size of the resort and its grounds is not an issue with us. The grounds are incredibly beautiful and the water taxi that runs from POR to POFQ to Downtown Disney is a real bonus in our opinion. This resort gives us everything we wish in our Disney vacation but that may be due to the fact that we are more familiar with this resort. We have been at Port Orleans when some dance groups or cheering squads have also been guests, but we have never had a negative experience with any of these groups. The food court offers a wide variety of choices beginning with breakfast all the way up to closing time. It has been said that Port Orleans is a moderate resort with a deluxe feel and we find this to be true. Nothing is more beautiful than gazing at the Magnolia Bend area from across the Sassagoula River or cruising by the mansions in the boat. The horse and carriage rides add to the serenity of this resort. We enjoyed the Royal Princess rooms, but we certainly do not require a royal room in order to enjoy our stay here. The Royal rooms actually are more appealing to the children. The movies offered at night are another plus. If you are staying in for the evening rather than in the parks, you might find it most comfortable to sit out on the lawn and enjoy a Disney movie with other guests. Since there are 5 quiet pools at this resort (in addition to the main pool Ol' Man Island) there are always opportunities to enjoy a quiet swim or conversation apart from the music and recreation offered at the main pool. The ONLY dislike I have with this resort is that the food court bakery no longer offers pecan pralines. At one time this was the only place in Disneworld where you could purchase these delicious edibles.
Recently moved up from moderate resorts with our first deluxe stay at Disney's Boardwalk Inn and loved every minute of it July/August 2013. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed waking up, relaxing on the boardwalk eating breakfast and drinking coffee as the sun came up each morning was perhaps the best breakfast time we have ever had in 15+ visits over the years. Our room was overlooking the boardwalk, just above the arcade, was well appointed, spacious and surprisingly quiet even right next to the ESPN Club restaurant and shop. Access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios parks via walking path and/or boat was so much more relaxing than the buses; we even walked through Epcot once to get to Magic Kingdom so we could take our son by the pasty shop in France on the way. We ate at restaurants on the boardwalk, neighboring Yacht and Beach Club resorts and Epcot which allowed us to walk back to our room leisurely which is priceless. Being within walking distance of Beaches and Cream, The Captain’s Grille, Yachtsman Steakhouse, ESPN Club, Flying Fish, Shula’s Steakhouse, etc. while also getting to enjoy all the entertainment the boardwalk offers helped make our last stay one of the most enjoyable of any Disney vacation.
Stayed at Pop 8/4 - 8/11 2 separate reservations linked as "Traveling Together" with adjoining room request. Reservation 1 had Annual Passes, Reservation 2 had tickets purchased from AAA. ISSUES: 1. Unable to link AAA ticket media to Magic Bands via the MDE website, therefore all 4 people on Reservation 2 couldn't make FastPass+ selections ahead of time. Called MDE support. We were informed that we could copy the FassPass+ selections from Reservation 1 to Reservation 2 when we checked in. 2. When checking in the front desk had further issues attaching the ticket media to the magic bands. However, once this was done none of those bands would open the resort room door. 3. Back to the front desk to fix the issue with the door not opening. At the same time we requested the fasspass+ experiences be copied from Reservation 1 to reservation 2 - This took over an hour to complete. They comp'd the meal for reservation 2 in Everything Pop. 4. All bands works for admission to the park, purchases and room entry but the bands on reservation 2 were "deactivated" for FastPass+ and constantly showed a blue light when used to go on attractions. We had the FasPass+ print out from the front desk and the two bands from Reservation 1 worked fine. Every FassPass+ we tried to use the first day was a big hassle where the CM at the attraction did not know what to do. Back to the Front desk after visiting the parks. Another hour and they assured everything was fixed. 5. Second day in parks was same as the first, the bands on reservation 2 were still "deactivated" for FastPass+ and constantly showed a blue light when used to go on attractions. . A MyMagic+ specialist in DHS told us the band needed to be replaced. Again a frustrating day. We didn't wait at Guest Services in the park because the kids wanted to go tot he pool so back the the front desk again. Third times the charm? We complained more this time since it was the third time. Their bands were replaced and from that point forward they worked correctly for FassPass+ They Comp'd reservation 2 a free night for all the problems. 6. We were unable to make purchases with 1 band on reservation 1. Back to the front desk (and the desk had LONG lines every day) More work on the band and that was resolved. While testing the band to make a purchase they allowed my friends daughter to keep the tinker bell "bling" for the magic band that was used to test the band making a purchase. 7. Reservation 1 room lock reader died and had to be replaced - we were locked out of the room until a manager came with a physical key to unlock the door. The reader was replaced with an hour. POSITIVE FEEDBACK 1. To unlock the door and when going to the pool the magic band was ideal. 2. It was convenient for making purchases (see limitations) 3. When it worked the FastPass+ was great. Begin able to change fastpasses on the fly was awesome (see limitations) LIMITATIONS 1. Cannot associate Tables in Wonderland and still required to show Annual Pass and ID for AP discount, so I still needed my wallet even with a magic band. 2. It seemed too easy to get the best times/attractions for fastpass+ and I fear that once it is fully rolled out they will be as hard to book as a highly desirable ADR like Be Our Guest dinner.
This is one of our favorite restaurants when we visit WDW. We always dine here at least once and frequently twice over a 7-10 day trip. The mandatory visit is lunch on the day we leave to come home, and catch a 7 PM flight out of MCO. After 7-10 days of eating more than I should, I'm craving a Cobb salad for lunch. OK, a Cobb salad and a cold La Fin du Monde. It's light but filling, and I know I'm not going to have 'issues' during the flight home! Dinner is another favorite meal. I'll usually start with the Cobb salad, and have a med-rare filet. The latter has always been cooked properly and arrives tender and with great flavor. The butter compliments the flavor of the beef and doesn't overpower or disquise it. And finally, no visit is complete without the grapefruit cake. I like grapefruit, but I never crave it. I crave this cake. It's a great blend of flavors that you wouldn't always expect to work together but they do! Service has almost always been excellent or better. The one time that it wasn't I'll attribute to "one of those days".
POP Century is a very nice resort to stay at. All buildings are close to a pool and are in close proximity to main hub (food court/transportation). Certain lake views provide access to EPCOT Illuminations fireworks display (lake view from building 4, "60s"). Pools are generally not overcrowded, but can be well populated at certain hours of the day. Breakfast foods were so-so in the food court, but the pizza was good (a large pie that is big enough for a family of four costs just two quick service allotments) and I also recommend the nachos. (The nachos use the jerk potato chips, but include toppings such as salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, guacamole, onions, and jalapenos) I had that twice, sharing them once with my wife. Probably one of the best features of POP Century was the lines, or lack there of, heading back to the resort. Never said more than 20 minutes for a bus from any destination. Rides to and from EPCOT, Downtown Disney, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios were generally 10 minutes or less. Only "complaint" would really be lines at drink stations. That should be helped once Rapid Fill is instituted. Large number of guests using multiple water bottles to fill up on Powerade, Soda, or Iced Tea. Overall, a very good value for a resort for guests just looking for a place to rest their head and occasionally swim.
We were at WDW in June of 2009 when both Michael Jackson and Farah Faucet died. We heard the news from a cast member while visiting DAK. Awhile later, I heard that Captain EO was back at Epcot. I thought that this might be a temporary homage to a strange and troubled entertainment icon. Four years later, this stupid, short sighted decision has continued without change. Why?!?!? Full disclosure, I was a fan of Honey I Shrunk the Audience. I realize I may be in a minority but if the 3D attraction needed to be replaced, please, PLEASE give us something new. Never in the history of WDW or DL was an attraction ever improved upon as much as the change from EO to HISTA. Captain EO was, and is stupid. It's crap! Anyone who enjoys EO should be forced into shock therapy! I realize the movies that inspired HISTA have come and gone. Still, the HISTA attraction was great. There were special effects added to the seating area that added to the experience. Just because a movie is a thing of the past, doesn't mean the attraction has to be changed. Nowadays, you can't even purchase a Song of the South DVD. Still, Splash Mountain is a great ride. If there are no plans to have a new 3D movie at Epcot, at least bring back the better attraction. EO makes Stitch's Adventure look like a headliner! I realize this is just my opinion, but I'm right! Death to any and all lovers or likers of Captain EO! So there!!!
Best ride. Not in animal kingdom. Not in disney world. Not even in Florida. Just best ride. Period.
I've been with DVC for about 6 years. I've had family holidays at Vero Beach, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs at Disney, and Mount Tremblant in Quebec Canada, as well as a 3 day getaway for 2 to Washington DC. The points are flexible and trade incredibly well. Compare to other time share plans. This is easy for us to do because before buying Disney, we bought elsewhere. Our other property and plan has been nothing but frustration for us. We can't trade for good value, the people managing the trading are not helpful and we can't sell the thing because it has held no value. The Disney brand and approach to customer service is what you're paying for and it is definitely worth it. With our family of 5, holidays can get crazy expensive. While the original outlay for Disney points looks expensive, over time it does pay for itself. Also, there is nothing wrong with buying your points resale, as we have done. It works just as well and doesn't have the big mark up. You get the same 'Welcome Home' when you arrive whether you paid $115 per point from Disney, or $49 per point resale. Give in to The Mouse. Resistance is Futile.
This Ride is absolute perfection! When you walk in it seems like your going into a prehistoric museum, only to find that you are actually entering a institute dedicated to studying dinos. The plot line for the ride is genius. You know your in for a wild ride when Dr. Seeker says that 'you will find the dino before the meteor hits', winks and then sends you off on an "unathorarised field trip". This ride is definitely a thrill ride. But not as scary as people make it out to be. The ride is Dark and Jerky, but there are no sudden drops or anything like that. Seriously, if you are over 8 years old and afraid of this ride you are a total pansy. This is coming from a person who is afraid to ride Expedition Everest, Tower of Terror, Rock n' Roller coaster or even splash mountain. Even my seven year old sister went on and she was not afraid. In fact, her first time riding she suggested going on even more times. Last week we went on six times! It was a blast! Eveytime we go on we make silly faces and pose for the picture at the end. Animal Kingdom is not the most fun park in Disney World, but its definitely worth a trip to ride on Dinosaur! ??
It has been our home resort since 92. One of the best Dvc resorts out there. Great parking, large rooms, quite, beautifully landscaped. And a overall relaxed feeling. You will enjoy your stay here
We were able to visit the Be Our Guest Restaurant for a quick service lunch while trying out the Fastpass + system during the week of August 11th. It was wonderful! We walked right up to the check in area and directly inside to place our orders on the touchscreens. (I can see how some people may need help with this feature.) We received our magical rose and were able to find a table right under the Belle and Beast music box. The food was wonderful especially the cupcakes for dessert. Our Disney dining plan work perfectly without a problem. I would recommend this quick service lunch to everyone especially with a Fastpass +. However if you don't have one you could be waiting a while unless you have dinner reservations.
We were very disappointed with the Mickey's BBQ especially since it cost 2 meals credits per person. Also if you are paying out of pocket the tip is included automatically however you never really see wait staff because everything is self service so I do question who you are tipping. If you are looking for one on one time with the characters you will not get that here so sign up for a character breakfast or a different character experience. The food is okay - nothing to write home about. You do get unlimited beer and wine but the BBQ only lasts 90 minutes so you have to get food/drinks, eat, watch the show, and visit characters as you can, all in that time frame.
We have stayed at Wilderness Lodge several times including the year it first opened (1994) and this August (2013). It is by far one of the best resorts at Walt Disney World. From the transportation options - boat, bus, easy access to the monorail, pool with water slide, movie on the beach, food options, customer service from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave, etc... The rooms are not large but have been recently updated and are very nice for a deluxe resort. You can easily skip a day at the parks and find tons to do at the Lodge with or without children. I would recommend the Wilderness Lodge to everyone it is a home away from home. (Hint: request a woods view room on the Magic Kingdom side higher floor and you can see the fireworks from your hotel balcony.)
This wonderful restaurant is easily missed because it is tucked away in the back of the Italy pavilion but it is by far one of the best restaurants at Epcot. We have been to Disney several times and eaten at many of the restaurants in the World Showcase but finding this one was a fabulous surprise. First off the service is top notch. The fresh pizza is some of the best we have ever had anywhere. You can not go wrong with anything on the menu from appetizers to dessert!!
[preface] I love WDW. I have no recollection of ever not being a Disney-oholic in my 40+ years. The humidity, the price, and the long lines can't get me down one lick when I'm there. I'm an unabashed Disney gusher with a built-in default setting that "Disney is innocent until proven guilty". So... in the hundreds of tough decisions WDW must make each year, there are only a handful of changes that WDW got what I'd call wrong over the decades. They have an impressive instinct to balance keeping "what's old but loved and still works" against the need to keep the park growing, changing and improving with the times. But... [/preface] this change was a big bummer for me. If I have to describe the change in a single word it would be "forced." It felt like change for change's sake. At first glance, I even "liked" the look that reminded me of Tron (and I do LOVE Tron), but it didn't make sense here at all. The original Test Track "made sense." We were "crash test dummies" on what at least felt like a pre-production performance test. But, now? We're... what? On a test track in the future (or is it on a different planet) observing how they test their cars? Why would such a high-tech society need such low-tech practical testing? When I was in the part of the track where the heat and cold tests once took place, all I could think of was "I don't know where I am now exactly, but this used to be the hot and cold testing rooms". I just couldn't "unthink" it. The 18-wheeler is still there? So, super-tech civilizations still need truckers? As unpopular as this may sound, it would make far more sense to have just taken it a bit further and made it an actual Tron lightcycle ride. I'd have had more respect for them demolishing it (cringing) and making something totally new... that made sense. Even unimaginative, uncreative people can spot when they're looking at something unimaginative, unoriginal and forced. Imagine how that makes those of us who ARE imaginative feel when looking at the same thing. I don't immediately hold the Imagineers responsible (without more information) because I have a gut feeling this rotten idea was pushed on them and they were told to just make it work. Working in a creativity-demanding career myself, one gets an instinct about this sort of thing, when the guy with the money and bad taste can't hand control over to the guy who knows better. I can always imagine that quintessential, self-important wealthy know-it-all with a voice like Disney's villain Pete saying, "dis is what I pitcher in my brains what we should make. Yous writin' dis down dere?" *shudders* The problem is over-involvement from outsider sponsors, rides that serve as commercials. It need not be so so destructive, otherwise the original Test Track would not have existed, obviously. So, handled correctly, and the creative minds allowed to work unconstrained, it can be successful. However, what I see here is either (A) Chevrolet's meddling penetrating into the creative development resulting in a big stinker or (B) Chevrolet only justifying the expense on the basis the ride be changed but only so far as a limited, inexpensive, superficial redress and Disney was (unfortunately) hard-up and acquiesced. So, these results serve as a good argument against impure sponsorship intrusions. Oh well, I also have a gut feeling this version won't stand long. Or is it just wishful thinking?
It's good, but It needs to be replaced or updated. Back in the early 90s, the show was both relevant and somewhat unique in that it was the only broadway singing style show in the park. And in addition, it was open air, which made it seem more grand somehow, like a rock concert. (not to downplay theater shows that are totally indoors because they have their specialness too). Today however you realize the special effects are minimal and outdated, the costumes seem a bit sunfaded, and the broadway show back home in ny is actually more entertaining by now making this a bit superfluous. Entertainment has evolved yet this show hasn't. It should get with the 21st century which is not a statement you hear me say often!
We had been upgraded here after POR was overbooked. I thought that the room was great, nice amenities, plenty of room and it came with a refrigerator when at the time POR did not. I think the resort is way too big especially with young kids and the bus service seemed to take forever. I was not impressed with the dining options and had a horrible experience at Olivia's. To be fair, this was a trip that had multiple problems and it could have clouded my perception of the resort.
I'm a senior citizen and brought my two grown sons and 13 and 17 year old grandchildren to Port Orleans Riverside. We stayed Garden View, Alligator Bay and had a wonderful vacation. Everything was perfect! Would recommend Port Orleans to everyone. Staff was very efficient, friendly and Disney took care of all our needs. Food was good, too. We went swimming, fishing and took the boat rides. Buses were always timely to everywhere we wanted to go. We had no problems. Overall, we would stay at Port Orleans again in a heartbeat!
A tiggerific breakfast for kids of all ages! This is a must do for every trip and thats what I've done 8/8 times! The food is yummy with a wide selection and something for everyone. I have eaten breakfast dishes here i have never eaten before and know exactly what i will putting on my plate each visit. Meeting the Winnie the pooh characters never disappoints and makes adults of all ages 5 years old once again.
Having researched a lot on here I made a reservation for Ohana in April 2013. May I start off by saying I have already made a return reservation! Ohana is a hidden gem! With a family atmosphere, entertainment for adults and children and with food you cannot fault Ohana is a must do. The food is fantastic , juicy and well cooked, with a great selection of meats and shrimp with a large salad and noodles. The all you can eat style does not disappoint. The dessert was very tasty too and a great end to a great meal. Top tip don't eat before hand, you need all the room you can get for this amazing food.
Having eaten at Tony's many times over the last few years i would recommend it to any MK visitor. Tony's is smaller than many of the restaurants at MK which creates a cosy atmosphere. The restaurant is well themed and has those little touches to create a feeling of being in the lady and the tramp. I have tried a range of dishes mainly the pasta dishes which are tasty and well presented. The lasagne is a firm favourite!
Having followed the construction of new Fantasyland on here I was so excited to have a reservation for April 2013. I'm glad to say Be our guest did not disappoint. From the minute you walk into the restaurant you are amerced in the world of beauty and the beast. The attention to detail is fantastic and each room is done to such a high standard. We were seated in the ballroom which is grand and just like the film. We had a look at each area within the restaurant and were glad to be seated in the ballroom. The glass windows and falling snow create a fantastic atmosphere. The food is fantastic. In our party we tried a selection from the menu including the mussels, French onion soup, chicken, steak, and shrimp. There wasn't a single complaint with each dish being tasty and well presented. Having a glass of wine with dinner was also a welcomed delight. The desserts were amazing and definitely a must try!!! The portions were not too big and it was nice to sample each course. Meeting the beast for a photograph at the end of the day topped off a fantastic experience! I would recommend this restaurant to anyone and would gladly pay just to sit in there and take in the atmosphere once more. Top tip make a reservation as this place books up fast, you cannot imagine my disappointment at not being able to get a table 180 days in advance for Christmas 2013!
I think the preshow was funnier. When I saw this as a kid it mostly scared me. There didn't seem to be anything but scary gags in it. It also lasted way longer than it should. Not too many people are familiar with the movie by the late 00s. I prefered EO to this. Although 3-D shows in general are losing luster now that I can see them at the mall.
Love the little mermaid!!!! So happy they made a ride for her!!!
Hollywood and Vine is a firm favourite! The buffet has a wide range of choice both cold and hot as well as two chef stations with meat carving and other options. The desert section has a fantastic variety for any sweet tooth. The staff are very friendly and are always willing to help. This restaurant also provides the Fantasmic package for entry to the evening show.
Having eaten here twice already and having a reservation booked for later in the year I would recommend this restaurant to any Epcot visitor. The food is tasty with a wide selection of choices showing the best of Chinese flavours. The portions are not too large and ideal for sharing. As a family we have always ordered a selection and shared banquet style. The service is quick and the staff are friendly and helpful. The restaurant is decorated in typical traditional Chinese style and overlooks the China pavilion and lake. This is defiantly a must do for any Epcot visit.
As a frequent Disney visitor I have stayed at on Disney property many times. Having stayed here a few years ago I found it to be quite a large resort which felt very spread out and took a while to get around. The theme of the resort is well done and the rooms were spacious and well decorated. The pool area is large and a must do for children of all ages.
As a frequent Disney traveller I have stayed at this resort three times throughout my childhood. Now an adult of 25 I look back at the resort with fond memories and would recommend it to anyone travelling with children. The resort is quite spacious with each area being themed around a different movie. Each time we visited the resort we stayed at in the Toy story area. Having your picture taken by Woody and Buzz or sat in RC is a fantastic experience for children and will have them in awe at the sheer size of the figures. The pool area is well themed and large enough to hold the many resort guests. There are lots of amenities for children and adults including a bar area and shop. The dining hall is large and offers a range of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It can get very noisy but this is to be expected at busier times. The resort is quite far away from many of the theme parks however the Disney buses are provided. I would recommend this resort to any family with young children who love everything Disney!
I have stayed at the POR 3 times with the latest stay being Easter 2013.Each of the three times has been with my family who are all aged between 47 and 22. The resort is beautiful, set in beautiful grounds with a tranquil atmosphere. Each time we have stayed at the resort we have stayed in the Magnolia Bend building 85. The mansion style buildings are grand and create the perfect backdrop against the river. The rooms are spacious and are decorated well to meet the theme of this part of the resort. The rooms have two double beds, fridge,small table and chairs, storage, en-suite with bath, shower, toilet and two sinks. Having stayed in these rooms last time with three adults there is enough space and storage to hold the clothes, Disney purchases and baggage of three women! The Alligator Bayou section of the resort is nice however not of my families taste, suited I believe to families with young children. The dinning area is large and has food for all taste. We have eaten here for many breakfasts and have never found a problem. Travelling at Easter ( Spring Break) can mean busy queuing but this is to be expected. The shop is stocked with everything you may need and the bar area both inside and by the pool are worth a visit. There are a number of pool areas around the resort, we have always used the smaller pool near Magnolia bend for a quieter swim. The resort provides two methods of transport, the Disney buses and the boat to Downtown Disney. The Boat is a must do, it provides a scenic, peaceful route to Downtown Disney with a chance to take a nosey at some of the things along the river. The buses are frequent with 4 bus stops around the resort area, we always used the one closet to our room and never waited more than 20 minutes for a bus. I love Disney and would return every year if funds allowed, returning to POR is a pleasure and is a highlight to any Disney trip. As a family who are now all adults, the laid back atmosphere is a welcome break to what can sometimes be a busy trip in a fantastic place.
We've been to Disneyworld 4 times in the past 6 years, and stayed at the Boardwalk for the last two. We tried the Flying Fish the first time (on our second visit), just because it was close to the hotel. Afterwards, we decided we had been missing out on a meal fit for kings. Everything on the menu is absolutely delicious and is prepared exactly as you order it. The fish is perfectly prepared and seasoned and the desserts - well, it's tempting to lick the plates or bowls clean. The service is quick and attentive without being overbearing and the servers we've had have been outstanding. We recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Disneyworld - anytime. While there are most assuredly other good restaurants at Disneyworld (Narcoossee's, etc), this is the absolute best - hands down.
I grew up around the corner from a dairy, and we ate ice cream all year 'round. Over the years I think I tried every flavor. I often prefer ice cream to pastry, so when I saw that this shop was open, I made sure to go in and try it. The first time I went in, I asked the young man at the counter what he suggested. He said, "I am French, so I would have the profiterole." I had one scoop in a dish, and I thought it was good, but nothing to write home about. To me it tasted like very good Vanilla Fudge Swirl ice cream, with pieces of broken sugar cone in it. OK, next time I'll try something else, I thought. A few days later I went back, and tried the Caramel Fleur de Sel. OMG! It was absolutely wonderful! I was not on the dining plan, so yes, it was a little pricey. But it was only a little bit more than I pay at home. Everything in WDW costs a bit more than home, so I'm used to it. When I go back again, I will definately be going there!
My wife and I stayed here in back in 2009. We have since returned to Disney but tried several of the other resorts. We returned to the All Star Music in February, 2013 and will be staying again on September 25, 2013. The reason-the Staff. They are the dictionary meaning for professional, curteous, prompt, precise, family. My wife and I will never stay anywhere else. Yes, the rooms are small but as I spend the whole day at the Parks-who notices. I am out like a light in five minutes once my head hits the pillow. The food court in the moring is busy, so we spend time talking to those in line with us. It is all part of the fun of Disney World. Besides, I dream of those Mickey waffles every day. The pool during the afternoon is full of activities. We love to watch the children having fun. Sometimes we get back eartly just to enjoy the movies on the pool deck. I have never had a problem with my stay and wish I could return more often. I jokingly told my wife if we won it big in the lottery I would move down here, book a couple of adjoing rooms and stay forever at this resort. She told me that it wasn't as bad of an idea as I thought. After a week here, I return to the hustle and bustle of daily life totally refreshed and full of happy memories. What more could anyone ask for.
If you are traveling with children under the age of 10 then this is the resort for you. The kids love the atmosphere and your wallet will love the price. We stayed a week and knowing that we were not going there to sit in the room we opted to stay here versus a higher priced option. I was pleasantly surprised with the area, it was Disney but yet it was quiet. The kids loved the oversized props and all the Disney-related materials and are honestly disappointed we are not staying there on this trip (at POR-FQ this time). The rooms were nothing to write home about but if you travel to Disney for the view from or size of the hotel room then your priorities are way off.
The area around it is beautiful and the ride is fun. Great songs too. Love the little mermaid and this ride does it justice!
Arrival and check in. We arrived at about 11:30am for our check in at the resort. You will find the lobby very spacious, with an enormous check in desk. There was a short line of maybe 10 families checking in. Check in was swift and completed with 20 minutes, this included a brief orientation to the hotel and WDW, which was not necessary being my 40th trip. We were congratulated on our marriage and given Just Married buttons to wear. They took my phone number to text me when our room was ready. Less than an hour later while eating at Downtown Disney, we received the text stating our room was ready. We had received our early check in as requested. The room: The room was moderately sized, but spacious given we had a King sized bed. We needed extra pillows and towels, and a call to housekeeping solved that within 10 minutes. The room was spotlessly clean, with plenty of storage space for clothing and luggage. We did not spend much time in the room, but it was very nice and the bed was comfortable. Our room was in the 50's building with the bowling pin shaped pool almost directly below it. Even though the pool was there, you could barely hear noise outside the room even with screaming children outside. The grounds: The lobby as stated, was huge, and very clean. The resort shop had your sundries available, and this is where we purchased our refillable mug, and lanyard for our room keys/passes. The restaurant is very large, and while sometimes crowded, never packed even at breakfast time. The grounds were very nicely kept, and clean with many Cast Members about doing regular maintenance, all were extremely polite. The Bowling Pin pool was very nice, clean and well maintained and staffed with life guards during the day. Next to the pool was the laundry area which we used while in the pool during our breaks from the parks. Customer service: While a value resort the customer service we received was exemplary. My main thing to remind is, Concierge is your best friend. This is the place to go with questions and any problems that arise. I had an incident with my meal due to a dietary issue. Not only was the issue resolved quickly, but the dining points were put where they were supposed to have been. This dining point issue, was the only issue we had, and I feel that even though the issue happened, it was resolved in about 5 minutes and done so with speed and skill to rival a 5 star hotel. Location: Really nice. Minutes from Downtown Disney even in traffic. Right around the corner from the Studios and Epcot. Easy access to the highway system as well as the internal Disney roadways. We give it max stars.
We have purchased over 1300 points over several years, some through the secondary market. Our resorts are Wilderness, Vero Beach, Bay Lake, Animal kingdom, Aulani, Boardwalk and Old Key West. We have stayed at all of them several times. In the last 16 months, I figured out that we used over 50 days at Disney resorts, mostly for us but also gave about 12 days to friends and family. Assuming an average of about $500 a night, since our two bedroom at Aulani for 15 days would have cost over $2000 a night alone, the 3 bedroom cottage at Vero Beach for three nights would have cost about $700 a night, and 4 nights in a one bedroom club level at Animal Kingdom would have been $600 or more, I would estimate we have gotten well over $30000 in value for these nights and probably more. For about 10000 in maintenance fees, I consider that a good value. Obviously you have to use your points, but we are at Disney at least 3 times a year, so it is totally worth it to us.
Coming to the Be Our Guest Restaurant was not just a regular dinner at a restaurant, it was an all out dining experience! From the moment you enter the waiting area you are immersed into the world of Beauty and the Beast. The main dining room is designed like the ballroom from the movie. All the décor is elaborate and beautiful in each of the three different dining areas. The staff is very friendly and really add to the whole experience. They invite you to see the other dining rooms and to take pictures with the Beast after dinner. Of course, the most important part of any dining experience is the food, which was amazing. We started with an assorted meat platter for the appetizer. As a picky eater, I am not a fan of cold meats, but I even liked the sausage, and the rest of my family there was impressed by the other meats as well. For dinner I got the grilled New York strip steak served with fries, and green beans. There was not a thing on the plate that I did not like and the steak was one of the best (if not the best) strip steaks I have ever had. I ordered it medium heat and it came out perfectly pink and juicy on the inside and it was still charred just right on the outside to give it an amazing grilled flavor. It was topped with some sort of garlic butter that went very well with it. The fries looked like regular steak fries, but they were crisped to perfection and were some of the best fries I've had in all the Disney restaurants. They came with a delightful dip that was a mix of mayo and a couple other things. The green beans that were served with it were delicious as well and were topped with onions and red peppers. Then for dessert they serve everything tableside and wheel everything right up to you. I had a triple chocolate cupcake with a chocolate ganache icing and a chocolate mousse filling. There was not one person at the table who did not enjoy their dessert, and we got a variety of things. The desserts may seem simple being that they are basically assorted crème puffs and cupcakes, but do not be deceived; they exceed any normal expectation of what a crème puff or cupcake should be and are definitely fancier than any normal crème puff or cupcake. One person at the table was also celebrating their birthday, so they brought out the "gray stuff" for her, which, just as the dishes would say, was delicious. All portions were decent sized; and I was only sad that I got too full to finish the entire steak and all the fries. They do offer boxes to bring food home for leftovers, but being that I was on vacation staying at a hotel, I had to decline the box. Afterwards we got pictures with the Beast and we all left the restaurant full and completely satisfied.
I have stayed at all of the value resorts except Art of Animation and Movies is my second favorite. (behind Pop Century) We drove so I did not take advantage of Disney's Magical Express but my Mom did and had a great experience. Checking in was no hassle and we even checked in early and our room was ready by noon. Once we arrived we were able to get some pool towels from the front desk and head over to the pool. My son and I even grabbed a late breakfast from the food court and ate outside. There were free pool activities most of the day and they even gave out candy and small prizes. The room was very clean but it was showing a little wear. No problems with the AC but it wasn't that hot outside since it was raining. We were in the Love Bug building which was not super close to the main hall where the bus transportation was. I still think the layout is slightly better than All Star Music and Sports so you don't feel like you are walking as far. Overall I am a fan of staying at a value resort. The rooms are always very clean and you save money. Only complaint this time was the tour groups staying at the resort. There were unsupervised kids everywhere. Once they were out of the way and at the park it was better. I would stay again but I always prefer staying in the off season.
Just returned from our 6 night 7 day stay ( August 1-August 7) the resort was BEAUTIFUL. The check in and check out was quick and easy. We stayed in the Little Mermaid rooms, the walk was not bad at all the theme scenery was beautiful. I have had longer walks in other resorts. The food was good and reasonably priced. The two pools were nice but the Big Blue Pool is more kid friendly. Every one who worked there was helpful and courteous, they were really attentive to my 4 year old grandaughter she is the type that asks lots of questions. The Disney bus wait was not long at all, the longest we ever waited was 10 minutes and the drivers were great. I even forgot something in the safe called them this morning and it is being sent by UPS. I would stay here again in a heartbeat !!
My family has stayed in the cabins a few times. What we like most is the privacy, peace and quiet, and the "yard" for kids to play outside. It's also convenient to have a kitchen for our mid-day breaks. Also, very economical. The only reason(s) I didn't give it a perfect score are the limited dining options and the pools. Hoopty Doo is fantastic, but that only covers dinner for one night. A "real" counter service option is the only thing the resort is missing in my mind. And the pools aren't themed like the others, it's just a pool. The internal bus system isn't bad, just depends on what time of day you hit it. If you can beat the rush, it's quick and you're guaranteed a seat.
Mission: SPACE, a motion simulator ride at Epcot theme park, is as close as you can get to blasting off into space without leaving Earth. This attraction for big kids, teens and adults realistically mimics what an astronaut might experience during a space flight to Mars. For your safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be be aggravated by this attraction. Expectant mothers should not ride. Want to visit this attraction and you don't know which version is suited for you? I'd be happy to help! You must choose between two levels of training before waiting in line, once you decide, you will receive a ticket. Both versions of the ride offer the same exhilarating training mission but both differ in its INTENSITY. The Orange Team- More Intense Training is a highly turbulent motion simulator thrill ride that spins and creates G-Forces during launch and re-entry sequences and includes intense maneuvers that can result in nausea, headache, dizziness, and disorientation even if you have never experienced motion sickness before. The Orange Team- More Intense Training is recommended for those who enjoy intense thrill rides. This version of the ride includes spinning and can cause you to experience motion sickness during and after this attraction due to the simulated prolonged sensation of increased forces on body associated with space travel. The Green Team- Less Intense Training is an exciting motion simulator ride that does not spin and is less likely to cause motion sickness. The Green Team- Less Intense Training is recommended for those who prefer exciting rides with some intense. This version of this rides not include spinning and offers a lesser sensation of forces on body and will lessen the chances of motion sickness. There will be signs and video presentations that will repeat these precautionary measures, especially the motion sickness and claustrophic warnings. One should not ride either level if one is made uncomfortable by enclosed dark spaces or simulators. These signs and warnings may seem intimidating, but the ride is surely worth it! I would recommend riding the Green Version first to experience the attraction and then ride the Orange Version. There are motion sickness bags on the attraction at reach on both versions. I hope this review helped, I work at this attraction!
The universe of Energy with Ellen is a ride that will take you far back into the past. All the way....to 1996!! Ellen, 90s jeopardy, and bill nye were current in the mid 90s but today they just seem really out of place. There is also no mention of current enviro trends, electric cars, the current practice of lining cities with solar panels on streetlights etc., and our modern search for alternatives, the questions over fracking, what were doing to prevent oil spills since our mistakes etc. (the last one was kina a joke lol) Dinosaur at AK kinda makes the dino scene, formerly a crowd pleaser, a bit underwhelming. It looks old. Its filled with inaccuracies anachronisms and slow movement. Another issues is that its so dark and disturbing at times. It kinda seems like a mighty cave with massive doorways and lots of darkness all over. For a ride based on energy talking about solar, It sure doesn't let any sunshine in. I wish they had made the sunshine opening like they originally planned. But still I guess It works for the dinos. However, I still love the ride system. At the end its somewhat hard to tell what room you're actually in. The vehicles are really unique the moving theater effect is very nice.
We spent a week at the BLT in a two bedroom unit. There were 8 of us and it was spacious, contemporary and very very comfortable. It was my grandchildren's first trip to Disney World and we enjoyed everything from breakfast with the characters at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary, to dinner with the Princesses at Cinderella's Castle. The pool was fun and when we come back again, we won't bother going to one of the water parks, because the pool was all we needed. We had a beautiful view of the Magic Kingdom and watched the fireworks display from our unit some nights. Every night, I went to sleep watching Cinderella's Castle change colors. What a wonderful trip. We are trying to book another for next year. I highly recommend the Bay Lake Tower.
After placing our order online with the hotel then after taking 10 minutes to check in at city hall we get to the cashier in a reasonable amount of time the cashier tells us that the meal is being charged to our hotel room. Why buy the dining plan when you can't use it efficiently. Then the cast member had to re-enter our order. the food came quickly and was good.
Love this - i saw it when it originally came out and fell in love with it so when i heard it was returning i booked my trip ASAP!! It is a timeless classic! I was glad to see younger folks enjoying it like i did so many years ago and the music is awesome. It is a must if you visit epcot and i pray it is here to stay.
We've stayed numerous times at The Pop Century and have never been disappointed. The theme is totally Disney, and we love its whimsical character. The resort has 3 pools of which each is themed for its particular section. There is the Computer Pool in the 1990's section, the Bowling Pin pool in the 1950's section and our favorite, the Hippy Dippy Pool in the 1960's section. The pools seem to be maintained at a very good temperature year round. The one thing we don't particularly enjoy are the hovering bees. Regardless of where we sit by the pool, those little bees come buzzing around and sometimes get too close for comfort. The food court offers plenty of choices and we enjoy the ambience as we have our meal. The rooms are well kept as are the main areas. We love taking a stroll around the hour glass lake. The gift shop is always fun to visit with a decent selection of items to shop for. The bus service is excellent. We definitely feel as we have arrived home each time. It is our resort of choice.
Stayed there for a college trip with 8 of my friends from college. Food court was great and had plenty of options. room was very clean and well kept. bags were all delivered right on time. The main pool was very well themed and even though we were in college had a blast on the water slide. Transportation: There was only one instance on one day (out of 8) where we waited for 45+ min for a magic kingdom bus. Other then that, buses were quick and only made stops at the one hotel then right to the park. Cons: I didn't like the actual size of the resort. depending on where your room was, it was a hike to get to the food court, bus stops, main pool, and lobby. I expect a lot of walking at WDW but some times nice when you get back to the room to have things really close and rest the feet some.
Maybe not an "E-Ticket" but is a great ride. Fun for the whole family!
Best ride in EPCOT. The first few seconds are amazing and the weightlessness feeling is great. The ride is really not that intense either so do not be afraid to do Orange Team!
This ride gets a lot of hate for no real reason. It is a solid dark ride. Much Much Much better than Snow White's Scary Adventure and Peter Pan's Flight. And slightly better than Winnie the Pooh. Many people are upset that it is the same as the ride out in California, or that it was not as good as their expectations. However, it is a great ride. The que is beautiful and flawless. Also it is shaded and nice and cool. The ride is an omnivore system which is the same as Haunted Mansion and it features the Clamobiles like Nemo in EPCOT. It is about the story of the Little Mermaid and features all the great songs. The AAs are fun and very well done. All in all the ride exceeded my expectations.
Right after the ride opened there were some technical difficulties resulting in many negative reviews. All kinks have been worked out resulting in a masterpiece! The design stage is very fun and interactive (especially with a magic band) while the ride is not all that different, the new theme works better with EPCOT. A don't miss thrill ride!
It is just a very bad ride, the worst dark ride on WDW property. First off it is boring. Figment is not funny and quite irritable. There is a very disgusting and unneeded skunk smell. And finally it is a shadow of the original Imagination ride which had the Dreamfinder.
WHAT LOCATION WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FANTASIA AREA OR 101 DALMATIONS
The new Chevrolet Test Track is a 'Wait In Line Nightmare'. One of the longest serpentine lines I've ever been in. When you are in line right after it opens and the wait time is 1 hour and even before you get into the building it has increased to 2 hours this is total Bull Manure. Shame on the Disney Imagineering Team that put this thing in place! Instead of a Single Rider Line or Fast Pass there should be a By Pass Line to not go into the car design hold up. The longest line at Cedar Point for Millennium Force is 3 times faster than this FIASCO! My grandson in the past just came out the exit, back into the building, short wait - on ride up to 11 times one visit. Sooooooo folks take heed - pack a lunch and get ready to sloooooooooowly proceed through this line before you actually ride on Test Track.
Well I'm giving this a 7/10. I do love Figment a lot but after watching the original 80s version. I feel like that today Disney should do something to make it back to the 80s version once again. From what I heard in the original ride, the way that the track was set with the cars settings seemed a bit off and had technical difficulties causing it to be renovated (again I don't know, I just heard about it) so if that was the case, I can see Disney trying to solve it now and days since this is the future with broader technology and possibly many people to figure this out. If they do bring the original back hopefully, I guaranteed there will be more positive feedback on the ride as well over hundreds to thousands of people REALLY want it back to its original version. I would love to ride on the original version, seeing the murals on the walls of Figment while waiting on the line and especially meeting Dreamfinder and Figment together at the end of the ride, even going through the original imageworks and venture around there. I am sure just seeing all that will bring a huge chunk of the audience back wanting to ride it twice as much. So in conclusion, today's ride is alright but not as good as the 80s version. Disney if you could listen to me and as well as several hundred to thousands of others... Please bring the original version back. This is what the audience want back, Dreamfinder and how the ride used to be from back then. Back in the 80s it showed everyone of imagination a lot better than its current version today.
I looooved the old version! ...the new version is sooooo last season. Come on, that's just glow in the dark spray paint and lights! It's obvious that the old version is better. There was a story that was understandable...but now it's like you're heading into the future for no reason just to test cars. I asked my whole family and they like the old version better.
I beg to differ from all those who dislike SpectroMagic! I have seen both Spectro and MSEP and I gotta say I enjoy both of them very much! I think MSEP is fun and the music (I admit it may be a little annoying as the music tracks from every float are always similar in melody and sound) but overall is upbeat and it makes me tap my foot to the rhythm xDDD! But on the other hand, I have seen Spectro since I was a child and may I say the music is by far better. It's much more dramatic, more grand and just... magical! I just love the idea that along with the spectacular score, the parade presents the concept of magic being spread everywhere by the power of the light of the stars and it's just so AMAZING how it all is as the technology is more modern, floats dazzle in bright, color changing lights and the music just takes me away on a magical journey through the stars as I hear the majestic trumpet fanfare of the main theme as well as the sweet symphony of "Once Upon A Dream", the dramatic melody of "Part Of Your World" and also the strong impact of "Toccata" (Chernabog's theme)! The Spectromen singing and bouncing around, Mickey fueling up the magic on the glass ball, all the characters enchanting the crowds, everything!!!!! It's my favorite parade and it will always be!
I was so excited to dine at BOG. I didn't have a reservation, but we were lucky enough to walk right in one quiet evening in February. I was also thrilled to be able to have a beer for the first time legally in Magic Kingdom. We were seated promptly and were greeted by our server. We let him know that we were on the dining plan, but we would be ordering appetizers and drinks and would like to pay out of pocket for those and use Tables in Wonderland. I was quite stunned when the server told us that we couldn't use both. I was just happy to be there, so I didn't push it. The one thing that I noticed right off the bat is just how loud the restaurant is. Yes, it's very beautiful....it's just loud & definately not the place for a quiet romantic dinner. I started with a La Fin du Monde (which I don't think they serve anymore) and my companion had a Chimay Blue and we were brought some bread...which was fine. I started with the French Onion Soup, which was pretty average french onion, and a bit too salty. My guest decided to try the assorted meats plate, which were....assorted meats and sausages....they were also average at best. Our entrees were the grilled strip steak & pomme frites and the thyme scented pork. It seemed like it took forever for our entrees and I had to flag our server down to get more drinks. When the food arrived, I was a bit put off by the rediculous char on my steak...It was very very charred. Now I like a nice sear, but the blackened char on my steak made it just about inedible. The garlic-herb butter was fine, but nothing could help in getting over that char. The pomme frites were fine....just some average fries, but I did notice that they were pretty tasty when dipped in the melted garlic-herb butter. The heir covert on the side was pretty soft and didn't have any crunch. The thyme scented pork was really tough and dry. We expected it to be quite tender, but were extremely disappointed. The au gratin macaroni was pretty bland...not much flavor at all. After we finished, we waited for another very long time to see about dessert. We really we really didn't want dessert, but it was included, so we decided to try a couple of cupcakes. We ordered one strawberry and one lemon and they were probably the best part of the meal, next to the beer. They were definately light and tasty! I expect I'll give BOG one more try because I believe in second chances, but in all honesty, I really have no desire to go back after the rude server, burnt steak and tough pork.
Before Test Track 2.0, this ride was one of the greatest! I liked the personality with the guy's voice. I loved the props and how much work was put into this :) Then some weirdo decided that this ride should be more technical and people need to learn more from this ride. So they turned this into a light show getting rid of ALL the props. The only fun part was when the car sped up really fast. Now this is just a dull ride with computers, projections, and a guy's ominously dull voice. They took the test track out of test track. :(
I can't believe anyone would rate this more than one star. They replaced Honey I Shrunk the Audience with this piece of garbage. Disney should be ashamed to have this in their park.
Yeah, I'm a Michael Jackson fan, and the storyline may be cheesy, but I love it. Oh, and don't sit in the first row. Sit in the second.
Stopped here to search for something different for my picky eater son. I was excited to see Mac and cheese! I ordered him the kids Mac and cheese and a specialty hotdog for myself. Everything tasted good even the Mac and cheese. Prices were reasonable and portions were large. This is def my new stop at HS!
The CBJ is an excellent show, albeit it terrified me for years due to the talking heads on the wall. But The music is actually pretty silly, and gets stuck in your head. It fits very well in this area of the park and a good alternative if your not into the horseshoe review. Its one of those attractions that help to make the adventure feel like one. You take in the show ride the steamboat, see the review you start to get an (cleaner) old west town feeling right away. As a Kid (after getting over my fear by "meeting" the heads in the saloon next door) I'd pretend to be a cowgirl about to brave thunder mt. but taking in the town first. (I had a story for every land and park). The animatronics although dated, are classic disney, and irreplaceable. Its also air conditioned, relaxing, and happy. If the kids don't have my childhood fears It's perfect for them. Most songs are either old country songs or renditions of them changed for bears.
We are a family of 5. Kids ages range from 13 yrs, 9 yrs, and 23 months. We stayed in the Finding Nemo family suite . We went down to celebrate our almost 2 year olds birthday. Everyone was soo attentive to her. After reading some reviews I was afraid of what we might get. We stayed July 12th -July 19th 2013. Check in was easy, everyone was really nice and helpful with any questions we had. The Resort was soo kid friendly and all 3 of my girls loved it. The was plenty of food choices and the food was good. The only thing we had a problem with was that we had to call the front desk a few times to get a refill on coffee and little things like that. But our overall stay was wonderful and would soo consider coming back.
Let me start off with saying this resort is beautiful. My wife and I went on our honeymoon to disney and stayed here. It is very large and scenic, perfect for taking nightly strolls along the river. Great food court for a breakfast or lunch (would not recommend for dinners). The main pool was nice but very crowded with bratty kids, but on the upside there are side pools all over, one was right outside our room and they are usually empty or have 2-3 people there (at least on our experience). It seemed perfect until we tried going to the parks. We thought wow we are right by a bus depot for the parks, we quickly found out it that spot was the last pickup, they stopped at french quarter first then every stop in riverside before they hit ours. If we could fit in, we were standing very uncomfortably and on more then one occasion the buses ac was not on! So we figure we would just take the very long walk to the main depot and was pretty much packed everytime we went. There is no close park to this resort so every trip took forever. We left an hour an 15 min. a head of our reservation for sci dine in theater at hollywood, and was late to our reservation! Luckily they still could fit us in but we had to wait an additional 40 min because we were late! The boat to downtown disney also took forever. I don't know if this was just an isolated incident bc we only rode it once but we sat at the french quarter on the boat for a half hour waiting to fill up the boat. In conclusion, was a very nice resort but for the fact that we did not get to a park once with out an issue is why I am giving this resort a lousy rating. After all I am paying this much to be mainly at the parks not the hotel!
It was inevitable that this wouldn't last. Almost all the jokes rely on the fact that you are familiar with the original show. If people were born after it closed, "we've done the same show since 1963" will result in a "what? huh? 63? is this some obscure reference to tiki bars in the 60s?" kind of response. It was also dated when it came out as it pretty much updated the show from 60s to 70s-80s. The few things I liked about it were the advanced tiki goddess (albeit with a dumb name) animatronic at the time it was impressive, and some of the jokes were amusing.
Its a great place but there is more to Pixar than Toy Story. Nemo's ride should have been here instead of in epcot (its not futury at all! whats the deal?). Bugs land Rides, Monstropolis, etc all could go here. Why not an incredibles thrill ride?
I gave it a 2 star for 1 reason. It got me out of the sun and into an air conditioned theatre. The problem with this, is it is too long winded, takes up almost an hour of your day, and you come out of it feeling totally dissatisfied that you have taken up a lot of the day on something that wasn't worth it. Ellen is the main pull for most people as she is big in the USA, but in the UK, she is virtually unknown. So maybe I just didn't get it. Very informative and educational, but unfortunately that isn't really something that appeals to me. Almost fell asleep once we got into the 'ride' section. Overall it was a waste of an hour and extremely boring.
Unfortunately L'Artisan des Glaces feels a bit like a money grabbing machine. It is high priced with small portion sizes, with only a slightly above average product. The ice cream is better than your typical WDW offering, but not at a premium level that you can find outside of WDW. It is a good option if you are not concerned about value, and it does offer the best ice cream in Epcot. As a local with other offsite options I would not return, but if I was a tourist I would check it out at least once.
Simply the best ride in the world from the attention to detail, photo opportunities, imagination and the ride itself. Even the walk up Hollywood Boulevard and seeing it in front of me gets me in a little spin and acting like a 10 year old boy! It's just so unlike anything I have ever been on, and it will always be a classic for me. Rode it for the first time 15 years ago, and I will never get bored of it.
We all know the song, and it never gets of out our dang brain once we ride it! But enough criticism on the song, I happen to love and cherish it! It's a small world debuted in the 1964-1965 World's Fair in Queens New York and it was an instant hit! It's been entertaining guests for almost 50 years and it still has that irresistible charm that you remember! So get ready, clear up your throat, and start singin' along! You know the words!
We had lunch at Coral Reef at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 7th. Hearing mixed reviews, we were not sure how confident our lunch would be, but we were very pleased with our selections, seating and service. I say that, but (and I wish I would have written down his name to speak to someone about him) the CM (male, curly dark hair and glasses) at the entry was very rude. We came in a little early, and instead of acknowledging my presence, he completely ignored me. He could have at least said hello and that he’d be right with me. We were promptly seated at a table by the aquarium. It was far left, so we didn’t have a great view of the whole tank, but it was good. We were soon visited by many different kinds of fish, including a shark. My husband ordered the mahi mahi, and I ordered the chicken caesar salad. They were fantastic – so moist and flavorful. Our boys ordered the cheese pizza, which they liked. They loved the coral reef brownies, too. We ordered the Wave for dessert. Oh, Heaven on Earth. The raspberry and chocolate together were amazing. I wanted to order another just for myself. Our waiter was great. He didn’t rush us and wasn’t MIA – perfect timing. Everything about our dining experience at Coral Reef was wonderful – the atmosphere, food and wait staff. We would recommend it to anyone.
Livin' is a boat ride that many may think is boring. Yet as a kid I LOVED IT!! first of all I always loved rides with water tracks. Water always excited me. But I learned to appreciate the ride as a really informative journey. I always loved the intro scenes of the different resources. It always reminded me of morning on a beautiful farm. Though the storm seems fierce as a kid, the narrator provides comfort and assurance that its a new beginning for plant life, which actually turned me from being scared of storms to loving them as a kid. Its really cool to be in those domes later on. Although they smell like imported sand and fish, they are very beautiful, and very cool. However this ride could use a bit more music, some extended narration, and that scene with a bunch of paused pictures of people's faces has to go. It has nothing to do with anything. They could also put more animatronics like an old farmer telling stories about his farm with a pipe saying how he started with just a shack and some dirt fields and now he has hydroponics, advanced equipment etc. All in all this pavillion wouldn't be itself without this ride. (Its not closed this is the old version, but the new one isnt here for some reason). It ain't that boring. Its actually pretty fun!
and yet I still can't give it a perfect score only because its been cheesed up recently. Poorly conceived ride updates aside, future world still surprisingly holds the same beauty It's always held. Crystal Pyramids, Botanistic glass atrium, the beautiful geodesic structures and the stylistic fronts of Space and Seas, to test track's retro-future glimmering cylinder left over from World Of Motion, to the Universe of Energy which's massive grounded structure seems to push against you kinetically. Every Pavillion has its own world basically. When you're in The Land its actually hard to imagine that its the same park as Spaceship Earth, or Universe of Energy. Every ride takes you away (cept for some new ones) to another place wether it be a botanical paradise, a time machine, our past, our future, our dreams. Each Pavillion represents its theme Spaceship Earth is about humanity, and hence it is our earth that is represented, but silver and futuristic, like a spaceship! The station is beautiful and always has been. Its big enough to have the gravitas it deserves. Universe of energy "Pushes" against you revealing its solar panels. the entire ride is low and heavy feeling, and although its slow it feels like its powerful. Mission space never stops feeling like a spaceship, even when its not. The outdoor entrance still emits the essence of an airtight capsule, even when its wide open. Its interior could use some work, but it serves its purpose. Test Track, a cylinder, like those in a car. Ironically, test track looks quite natural wrapped around it. and the backstage area feels like a proving grounds for your test vehicle. Imagination even in its corrupted modern incarnation, is still beautiful. Its pyramids an irreplaceable focal point that will stand the test of time. in its prior state, It was perfectly designed to make you feel like your head was in the clouds. The Land is a gentle pavilion. In opposition to imaginations ambitious glass pyramids the glass topping of the land is curved and soft. Throughout the land you will see repeated patchwork land patterns flowing like those in farm fields. Even in the Seasons restaurant it flows this way. Even the planters outside. The Seas looks like a wave. It's original sign with water crashing against the rocks the constant sound of seagulls in the distance and the oceanic breeze. Even today I enjoy the goofy "mine" seagulls (or pelicans? I always mix those up) as they seem to feel real somehow. And poor wonders, lost to a word of cheapness and degraded to being used as a tent. It still resembles a natural organic membrane of a cell its interior mobiles still hang with their molecular structures over a sad lost world. Innoventions circles the centerpiece where so much is going on its overwhelming! The Electric umbrella was always a stop for me between FW and WS, and its retro sci fi feel always got me. All this and they STILL manage to have wide vast open spaces of utter quiet.
Nice theme - very quiet resort. Grounds were beautiful and relaxing.
HORIZONS COME BACK TO US! A perfect ride for epcot! Its ok Disney, you can bring it back! I won't judge you for making a mistake! This ride wasn't just in Epcot it WAS Epcot! What could be a more perfect introduction to every pavilion? Mesa Verde with your Loranges in the desert fields. You are the LAND! Sea Castle with your deep ocean bases and living among the fish dining in your undersea restaurant. You are THE LIVING SEAS! Nova Cite could be the very city at the end of World Of Motion! Not to mention our hover cars! The holo-communications? Spaceship Earth! The begining of the ride, the past visions of the future our sci fi movies and the grand ending which you could choose. Thats Imagination! The swirling DNA strand like the one in the (horribly) removed Wonders Of Life! They Crystals of Brava Centauri, the alternate energy spoke of in Universe of Energy! All throughout you see people of different nations like in World showcase (which could represent world peace in the future if you think about it!) And finally Brava Centauri Itself, which is the HORIZONS of tomorrow. Were in the threshold now! And they wanted to give it up!? Heck this shoulda been the ride in Spaceship Earth! The perfect intro to the park! Why why why? did they get rid of it? Why not put Space in its own Pavillion. A space pavillion (of which Brava could have represented!) I couldn't bear to see the video of the ride coming down, I cried. That was right after I stopped going for a few years. It was a dark time. New Imagination, No Horizons. sadly epcot is still in its dark ages. They really should rebuild it possibly between the land and the seas (there is room as there was for (sniff sniff) Wonders of life ( :'( ) on the other side.
We had a 2 bedroom suite at the Bay Lake Towers. We had a group of 9. It had plenty of room and bathrooms! We were a group with grandma, grandkids, boyfriends, girlfriend so needed a space where we would all not be "sharing" too much and this worked perfectly! It also had a laundry unit so made grandma happy. We had a lake view on an upper floor and the view was gorgeous! The table in the kitchen worked perfect for games for the younger ones and snacks. We all really enjoyed our stay here.
I have stayed here 2 times - found the rooms to be big and really pretty. Liked that we could walk to Epcot in a matter of minutes. The pool is also cool and the water slide was popular with the kids. I did not like having to go to the Boardwalk Bakery for breakfast/coffee/drinks.. it was crowded (I think they have remodeled since our stay) and a pain to get in and out quickly. We ate at the Big River Grille and enjoyed the food and the choices of beers. Night time can be fun on the boardwalk also with the "street performers" when you would like to slow down and just relax and people watch..:)
Why do they always change these things? Theres plenty of room in the park make new things instead of ruining the old. I like the 3 Caballeros but I miss the old song it was catchy and my grandma (RIP) used to sing it to me all the time. I also miss the hilarious spot on "Trying to sell you stuff" scene. The girl in it was cute too lol! but anywho, I still like the ride although the begining scene makes no sense now. Why couldnt they leave it the same and just be like having them take over the tour instead of just random unconnected events it could have been educational and funny. maybe have ponchito (sp?) telling about villages and the day of the dead and things like that then talking about cancun etc later on. Also its a lazy update because they didnt really do ANYTHING. Just switched the films. lazy lazy lazy!
This is what happened to imagination. They took a beautiful perfect elegant ride and diluted the fantasy with reality, closed of the magnificent imageworks and BEAUTIFUL Pyramid atrium and stuffed it full of darkness voids and cheap parlor tricks. The ride insults you from the beginning, claiming you have (ironically) no imagination. The next scene is possibly the worst scene in the history of theme park attractions. an empty room. Even Six Flags wouldn't have a ride full of empty rooms. The whole ride I was waiting for the actual ride to start and go back to fanciful wonders perhaps the Dreamfinder would come out of nowhere and take over. but no just some upsidown house and a loud annoying bang. rawr. The new image works (if it can be called that, I call it the What If labs as in What if Disney ruined all their rides or sold their park to six flags) is actually just really a glorified arcade. The new electronic philharmonic is just an xbox connect with a different name. everything you can do there you can do at home or on the internet. Could you say the same for the old image works? Surprisingly (or not) no. Tell me where you can pick up a collection of musical instrument statues that appear to float in mid air and emit magical music notes when you wave your hands around. Can I get a rainbow tunnel installed in my hallway? It'd sure spruce up that dusty place but no. I remember just wantering the place finding more and more new things. The blue screen, the making faces with its delightfully silly "Grand Finale". All gone. The only way they coulda made it worse was to base it on another cartoon tie in. >:P
It has been a few years since we have stayed at the GF and although it is a beautiful resort it just wasn't for us. We stayed at club level and the food was a tad too foofoo for us - maybe we are just too redneck? Would rather eat at other resort restaurants also.
We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge in 2012 a couple weeks before Christmas. It was absolutely beautiful! The HUGE tree in the lobby is just amazing! The resort has such a warm cozy feel and it was just perfect for the holiday. We stayed on the club level and the food was good - seating a little 'tricky' for a party of 5 sometimes but we managed. Whispering Canyon is always a good time and good food. We don't mind the boat rides to MK -matter of fact find it relaxing.
Our family has stayed at the Poly club level a couple times and it is our family favorite of all resorts. Once they pick you up on the cart and take you to your check in desk you know you are on VACATION! I love the feel you are somewhere exotic and beautiful. The music that plays around the grounds in the evenings is relaxing also. We stay on the ground level, sit outside, enjoy the water show, fireworks, you name it..it just doesn't get much better. The food choices at the Poly are also fantastic. You can get a Dole Whip softserve at the quick serve! But our favorite is Kona Café! Once my son and I just stopped in for dessert for my birthday - yum! The waterslide at the pool is good as well as the waterfall. We have never been disappointed at the Poly..:) I will be retiring in 3 years and already saving my money for my "retirement" vacation to the Poly resort!
The ride is a bit dated, but The park wouldn't be the same without it. A ride that can go one of two stories long before the multi storied Star Tours Adventure Continues, Either Wild West bandits or A 20s-30s Gangster will take over half way through depending on which train you get. The vehicles remdind me a bit of The Universe Of Energy, with their width and their "moving Theater" Finale. The Scenes transition well, from the last even ominous sounds of Chim Chimminee Charoo to the backstreets of the depression, where youll find figures like Jimmy Cagney. Unless you break down on the tarzan section (lord help you, lol my first ride evac walking alll the way trough all the scenes to the station kinda cool but I was a kid so i got scared of the alien) The ride flows pretty smoothly. Some of the movies there may not be recognizable by todays youth, but the ride keeps its classic golden age hollywood feel and is a trip through the ages of film from short broadway like films to period pieces, to westerns, leading up to the space epics/horrors of the 80s (alien), and the great Indina Jones. Although I would have liked them to be more in order of Time of release but I can see they wanted to group some films into common areas and others in their own places that would help the storyline.
We stayed at AKL - Jambo House June 9th to June 13th, the second half of our vacation. The luggage transfer was seamless. We were Magically upgraded from a standard view to a savanna view, which was a very nice surprise. We were in room 3283 on the Kudu Trail with the Sunset Savanna view. The room was beautiful, just like all the pictures we've seen. Being there in June was problematic in that the resort and room were cold but external temperature was really humid and hot. The room quickly warmed up with our constant opening the balcony door. Maybe this is just me, and maybe this is due to the humidity, but the carpet seemed a little damp. The bathroom was nice and had a shelf above the two sinks. I loved the wall paper. The water closet was small, and the light couldn’t be used without the fan. As others say, it was a little dark. A good variety of animals greeted us and hung around most of the time. Between Kidani and our room (to the left) was a backstage working area of AKL. While on the balcony, we always heard a low drone from whatever machinery was there, but it was OK. Sometimes, the work being done was a little louder, but the animals didn’t seem to mind. The lobby is absolutely beautiful, and all the art and artifacts are amazing. The CMs are out and about with hands-on educational and fun activities. SO cool. The décor is totally what we wanted, and AKL delivers. Disney planned the savannah viewing areas behind the pool very well, along with the posts with the animal information and facts. We didn’t eat at the Mara, but I went in one morning to get a cup of coffee. It was nice, clean, well-stocked and well laid out. The coffee was good, by the way. It is in the perfect location right near the pool. The pool area was great. The slide was fun, and the landscaping was lush. We ate dinner at Boma one evening. Everything was great. My only real downer was the bus wait times. I was ready for the trips to the Parks to take a little longer, and that was OK. It seemed that the Park we chose that day always had a long wait for the bus. It was too bad for us that we didn’t use the “whichever bus came first” method of Park decision. I would stay at AKL again in a heartbeat.
My family and I stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort in 2011 and were very impressed with the overall experience. The pool area is very well laid out and comfortable for all ages. We were very impressed with the staff having poolside activities for the families and how much fun we had. There is a small bar for refreshments within walking distance to the pool gates. When we went into the main area of the resort for lunch and shopping, we expected it to be a simple basic chow line and a small little gift shop. We were pleasantly surprised to see how wrong we really were. It is very spacious, open, and comfortable for all ages. The rooms themselves weren't bad but I can't say they were perfect. I wasn't a fan of the beds only being double sized at the time. They were way too small for full grown adults who are used to king sized beds (I know, a little spoiled). The kids (who were 7 and 13 at the time) weren't too uncomfortable but I know they would have preferred a little more room. My biggest complaint about the entire resort is the transportation system in place. Unfortunately, the only way to or from Caribbean Beach is by the bus system. They are very inconsistent with their schedule and a 30 to 45 minute wait was not uncommon. I do think that the entire transportation system needs a major overhaul and that monorail expansion should be seriously considered. All in all, Caribbean Beach Resort is a very nice, comfortable resort for a family with younger kids and is worth the money.
Its a bunch of plasma tv screens showing scenes. I could do it at home! This is no substitute for AAs in any way shape or form. Its lazy! I preferred seabase alpha to this. I miss the hyralators!!! When I see the nemo'd out place after the ride I pretend its still a sealab.
Better than Agent P! I like kim's style much better. And to me It makes more sense.
Back back over the falls! to a time when epcot created attractions without using present characters and themes. This classic favorite is the last untouched ride in Epcot, and a big part of my epcot expirience. The effects may be a bit dated but the almost dreamlike journey takes you into norway's mythology with stops along the natural countryside and culture. I can't help but feel that the trolls want you to leave so badly and finally toss you out of the country at the end haha, but its very charming. The movie however is a bit old and ruddy, and I dont think anyone actually stops to see it at all lol. But still, this ride is one of my favorites in the park!
It was perfect as it was. As you walked into the pavillion you were overwhelmed by a carefully selected color scheme of murals that depicted the ride. You would look around and feel you were someplace magical! The sky blue cars would gently roll along the loading platform which was in true imaginative fashion not just a straight line! When you finally made it down that long twisty crowded line you would sit down and head into darkness. As if you closed your eyes and began to day dream. Your head in the clouds as little puffs of cloud would appear before you, the sparks of light resembling stars hearing joyful sounds of a distant voice singing "dee dill lup doo dee". suddenly a fanciful zeppelin airship came and collected the sparks one by one. Then you drift to seeing the top of the blimp peeking out over the clouds before appearing full sized infront of you moving along as the Dreamfinder introduced you to his friend and creation, Figment. This was an impressive feet even if done now, as I have never seen it accomplished again. It moved alongside your car for a very long time. For years I wondered how it was done, Never even thinking there were many different versions of the scene going around a turntable all the time. After he introduced you to his world it was off to explore beautifully enchanting scenes of all different ways imagination can be put to use. A blank canvas room that would slowly get painted at the end, a dark world full of monsters action and fantasy, a stage with costumes and lights, the Dreamfinder conducted a symphony of visuals morphing on a vast plain beside a mountain range. Then Figment in his astronaut suit taking you through the sci fi link to the world of science and technology where our captain controlled images of nature, space, and molecular fields. And finally to wrap it all up, figment's many ideas are shown in a similar setting as he sings happily. Then off the ride and on to the upper floor, in those pyramids, where you literally felt like you were in the sky so bright even on cloudy days, then to the dark mysterious magical imageworks, where tunnels were made from rainbows, paint was shot from cannons, your footsteps made all kinds of wacky sounds, and you conducted playerless instruments that made musical notes flutter about in the air without the aid of some fancy flatscreen tv.
It started with world of motion, then Test Track, now Test Track 2.0 is here. First off what I like most about this update is that it has a totally interactive element rather than just sitting there and watching some cardboard cutouts whirl by. This brings up essence of Horizons' old choose your ending format, and adds your own touch to the ride. People complain sometimes about focusing too much on interaction. Too much? To me at least a trip to disney is a trip away from the real world. I like to feel a part of a different world, the touches, smells, sights, tastes, sounds all of it! I n other words I wanna be something more than a test dummy! Next of all, I'd like to compliment the updated scenery. The cardboard just wasn't doing it for me I'm sorry. The entire course just looked so hastily put together, and the lighting was somewhat bad. This is also my complaint about the Rockn'Rollercoaster, but coasters have the excuse of going too fast to really flesh out the scenery anyway. There are some neat effects in there now some illusions, a model city reminding me of the good old world of motion, and that cool lightning. I'm also a Tron fan so I really like the glowy stuff. It feels like your in a computer world, like its a simulation and your car is projected over a dummy car. Although this could have made a nice light cycle ride.... The old ride without the end scene (as was mentioned on E82), was very much like the new Imagination ride. Just a tour of minimalistic theming, but with a bit of speed thrown in. I'm also glad they got rid of the old hosts. Sorry, but the guy was just soo annoying he was nearly gloating about ABS even though their an old concept at this point. The girl wasn't bad. I like the new robots they have doing the voices now. I would have preferred sam and Quorra narrating a light cycle ride but I digress. (Quorra rules!) The post show area is amazing. It is a little bit reminiscant of the old image works not entirely so but hey, It makes this place a pavillion and not just a ride. Very more WOM then you think. What I don't like however is that the cars are still obviously and painfully late 90s models, with their clunky "almost streamlined but not quite" appearance. I'm glad they don't look like Bubble domes like the civic or the prius but they could at least make them resemble something out of say iRobot or something. I also don't like the fact that it breaks down as much as it always did. Sigh. All In all TT2.0 is a pretty decent for a modern upgrade. IT feels like the old epcot, stars on the roofs, effects around every corner, and you may actually (gasp!) learn something about aerodynamics and car design!!
The GM edition of Test Track was a great version. After GM went bankrupt, Chevrolet stepped in on sponsorship and now we have this travesty. The big draw for this version of the ride is that you create your design vehicle and see how well it is compared to your fellow riders. The issue is that your design is never synced up to your on ride vehicle. Thus, designing a vehicle is basically worthless. After the ride, you can compare designs with your friends, but the point was to see your design on ride. The entire attraction now contains colored lights on the walls instead of the working systems in the GM edition. Chevrolet even had to thrown in an OnStar product placement on the ride as well. What is sad is that we are going to have this version for a long time.
I went to the All-star Movies Resort during Spring Break with some friends. The resort is kept up nicely. The concierge staff is very nice. We were in a room in the Fantasia 2000. The room has all of your necessities you need. The only issue with the room was that the refrigerator wasn't plugged in. We didn't notice this when I put some milk in there one night and the next day had to throw away the milk. The buses were very efficient. We were able to get to the parks before rope drop each day. The buses were not shared with the other All-Star resorts. It's a good value resort for guests planning to stay in the parks all day.
Despite the fact that I'm not a train buff I really enjoyed the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour. It was very informative and our tour guide Lisa was great! I think it would be a great tour for any Disney fan and particularly those with an interest in trains. I think it might be a little bit below someone with an extensive steam train knowledge base but the Disney history would hopefully be enough to keep a serious train fanatic interested. The tour does go over the basic workings of the rails and steam trains specifically so those with a lot of knowledge in that area may get a bit bored during those portions. It was a very informative and entertaining tour, I recommend it.
I recently had lunch at the Captain's Grille. The service was good and the food was as well, but the best part of the whole experience was how calm and peaceful it was. A nice, cool, quiet respite from the sweaty throngs abounding in the parks. We had the salt and vinegar fries as an appetizer to split. They were the highlight of the meal for me. They were hand cut, skin on, thin crispy fries. Very tasty! For my entree I had the steak sandwich. It was good, the steak was tender and the pickled peppers added a nice tangy flavor. It was very oddly sticky though. I think maybe there was just too much (sugar heavy) sauce on it. In all honesty it was probably one of the messiest and stickiest meals I've ever eaten. It was so messy and sticky that I felt like I needed a shower after eating it, it was really bizarre for a sandwich to be like that. I think it would prevent me from ordering it again on a future visit. Overall, the Captain's Grille is a nice quite place to grab a bite of lunch. I'd go back but I'd order something else.
I recently had dinner at the Plaza Restaurant for the first time. Its a very small place serving mostly sandwiches, shakes, and ice cream. I had the cheesesteak sandwich, it was fine for what it was. It was simple and tasty but maybe a bit too much bread and not enough meat. I try to eat clean and healthy most of the time but I have to say that the best part of the whole meal was the french fries! They weren't the typical Disney french fry that you get everywhere from counter service to table service. They were perfectly golden and crispy steak fries! More than likely they still came out of the freezer just like their counter service counter parts but they were so full of potato flavor, soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. So for me the sandwich wasn't all that memorable but the fries were fantastic, I'd go back in just to have those fries. So if you're looking for a simple, unfancy sandwich joint in the MK the plaza is the place for you. Its better than Magic Kingdom counter service but there is definitely better food elsewhere on property in the same kind of price range.
I recently had lunch at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. We had the all you can eat skillet which consisted of: chicken, mashed potatoes, bbq beans, ribs, pulled pork, sausage and came with corn bread. I thought they did a pretty good job at making it taste close to real bbq but it didn't seem all that authentic to me- I doubt they are smoking any of the meats. The ribs and mashed potatoes were probably the worst of the bunch but the chicken, sausage and pulled pork were pretty good. The bbq sauce had a nice tangy flavor and was served warm, which I like. I always like corn bread, even bad corn bread, so the unlimited corn bread was a plus. For dessert I had the apple pie and ice cream. That was ok too, a little weird. I was expecting a traditional pastry based apple pie but the crust was almost more like a crumb/coffee cake. Not bad but not really what I was expecting. I didn't find the antics in the restaurant to be very entertaining, just noisy and distracting. Obviously, I knew about them beforehand and wasn't bothered by the idea but I thought it would at least be funny or entertaining in some way but it was really just noise. For me, it didn't add anything to the experience. Overall, if you need a bbq fix Whispering Canyon is probably going to be your best bet on Disney property (except for maybe the ribs at House of Blues). For me I think Whispering Canyon is a once and done experience.
I dined at 50's Prime Time Cafe recently for the first time. I had always shied away from dining here due to the mixed reviews and the possibility of being embarrassed by our server. I had some friends who wanted to give it a try and invited me along so I thought why not! My experience was a very pleasant one despite my previous concerns. First- the service: Our server was funny. He had a dry wit and really picked on the others servers in our section more than us, which I fully appreciated. It was entertaining and the servers didi a great job playing off each other. I wasn't uncomfortable at all. Second- the food: I think if you go in expecting a gourmet meal you'll be disappointed. Maybe I went in with lower expectations than most but I thought the food was really quite tasty for what it was. Its very simple basic TV dinner type food but I really did enjoy it, as did the rest of my party. We were all members of the clean plate club! I had the pot roast and it was hot and tender- no complaints. The stand out of the meal though had to be the peanut butter and jelly milk shake. The BEST milkshake I've had anywhere on Disney property. It was creamy and delicious, I'm not sure I could detect any of the jelly flavor but I love peanut butter so it was perfect for me. Fantastic, I'd go back just for the milkshake alone. I felt the food portions were a good size, not too huge like in most restaurants these days. Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised with the 50's Prime Time and I'd go back.
I'm the resident ice cream aficionado and connoisseur in our family so when L'Artisan des Glaces opened we had to go in and give it a try. Gelato is different than ice cream in that it is contains more milk than cream, has little to no egg in it, and is churned slower so it contains less air and is creamier. Its also served at a higher temperature so its softer than your typical ice cream. The serve sorbet as well but we didn't give that a try. I had the profiterole flavor in a cone, it seemed very authentic, had a nice flavor, and had some bits of profiterole mixed in. As its gelato its very soft and melts quickly- a cup may be a better bet in the middle of the summer or for any little ones to avoid a big mess. I do however, feel that the cone is the better value since you get to eat it because both the cone and the cup are the same price. You have the choice of either one or two scoops. I feel that you get a quality product at L'Artisan des Glaces but it does come at a premium price. Its far better than Edy's or the soft serve at the African Outpost. As a local I can get better ice cream, custard or gelato elsewhere so I probably wouldn't bother going back or just stick with a Mickey bar. But if you're on vacation and want a decent gelato while in Epcot and aren't too concerned with the cost L'Artisan des Glaces is the place to go. So overall, it was good, tasted fresh but didn't blow my socks off.
Got to love Fultons, good choices and some groceries too. Friendly castmembers. My only problem is they no longer sell items special to Port Orleans. This is so sad. Disney is getting way too generic. Maybe a pin but that's it. The other resorts have done the same. Unless you are a lucky vacation club member.
We stayed at CSR June 5th to June 9th before switching resorts. From check in to leaving the Resort, our stay was great. We arrived in the evening and checked in with a very sweet and helpful CM from France. He pulled our reservation immediately and showed me that we were placed in Casitas. I told him we requested Ranchos to which he replied, "But this is a preferred room." I took their room placement and his response as trying to be as kind and well meaning, but I told him we wanted to be near the Dig Site Pool. He immediately called and had us moved into Ranchos Bldg. 7B in Room 7668. We didn't eat at Pepper Market or at Maya Grill. It was pretty, clean and comfortable, around the corner from the stairs and very near the Cabanas (I think) bus stop which is exactly what we wanted. The grounds were well maintained. Once we understood the lay of the land, getting around was easy for us. The buses were prompt most of the time (but late buses can happen anywhere), and the Resort is centrally located so that drive time was minimal to the Parks. The Resort is beautiful, and I would recommend it highly to anyone.
It's been about 5 years since I've dined at Victoria and Albert's, but I can still visualize the setting and recall the impecable service and the superb flavors of the food and the wines. To start, the atmosphere feels very "velvet-rope", like you are about to dine with the Queen. In fact, the cozy, dimly-lit room surrounded with marble columns and fresh roses makes you feel like you are the King or Queen who has been invited for a palacial celebration. There are no sounds of a noisy dive kitchen, but rather a tranquil harpist weaving the soundtrack for this culinary experience. You are seated at your table - complete with white linens and hand-carved wooden dining chairs with fine English upholstry - by your waitstaff who seem more like butlers, prepared to wait on you hand and foot. In fact (and this may be TMI :P) at one point during the meal, I got up to go to the restroom and when I returned, the napkin that I had left on the table was gone and was instead replaced over an arm of a butler after I'd sat back down. So over-the-top, but a really fine touch! Next starts the food service. First off, when you make your reservation for Victoria and Albert's they ask for the names of those you will be dining with and if you are celebrating any special ocation. These names and the occasion appear printed on your personalized menu with the date, which you get to take with you as a tangible momento at the end of the evening. Next, the head chef himself comes out to welcome you and to go over the courses he is offering for the evening. He proceeds to answer any questions, and to ask if there are any dietary restrictions that he can accommodate. The menu is a six-course prix-fixe affair, but for each course you have options, so you can choose between two or three soups, two or three salads, two or three entrees, etc. You also have the choice to add the wine pairing option to the meal, and they bring out a new glass of wine for each option you choose per course. I used to have a "wine is wine" mentality, but after having everything paired for me during the meal I can now say, I get it! Amazing. The menu is ever-changing, but you can rest assured that it will be fantastic. Even things you've had prepared a thousand ways before (steak for example) become a whole new experience here. Food is just transformed and is so succulent and flavorful that it really can be quite emotional, or at the very least memorable. So now the particulars. This restaurant really is not for kids. The guidelines ask that children be 10 and over if you really must bring them, but I can tell you that the experience will just be lost on them. And while it is a bit pricey, I promise that you will walk out of there having felt that it was worth every penny. The food, the atmosphere, and the memories you will leave with are truly special. Enjoy!!
My family and I stayed at BLT in June of 2012, and it was one of the best stays we've ever had at a Disney Resort. Like any resort, there are some pluses and minuses. Now the minuses will never effect my decision of wether or not to stay here, but they are something that may make you go out of your way or take couple of extra minutes. PLUSES: -Quiet, Relaxing Atmosphere( with a fruity smell) -Great Proximity to the Magic Kingdom, Monorail or Walking. -Excellent Pool area with a really cool slide. -You can make your room like a meat locker (65 degrees) DVC MEMBER BONUS: Access to the Top of the World Lounge!!! MINUSES: -EVERYTHING is in the Contemporary A-Frame Tower, which means even to refill your mug could end up being a lengthy walk -Extremely high point value, almost 500 pts. for a week -It can feel like your the only one in the resort, it's that large I hope I provided you all with good info on BLT, any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
I can't rave about this hotel enough! The location, pool, food, rooms, everything is excellent. I can't believe anyone would want to stay anywhere else (ok maybe you could argue the convenience of a monrail resort with a view of the castle...). This hotel is the best...hands down!
I had a work conference here last year. I couldn't recommend the Yacht Club enough! The rooms are amazing (my view was of trees/garden area but it was still lovely), clean, wonderful. The smell in this hotel is amazing! I don't know what they pump into the lobby but I love it! So many food options and Stormalong Bay is great. So nice to be able to walk to two parks and the Boardwalk. Its quite expensive but you are paying for convenience!
Stayed in a studio in late October 2012. Was the room a little dated? Sure but it was clean, convenient to two parks, had a great pool, excellent dining options. So for all of that I can deal with the rooms being a little dated. I have a 3 year old daughter and Stormalong Bay was a little overwhelming for her so it was nice to be able to walk to the quiet pool at the Villas in a minute and relax there with her. Plus the free laundry in the villas is great as well!
Stayed at theWL for one night in 2012. Can't say I was a huge fan. The boats weren't a fast way to get to the MK, the bus service wasn't that great (granted I know a lot of hotels suffer now with service that is not as great as it was 5 years ago), and our room was very dark and dim. However, the quick service (Roaring Forks) was awesome and so was the pool. It really is a beautiful hotel but just not quite my speed.
This place is unbelievable. If you don't believe me just give it a try. If worse comes to worse the bakery is right down the boardwalk. But I'm willing to guess you won't be disappointed.
One of the best hotels on property. Great staff, great rooms, great transportation, great dining. I have stayed on all of the hotels in MK area, and these one is my favorite, tied with the contemporary. The hotel is cosy, very inviting, comfortable. Highly recommended.
Stay there in 2012, had better expectations, the room was in really bad shape. Kona cafe made our stay much better with it's coffee and tonga toast, liked the theme and the smell of the main building. CM's friendly and helpful.
Stay there in 2010. The rooms are great, restaurants are really good, walking distance to the MK, chef Micke's in house, monorail inside the building; what can you ask for.
The Grand Floridian in itself is to me the best place to stay in the park. Victoria and Alberts has always been a great place to dine. The atmosphere is romantic with a view of the copper encrusted kitchen and the food is fantastic. Ive had the Veal Shank here and their steaks. In short, if you are looking for an excellent experience all around, its great.
I've been going to this place since I was in a stroller. The food and atmosphere has always been great, I've never once not enjoyed my food. I especially have enjoyed the people that have been there for years that remember us when we go, that means a great deal. The sushi and steak items have always been my favorites. You won't find a better place in the park to watch the fireworks from - and have it all at your fingertips. Everything on the menu is great, I've had it all.
Staying at the Beach Club is ideal for anyone who has ever run for a bus after Illuminations. The charmingly themed hotel is a 5 minute walk to Epcot, and a 15 minute walk to the Studios. Either way, it is a shorter walk to the parks than some of the bus stops I've stayed at in the park. Staff is friendly and acommodating for questions, ticket issues or ways to enjoy your vacation. The location is outstanding for families with older kids who can take off on their own, and then reunite later in the day. Great proximity to the Boardwalk area as well, including restuarants, entertainment and a sports club. There is a small grocery store with all types of items, and the entertainers are charming. Food choices from pizza and burgers, to brew fare, to top of the line steaks. The pool is simply amazing, and one of the best I've seen anywhere. I've stayed at many on-site hotels, and while I like Port Orleans and the Boardwalk, this one is the best.
It was all about the location that got us hooked on the Beach Club. We have spent four trips and one to come in November and all but the first (Contemporary) was at the Beach Club. We love the easy walk to Epcot and the stroll along the walking path to our favorite park DHS. It is great to spend the day parking with the family and then spend an hour with the wife at the Big River Grille for a nightcap!
half an hour of my life i will never get back...avoid this attraction at all costs.....we have been to disney 8 times and cannot rave about it enough but this ride is one of the worst experiences of my life !!!
We are planning our 4th trip to WDW for February 2014 and are planning to stay at FW Cabins - AGAIN. We did consider a deluxe resort and then changed our minds back to the cabins. We love the seclusion and quietness of the resort. Not hearing loud t.v.'s and room doors slamming at all hours. We love seeing the animals like armidillos, deer, etc. We have been reading other reviews and are disappointed in others opinions about transportation (internal and external). We have been here in November and in February. The most we ever waited for an internal resort bus was 10-15 minutes maximum. The most we ever waited for a bus to go to parks, etc. was 20-30 minutes; and the 30 minutes only happened in February during winter recess time. Again, we don't think this is a bad amount of time to wait. If it is taking hours then people must not be reading bus signs and getting on the correct buses. Also, time seems to be much longer when you are tired after a long day or even anxious at the beginning of the day and wanting to get the the parks. You are on vacation; relax. Not everything needs to be instant gratification.
The guest areas were all pristine and the Broadway area, where we stayed, was amazing at night! The pools looked like fun and areas around them kept very nice! (we stayed 1/26/13 to 1/29/13 so swimming wasn't an option because it was cold out) The lobby was nice with some iconic stars on the walls, but the lobby and food court areas could definitely be refurbished with some lights out and needed paint. The letters outside the resort were painted during our stay so they ended up looking great upon departure! The three caballeros were out for refurb as well but maintenance is understandable. Bus service was great except for the rare occasion the All Stars shared a bus line. Our room was nice and came with a flat screen and fridge that was very handy. The food in the food court was great and very tasty (loved the cheese steak sandwich), however ambiance for that area did meet the expectations set by the rest of the resort. All cast we came into contact with was very friendly and did the most to make our stay magical! :)
We stayed at AoA from May 3- May 5 as we're local so this was just a staycation but we had a blast! The theming was exceptional especially for a value! We stayed in the Little Mermaid section and having our own personal quiet pool was great during the busier times for the Nemo pool! Maintenance was exceptional as one lamppost had gone out during our stay but the next night it was fixed! Landscaping was second to none as all garden areas were kept trimmed and mulch/crushed shell off the sidewalks. The room was large enough and every piece of furniture was themed. Nice new flat screen TV and a fridge in the dresser. (Especially loved the print on the curtain to cut off the bathroom!) The food court served fresh food, but we did wish it stayed open a little later. The first night we made it into the pool I ducked my head under water and was surprised to hear music at 12:30 AM and it was at that point I realized they played music under water! Awesome touch! (Heard the soundtrack for Finding Nemo the musical playing!) The courtyard for Cars was really cool at night but Lion King stood out in the day! The caves under the Elephant Graveyard were a pleasant surprise as well as the constant mist it provided. Bus service to and from the Resort was exceptional and I would for sure recommend this resort! Oh and be sure to bring your camera plenty of photo ops!
We were so excited to try out Cat Cora's restaurant and were completely let down. When we first sat down, I was extremely impressed with our server - he knew the menu, he knew the wine and was very friendly. We ordered a wine he suggested, which was very good. We ordered an appetizer and entrees. Once he brought our drinks out, we pretty much never saw him again. Our appetizer, which was baked goat cheese, took 25 minutes. I had to ask another server to check on it for us. Once it was finally brought out, our food arrived within 5 minutes. It was obvious that the appetizer was forgotten about. Our server did come out with the food and see if we needed anything. But again, once he did that, we didn't see him again until after our meal was finished. I asked for a manager and when she came by, I explained all that had occurred and how disappointed we were. She offered us dessert and didn't say much about the incident. Not only did our server not clear any of our plates, including the appetizer plates, but the manager didn't either! Working in a restaurant as a server, a bartender and even a front of house manager; this service was completely unacceptable. Even though we were on vacation and it isn't around the corner to visit all the time, when we return to Orlando, we will definitely not be going back. And it also says something about Cat Cora's other restaurants.
What an awful update, it doesn't make any sense. Before you knew the tests you were going through like when you entered through the cold and hot chambers, now you don't even know where the heck you are. I was expecting more, big disappointment, sorry Disney Imagineers but you completely failed this time.
We have stayed at All Star Music resort on four separate occasions, three of which were in an All Star Family Suite. We love this resort! There is lush landscaping in and around the resort that hides all the parking lots when you are in and around the resort. I will start with a review of the family suites, they have a master bedroom with a queen sized bed, nightstands, dresser, television, desk, and a chair. There is ample space to move about the room and to store your "stuff". Outside of the master bedroom is a galley-style kitchenette with microwave, small refrigerator, small coffee maker, small sink and shelving. Plastic-ware and paper plates are usually provided by mousekeeping; however, for an extended stay I would pack some of your own. The main living area has a sofa, chair, and ottoman that all convert to sleeping. There is also a larger dresser, tv, small table and chair for dining. One of the best features in the suite is the fact that there are two bathrooms. The sinks are located outside of the bathroom with a privacy curtain and lots of hanging space. We have stayed with four adults in the suites and have had plenty of space. The suites are located in the Calypso and Jazz sections, so they are relatively close to the main building. My one and only standard room stay I found the room to be of an adequate size as I was traveling alone. I would not like to try to stay in a standard room with more than two adults, it would just be too cramped for space. The standard rooms also have the privacy curtain in the bathroom sink area. Both pool areas of the resort are nice sized and kept exceptionally clean. In the main hall you will find guest services, dining, arcade, and shopping. We really enjoy the meal selection at All Star Music. They have a nice dinner selection that include baked chicken, flank steak, roast turkey; as well as the standard burgers & pizza fare. The dinner meals do tend to rotate in selection. The "make your own salad" station is not to be missed if you are a salad lover! Warning, you will not go hungry with the meals. My husband and I will share our meals from the food court because there is usually just too much food. So if you are staying in the suites I would pack some plastic food bags to handle leftovers. One night we both ordered the baked chicken dinner, which is a half of a chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, roll. We both saved half of our chicken for lunch the next day. Buses, the All Star resorts have taken a bad rep at times for sharing buses with the other two All Star resorts. This does not occur as often as you would think, but it can happen. Our four stays totaled 21 days and during those times we shared a bus four times. The nice thing about the proximity of the other All Star resorts is that if you want to leave a park and there is a bus going to another All Star you can easily hop that bus and take a quick walk to All Star Music resort.
We have stayed two times at Fort Wilderness Campground with our 29 Foot travel trailer and full-sized pick-up truck. The campsites are very nice with adequate spacing to the sides of the site. Our first stay in Sept 2010 we were in site 124 and had plenty of space for the rig, truck, and golf cart with room to spare behind the rig. We found adequate camping supplies at the stores, although there was a difference of selection between the Settlement and Meadows Trading Post. If you have forgotten something for the rig or need a replacement I would suggest checking the Meadows Trading Post first. Our second stay at "the fort" was in May of 2011. Our initial assignment for a site was in the 100 loop but due to the length of our rig and the angle of the site there was no way that our rv and truck were going to make it into the site. A cast member observed our difficulties and phoned the front desk for us. We were assigned another site - all without our asking him too! Our second assignment was in the 200 loop with a very nice site that backed up to the canal. We rented a golf cart on both trips, but do find it somewhat pricey. You do not have to rent a cart to enjoy your stay. There are three bus routes that take you from the loops to the settlement and to the outpost for transportation to the parks. These buses run continuously during the day and evening and usually only a few minutes wait. There are walking/bike trails that will get you to anywhere you want to be at the fort within just a few moments. So if you don't mind a few bugs and really enjoy the outdoors Fort Wilderness is the place for you!
Ladies swimwear was reasonably priced. Cute store. Great displays.
When regarding the best WDW resorts, we usually hear about the Polynesian or Grand Floridian. However, Fort Wilderness is the ideal resort for a family staying in WDW looking to expand their vacation to more than just parks. With endless activities accompanied by beautiful scenery and fantastic food just a golf cart ride away, this resort is certainly a must. Firstly, you cannot overlook the quality of the cabins at Fort Wilderness. However, you must keep in mind that housing any more than 5 people would most likely not be enjoyable. These cabins somehow make the guests feel at home at the same time as giving the luxurious vacation feel. The privacy is definitely a favorable aspect of these cabins. In addition, the beautiful, rustic decor (that is similar to the Wilderness Lodge) really enhances the Disney feel. Having a kitchen is always a plus. Having the ability to store ample amount of left overs and snacks is very practical. During my stay, my family and I had the luxury of eating a home cooked meal one night including steaks that we made on the grill outside the cabin. The cabin itself was a very positive attribute of our stay at Fort Wilderness. To specify, staying in the cabin was an extraordinary experience. Though this is true, the stay was made by everything beyond the cabin at the resort. To begin, the food options at Fort Wilderness are second to none. First, there is Crockett's Tavern which is an exceptional quick service eatery decked out in westernized decorations that serves delicious pizza as well as wings. This is a very authentic place where you can get wonderful sweet tea in a mason jar. Next, is the all you can eat buffet, Trail's End. Serving all your southern comfort foods including fried chicken and ribs, this attraction should not be missed. Last but certainly not least is the infamous Hoop Dee Doo which is by far my favorite attraction/restaurant in the entire 43 square miles of WDW. With the best fried chicken you will ever sink your teeth into while witnessing the most comical performance you may ever see, THE HOOP DEE DOO CANNOT BE MISSED whether you are staying in the Orlando Hilton or Fort Wilderness. Top that off with a delectable strawberry shortcake and it is an amazing night. Lastly, there are the other activities that can be found at Fort Wilderness. You will have access to a beautiful pool that includes a huge water slide. There are also several recreational activities that vary daily. A personal favorite of mine happens to be the campfire with Chip n Dale. Once it gets dark, there will be a Disney movie projected onto a large screen that can be viewed from log benches around a roaring campfire and kids roasting marshmallows. You will be able to purchase snacks like popcorn and hot cocoa. Chip n Dale hang out and play there as well. It is awesome to have characters right on the resort grounds. All around, this is a fabulous experience. Another fun nighttime experience is being able to watch the Electric Water Pageant while laying on a lounge chair on the Fort Wilderness Beach. I know you must be wondering how big this resort is but there's even more. Fort Wilderness also offers horseback riding. No experience necessary, this is an incomparable experience that is hard to obtain anywhere else. To conclude, the Fort Wilderness experience is unmatched. From renting boats and bikes to resort wide wiffle ball tournaments and three legged races, there is something for everyone. After exploring the many adventures that make up the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground it will be hard to believe that there are four theme parks and two water parks beyond this campus.
I just love Olivia's, it really is like coming home. The team are friendly, they remember you from visit to visit and always have time to talk. New improved menu on this visit - fantastic Cheddar & Beer soup, thank you chef - can't wait to return.
The whole experience was definitely worth the lengthy wait-list. Lovely welcome from the team, we were seated very quickly, though the waitress was a bit slow coming over to take our drinks order - ho hum, they were busy! Menu fairly limited, but food was much better than I expected, I'd rather they do a few things well than have a massive menu. The setting/decor very lovely, the Beast very entertaining....quite noisy but then again there were a lot of people in there. All in all, I'd definitely do it once, won't rush to go back given the need to book ahead and so many other choices, but a special evening out in the happiest place on earth :-)
We opted for Disney all star music resort for a great stay , it indeed would have been but didn't turned out that way. The reason being...their AC ..aging AC I guess. It just wouldn't cool our room, tht too after coming back tired from parks, you expect the room to be cool , but it wasn't and even if we changed the settings the temp stayed at 76 F...on hot and humid nights. We couldn't get proper sleep. Moreover even after complaining they just changed the filter at 11.30 pm. On second day we complained again around 1Am and they asked what we wanted ,wait or transfer to another room in the middle of night. We asked them to attend the problem the next day but again there were no signs of this happening ..we came fom MK at 1 am and were just so tired and frustrated. The reason why I am stressing on the AC , is bcos we all need good sleep to enjoy the park next day early morning, that didn't happen. I would suggest you check in at day time and stay in your room for an hour or two and if your room has problem report it immediately or get it changed.
clean-quiet-picturesque-tasty-fulfilling.
Beach Club really can't be beat for fans of Epcot! We (2 adults and 2 kids) stayed in a studio villa from 6/2-6/9, and really enjoyed this resort. The room was small and honestly nothing special, but we were quite comfortable. The proximity to International Gateway, DHS, and the pool made our stay worth every penny. Park hoppers are a must when staying here, as we loved being able to stroll into World Showcase in the evenings for dinner. On-site dining options are fantastic between the Beach and Yacht Club and Boardwalk area. We loved Beaches and Cream for dinner and (too many) desserts, and Hurricane Hannah's was great for a pool-side meal. Stormalong Bay is incredible! We literally had to drag our kids away from the pool to go to the parks! The walk to Hollywood Studios took exactly 20 minutes, which is about how long the ferry boat took as well. A few things that could use improvement: the villas rooms are outdated and need a refurb, the interior hallways are poorly soundproofed, and they really need more Beach Club merchandise in the Marketplace. Overall, we loved this resort and will absolutely stay here again!
First off, the grounds of the Coronado Springs Resort are fabulous and the rooms were on par with the rooms we have had at other Disney resorts. Where my disappointment lies is with the Pepper Market and the way they handle the Quick Service Dining Plans. We have previously stayed at the Caribbean Resort and Port Orleans. We always get the Quick Service Dining Plan which generally works in the following manner: You enter the dining area and there are several stations with different types of food ranging from pasta/pizza to sandwiches and burgers and even steak and chicken. You pick your meal a desert and a beverage and then you go through the check out line where the appropriate number of meals are deducted from your meal plan. The food in the past has been awesome. With custom gourmet burgers and freshly prepared pasta dishes to name a few. There are also multiple beverage bars throughout the dining hall to refill you cup with. Well we have just returned from 7 nights at the Coronado Springs and the dining was the worst I've ever experienced. First off, you have to wait to be seated somewhere within the dining area. So you have no say in where you will sit. They also tend to clump you in certain areas depending on their staffing level. So if you eat in the evening after a day at the park you will likely get seated in a corner of the dining hall with 5 other families at the tables around you while the rest of the dining hall sits empty. You then get a card to go to the individual stations to get your food. Each station appears to be staffed by one individual unlike at the other resorts we've stayed at where the appropriate staffing levels are maintained. It took my daughter 20 minutes to get a simple fettuccine alfredo. It also doesn't appear that people from other stations can step in and lend a hand if their individual station isn't busy at the moment. I didn't have a single "fresh" meal any of the times we ate at the Pepper Market as some portion of it had been made ahead of time. At the burrito station the cook pre-made about 5 orders of quesadillas while he was making my burrito and then set them plated on the grill. While I was waiting for my burrito (about 10 minutes) someone came up and ordered a quesadilla and the cook gave him one that had been sitting on the grill for the past 10 minutes. One other night after we got caught in a downpour at Hollywood Studios we came back to the hotel and instead of drag soaking wet kids to the dining hall we ordered 2 pizzas to take back to the room. They made the supreme fine but forgot to make the cheese so they made it and took it into the back room to use some other type of oven. Needless to say, the crust wasn't cooked all the way nor was the cheese and it was barely warm at all. The biggest insult though of the dining at the Pepper Market comes when you are presented your bill. Your server, who up to this point has maybe brought you a drink since there aren't any self-service drink stations in the dining area, will bring you your bill. Remember that the food is priced high since it is a resort with the bill averaging $50 - $60 for a family of 4. Well on the bill is the suggested gratuity of 20% or 28%. I find this disgusting since the server has basically only brought a few drinks. Remember that YOU have to go to the food stations and order your food and wait while it is prepared and then bring it back to your table. One night I sent my receipt with no tip as I had planned on leaving a cash tip of a few dollar but not the suggested 20+%. The waitress had the gall to bring back the ticket and point out that I had neglected to indicate the tip. I seriously hope that the rest of the Disney resorts have not gone to this style of dining because if they have we will probably stay off property in the future.
First time I have ever stayed at a DW resort for a family vacation. Check-in was fast and smooth and all staff was very friendly. Rooms were clean and comfortable for a Moderate Resort. Never made it to the lobby to fill the complimentary refill mugs because I was located in Cabana 8B and I wasn't willing to walk or get the car just to fill up a mug of coffee every morning. Pool was beautiful and the kids loved it. I found it to me well located centrally to all the parks to make it convenient to bounce around from park-to-park every day for a week. Would absolutely stay there again.
This hotel is just like the Disney Deluxe resorts but much more affordable. Our family has stayed here on numerous vacations and will continue to go back. Yes, there are fees that they assess that other Disney resorts do not, but the price is still less than the Deluxe Disney hotels. There are many restaurants to eat at, including Picabu (which is where we ate most of our breakfasts), Garden Grove (that has character breakfast on Saturday and Sundays only), and the Cabana Pool Bar that has wonderful sandwiches that we often ate for lunch and/or dinner. The rooms are large and come with a small refrigerator that came in handy as we stopped at the food store before we checked in. I love the decor of the beautiful lobby, hallways and rooms. The grounds are so lush and beautiful you really feel like you're on an island somewhere. The grotto pool is spectacular and well maintained and it is one of my favorite things about the hotel. All the staff are upbeat and very helpful. I have never had any problems with this hotel. I will always return to the Dolphin, happily :)
They ruined this ride. This used to be one of my family's favorites but not anymore. There is nothing interesting to look at while waiting in line. Designing your car was kind of fun but takes too long. Plus trying to get your party of three to agree on the specs is difficult. Then the ride itself is boring! There is NOTHING to look at during the ride. Just a bunch of neon lights in darkness. Yes there are many things to do with your designed car after the ride but there are lines for this stuff. Frankly I was so let down after the ride I just wanted to move on and try to forget about it. I am in disbelief that disney thinks this is an improvement. P.S. I am even into cars. Have a 2013 ZL1 Camaro. This ride should have rocked. Instead it's a flop!
CSR is a family favorite. The atmosphere is fantastic! Nothing like a nice stroll around Lago Dorado in the early morning to watch the sun rise. I suppose many people complain about the "size" of CSR. Honestly, you do way more walking in WDW than you think. If walking is a problem, rent a scooter. This may be a resort for the more 'health conscious' guest as frequently in the morning you see people utilizing the walk-ways for jogging/running/walking. The rooms are CSR are big! You even get privacy doors between the bedroom and bathroom. No cheap curtain like at the other moderates! I have rarely, if ever heard other guests from inside any room I have stayed at. Once, when I was on the ground floor, I heard a kid running upstairs - that's it. Bus service is great and with its central location, does not take long to get anywhere on property. Pepper Market is a great deal for breakfast. Get your food "to-go" and sit out by Lago Dorado. You'll see turtles and fish in the lake!I don't know if some people are just trying to give CSR a bad name or what. But, it really is a beautiful resort.
Test Track has been a longtime favorite for me and my now 15 year old son. On June 8, we experienced the new Test Track and were sorely disappointed. My son refused to ride it a second time (we usually do single riders so that we can ride multiple times). He found the ride uninteresting, even boring. He was especially upset because the old Test Track had been so awesome. His cousin and uncle felt the same way--as did I.
Food was delicious and service great! Especially the fish and strip steak. Out girls loved the "pony" ride and milk shakes! We will be back!
My family and I have just returned from Walt Disney World where we chose to stay at Shades of Green. I can honestly tell you that "Deluxe" is a far cry from our experience unless you, the reader, finds the following part of a "deluxe" package: 1. No Free WiFi as advertised 2. No Fridge in our room as advertised 3. No hair dryer in our room as advertised 4. Broken Faucet in bath 5. Slimy and nasty dirty, scum rimmed swimming pool (Millpond Pool) 6. Inconveniences with drop off and pick up using bus transportation (distance, cover) 7. Wasp problems on outside room deck and pool area; also in the pool water 8. Non engaged staff and management; bad attitudes, unhappy staff 9. Understaffed in Manginos 10. Staff caring for their own family more than ours at Manginos; kid sleeping under a plastic bag in the seat; kid left unattended for long period of time while staff continued to fret and fuss on this table and missing child all evening long! 11. Front desk Manager needs better training and accommodating attitude when addressing complaints such as ours: *** Midnight in our room, we are awoken to someone coming into our room with a key card!!! When we made formal complaint, we were told it was an "honest mistake". Think of the variables that could have arisen with that kind of honest mistake!! 12. The gear shift on our car somehow during it's valet parking was broken! I'm sure it was an honest mistake, of course. The true honest mistake here was our choosing this so called Deluxe Resort. We can not recommend this Resort as we will not be returning.
Me and my family went to Walt Disney World in August of 2012 ...the last week. i have to say this was a great time to go the weather was perfect! We got the free dining package and were more than satisfied, we received a fast food meal a beautiful table service meal and the choice of 1 of many snack options per day, which also included the free refillable mug. We of course stayed at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort which was ideal and i know that many people comment on how walking is such an issue but believe me it isn't and i'm not the most in shape person on earth! We stayed in building 43 of Jamaica which was across the lake from Old Port Royale. We were so happy to enter our room which had been cleaned and was neat and not dirty at all. We found not one problem with the room and we were convienently a 1 minute walk from the bus stop which is awesome as the bus takes you to every park. The grounds of this resort were lushly landscaped and filled with little surprises like exotic flowers and beautiful colors. We made our way across the island to go to Old Port Royale for breakfast and when we arrived at centertown we were greeted by many disney cast members who were happy to answer any questions. There are 5 food stations at CBR and also the sit down restaurant shutters. You can also order pizza to your room from bluerunners. The food at CBR is very good for a moderate resort and i wouldnt want to go anywhere else. Caribbean Beach has also plenty recreation options such as a marina and jogging trail an arcade a large gift shop and plenty more! All in all if your planning on going to a moderate resort Caribbean Beach is definetely my pick!
We stayed at CSR in 2012 in the Cabanas buildings. We absolutely loved this resort! The grounds are beautiful and my daughter and I enjoyed an early morning walk every morning while the Mrs was putting her face on for the day. The staff gave excellent service and I would say their attentiveness was even better than the deluxe resorts we have stayed at. The rooms are a little lacking in color and theme but we liked the fact that there are actual doors between the bedroom and bathroom areas. I never understood why a shower curtain in this capacity is in any way acceptable at other mods. The pool area....WHOA! In my opinion this is second only to Stormalong Bay at Beach Club but the huge difference in cost per night more than makes up for that. The pool is beautiful in theme as well as landscaping and layout. The water slide is tons of fun and they have kids activities all day long. Although we did not take advantage of it they have the largest hot tub on Disney property here. Bus service is great as the resort does not share busses with any others. There are four bus stops on the resort so the size of the resort does not detract from walking distances or crowding in our experience. The main buildings and dining are all very nice as well. Lobby and gift shop are great and the Pepper Market are all a grand slam in terms of themeing and quality. Nice outdoor patio area for dining and sitting in the evenings enjoying a drink from the outdoor bar area. In closing let me say that this is the ONLY resort we ever booked a return trip to. We usually like to keep trying new experiences but our trip was so great there that we re-booked for 2014 and have no doubt in our mind that our stay will more than live up to our expectations.
WL was the first deluxe resort we ever stayed at (and the only one so far) and it is just an absolutely spectacular resort. We love that all the rooms are centrally located in one building. The grand lobby is breathtaking and I literally had to stop and stare when I first walked in. Roaring Fork is a great place to grab a quick meal or snack. The specialty waffles are yummy as is the Magic Cookie Bar. We made a special trip here last week with some family who had never seen the lodge to get one of these snacks. They too were completely blown away. The boat ride to MK is nice and relaxing and we had very good luck with bus service. The line for buses were never long when the parks closed. The only downside was how far down the hall that our room on the villas side was but even then, it wasn't as far from the food court as the furthest rooms at any of the value resorts are. WL will always be our home as it was the first resort we really fell in love with. A must stay for anyone staying on Disney property!
Having stayed at all levels of Disney Resorts, this was easily my favorite resort. Prior to our stay at WL, we stayed at the Contemporary, Pop Century and Coronado Springs. Several years ago, I stayed at the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian. For several reasons, WL ranks above all of those hotels in my opinion, and chances are we will not stay at any other hotel from now on. There are 2 things that put WL above even the other deluxes in my opinion: (1) The size (the ease of which you can get to and from your room from transportation, The Roaring Fork, and the pool; and (2) the tranquilness. The size of the Disney hotels is often not considered by hotel guests until it's too late to do anything about it (i.e., until you hauling a stroller and a sleeping child from the bus back to your room at 10 pm). It is so easy to get from the buses and/or boat to your room in WL. Unless you get lucky or pay significantly extra to stay close to the main hub in other hotels, you will walk a considerable distance back to your room. After a long, exhausting day in the parks that can make you pretty sour. Not only was our room closer to transportation, but it was also so close to the quick service restaurant, Roaring Fork. It was so nice to be able to go down and fill up our mugs in the morning and at night or grab a quick snack. It was a real pain at the other hotels to have to trek out and get that stuff. It just made out trip so much more enjoyable. Also, the other hotels can be really noisy. At WL, all you hear in the morning or at night from your balcony is the waterfall. It's so nice at the end of a long day to just sit out on the balcony and have a glass of wine or in the morning having a cup of coffee and just listen to the soothing waterfall. Compared to the chaos you encounter pretty much everywhere else in Disney, it's a treat you don't appreciate until you have it. There are several other reasons I love WL. But those two are why I will never stay anywhere else.
This restaurant is a great choice if you are spending more than just a few hours in the park and want a break from the heat and the crowds. When you first enter the Yak and Yeti, you will notice that it has a great atmosphere and if you enter on a particularly hot day, you will definitely notice the air conditioning!!! This restaurant consists of two levels, which means a lot of seating, but I would still recommend a reservation just to be on the safe side. The food here reminds me of the type of offerings you would get a P.F. Chang’s, so if you have picky eaters they still might like some dishes that this restaurant has to offer. For people that are looking for a more flavorful experience, I would recommend Flame Tree Barbecue.
I saw the parade when I was two, and now I obsess about it at the age of fourteen. My friends who have never seen the parade, think I am crazy. But when ever I show them YouTube videos of it, they all say the same thing. "Why don't they bring it back?" If Disney won't bring it back, we should all work together to bug Disney about it, so then they get so annoyed with us that they will bring the parade back so then we will stop asking for it to come back. :D
My family got to go on this ride in November 2012 when they were still 'testing' the new area. The queue part is amazing, with CGI crabs and and awesome trip that takes you from the shore to the sea (kind of like the line for Nemo at Epcot). The ride itself is filled with animatronic sea creatures and some CGI video of Ariel. While the ride might not wow adults, my daughter (2 at the time) became in instant Little Mermaid fan. The look in her eyes while riding this is the reason i give it full stars. The ride is designed for kids, not thrill-seeking adults. Don't hate on this ride because it doesn't take you from 0-60 in nothing flat and doesn't try to scare you. Think of it from the perspective of a young child who gets to ride through one of their favorite movies and interact with the characters. I for one loved it and think Disney hit the nail on the head for what they were going for.
The Port Orleans French Quarter is a very nice moderate resort that feels like a deluxe resort. It has very great bus service and a nice and cute dragon themed pool. I stayed in building 5 on the third floor with a pool view and it was never loud and was in a good location to the stunning lobby and delicious food court. The buses run on a good schedule and have 2 stations in the front of the resort lobby. Station A serves the Water Parks, Downtown Disney, Animal Kingdom and Epcot, and Station B serves Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. The room was clean and stunning. If you want quiet rooms, I would recommend buildings 1, 6, and 7. The resort is so small and intimate resort , so every building is close to everything, but buildings 3 and 4 are closest. I have stayed here two other times and it has always been great! Never doubt staying here! Don't think twice about staying at one of the best WDW resorts!
This is by far the best resort on Disney property, the cast members are always so friendly and it really does feel like home. My family loves the 2 story grand villas, because it is one of the few places on property where we can all stay in one room. It can be a little annoying if your room is in Carousel of Grandstand if you want to get to Artist's Palette, but since The Springs is the last stop on the buses, you can grab any bus to get there, and it isn't that bad of a walk afterwards. Overall, this resort is always a joy to stay at and can't wait to go again in a month!!!!
I first ate here in June of 2012 and fell in love! We always knew about this place but thought it only had ice cream. One rainy day on our trip we just so happened to be walking by and saw that they had grilled cheese and tomato bisque, so we decided to eat. Wow! We each got a milkshake and grilled cheese and tomato bisque. The milkshakes there are to die for. But, this grilled cheese is special. It has 6 cheeses on it, including an herb cream cheese. I'm not a huge tomato soup person, but this bisque is awesome. We make a trip here now every time we come to WDW. Love it!
My family ate here on the first night of Annual passholder Fantasyland previews. It wasn't planned on being open for dinner but by Disney magic it was! Since it was such last minute, to make a reservation you had to make one at the check in desk. The CM who made one for us was amazing, he told us a story about how he was turned into a rug when the witch cast the spell and how he missed serving. It was awesome and made the dinner more special. We got to eat in the West Wing, the atmosphere in there is very cool for a dining experience. I did feel like the ballroom wasn't anything amazing, except for the huge windows, those are cool. I ordered the seafood in pastry with lobster sauce, it was very good. My friend had the ratatouille, he loved it. I was very happy with the food, but not the menu. It was very small and you had barely any options. I know it's a new restaurant and the menu will expand in time. I just wish there was more of a selection. Other than that, I would definitely go back for a special occasion.
So you're going to Disney and you're looking to keep it within the budget...that sometimes can be hard to do. Maybe you're afraid that if you go to a Value Hotel you and your family will not get to experience all the Magic. My family and I went last year and we stayed at the All Start Movies Resort. The main building is very cool, starting with a little TV viewing area for the kids to watch while you're checking in. When you enter you're welcomed by the staff and they make it feel magical! The rooms are like your standard room at a value resort with the exception that the beds are comfortable, furniture is clean, carpet is perfect, you have a fridge, table and chairs, decent sized bathroom. Look, I LOVE Walt Disney World but I'll try to keep the costs as low as possible. I'm CHEAP too. The way I see it, I just need a hotel to hang out by the pool, a comfortable bed, A/C, TV and a shower. This place does all that and it gives you a nice pool for the kids! The pool is big and my son loved it. They have a nice Arcade that looks a lot like the Arcade in the movie "Wreck It Ralph" and they have a food court with good options too. We had a delicious meatball sub there. You can park your car and just take the buses to the park. The fridge is big enough that you can bring food to have breakfast in the room if you so wish. That's what we did. Oh they also have free wi-fi, which was a very nice bonus. Look, don't expect the Ritz Carlton just because it's Disney. If you show up expecting a Courtyard or Hampton Inn, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Part of my fond memories is the hotel itself and seeing my son swimming toward Mickey (Wizard Mickey is at the end of the pool spraying water). If you want to keep it cheap, this is a good way to do it. If you need to cut costs to have a Disney vacation, it's OK to step down to this hotel. After all, you'll be at the parks all day right? ;-) ENJOY!
The restaurant had a nice atmosphere and the service was good. I was suprised when we had to wait and got into the seating area and there was only 3 tables with patrons. The appetizers were good and the wine selection adequate. I ordered the Short Rib which was one of the best I have ever had..but the steak my husband ordered was not worth the money. The steak was ordered medium rare and was served medium well. The waitress acknowledged the over cooking and had a second made. Obviously the kitchen found that unacceptable as the second steak came out, cut in half to make sure that it was medium rare but it was the vein steak and the chef would have seen that. The vein within the steak made 1/3 of it could not be eaten with this vein in it. When we pointed it out, the chef came out and explained they don't cut their own steaks, they do NOT use center cut and there are 2 or 3 of these in each case. As my husband is a meat salesman, he was suprised that they charged what they did for a non-center cut. The chef was not polite regarding being questioned. We were not asking for any kind of compensation and of course did not get any. The iron chef Cat Cora would not have served that steak. Is it really her restaurant? I would go back but not for a steak or to talk with a chef.
Stayed in Oak Manor in February 2011. Nice room, but definitely could use a refurb (hopefully PORS is next on the list). Very good location - close to parking and a bus stop, and not too far from the lobby. The resort grounds were really beautiful, and we enjoyed the boat to DtD more than we expected to - sure beat taking the bus! We're going to try other moderates before returning to PORS, but we'd stay there again.
We stayed at the Grand Floridian in January 2013 (Conch Key building) and had a WONDERFUL stay. From the moment we entered the resort the cast members were so friendly and welcoming. That set the Grand apart right away for us. Our room was HUGE and so comfortable. We had a great view - really loved being able to watch the Electrical Water Pageant from our window each night. The monorail and boat transportation was SO wonderful - we've never had that before and might be spoiled now. Gaspirilla Island had great counter service options beyond the typical counter service fare, and Citricos is one of our favorite restaurants on property. Pool was being refurbed, so we didn't get to try it out. Can't wait to return to the Grand!
We've stayed at the Boardwalk 3 times - twice on the Inn side (both in 2009) and once on the villas side in 2011. All three stays were great! The rooms are beautifully decorated, and the atmosphere is so relaxing and fun. Really love the Boardwalk Bakery for breakfast and am looking forward to going there again after the recent (and much-needed) renovation and expansion. Fantastic location...our favorite resort!
Rented points to stay in a studio room at Beach Club Villas in January 2012. The resort itself is fabulous - you CANNOT beat being able to walk to two parks. Beachclub Marketplace had some great quick service choices and lunch at Beaches & Cream was pretty great. Didn't have time to try out the pool and am hoping to rectify that sometime in the future! Only issue was the actual room itself...it just felt tired and outdated. Hopefully the villa rooms will get a refurb in the future, as the resort rooms look beautiful in photos.
We stayed in a savanna-view room in Jambo House (June 2011). The theming in the room and the resort itself is outstanding - a great example of what sets a Disney resort apart. Loved relaxing in the huge lobby and with a drink at Victoria Falls. A big reason why we love this resort is that it's home to two of our favorite restaurants - Jiko and Sanaa (in the Kidani building...a short walk/shuttle ride away). Really liked being able to grab a quick bite at the Mara and the pools at Jambo and Kidani are beautifully landscaped and themed. Transportation wasn't bad at all - we expected worse, but going into it with realistic expectations we really weren't disappointed. Can't wait to go back in December!
We began our family vacation at Bongo's in 2012 and it was great! My parents, wife, and two children arrived to a restaurant that was packed due to Valentine's Day. With our Disney Dining reservation, though, we avoided the line that went out the door and the hour wait, and were immediately ushered to a table in the back. The restaurant was lively and later had a band playing. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable. My wife and mother had the seafood platter which was tremendous and highly recommended! My father and I ordered the beef platter which was not as great. Overall, it was a great experience with great food and atmosphere! Strongly recommended!
Wow. Okay, this place is going to make it into rotation for my vacations now. I have tried almost all the signature restaurants now, and this may be in my top two (along with Narcoossee's). For years, I read reviews, read the menus, and thought the idea of Pacific Northwest just didn't do it for me. How wrong I was. The restaurant itself is beautiful. It really feels hidden away from the noise of the lobby and of Whispering Canyon. It doesn't feel cramped in there the way California Grill can, and it really seemed shockingly quiet. I have to say the service was EXCELLENT. Our server gave all kinds of recommendations, was attentive, and offered alternatives when one slightly more picky person in our group wanted to go a little off-menu. So now for the food. I don't usually go with appetizers (other than cheese plates) because I like to save room for the entree. However, I had heard so much about the smoky portobello soup that I had to try it. I stopped myself before I finished, but only because I really did want to be able to eat my entree. The soup was delicious and very filling. I would absolutely order this again. Another person in my group had the salad with the icewine dressing, and it was also amazing. For an entree, I had the buffalo strip. It was amazing. I really am not the most adventurous person when it comes to trying new food, but our server said it was just like steak--only better. Honestly, it was so much more tender than steak. It was seasoned really well and just delicious. The truffle mac and cheese that came with it was also good. One of my fellow diners had the cedar plank salmon. I'm not a huge salmon fan, but I tried it and it had to be the best salmon I'd ever eaten. Desserts were great too. Two in my party had the famous berry cobbler, while I had something called OXO, which was three kinds of chocolate desserts. Needless to say, after all the other food, I couldn't actually finish this, but it wasn't because it wasn't good. Overall, I loved this place and look forward to going back.
I think I was expecting more from Biergarten. I had seen pictures, read reviews, and had some friends tell me how wonderful it was. Maybe the hype was just too much. First, I have to say we had the earliest lunch seating so the entertainment wasn't on while we were there. Other people talk about how fun the entertainment is, but I have to say the atmosphere was what I liked best about this place. Even without the band playing, the theming was neat. If I ever went back to Biergarten, it would be primarily because of the atmosphere. I didn't need the band, it was beautiful just having the nighttime sky. We were seated with two other families. One of the families apparently didn't know that the point is that you sit with other families, and when the hostess told them there were no private tables, they left. That was just sad--I understand that not all of us research every little last detail about Disney, but there's nothing horrible about sitting with other families! So my family started talking to the other family that remained, who were extremely nice and had no problem sharing a table. While we were all getting food, the hostess seated another family at the table to replace the family who walked out. This threw off the entire dynamic, as this family also didn't realize they'd have to sit with other people. They didn't walk out, but they seemed determined not to mingle. Hardly the fault of the restaurant, but I do think if they had been seated with us, it may have been a better experience. As far as the food goes, I was disappointed. Considering we had the earliest seating, there was no excuse for the food being lukewarm and dry. Everything tasted like it had been sitting out for hours. Some of it was okay (the vegetables were better than any of the meat), but I was expecting to want to just keep going back up for more, and that wasn't the case at all. When we were ready to go back up for dessert, only one person in my family even bothered. My mom took a little bit of strudel, said it was just okay, and left most of it. When we left, we went to the caramel store for some dessert we knew would be good. So essentially, I didn't think it was worth it. Not only from a money point of view, but more because there are better restaurants in World Showcase. The atmosphere is neat, so if you go there with a "you don't go for the food" kind of attitude, you will probably enjoy it.
This system needs to be eliminated. Perhaps if the system continues it should be a perk for resort guests only. But seems like mostly it's better to just be done with this system that is more frustrating that not.
I was surprised by how much I loved this resort. I've stayed at several deluxe resorts before, so I didn't think this would live up to the usual dose of Disney magic, but it did. Honestly, the registration area looks like it belongs in a deluxe resort. I first stayed here in February 2012, in a Magnolia Bend building (Acadian House) right after the refurbishment was finished. The room was beautiful and large enough for 2 adults. In May of 2013, I stayed here again in a Royal Room in Paterre Place. For 3 adults, it was a slightly tighter fit, but it was never uncomfortable. The dining options are great here. In addition to Boatwright's (which was excellent), we went to Riverside Mill a few times, and even at busy meal times, there was plenty of space in the seating area. The food was great, and we especially enjoyed the make-your-own salad section. People say this is a large resort. It is, but it's not as spread out as I was afraid it would be. Once you kind of figure out where everything is, it seems a lot closer. Also, we had a rental car, so transportation wasn't a problem for us. We drove from Paterre Place to the main building for restaurants and to take the bus to Magic Kingdom. The bus service can be a bit time consuming, but as long as you plan for it in advance, it's not a problem. The boat to Downtown Disney can't be beat. It's a much better option, in my opinion, than either driving and parking there or taking the bus. It's a relaxing ride to and from the Marketplace side of DTD. My only issue with the boat service is that the boats don't start running till awhile after DTD stores open. I was surprised by this because it seems Disney transportation typically starts running before opening time to the parks. Keep in mind that if you plan on taking the boat to DTD, you won't be there first thing. However, we found that sitting in the rocking chairs by the dock for a half-hour was extremely relaxing, even if it did set back our plans a bit. We never did use the main pool, although it looked really nice. The quiet pools in Magnolia Bend were closer and emptier than the main pool. The only problem with the quiet pool is that apparently, you're supposed to bring towels from your room. Another guest told us that once I realized I couldn't find the towels (there was a bin to throw used towels, but no new towels). The guest said she asked, and she was told there's a note in the guest rooms about bringing your own towels to the quiet pool. I ransacked my room after that and still couldn't find this note. So essentially, I would stay at Riverside again in a heartbeat, and the only things I would do differently are not plan to be at DTD when it opens and bring my own towel to the quiet pool. All in all, those aren't exactly dealbreakers!
POFQ is by far the best moderate resort out there. Rooms are excellent and recently renovated, the grounds are breathtaking with lovely gardens between each building. Being a small resort everything is closer and from the farthest building to the lobby you're looking at a 3 to 5 minutes walk tops. Transportation is a breeze with only one bus stop and the service is excellent, never waiting more than 10 minutes for a bus. It has a boat service to DTD which makes the trip to a Earl sandwich or some Goofy candy an experience in itself, it's a lovely way to expend a evening. I miss a table service restaurant but with POR and Boatwright being nearby it's not a major flaw. The quick service restaurant is good but lacks a bit of variety. There's only one small pool and the slide is nothing to write home about so if swimming is a priority I'd look elsewhere.
My family makes sure that we play mini golf at least once while we're in Disney. It would almost be a crime if we didn't go to play at least one day during our trip. This course is fun and unique. Of the two Mini Golf locations on Disney property (this one and Winter Summerland Miniature Golf near Blizzard Beach) I recommend this one for theming and for being more challenging. If you prefer something less challenging, try Winter Summerland, but otherwise go here. There are two reasons that I did not give this the full rating. First off, the upkeep tends to be less than what I would expect from Disney. There have been multiple times where my group and I have noticed spots in the carpet that are coming up, fading, or just something that needs to be improved. The other reason is that it tends to be costly. I recommend finding coupons. They also offer discounts if you have an annual pass, plus other discounts that you may want to look into. Overall, it's a fun course if you have the time and the money to go enjoy it. As far as transportation goes, you can walk to the golf course if you are staying at one of the Epcot resorts. Just ask a Cast Member for directions. There is also parking there if you have a car. A cab is also an option. You can also choose to go to a theme park (Hollywood Studios would be my choice) hop a boat or bus to one of the Epcot resorts (it's usually a boat from Hollywood Studios. You can also walk, though it's a pretty decent distance) and walk to the courses from an Epcot resort.
This is hands-down my favorite Magic Kingdom restaurant. It's very hard to get for dinner, but if you manage to grab one of these sparse reservations, I highly recommend it. The food is fantastic, the ballroom is nothing short of incredible, and the service is good. I cannot say anything negative about this restaurant. It's great for families, Beauty and the Beast fans, and anyone who appreciated good food in a wonderful atmosphere. I would not recommend trying it for lunch, though, as it is crazy. Cosmic Ray's, Tortuga Tavern, or Columbia Harbour House are good alternatives with shorter lines.
It's a WDW pizza place. The decor is nice, and it's air conditioned, but the food won't blow you away. What it is though is a solid meal that is prepared quickly and is large. Also has frozen lemonade as a dessert which is awesome.
This place has the best food at AK (IMO including the table service). It's fairly greasy with a heavy emphasis on BBQ. Also fantastic are the seating areas here. If you follow the path a bit, you can get a table in a pavillion right on the water with a nice view of Expedition Everest. Lastly, the cornbread is good.
We spent a week at Okw last March. It wasnt our first choice But at the time of year we would be there and the need for 2 studios it made the most sense . From the moment we arrived we really loved the look of the place. Very well done with the typical color palette that you would see in Key West. After a huge mix up at check in...(inexperienced cast member and TWO familes checking in with the same last name) We finally made it to our rooms. The are HUGE. The small patio is great for an early morning cup of coffee and the laptop. Comfy Beds, Great bathroom, And we got some groceries to make the most of the Kitchenette . It was great To have a Bagel and Coffee Early in the morning , Cold drinks at Night and access to a fridge, toaster and Microwave made it so easy to have breakfast in the room every day. The buses seem to run with great regularity which isnt always the case at Wdw. We used the boat service to visit DownTown almost Daily and loved it. The pool is great and we really enjoyed the outside tables at the marina for late night drinks and snacks. I highly recommend this resort and would love to go back sometime in the near future!!
No thrill. Not worth the wait. Building a virtual car is pointless. Games after ride are not user friendly. Chevrolet should take their name out of this ride to save their reputation. I will skip this ride in the future. Huge letdown.
This resort is the best resort on the entire Disney property! The service is the best and they treat us just like family. Every time you walk through the door they tell you "Welcome Home". To me it is these little things that makes this resort very special. The pool here is amazing. We love to just sit and relax in the lazy river. This place can be a little on the pricey side but it is completely worth the price. Everything about this resort is worth a 10! Probably the best part about this resort though is that you can walk to Epcot and take a boat to Hollywood Studios...I mean who doesn't like that!
The Wilderness Lodge is, in my opinion, one of the best options for those who want to try a deluxe resort, stay close to a park, and not bust the budget. It's the most affordable of all the deluxe hotels, and though it also has the smallest rooms, its incredibly beautiful lobby and proximity to MK make it a great choice! We stayed here with three adults, a 12 year old, and a 1 year old, and never felt cramped in the room at all. We chose this resort because we knew that, with a little one, we'd be spending more time in our room, and wanted to be close to MK. The ferry boat to MK is one of the best things about staying here! We requested a room on the top floor, on the MK side, and were able to see some of the highest fireworks during Wishes, and the Electrical Water Pageant each night from our room. Our kids loved the main pool and the activities on the beach. On site dining options are very good - we have enjoyed both breakfast and dinner at Whispering Canyon. The skillets and milkshakes are very good, and the service is...well, entertaining! Artist Point is a very nice signature dining experience, and Roaring Fork is a very basic quick service - nothing special, but adequate for quick meals. I highly recommend this resort during the holidays as well. We stayed during Thanksgiving week, and the decorations in the lobby are breathtaking! We have stayed in a variety of WDW resorts, from value to deluxe, and this is our favorite so far!
This is my least favorite Disney resort on property, and I stay here only when every other moderate is booked up. I've been here twice in ten years and the experience has been identical: too spread out, too isolated from the foodcourt, and everything is dependent on busses. If you like solitude and don't mind waiting around for busses to shuttle you to the food court building, you'll probably like CBR. This is a beautiful and quiet as well as lusciously landscaped resort. It has a nice pool, and employees are super friendly and genuinely seem to like working here. Its best for those folks who need only a room to hang out and spend the entire rest of their time at the parks, Otherwise, you are entirely dependent on bus transportation even for breakfast. Only the two closest buildings (and the two across from the pool) are really close enough to walk to anything. One warning -- if you pick a pirate-themed room here, you will be in the absolutely furthest and most remote buildings on the entire resort grounds. If you have a car you will find yourself driving everywhere. If you don't have a car and are reliant on bus transportation it will test your patience to the absolutely limit. As a usual guest at French Quarter, I can also state that it has the least reliable and what seems like the longest waits for busses to the resorts and DTD of any of the resorts I have stayed it. Busses seem to come every 30-35 minutes instead of the 15-20 minutes at POFQ and RIV. Best for those who want a quiet, solitary getaway and aren't in need of food court or other amenities. Not a resort I recommend to anyone.
This is a beautiful resort, and it offers many amenities for families and groups. The food court is excellent, and the bus service is quite good. The river running through the resort makes it all feel beautiful and peaceful. There can be some rooms (especially on the west side of the resort) that can be quite far away from the main buildings and restaurants. The boat to DTD is especially nice. But, and this is a big but, Disney tends to put large high school groups into the larger Mansion buildings 80 and 85. DO NOT request those areas. They are often unsupervised groups of teens that scream, shout, bang around, slam doors, and generally make noise until well after 1:00 am every night. Buildings 90 and 95 which used to be my favorite are now themed Princess rooms, so are no longer available to the standard visitor. That leaves the cottages to the west. I've stayed here three or four times in the past couple years when French Quarter has been fully booked, and 2 of the 4 trips I had to request a room change to get away from unruly teenage groups. Riverside has been very accommodating, but that 1:30 am trek to another building ruins the experience overall. If you want a quiet, relaxing experience, be sure that Disney does NOT shuffle you off to 80 or 85.
Far and away the best moderate resort, especially for adults traveling without kids -- but really for anyone -- and in some ways even BETTER than most of the Deluxe resorts. The smallest resort by far, nothing is more than a 3 minute walk from the main building and bus stops. It has frequent and very good bus service to the parks, and a wonderful boat down to DTD. The "secret is out" though -- and its become the hardest moderate to book with the least discounts offered. Nearby Riverside is better for larger groups or families with many kids. This "used" to be known as the "adult resort at WDW" -- not anymore, its now filled with strollers and families traveling with grandma, grandpa, and adopted others in tow, so you'll need to pack your patience at the bus stops. On a recent trip, not one single bus that I took all week was able to load up without waiting for the handicap loading to take place first and without people jostling to figure out where to put their strollers onboard. Still, its the only resort I book anymore.
Probably the "best" all around family resort when traveling with kids, Wilderness Loge has the "wow" factor in spades, from your first entrance through the majestic lobby, to your entire stay. The boat to MK is wonderfully relaxing, the busses run frequently to the parks, and the resort is gorgeous. Meal options are plentiful and varied (though the food "court" is not much more than a snack bar.). Highly recommended.
While this ride is the best at Disney, it is just not very intense. I would it if love disney to build one of those 90-mph looping hypercoasters, but oh well.
Some background... Two stays per year since 2005 (over 16). Always in Woods or Courtyard View. WL is probably the BEST Deluxe out there - great features, great staff, great rooms, great transportation, great dining... did I mention it was great? As a measure of commitment? Sandy and I bought into DVC in June of 2012. I refused to buy in until Disney gave me a HOME contract at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge. Folks? No one lays down over $28,000 cash for a bad resort.
Stayed in a savanna view bunk bed room with the wife and 2 year old in August of 2012, and we were very impressed with this resort! Very reminiscent of the Wilderness Lodge, but with the African theme. I loved the lobby, particularly the continuously burning campfire, and the view from our room was fantastic! We utilized the shuttle to visit both pools during our stay, and they are both great for kids and adults. This is a great resort for those who want to slow down and enjoy the hotel during your wdw stay, as there are lots of activities for the kids. The dining at AKL is really some of the best anywhere on property. The Mara is probably my favorite resort counter service restaurant, and the breakfast buffet at Boma is one of the best meals I've ever had on property. Highly recommend this resort!
My favorite resort. It is the only one I stay when visiting Disney World. The theme and style is amazing. They have a solarium where you can enjoy a meal or snack or if you just want to relax. There is the Beach Club marketplace where you can buy Disney merchandise, snacks, refill your mugs, a small selection of sandwiches. They also have some breakfast options. The rooms are nice and spacious. They have double sinks, with nice size closet, 5 dress drawer, desk with a roll out table underneath. All the rooms have balconies, but some are standing only balconies. My favorite thing about the Beach Club is the location. You are within walking distance from Epcot, Boardwalk, and Hollywood Studios. I like to walk the Boardwalk in the evening after coming from Epcot. They sometimes have entertainment like a magician. The Beach Club is also famous for its pool, The Storm-along-Bay. I have never been in this pool, but there is always a line to go on the slide. For other food options you have the Beaches and Cream. They do not take ADRs so this place can get crowded and have long waits to get in. There is also Hurricane Hannah's by the Storm-along-bay pool which was just refurbished. For table service they have Cape May Café. They have the character breakfast which I like and always do at least twice when I am there. The characters are Goofy, Minnie and Donald Duck in beach attire. And they have a clam bake for dinner. You can always venture off to the Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin for other food options.
We decided to do an impromptu second trip one year and due to limited room availability, wound up at the Coronado Springs Resort. That was my first mistake. The room is small, beds weren't comfortable at all and walls are very thin, (either that or we had very loud families staying on either side of us) The grounds are well kept, I say this because, I saw lots of the grounds, walked for what seemed to be atleast 3/4 mile to the lobby and to the pool. The food, just wasn't up to, what I would call Disney standards. The pool, was nice, but closed early. The wait for the bus to any where, was LONG. Just not for me or my family.
A stay at the Contemporary Resort is just one of those Disney Must Do's. THIS is where it all began folks!!! We used to stay at the Contemporary when our son was younger. It is a convention hotel, and does have somewhat of a covention hotel *feel* it... IF you look for it. From Chef Mickey's to the gorgeous views and close proximity (walking distance!!) to the Magic Kingdom, it is just magical to ANY child (of ANY age ;) ) I still get a kick out of eating at Chef Mickey's with the Fab 5, and being able to see the Monorail come thru the Contemporary overhead. The Outer Rim bar is a nice place for adults to relax, with gorgeous views of Bay Lake. The arcade is alot of fun and large too! Contemporary Resort IS Disney!!!!
We absolutely LOVE The Polynesian Resort!!! We usually stay here every Fall, and as soon as the DME arrives at the Poly, that *vacation* feel starts. We have stayed in just about all the buildings, but really do enjoy the Club Level Hawaii building. (Lawrence, at the Concierge Desk, is just about the best CM I have ever encountered) The rooms are nice and large, and balconies are just a must do to start or end a perfect day at Disney. Watching Wishes on the Poly beach is wonderful!!! Kona Cafe, and Ohana (two of our fav Disney property restaurants) are both steps away, as is Captain Cook's for a quick Counter Service meal. (Pork nachos are outstanding!!) Although the Volcano pool is LOTS of fun, the quiet pool is perfect for a mid day pool break (get yourself a Pina CoLava from the Barefoot Bar and R-E-L-A-X) The grounds are so pretty and have a definate calming feel to it. Nights are sooooo quiet too! The transportation options are just about the best at the Poly, in our opinion; the Monorail, Bus or Ticket Transportation Center are all a short walk away. The rooms are a bit on the dark side, but still very relaxing. The beds are big, comfy and inviting at the end of every Disney Day. Room service is quick and delish!!! I HIGHLY recommend the Poly for a perfect Disney vacation! Aloha!!!
The Plaza is a nice break from the hectic Magic Kingdom and offers an almost hybrid table/counter service experience. The menu is mainly sandwiches, and the service does not require a lot of attention. So although it is a table service restaurant, it is very casual and laid back. The dining room is very small, and advance reservations are a must. I had the Club sandwich, which was served with thick cut fries. It was great to have a non-standard Disney fry, a great change from the usual counter service variety that I was expecting. The sandwich was OK, nothing great. The desserts are ice cream based, and although fairly large, are nothing really unique or special. I would hesitate to recommend the Plaza, as it is very average. There are better options available, but the Plaza is an acceptable choice.
This is another one of those unique Disney dining experiences that everyone should try at least once. The interior decor is wonderful, like taking a step back in time to the 50s. The dining room is split into small rooms, full of all kinds of interesting 50s details. The restaurant is small, and on busy days it does feel rushed. The lobby check in area is very crowded and noisy, but fortunately the dining rooms are much calmer. The servers put on a show as they go about their serving, and in my experience had the right level of being entertaining, and not annoying. They added to the experience. Food was good, nothing spectacular, but more than acceptable. Portions were perfectly adequate, but on the smaller side compared to some restaurants. I do have to mention the milkshakes, as they are the best I have experienced at WDW. Very thick, lots of flavor, and generous in size. I would strongly recommend getting one! Pricing is on par with other WDW restaurants, and reservations are generally a must do. If you like the Sci Fi Drive In across the park, the 50s Prime Time should also be on your list. They are both similar in that they offer very unique experiences, and although not offering great food, are still well worth a visit.
I often don't write reviews for the Disney restaurants because the way we tend to eat on vacation probably wouldn't be useful to many. We don't use the Disney Dining Plan, and rarely do we order the typical entrée-and-dessert type meal. We're much more likely to enjoy a couple drinks and appetizers to share. Because of this, Tutto Gusto is PERFECT for us. The bar can be crowded. When we visited during the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, it was often standing room only, with long waits for a table. We didn't mind bellying up to the bar for some drinks and small plates, and we're glad we did. There was an awkward moment when the bartenders repeatedly questioned our decision to order the Bruschetta Martini, which uses tomato vodka and a fresh basil garnish. I can't for the life of me understand why they regard the drink as being so strange, because the flavors work incredibly well together. It might have been one of the smoothest flavored "martinis" I've tasted in Disney World. Also excellent was the Rossini, a blend of puréed strawberries and prosecco. The dry sparkling wine cut through the sweet strawberry purée in a wonderful marriage of fruity effervescence. For food, we ordered some panini. One was Prosciutto di Parma, and the other Gorgonzola. At $9 for one or $13 for two, the prices are a little steep. The panini are only a few bites each, but they do come with a small Caesar salad that was also quite tasty. We'll definitely return to Tutto Gusto for drinks and a light meal. The prices are steep even for a resort location, but everything they serve is high in quality.
I went on test track 2.0 in january. I thought it looks good from the outside but when you have been on the old one, you feel slightly underwhelmed. The old queue with test dummys and demos had such a buzz. But now you feel bored out of your skull, before you even get to design the cars. designing the cars is fun to a point, but as stages pass, you think whats the point. On the ride proper, there is apsolutly no sense of speed, which the old one did have. you feel as if its a ride in the car you took to get to the park. Old test track had substance, you got the ride and what it was about. But now you feel as if you have wasted an hour of you life and glad when its over. We had fastpass and were thinking of riding it again, once we got off we got rid of them because you dont make anyone elses ride a misery. Its just one big advert for chevy mixed with a Tron theme.
My son and I rode this ride and thought it was gorgeous! No its not a "thrill ride" but not all rides need to be..:) We both enjoyed the ride and the "breather" that it provided! It was hot outside so it was a cool escape. I think its a lovely addition to the new Fantasyland!
This is the best firework show ever! The music and firework display all come together to make a very good show. The best spot is of course in front of the castle. I would say get there a good 30 minutes ahead of time!
I have been going to Disney for years and I have always held them to a very high level. I do not believe that a company like Disney should ever cut corners or do something just to save money. To be honest I thought that this was just going to be a way for Disney to attract people without spending money. I was awaiting the worse. But as the rockwork and other buildings started to peak over the wall I was kind of surprised. Once the area opened I was one of the first people inside. I spent pretty much all day admiring the rock work and looking at everything. Everything flows perfectly together and looks all very real. In fact I do not know why, but the rockwork here looks more real then the rocks in WWOHP down the street. Also the food in new fantasyland is fantastic! I would recommend Be Our Guest to anyone if you are able to get inside. If not then just head over to the tavern for some very good food. What this place does lack is good rides. Do not get me wrong, little mermaid is great for a clone. To a lot of people it is great, including myself. Hopefully the mine train will really be the big finale for the project! All in all I would say that this project passes in my book!
Absolutely love this place. Happened in there by accident the first time, and have been going back ever since. It has a wonderful variety, coupled with just delicious treats. Highly recommended that you try the raspberry pastry cream puff (I cant remember the name)
Love Big Thunder Mountain Railroad it's always fun to ride this coaster. I wish Disney World would build another Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The New expansion would help Disney maintain the original ride help reduce waiting times also. While enhancing Frontierland's Experience even further. Disney should also do the same with Splash Mountain,& Adventureland. Walt Disney always wanted His Parks to continue to Expand & Grow with Endless Imagination. As the old saying goes Build it & they will come.
The food here is very good plain and simple. The theme and detail of the place can only add to the awesome food that is here. This is probably my new favorite place in the Magic Kingdom! I love the pork shank and I love to get the brew with it. This is a must do for anyone going to the Magic Kingdom!
I don't care what people say this is the better Test Track. The other Test Track was great don't get me wrong, but this is so much better. To me this is a ride that belongs in FUTURE WORLD. The ride explores the technology of cars, and I think that is what is important. Also the games at the end are way better then the old games. Overall I give this a high rating because I don't want people to be fooled. The que is better, the ride is better, the games are better, the overall Test Track is BETTER! So do not skip this no matter what! I love this version and I will be riding it every time...multiple times if I can. =)
I love this ride so much! We have been going for years and this is always a must! It is a very rare thing for us to not ride this more then three times! I love how the coaster is more tame which makes it a different type of thrill from things like Space Mountain. I love riding and seeing the mountain and the other stuff. The other reason I love this ride is because of the detail that was put into this ride. I swear Universal does not have a coaster detailed like this! The only thing I hate is that they have taken away the special effects from the ride. I mean I understand the safety concerns, but to me there are better ways to protect guest without removing the effects! But we still love it, and we will always love it!
Alright I have been going to Disney for years and have always loved the themes they have each year. I have to say the last few years though have been kind of bland. I think they have really turned this around by doing Limited Time Magic. It started off slow, but I have been there for probably half of the events. And since we live right in Orlando we get to go pretty much every weekend. I went for Long lost friends week. I liked it but there were not a lot of characters to choose from. Then I went to true love week with my wife. It was real cool and we even got a special photo. The next time we went wasn't until the dance party at Hollywood Studios. Our kids loved that although it was a little hot. Next we went for the fairy week and my little girl about lost her mind. She was happier then she had ever been in her life! We have also been for Cinco De Mayo an Epcot and saw the three bird guys. ( The names slip me at the moment!) We went to the May the 4th be you party and my two sons loved it. For fellow Star Wars nerd like us there was nothing better! Finally we went today and watched Merida become a princess. We even took our little girl to the princess makeover thing in the castle so she could be a princess to. My wife doesn't know about the Mothers Day event but I am going to take her to get that special flower. =) I know some people think it is a cheap way to get guest to come but I like it. In fact I wish Disney would do these things all the time. I know I will be back for more Limited Time Magic, and I hope this review makes other people want to go as well!
I always book my holiday for October to enjoy this show and Mickeys not so scary Halloween party. The show features evil queen, Maleficent, Queen of hearts, hook, Jafar, Dr Facilier and other villain (which i can't remember his name from Hunchback) the music is awesome and the dancers are enjoyable to watch. after the show, you can meet the characters, however be warned: it is difficult to meet all of them as everyone makes a beeline for Maleficent and evil and Dr Facilier. My husband and i bought about 4 mnschp tickets and each night queued for a different character. also adult guests go out of their way to get dressed up in costumes for the party nights. some adult had gone as far as to make their own costume from scratch, others had bought a pirates hat and gone in normal clothes. either way the night is enjoyable and is always a good laugh (as Disney always is) Te first showing is always packed due to families. my husband and i waited until the 10pm showing where it was still busy, but families had already left the park, so at least we could move. there are 4 showings each night but i would get there early to ensure that you have a good view. We tend to get there an hour before and other people had already selected their spots. we took sweets/ coffee and sat near the rope at the front and read our kindles while we waited. My husband is disabled and there isn't a disabled viewing area so we had to shuffle forward as much as we could to ensure he could see.
I don't understand why Disney got rid of such a wonderful ride. I was disappointed at a returning trip to epcot to see they got ride of the original ride in imagination for a dull, almost cheap seeming replacement.
Surprisingly good food is overshadowed by poor service and less-than-friendly staff. However, this is one of the best places in WDW to try some outlandish food.
With more options than any other quick-service in WDW, this is a great place for the family with picky eaters. Ample seating, coupled with good, healthy food rounds this out to be a great stop for lunch.
Nothing great - nothing terrible. Just quick Mexican food. Seating along the lagoon gives the rating a bit of a boost, though.
The winner here is the location. Set off in a quiet corner of World Showcase, surrounded by Japanese gardens, this is a perfect place to grab a quick lunch. Never too crowded, the restaurant offers some traditional Japanese dishes. If you're expecting mall-style Asian cuisine, you won't find it here.
You can smell it from across the street - the school bread, the pretzels, the cakes. One of my favorite bakeries in WDW (if not the world), Kringla takes the cake for deliciousness. Prices are average, if not low, for WDW. Another great place to use your quick-service dining plan credits, the sandwiches are just as delicious as the sweets. Top it off with the pavilion's charm and atmosphere, and you have a great lunch.
One of the best places to go with the Dining Plan - many of the treats are available as a "snack." The pastries and breads are surprisingly authentic (and tasty)! The sandwiches, however, can be missed. One of my favorite spots in Epcot.
I love this restaurant. I don't even like Mexican food, but I love this restaurant. The atmosphere is one of the liveliest in WDW, and the food is authentic (a little USA-ized). The tables, however, are very crowded. So if you aren't a people person, you may want to sit this one out. Service is friendly, but not exceptional. Overall, the atmosphere steals the show. Food is good, but service could use a boost.
British food seems to offer the same advantages no matter where you are - warm, hearty, and fairly-priced. While not a bargain, this is one of the less-expensive restaurants in Epcot. The food is prepared very well - some of the best fish and chips I've had. The atmosphere is pretty basic - exactly what you would expect from an authentic British pub - comfortable but never elegant. Overall, this is a good deal for Epcot. Definitely recommended if you want to sit down and eat, but not pay a fortune.
This was one of the biggest surprises at WDW. Not accustomed to this cuisine, my family was initially off-put by the outlandish dishes. Overall, the food was good and seemed very true to its Mediterranean roots. Unfortunately, we did not get to see any of the entertainment and were a bit disappointed. It took place in the adjacent room, but never came into our dining room. The service and atmosphere were both lively and fun, with very friendly (patient) staff to ease us through ordering. Overall, this is a good restaurant with very authentic food. I will probably not return, but am very happy that I tried it.
France is known for some of the greatest chefs of all time. None of them work here. Chefs de France is all about large portions and mediocrity. The food is good - just not up to the standards of the classic French dishes they attempt to serve. Service is rushed (if not rude). On top of this, trying to swallow hot, dense food in a glass greenhouse in central Florida is pretty difficult. Overall, the food is ok. It's the clash between the upscale atmosphere, mediocre food, and screaming children that leaves you wanting more.
Once one of the greatest restaurants in WDW, food quality has not been rising to match the rising prices (due to excessive demand with the Disney Dining Plan). Aside from price/value, the quality of the restaurant is still the best at WDW. The food is cooked to perfection (maybe a little over-salted), and the service is a few tiers higher than other WDW restaurants. The restaurant is well-decorated, but dark - comfortably so. As with many WDW restaurants, the waiting room is cramped and the hosts are not terribly welcoming. Overall, this restaurant is no longer the best at WDW, if even in the running. Food and service are great, but neither matches the menu prices.
One of the most-improved restaurant at WDW over the years, Coral Reef is now worth its title of "upscale dining." It's one of the few places at WDW where children aren't allowed to run rampant, so it's a great place to relax if you've been seeing too many screaming mommies. The food is great - very fresh seafood prepared very well (especially for Florida). Service is about the same as at any Disney restaurant, with the exception of overworked hosts/hostesses. The showstopper of the restaurant is the atmosphere. Dining inside one of the largest aquariums in the world is definitely worth the trip, even if the decor is starting to look a little (Saved by the Bell-style) dated. Overall, a great restaurant with great food and fabulous atmosphere.
Don't go for upscale cuisine - go for the atmosphere and entertainment. Set in an outdoor German village (although the restaurant is indoors), the spread features authentic German dishes, some not-so-authentic American dishes, as well as a nearly-continuously-playing Oompah band. The atmosphere and Oompah band make for a lively setting that far outweighs the quality of the food. If you're looking to try some German dishes, however, this buffet provides many options. If you aren't interested in German dishes, however, your selection is much more limited. Overall, this isn't one of the better restaurants in Epcot, but the atmosphere and band make for a very fun experience.
I went on this ride when I was six. Shortly after being spit on and trapped in the dark, I had to be taken off the ride because I was bawling.
Disney really hit it home with this new area of the park. I use to walk straight through Fantasyland but not anymore! The new area is so pretty. They put so much work into making it feel like you were really there! I loved walked through the Enchanted Forest and being in the movie of Beauty and the Beast. The Little Mermaid ride may be a clone, but it is a very good one! I do not care what people say about it being cheap, I love it! The outside is amazing as well! Even the new Storybook Circus is absoutley adorable! They did a very good job of transforming this into something new and in my book more popular. Some people may not like the new area but I certainly do! Now we just got to get that awesome looking mine train open! =)
This park is the best park out of them all. To me this park is even better then Universial down the street. What the park lacks in rides and a solid theme, it makes up for in great detail and beauty. All the rides here are very unique and interesting rides worth riding multiple times. Even the great movie ride is still worth the wait. This is a park that will only get better as it keeps growing and improving! The only reason I do not give it a 10 is because it needs a more solid theme. I think the word studios is used a little loosely. The only thing that fits that is the backlot tour which is probably the only ride not worth waiting for. Once they replace this I think the park will be a little better and be worth a 10!
Disney turning the former toontown into a dumbo area was genuis! This is probably my sons favorite area to be in. He loves playing in the tent while we wait to ride Dumbo. In fact he probably prefers it! Both him and his sister love to ride the barnstormer (AKA the Great Goofini) It is the one coaster in Disney that both can ride and they love it. My little girl couldnt help but play in the soaking station. (Luckily we did bring a extra pair of clothing in case of any accidents.) My wife adored the home made kettle corn at the big top store. The only thing I would have liked to see was for them to make a different version of the goofy coaster completley. Make it new but keep it so little kids can ride. Other then that this place was great! This is probably the one place in the park where we all have fun and can ride everything! Thank you Disney for making such a great place to spend time!
Last week we got back from our first ever trip to Disney. The trip was grea, but our little 4 yr olds favorite thing was the Enchanted Tales with Belle. She got to play the part of the duster girl thing. (Whatever she is called) I did it with here and played the horse. My wife and little boy got to sit and watch the whole thing, and they laughed the whole time. It was truly wonderful to see my little girl having such an amazing time. We will be back in the future and this will be a must do for us. Good job Disney.
It is may be the most relaxing ride at all the parks. My family and I love it because it really breaks up the craziness of the Magic Kingdom. You also get an interesting "Behind the Scenes" view of tomorrow land. One time we actually got to see the inside of Space Mountain while it was all lit up! Great experience...
Sandy and I attended the Yachtsman Steak House on our April 15-24 2013 trip. It had been four years since our last Yachtsman visit... Ordered the 8 Oz Filet, medium rare. Steak perfectly cooked, as it was on our last visit. Good presentation, good service, good atmosphere. However - despite perfect cooking, the meat itself was a bit sub-standard. Contained gristle, and was dry, despite the sauce. I suspect Yachtsman may be experiencing the DDP Quality down-spiral: chefs are doing a great job, but raw ingredients are suffering in the quest to "save money". Would rate Yachtsman as a B- Signature... lower cost than Shula's, but poorer offerings. Would suggest Shula's as a superior alternative.
We went here a couple weeks ago and it was wonderful. The food was the best I have ever had. I got the lamb chops and let me say they were amazing. It is a little bit on the pricey side but it is worth it. Our waiter was also very kind and was always there to top our drinks. We also got some sushi and it was very good as well. We make a effort to get reservations here every trip.
Im going to be quick and say that you should only ride if it is boiling hot or the line is short. The themeing of the entire thing is good. I like the save the forest story it has going for it. Sadly it is way WAY to short. You wait 30 minutes in line to ride for 5 minutes. Plus only two or three people are going to get real wet. So make sure you know what you are doing before you ride. Hopefully Disney will improve this in the future as this is a fail to me. I give it a good rating due to its good story. Sorry Disney.
We just returned from our vacation a couple weeks back and finally got to see the new area. We were waiting for our Little Mermaid fasspasses so we decided to grab a snack from the tavern. (There was no chance of getting into Be Our Guest!) When we went in we were amazed at the detail. This looked like a real tavern that Gaston would have deigned. There was not alot of food choices but what they had was good. We did not get the pork shank but we did try the Lefou brew and the cinnimon roles. Both were very good and I LOVED the brew. It was sweet and tangy but also had this toasted taste to it. There was not alot of seating but we found a spot right under this giant antler light fixture! It was real good and we will be back to eat there next time. We are hoping we can try the pork shank next time we go, and I mgiht just have to get the brew again!
I am going to keep it short and sweet.....this place was AMAZING! The food and service was top notch! The steak I ate was probably the best ever, and dont even get me started about my dessert! The waiter was also very kind and was always there to top off our drinks! This is a place that is worth the price everytime! I will be back!
This is the most amazing ride I have ever been on! Being lifted so high makes it feel like you truly are flying! I love smelling the pine trees as it makes it seem even more real! We were lucky to get fastpasses for this a couple weeks ago. When we went it seemed like we not going to be able to get any. Luckily a elderly couple stopped and gave them to us! This is a ride that I would ride over and over again! This is something I look forward to every single trip! Sorain rocks!
I think I've been to WDS about 18 times. I'm a foodie. Love to eat, love to cook, eat out multiple times a week at nice restaurants. Not a fan of golden corral type buffets. But this buffet....Lordy. We ate there once and made plans to go back the next night. There were just too many options to choose from and everyone could get what they wanted. In fact...we had eaten at the more expensive Jiko the night before and while it was excellent, we could have been just as happy at this place. The coconut curry chicken soup was one I fantasized about for weeks. I'm pretty sure I saw more than one person lick the bowl (kidding but not by much). The watermelon rind salad, with ribbon thin slices of watermelon tossed in an herby vinegarette sauce, oh my! There were so many interesting delicious choices, I hardly know where to begin. We were so pleased with this place, we're going back next week. You won't be disappointed!
I arrived at the shades of green on Monday april 15th, I was very upset with just about everything at the hotel except for the appearance. It is a beautiful place but the service and quality is horrible in my opinion. We were never given any information about the hotel, such as children event times, or any type or run down, we didn't even get directions to our room. We walked around aimlessly looking for our room before finally we found it after about 20 minutes of walking around the ground. Then we got to the room and it looked very nice, but then we realized there was no microwave in the room which in other disney resorts there is, I had to walk across the resort to get to the microwave to warm my food, I had to warm it so hot it almost burned my fingers just to ensure it wouldn't be cold by the time i got home. This was disappointing since its supposed to be a deluxe resort. Next I tried to sign onto the WIFI in the room and it kept telling me there were too many people on the server. I have traveled my whole life and not once did I ever have to pay for parking at a hotel, even the cheap Howard Johnson offers free parking. Also cheap hotels offer a complimentary breakfast which is not available at this resort. I thought this was a resort for military personnel shouldn't we be treating them with the best service? The room service took about an hour for a pizza, chicken fingers and fries, after they said 20 minutes. This place was just full of disappointment. I wish I had saved my money and just stayed at a disney resort such as the all stars I would have gotten better service. This resort just doesn't seem deluxe by any means. Oh and to top it off every other hotel I called gave rides to orlando international airport for free except this one and this is deluxe? I will never return to this resort ever and also hope this will help other people in making their decision to not come here.
I have been going to Disney World every year for the past 11 years and the Test Track was always one of the highlights. I went in February expecting the changes to be even better than the original. I get on the ride, I ride the ride, and I get off. It was more boring than Soarin'. They made a mockery of the original. The whole thing was just lights. All of the simulations that made the original unique were gone. I was very upset afterwards. The Disney Magic was gone.
This is one of my favorite rides at Epcot. I've been riding since it opened, and still enjoy it. People complain that it's slow and outdated, but I see it as relaxing and nostalgic. A must-ride everytime!
I thought that the new Test Track was completely worth the wait. When I had watched the videos on Youtube, I thought i was going to HATE HATE HATE the new ride. When i got into line, i completely changed my mind. The queue was modernized and beautiful. when you got into the design station, everything was perfect. you could design anything you wanted, and the car actually got tested!!! The hate towards Test Track is not necessary. I personally think that whoever came up with the idea of this new Test Track is a genius. the lights illuminate everything and it is sooo pretty. i love everything about the new ride, including te fact that it has bursts of speed at unexpected times. i rode test track 3 times nd enjoyed it every one. the area at the end is also extremely enjoyable. i cannot believe they did not come up with the idea with this refurbishment sooner. i truly believe that you must really consider and enjoy the ride to find it as fun. do not be a critic when you are on a ride, actually have fun. when i rode this ride, i felt excited for the future. i believe that they did not worsen the ride, just improve on it's already greatness.
The movie (from 1996) is really looking dated: Ellen retracts the antenna on her brick mobile phone, Trebek's moustache, the old light-bulb based scoreboards on Jeopardy. And you can't help thinking about the BP Gulf disaster in the part that talks about how deep sea drilling for oil is the next great opportunity.
Ok, maybe I'm talking about things that nobody cares but: I understand that when you are dealing with a ride that has only one track system you must keep that ride relatively short to keep the lines moving. But Rock n Rollercoaster is ridiculously short. To the point that I'd NEVER wait more than 20-30 minutes for it in standard que and most always, when visiting in high seasons, use fast pass. I remember the first time I rode it and we popped up over that last little hump that leads you to the straightaway and unloading area; I remember thinking this must be part of the ride prepping us for the second half or even last one third? Nope. Ride over. I cannot believe that a single engineer or imagineer or designer didn't think to themselves "Wow that's a quick, short ride. Too short. Should I put my hand up? Gosh I want to. But after that parking spot incident I want to lay low for a while. I thought reserved meant me. Focus. That ride is soooooooo short. Eww, lunch is here". Even 20 seconds more. Another loop. A cork screw. The first verse of Adam's Apple. My wife and I rode it 11 times in a row. Off season. As fast as we could run back to the recording studio we'd be on the ride again. Parks were empty. Only that way could we even come close to feeling fulfilled.
We went in early Febuary and got to be there for the true love week. It was pretty good and a nice little extra. We went to the Magic Kingdom during the day and saw some of the princesses. that evening we also went to the Brown Derby at Hollywood Studios and ate the special dinner. So all in all it was pretty good. Hopefully they will do some things that are worth coming for, because so far none of this is worth booking a trip over. The main reason this gets a high rating is because the entertainment as well as the special meet and greets were nice.
Ok so I am going to go ahead and say that I was a big World of Motion fan. When the ride shut down I was super sore about it. I didnt ride Test Track when it had opened at first, but eventually the speeding cars at the top of the ride looked to fun to miss. So when I rode it I feel in love completly. Needless to say I was upset when they decided to refurb the thing. I was even more upset when I started reading all the terrible reviews of the attraction. i did not want to watch the video until I rode it in person, but I was not excpectng what I saw. The new line que was so much more organized and sharper then the last one. The old que was super cool with the moving parts, but this just seemed more modern to me. Making the car was cool, but they need to make it where people could skip it if they wanted to. Maybe they can place them in a line that keeps going? Anyway the loading que was nice, but the ride was still the best part. I did not feel like I was on the same ride, and you have to remember we are talking about a Test Track junkie. It felt very futuristic and was very cool! I have told my friends how great it was, and we are going to making a trip down to Orlando very VERY soon! So I give this a very high rating compared to the others!
I had read the reviews on here and totally thought this would be a terrible ride. When we went to Magic Kingdom a few weeks ago we saw it didnt have a long ride so we rode it anyway. The rockwork on the outside of the ride.....wow! I was blown away by the detail and the work they had put into it. the interactive Scuttle was really neat as well. When we got on the ride I was ready to be let down but I was not. Most of the animotrinics were really good looking, and the ride has that perfect screen to AA ratio. I was not even bothered really by the bad lighting in the Under the Sea room. It was really good, and even though it jumped from scene to scene, you could still put the story together. My only main complain is some of the AA's look real cheap looking compared to others. My other complaint is that they use the same cheap looking AA's in the final scene. So the final scene makes no sense in a way. Other then that this was a great ride inside and out, and I will be back!
Horrible experience from the soggy "Fried Yams" to the overcooked NY Strip Steak.. Crapola my fellow Diners...Totally yuck yuck yuck...
Poor Food Quality in general, from the presentation to the bland flavor~overall s big letdown!! I also went to the Cat Cora Restaurant at the Salt Lake City International Airport and I think this one was just as bad too..Very poorly run Kitchen-you can tell by the gossiping going on and the unhygienic Kitchen Staff..The salad was very bland-the Tangerine dressing was one dimensional and the flank steak was way overcooked.....Don't bother..
Yes, it's good fun, but it has quite a few downsides. To start, the lasers do NOT have great accuracy, and with all the fluorescent lights around you, the laser is almost impossible to see. I'm sorry, but once you ride Midway Mania, you will never want to board Buzz again!
WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! We were straight back on! The launch just takes your breath away, and for the remainder of the ride, you are in such a whirl, but for once in your life, you don't care! RIDE IT!!!
When it comes to July and August, the thought of being drenched with freezing water fills you with joy. But in the space of around 3 or 4 minutes, you simply don't have time to cool off! There is always one or two people who are in the spot where soaking occurs, but that's it. The one drop is fun, but the rest of the ride lacks in design and interest. "Popeye And Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges" @ Universal IOA definitely comes out on top in the raft ride rift!
Expedition Everest... what can I say! When you walk up, and see that colossal mountain looming overhead, you get that pang of fear and excitement. And the ride doesn't disappoint! The first climb is breath-taking and spine-chilling, and then you drop into the mountain. The speed s just enough, without being overwhelming, a when you reach the broken track, your stomach flips over. And still with the reverse and cave to come! I'm not going to say any more, as I don't want to spoil it, but seriously, RIDE IT! You won't regret it!
Perfect for a warm afternoon at the waterpark. My boyfriend got the pulled pork slaw dog while I got the chili dog. While it wasn't the best I'd ever had, it was pretty tasty and just enough.
This is my 7 year old daughter's review: This ride feels so slow now! On the old one there were cool drops but now it's boring. There were also hot and cold effects that you really felt in the old version but they're gone now. The new one is just neon lights and spray paint! The cards are just boring blank white cards. The should have put some cool colors on them that go with the theme. The only good thing is the cool games at the end and the stations where you can get your picture taken. The ride is just boooooring. There's not enough to look at in the ride I'm not entertained at all. It moves as slow as the haunted mansion now.
We were just in Epcot last week and decided to check this out because it had no line. Well, there is a reason there wasn't a line. It was really bad. Hard to believe this is a Disney attraction because it is horrible. Don't waste your time. Stupid, cheesy, boring. Just really dumb. I can't believe some people actually liked this. It was way better when it was Honey I Shrunk the Audience. They seriously need to replace this with something else.
Initially my 7 and 10 year old were a little frightened and said they would not ride Expedition Everest, but we managed to talk them into going on after we were given a pass from someone else. We all loved it! The special effects and yeti were so great! It really gets fun during the backward sequence and then launching out of the cave and down the steep drop! Our mouths dropped open and we have the pic to prove it! LOL! When going backwards it really does almost feel like you're going upside down! This is an awesome ride and a lot of fun even for the whole family if you like the bigger thrill rides. Big thumbs up to Disney for adding another great attraction!
We really enjoyed the original test track experience, we liked the varied terrain and the overall experience even just standing in line was interesting and memorable. Now it's a boring ride other than the speed. Chevrolet is the sponsor of the ride and I feel that we go to Disney for fun and Mickey Mouse not for some infomercial from Chevy at tax payers expense. If Disney continues to push a political party platform whether it's promoting government subsidized companies or turning the hall of presidents one sided view of our great nation. We are not only a country that has grown through a civil war or civil rights or monopolies. They highlight FDR that he brought us through the depression, but fail to mention that he had multiple mistresses, exploited the term of the office, and held Japanese-Americans in internment camps, I would hope Disney would also share Nixon opening the China relationships, got us out of Vietnam, which Kennedy got us into and Johnson escalated, Reagan ending the Cold War or the horrors of 9/11. If Disney continues to promote a political philosophy instead of overall facts. We will go to Disney no more. We have already stopped watching their television programming. I thank God for DVDs so we can see Disney at their best.
The new test track is a huge disappointment. The futuristic theming is boring. The only part of the ride that is exciting is going fast outside--and that was there before. So we've lost the bumps, the hot, the cold...all things that were fun to show new guests or just revisit. Why would you take a new guest on Test Track now? There are so many other Disney attractions that would benefit from change: a different movie at Soarin for example. But this change is just sad.
My family and I tried this dining option in 2012 and were blown away!! While I cannot pronounce the name of the tasty meatball dish I had, it was fantastic!! My wife had melt in your mouth beef tips, as my daughter enjoyed a deli style hot dog. The Princesses were all very nice and posed for pictures with my little Princess (who was dressed as Snow White, (and yes I saw double for a few minutes!!) and our waitstaff was very attentive and went out of their way to assist us and explain everything. One thing I did learn...1 Carlsberg beer is plenty!! (Strong!!) We are returning in 2013 and returning to Akershus for dinner!!
This ride made sense before. Now it's just a flashy lit neon light . The while design your own card thing is silly and does not really seem to work and certainly does not feel like you did anything to get whatever results come from this selection . It's quite confusing. I really hoped they were adding new features to the old version. This new version is not much fun and mostly confusing.
I'll never understand the vehement hatred some have towards this ride. Not everything has to be an E-Ticket with constant in-your-face action. This ride is a great family-friendly attraction and a perfect addition to the Magic Kingdom.
Pros: Pools are good size, rooms are clean, cheap , staff is ok nice Note about staff: Most of the staff are polite but sometimes you may run into a rude staff or one that does not pay attention. Cons: Buses can take a while but better that all star movies, food area may be crowded. Overall I would recommend it for everybody ( many more pros exist but I am not going to write them because I am lazy.) Small children would probably do better at all star movies.
We used to enjoy Test Track. It belongs in a regular amusement park. There is absolutely no Disney Magic. We won't waste our time on this ride ever again.
My dogs were in a "condo" where the animals were packed in like sardines. Price includes only two potty walks a day, had to pay $10 for a third and visit each night for their last walk. For the amount of property in this area, the outside dog play area was very small. Advertised a walking path, where? LOL. Not enough indoor/outdoor suites. If your pet is in a suite, cost includes only one potty walk per day. I have left my dogs at other kennels, walked a minimum of four times a day. The only convenience I found is that they were open 24-7 so we were able to pick up our dogs around 4 a.m. upon departure.
This is a must for the wife and I. We have been booking Tusker house on every one of our trips since our honeymoon and we always book it for breakfast. It's just incredible. Love the food. Love the atmosphere. I will say the wait staff isn't as good as it used to be but it still a great place to start your day off eating at.
I love Disney. I love all things Disney. Yes the place is run by humans and humans make mistakes......but I've never seen Disney make a mistake on a level this bad. You take one of the most beloved rides at Epcot and shut it down for I don't know 3/4 of a year and then you open it back up with this in it's place. You have got to be kidding me???? I had heard very bad reviews last year before I went on the new test track in December 2012. It was worse than the reviews I had read. Disney ruined a awesome ride. I will only ride this if there is no wait from now on.
My wife and I (and 1 year old son) went to 50's Prime Time Cafe back in December 2011. We were super excited as we had heard so many crazy and fun things about this place. First off we had reservations (I always book at the 6 month mark). We got there and it took over 1 hour to seat us. I have never had this happen before ever in all the trips I've made to Disney. We got past it though as I didn't want anything to mess up the experience once we did get to finally sit down. Well it didn't get any better. Took for ever for the waitress to come over and get our drink order (20 mins). We didn't get our food until more than 1 hour after arriving and it was terrible. I got the meatloaf which was ice cold and my wife got the fried chicken which was dry and tough. I couldn't believe we were eating at a Disney restaurant and getting food and service this bad. We didn't get the typical experience from the waitress I was looking for too. I had heard a lot of positive things about this place and left very upset. I let the waitress know too. I did get 50 % off my meal. Should have gotten 100 % seeing I had to go get food a half our later to feed my wife and son.
In all fairness I haven't eaten at the Sci-Fi Dine-in since my honeymoon back in 01'. This was one place my wife and I were super excited about trying too. The theming is incredible but the food was the worst..... We left hungry and we and got a quick service meal somewhere else. The only thing I enjoyed was the deserts. I guess one day we might try it again but it will be a while I got a feeling.
My wife and I have always been a big fan of Liberty Tree Tavern. We always book it at least twice for every trip we go on to Disney. I can only speak for the dinner as we have never had lunch, but the dinner is pretty good. Served family style you get turkey, chicken, and roast beef with dressing. I will agree with some of the other reviews there are some selections that I don't care for (more personal than taste). Make sure you get reservations as this place is always packed during the holidays!!!
Always our first stop when we arrive, the desserts are wonderful! The hot/cold food needs some work but the fresh gelato wins me over!
I wanted to love this place, as a spanish food lover, however, from the moment we walked in, we were rushed. I had not even taken off my jacket before being asked what starters I wanted... We asked for a few minutes, only to have our waiter return within seconds. Really? I was so annoyed that I just picked something from the menu, didn't even know what it was. It was so bland... I was not happy. However, the very large specialty drink eased my feelings :) I will maybe give Bongo's another shot in a few years but their Service sucks!
Simply put, I'll be back here atleast once on every Disney vacation from now on. Our server was great, she was friendly and always willing to explain the menu if needed. Our food was cooked perfectly. A year later, it is still the best steak I've ever had. Ever!
We had the pleasure to dine here during their trial as a buffet, it was fantastic! My only complaint was that I didn't have enough room for more food!
Maybe it was because it was the end of a long day, late into PM EMH, but me and my fiance didn't enjoy it much. Our servers were hardly anywhere to be found, and although the portions were huge, and it might be a good deal to anyone not on the dining plan. I feel that there's better options. It's definitely worth atleast one trip. I'll be back, not anytime soon but I'd go back
This restaurant is a great way to escape from the busy parks, especially on those hot and humid days. The food was... okay. I'd give it a 7/10. The starters were not good at all.. but our entrees was really good. My fiance is still talking about it!
As soon as you walk up, you are very anxious to see what Disney has in store this time. The queue for the ride is amazing. The rocks, the waves, the music…everything is unbelievable. There is even this little animated crab that is running around through the props in the line. Then it (the good stuff) all ends!! You get on the ride and it appears more outdated than the Carousel of Progress. Why Disney, why? You spent so much time and money on what should have been a great ride, only to come up with a total stinker. Why not try to have a Little Mermaid ride that was created just like Pirates of the Caribbean? Even those raggedy-old pirates, which are almost 40 years old, look more up-to-date then the 2012 version of the Little Mermaid. I am not sure if corners were cut or if they just flat out bombed on this one, but, again, so disappointing. This should have been an unbelievable ride, but unfortunately it’s not (enter sad face here). ?
My family and I have visited the Sci-Fi Dine In 4 times over the years and absolutely LOVE it!! Despite what some reviews have stated, we find the food to be delicious, especially the burgers and the theme is fantastic!! I have always had a place in my heart for "B movies" especially of the science fiction genre, and love the concept of seeing the classic trailers while enjoying some good food. Our last visit in May 2012 was especially memorable, because of all the aforementioned reasons as well as our server Viviana, who was attentive and very helpful as well as being a sweetheart!! We are coming back to WDW in late April/Early May 2013 and have already reserved a dinner here again!! I will keep coming back for years to come!!
When first reading the reviews of the little mermaid and other stuff I thought this area was not going to be th best. I had seen most of the Dumbo area from the previous trip and was pretty impressed, but the real good stuff is inside the enchanted forest. This is the kind of detail that makes Disney what it is. It has alot of great stuff to look at. Be Out Guest looked great inside and out while Gastons Taveran was pretty good. (There was not alot of food choices at Gastons, but the brisket was good) The Little Meraid ride was what I was probably fearing to ride the most. I was almost set on believeing that the ride was not going to be good at all. boy was I wrong. The castle and rockwork looks great as well as the line. The interactive Scuttle is also a cool little extra. The ride seemed pretty short but it was still a decent ride. I just wished they did not add some of the AA's from the "Under The Sea" scene to the final scene. It made the scene seem kind of cheap. Other then that I thought this was a great ride. I believe once the mine train opens that this will be a great new section of the park.
A bit suprised to see all the distain for the attraction. The preshows are a bit bland. The second one should have probably been changed a little more as it seems to still set a tone better suited for the previous incarnation. Stitch behaves as he does the majority of his movie. The biggest problem i tend to see when getting on this attraction is people dont seem to understand the harness simply sits on your shoulders. Ive seen people force their arms through the headspace then complain to cast members over how the attraction isnt comfortable while I feel as though you must realize its being worn wrong. As a big fan of that franchise I am a bit biased as I adore seeing Stitch and his antics, but its by no means as harsh as many people seem.
The design your car area before the ride makes the line take forever it seems. They should have a separate line for people who just want to get on the ride. Why the change? I think the old Test Track was much cooler this futuristic/Tron thing is such a waste. It seems Disney likes to change things that don't need to be, Disnoid nailed it with Journey To Imagination. Kodak and Disney ruined this ride, BRING BACK DREAMFINDER!
I've eaten dinner here with family many times. We've never had a bad experience. We typically time our dinner with the fireworks at Magic Kingdom. The food is fantastic, service typically is top notch. Its family style serving so as soon as you sit down and get your drinks order, the food starts to come out shortly after. Ohana's has always been packed when I've gone so its not exactly a quiet atmosphere. But its a memorable experience and it has become a staple of our vacations to WDW. Only drawback is you can feel rushed. No one ever says anything, but I think most people are taken back how quick the food comes out and can mistake that for the servers rushing you. But, if you understand that the food will come quick, you'll understand that they are not trying to rush you.
I see why they wanted to renovate this ride, Just like the Universe of Energy it was starting to look a bit worn, but the problem is they CHANGED a classic and beloved attraction, and in the process lost sight of what the ride was all about: a chance for riders to experience what it was like to be a crash dummy; to feel the thrills of getting to know what it's like to go through a testing process; to experience the thrills of learning what each testing room hasd to offer. I use to LOVE this ride sooo much . . . . Now it is a complete nap. The thing this ride had going for it was excitement and adventure, but now the deceptively attractive "modern technology" has claimed yet another victim. Next time the imagineers want to change a ride they really need to think about what it is that makes the ride so popular and why the guests hold it so tightly in their hearts. They were looking a little too hard at how to make the ride "modern" and "flashy" but it came off as cheesy and one-one note; dry; unimaginative.They somehow failed to realize they were messing with something that was so good and popular to begin with (There was a reason this ride was always so hard to get on and a reason the Fast Passes went away so quickly. I think that Spaceship Earth also suffered at the hands of these imagineers. The Haunted Mansion updates, however are wonderful because they kept the mood, spirit and the feeling of the ride, but were able to pepper in some new and awesome technology. To put it bluntly, this update to Test Track offends me.
This was a serious disappointment. I heard through the rumor mill that that "Tron" was in the inspiration for this remodel. I imagined being in a video game or racing with another car. The only Tron likeness is the color palette. I really enjoyed original Test track, although I thought the Queue could use a little work. Now the queue is better (Why I gave it one star) and the ride is BORING! In the original Test Track you were the crash test dummy, going through a series of tests that our cars go through before ending up on the road. Now, you design your own car and again put it through some tests but now you really have no idea whats happening because it's just one big neon light after another. *Wake me up when it's over* We visit Disney about twice a year, this being a "must do" whenever we go. Unfortunately this ride just made it to my "must miss" list. Do me a favor Disney, just bring World of Motion back. That was better than Test Track. Sorry, imaginears. Not your best work.
The trip to the resort was painless and fast, and the driver even slowed down some so you could get a picture of the entrance gate (though the sun was reflecting off the glass so that unfortunately didn't work). I expected the same with the luggage service, but it is most definitely not. Your luggage is supposed to arrive at MAX 3 hours after you check in to the resort. It has been six hours since I've been here and it doesn't look as if my luggage is coming anytime soon. I called after the 3 hours were up, and a cast member told me it should be to my room within the hour, but that definitely didn't happen. Based on other reviews, if you get in in the morning or around noon, you should be fine, but if you get to Disney in the afternoon, you're much better waiting the 10 minutes to pick up your suitcase at the baggage claim, instead of staying up worrying that your baggage is lost or that you won't be able to get dressed in the morning because your luggage seemingly disappeared.
Slow! Nice if you want to get out of the heat... For one of the most recognizable structures on earth it's not enough! I hope Disney makes it into something amazing someday!
The food I've had has never let me down, especially my new favorite, the deluxe burger that is topped with bacon, onion rings, and bbq sauce. The only problems I've ever had here were quickly solved by attentive cast members and that is always appreciated.
this ride is one of the best rides in disney!!! growing up i was always scared of rides but one year my father dragged me on it and i had the best time! for as long as i remember the drops are never the same so you can ride it 3-4 times in a row and it will always be different. the ride is great from the minute you get on line to the minute you walk out the door. this ride needs to stay in Hollywood Studios forever.
I may be bias but I have always loved this ride! it is starting to become old but it is a classic and i always enjoy it and have great memories with my whole family. For some it may be boring but its a great ride for the elderly since all of the movies are old classics. Sometimes you do not get the best actors on your boat to play along with the script which stinks.
I love roller coasters and many of people have talked this coaster up. I have been on it about 4 times since it opened and I have yet to see the yeti pop out. There are no big thrills that one would expect from a roller coaster. the concept is cool and the detailing is amazing, like always, but i am disappointed with the actual ride.
this ride is amazing! it has the perfect balance of thrills without being too extreme, it reaches all age groups and can still scare any age. At 26 I still get scared and always have a funny picture from the ride. Its one of the best rides in Disney World and definitely the best ride in AK.
I was so excited to book Chef's de France for dinner, I hadn't been to France in 2 yrs and was looking forward to it. I can keep this short and sweet, There is Nothing French about Chef's de France
We checked in to our hotel early and then headed to the Studios. Everyone was starving so we hit the first place we saw for food. That just happened to be Fairfax. My husband got the BBQ sandwhich and really enjoyed it, which is amazing because he typically doesn't like BBQ. I got the chicken, it was wonderful and was so tender it literally fell of the bone, I mean I had to actually eat it with a fork. The coleslaw was yummy, and I am picky about my coleslaw. I think the kids got BPJ's and they were fine.
Dh and I were one of two customers during our lunch visit. I am not sure if this is normal but we were happy. I had the lobster roll and my oh my was it good! Great service and food. Also the resort is greatly themed and worth a walk through!
This Steakhouse is a regular for me and DH on our trips to WDW. The steak is perfect in every way, cooked perfectly and cut to perfection and the service is great. Best Steak in Disney hands down! Great for Dad's birthday, anniversary or any celebration for adults who love steak! Give it a try you will love it!
My DH absolutely loves this restaurant. He loves the theming and the food. It is usually quiet and in a great resort. DH recommends French Onion Soup and a Steak! I say Onion Rings with their GREAT dipping sauce and Steak :) DH won't let us go to WDW unless he knows we have a reservation here! It really is good and a nice get away from the crowds and noise!
We LOVE Port Orleans Riverside, mainly because we are from Louisiana and love the theming! We could not wait to try Boatwright's now I wish I would not have tried it. First of all the food was horrible! I am a true cajun and I cook cajun food all day everyday. I also know that anywhere other than here in Louisiana it is hard to get good "Louisiana Food" with that in mind I really did not have high authentic expectations. The food tasted like cardboard. I had the "jambalaya" either I received the wrong food (not likely) or the jambalaya in my food ran away. It was a pasta dish with no resemblance to jambalaya. But okay I am going to eat it anyway, I am at Disney and I have never had a reason to doubt Disney. I sent it back because the taste was horrible. It tasted like they used taco seasoning to flavor the food. (wrong culture) My dh food was also sent back and we ended up going to the quick service to get our food. We will return to Port Orleans time and time again but not to Boatwright's not ever!
I couldn't wait to go and enjoy the spa at the Grand Floridian this past week... and I really cant say enough. I chose to do the Bubble Bath, which was amazing! I arrived on time, and was escorted back.. no kids or noise to notice... and my first stop was a spot where I was handed a Mango drink... and then off to the locker rooms! You are given slippers, and a robe with a locker... then you can go to the steam room, the jacuzzi or the sitting room. All three are lovely. These are seperate for men and women... so bring the swim suit! *** I was put off by one thing. In the jacuzzi area...there was a woman laying in one of the lounge chairs loudly talking on her cell phone. Everything echos in there so I am not sure how on earth she could hear the other person.... but I dont think she really cared that we could hear everything... Adorned in sneakers and all her shopping bags.. I couldn't help but wonder, why hadn't someone said anything to her. So I mentioned to the staff how I felt (FYI it is posted EVERYWHERE no cell phonesand for the $$$ you shell out it should be an automatic GET OFF THE PHONE)... and they must've said something because the next time I saw her, she was texting rather than chatting away... So I give cudos to the staff for nipping that! Ok back to the fun... tiny muffins (carrot zucchini) and apples are left out for you to dine on, as well as cucumber water and hot tea, of your choosing.. the waiting room is very nice, quiet... with reclining leather chairs... Oh and the showers... they are huge! There is a complete station to do your hair afterwards that has gel, hairspay, curlers, you name it..... The room where I was escorted to with Johanna was gorgeous.. quiet... and perfect. The scrub down smelled heavenly, and the bath, even better... with jets everywhere... the end came to soon... and I was massaged with a mimosa lotion. I am not writing too much on the experience since it will be different to everyone, but this was FANTASTIC! Oh, and if you are a DVC member... mention it... worth the discount! Total for my excursion $174 (included the 20% tip and the discount). Worth every penny, and I will go back for more!
Dh and I dined here for our anniversary and had a wonderful time. It was very crisp and clean as well as a quiet atmosphere. We did add to our reservation that this was our anniversary dinner. When we arrived they welcomed us and sat us near a window looking over the water. We had a specialized menu with our name and anniversary information on it for us to keep. We were offered free wine as well. Our steaks were superb and our server was a pro! We will be visiting this location again this summer and can't wait.
Perfect Service, Perfect Food, Perfect Atmosphere! We have dined here a few times. We dined here once during Wishes, it was very Magical. DH and I were seating on the MK side and we got our entrees just before the show started. The lights were dimmed and the Music was piped through the restaurant. No crowds, perfect temperature and amazing food! It was very romantic. Another time we went we were seated by the open kitchen and that was also amazing watching them prepare the food and plates. Our servers are always superb. Food is out of this world. Definitely a must do for couples!
If I could give a rating higher than 10 I would! This restaurant is beautiful and the service is great! The food is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!! You have to make a trip here for this buffet style breakfast. Everything on the buffet is soooo good. I can't really say much more. Just make sure to go and try a little of everything! Seriously, GO! :)
I did like the lunch and the variety of choices. I loved the dinner and the family style serving. Not everyone in our party enjoyed it only because they did not like all the foods (personal preference not taste). The theming is very cool. One thing I liked and disliked was the small room you are seated in. It is themed great and authentic, if the other guest are having a good time and no one is screaming or having a fit its great to be in the small room. If someone is not happy the room becomes torture. Thank goodness my DH is great at making kids laugh :)
The only reason I did not give this review a 10 is because we were lucky enough to be seated right in the front near the rails (the best place to see the show) Unfortunately for me I am very, very short (4'9") so sitting in my chair I can not see over hardly anyone. Which is no problem because we were front and center, right? Wrong :( When the show started half of the people in attendance went straight for the rails! There was room for them to squat down and watch but most of them just stood. I could not see the castle at all. We were even featured on the castle and I missed it. (luckily we had friends in the park who recorded it for us) My husband tried to inform people I could not see but no one budged. Even standing I could not see. The desserts were great, our Photopass Plus pictures were great and had I been standing at the rails I believe this would have been truly magical. I feel Disney offering this Dessert Party is fantastic, I just wish they would ask people to stay in their seats or to be aware of others at the party.
I have read many reviews about this restaurant that are negative. I decided to dine here anyway because we wanted some good Italian food. We loved this restaurant. We went with the Dining Plan so I do not remember pricing. We dined here for dinner. The appetizer for 2 was great! Our entree and dessert was also great. Our server was great, he joked and laughed with us and even taught us some of the Italian language. I loved the restaurant and we have plan to return again on our next trip.
This place is great!!!! Our chef was Mayo and she was great! Unfortunately, I can not remember the name of our server but he was a just perfect. Our first visit was in Sept 2012 and I will never go to WDW again without a trip here! The Sushi appetizer is Amazing! The show put on by the chef is great. The food was wonderful and they were so attentive. We were seated with another family who was very different from us. We were a group of 4 ages ranging from 22-30 and the other family was a family of 4 (two Parents and two kids) they were also from another country and barely spoke english. With that being said we all got along great and the server and chef were great at juggling all 8 of us. Just Fantastic!!!
We have dined here a few times. Our dinners were better than lunch dining. Lunch was a different menu and less busy. We were seated next to the far back window at our last lunch visit which we like because we saw the characters coming in and out for meet and great on the side of the restaurant :D. DH LOVES the french soup and Remy from Ratatouille came to our table to chat which was nice. Our server was friendly but less attentive than normal. On our dinner visits we loved the menu! Food was flavorful and service was great and attentive. I am of french decent and I really enjoyed speaking french with the waiter. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a cultural experience.
We have always loved Le Cellier and our visit October 2012, was no exception, however to have to use 2 dining credits per person, is not worth it (Im sorry, but IMHO, no restaurant on Disney property is worth 2 dining credits, unless free dining were offered and you upgraded) When we visit, we pay OOP for our meal, and enjoy it very much. The lobster mac and cheese was a wonderful surprise. At first, I was skeptical but this dish is really good. Huge chunks of lobster with a wine and cheese sauce. VERY good!!! The filet mignon and strip steak were actually great, the Kurobuta pork, left me a tad underwhelmed, but I could easily make a meal out of the appetizers! Our bill for three appetizers, 3 cocktails (along with the martini flight which was outstanding) 3 entrees, 2 desserts cost us $230
The Aquarium around you is worth the visit. The food is OK, I found it to be under flavored. It isn't bad food but you can get better in the World. The restaurant is very busy and the best place to be is close to the front row in front of the aquarium.
The food was fantastic, I had Filet Mignon and Cobb Salad (I could not eat even half of my meal) and my husband had steak as well. They were cooked perfectly and the flavor was perfect. The restaurant was quite and simple. BUT...I wish this location had a lunch menu with smaller portions and would change lunch to 1 point for DP. I don't find that the restaurant holds up to the standards of other 2 point restaurants. I can't really put my finger on it but something is missing. However, the food is great and as far as HS is concerned I am glad it is there as a upscale option. If you have the means to dine here get the Cobb Salad its great and large you can surely share it with a few people.
DH and I love this Restaurant! It can be a bit corny but that is part of the fun. The only complaint I have is the lack of lighting on your food. There is just a little light near the "dashboard" that your food sits on. Other than that we LOVE this place. The food is great. Onion Rings are served all over the World but to me the onion rings here are so much better! Dh loves the burgers. The setting of the old drive in is awesome! I would definitely recommend it to anyone!
This restaurant is fun! The theming is very nostalgic. The food is pretty good, it is home cooking like grandma made it. Our last visit to 50's was just DH and I and our waitress was less dramatic than most which we liked. We have gone and had true "actors" for servers and that is fun. If you are looking for something you won't experience anywhere else...go to 50's. DH loves Dad's Sundae and I enjoy the roast!
This restaurant had a great theming and food. My DH and I both tried foods we had never had before. We were so surprised how great it was. The service was great and fast. On that hot day the indoor cooled restaurant was just what we needed! We did take pics of our food and I will upload them!
We stayed here on 2/19-2/26/13. The resort was super clean. It rained one day and the staff was outside drying off the pool seats, benches, and tops of trash cans. The main pool was gorgeous! We did online check in so there wasn't a hassle! They even checked our luggage and stored our carry ons until we were ready to leave. The staff was super friendly, and housekeeping was great! I do agree with the long walk to Old Port Royale, but I made sure we had a room near the main pool! Bus service was less than stellar, but I hate public transpotation to begin with! We didn't get a rental car so I was stuck with busing! I do agree with the person who posted a ton of stops within the resort before you leave for Disney etc... Not the end of the world though! We had some great quick service meals in Old Port Royale, and some fabulous fine dining inside Disney and Epcot etc... The rooms were cute, and quite adequate! Overall I would recommend this resort to my best friends and family!!! Great time had by all!
This restaurant is one of the most fun on the Disney property. It is definitely a restaurant to bring kids to! Don't choose here if you are looking for a relaxing, quiet meal. The restaurant is upbeat and lively. The food was fairly good.
Jiko is simply fabulous! I would eat there again in a heartbeat. Getting seated took very little time, the service was excellent, and the food was outstanding! One of the best eating experiences of my life, and by far my favorite Disney Signature restaurant. I am a picky eater, however they had dishes I liked. The dishes were out of my comfort zone, but I ended up loving them. I ordered steak(I believe a filet mignon) medium rare. Like many fine restaurants, it was fairly rare. It was delicious, but if you don't like your meat very rare, I would suggest ordering one level more done than what you normally would. Like I said, I hope to eat there again.
I had the fried chicken. Cleaned my plate. Got the clean plate club sticker. But I put my elbows on the table too many times. The waiter made me sweep the floor. My family got a kick out of it. Great food . Fun atmosphere. Next time I will keep my elbows off the table. ...or maybe not!!!
I would never expect this of a Motel 6 not a disney hotel! We had two rooms and both were filthy! Two beds the sheets were not cleaned and the rollaway bed had food in it, we returned two of them! The size of the room was tiny and should not accomidate nore then 2 people per room!! They pack you in like sardeens! The restaraunt was a nightmare, long long lines in a cafateria setting and no seats!! You wait in line for your food in the food court and by the time you cash out there is no tables your food is cold!! Any by the was the food quality is discusting!! Its all about numbers with Disney Quanity not quality! Also the bus system is a nightmare by the time the bus gets there ( Which by the way could take 40 mins) its full and they make you stand even the children have to stand!! There are no seats!! My children are 6 and 7 and had nothing to hold onto!! SHAME ON YOU DISNEY!!!! SHAME!! How is that legal not to have seats especially for children! It was a 30 min ride in the bus!!! My children were crying of exhauston! I am not happy with Disney at this point!! Never stay on property!!! There is no point!! Just maddness!!!
My husband enjoyed the buffet. We were only "allowed" to interact w/ the characters once, and were told to wait for them to come around before we started eating! It is quite crowded and loud! Mostly girls in their costumes. However, the interaction with the Stepmother, and especially the Stepsisters was the best! I would recommend this restaurant to families with little girls who love Cinderella!
We stopped here every morning for a delicious large cup of Kona Coffee! It always made our day, and the barista always knew what we wanted! They have some tasty pastries too! we did not try the sushi however.
It is your typical quick service restaurant, except for having a dole whip machine! We also enjoyed the Kona/Polynesian chips. The pork nachos were very good!
We ate here for both breakfast ( character meal) and dinner. The dinner was fabulous, especially the shrimp! Our waiter kept bringing the shrimp to my husband without even having to ask! It was always hot too! On the other hand, the "family style" breakfast was not hot. It was lukewarm at best! Mickey and the gang including Lilo and Stitch are always nice to see, but I found the interaction with the characters at the parks much better sadly! I would recommend dinner ( all you can eat) in a heartbeat, especially the potstickers! But, I have some reservations in recommending the breakfast.
Our dinner @ Kona Cafe was wonderful! The waiter was very attentive! My husbands coffee rubbed steak was delicious! My husband also ordered a fresh pressed pot of Kona Coffee- so delicious! I would recommend dining here to anyone!
I auditioned for AI Experience in early March, 2010. I was the first or second on line, as i went there as soon as the park opened,and there wasn't a crowd at all due to the fact that it is a slower time of year. I did an acapella audition for a nice woman in a small private room and made it through to the next round. One thing that she did ask was if I had plans later in the evening, and if i knew anyone who works for Disney. I do not know anyone.... but i did have Fantasmic booked.... latest time.... more on this later... You must stop and choose a few songs in the Coke Lounge from the approved list to use for this final audition. You are able to listen to the two minute arrangements on an iPod. When you choose the songs, you go into a room to audition karaoke style for the producer. He may ask you to do one , all, or pick one to try if he doesn't think any chosen songs Suit you. I had to sing two songs... The producer liked my second one, " I Will Survive", and I was put through to perform in the first show!! You have your hair and make up done, then you work with a musical director on your performance. You are then taken to the set, where you go over the show with the host and have a full tech rehearsal.... It is truly amazing! Your family is brought in well ahead of the audience, so they get to watch the rehearsal.... Very nerve racking for me. When the audience is brought in and the show starts, it truly is magical! Before each contestant sings, there is a video clip of either that person doing kooky things or of audience members cheering for you.... That was my clip... Very sweet! I was actually given the "pimp spot" or final performance spot of the show. Honestly, none of us had fantastic voices, but my co-contestants got ripped by the judges.... I also got criticism, but not as badly. The audience really seemed to like my performance. Turns out, the middle contestant won... He was a very nice nerdy guy from NJ... Sang pretty cleanly...nothing spectacular. He had also made it into a daytime show the year before.But a few people said I should have won... I could care less, as I was just so thrilled to perform, though I kind of agree. I am not a trained singer at all... I just love doing it! I am wondering what some of you are in terms of rigging.... The fact that the Lady asked me if I had late plans was a tip off after the fact. The Fantasmic show would be running at the same time as the AI finale show, and they know that these shows are booked months in advance, so if I did win, My family and i would have had to Miss Fantasmic.... I wonder what would have happened if I told her that I didn't have plans... All in all, this is an amazing experience, and I would urge anyone who likes to sing to audition, whether you are trained, experienced, etc or not.... You just might get lucky!! I plan on getting back to Disney this year, and I am going to give it another shot!! Not sure what will happen this time, but I plan to have fun! And I also plan to say NO when asked if I have plans later in the night! I did get a quick peek from outside of the end of the finale show that night... Plenty of contestants.../ and the nice guy from my show didn't win, but an older gentleman who sang a country son did.
On 11/19/12 at 8:40 pm my girlfriend Tiffany and I had the privilege to eat dinner at Be Our Guest in Fantasy land at Walt Disney World Orlando, We were greeted at the bridge that led to the castle and escorted to the hostess who in turn took us to our seats. The napkins were red and folded into the shape of a rose bud. Our server Amber was cheerful and very attentive, she brought our drinks right away, which seemed bottomless as she kept them filled at all times. We ordered the French Onion Soup which was excellent great texture, aroma, the cheese was not burnt, and it was not too salty. After the appetizers, Amber let us know that the Beast was going to retire for the evening in about 30 mins, we did not have any clue that we had a photo opportunity and she made sure we did not miss it. After the photos with the beast we were able to walk around the castle and take photos and experience it in all it's glory. Tiffany was worried we would return to cold food, but as we returned to the table Amber asked if we wanted her to put in our dinners in to be cooked, This gave Tiffany and me enough time to talk and just enjoy the experience. We ordered the steak and it came out very quickly with French fries and green beans. The steak was hot and cooked to perfection, the green beans were hot and still had a little snap to them. It was amazing how much attention Amber paid to our table and her ability to judge our time and body language was second to none. After Dinner she brought out the dessert cart and Tiffany gotten the Chocolate Dessert which was a moist cupcake with a rich chocolate icing and creamy chocolate filling. And she brought out "The Grey Stuff" desert, which was delicious. The hospitality was excellent, I had brought an Enchanted Rose replica as gift for Tiffany. Since it contained glass it had to go threw security, Hospitality Services then delivered to the restaurant. The Manager asked how and when I wanted to present Tiffany my present. The manager put it together in the back and it was delivered to the table on cue. Amber our server filmed the event for us on our camera and also filmed when I presented Tiffany the ring and proposed to her. We did not feel at any time that the extra attention and help was an imposition. Their excitement and enthusiasm made our engagement the best and I believe the first ever at he Be Our Guest Restaurant. I would like to Thank Amber, the staff at the restaurant, Holly and all the girls at guest services for all there help.
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What were they thinking? I went through the fast pass but went slowly through so we could absorb the decor. In the FP line you do not get to design a car. There is very little to look at in either line. It is mostly empty with a few engine and other car parts. It seems like you are being sold a car from Chevy! I know the old ride was a bit corny but in a good way. I thought it was neat and educational it was a good way to show kids the things cars go through before you purchase them. On the old ride you knew exactly what test you were going through ie an obvious room for tempeture testing. Also on the old version riders who ride several times could always find new things to look at and notice in line and on the ride itself such as bacon being cooked in the heat test room! The new version is very confusing I was always trying to figure out what was exactly going on, what test we were doing. It was very dark with black lights and simple paintings or video like screens of fictional or futuristic cars. After the ride there are a few things to do if you went through the normal que because you need a card. One being racing cars against other park goers. Once you have walked through that area it is like you are at a car show with chevy cars on exhibit, not futuristic but common cars. I was completely disapointed and honestly they cant change it back fast enough!!!!
Before getting into this, I just want to say that I so badly miss Horizons. I want it back and would do anything to be able to ride it again. Now, about Mission: SPACE. I don't like roller coasters, I'm pretty good with simulators. But this is an entirely different beast, and I absolutely love it! I don't know if it's just the premise of the story and being able to live out a childhood fantasy of being an astronaut, but this ride has found its way into my heart. This is everything Disney does best, with the thrills cranked up. The feeling of lift off is incredible. It is the biggest thrill you can get at any theme park on any attractions. The lunar slingshot is phenomenal, and the g-forces during the touchdown on Mars are absolutely crushing! I only had to give it a nine because of its location.
The first time I rode this I thought I was going to die. I would either be eaten by a dinosaur or the asteroid impact was going to be the end of us. What an amazing attraction! An absolute must do!!! Best ride in Animal Kingdom.
This experience is not to be missed! It tells the story of a guy named Walt Disney and his creative genius. The film portion of the experience is a tearjerker. Hopefully, all guests will come out of this experience with an even greater appreciation for Walt and his dream.
My girlfriend loves roller coasters. She had never been to WDW and wasn't sure how much she would like it compared to coaster parks, although she was intrigued. Well, despite my best attempts to prepare her, she was absolutely amazed by every single detail about every single park, land, ride, attraction, shop, restaurant, resort, etc. and she is now a full blown WDW fanatic! Getting back to my original statement; Big Thunder Mountain is now her favorite coaster in the world. She says she has more fun on it than any other coaster type ride she has been on, and we ride it at least a half dozen times on every trip.
I wish there were enough stars for me to rate this with "100" instead of just "10" This is without a doubt the absolute best part of everything WDW has to offer. This show is totally breathtaking. The music alone brings tears to my eyes. The visuals are stunning. It is simply phenomenal. You cannot visit WDW without watching Illuminations. Otherwise your visit would be incomplete. It is worth the price of admission just by itself. The spirit of EPCOT Center lives on through this spectacular show.
Horizons was the greatest theme park experience ever created. That is actual fact. I wish Disney would just reconstruct it where Wonders Of Life currently sits empty. Everyone from kids to adults from timid riders to thrill seekers loved this attraction. It was everything that was great about EPCOT Center. I would do anything to be able to ride it again.
I love roller coasters and I never get sick on them, and simulator rides are usually my favorite, but this ride was horrible! I went on the orange team and I thought I was going to die. When we took off I completely lost my breath, I felt like there were bricks sitting on my chest. I immediately started looking around for an emergency button to stop the ride, but there wasn't one! I was shocked. I tried to calm myself down and remember that it's just a ride, that I'll be okay, but I couldn't wait for it to stop.. I felt dizzy and sick and I got off, and had to lay down immediately. We had to leave the park because I was so sick. I will never get on that ride again! I was so scared that I was going to die from not being able to breath!
timekeeper was my robotic twin brother only he had the voice of robin willams but still looked like me this friendly android took me on a time travle trip in the years of 2000 and 2005 and at the end he called me his brother i miss him nine eye didint talk to me as much as he did when the timekeeper attraction closed i was upset to see it go bye bye i wish they could bring it back
For some reason this seems to be a favorite, but my experiences here have been underwhelming. The service is usually tolerable at best, and it's layout causes for a very noisy atmosphere. The menu has some decent options; the plate of pates and charcuteries is a nice sharable appetizer. The filet option they serve is one of the weakest in all of the WDW restaurants (and really, if you're looking for steak in EPCOT you should be in Canada...) and the duck was fine, but I've had better. Really with all the positive reviews I was expecting much more from Les Chefs, and I won't be going back. It's not bad, it's just not good enough for me to choose over other options in EPCOT.
This restaurant is better than it gets credit for, and that's because there is so many better dining options in EPCOT. The atmosphere is awesome if you like aquariums, and the seafood is pretty decent. Because there are so many better options, I recommend this for lunch if you're looking for a table service, but for dinner you should explore the options in World Showcase!
They used to have a great Cuban sandwich here but it's been removed from the menu. They are never busy... but that probably has a lot to do with the menu. If you want to grab a not-awful burger and escape the crowds you might find you're not entirely disappointed here.
A Disney Parks staple, the Turkey leg is on offer here, and is a tasty portable lunch option. Big enough to share, and under 10 bucks these are great for budget conscious park-goers. Nothing else is offered here outside of drinks, but if you're looking for turkey legs, look no further!
The quality of food here is basically that of a mall food court's token 'Chinese' operation. Lots of fried and sauced options with rice. Nothing phenomenal but a great alternative to pizza, burgers, and chicken fingers. Don't be fooled by their mango pie option, it is *not* the same as what is being served at the table service Yak and Yeti.
A great counter service with some tasty options. Great for lunch, and has some great views at the tables near the water. Big portions too, but can be kind of pricey if paying out of pocket. A no-brainer for those on the dining plan!
One of my favorite WDW restaurants, Yak and Yeti has an amazing atmosphere, a stellar menu, and great desserts. A nice and varied menu, there's sure to be something for everyone. Be sure to get a slice of Mango Pie! My only complaint has more to do with the parks operating hours, and that's if you're looking to eat dinner here, plan on an early dinner as they close at 6 or earlier along with the park.
Ill be honest: This ride did not impress me OR my family. The ride basically is you laying on your belly while you watch some video of California., while hanging around twenty feet in the air. The effects are minimal and really, waiting for this ride as long as two hours is just ridiculous. The lines are also just as ridiculous., so if you ARE going to go on this ride, you better get a fast pass.
I always catch this, just because there's never really a wait for it and it's relaxing and cool inside. It's Michael Jackson and captures most of what was lost at EPCOT over the past few years. It's very, very strange and weird. But it's also pretty entertaining. Catch if the crowds are high or if it's very hot outside. Not a huge crowd-grabber but worth the trip. Now if only Imagination was worth seeing..
The same exact ride from 13 years ago, but never gets old! Got the fast past so a waited for like 7 minutes. It's sooooo cute! Wish it wasn't such a quick though, but still don't leave Disney without going on this one! Disney lovers will looooove s2
It was the ONLY ride that didn't have a huge line, so my dad, my stepmom and I decided to go on it. Should had wasted my time on a REAL ride. When they pinned me down on this ride, I got scared that it would spin or do something crazy because I have just ate, well guess what? We just sat there while Stitch spit on me (yeah, i was the lucky one) then it got dark. They pin you down, so you won't leave, that's how bad it is. I loooooove Disney, and find Stitch adorable, but that ride has gotta go.
The veggie burger is delicious! The kids love the Hot dogs and burgers! The fixing Bar is amazing !! Out door seating has views of the castle And indoor seating has great entertaining :) The bays can be confusing but work
My expectations were quite low for the new ride, I really liked the old one and had no feelings for it being replaced. That's why I was positively surprised by this ride. The queue was nice and sleek, although lacking in things to look at. Designing your car and it being rated was fun. The ride was quite short but still nice. After the ride you could make your commercial for said car which can get to comical results. Overall it was certainly worth the 45 minute wait. 8/10.
THe Dino Diner,is a great little snacking area in Dinoland USA @ Disney's Animal Kingdom. Its an awesome little place to sit in the shade and people watch. My family and I have made it a tradition to stop here on every stay and get a frozen drink with a popcorn to share.Through the years there have been a few changes to the flavours offered in the frozen drink form,and we've tried several of them.All of which have been Dino-licious!!! On our most recent stop we tried something I hadn't previously noticed... the pecans that were roasted with cinnamon and brown sugar,definitely a hit with the kiddos,and I liked them quite a bit too. A few times the tables were all taken so if it needs improvement in any area my suggestion is maybe to add a few more. I don't have any complaints about the Dino Diner and it will continue to be a tradition for us. Hope you have a roaring good time if you decide to give it a try .
Once again the Imageneers drop the ball. First it happened with figment and journey into your Imagination, which is more like a Journey into a lack of an Imagination. Now its Test Track 2.0. The only thing thats being tested is how board they can make a guest. Whatever Disney spent on this referb, was a complete waste... Visually it seemed like they married OnStar and TRON. the ride is a complete FAIL... If it wasnt for the outside track I would say skip the ride all together. And Disney if your reading this you've got the CARS movies to take inspiration from. Just marry Chevy Cars and Disney Pixar Cars together and you may have a more visually envolving story line.
Been here several times, however the last time the service was terrible. The food is always enjoyable, and the ambiance is amazing. Was fortunate enough to eat on the water. It truly is subjective at times, depending on who your waiter/waitress is. We waited an hour for our check to come back after we gave our DDP card. Was a little disconcerting to be honest.
Was there in 8/11, and to be honest, the food was very good, but overall it is the ambiance that sets this apart. My daughter wanted to sit in the back of the car by herself, and she absolutely loved it. She felt like she was a "grown up" and an old school drive in. I am not saying the food is the best on grounds, but we all need to keep our expectations within reason
My wife and I stayed at the Dophin Resort in Orlando, FL. I was attending a conference there so it made sense to stay there as a guest. I noticed on the flyer that we were gievn at check in that there was a $14.00/day charge for bottled water & coffee in the room, plus use of the fitness center. I checked with the concierge and was informed "no, that is all included in your room fee. There is no added charge". I next noticed that the sign at the gated parking lot entry stated a $15.98/day parking fee. I was assured that this was for hotel visitors and that the fee is included in the hotel room fee. Okay, so my fear of hidden charges was overblown. That is, until check out time when I saw thet there was a $11.50/day service charge attached to my room charge. PLUS a $15.98/day parking charge. Now, I must explain to all that there is NO OTHER OPTION FOR PARKING WHEN STAYING AT THE DOPHIN RESORT than to park in THEIR parking lot. So, to charge a parking fee seems to me to be "highway robbery". The Dophin management DID remove the $11.50/day service fee after I protested for over a half an hour. They would not, however remove the $15.98/ day parking fee. Every hotel I have stayed at in the past included free parking on their lot when staying at their hotel. Every hotel I have stayed at in the past included use of their fitness center, free in-room coffee and/or bottled water. Every hotel I have stayed at in the past also included some type of free breakfast for guests. The room fee has also been a more reasonable $125.00/night max. For a room fee of double that amount I expect to NOT have added fees tacked on every time I turn a corner. I also expect for the DirecTV signal to work on EVERY channel offered, not just 5 of them.....(but that is another story) I WILL NOT be staying at a Disney Resort hotel in the future and I suggest that you also NOT stay at one unless you like having your pockets picked by the management!
We dined here on January 3rd, 2013. We did not have ADR'S. So were pleasantly surprised when we had only a 10-15 minute wait. My DW dined here before and enjoyed it. We were seated in the rear of a car and had a good view of the big screen. Our waitress was great and in character. My DW ordered a cheese burger that was not very tasty and was very greasy. I ordered the Picnic burger. This is a burger with two hot dogs, cheese, sauerkraut and some kind of sauce. I must say I like most Disney food, but, this was by far and away the worst meal I have ever experienced at Disney (11 trips). I would have given this a one if not for the funny movies and commercials. Our waitress also deserved a higher grade. I would not recommend this eatery. I truly hope this was just unlucky on our part to have such a bad meal. The atmosphere is great, just a shame.
We once again spent the 2012 Christmas holidays at Disney World. We travel down every year from up-state New York. We were very excited to try the new Test Track, this is one of my DW 's favorite rides at Disney. We experienced the ride on December 28th 2012. We did not like the refurbishment at the beginning of the ride and even the area where you made up your own vehicle did not help. I think all that really changed was the cosmetic look some new paint and pictures. We really did like the way the ride was before the refurb. We did still enjoy the speeding around the track at the end of the ride. I think we just thought it would be totally different and maybe we were expecting more than we should have.
The largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history and that is the best Disney could do? The folks at Disney should visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal to learn the meaning of expansion. First the Test Track at Epcot, now this, strike two!
We were at disney over christmas and the new area is ok, I excepted way more. Hoping the coaster adds more. They need more rides like toy story.
Well what a disappointment, possibly the worse refurb ever done by Disney. Nothing of any real interest really happens on the ride. The ride around the speed loop is still cool but I wouldn't queue any length of time for it. Really all what was required was a good refurb of the attraction to get it all working as it should.
I loved ABC Commisary when they had the Cuban Sandwich. Went a year ago, the lack of crowds should have told me something. The burger was the worst I had ever had. The fish was awful.
rode the orange team and loved it a very smooth simulator unlike body wars was. no jerks whatsoever just pure speed!
was a very interesting ride with unique disney plot loved it because it was oone of the only rides that didnt have a tv show behind it or a movie... bring it back! OH and guess what all of those hidden mickey fans! instead of looking for Mickeys look for some alien encounter merchendice tht is actualy still in the park! I found some and no Its not skippys in the stiches great escape gift shop!
I personaly thought this ride wasnt bad and was more family friendly then the previous ride at the spot but ehhhhh... Put back the extra TERRORestrial Alien encounter what an awsome scary ride that was...
Test track used to be an awsome ride! You walked in and it was almost like you were in a factory! Test dummys everywhere, and all sorts of cool things like doors being slammed shut! The line was realy fun and kept people entertained for a long time. (which was great concidering the long lines) Once you got on the actual ride you felt like YOU were the test dummy, heat and cold simulations. rough rod simulations. Wet and dry tests and all sorts of cool things and of course that great big outside track! The new test track on the other hand is horrid. The line is nothing but you holding a blank white ID card with a rubber band around it. You walk in and take your card and scan it on a sphere ball that lights up (for the record I scanned my fast pass and my park ticket and they both worked. As long as you hold a flat surfce up to it it will work. (we saw people ditching the ID cards on the ground because they were stupid.) A screen pops up saying efficincy power capability and other stuff. you pick one and a list of absolutely unrealistic looking cars pops up (looks like hot wheels reproduced with the bat mobile and got a paint job in the ghetto) and you pick one. (little kids have fun with it which I guess is the point but the old line EVERYBODY liked and thats what you want.) Then you contitnue on and look at nothing... blank blue walls. When you finaly get up to the line (which isn't worth the 160 minute wait.) you see the same cars from the old ride just painted blue instead of yellow. (kids sure are dissapointed to not see there futuristic ugly trashy chuckycheese looking car that they picked on screen.) and we noticed kids upset because of it too. You get on and start riding an obviously everyones ride is the same and the card has no effect on the vehicle or the ride itself. No simulations or tests just an annying automatic voice that sounds like a gps talking to you saying "calculating" And when it is complete with calculating that it will display the results on a screen which as far as im concerned are just absolutely random numbers or numbers that were displayed when you made your car. The track is also glow in the dark which did nothing but make it look unrealistic and cheesy like a fair ride. You come in close contact to a semi truck which is ok not better than it used to be though. Then you go on the outside track which is the signiture part of the ride. still the same. (the only thing that hasn't changed. Definetly not worth the wait or even the trip to epcot concidering that was one of the best highlight rides. Im seeing lots of negative reviews on this ride and I hope disney does too. Disney needs to redo test track and put back the old one. Before Epcot looses lots of money. They may make money now and the next year or two just because people want to try out the ride but in the long haul they will loose alot... one of the first disney dissapointments...c3
We have eaten lunch here for years but never did the character dining until our trip in Feb 2012. It's now Princesses all 3 meals so we went for dinner not realizing my go to dish Major Domo's Favorite Pie would not be offered. :( We arrived a little early for our seating and we were allowed into the waiting area to meet Cinderella. It took about 20 minutes before we got up to meet her. The girl playing Cinderella was lovely and made each person who met with her special. I didn't feel like the meetings were rushed or took to long. We were called up to our table shortly after my daughter met Cinderella. The dining room is very nicely themed. Over all I thought the meal was very rushed. They took or orders, drinks, apps, mains and dessert all at once. My kids were both under 3 so they were each offered the free meal. Buttered noodles and a decorate your own cupcake for dessert. The wishing on a star ceremony took place - cute. The Princesses started coming out one every 5 minutes or so. There were each announced we had Belle, Aurora, Ariel and Snow White. Then our food started coming out. I had the shrimp cocktail and my husband had the cheese plate. Both were good nothing special. The second we were done with our apps the mains came out. I had been debating between to dishes - neither is still on the menu. Half way though eating my husband pointed out they had brought me the wrong dish. I'm still not sure which one I ordered I'm guessing I said the wrong thing as I am known to do when debating between meals. I ended up eating the Grilled Chicken Pasta which was very good. My husband had the Slow Roasted Pork Loin which he said was just okay. In between the eating princesses were making the rounds and visiting with each table. I felt the were kind and attentive to each table. My kids didn't eat much as there were Princesses in t he room so I'm glad they had free meals. The desserts were Season Sorbet with berries for me and Espresso Cake for my husband. Mine was exactly what you would expect, My husband said the cake was very good. The kids dessert was served on an artists pallet plate. The had a white cupcake with vanilla frosting the had little cups with different toppings , rainbow Mickey Sprinkles, marshmallow and chocolate chips. The bill came the second we were done eating. They don't mess around with he turn over here. We had seen all the princesses and ate our meal in about an hour. Overall the food was good not great but the meal felt rushed. The princesses were great and the interaction with them did not feel rushed. Maybe it was all the events the fit into that hour that made it seem rushed as an hour for a meal is reasonable.
I come from a town full of bbq restaurants and I think Flame Tree is easily one of the best quick serves on property! Not only do you get a nice meal that is a QS but the food is really good also. I usually get the pork sandwich and my son always gets the ribs and both never disappoint! Unless the weather is really hot - sitting outside at Animal Kingdom enjoying a meal is a nice too!
During our last trip we decided to make lunch our main meal of the day. I made reservations at Tony's Town Square knowing my husband is not a fan of pasta, but my daughter and I wanted to eat there and hey - I make the reservations! We were seated early and staff was very friendly. It was busy but we were always well taken care of. My husband and I ordered the spaghetti/meatballs and it was really good, he even bragged on it a tad..:) My son had the sliders and the presentation made it look at good as it tasted. My son in law had the pizza - everyone tried a piece and thought it was really good. My daughter had the canelloni - she liked but couldn't eat all of it because of its 'richness'...I think maybe because she was eating off of everyone else's plate?? Everyone was so full nobody wanted dessert but I will not eat here unless I can order the pistachio creme brulee - so we ordered one with 3 spoons - and it did not disappoint!
During a recent stay - we were traveling with a group of 9 - ages 8 -78. Our last night there my son and I decided we would like to dine somewhere not so "kid" oriented, not being negative but my son enjoys trying new things especially food and some in our travel party were not so co-operative in this area. So I made a reservation for 2 at Les Chefs. It was so nice! We both ordered the Duck Breast w/cherries. Since I come from a family of hunters I have eaten duck many times but never this way - delicious! For dessert I had my favorite creme brulee and my son had the puff pastry w/ice cream and chocolate sauce - again delicious! The staff was friendly and helpful and we really enjoyed our meal. The only negative I would say that the tables were a tad close to each other. I don't like the closeness of the tables that you almost feel like you are dining with the one next to you.. but over all I would definately eat here again.
Very disappointed. They had the chance to make this amazing using the old 20,000 area but FAILED. Thought with Scuttles scavneger hunt we were getting something really incredible. instead we got something from 1985 imagineers instead if 2012. i will never get the 90 mins back from standing in line. the blowfish really blew and under the sea was underwhleming. be sure to bring crackers for the cheese factor. Good for the kiddos tho.
This experience was as legit as possible. My husband and I went to Disney and he auditioned not really knowing what the experience was. He made it through all the rounds and won the Dream ticket. We actually went into the whole thing thinking that it was all set up for everyone to win and did not know anything about the dream ticket. He performed with many other talented people, but he was the best singer there. It was not rigged. I can honestly say that the majority of the people in the audience voted for him. Hope he makes the show this coming up auditions!!! Vote for Matthew Nealey ; )
This ride is incredible! I had love the one before but always saw it as kind of dirty... However now it is AMAZING! They took this ride to new hieghts and the post-show just adds to it!
Me and some girlfriends did this on a Saturday afternoon...and it was PERFECT! The food was amazing and the tea selection was abundant. We absolutely loved it and did NOT feel that it was overpriced at all. We had a wonderful time and have already made reservations for another day!!!
Not worth the cost for dinner. We were there on a reasonably busy day, but there were only 20 tables occupied for dinner. Half the buffet line was closed, and the half that was left open was poorly stocked. Several platters of food were empty and took a while to get refilled, and there was a wait for new meat at the carving station. Food wasn't bad, but was bland, with no real standouts. Left several items on my plate that pretty much had no flavor. Dessert looked promising with the chocolate fountain on premise, and the dipped items were the better selections. Service was great, no problems there. Prompt with clearing plates and bringing drink refills. Not worth the buffet prices for the food. Can't speak to the character interactions at breakfast, but spend your dinner money elsewhere.
I had read reviews of this place and figured there was no way it would live up to the hype - it certainly did. The filet was better than that I have had at steakhouses such as The Palm and Del Frisco's. I am not sure what the chefs do, but the steak is divine! The cheddar soup was delicious, especially when enjoyed with the soft pretzel "sticks" they bring out with the meal. The server was very friendly and well-informed. I am not a huge maple fan, but the server highly recommended the maple creme brulee. I submitted, and boy was I glad I did - delicious! The atmosphere is cozy and warm. A wonderful night, best enjoyed with that special someone!
Upfront, the food was just okay, and unfortuantely for me, they don't serve wine. However, it was one of the funnest dinners my husband and I had at Disneyworld (we do not have children). My husband was reluctant to have dinner at the castle with what he thought would be a plethora of screaming children. However, we got a later reservation (~9:15pm), which was helpful in that regard. The best part about getting a late reservation was being able to watch the fireworks through the windows of the castle while we ate - delightful! Request a table by the window if you can. Also, with the later reservation we arrived about 20 minutes early and were able to stand right in front of the castle and watch the Electrical Light Parade. The part right in front of the castle was blocked off to folks, except for those like us who had a dinner reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table. It was a nice surprise! Definitely do it at least once.
I strongly recommend this restaurantfor dinner, particulary for adults without children. The wine list was various and lengthy, and the cocktails were great! Request to sit by a window, if possible, for a great view of the beautiful Wilderness Lodge property. We tried the Slow-Roasted Buffalo Strip Steak. I was a little thrown off by the name - I enjoy rare/medium rare steak, and the "slow-roasted" part had me confused. However, it was deliciously tender, and rare, on the inside with a nice, crisp, grilled outside - better than filet mignon, and healthier! The appetizers and cobbler were also delicious. If you are looking for great food and a beautiful atmosphere for dinner, particularly with less kids and thus quieter, look no further. If you like Craftsman and Frank Lloyd Wright types of decorating and decor, this place will please your eyes also. Finally, check out the cozy, comfy bar next door for an after-dinner drink!
My wife and I went into captain eo because there was no line and we were filling time before a fast pass. This movie/Michael Jackson musi video was terrible. I wish I had walked out. I suppose if you really like Michael Jackson and you really like the 80's, you may like this. I don't care much for either. The funniest part was when the movie ended the kid says, "welcome back to 2013 folks". We were all excited to be back in 2013 from the 1980's, although it was suppose to feel like we went into the future. I can't believe Disney stooped so low to bring this back. They need to turn that theatre into a mOvie like the Mickie 3d show at magic kingdom, that's a great show. I would stay away from eo.
Out of our entire trip, Restaurant Marrakesh was my favorite table service meal! The live musicians and belly dancer added an exotic atmosphere to a place that is already gorgeous. The interior tile work has to be see to be believed! I ordered the chicken shish, and it was my favorite meal of the trip. The chicken itself was cooked and seasoned perfectly, while the couscous and olives were delightful on the side. The baklava for dessert was perfectly prepared. Our CM was gracious, knowledgeable, attentive and friendly. Overall an A+ experience. I'm going to make it a habit to go back to this place!
I'm not a huge fan of Italian food, but Mama Melose's pleasantly surprised me. The restaurant has a fun and cozy atmosphere, it was a great place to decompress for an hour or so. Our CM was friendly and was very knowledgeable about the offerings on the menu. I had a wonderful chicken flat bread that really did surprise me! The dessert was a sampler that came with the Fantasmic! Package, and was very good.
We had to grab a quick dinner before MNSSHP on 10/12/12 and had a wonderful experience at the plaza! Our CM was extremely attentive and friendly. Loved the food- I had a turkey club sandwich that was absolutely huge. He loved our costumes, too! Highly recommended. I don't hear this place mentioned often, but I really enjoed it and will be going again!
Every time we've been, there isn't much of a crowd which is nice. They have a rather diverse menu which again is nice. According to my parents, the atmosphere hasn't changed since it opened. It's kind of quaint and has cute stained glass windows. Overall, not a bad place to have a quick dinner/lunch.
I've never seen it crowded so you have plenty of room to spread out and take a load off. The portions are nice and the food is typical counter service Disney. The chicken fingers are tasty. Its a nice, cool place to waste some time relaxing during lunch.
The location is very convenient to hop on the monorail and get to if you're not staying at the Contemporary. I used to love it when it was at Downtown Disney. All around, its a fun experience.
The food is delicious and the portions are large. Both times we've been, the service has been excellent.
Love the atmosphere and people watching. Great to watch shows at the Castle. We go every trip!
Just another way for Disney to save money. Walt use to PLUS his attractions,now the new way is to minus them. Looks to me like they took out all of the moving parts to save on maintenance costs just like they did with journey into imagination, and universe of energy. The new Test Track is not worth a fast pass.
Overall experience was terrible. The only positive was that our waitress was wonderful and very attentive. Outside of that, never again. I have never had a problem eating family style, but the family we were paired with were terrible. Let me just say this....making anti-semitic and racist remarks, really dont add to the ambiance, and when you try to say that it is because you are in Germany, is more of an offense to all Germans. Food was ok...typical buffet food. I have tried several other Disney buffets and felt they had a higher quality food.
We had booked this in advance as we had not been since 1998. It was well worth it. The ambiance, service and food really lent itself to a pleasant experience. I will tell you....the fried chicken is amazing and a must have if you enjoy comfort foods. I had convinced my daughter about mom's rules, but when we joked with our waiter about it, he advised us that they are limited in what they can do anymore. So sad...just a little good fun. I would not say that this is an essential stop, but for a nice change of pace, it is recommended.
fun ride with some very hard to see animals if you don't have enough money to go on a real African safari only major problem i have with this ride is how much of the story Disney is getting rid of just to add more animals
i was really looking forward to the new test track bc it is my favorite ride at Epcot but after waiting for 6 months or more im not to happy.First the line it seems they put 90 percent of their time into redoing the line which i will say looks fantastic but once you get to the ride you can tell that all they did was put up walls with lcds in them and use a lot of glow in the dark spray paint
When it comes to quick service dining, do not underestimate this hotel's food court. The Riverside Mill is amazing. The "lazy river" decor is truely peaceful and the food is wonderful! They have a large variety of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Definitely try the build-your-pasta option in the italian section. Especially if you're on the dining plan. It stands as a single adult entree on the quick service deal but is so large I made it into two meals easily. And boy did I enjoy it both times!! The bakery also has fabulous options that can be used with your snack credits for breakfast so keep that tip in your back pocket! If I had just one complaint about this place it would only be that the few times we did need to ask a question it seemed like everyone who worked in the food court did not speak very good English, so getting the question answered was very hard. This did not seem to be the case in the lobby however. And this did not stop every one of them from being completely friendly.
You can't possibly top this experience!! Everything about this brings true Disney Magic to life. I remember as a child walking through the arch of the castle and wishing I could just go inside. Now that I can, it takes me right back to being that little child and I must say, it does NOT dissapoint! From the elaborate decor to the beautiful fairy tale princesses. Cinderella's personal greeting, the photo opts, and the food!! I had read reviews that the food wasn't worth it and that you were "paying for the experience". I am not sure what they were eating because the dinners we had were top knotch! Every appetizer, entree and dessert..flawless. Our server was perfect as well! He played the part amazingly and we truly felt like royalty. Especially my children. I have two boys and was worried that being boys they wouldn't really enjoy it but boy was I wrong. The magic held just as dear for them as it did these two adorable little girls at the adjacent table. To watch all of their eyes just light up as they fell on each Princess was amazing. And the view of Fantasyland from the windows, breathtaking. I couldn't ask for a better night :)
This is one of my families all time favorite places. Honestly, the food is average but for some reason, ever since I was a kid my family has had a tradition of sitting on the Terrace, eating pizza and watching the fireworks. Then watching Tinkerbell soar overhead. It is an amazing time. On our last visit we wanted to try the new Terrace Dessert Party but were unable to. I would look into that though as I believe it reserves you that special spot for Wishes!!
I am giving this one a 9 because the baked goods are absolutely amazing! Definitely make sure to check out the Cinnamon Buns in the mornings, they count as a snack on your dining plan but make an excellent breakfast!
I am definitely going to give this one a 9 as it is a quick service restaurant and still managed to be one of our favorite places to eat. In fact, we ate there twice on our week long visit. While it is just a quick service restaurant it is really set apart from the others. There is an animatronic character called "Sonny Eclipse" who sings and plays piano in the main dining hall that tends to keep the kids entertained. The place is noisy but if you have kids this is a relief to you because you feel a little more free to let them be themselves. Another thing, make sure to check each of the ordering windows as each section sells different types of food many of which are not offered at other quick service restaurants (at least that we could find). For example, on the chicken side the actually sold 1/2 rotisserie chicken with potatoes! My husband said it was great! TIP: Plan to eat lunch aroun 1 or 2 to avoid the crowd or have one person in your party search for a table while the others grab food. The only downfall is the crowd.
I have heard so many complaints about how all the quick service restaurants serve the same food but honestly, I didn't mind quick service restaurants at all! And this one was definately no exception! The burgers were fabulous and there was plenty of seating! There was even one little perk that made this place stand out from the rest. A self serve soda fountain. One of few places that allowed free refills which was nice on a hot day in the park. I reccommend it.
On this one I'm going to say it depends on your travel party and/or your preference. If you are a couple who just wants to enjoy some delicious Italian food than this is a great option for you! Food was fabulous, service was great and well..the atmosphere is perfect for a photo reinactment of the spaghetti scene from "Lady and the Tramp". Haha. Now, if you're traveling with kids and/or you just prefer your Disney trip to feel a little more "Disney" meaning that you experience things you can't experience elsewhere..I would probably skip this and try something like 50's Prime Time Cafe or the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater or for Lunch..Pizza Planet!
I booked a reservation at Prime Time Cafe based on all the wonderful reviews I had read throughout several Disney related sites. I read about the "clean plate club", funny stories about parents getting scolded for not eating their vegetables, many things that needless to say set my expectations pretty high. My family and I had originally booked for 6pm however, we were part of the American Idol Experience that night so we were rescheduled to 830. When we got there the restaurant was fairly empty so we expected fantastic service. Unfortunately, that was not the case. While we did hear one waitress playing the "mom" role most others were much like ours, average. Just being a typical server. Kind of dissapointing but that being said I have to admit the food was fabulous! Especially "Dad's Brownie Sundae" on the dessert menu! I think next time I may go in simply for a late night snack as it was HUGE!! The environment was also neat. Truly like stepping into an old TV show or traveling back in time. My grandmother really seemed to enjoy it. Overall, I would say it's worth a shot, just maybe choose an earlier time. Enjoy!
We ate dinner at the Brown Derby on 1-5-13. We requested a booth earlier in the day, and they were more than happy to accommodate the request. It was an extremely busy week at WDW, and the restaurant was full. The restaurant has a very pleasant decor, and the atmosphere has a very genuine feel. The server was friendly, well informed, and accommodating. The bread was hot and tasty, and the entrees were delicious. I had a Gouda cheese pork chop with apple slaw. My wife had a seafood cioppino dish, and my daughter had the cob salad. Each dish was presented well, and each dish was cooked well and flavorful. I had a citrus honey nest over a lemon cheesecake for dessert, my wife had a chocolate three ways, and my daughter had creme brulee. All three desserts were delicious, with the chocolate three ways being a very clear winner. I honestly wish that I had ordered it myself. One damper on the evening involved the appetizer. We ordered a crab spring roll dish, and it looked absolutely delicious. The problem, however, lies is the fact that they served it with our entrees. I blame this oversight on our server, as I considered it to be her responsibility to act as a liaison between the kitchen and the table. We asked that they take it back, as we did not desire to eat an appetizer with our entrees, and they did so willingly. Any other criticism that I might have for this restaurant would involve the prices, which are typically "Disney" high. Overall, I would recommend The Brown Derby for an in-park dining experience. We enjoyed it very much.
My husband and I were really excited to try Monsieur Paul's since we had always enjoyed our meals in Bistro do Paris. We had a 8pm reservation for this past Saturday night. We checked in around 7:45pm and were seated shortly thereafter. The good: Our waiter, Nicholas was attentive and came over within a few minutes of us being seated. He asked if we had any questions and gave us the wine list to look at since we indicated that we would like wine. He came back shortly there after to take our orders. Another server then appeared with an "Amuse Bouche" of Escargot en Brioche. (Anyone the has had the escargot at the French kiosk at the Food & Wine fest will recognize these.) They were tasty as always. Our wine arrived next. Since we didn't order any appetizers, our entrees arrived fairly quickly. I ordered the Filet de bœuf grillé forestier, purée de pomme de terre, sauce Bordelaise. The steak came out with what looked to be a disk of mushroom duxelle on top. The Bordelaise suace was on the plate. The potatoes came out in a separate ramekin and were topped with a truffle foam. The steak was cook just as I ordered it (med. rare) and the steak with mushroom crust was super tasty. The mushroom crust was actually a mixture of mushrooms, onion & bacon. The potatoes were really good as well, but super rich. My husband ordered St. Jacques Parfum d’Hiver, émulsion de crème au rhum (Seared scallops, black truffle spaghettini, Romanesco cabbage, rum cream foam). He was extremely happy with his choice & said it was excellent. The dish looked good, but I did not try it as I'm not a huge fan of scallops. We were full at this point and did not eat dessert. The restaurant was really busy, but we were still in & out in an hour. The bad: Bistro was always a loud restaurant to eat a meal in & that has certainly not changed. However, before there was a kid's menu offered, you didn't see many little kids in there. This is not the case anymore. Saturday night, there were 2 separate tables that had kids screaming at the tops of their lungs that sounded like fire sirens. I saw about 4 other children that looked around the age of 4-6 running around the restaurant. (i.e. not seated at the table, just running around & darting in front of waiters.) This did not make for a optimal dining experience. I know the restaurant is in a theme park & kids go along with it, but for the price I was paying, I really wasn't happy listening to the din of noise. I've been to football games were the noise level wasn't as loud. Will I go back? Maybe. I did enjoy my meal and the service was good. I will just make sure I go during a serious off season & probably avoid a Saturday night.
I just get so tired of Disney updating their attractions to make them more "modern" and hip that they completely remove all the original magic and fantasy they once carried. EPCOT back in it's glory days was filled with one adventure after another, they massacred and destroyed such treasures like "Horizons" and "World of Motion" as we'll as "Wonder's of Life" or the original "The Living Seas" and "Journey Into Imagination!"to replace them with more up to date attractions that get old after the second time you ride them. Captain EO embodied the magic and spirit of EPCOT back when it was the coolest place on the planet, I am so happy to have it back and who cares of the special effects are not "Lord of the Rings" or "X-Men" quality, Captain EO is plain Disney fun and makes its audience happy, singing and dancing for the rest of the day, through world showcase and other future world attractions. What more can you ask for? There are certain theater techniques with choreography, puppetry, make-up, and modeling that highly advanced and cutting edge CGI just can't compete with!
We have been to several wdw resorts & this was our least favorite. We enjoyed Caribbean beach, All Stars, Port Orleans Riverside. This resort had nice sized rooms & a good staff, but everything about the place was not appealing. The other resorts were beautiful, Inside & out. Coronado springs was just ok. We will never go back there even for a discount. Everything was inconvenient. Our room was so far from everything & we were exhausted after dealing with crowds & standing in lines all day. Who wants to walk that far just to get a drink or snack? We finally started driving to the front & saw others doing that too. The snack stand was not nearly as nice as the other resorts we have stayed & the restaurant was ok. It was not up to the standards of the other hotels we have been to.... Nothing about it was as great as everything else Disney. We were disappointed.
We go to WDW a lot & have never come across a bus driver like the one we had this trip, January 2013. After a dinner at the Hoop Dee Doo theater we boarded the station 4 bus to Coronado springs. We had the coolest, best bus driver named Nelson. He made the trip back fun. Everyone on the bus talked to him & each other. The crowds were horrible at the parks this trip, so it was nice to be in a more friendly situation where everyone talked & laughed together. It was all because of Nelson! He created a great environment & was a super guy. Thanks Nelson! The Texas family with 3 boys thought you rocked!!
We have 3 boys, 14, 10, & 12. We all enjoyed this restaurant. The only item we didn't care for was the lasagna because of the cinnamon. The pork tenderloin was the best we have ever had, the steak, lamb, appetizers, desserts were all amazing. We will definitely go back there on our next trip. By far one of the best restaurants we went to on our trip!! The staff was courteous & helpful. The chef was from TX & even came out to talk with us as we are fellow Texans.
This is one of those rides where the queue is better than the ride itself. The AAs (save for Ursala) look like plastic and not AAs and only shwcases songs from the movie. If the wait is under 10 minutes, ride it. If not, skip it.
We decided to try out Monsieur Paul after canceling a couple one-credit reservations and wanting to upgrade to a 2-credit dining facility. Granted, Monsieur Paul had only been open less than a week when we dined there but it seemed like they still hadn't worked out all the kinks on their end. I ordered the duck and my lady-friend ordered the lobster as an entre' and while the meals were good they were certainly not worth the wait that we encountered. We had to wait at least an hour after our food was ordered to arrive. It was not busy at all, maybe 5 parties were dining at the time and it not like they have an extensive menu where they weren't prepared to cook something. To be fair, the manager did comp us each a glass of wine due to the wait which he brought up, we did not complain but overall not a high-quality dining experience for $50 a plate. I would much rather go to Les Chefs downstair for the food and experience. It's worth trying once if you're into French Cuisine but not worth a return visit.
After it being down for 2 hours first thing New Years eve morning, we finally got on. However, that was not the only glitch. The 3 of us built our cars, only to have my computer reset itself and all the information be lost. So...the plan is to create your cars and then get in another line, however there is no one there to tell you that, so we stood around and waited for 7 minutes. The ride itself is fine, it shows no signs of your car doing anything (at least not when we went). Would not wait in the lines again for it, which on NYE went up to 4-5 hours.
Being a huge fan of Test Track before it's big refurb, I was deeply disappointed when the new Tron-like version opened up for rider amusement. Luckily, Early Magic Hours provided me with an almost first-in-line experience, so I got to enjoy the full experience, from designing my own car of the future to testing it's performance on the ride. However, when I wanted to try it again, the lineup was too long so I opted for the single rider experience. This was a real disappointment because I no longer could become involved in designing my own car - that option had been stolen away from me. Seems Disney has decided to place profit ahead of guest statisfaction. As a single or Fastpass rider, guests no longer have the chance to design their own car and have it rated. Only standby riders have that joy and with the lineups running into the hours of wait time, there is no way this Disney fan is going to wait. Consequently, Disney has just lost another Test Track rider (along with my family and cousins). Disney's need to push through as many riders as they can per hour at the expense of their enjoyment has ultimately lost riders. Once again, the almighty dollar has influenced what Disney provides its guests. The new Test Track certainly had potential. Like the Sum of All Thrills and Toy Story Mania, the desire to earn more points engages guests at a competitive level. Test Track certainly has that potential but with only standby riders truly being given that option, regular guests such as DVC members, annual pass holders and the like will not wait in long lines to improve their scores and "compete" with family members etc. Ridership will decrease, word will get around that the ride has lots its thrill and Disney will have again put the dollar before the guest.