Most Recent Reviews
Review of Excursions
Reviewed by Thea Review Date: 09/27/2018
Rating: (9) Recommended
Castaway Ray's Stingray Adventure. This is an hour long educational program that allows people to learn more about Southern stingrays. The program starts with a short presentation about rays. You then proceed to a shallow water area where ramps are set into the water. A few people gather around each ramp with a Disney animal care specialist. They demonstrate how to properly feed the rays as they glide around the ramp area and the guests are given some shrimp, squid or fish to feed them. You can also touch their backs and fins as they swim by. Following that, there is about 30 minutes where people can use the provided mask and snorkel to swim with the rays.
Pros:
Cool animal interaction and good informationCons:
Rather expensive for 1 hour. Small children may be intimidated by the rays.Review of Theme Park Photo Pass
Reviewed by Andrea Review Date: 09/27/2018
Rating: (10) Recommended
Our family enjoys photo pass, the photographers are so nice, and they always try and get the best pose for the whole family. We enjoy the surprise photos, along with all the additional characters, and add on's when you are editing your photos. We have been to Disney World several times and honestly do not think we would go without Photo Pass. If you are debating on getting photo pass I would say if this is your first trip then yest get it the memories in photos are the best.
Pros:
The whole family is in the pictures, the surprise shots are the bestCons:
We do not see any cons in photo passReviewed by Foodrocks Review Date: 09/27/2018
Rating: (9) Recommended
We visited the MNSSHP in 2016 family of 4 (2 adults and 14 and 10 year old). We absolutely loved the experience. It was so much fun and we still talk about it today. We cannot wait to try it again. We loved the trick or treating that was set up everywhere. The cast members are generous with the candy and gave us so much. We also loved riding our favourite attractions with no wait. There was a parade, firework show and stage show also that was fun and exciting. We travel every year to Disney so appreciate anything we haven't seen before. They offered special foods for the event but very hard to get them because they sell out quickly. Also lots of extra characters to meet but very long lines for them.
Pros:
No wait for rides and lots of extras. Fun atmosphere.Cons:
If it was raining earlier in the day, the headless horseman will not be in the parade. This was a little disappointing. Also, pick what you want to do or eat immediately as lines for characters are very long and special event food sells out fast.Review of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
Reviewed by Jane Buie Review Date: 09/27/2018
Rating: (10) Recommended
Wish I could go higher than a "10"! This show is incredible! We have been maybe 5 or 6 times in our long Disney World history. This time we brought some oldsters and youngsters who had not seen it. I have never seen such laughter or enjoyment from both groups. While very campy, the script is fun and done on an extremely talented level. The entire evening is filled with quips, singing, dancing and quality food, served family style. Also, free beer and wine for us responsible adults. When the kiddos asked for Mac & Cheese, the servers brought that off the menu! They incorporate audience participation, much to the delight of all. Nothing will ever compare to this in all of WDW and we will continue to enjoy it every 3rd or 4th year. Much better than other dinner shows and well worth the $$$.
Pros:
Fun for all ages and yummy!Cons:
Located in Fort Wilderness so it's a bit of a trek but accessible by bus and boatReview of Satu'li Canteen
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 09/27/2018
Rating: (9) Recommended
I was honestly shocked with how good this was when I hit Pandora for the first time. The mix of flavors and textures was unique and a great touch to variety at AK for food.
Pros:
Quality of the food, FlavorsCons:
noneReview of Cinderella's Royal Table Lunch
Reviewed by cmschn Review Date: 09/27/2018
Rating: (8) Recommended
We ate here in December and had a good experience. I ate here when I was a small child, so it was very special to bring my young daughter here. We chose one of the earlier lunch seatings, so we had to wait a bit, along with several others, to be let in. This was a little confusing because we weren’t sure everyone waiting wasn’t sure if we were supposed to be in a line, but it all turned out fine. Meeting Cinderella and going up the staircase were very fun for my daughter. The restaurant wasn’t crowded yet, and we had a window seat with a great view of the carousel. The earlier time and window seat really helped to give less of a chaotic atmosphere. Meeting the princesses was great, and my husband and I were pleased with the food. I thought the salad was one of my favorite salads I’ve had! The salmon was good, although not as good as the salmon I had the day before at Epcot in the Canada pavilion. My husband got the chef’s tasting plate and the beef and shrimp and thought it was all fairly good. I got the Clock Strikes Twelve dessert and enjoyed it. My daughter ate almost none of her food or cupcake because she was too distracted, a theme at all of our meals! But we were fine with paying the money for the special experience.
Pros:
Special atmosphere, personal attention from princesses, get early lunchtime for a nicer experienceCons:
A lot of money for kids who won’t eat muchReview of Pop Century Resort (Value Resort)
Reviewed by Lisa B Review Date: 09/27/2018
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
We stayed at Pop for the first (and last!) time from July 3-July 17 2018. I had high hopes for this resort bc of the positive reviews. But this trip was our worst yet in regards to the resort. We arrived at the resort around 10 am and our room wasn’t ready. We had anticipated this so we checked in and left our carryons with baggage services as we had planned a day at Disney Springs eating, bowling and shopping. We returned to the resort at the official checking time of 4pm where they told us they were working on our room now so it would be done “soon”. So we went to get our resort mugs and let my youngest daughter play in the arcade for a bit. By 5pm I still had t heard anything so we went back to the desk where they told us it was now ready and our luggage was already there. We go to our room and I start unpacking so we can change, freshen up, and go out to dinner. My oldest daughter pulls down the Murphy bed to discover a roach on it. I capture it and put it in a container and have everyone search for more critters. We saw another one but it went under the bed and I said let it go lol. When we pull back the sheets on the Murphy bed, they’re sandy and stained. By this time my blood is boiling. I tell the girls to pack everything back up bc this room is obviously still dirty while I call the front desk to tell them and they say they’ll send housekeeping with fresh sheets. Seriously?? My blood was boiling and I had completely lost my Disney spirit lol. I took Ralph the roach with me, plopped him on the counter and said my room was already occupied and I needed a new room please (I admit, not my finest moment). They agreed to give us a new room but, wait for it, it wasn’t ready yet lol!! They said to go ahead to dinner and they would text us the new number and transfer our bags over. When we get to the new room we can’t get in, the batteries in the door lock are dead. We finally get in our room and yup our bags arent there. Final trip to the front desk for that night to gain access to our old room to claim our bags. They offer to get someone to come move them for us but at this point I had zero faith in their capabilities so I said we’d do it ourself. We didn’t get into our new room with our bags until after 11pm. You know what they gave us for that insane night? 1/2 off 1 nights stay. Normally I’m not a complainer and I don’t look for handouts, but in this case we were inconvenienced beyond a “minor incident or 2”, and only 1 of the cast members I dealt with showed any sort of compassion or enthusiasm for their job. The debacle of the first day aside, I would still rate Pop low. The food court always had something broken, whether it was the ice machine, soda machine, toaster, etc. the food court cashiers were inconsistent. One said you could have this with the dining plan, others said no. Brazilian tour groups were there and I now understand why so many complain about them. They are loud and rude. They were stomping ketchup packets on the floor while their chaperones all sat at a table together ignoring them. They shoved my daughter so hard she fell down so they could get on the bus ahead of us. You complain about them and cast members shrug helplessly. Next trip, it is definitely back to the All Stars for me!!
Pros:
Refurbished rooms with lots of storage space and USB plugs Nice grounds/views of Hourglass LakeCons:
Brazilian tour groups Roaches Cast members that weren’t very helpful This list could take all dayReview of Be Our Guest -Counter Service Lunch
Reviewed by Rachael C Review Date: 09/27/2018
Rating: (8) Recommended
At lunch, this restaurant serves as a counter service location. However, it is different from most Disney counter service restaurants in that after you place your order, you can be seated and your food will be brought to you. Our experiences at this restaurant have been very good. I cannot recommend the pork roast highly enough! It is as good as many tableservice entrées I have tried. Also, the sugar-free lemon tart is a wonderful option for people like myself who have to eat sugar free. It is a counter service experience With some tableservice advantages.
Pros:
1. Excellent food 2. After ordering, food is brought to your tableCons:
1. The restaurant is very crowded, and ADR’s are hard to come by. 2. Although food is brought to you, you still have to get your own drinks and silverware. 3. The restaurant is very loud, and it is sometimes difficult to find seating.Review of Be Our Guest - Counter Service Breakfast
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 09/27/2018
Rating: (8) Recommended
Family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids 15dd and 11dd) dined here. My eldest daughter ate the cronut and loved it. My younger daughter ate Gaston's feast and also loved it. Husband and I both had the open faced egg and bacon sandwich. It was tasty but the eggs were cold. Drinks are help yourself. Pastries are tasty too.
Pros:
The food is pretty good but the best part by far is the beauty of the castle. We loved sitting by the window watch the "snow falling." Very fun restaurant and we visit here every trip.Cons:
The eggs have been cold every time we visit this restaurant. We have never sent them back because they are edible but it does take away from the taste otherwise I would give the experience a 9 or 10. The other con is finding a seat. It is so busy in there. Usually you can find something but it just takes patience like all counter service restaurants during the Holiday Season.Reviewed by Sarah M Review Date: 09/27/2018
Rating: (9) Recommended
We stayed at the Contemporary in August / September of 2016. We were Club level, and were on the top floor. The concierge desk staff were marvelous. They were so very helpful, and were able to cancel an event for us without penalty (I got a migraine, and was so sick). The food was top-notch, and it was so nice to come back at night to a top shelf beverage or two. They gave us bottled water with a smile, since we do not drink sodas. My biggest complaint was not the CMs, nor the service provided; it was with the parents who let their children run loose. It was awful. The CMs were so pleased with how our children (ages 10 and 5 at the time) behaved that we came home with a full supply of glow ice cubes. Every evening, they so kindly gave the children another set because they used table manners, please / thank you, and didn't wreck havoc. Seriously, folks - you're the parents. Act like it. We can't wait to do club level again there soon!
