Most Recent Reviews
Review of Kona Cafe Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by Villeguy Review Date: 10/24/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
We ate at Kona on Sunday, September 28th before heading over to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. This is one of our favorite places to eat in Disney World. Truth be told we have at least 10 places we call our favorites. The food and staff at Kona is stellar. We started off with the Cucumber Roll. They were perfection on a plate. You can't go wrong with some of the freshest ingredients. Entrees consisted of the Grilled New York Strip Steak each. The meat was so tender it melted in your mouth along with the accompanying molasses-bacon butter. The fingerling potatoes were roasted to such a delectable crisp. Kona is a truly hidden gem and we are so happy that we have shared this place together for so many years and we pray for many years to come.
Pros:
Great Atmosphere, and Great FoodCons:
—Review of 'Ohana Dinner
Reviewed by Villeguy Review Date: 10/24/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
We ate at 'Ohana on Monday, September 29th. This place is unbelievable, the food is so delicious that you have to force yourself to stop eating. As were being escorted to our table the host said we had the best table in the place. We were seated at a window table for two. To my surprise the view was a direct head on view of Cinderella's Castle. The wait staff was on point. We waited for nothing from start to finish. Excellent staff, best view and food that makes your toes curl. 'Ohana never lets us down, it just gets better and better each year.
Pros:
Great Atmosphere, Food and FunCons:
—Review of Biergarten - Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by Lanmon Review Date: 10/23/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
The Biergarten has always been a luncheon tradition during WDW visits. This menu has changed ALOT!!! The entire buffet had hot delicious food, carving station with two meats and yummy desserts. Great variety of everything. The cheese beer soup was better than Le Cellier in Canada. We met a very nice couple and spent time visiting and talking and felt no rush leave the Biergarten. Can't wait to go back!!
Pros:
New menu with new varietiesCons:
—Review of 'Ohana Dinner
Reviewed by Lanmon Review Date: 10/23/2014
Rating: (6) Recommended
It has been a 10+ year tradition to go to Ohana's during our visit. The food has always been plentiful from the appetizers to the bread pudding with fantastic mai tais. This past week's visit was quite disappointing. Early dining reservations were made 6 months ago and the request to sit near a window was not done. The hostess was not happy to satisfy our request, but did it. The mai tais were poor in flavor and no taste any liquor. The dumpling and chicken wings appetizers were cold; the chicken wings were sticky and good.
The beef was tough and grizzly; the pork was hot and delicious and the shrimp was great with the dipping sauces. The hostess was correct...to save room for the bread pudding. It was extremely flavorful and delicious.
It is doubtful about returning to Ohana's during any future visits.
Pros:
Bread PuddingCons:
Dry and grizzly beef and watered down drinksReview of Columbia Harbour House
Reviewed by arielwatcher Review Date: 10/23/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
We both ordered the Fried Shrimp dinners which were served up quickly.
Mine were a bit over fried but by the time I got to a table the line had lengthened and I wasn't going back.
The cole slaw was fresh and tasty.
I was surprised you have to ask for lemon at a sea food restaurant, even a walk up.
With all the research Disney does, why do walk up diners have to wander to find a seat while their food gets cold?
Pros:
FRIED SHRIMPCons:
Crowd controlReview of Lotus Blossom Cafe
Reviewed by arielwatcher Review Date: 10/23/2014
Rating: (4) Recommended
I had the Beef bowl, greasy and not very flavorful.
Husband had the Orange Chicken with sterile white rice. The chicken looked like beer battered chicken nuggets.
We did not get desserts, just entrees and drinks.
Cast members were polite and they managed rapid service, giving you the feeling this food sits.
For the money, not the best walk up meal in EPCOT.
Pros:
QuickCons:
OUTSIDE loud people leaning along the windowsReview of Brown Derby Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by arielwatcher Review Date: 10/23/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
We made advanced reservations months before our trip for a 1:30 lunch seating.
Haven't been to The Brown Derby in about 15 years. (Or at least when they had the piano in the middle of the room and did the Hollywood character skits).
We used the Tables in Wonderland discount program.
We were seated in the center section in a spacious booth.
Our Server was crisply dressed and knew the menu back and forth.
My husband had a Sam Addams Octoberfest and I had one of their signature Martinis. We felt miles away from the heat and sweating tank-top clad park patrons.
We enjoyed our respective meals for their taste and presentation (not so important what we ate, but that it was delivered timely and at the right temp.)
Their dessert choices involved picking 1 of 3 different desserts or 3 of 1. It comes plated on a rectangular chilled plate. The cost seems high versus the entree prices. That's a big down side as the 3 dessert servings are tiny.
The bill arrived accurately- deducting the TIW 20% discount which we returned to the server as his service deserved it.
It won't be an annual meal, but it was nice to go back this trip.
Pros:
Escape from the crowdCons:
PriceReview of Artist's Palette Lunch / Dinner
Reviewed by Lanmon Review Date: 10/23/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
We visited Artist Palette for dinner and had the cranberry salad. OMG!! The cast members were cheerful and ready to answer any questions on the menu. Menu items were displayed on a revolving sign so it was a minor challenge to remember all the selections. Not a major problem but thought it would be necessary to comment. We ordered the green salad with cranberries, apples, and nuts. The crispy cold salad was served within 5 minutes in a paper tray. OMG!! The salad dressing was so delicious, the best I have ever had at WDW in any resort or theme park. I was bummed that our schedule did not allow us to return again to enjoy this meal. I can't wait to go back for more!!
Pros:
Much better than expected and customer serviceCons:
Menu was difficult to readReview of Pop Century Resort (Value Resort)
Reviewed by CinCin Review Date: 11/15/2014
Rating: (8) Recommended
This was my second stay at Pop Century. The last one was only for a single night and in the 50's section. Based on a good experience, I stayed my entire trip (11 nights) at Pop Century this time and really enjoyed my stay. I was able to request a room on the upper level in the sixties section and it was ready for me when I checked in even though it wasn't even noon yet. The room was clean and roomy enough for a single traveler and I had plenty of space for all my things. However, had I been with a family of 4, I would have felt cramped and there would have been competition for drawer space and closet space. The beds were comfortable and a pillow top double was in my room. The sheets were comfortable too and I was surprised by that as I expected "hospital" grade stiff scratchy cheap sheets. They had redecorated since my last stay in 2012 and I liked the new updated modern look with the little toe throw thing rather than the full bedspread. The housekeeper kept my room spotless and tidied up behind me and even made a few towel animals and one day even made my blanket into a large bow in the bed. It was nice to come back to a clean tidy room and having her do something a little different every day with the decor was really nice. I set the thermostat at 65 and it stayed that way my entire trip. The bath/shower water was nice and hot too and steamy and a welcome change when I actually had to add some cold water to decrease the heat some. I did hear the toilets flush in other rooms but those are water saving power flushers and they are loud in residences too, so it's not like the walls are that thin. I rarely heard anyone else from other rooms while in my room. My room was quite peaceful on the backside of the pool building but those rooms close to the elevator/stairs and facing the pool were inundated with noise/sound/play/music from morning to night. The pools were heated and even on the cold days, kids were in the pool and the lifeguards were on duty. I enjoyed the movies by the pool at night. They even had a Halloween party with trick or treat stations out by the pool and Mickey and Minnie Mouse in Halloween costume for photo ops. I love this resort so much! There were hula hoops and they didn't mind that grown ups like me hooped a bit too. On the poor weather days, they moved the activities and games inside. The walk to the food court/concierge/bus stop was only a few minutes from my room. I had a lovely view facing the Art of Animation and a beautiful water view from my room 5334. Towels were plentiful and soap and shampoo too and they kept leaving them even though I had only opened one so the next to last day I packed them all up for souvenirs. I ended up bringing home 28 shampoos and 26 soaps!!! I told you, they kept leaving them like I was supposed to take them home, so I did. I actually liked the shampoo and the soap and it's a great improvement over that all in one gel they used to carry in the dispensers. There was a hairdryer, iron, and ironing board in the room and a mini refrigerator. The fridge was tiny so don't expect to keep more than a snack and a couple of drinks in there. The food court was decent too and I ate several meals there. They had a create your own omelet station which was the best choice from breakfast I found. I am not a fan of the bounty platters with the thin floppy bacon and carb loaded sides. I did enjoy my omelet very much though and they even had Texas Pete hot sauce with the condiments! Not quite Tabasco, but it was mild and it tasted great. My favorite sandwiches turned out to be the premade ones in the refrigerated case with either shaved turkey and cheese or ham and cheese. They were like you would fix at home, and I guess that was the appeal. I didn't want anything fancy just a plain sandwich on plain sandwich bread and that was the perfect option. These must have been a favorite of others too as the case was often sold out by early evening. The pastry I fell in love with was the chocolate croissant and it was flaky and tender with a wee bit of chocolate inside and wasn't overly sweet once I knocked all the chocolate chips off the outside. The sesame chicken was very good too and I would order it again. The rice had no flavor though and was just a filler. I did walk across the bridge to Art of Animation for a meal and had a wonderful acorn squash platter with basmati rice and naan that was worth the walk to get. The front desk was very helpful and all staff seemed to be trained well. They all had the answers to whatever I needed or asked. Theming was definitely fun and it was nostalgic walking around looking at all the icons from different generations. I enjoyed the walking trail and it was marked with remember when signs and facts about specific moments in history. The resort is landscaped beautifully with a variety of of trees and flowering plants. There are benches along the paths and some lovely views there. The place is well tended and clean overall. The room was nice, the food was decent for the most part, and I would definitely return for another stay. It isn't quite as nice as the moderates, but for the savings and for being on property with all it's perks, this is a great deal and I'd be quite content to stay there again.
Pros:
price, being on property, on site food court and shopping, planned activities, 1 bus stop, clean nice roomsCons:
uncovered bus stop, motel 6 (value) feel, loud if you are overlooking the main poolReviewed by PolynesianStitch Review Date: 12/20/2014
Rating: (8) Recommended
We were a party of four in two connecting Royal rooms recently. The rooms are gorgeous and quiet, housekeeping was immaculate. It was a fairly long walk to the bus stops, particularly at the end of the day, as this is a huge resort. Also the food court was always frantically busy. We never did find the hot tub and it wasn't listed on the resort map which would have been nice to have after a long day of walking.
