This ride is a classical, cute ride that's a must for families and first time visitors, and especially families with small children who may not be able to go on as many rides. This ride, although the song can get annoying and repetitive by the end, still has a positive message, though simple; it's a small world if we truly put our differences aside! Go along in a boat and explore the children of the world. Note: U wouldn't prefer this ride if you have a phobia of being trapped with a bunch of folks :P otherwise, these little dancing dolls will do just fine with both you and the little kiddos. This ride is a must whenever I go with my family, and it's not a complete Disney trip without riding this!
LOVE this show!! I go every time I visit Disney!! Just went on 10/12/2016 and my FAVORITE SIX BITS was performing!! He's the main reason "I" go, and hope the same guy plays him every time! I was literally crying from laughing so hard!!! The food is amazing and waiters and waitresses are great! Great time!! The cast is very friendly and even took pictures with us before they started their next show!!!!
As a Florida resident, I have stayed at Fort Wilderness campground a couple times a year for the past 8 years. My latest trip, Oct 20 to Oct 23 was a disappointment. We noticed a general lack of security in the park - and, we were unlucky - a party trailer was parked - next to us. On the Thursday that we arrived, the party went on until 1:00 am.....We are talking about 15 to 20 adults at this site in the 800 loop that were yelling and laughing loudly...The next night was the same. What happened to this being a family experience? At the price that you pay for camping there - you would assume that someone from Disney would be monitoring the campground to make sure folks behave. Don't know if we will be back.
While my boyfriend and I stayed here we had a camper. We got a great spot and were super close to the bus stop. However, unless you have a golf cart or bikes it is a haul. Like I mean 20-25 minute walks. BOOK YOUR GOLF CARTS EARLY. Both times we have been there, they have all been sold out. Fortunately, we had bikes so it wasn't bad. I was in a walking boot and had to bike with it on, but it is what it is. Live and Learn. Something good about the bikes, although, is that there is super close parking for them to get on the boat to MK. Same way with golf carts. Loved that. Unfortunately, the buses take forever it seems like. We usually rode over to MK and then took the monorail to GF and rode a bus from there. It seemed much faster. We loved Trails End, the only home-like food in WDW (granted we are from KY). Best on property food hands down. It's also a bike ride away from FWL. Nice, relaxing, and it gives you a break from the parks. Stop and see the horse stables. There's something really neat inside. To sum it all up, the Campsites are nice. The cabins look okay, but it is clean and well put together. Bathhouses are wonderful-- definitely better than I thought they would be. If you have a camper, RV, or just love camping, stay here. It's a good value and location.
I'm a huge evil queen fan so this was a must do for me. I went with my 12 y/o granddaughter, my 9 y/o niece, sister, and brother in law. We all had a great time. The set up to see the villains is elaborate and I love having a set time to see the villains so no spending half the night standing in line. Loved that we were able to take pics with or without the photopass person both when the villains were there as well as in their sets when they were off stage. The stage/floor shows were fun as was the dancing. Add the unlimited food and drink (including sodas, water, or alcoholic signature drinks) and it was well worth the money.
Recently we had dinner at Art Smith's Homecoming (Disney Springs, The Landings) and had the most fantastic culinary experience. The food and presentation was beyond words. Our servers were Autumn and Marissa which provided us with GREAT service and offered an education into Art Smith and how his restaurant came to be. We asked many questions and they had great answers for all our inquires. They spent time with us and made us feel like home. We recommend Art's restaurant to everyone who wants a culinary experience not to forget. Thank you. Karen/Rick
My husband and I tried this place for the first time to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. It was busy so we got two seats at the bar and the service was outstanding from the moment we sat down. The staff gave us a feeling of true professionals who took great pride in their work. The food was phenomenal. I mean, so good, it made me angry. I was asked if I liked my meal and I told him that the chef should be put in jail. It's not fair to give people an experience as outstanding as this. I highly recommend this place and if you don't care for seafood there are other options on the menu. Also, the Abracadabar is adjacent to the restaurant and has a great vibe if you need to kill some time waiting for a table. We will be going back soon! Also, they accept tables in wonderland.
This resort is a classical beauty! I was convinced the Polynesian would always be my number one favorite resort and remain unchallenged...........and then we stayed at the GF. The lobby is spectacular and the resort manages to remain cozy amongst all the opulence. I only wish they would complete a walkway to the Magic Kingdom. It would require a bridge over a small canal but would be a great amenity for guests. The service has consistently been outstanding over the years.
This is one of my favorite places to stay on Disney property. The location is excellent and it is within walking distance of two parks. Also, it affords some peaceful time if you want to put your toes in the sand on the beach or take a stroll around the lake. The pool is wonderful and the poolside bar is a great place to watch a game. There are so many great options for dining within a short walk or boat ride.
My wife and I just went to the Halloween Party at Disneyworld. We had a great time. The Halloween party is a separate, ticketed event held at the Magic Kingdom of Disney World. It officially starts around 7 pm, though people with tickets for it are allowed in around 4 pm. The whole mainstreet area is lined with mickey jack-o-lanterns and other Halloween décor. Starting at 7 pm the lighting on all the buildings on mainstreet switches to Halloween colors. We went the end of September . About a third of the adults, and at least half the kids there were in costumes. Many of the costumes were amazing. Trick or Treat stations are scattered throughout the park. All guests are able to trick or treat for candy. The Halloween Parade, called the "Boo To You Parade", was typical Disney. There were several cool Halloween floats, including one from the haunted mansion which seemed to glow in the dark . There also were ghost dancers that were a lot of fun to watch. There was a show in front of the castle which starred the characters from the movie "Hocus Pocus". There were cameos from classical Disney villains. The highpoint of the show was a rendition of " I Put a Spell On You", which was very well done. A note to parents: We enjoyed this show quite a bit, however it was geared more to adults than kids. The Halloween fireworks show was great. The fireworks were perfectly synchronized to music from the Haunted Mansion and several Disney movies. Most of the Park Rides remain open during the Halloween Party. We didn't go to many of them simply because there wasn't enough time. However, we did go thru the haunted mansion, which was fantastic. After the Halloween Party officially begins at 7, then all the workers in the mansion wear zombie type makeup which makes the atmosphere perfect for a haunted house. One suggestion I have to those planning on going to this event has to do with souvenir shopping. We were surprised that the Park Stores had some, however didn't have a lot of Halloween Party Souvenirs. The Disney Stores at Disney Springs had a very nice selection of Halloween Party souvenirs. I'd recommend anybody interested in getting souvenirs of the event go to Disney springs.
We stayed at the All Star Sports Resort Sept 13-20, 2016. Overall our stay was okay. The theme for this resort is absolutely Kid Friendly or perfect for those who never want to grow up. The sports theme translates well through the lobby to the food court and out to the pools and the landscaping. The room was great. There was plenty of room around the beds for our chair to maneuver freely. The King bed was lowered and was great for transferring. The double bed was not the most comfortable but it was okay. The roll in shower was large enough for a caregiver to help if necessary but the floor remained wet for longer than some other roll-in rooms we have had. Mousekeeping was good and although we requested they not enter our room one day, the beds were made and towels were replaced each day. The food court, End Zone, was as expected (busy) and the food options were acceptable. We shared a giant slice of pizza and a salad as a meal one day and were more than satisfied. Breakfast was our favourite meal at the End Zone. The CMs in the End Zone food court were by far, the friendliest, happiest and most polite of any CM's we experienced this trip. We were at the resort during some heavy rains and found that the flooding on the walkways from the main lobby building to the others were very deep and a little dangerous. I think we would have given this resort a higher rating had it not been for the very unwelcoming, and downright rude CM that checked us in. We did write to WDW regarding this CM (and the great CM's we came into contact with) and hopefully this was a one off situation. This resort would be perfect for families with young children, tweens or adolescents who love all things sports. Or adults who want to take advantage of all that staying on a Disney resort has to offer at a budget price.
My wife and I had not eaten at Via Napoli in probably a month or so. A rarity as it is one of our favourites locations on property. We took advantage of the lower crowd levels recently and headed out for lunch on Monday, here was our experience. We arrived around 2:30 PM with no ADR and were seated by 2:40 PM. We were quickly greeted by Marko (not the server) who offered us water, bread, etc. He was really funny and visited our table often to crack a joke or three. Our waitress Franchesca was over quickly after our water was delivered from Marko to ask about drinks, wine, etc. We order a bottle and cruised the menu for a few minutes before ordering our first starter, the Prosciutto e Melone. The Cantelope was fresh and the Prosciutto's saltiness really paired nicely with the sweet melon. It was a nice refreshing tarter to begin our meal with on such a hot afternoon. Next we ordered the Arancini to get into the Italian mood. It was very good though just not as hot as I would have liked it. Overall good though. After the two starters (and another bottle of wine) we went in for Pizza! Nothing special here just their Pepperoni Pizza today. As always, the pizza was very good, piping hot and just a great way to round out our meal. Dessert was up next and we went with the Pistachio Gelati e Sorbetto. It was great as well. Just the right way to end our meal before heading back out into the blazing hot sun. Overall our dinning experience at Via Napoli was on par with all of our other visits to this restaurant. The wait staff was excellent. Managers came by to ask about our experience and speak with us on a personal level. The food was great and we are looking forward to our next visit back! This is still one of our favourite locations on property and we will be back very soon.
Kati (my wife) and I went to Animal Kingdom some weeks back for some fun and were able to check out the new restaurant Tiffin's and lounge area called Nomad Lounge. Here are a few observations from our visit. First, the entire restaurant and lounge is really, really cool with the travel themeing. It reminded me a lot of a combination of the Poly & Wilderness Lodge (to me). Tiffin's has a lot of really cool artwork and hand carved poles that actually use to be out front of Pizzafaria. Though they have been stripped of the awful paint down to the bare wood work. These actually served as the inspiration for the trunk on the Tree of Life. We did not sit or eat in Tiffin's itself, however we chose to hang out and eat at the Nomad Lounge. Apparently this location was not "officially" open yesterday and at one point, we were the only ones in the entire building other than the CM's. The pricing here is to be expected and on par with other Disney restaurants. The appetizers at Nomad Lounge range from $7.00 to $21.00 and signature drinks go for around $10.25 a piece. They have a pretty good list of them in their menu. We had a few item on their food menu including the Spring Rolls and Short Ribs. Both were very good along with the adult beverages we had on our visit. They do offer (now) TiW so that makes it a much more appealing spot now at Animal Kingdom. If you are looking for a cool, nice place to relax and hang out for a few during the Florida heat or rain showers. This is a great new place for you!
So, on their opening day, the wife and I headed over to Disney Springs to check out the new Frontera Cocina restaurant. The restaurant itself was not very busy though Disney Springs was packed for a Sunday evening. We had no intentions of eating an entire meal here this evening. We set up at the bar and had a few "beverages" and a starter off the menu. First off, the prices here (even for Disney) seemed a bit steep to me. A local beer (Cigar City Amber Ale) was $11.00 and it was not even a full pint or a restaurant style "pint". It came in the same glass as our waters did. Will not be drinking here again. The menu has a good selection and prices are to be expected on Disney property for food. Entrees range from $15.00 to $34.00. We had the chips & salsa ($4.00) and ordered the Coctel Rojo ($14.00) to share. Overall the food was good but nothing to write home about to be honest. Rocco's Tacos in Dr. Phillips is a better restaurant (to me) than Frontera Cocnia. Overall the food & atmosphere were fine. However, I may reserve judgement for another visit to this restaurant as it was opening night. Very nice on the inside and the staff we encountered were very friendly and we had a good time there.
The usual suspects (my wife and I) shot over to Disney Springs a few days after they opened to check out the new Homecoming Kitchen for some starters and drinks. Again, this is not a full review, just our experience stopping in for a quick trip. We sat at the bar which is really cool as it has a really nice wood top that changes from one tree type to another with huge corner pieces from massive trees at one point. Looking over the menu, the prices again were a bit more than we expected even for Disney prices. Local crafts beers were going for $10 and up. That to me is just too much as other restaurants and bars in Disney Springs have the same beers for much less. We had no intentions of eating a full meal, just for a few starters and drinks, just to check the new spot out. We had the Church Lady Deviled Eggs ($10.00) These were very good and are prepared as traditional Deviled Eggs. Nothing over the top on anything here. Very good! We also tried a bowl of the Addie Maes Chicken Dumpling Soup ($7.00) This was the best deal on the menu for the size of the dish to the amount of the dish. The bowl was a nice size and it is not a traditional chicken & dumpling soup. The "dumplings" are more like a long flat pasta than a dumpling. Still, very good as well. Sorry, forgot to post that picture before deleting from my phone. We also tried their grits there as when we return I am looking forward to trying their Shrimp & Grits ($26.00). I did not like the fact they charged us $7.00 for a sample of their grits though. On the bill, they charged us for a side of Mashed Potatoes. The portion of Grits they brought out was in a bowl that could be best described as something a restaurant would bring out salad dressing in, not an actual "side". The prices on entree are to be expected and on par with other Disney restaurants. Anywhere from around $21 to $46. However, their adult beverages are very high (to me). Just an example, our bill last evening was $106 for the following: Deviled Eggs - $10.00 Chicken & Dumpling Soup - $7.00 "Side" of Grits - $7.00 4 Shots - $34.00 2 Glasses of Wine - $28.00 2 Beers - $20.00 Good news is they already accept both AP and TiW discounts! We'll be back soon to try some of their entrees for sure. Everything looked great as it came out around us!
My wife and I headed over to Disney Springs a few weeks back when Blaze Pizza opened to give it a try and here is our experience and pictures. Just a quick trip over one night for dinner. First off, this is probably the best deal in all of Disney Springs as far as value to what you receive is concerned. We shared a build your own pizza and a fountain drink and the total was $12.12. Yes, they do an AP discount (10%) and that was around $1.27 or so off the original total. We did as I said, the build your own with a half/half to share. We got this pizza: Traditional Red Sauce Mozzarella Cheese Double Mushrooms (wife's favourite) Pepperoni Italian Sausage Ham Bacon Black Olives They do not charge you any extra for double or [insert number here] of toppings. The build your own pizza is $9.99 and you get whatever and however much you want as far as toppings go. All and all this was an enjoyable trip and meal at Blaze Pizza. The weather was awesome this evening after some rain storms rolled through earlier this afternoon so we elected to eat out side and it was great. While this was not THE greatest pizza I have ever eaten, it was very good. We will be back soon to try our hand at some other toppings!
I always thought "ice cream" was all the same until I went to Ample Hills. Fantastic stuff!
In real estate, they say it’s location, location, location. For the Bay Lake Tower (BLT) it’s true. The best thing about the BLT is the location. You are less than a 5 minute walk to Magic Kingdom. That is huge! I took advantage of it many times. Many evenings, my wife and son were done for the day. I’d walk over to MK for the last few hours and it was awesome. However, there is no food court. You have to use the Contemporary for all food and drinks. Kind of a pain for coffee in the morning. The BLT theming is nonexistent. The lobby is super small with no Disney touches. Nice lobby for and an upscale office building but not for a Disney Resort. Rooms are a little small and pool is OK. My son loves it. My wife and I are not as in love. I would much rather the Polynesian.
Absolutely loved this resort and it would definitely be a huge contender to stay at again. We stayed in the cabanas section and the rooms were so nice and felt very private. The views were absolutely amazing! The staff was friendly and for the most part helpful and it was very clean and welcoming. It's a moderate resort but it felt very deluxe to us! I highly recommend! Pros: - stunningly beautiful - very nice rooms - awesome pool with huge hot tub - easy to navigate, we never got lost - 4 different bus stops with easy access - food court with tons of options Cons: - only two drink stations, long walks to refill cups - not necessarily a con for some, but the majority of the food is Mexican due to the resort theme. Something to think about if that's not your taste.
We stayed at Coronado Springs for 8 days the week after Thanksgiving in 2014. This was the second moderate resort we have stayed at since 2011 (2 previous trips were at Port Orleans French Quarter). Now to understand the context of this review, I was 48 at the time, my sister was 43, and my mom was 68. Neither my sister nor myself have children. So this trip is from a kid-free adult vacation point of view. First, the things I loved! - The grounds are beautiful. It is really nice to walk around and just chill... lots of space and walkways to wander around. - Pepper Market (Food court). Excellent service, excellent quality and quantity of food. Had one small issue that was quickly and courteously resolved with no issues. - Pool area. Huge, relatively quiet. Great place to chill and relax. Nice pool bar - and the Siestas Cantina serves a limited but adequate breakfast menu. - Very nice rooms. Excellent housekeeping staff. - Very quiet around our rooms. - Outstanding front desk staff. Second, the things I didn't love (and this is purely subjective and personal preference): - The place is HUGE. There are very few rooms near the main complex (registration desk, resort store, food court). Ours were nowhere near this area, so it made for a looooong walk to hit the store or food court. This came into play for breakfast. The long walk easily added 45mins to our mornings if we wanted to grab some breakfast before we left the resort for the day. We later found out Siestas Cantina at the pool had a limited breakfast menu, and the pool was easily 1/4 the walk to the food court, so that made for a good time saver. Wish we had known about it earlier in our trip! - CS has a large convention center. A convention center in and of itself isn't that big of a deal, it just depends on what convention is going on lol! During our visit, there was a sizable cheerleading competition going on. So areas of the grounds (mainly every step of our walk from our building to the bus stop) were saturated with tween to teen aged girls practicing, celebrating, consoling, and in all stages of full blown drama laden meltdowns. Hundreds of them. It was by no means a major disruption to our day... but rather a noticeable distraction. At least we didn't have any teenage boys with us lol - Bus service was spotty. I understand the resorts now have monitors at the bus stops that give you an idea how long the wait is for the bus you are looking for, so I would see this as an improvement. Looking forward to this addition on our trip in Nov/Dec 2016! All and all it is an excellent moderate resort. As I have really bad knees (thanks to a brutal fire fighting career), I would prefer to save my knees for the parks. So the long walks to get to the main complex was a negative for me. But I wouldn't say it spoiled our stay in any way. It was just an inconvenience. I would definitely say the pros outweigh the cons! Such a beautiful resort!
Absolutely beautiful resort that is meticulously maintained. The suite was the perfect space and use of space for our party of 3 adults (myself, husband, and my mother) along with our 4 and 2 year old daughters. Splash pad and pools were amazing. I literally have two complaints about our entire stay there. 1. There was no dish soap provided in the suite or in the food court for washing reusable mugs, meaning that we had to just rinse it for a week. 2. The room was hot and the air conditioning was not even attempting to cool the room below 77. We called the front desk and they had someone up there to fix it quickly and the problem was resolved for the remainder of our stay. If this is the entirety of my complaint list, that should tell you something.
We tried Frontera Cocina twice, during our five day trip. I'd looked forward to it for a long time because I like the way Rick Bayless approaches cooking. Fresh, quality ingredients, and using flavors that work together or contrast in a way that contributes to the dish rather than defining it. On our first visit I had the Carne Asada and my wife had the Red Chile Chicken Enchiladas. It was good. My beef was a little overcooked, but not enough to send it back. The flavors were good. My wife's Enchiladas were about the same. The chicken was a little dry, and the cheese could have used another minute or so under the broiler to evenly melt it. Both dishes were good, but not what I'd expected. Later in our trip we found ourselves in Disney Springs again, and we were both ready to eat, so we decided to try again to find out if we just came in on a bad day or time. We switched entrees this visit. I'm glad we visited a second time, and that we switched entrees! The Red Chile Chicken Enchiladas that day is probably one of the best 3-5 meals I've ever had anywhere on property. The flavors worked perfectly together. The texture of the corn tortillas made from scratch was perfect. The chicken was a hair on the dry side but tender and flavorful, but still tasted like chicken. The sauce was fantastic, with complimentary flavors, and depth. The black beans were just as good, with a nice creamy texture, and a comforting richness to them. My wife prefers her beef cooked a little closer to well than I'd prefer. Actually she prefers med-well, while I tend to think of medium as being overcooked more often than not. It come to the table cooked perfectly to med-well as ordered. The side of guacamole was outstanding. Lots of flavor as expected, but it complimented the rich, creamy, avocado. The salsa had some mild heat, but more than enough flavor to balance that out. The refried black beans were just a little on the dry side, but neither one of us sampled them for some time with all of the other food to enjoy, so I can't hold the kitchen responsible. Both visits were good or better. The second has earned Frontera Cocina must visit status on each trip. With a slightly larger group we would add some appetizers to share, but the two of us left comfortably filled just ordering our entrees. When taking the quality into account, we felt like it is one of the better values anywhere on property. Crowds were light, and our second meal was at 3 PM. The place was almost empty. Visit soon, because I expect the wait to grow as more people start hearing about this place.
We spent 3 nights of a 10 night split stay at the Poly, in August 2016. It was awesome! The location is amazing, access to the MK via monorail and boat was so convenient. We stayed in a DVC studio room, main floor Tokelau, on the pool side. The room was beautiful, queen bed was super comfortable. There is a sofa bed for two, (very comfy) and room for a 5th person on a pull down bed under the very large tv. Mousekeeping was wonderful, room was very clean.Check in was fast and friendly. Check out was great but the computer system was down when we left so I couldn't get a copy of my room charges. I explained it needed before my flight and they went above and beyond to get it to me, even called my cell when the email address on file didn't work. We also had some pixy dust at Ohana when I requested bread pudding to take back to our room. They made us a great take away package and when I tried to pay I was told it was on the house - super nice surprise ! We have started at 6 Disney resorts and the Poly is our favorite.
Last evening my wife and I headed out to the Boardwalk to give the "new" Flying Fish a go for dinner. The decor is a little different from the older version of the restaurant but still, very nice on the inside and comfortable for dinning. We started with the Corn-Encrusted Wild Gulf Shrimp & the Blue Crab Bisque. The shrimp were prepared very well with just enough breading to not over due it. The shrimp itself were fresh and cooked perfectly. The Blue Crab Bisque was also very good! It had a good amount of ample crab meat to make it a filling starter though not too much. Again, prepared perfectly. For our entree, we shared the Wagyu Filet Mignon (FYI ... The steak was already cut in half for us) This was one of the best meals I have had in some time. Easily in the top-10 best steaks I have ever eaten. It was prepared perfectly. The bordelaise sauce was awesome and the vegetables were cooked to perfection. Again, this was easily the best meal I have had on Disney property since moving here three years ago. Everything was cooked to perfection and was delicious. If you were apprehensive about eating here after the refurbishment, don't. In my opinion this meal/steak was easily better than Le Cellier, Yachtsman & Shulu's. The only other steak that was this good (no better no worse) was at Bull & Bear. We will be eating here again in the very near future. New favourite restaurant on property!
First time I rode this was in 1996, and since then I have been to Disney on 9 holidays, so have enjoyed this attraction everytime I have been. I can't remember what it was like before Cap'n Jack and Davy Jones, but I believe the Cap'n Jack animatronic is essential for the attraction as most kids nowadays will believe the ride is based on the movie rather than the other way round. I am sure when I last went on it, the song was there, but not too sure. I really enjoy these types of rides, with heavy theming but this does drag a little and can be quite boring in parts. The part with the dog & keys, the ghost pirate and any bit where Jack Sparrow pops up are all the best bits so it is still worth going on.
Okay, pardon the cheesy Mass Effect joke in the headline, I couldn't resist. This IS my favourite ride in the world. Not just Disney World, I think the world... I can't think of another ride I'd rather go on. If someone said to me "you can only go on one more ride ever" I would choose Haunted Mansion. Why, you ask? I mean, it's not as technically impressive as something like the Tower of Terror or the Rock'n'Roller Coaster... but I would argue that super fast, super scary and thrilling rides are not necessarily the "best" rides, and even moreso it's not really what Disney is all about. Disney - to me - is about theming... it's about immersion and experience. If I'm already boring you, Haunted Mansion is probably not going to be your favourite ride, as it is mine. However you should still give it a try! It's a lot of spooky fun. It's also the only place on property where the cast members don't smile, and will tell you to "have a dreadful time". It's very family-friendly goth in that Addams Family way. It's all the kitsch and most of the fun of a dirty, rundown, sketchy circus sideshow without the actual dirt and spilt beer and stale popcorn... or risk of being stabbed. Plus ghosts! It has great music, and is a great place to put your arm around your sweetheart and just enjoy being pulled outside of your everyday reality into something else. To my mind, Haunted Mansion is Disney at its best. The line is usually not long and even when it is, there is so much to look at and explore in the graveyard, the time passes quickly and at its best it just adds to the ambiance and anticipation. It also has one of the only gift shops - Memento Mori - which you actually have to go out of your way to get to and I actually consider a worthwhile destination in and of itself! If you're at all into spooky things, kitschy things, or just good old school Disney immersion and atmosphere, Haunted Mansion is not to be missed.
Dinosaur is, in my humble opinion, the very best ride in all of Animal Kingdom. Yes, I enjoyed Dinosaur even more than Expedition Everest! My girlfriend and I loved it so much we went twice, standing in a fairly long line the second time, and it was well worth it! It might not be as fast or "thrilling" as Everest, but for me it is more exciting. A large part of this is the theming and the atmosphere. Entering into the "lab" and boarding the vehicles felt the LEAST like "getting on a ride" of anything I experience at all of WDW, which is pretty great, as immersion goes. I love things that take me out of my normal reality, and Dinosaur does that very well. I know it's not a Jurassic Park ride, but it almost felt like it, getting in the vehicles and having dinosaurs pop out at us. Honestly, it's sort of like an extreme motion track haunted house. The articulation the vehicle is capable of helps make the ride more exciting even if it doesn't move as quickly as some others, and the dinosaurs - especially the carnotaurus - really give you a good jump. Ultimately you really shouldn't miss this or Everest, but personally if I could only ride one ride at AK, it would be Dinosaur.
I stayed here for the first time in August, I did preparation on the computer and although I had seen pictures, and maps I wasn't expecting this hotel to be what it was in person... Although it was pouring with rain when we arrived we were greeted by the super-friendly staff and from that moment on everything was perfect, especially when you consider the $70 price per night! If this hotel wan't priced well I would not give it such a good review, but when you put the price with the beautiful grounds, oversized (but not tacky as I've heard some people call it) instruments sprinkled around and the amazing, friendly staff it was so worth it, it made me want to stay on the property again and maybe spend a little more next time! I would even skip a theme park one day just to lounge around the hotel!
We stayed one night. $100. The Good: We had good service as is to be expected from Disney. The staff was professional, pleasant and very nice. Price was reasonable and the facilities were clean. Rooms were clean and air conditioner worked very well. The Bad: No frills in the room...felt like and looked like Motel accomodations. Paint on the interior and exterior are very dated. Everything looked old...furniture, paint, wallpaper, tile. Beds were a bit hard and pillows somewhat flat. Carpet looked old and the room has a slight "old" smell to it. Pools were just that...pools...no slides no hot tubs. Pool towels are plain white and the same type of towel you get in your rooms for bath towels. No luxury. Overall...if you are looking at just sleeping there then it serves it purpose however if your looking for "Resort Style" amenities and a bit more luxury then look at another Disney resort. You will feel safe and this resort will take care of your basic needs. I personally like a more luxury feel to my vacation accommodations and was a bit let down staying here.
Ugh...horrible...this must be totally gutted and redone or killed off. Old video, the tv in apartment is from 1990, and all actors in it have aged tremendously. Cameo by Kramer goes unnoticed by 90% of the riders. Dinosaur part hasn't been updated in 30+ years...please Disney make this extinct!
The update of the narration was good and badly needed. However, please Disney update the movies! Alien was scary back in its day but my teen aged kids have no clue what it's about. Wizard of Oz will always work, but John Wayne and even Clint Eastwood mean nothing to millenials. The Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney scenes mean nothing to 95% of the riders. Next time in the park, I will not go on this ride without a major overhaul.
My wife and I stayed in the French Quarter of the Riverside resort in August of 2012 for 5 nights. We looked at all the moderate and value resorts before making a decision. After many reviews, the smaller footprint, less potential walking to shuttles, and fairly easy access to Riverside led us to booking at French Quarter. Pros: * Footprint - If you visit any of the other moderate resorts and walk from one end to the other, you realize just how big they are. French Quarter is much smaller. At the other moderates you can typically only be close to one or two key things, but not all of them. If you are close to the pool and shuttle, you are far from the food court...and so on. At French Quarter, everything is an easy walk. * Not missing the Disney moderate feel. You still feel like you are at a moderate resort with the decor and staff. * Easy access to downtown Disney on the boat shuttle * Shuttles to parks are close by, but will make stops in Riverside as well. You'll save travel time to the shuttle, but might sit on it a little longer getting to the park * Smaller footprint means less rooms means less guest at the food court * Parking near your room is fairly easy with the layout Cons: * The rooms are not that great. They felt fairly generic, but as you aren't spending a lot of time there, not a huge deal * No sit-down restaurant, but easy access to Riverside where there is one * Only 1 pool (though there is a hot tub and baby wadding pool) - you can use the pool at Riverside Overall, I would stay here again. I might stay elsewhere as I am not a WDW regular and I would want to try other places, I could see returning to French Quarter if I reach a place where I am looking for a regular annual spot to stay
Absolutely loved the theme, very detailed and creative expecially for children but the wait was 1.5 hours, menu wasn't great at all, and prices were very expensive for the quality of the food. Honestly probably won't go back but the theme made it worth it.
We live local and went to see Cirq in Disney Springs before coming here for dinner. The service was TERRIBLE. We waited so long for a server to take our drink order we had to flag down someone. Our drinks came watered down. They were for sure sitting out for some time. Getting refills was next to impossible. I ordered a specialty drink from the bar and I don't think there was any alcohol in it. The food was ok. It wasn't bad but not amazing either. It is very tightly packed in. They are an open air restaurant so be prepared for lots of bugs as they sit right on the water. With so many choices in Disney Springs, I doubt we will return
Generally we found the WDW transport to be really good. However on two occasions we went to Typhoon Lagoon early in the morning returning to our hotel early afternoon - a distance of about 3 miles. For some inexplicable reason you have to catch the bus from Typhoon Lagoon get off at Disney Springs (which is the other side of the road) then queue for another bus On our second visit it took is an hour from leaving Typhoon Lagoon to driving past the front entrance of the water park on another bus - utter madness Don't bother taking the buses to either of the water parks .
Fun for what it is. Tommorowland Speedway will not thrill a teenager, or likely an 8 year old, but my 4 year old had the time of his life on this ride. He was able to "really drive" the car using "Disney Magic". We visited for 10 days in Feb/Mar, and this was easily his favorite ride, I'd say he rode it 20 times and is still talking about it 5 months later. So while I do agree with others who say the wait is a boring one, and the likelihood of a breakdown is high, for us we think it's a winner. Kids love driving a car themselves, and driving by Dumbo and other Magic Kingdom attractions is fun too. Plus it's an easy 4th fast pass, which helps avoid the long wait.
The system works, Everyone (Or Party) who purchase's a ticket to a Walt Disney World park will have 3 free fast pass+ selections. Easy and simple to use!
DVC member and Bay Lake is one of our two home resorts. It can't be beat for location and quality. Rooms are larger than any other resorts and you walk to MK and take monorail to Epcot right from hotel. Pools are great as are water front activities, afternoon craft activities and after hours movies etc. The Contempo Cafe is user friendly and even more so now that they got rid of the ordering kiosks. Love this resort. Have stayed there in Bay Lake Towers over a dozen times and have never had an issue. Oh by the way check out the Top of the World lounge which is on top of the Bay Lake building and for use by DVC members and family only!
Its a year later and I have an updated review of this park. I still miss the hat and there is still a lot of construction taking place. Rockin Rollercoaster still the best ride there followed closely by Tower or Terror. But I must say the updated Fantasmic show is wonderful and better than the original and the night time Star Wars fireworks at 9:30pm is fabulous! This fireworks and light show is every bit as good as Wishes at MK and Illuminations at Epcot. It is a huge welcome addition to this park. Hopes are the Star Wars land and Toy Story Land will live up the the hype they are getting and work on both is evident. But if the fireworks and light show are any indication of whats to come at Hollywood it should once again be a top of the line Disney Park. If you go to Disney you MUST see this fireworks show. Get close to the court yard in front of the stage for best view.
If you have any doubts RUN. I'm healthy, but do not ride many rollers. I rated MS (orange) high because it is absolutely nuts. I instantly felt like death though, and continued to feel like death for several hours after riding. Eating and drinking helped and I never did get sick. However, I did not feel normal for the rest of the day. Sort of a floating nauseous feeling. I just felt off and sort of dumb for the rest of the day. I love space and wanted to feel what going there was like.... I now know that the astronaut business is not for me. I wish I would have not rode the ride at all and will never ever ride it again. Good graphics and an awesome simulator but your going to feel some serious g's for a pretty long amount of time. No feeling of spinning just straight forced against the seat like your flying off of the earth, lots of pressure on the body, totally insane! Unfortunately it resulted in instant nausea, cold sweats, feeling like passing out, and feeling sort of hungover for the rest of the day. I did not want to ride any rides the rest of the day and it was the first one I rode. My wife who loves coasters did not feel nearly as bad as I did but did feel a little sick on the ride and for about a half hour after. If you think you can handle it go for it, but if you have any doubts GO GREEN or RUN away as fast as you can!
If you are in Orlando...you must go to the Flying Fish at the Boardwalk Inn at Epcot...The atmosphere is fantastic and the food is exceptional...The Team from the Executive Chef Tim Majoras to the dishwashers know how to deliver a wonderful experience.
I have been on this particular ride too many times to count! From the moment you walk into the area to the moment you walk out this coaster leaves you with a feeling of rush and excitement! The outside is littered with decorations of musical instruments, and statues and remnants of the famous band Aerosmith. Everything is thoughtfully done with Disney's special attention to detail and design. All the waiting rooms are decorated with all things musical like rhinestones and posters of recent stars! The storyline is both funny and special, adding more to the fun! The rollercoaster itself is unbelievable! It starts off with an screeching countdown , "3.......2.......1!" and then blasts forward with a rush of speed. Music from the band plays as you travel across Hollywood from above. The rollercoaster is perfect, complete with twists and turns and drops! This is why the "Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith" is definitely one of my top roller-coasters for Hollywood Studios!
It deserves 5 stars on the building's overall design, and the location, but the check-in lobby needs to not look like any hotel and more like a Disney hotel. I knocked off 1 star for its need of room overhauls, and updates to everything in the entire hotel. It feels like the '70s still, which is only a bad thing for somethings. All in all it is worth staying here in the off season when it is cheaper, but not exactly for peak season. Love this hotel still, all the restaurants are fantastic, and the monorail running through is a nice touch, but again not a 5 star resort like the GF, and pretty much because of lack of updates, which I would assume it'll get in the upcoming years like the Polynesian just got.
It is great that Disney has a resort for the people that serve this country and their families. I've been dozens of time to this resort and at least a dozen more to other resorts including all the ones on the Monorail Line, and will tell you this resort is worth it if you can't afford to go to the super deluxe resorts. It is definitely not a Super Deluxe Resort, but for what you pay it is definitely worth it. Nearly every room has a view of the great Gazebo a pool, a pond with Coy Fish, or one of the golf courses. Definitely the Palm Wing is better, especially with the new renovations, but the Magnolia has the two pools, and is much closer to Everglades (Bar and Grill). The Palm Wing also has a parking garage which is very nice particularly with Florida's weather. Hands down the best thing though are the massive rooms. A standard room makes every other resort including the Polynesian look puny. Also breakfast is decent to have a couple of times, and during the slow season they'll usually give it for free. Definitely also the most secure resort, and has multiple huge waterfalls. It has a laid back feel that's for sure. And my cousin recently had a wedding there, ceremony, and reception, which was very good. It also has a Laundromat. I don't recommend dinner here though unless you want the equivalent of Captain Cook's at The Polynesian, burgers, wings, or breakfast which are all good. If you want a nice dinner go to Epcot. The wildlife includes deer, turkeys, snakes, and gators. So to sum this all up, if you like huge rooms, golf courses, waterfalls, great rates, know or are a military person that is going with you on the trip, and you don't mind not going to Disney's Super-Deluxe resorts this is a great resort for you.
This place was amazing! I would totally recommend it to anyone, but then again maybe not because i want it all for myself :) They beignets will leave you drooling after and dreaming about when your vacation ends, the casual atmosphere is just what you need after a long day at the parks and you can count on the cast members to also help you out and know what you need! absolutely amazing
The BF and I did this for the first time yesterday, and we were quite impressed with the offering! The effects were of much higher quality than either of us expected, and the hunt for the symbols was just challenging enough to keep us entertained. I assume it would be quite challenging for younger participants. The attraction is also very well-hidden; many touch points feel tucked away, which helped the intimacy of the experience, and there are far more of them than I had expected there to be. There are two problems with the experience, however. The touch points have a bit of trouble reading the magic bands, so a couple of times we found ourselves having to rub our wrists all over the touch point for a few more seconds than felt necessary. Also, the touch points are starting to show their age; there's quite a bit of wear and tear on them, which could be part of the reason for the first problem. Overall, though, we really enjoyed ourselves, and are both excited to experience different maps in the future. It's certainly no Splash Mountain, but the attraction is (to us) much more engaging and unobtrusive than Agent Perry's Adventure or Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, and felt well-thought out and like a good use of our time. The free Fastpass for Pirates after completing three maps certainly doesn't hurt, either.
The best restaurant at Epcot. Food is delicious, reasonably expensive and the service is excellent. It can compete with the best ones in France. The servers are great, they help you with the menu selection and try to teach you French. Will definitively eat there again!
Well I never thought I would find something to write a negative review about at Disney. Man was I wrong. THE HORRIBLE SMELL from Tomorrowland Speedway was cause enough for a bad review, but combine that with a hot day and long line due to cars breaking down and you have a ride that needs to be removed. My son 10 wanted to ride the carts so we decided the 30 min wait was OK. 5 min into it my wife and daughter had to leave because the smell had triggered horrible headaches in both of them. Our 30 min wait turned into 105 min because of technical issues. Once in our car we had to stop because the car in front of us shut down and wouldn't restart. The steering wheel didn't work at all on our car so we just slammed back and forth on the rail all the way around the track. This may have been a good ride at one time but it is the worst thing Disney has to offer now.
So you need to find a place to eat at Hollywood Studios. Let me suggest the Sci-Fi Dine-in. Have you ever seen a 10 yr old boy eat? It is almost impossible to fill them up. I say almost because here he got full with food left over. We arrived 10 min prior to our reservations and they took us straight in which was nice. The atmosphere is awesome and we really enjoyed the clips from all of the old scifi movies.(we have actually watched several of them on Netflix since our trip) My son and I had the build-a-burger, my wife had the ribs and my daughter being the health conscious one had the grilled salmon salad (and a house made sci-fi candy bar). It was easily the best meal of the week. Everything was delicious and the service was excellent. No one could finish our meals. The only down side was that we couldn't take our remaining food with us while we continued to explore the park. This will definitely be on our list of dining options for our next trip.
Ok if your looking to learn something or experience something that will change your perspective on the world this ride will NOT do that for you. However, if your looking to have fun on a cool ride this is an excellent choice. The concept is simple sling you around some turns then go really fast. Rode Test Track with my 10 yr old son. He absolutely loved it! In fact we discovered the single rider line and rode 6 more times in about 40 min. As fast as we could get from the exit to the line we got back on. Just remember its a "thrill ride" not a classroom and you will be fine.
First let me say we have stayed in the Contemporary Resort, All-Star Movies, and the Polynesian Resort in the past. It was difficult to convince my family to down grade to a moderate resort after staying in the Polynesian. Boy were we surprised at how nice the POFQ is. The rooms were beautiful and very clean. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Check in was the easiest we have ever had at any hotel not just Disney. The resort is smaller than all the rest at Disney which was a plus after long days at the park. Even the deluxe resorts can have quite a walk. We went over a holiday week and never once had to stand on the bus. Taking a family of 4 including a 17 yr old and a 9 yr old can be a challenge but this resort and its staff made it much easier. Now I will have a difficult time paying for a deluxe resort when i can get the same or better quality from this incredible moderate.
Sounds wonderful - free transportation but BEWARE! Packed in by driver on an overcrowded bus! - group of approximately 15 people who SCREAMED/SANG the entire trip....how is the driver supposed to concentrate? When I asked why nothing was said ...I was told it was a "cultural thing" - why is one group's screaming allowed to compromise my safety and experience??? Will NEVER take "free transit" again???? In fact will probably not stay at Disney resort again....if I have to rent a car might as well use it to drive and check out other Orlando attractions
Saw kids in line so thought it could not be that bad....wrong! So claustrophobic in there, dark, spinning, freaked out the whole time...as soon as we got off the ride my dad starting puking and continued to do so about 6 Times and we missed firework show because dad was sick in the bathroom.
I reviewed this a couple years ago and I will give it top rating again! Ate here in May - best lobster roll and cupcakes! I still think it is one of the best quick serves on Disney property!
Had dinner here during our last stay at Wilderness Lodge in May. Had the New York strip with the bleu cheese butter - delicious! Steak was tender and perfectly seasoned! Sides were yummy also - we both thought it was our best meal during our stay! Love the atmosphere and just a fun place to have dinner. My only complaint is we were seated in the "other" room - and with no children along...seemed to get passed over a couple times on refills...but overall I would recommend it - especially if you are traveling with children - FUN!
Just stayed here the end of May after retiring from teaching! Such a nice relaxing trip! Even with the construction I have no complaints..:) I have usually always had a room that faced the courtyard down on the first floor - this time we were on the fourth floor courtyard view..it was nice to have a balcony to sit outside. Our room was clean and comfy - no extra noise from construction at all! Love riding the boats instead of the busses - just an added touch that my whole family enjoys. We have stayed here many times and I'm sure will again in the future!
We returned a few days ago from a week stay at the DVC studios at the Polynesian. The resort is beautiful and the only complaint I have is with housekeeping. I am a DVC member and am aware that you get towel and trash service on your fourth day at the villas. However, you can ask for clean towels for $6.00 per day or full cleaning service for $30.00 per day. On our first day there the room had not been cleaned properly. There was hair and dirt on the floor. We asked to have it swept again. I think the cleaning person came in, but only did it quickly. I cleaned the dust off the pull-down bed and the louver closet doors. There were also sticky finger marks on the door. I didn't even bother mentioning anything else, because I knew it would not be taken care of. On the third day we asked for clean towels and said we were happy to pay for them. Housekeeping said we were scheduled for the next day for towels and get some from the pool, which we did. On the fifth day with four people in the studio, I asked for full cleaning service and said if I had a sweeper like most villas, I would do it myself. I was told there was a sweeper in the closet, but in checking again told housekeeping there was not a sweeper in our villa. I never received full cleaning service, nor a sweeper. I have been a DVC member for 8 years and have never complained or had this problem at any other Disney resort. Other than housekeeping in our room area, the resort was lovely. For the cost of membership and yearly maintenance fees, I was disappointed.
3 of my friends and I stayed at the BoardWalk Inn 18 months ago. I had wanted to stay there since it was built due to its proximity to Epcot and all the accessible restaurants and entertainment. We were not disappointed! We took the Magic Express bus to the hotel, and an employee was there to greet us in the lobby, who took us straight up to the Club Level to check us in. He checked all our Magic Bands to make sure they would get us into the Club Level, our rooms and the parks. He also made us dinner reservations and gave us tips about when to go to which parks, where to get some tasty snacks, etc. Each day as we walked past him to enter or leave, he would stand up from his desk, smile, greet us, and offer assistance and advice...he was so sweet. The Club Level lounge was on the Eastern wing facing the lake, and had a variety of tasty things at different times of the day. It was nice to plop down there after checking in to get some food and drink after a long traveling day. The best perk for me about the lounge was unlimited hot fresh coffee, and the ability to bring soda cans and food back to the room. Maybe not a money saver in the larger picture, but super convenient and time saving which made our visit more relaxing. The lounge can get a little crowded, particularly in the morning before the parks open, but we never had a problem finding a place to sit. Every square inch of the hotel was in that gorgeous 1920s style boardwalk theme, and you truly feel like you've walked back in time. There were so many interesting photos and artifacts on display. I love history so this was great for me. Our room was on the garden side of the Club Level in the Eastern wing, and I'm glad because it was much quieter than the lake/boardwalk side. The rooms were slightly more spacious than the "moderate hotel" size rooms with a sofa, desk, refrigerator and coffee machine. The restaurants/bars were great, most stay open for hours after Epcot closes, which leaves many convenient options for us adults. The walk to Epcot was short and easy, and drops you between France and the UK, which is great if you want to go straight to the World Showcase anyway. It's a shorter walk than if you were to go there from the main entrance. I think the only walk that might have been closer would be the Beach Club. We rented one of those group bicycles and drove all around the lake, had a blast. It was also nice to take the launch boats to Hollywood Studios. We found the boats to be much less crowded and more convenient than the buses, with shorter waits. Perhaps we were just lucky. Overall we had a great experience at this hotel, and I'd definitely stay there again.
The Magical Express driver was a riot. He kept us laughing during the ride to the airport. Eli Lipez is a great asset to the organization. Thank you for a great ride to the airport! Satisfied Magical Express rider.
We enjoyed lunch for 6 at Be Our Guest. Everyone ordered something different (quiche and salad for me), and everyone enjoyed his/her meal, which we felt was a cut above typical counter service in terms of freshness and quality. We dined in the West Wing, right in front of the "magic" portrait, which provided a wonderful ambiance. After reading the negative reviews, I suspect that some guests' disappointment was caused by a lack of research rather than a lack of service -- e.g., not realizing ahead of time that lunch at BOG is a counter-service experience in which you are expected to perform counter-service functions (e.g., ordering at a kiosk, getting your own fountain drink, finding your own table), notwithstanding the [typical Disney-range] high cost of a meal. I hope that our positive experience was more typical, because we plan to return!
We went to the studios to go on all the popular rides and shows, and we're pleased with all the characters we saw. It was a family vacation, so there were characters for everyone. Below is a list of who we met. Donald Duck Sofia the first, Jake, and Doc Mcstuffins Sully and Mike Wazowski Mater and Lighting McQueen Phineas and Ferb(those were our favorites) Penelope from Wreck it Ralph. We skipped the rest of the Fab 5, Buzz Lightyear and Woody, because we already saw them in the other parks. Overall, the characters were great! My only complaint is that Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy should have been there, because we all really like the Muppets. That and my father, brother and I would have wanted to see the Star Wars characters.(I guess we'll go back later this year to see the new Star Wars stuff)
I didn't really dance in the streets or anything, but me and the rest of my family had a really fun time with this. We danced with Phineas and Ferb, because they're favorites of ours, and I made sure to take some pictures of them and my kids. I even went and took a selfie with Phineas for my Twitter. My only complaint is that maybe Mickey and his friends should have come and danced with everyone too, but it was still a very fun and energetic performance. We didn't really think P&F would be anywhere else in the parks, but we thankfully met them at Hollywood Studios.
This restaurant was one of my families favorites. On every trip the day we checked in we would go there for lunch. The food selections have become to fancy for a sports bar. We like the menus from a few years back. Very disappointing the last time we visited. Our family has probably eaten there on 8 different trips. I don't think we will even go this trip. If only it was the way it was.
Our family of 7 had lunch on a crowded, stormy day and had a great experience, thanks to our waiter, Mark. Three teenagers are hard to impress, but Mark kept us laughing and entertained the entire time we were there. During our meal, we discovered that our dog-sitter at home was locked out of the house. Later when we had the good news that all was well, our kids ran back to tell Mark! That's the kind of impression he left with us. Ask for him, if you can! Food was great, we all love the place and food allegies were addressed!
This was my first time staying at a DVC property, so I guess I don't really have anything to compare it to, but I can honestly say that I will be coming back. I've stayed at All Star Movies and POFQ has always been my go-to, but my deluxe studio on Turtle Pond Rd. Was so nice that I think this may be my default resort from now on. I love how everything is so spread out. I know some people complain about it, but I found that the size of the resort contributed to the calm and quiet atmosphere. I loved my little studio with its own balcony and a nice view of the pond. I didn't eat at Olivia's, but I did have a few nightcap sat The Gurgling Suitcase, which had a fun, upbeat vibe to it (even if it's a little small). The staff there were all very friendly and helpful and my room was very clean, quiet, and comfortable. I will definitely be coming back.
I love Ft. Wilderness!! Mind you, I've camped in all sorts of places (state parks, national parks, KOA's, military RV parks, private RV parks, even Walmart on occasion) and Disney Fort Wilderness is the nicest, cleanest, most beautiful, and my favorite camping spot! 1) Their bathrooms are immaculate; 2) litter is picked up several times a day; 3) super friendly staff; 4) beautiful grounds; 5) the best pool; 6) always the cheapest DW resort; 7) the spaces are huge! 8) the turkeys must be on the payroll cause they are too funny. Also, it's the only resort you can bring your pets and they have a nice doggie park. I enjoy it so much that we usually spend several rest days just hanging out around at the pool, or horseback riding, or riding our bikes. We always make friends when we stay at Ft. Wilderness, you get to know your neighbors cause everyone is friendly, and that doesn't happen at the other resorts. We bring our bicycles to get around to the store or the bus stops, it's just quicker, but we have left them at home too and the bus system is a little inconvenient, but riding the boats to/from MK is awesome, especially during the fireworks. My only complaint is we don't get housekeeping, but I can wish upon a star!
My daughters and I had tea today for Mother's Day Weekend. Our waiter was Tyrone. He was excellent at accommodating us and showed a lot of grace when my six year had a tantrum over her selection of sweets. Without being asked he swept in and found a solution to her childish frustration. His service was excellent and amazing with children and families! The tea selection were abundant, and the savories, scones, and sweets perfection! The presentation of our offerings was unforgettable and adorable! I highly recommend this tea for children and families. I also recommend it for a child's first public tea. Thank you Tyrone and Disney Beach Club for the exceptional hospitality!
We stayed 3 days at the Club level at the Grand Floridian hotel and had such friendly, professional service from everyone we met. I want to mention Paula, one of the women who helped serve the food. I had put in a request for gluten free options at the 3rd floor conceirge service and everyone was so thoughtful to get me breakfast items and cookies. Paula went out of her way to get me something special, other than the veggies and fruit, as that was all I could eat on the buffet. She went down to the chef and had him make me the most delicious GF chicken one night!! The other hostesses were very accommodating, but Paula took action!! I so appreciated it!! The other person (don't remember her name, as it was Thai), who was outstanding was the woman who cleaned our room. Every time she saw us, she was so pleasant and efficient. On the day we checked out, she was so nice and told us not to hurry, as she had so many other rooms to clean. Others had made no exception and said it was imperative that we leave,. I understand that there needs to be a check out time, but it would be helpful if you had 15-30 minutes leeway!! We had a great time and loved the room and ambience of the hotel. We would stay here again.
Splitsville is the best bowling experience that I have come across. They seem to have eliminated most of the annoyances that occur in other bowling centers. Check in is easy, they take the names, shoe sizes, and then escort you to the lane. The shoes are delivered, and you don't have to hand in your own shoes in exchange. The shoes use velcro, don't smell, and are in great condition. The lanes are in small sections on two floors, so it isn't like being in a noisy warehouse. If there are any young children, the lane bumpers automatically rise during their turn, and there are launch ramps for the very little ones. Bowling is by time, and not by game, with very good pricing. Early bird specials are just $12 per adult for 1 hour 15 mins. Food service is available right at the lane, with a very extensive menu. Everything we had was good, especially for a bowling place. There is comfortable seating around the lane, so you can eat as you play, or you can eat in a separate dining area away from the lanes. At the end of play, you just hand in the shoes and you are done. It is a great way to spend a couple of hours at Disney Springs, and it is really nice to see bowling offered to a higher standard. Highly recommended!
Stayed in a Magic Kingdom view room. Stepping out onto the balcony overlooking the lagoon, the Poly, the Grand Floridian and the MK; was well...magical. During the day you could watch the bustle of the park, the people and the monorail. At night it was Celebrate the Magic, the Fireworks and the Electric Water Parade. Taking a bus to any park is torture for my kids, so being able walk to the MK in less than 10 minutes was priceless. Our room was comfortable and large, and we never noticed any noise once we were inside our room. The pool is OK, reminds me of a public pool, nothing special. Elevators could be slow to come and were sometimes filled up when they arrived. The Contemporary is classic Disney.
We stayed this weekend for our 4th anniversary, and we have stayed in several other WDW resorts. I had high hopes from reading other reviews, but I found a few sore pots amongst the great qualities. First the GOOD: Great views of fireworks (we were on the Bay Lake side overlooking the pool, which is lovely) and the wonderful nightly Electric Water Pageant. Comfortable beds with pristine white linens. More spacious than rooms in some other deluxe hotels. Monorail access and the ease of walking to MK. The bathroom came stocked with wonderful fluffy towels and I loved the small light that came on when you walked into the water closet in the bathroom at night. The staff was overall very courteous and it was really clean in all the public areas & our room. The BAD: If anyone from WDW should happen to read this, please take note- a couple in their 50's who tell you that they are staying at your hotel for their anniversary does NOT want to wake up to LOUD screaming/piped in music at SEVEN am daily thanks to the hellfest of screeching that emanates from damn Chef Mickey's. The noise was very loud in my room (10th floor , on the side closest to the window near the restaurants). The screaming and clapping wasn't even drowned out all the way by the white noise app I have in my phone for such situations when we travel. Also, I think whoever designed the bathrooms without a counter deserves a permanent wedgie.
I love going to Disney World, and this was my children's first trip. I thought that eating at a nice restaurant would be an awesome experience for them, since I never got to experience that when I was little. Boy was I wrong. I made our reservations and looked at all the pictures and the menu and everything seemed to be perfect. When we arrived the restaurant was so beautiful; my children were so excited. When we got into the East Wing I was so disappointed because there was food and stuff on the ground. It was so gross. It felt like I was in a regular, everyday restaurant. Within 10 minutes our food was served to us. My 9 year old daughter ordered the children's Mahi-Mahi and it was dry and hard. She didn't even eat it. My 9 year old son ordered the children's turkey sandwich, which he did not eat because the bread was as hard as a rock. My 7 year old daughter ordered the Mickey Meatloaf, which was way too spicy for her to eat. The sauce that came with the meatloaf was the most horrible thing I have ever tasted in my life. I almost threw up. So that is 3 dinners I have wasted money on so far because they did not get eaten. My mom had ordered the vegetable quiche, which she said was pretty good. As for the salad that came with it, the dressing tasted like pure vinegar and was not edible. My husband and step-dad had ordered the Roast Beef sandwich, which they too did not eat because the bread was as hard as a rock. Then comes my meal. I had ordered the Slow-cooked Braised Pork. It was so disgusting because it had so much fat that I couldn't eat it. I wanted to throw up. If you count correctly, that makes 7 meals in all that I wasted money on. I do not feel that I should have paid that much money for crappy food. As I said before, I thought I was going into a fancy restaurant to sit down and have a fancy meal. I was totally wrong. I had the highest expectation when I went into this restaurant and they got shot down within a few minutes. My children said they NEVER want to go back to that restaurant EVER again!! All I have to say is Thank you Disney for killing mine and my children's dreams!!
We went on Tuesday, March 1. My son is obsessed with the villains so we were willing to pay whatever they charged which was $386 for three of us. It was totally worth it. They have meet and greets with Maleficent, Cruella, The Evil Queen, and The Queen of Hearts. The decor is amazing. My son has figurines with the various villains and their thrones and the sets were exact duplicates. When the villains are not on the floor, you can sit on the thrones and take pictures. They have Photopass photographers at each station as well. When we arrived, we were given invitations which told us our table number and gave us times for our meet and greets. This was a huge bonus. No one is fighting to get access to the characters. It made the night much more relaxed and fun. We were lucky to have a table right at the head of the dance floor. The villains come out and do a little musical number to start then take their places on their thrones. My son is autistic and some characters don't know how to react. Cruella was by far the best with him. She was zany and fun and really engaged him. The others did fine too but Cruella was definitely the highlight of the evening. When you arrive, there is a dinner buffet of New Orleans style food. The food was amazing. There are also character themed dessert tables in front of each characters area. All were beautifully styled and delicious. Also included in the price are character themed cocktails. Two of us do not drink but my daughter's favorite was one of Cruella's drinks. Unlike a lot of the dessert parties that simply serve wine, this event has two bars and serve a variety of mixed drinks. There was never a wait to be served. In spite of the price, we will do it every trip if they continue. The only negative was they started serving wine while people were waiting outside for them to open. They only sent out one server at a time with 5 or 6 glasses of wine at a time. They were using different servers each time so it wasn't like they only had one person to perform the task. Not everyone was served.
The only reason why I thought that something was going to happen is because we were strapped in, I was completely wrong. I sat there and heard people scream. I thought something was wrong with me, just to find out that the "ride" was just a "4d" show with just sound and irritating shoulder pressing things. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!
I own at Bay Lake Tower and it is one of my favorite places to stay at Disney World. The rooms at the front of the tower have views of Magic Kingdom (MK) and the fireworks. Even some that aren't listed as MK view. If the park isn't framed in the middle of the window, it isn't considered a Magic Kingdom view. That doesn't mean you won't be able to step out on the balcony and watch the fireworks. If your room is at the back of the resort facing the lovely lake, and you are at the resort at Firework time... take that elevator ride to the roof bar and watch the fireworks from up there. They pipe the music in too. You can rent boats at dock and drive around one of the biggest lakes on property. The little personal boats are great fun. Monorail right next door in the main building for easy MK or EPCOT access. MK is also a short walk away if you are feeling energetic. The one bedroom rooms have 2 bathrooms. The two bedroom rooms have 3 bathrooms. Plenty of space for everyone, with a contemporary decor. There is a community hall with activity and games, check the schedule they give you at check-in. This resorts location also makes it easy to resort hop to the other monorail resorts for dining or to just check out the atmosphere.
The grounds are nice, food is awesome, nice walking area by the river. Jazz tunes floating in the air. I love to stay here .
I had high expectations and was not disappointed. The food was incredible because of both the quality and quantity. The service was wonderful and we even got to watch wishes from our table. The view was not great, but it was still pretty cool. The only complaint I would have is the crowded feeling. The tables are very close together so you don't have much "room to breath." The food was worth the tight fit though. My husband is very picky and he could not get enough. We had a 3 year old with us who also thoroughly enjoyed himself. It is a very fun family friendly atmosphere and I would definitely return.
Every time we go to Disney we make sure to get reservations at Narcoossee's. Each time is truly magical. The food and service are second to none. The view for wishes is where the magic comes in. It has an incredible view and they even play the music being played in Magic Kingdom. I am not sure if it is the fact that I am not fighting a crowd to try to see like usual, or it was the delicious steak and lobster I get to enjoy during the show, but I tear up every time. This experience reminds me of why I love Disney so much.
On a Feb. visit for the runDisney Princess events, our group had dinner at Paradisio 37. I ordered the Chicken Enchiladas-Platters of the Americas. Everything on this platter was delicious. My meal was in the very reasonable $16.00 range. We arrived one hour earlier than our reservation time, but the hostess was happy to seat us upon arrival. The service was very good. I would definitely make plans to eat here again.
You get what you pay for! You hear so many people complaining because it isn't like a moderate or deluxe resort, but you are not paying moderate or deluxe resort prices. My husband and I got a room here last minute and enjoyed our stay! Any Disney resort is going to be nice even the cheaper ones. This held true at Pop Century. The rooms show their age, but they do the job. My opinion is you don't spend much time in the room anyway so why pay so much for it. If it would have been a longer stay we would have, but this trip was only 3 days. We were just happy to be on the grounds. The cast members were GREAT, as well as the food and shops. The only real complaint we had was transportation. We had to wait for about 10 buses to be able to leave Magic Kingdom to get back to Pop Century. The line was INSANE and it was so late. We drove the other 2 days. Other than transportation I highly recommend this resort if you are on a tight budget for your Disney trip!
My husband and I have stayed here twice so far, and plan on staying again in November. We loved the atmosphere as well as the cast members! The room was nice, and always looked as if we hadn't even been there the next day. Yes, you can tell the rooms are older but they are still decorated well and do the job. One thing you have to consider is the reasonable price. You will not get a "deluxe room" at a moderate resort. We felt like for the price we still got tons of amenities, easy transportation, great food , and impeccable service both times we stayed.
This is a fantastic resort, with very spacious rooms (by WDW standards) and fabulous atmosphere. On one side of "the toaster", Theme Park Views will wow you; on the other side, Bay Lake views will delight - serene and the lake is beautiful (Electrical Water Pageant every night around 10pm, right from your balcony!). We loved the modern bathroom (although people tend to complain about the shallow sinks and lack of storage space). Also loved being on the MK end of the tower, which allowed us to see Space Mtn every time we left our front door (and even see fireworks at night). Great quick service at Contempo Cafe, too. The kids got huge cupcakes every day. Still love Chef Mickey's for first-timers but no longer go to California Grill - too expensive and we don't like to spend a lot of time dining. Garden Wing will save $$. Same rooms, more quiet, and a close walk to Tower. We walk to MK (5-10 min) and take monorail back. The best!
This is the most unique of Disney's resorts, IMO. Having stayed at all the Deluxes, AKL is my favorite getaway. I love the sights, sounds, and smells of this stunning resort. The latest room refurb is the best yet. So attractive and well-themed. Gorgeous lobby, wonderful CMs, especially those out by the animal viewing areas. Incredible job on landscaping. I love the quick service, The Mara, too. Splurge on an Arusha View if you want but I book Pool View for a bit of savings. (The Polynesian is my other favorite.)
I do not have to drive anywhere, the bus ride may take a little more time, but it is definitely one of the more enjoyable vacations I have taken. Good job Disney World.
Epcot is not what it used to be. The park is crumbling and Disney is stupidly ignoring it. Future World is showcasing 90's future and the World Showcase has nothing to do. FIX IT DISNEY!
Wonderful buffet, every dish tasty and great service. Don't feel rushed like other buffets. Best buffet on disney property:)
Very disappointed in Epcot. The new test track is horrible. The wait is no longer entertaining and fun. They took away the test dummies, crashed looking vehicles, etc, and the "feeling" of being in an actually car testing facility. The lights and LED decorations are cheesy and ridiculous. Never wasting my time to ride this again.
I would give it a 0 star. this was the WORST ride at Magic Kingdom. I'm going to brave....it's the WORST ride at Walt Disney world period. Jokes are so bad and the animals might as well as been blow up dolls. Everyone who likes this ride writes the word "Classic"....because it's a dinosaur. They have an emotional attachment to their youth or a great vacation years ago. but this is 2016 people. this is a pass. go to something else and don't waste your time on this nonsense
This is a must do, it's a classic
Glad it took us where we needed to go, but getting there took forever. If you have plans leave to get there an hour early.
My wife and I did the tour and found it very informative. Our guide Ashley was fantastic and had a wealth of knowledge about Disneyworld. Really enjoyed the Utilidors and backstage parts. You cover a lot of ground in 5 hours, but the pace was good and there were numerous bathroom breaks. The only downside was there was a lot of static in my wife's earpiece, some in static in mine and other peoples'. It was a great experience.
I have been on every thrill ride at Disney except for Rock n Roller coaster, and this is by far my favorite! When I first walked up, I was petrified because of the height! However, this is a very fun and smooth ride. The 80 foot drop is not as bad as Splash Mountains, because it is slanted and at an angle vs. straight down. If your afraid to do this ride, at least try it because it's amazing!
The new AA "Uh-Oa" was really creepy in my opinion. I was little when this attraction was open and she scared me to death. I mean, come on. Plunge the room into darkness then bring in smoke, lightning, and a freakish goddess of disaster?! (Nice name btw.) Normally I NEVER say anything bad about Disney attractions since I love them so much, but this is that "not normal" time. I'm glad this show lasted so short then went back to the original sort of. I also believe the Tiki Gods torched the attraction....
My sister and I went on this 4D show/ "ride" about a year ago, she came out in tears and had such a horrible panic attack she refused to go on any other ride at Disney- in my opinion this show/"ride" was even scary for me, it being realistic, dark, and the bars pushing down on your shoulders yeah they don't "stop automatically when they hit your shoulders" in conclusion this is more of a horror ride then a family ride and needs a lot more warning
We had a wonderful time staying at the Grand! We ate at Narcooses on our honeymoon while staying at Port Orleans, and my husband fell in love with the resort, promising that next time we would stay here. We arrived on a very rainy day, yet it still felt like getting home. We were warmly greeted by Richard, and got checked in very quickly. Our room was in the Conch Key building. Which is closest to the boat launch and Narcooses. The room was beautiful! And I'm pretty sure the mattress was the most comfortable mattress I've ever slept on. Being pregnant, I spent lots of time in our room, getting ready for the day or simply sleeping in, and every day I would sit out on the balcony, watching boats go by with my husband. It was one of the nicest vacations we've taken so far. Even my husband, who simply puts up with Disney because of how much I love it, is already planning our next Disney vacation, and is planning on staying here again. By far my favorite resort! The fact that it has all three types of Disney transportation makes it so easy to get from point A to point B. Magic Kingdom is one monorail stop away, and coming back, it's the the first boat stop. I would highly recommend staying here.
I thought it was entertaining and cute, even a bit intimidating once you get strapped in. Both times I've been on the ride you hear nothing but children's screams as soon as the lights go out... Unless you want your kids coming out balling and having possible nightmares the same night, I wouldn't take them. The 4D effects are neat but the ride really isn't worth a long wait.
I've stayed at the Pop century 3 times, once when I was 9, again when I was 12, and again when I was 13. When I was 13 I was with my grandparents, so staying in the 50s was perfect for them! Since they were both teenagers then! It's always pretty crowded, but it brings back a lot of memories for parents and grandparents. Kids love it because it's so colorful and just packed to the brim with things to explore! The 60s flower power pool is awesome!
We were supposed to stay there on our first trip in September 2002, but it was being fixed up so we got bumped to the Polynesian. Anyways, 2015 my mom booked us there because we figured we'd give it a try. We moved to Port Orleans French Quarter 3 days later. Breakfast was always hectic, and the front desk had trouble with my moms requests or plans or whatever she had gotten set straight on the phone earlier. The pool was nice, and so was the gift shop but it wasn't Disney Magical as usual
The resort was clean. Liked the themes. All in all a very nice resort and would recommend it but would give one warning to anyone. When leaving a park the walk to the bus station is a long ways away. Especially at HS, WOW. And the worst part is you have to share with the other two resorts so it is always crowded. Not saying that POP isn't a long walk but it doesn't share and seems to work better.