Most Recent Reviews
Review of Grand Floridian Resort (Deluxe Resort)
Reviewed by RSZB Review Date: 06/29/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
This was my first stay at the Grand Floridian Resort. I had concerns about the resort feeling too “upscale†for us, but it had the most reasonable room rate available on the monorail for the 2 nights (June 23-25) we wanted. I reserved an outer building lagoon view room, but was upgraded to the Royal Palm Club in room (4319) in the main building! This was a girls’ trip and the deluxe queen room was beautiful and very large with a view of the pool and Wishes fireworks from the balcony. Our room was located very close to the monorail station.
Our room was on the 3rd floor where 2 concierge desks were located. We had access to the 4th floor lounge via internal stairs or elevator. The lounge offered food and beverages 4 times throughout the day. There were usually 2 cast members attending to replenishing the refreshments. The offerings were varied, delicious, and plentiful. The lounge overlooks the lobby and is especially nice during the live music performances. A pianist plays Disney tunes from late afternoon to early evening and then a band plays until 10pm. There were a handful of shops located around the lobby which all had different operating hours.
It seemed there were more cast members here than at other resorts. They were professional, friendly, and helpful. The turn down service was a nice touch.
We used the monorail to and from the Magic Kingdom. It was stuffy and warm with a distinct lack of air flow on all occasions. Is this a side effect of the work being done?
We only used the bus service once. Due to the modified monorail schedule, a bus ran directly to EPCOT for Extra Magic Morning Hours.
The boat service was efficient enough. We used it a couple times. One night we used it after 11pm from Magic Kingdom, since the posted monorail closing time was 11pm. The boat dock was completely full and another boat was summoned to help with volume.
One evening, we walked around the grounds to get a sense for the whole resort. The pool slide was open past 10pm as was the water play area. Both inside and outside areas seem huge to me, but it didn’t feel crowded anywhere. There was construction work going on in the Sugar Loaf building.
I would recommend the Grand Floridian Royal Palm Club level rooms if you are committed to taking advantage of the extra services. I can only hope to be able to stay here again!
Pros:
location,Cons:
limited monorail during our stayReview of Pop Century Resort (Value Resort)
Reviewed by RSZB Review Date: 06/29/2014
Rating: (8) Recommended
This was my first stay at the Pop Century resort for one night – June 20th. We checked into our preferred room (6408) at 10:30am. It overlooked the foosball game in the courtyard. We were only there for one night, but it was quiet and close to the main building. The room size was adequate for the 2 of us on a girls’ trip, but would be a challenge for my family of 4. The bedding was comfortable and we were greeted with towels shaped into a Mickey head. I missed not having a ceiling fan and second sink.
Even though we didn’t have a chance to eat there, the food court seemed to have many options. (As a side note, my family loves the Riverside food court.) I strolled through the gift shop which was well stocked with a large variety of merchandise. Take the time to view the shadow boxes on the wall across from the check-in desk. They were definitely a “blast from the past!†We passed by the large pool area, which was very sunny and not crowded.
The bus service was just okay – maybe it was our timing. During our short stay, we took the bus from the resort to Downtown Disney and back and then to Hollywood studios and back. Each bus had 2-4 wheel chairs and/or scooters to load. Each trip took 30-35 minutes from the time we arrived at the bus stop to when we left.
We took a walk across the bridge to visit the Art of Animation resort at night. The short walk across the bridge and on the main pathways are very well lit. The pool area was gated and required a room key to access. The main building is similar in design to Pop. Each section is themed to a movie and is very fun!
The cast members at Pop were very friendly, attentive, and interacted with all age levels. I’ve stayed at all resort levels and felt there was no difference in service between this value and moderate or deluxe.
I would recommend the Pop for those who spend the majority of their time in the parks.
Pros:
priceCons:
lack of ceiling fanReviewed by RSZB Review Date: 06/29/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
This was my first stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We checked in early (7:30am) with plans to arrive at Hollywood Studios by 9:00am. Check–in was a bit bumpy – our early arrival and reservation request were both met with disapproval and uncharacteristic resistance from the attending cast member. Even though I supplied a cell phone number, I wasn’t notified when our room became available. I’m choosing to believe it was a coincidence. All the other cast members we encountered here were friendly and conversational.
We stayed in room 2308 (Sunset Savanna – which was a reservation request) and had wonderful views of giraffes, zebras, cattle, cranes, and an ostrich. The animals tended to stay close to what looked like a viewing platform at the Kidani Village. The room was amply sized for the 2 of us on a girls’ trip, but the size would work for a family with 4 adults.
The lobby is beautiful and worth checking out in detail. There is art work on display throughout the resort. I enjoyed exploring the pathways that wind through the inside and outside of the resort. There are many opportunities to sit and view animals. The gift shop has a variety of merchandise including refrigerated drinks.
Two restaurants are located inside Jambo House and a quick serve is accessible from an outside covered walkway. We ate breakfast at Mara (quick serve), which had hot and cold selections with indoor and outdoor seating available. We ate dinner at Jiko, which was relaxing and enjoyable.
At night, we walked around the large zero entry pool and there was a fire pit with rocking chairs outside the main back doors from the lobby. The animal viewing areas around the pool were closed when we passed by around 10pm.
The bus service was fine. A longer ride is to be expected due to the remote location of the resort. We rode the bus to and from Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and EPCOT.
The guest laundry area came in handy. There seemed to be more dryers than washing machines. I used a dryer which was $2 for 20-30 minutes. A change machine was available.
I would recommend the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a “more than going to the parks†vacation. The inviting atmosphere encourages planning time to spend at this resort.
Pros:
atmosphereCons:
noneReview of San Angel Inn Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by seahawk7 Review Date: 06/29/2014
Rating: (8) Recommended
We ate there in early June. It was our first time and we really enjoyed the food. We like spicey so we could handle the heat. I had the vegetarian enchiladas with red sauce and they were good and spicey. My kids had the chile relleno and they were good and spicey. We are from the Southwest and are familiar with spicey Mexican food so we could handle the spice. I would caution others who are not to maybe ask for a sample of the chile so they don't get a dish they can't eat. We stuck to water, so our meal was only 65 dollars at dinner and that includes chips, salsa, and guacamole! This is a unique meal at Disney that is worth the reservation.
Pros:
atmosphere, price, good foodCons:
noneReview of Trail's End Restaurant
Reviewed by seahawk7 Review Date: 06/29/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
We went to Trails End for both lunch and the dinner buffet. Both were very good. I'm vegeterian and I the hummus, tofu flatbread. It was one of the best vegetarian options I had. My DS thought there chicken and waffles was the best one he had on Disney property and my daughter loves her catfish and grits. The dinner buffet is equally as good. My kids cut through their beef with a fork it was so tender. Great salads, fried chicken, and sides. Two of our favorite meals this trip and very, very reasonably priced.
Pros:
great service, homey atmosphereCons:
noneReview of House of Blues Restaurant and Bar
Reviewed by Tampa Mom Review Date: 06/28/2014
Rating: (8) Recommended
My two daughters and I had lunch here on 6-27-14. The service was friendly and efficient, and my daughters loved their burgers. It was a really nice experience.
I am sad to say that the one sour note was my french dip sandwich. It wasn't bad, it was just... blah. The au jus had no flavor at all. If they had brought me a cup of plain hot water, there would have been no difference. The roast beef had a boiled beef blandness that brought nothing to the taste of the sandwich. I never noticed any sauteed onions, though they may have been buried in the provolone, which was the one excellent ingredient. A cup of a very hot, strong horseradish sauce was served on the side, which I suspect was intended to provide the flavor for the sandwich. I didn't use it since it was a bit too much for me.
As I said, the sandwich wasn't bad, just not very good. But my girls devoured their burgers, and all of us enjoyed the tasty fries that came with our sandwiches, so just avoid the french dip and you should have a great meal.
Pros:
Great service and foodCons:
French dip sandwich a disappointmentReview of Spirit of Aloha Dinner
Reviewed by JoanneS Review Date: 06/25/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
We enjoyed the later show, which wasn't very crowded. The food was plentiful and very tasty. This isn't gourmet food, but it's well prepared. The servers were fantastic. The show is a good family friendly show with some audience participation. I felt bad for the performers because their small audience was more interested in their food than the audience participation.
Pros:
Lots of food, fun showCons:
not the best dessertReview of Garden View Lounge Tea
Reviewed by JoanneS Review Date: 06/25/2014
Rating: (3) Not Recommended
My friend and I were looking forward to enjoying a nice quiet tea. I made the error of telling the server I was lactose intolerant and the lovely tea took a bad turn. He had the chef come out and talk to me about my "issue". I was given NO choice as far as food goes. They told me they would bring me a plate of sandwiches, and while my friend enjoyed a nice variety of tea sandwiches, I got salami on white bread, and turkey loaf with tofu cheese. (also on white bread) And, when I say white bread, I mean Wonder bread. When it was time for dessert, my friend got her choice of pastries, while I was given no choice, but delivered a bowl of JELLO with frozen strawberries in it. I paid $30 for salami sandwiches and Jello. I was not a happy camper. Others may enjoy this, but for the lactose intolerant, this is not a good choice.
Pros:
Peaceful SettingCons:
Food ChoicesReview of Hollywood and Vine Dinner
Reviewed by KBrzyski Review Date: 06/25/2014
Rating: (3) Recommended
The food was ok - lots of choices. However,the mashed potatoes were "soupy." The Jedi characters were fine. They came to our table and took pictures. My major disappointment was what I paid for 3 adults - $222 with tip for the buffet, no alcoholic beverages! I paid $180 for 4 adults, 3 of which had steak dinners at the Be Our Guest Restaurant, and I felt the ambience was nicer. Perhaps it's worth it if you have a meal plan, but I would not recommend it to someone paying cash.
Pros:
Food was okCons:
CostReview of Gaston's Tavern
Reviewed by MinnieMouseMama Review Date: 06/24/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
I didn't want to like this place. It seems like a second thought and the menu is VERY limited. I confess that I was totally wrong. Gaston's has pork shanks. Huge, tasty, smokey, salty and tender pork shanks. As a non-fan of the turkey leg (sorry...) I had not anticipated how much I would love Gaston's. We ended up here because Columbia Harbor House was already closed and I really wanted a lobster roll. This will not be my second choice again. Just delish!
