Most Recent Reviews
Review of Polite Pig
Reviewed by jjbmtperk Review Date: 10/28/2018
Rating: (10) Recommended
Great new place for us. Quick service and great food.
Pros:
Fabulous bang for the buck on the dining planCons:
noneReview of Tony's Town Square Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 10/28/2018
Rating: (4) Not Recommended
My daughter made arrangements for our party of 9. She checked in and reminded the staff of number in party and wanting tables close to each other. We were called and for one table and the next table wouldn't be ready for 10 minutes. Waited another 30 minutes for table to sit togather
Pros:
NoneCons:
Slow serviceReview of Walt Disney World Minnie Van Service
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 10/24/2018
Rating: (7) Recommended
We just returned from a WDW stay (Oct 2018) and experienced the new pricing - and requesting - system for Minnie Vans. We also were at WDW in the spring of 2018 and experienced the $25 flat fee and old requesting system. In both instances drivers did accept gratuities. Under the flat fee system a gratuity was included but it was made clear you could tip your driver. Under the new system rolled out October 2018 a tip is not included.
The new pricing system is more expensive than getting a taxi (which we have also done). Comparing similar trips (via data from our Lyft app, the platform the Minnie Van service is based on) to illustrate the price hike: in April 2018 an 8.6 mile trip was the flat fee of $25. In Oct 2018 an 8.4 mile trip (so slightly shorter) was $41.35 - and that was with a 10% discount I had through Lyft so in actuality the ride was a bit more expensive. Again, tip is not included with the new pricing structure. I would estimate that the same ride in a cab would probably cost you $15 - $20 at the outside.
But, the Minnie Vans are all new and clean (they are Chevy Traverse vehicles) and obviously very well maintained. There are chargers readily available for multiple devices (and device types). They play Disney music. They are supposed to have water but we have found that isn't always the case. We heard from our last driver that the newest ones have satellite radio available and they will have onboard entertainment players that you can watch Disney movies on. One advantage of Minnie Vans is that they have access to places other vehicles don't. There are roads between resorts that are not open to the public but Minnie Vans can take them. They can get closer to the parks than almost any other vehicle. They can also go back to the cabins and campsites at Fort Wilderness (making it much easier to get to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Review or Mickey's Backyard BBQ - they can drive you right to the exact location). Another big bonus: they all have car seats with them and drivers have been trained to correctly install them (in theory - we don't have a need for a car seat so I can't attest to the install part directly).
Unfortunately I think Disney expanded this program too much, too quickly and did not have the infrastructure in place to support the additional growth. Our drivers this past trip were NOT of the same caliber as the drivers in the Spring (when the service was smaller). Our drivers in the spring were consummate Disney professionals and had clearly been very well trained. They were pleasant, courteous, helpful...everything you would expect. Our drivers this past trip (Oct 2018) were clearly not trained well. There was a noticable and significant difference. Some were unsure how to get places. Some were downright surly and one was a bit rude. One gave flat out wrong information and once it became clear he really didn't know what he was talking about he just kept talking which made it worse. They were more lax, less pleasant, and had lost the "Disney Magic" quality the drivers in the spring had. What has also suffered from the expansion is the requesting system. During the spring trip - and granted the program was much smaller and not as popular - we never had any issues requesting a Minnie Van. You would request via the Lyft app, it would look for a nearby driver, and then it would tell you how long it would be before the Minnie Van arrived. This fall we found out that along with the rate hike there have been some changes with how the app works and how requests are handled. In theory you should request a Minnie Van, the app tells you how much the trip will be, you confirm you want a Minnie Van, it puts the request out, if they are all busy it tells you and tells you are put in a queue, and then once one is found it tells you how long you have to wait for the Minnie Van to arrive (it was usually longer than the app said). Of the four times we requested Minnie Vans during our last trip the app never worked correctly. It took us a minimum of four requests each time to even get put into a queue. We would request and it would look and eventually time out so we would have to request again (essentially being kicked to the bottom of the queue even though you've been requesting via the app for 5+ min already). When we brought it up to some of the drivers they acknowledged it was a known glitch but didn't seem overly concerned or that they even really cared. In one instance, trying to leave Animal Kingdom Lodge, it took 4 attempts via the app (a 20 min wait) and then an additional 17 min wait for a Minnie Van. In another instance, trying to leave Hollywood Studios at night, it took 5 attempts via the app (so there is 25 min) and then an additional 25 minute wait for a Minnie Van. I will say the Hollywood Studios night was not at park closing time but was on a night where Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party was going on so there could have been higher demand. But the required multiple requests (and never being put in a queue unless you got lucky) that night was not an isolated incident but rather it appeared to be the de facto standard. Also for some reason the app now doesn't tell drivers exactly where you are. In Spring 2018 under the old request system the drivers knew exactly where you were (even down to campsite number or cabin number if you were at Fort Wilderness). Now the app gives the drivers a general idea so you have to be on the look-out for them and flag them down in some cases.
Pros:
Clean, well maintained, can get closer to parks and go places other vehicles can't, chargers for devices, whimsical and fun, some drivers truly bring the Disney magic!Cons:
Driver training seems to have suffered and it's noticeable, significant pricing hike makes them very expensive, requesting is unreliable and does not function correctly, once you are able to get in a queue for a Minnie Van you may still experience a further significant wait time waiting for one.Reviewed by Patty Review Date: 10/24/2018
Rating: (9) Recommended
We stayed at POR for 2 recent visits, July and October 2018. We actually love POR. Stayed in a Princess room in July and an Alligator Bayou room in Oct. Loved building #27.
Pros:
Ambiance of the resort, pools,Cons:
Food court could be bigger. In July during breakfast it was almost impossible to find a table for 7.Review of DiveQuest - Epcot
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 10/19/2018
Rating: (10) Recommended
Dive quest is awesome. We have donevit multiple times and love it.
Pros:
The animals and interacting with the guestsCons:
NothingReview of 50's Prime Time Cafe Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 10/18/2018
Rating: (7) Recommended
This restaurant has a fun atmosphere and ok food. Nothing really special but it is one of those places you have to go if you have never been before. The theming here is really special with the feel of a 50s home. It feels like you are in a 50s sitcom and you watch clips from old shows.
Pros:
Very fun atmosphereCons:
The food is only ok.Review of Nomad Lounge
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 10/18/2018
Rating: (10) Recommended
Eaten there a few times. Fantastic atmosphere. Great drinks, food and service. Will be going back for sure.
Pros:
Atmosphere, cocktails and the appetizersCons:
None that I can think of.Review of Pixar Play Zone
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 10/17/2018
Rating: (10) Recommended
We dropped my grandsons aged 5 and 9 off for the evening while we enjoyed the California Grill and they loved it. Older one played video games most of the evening and the younger one enjoyed the activities. Staff was very friendly to me and took the boys in to have a great time. Would highly recommend.
Pros:
Friendly staff. Let kids do what they wanted if they preferred to not join in the activities.Cons:
Cost for 2 kids was a little pricey - but it is Disney after all!Review of Shades of Green
Reviewed by Pathfinder Review Date: 10/17/2018
Rating: (10) Recommended
It makes us feel as if we are staying at a deluxe resort for a moderate price. Great benefit for active duty, veterans, and their families.
Pros:
We love how close Shades is located to MK and TTC. The staff is great and responsive to any needs. The rooms are very spacious and updated.Cons:
The Shades buses leave something to be desired, but the Polynesian is within walking distance to use Disney World buses or monorail.Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 10/17/2018
Rating: (10) Recommended
Just returned from our 25th or more stay at this resort. Its our favorite by far. Grounds well kept, mousekeeping was great. Only disapointment was the new mickey shaped beignets. The origional was puffed and hollow on the inside. The new ones are more like a donut. No where near as good as the origional. I Always looked forward to having my coffee and beignets in the morning. Im so disapointed. If i wanted a donut I would get a donut. Please change them back to the origional
