Most Recent Reviews
Review of Disney After Hours - Animal Kingdom
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 02/15/2019
Rating: (10) Recommended
I had an awesome time. Low wait times. Flight of Passage was only a 20 minute wait. All other rides were walk ins. There was evan a special showing of Rivers of Light show and the Tree of Life projection shows. Would recommend 100%.
Pros:
EverythingCons:
NoneReviewed by Dnields Review Date: 02/13/2019
Rating: (10) Recommended
I had dinner here (with friends) this past weekend. I really wanted to post because the reviews have been mixed, at best. We had a great meal and a great experience. The service was friendly, and we were seated quickly (party of 5). We had adults and one child (picky eater). Everyone found something, and the food came out in a timely fashion. I had a burger (the black and blue), and it was probably the best burger I've had on property. These days, it's impossible to get a truly medium rare burger, but they could make it as rare as I wanted. I really was surprised about how great our experience was. I was the only beer drinker, and loved their selections. But everyone else was just as happy. We went there as a fallback, but I would now make it a destination.
Pros:
Great food. Friendly service. Good beer selection. Burger made perfectly.Cons:
None really.Reviewed by disneymom5 Review Date: 02/13/2019
Rating: (10) Recommended
Our favorite resort, albeit expensive—even by Disney standards. You will be paying a lot to stay here. But on the upside...Really gorgeous grounds, fabulous pool (plus a quiet pool, if you prefer) wonderful location, monorail, relaxing and fully immersive theming, and honestly, some of the best and nicest Cast Members you’ll find in all of WDW—Seriously! Some of these CM’s have been here for 20+ years, and they’re true Disney gems.
However, since they built the bungalows on the beach, the views (particularly in front of the Concierge building, Hawaii) have been severely impacted, such that now only the third floor rooms in Hawaii have a true theme park view. You can no longer see the park and beautiful view of the water from the first floor rooms, and it’s obstructed from the second floor also. Why did Disney decide to place the bungalows DIRECTLY in front of Hawaii and ruin the views for so many club level guests?...it’s inexplicable.
But, that issue won’t necessarily be a factor if you’re in a standard room in one of the other longhouses. We stayed in Samoa, which is a great location but look at a map to decide which longhouse would work best for you, and consider specifically requesting that building. For example, you may want one of the longhouses closer to the TTC. If you like to play basketball, work out daily or plan to use the fitness room shared with the Grand Floridian, perhaps you want one of the buildings closer to the GF. All the grounds are so lovely at the Poly that even an entry-level garden room will give you a nice view.
The volcano pool is awesome and kids (and some grown-ups!) will love the water slide. There’s a great water play area for little ones. There are swings on the beach to just relax and watch boats go by, and there’s a volleyball area on the beach too. The beach area is nice but thanks to the bungalows, not even close to the picturesque, serene retreat it once was, sacrificed just so they could build a few bungalows for the very tiny fraction of guests who can actually afford them. (Why didn’t they just put them on that peaceful, secluded strip of unused beach between the Poly and the Grand Floridian?? They had to put them right in front of the Hawaii building and basically take away 75% of the prime beach area?...Really??) Of all of the changes to the Poly over the past 15 years, this and the removal of that stunning, huge water feature in the center of the great ceremonial hall, have been the absolute worst changes. But, other changes have been mostly positive.
Great theming and atmosphere, food and nearly everything else is conveniently located.
‘Ohana is fabulous for dinner and a must to visit at least once, especially if you have the table service dining plan. The character breakfast is fun and relaxing, and unlike other great character breakfasts such as Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey’s, this one brings the food to you! So there’s no chance of missing those photo ops because your kids are at the buffet.? (I recall many times, trying to round up my kids from a long and expansive buffet so they didn’t miss Pooh or Mickey!)
Captain Cooks is a great counter service option, and one of only three locations on all of WDW property which is actually open 24 hours, at least at this point. (Another is Picabu in the Dolphin, I can’t recall the third.
The beach is a great place to see the fireworks, and the music is on the speakers outside so that’s a great option of you don’t have a view from your room. However, visitors all over WDW have also discovered this prime viewing spot; since most of the beach was taken up by the bungalows? it can get really crowded on the beach so grab your spot early.
Don’t forget to watch the Electric Water Pageant right before the fireworks, it’s not to be missed! It visits all the resorts on the water and stops at the Polynesian around 8:50 each night, so enjoy! Aloha!?
Pros:
Great location, monorail, gorgeous landscapes and immersive themingCons:
Costly, even for a standard roomReview of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Concierge
Reviewed by disneymom5 Review Date: 02/13/2019
Rating: (6) Not Recommended
You’ve read all the reviews about the animals and the great theming, it’s a lovely place. It truly is a great resort, although more spread out and expansive than we prefer. Our preference for a similar resort is Wilderness Lodge, with a similar pool and similar architecture in the main building, but everything feels closer, more central and more easily accessible in the WL; plus we prefer that location by the MK. AKL is very nice but it cannot be overstated how inconvenient the location is, particularly with small children, to be SO far away from the other three parks and have to take the buses everywhere. They are such a hassle. With three small children and a stroller…Those busses day after day became a nightmare. For us, it wasn’t worth seeing a few animals to deal with those buses as our only mode of transportation. In addition, you have to pay significantly more for a savanna view room (that’s probably why you’ve come here, to see animals, right?) and the standard rooms are nice, loved the bunkbeds, but if all you’re going to get is a standard room, why not just stay at the Wilderness Lodge and be much closer to everything? But we’re glad we tried it once, and if you absolutely love animals, then this is the place for you. Really nice counter service location.
Pros:
Lovely theming, great pool, lower priced than the other deluxe resorts (the rooms are slightly smaller).Cons:
Four people max per standard room. Smaller rooms that most deluxe resorts, and SOOO far from the other 3 parksReview of Be Our Guest -Counter Service Lunch
Reviewed by disneymom5 Review Date: 02/13/2019
Rating: (9) Recommended
This lunch is immensely popular, with good reason! All things considered it’s the best time to dine in the beast’s castle, given that lunch is the only counter service meal here, and you don’t have to sacrifice 2 1/2 hours of your park time for a meal (like you often do for table service reservations), plus the lunch pricing is much more family-friendly.
The selections are slightly limited, but the food is excellent, probably better than most counter service locations. For the price of counter service, you’re dining in a beautiful castle! (The breakfast is rather overpriced and the dinner even more so; it is now two dining credits per person! so it’s significantly more costly.)
Perhaps the biggest draw: the theming and decor is absolutely lovely! So picturesque, with three rooms each themed differently it’s so clever and engaging, true to the story, positively gorgeous...it’s a Disney gem!
I think my favorite is the beast’s room, with the darker lighting and the “snow” falling outside the huge window… It is just gorgeous. Even if you don’t dine in this room, do go look around. Make sure you see the beast’s portrait and the enchanted rose by the window. ? Make a reservation to ensure a table!
Pros:
Theming is stunning, a can’t-miss dining location!Cons:
somewhat limited menu, but food offerings are a step above typical counter serviceReviewed by disneymom5 Review Date: 02/13/2019
Rating: (10) Recommended
My family’s favorite resort, albeit expensive—even by Disney standards. Gorgeous grounds, wonderful location, relaxing and fully immersive theming, and some of the best and nicest Cast Members you’ll find in all of WDW.
However, since they built the bungalows on the beach, the views from Hawaii bldg rooms have been severely impacted, such that now only the third floor rooms have a true theme park view. You can no longer see the park and beautiful view of the water from the first floor rooms, and it’s obstructed from the second floor also. Why did Disney decide to place the bungalows DIRECTLY in front of Hawaii and ruin the views for so many club level guests?...it’s inexplicable. The beach is not even close to being the picturesque, serene retreat it once was, sacrificed just so they could build a few bungalows for the very tiny fraction of guests who can actually afford them. (Why didn’t they just put them on that peaceful, secluded strip of beach between the Poly and the Grand Floridian?? They had to put them right in front of the Hawaii building??...Really???) Of all of the changes to the Poly over the past 15 years, this and the removal of that stunning, huge water feature in the center of the great ceremonial hall, have been the absolute worst changes. But, other changes have been mostly positive.
Great pool, monorail, food and nearly everything else is conveniently located.
The King Kamehameha Club is a great lounge—but CM’s please, please PLEASE do something upon check-in to notify guests with small children that they need to supervise them in the lounge! CM’s should just make it part of their welcome comments upon guests’ arrival. Some parents inherently understand decorum in the lounge, while others clearly DO NOT, and it negatively impacts every other guest in the lounge. Not only is it a safety issue to have kids running around in the lounge, bumping into other guests, spilling and dropping food etc., but I’ve witnessed on numerous occasions, children just reaching up to the food trays and grabbing items with their bare hands; I’ve even seen them put things back! Yuck. I know first-hand it’s hard to travel with children; on our first trip, mine were 2, 4 and 6. But parents, please be mindful of where you are, be responsible. Watch your children. Help little ones by getting their food FOR them, so they’re not acting like they’re grabbing goodies from their kitchen counter at home. Club-level guests pay a hefty $$ premium just to be in this building, so please make sure your children are supervised and don’t allow them to take food with their bare hands; serving utensils are there for a reason.
Also, there are bins and silverware trays near the kitchen door so that lounge guests can take their own dirty dishes and silverware over to these the bins, and NOT leave them behind on tables. Please realize, this is standard practice in a club lounge, from other hotels and resorts to presidential lounges in airports... but for some reason, many guests seem to think the CM‘s in the lounge are there to “bus” the tables (they aren’t!) so guests leave stacks and stacks of dirty dishes behind. Please, don’t be that guest or that family. When you’re done eating, take your own (and you’re children's) dirty dishes and silverware and place them in the bins. The CM’s are only there to wipe off tables and prepare them for the next guests, so be considerate of both the CM’s and the next family that will use your table.
‘Ohana is fabulous for dinner and a must to visit at least once, especially if you have the table service dining plan. The character breakfast is fun and relaxing, and unlike other great character breakfasts such as Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey’s, this one brings the food to you! So there’s no chance of missing those photo ops because your kids are at the buffet.? (I recall many times, trying to round up my kids from a long and expansive buffet so they didn’t miss Pooh or Mickey!) Captain Cooks is a great counter service option, and one of only three locations on all of WDW property which is actually open 24 hours, at least at this point. (Another is Picabu in the Dolphin, I can’t recall the third).
One more note, during the Magic Kingdom fireworks, the CM’s make it extra magical for all in the lounge by turning down the lights in the room and piping in the music, so we can watch AND hear the show...and it’s wonderful. This is an amazing opportunity to enjoy the fireworks as few others can, so out of consideration for ALL the guests in the lounge, please respect the show and don’t have loud conversations that drown out the music. It always amazes me how inconsiderate and oblivious some guests can be, talking so loudly and not even realizing others do actually want to hear the music—it’s an essential part of the show! When the room is quiet, it just makes the fireworks so much more magical and truly memorable so please respect this long-standing tradition in the King Kamehameha lounge.
The beach is also a great place to see the show, and the music is on the speakers outside so that’s a nice option too. However, visitors all over WDW have also discovered this prime viewing spot and since most of the beach was taken up by the bungalows? it can get really crowded on the beach so grab your spot early.
Don’t forget to watch the Electric Water Pageant right before the fireworks, it’s not to be missed! It visits all the resorts on the water and stops at the Polynesian around 8:50 each night. Aloha!?
Pros:
Beautiful resort, fabulous location, great pool, spacious roomsCons:
In the club lounge, children running around and grabbing food with bare hands (CM’s, please help!) and loud guests during the fireworksReview of Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe
Reviewed by rubaru Review Date: 02/12/2019
Rating: (4) Not Recommended
My family of six stopped in for a quick meal before the fireworks. There was not much of a crowd in the dining area, but I think it is because they were all ordering or waiting for food. It took my party 10 minutes to have our order taken, and about 30 minutes more for it to be served to us. The seating for a larger family was also quite inadequate. Small tables only, even though some had six chairs. The plastic chairs didn't fit me well and were not very sturdy. The condiments bar was a mess as if no one was attending it or restocking often. The music was fun and cheesy, although we were in there long enough to hear it repeat.
Pros:
Fun music, decent foodCons:
VERY long wait, cramped dining area.Review of 1900 Park Fare Character Dinner
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 02/10/2019
Rating: (10) Recommended
Hadn't eaten dinner here for many years because our experience had been very negative with both food and service, but gave the breakfast a try on our last trip. It was so good that we decided to try the dinner as well. We were amazed at how much it had improved, so much so, that we cancelled another reservation and went to the dinner a second time on the trip. It was truly delicious and the characters were a lot of fun.
Pros:
great character interaction and the food delicious at both the breakfast and dinner.Cons:
those who know me know i can always find something to complain about, but I honestly found it hard to find anything here. The only they could do better is to reconfigure the buffet area which is a little bit congestedReview of Walt Disney World Minnie Van Service
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 02/10/2019
Rating: (10) Recommended
Great service! Had grpup of 6 going to dinner at Trail’s End from Old Key West. We had spent most of the day at Epcot so we decided catching a Minnie Van would be fun and drop us very close to the restaurant. Our driver was great and very informative even sharing information about the horses and stable at Fort Wilderness where we were dropped off for dinner. We split the fee so wasn’t so bad. After dinner we ended up at Contemporary and were heading back to two different resorts-thinking we could walk over to MK to catch buses, only to find out it was Employee appreciation night at MK and no buses were running for general public. One part of our group got a regular Lyft within 15 seconds and were off to their resort, the rest of looking on app for another lyft-only to find it would be 25 minutes, so we looked up Minnie lyft and they were available in 10, so we sprung for the Minnie again and once again well worth it after such a full day. Great driver and worth it! Will work it into our budget for the next trip!!
Pros:
Clean car, friendly driver, entertaining and at your door pick up and delivery!Cons:
CostReview of Disney After Hours - Magic Kingdom
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 02/08/2019
Rating: (10) Recommended
We had no wait time for the rides. The popcorn and ice cream carts were thru out the park. Character meet and greets waited no more then 5 minutes. I would definitely would do this event again.
