Most Recent Reviews
Review of Caribbean Beach Resort (Moderate Resort)
Reviewed by mmc55 Review Date: 03/06/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
Stayed 2/24-3/1. Never feels crowded (that's a switch - Touringplans.com said low crowds but sure had trouble navigating the streets at the 4 parks). You feel like you are in a tropical paradise, Our room was ready at 10a. Pools heated and numerous. Housekeeping great. Centertown eatery had many choices (typical high WDW prices) - there is a pastry rack you can't beat. The number of buses was good - I believe CBR has two routes to minimize guests having to go all around the resort. The DME CMs were very efficient. We were lucky we were equidistance from the Barbatos and Martinique Bus Stops but depending on which building you are in the walk to the bus stop can be long. We were in Building 21 - Martinique.
Pros:
Spacious/Tropical/pools/clean/colorfulCons:
Long ride to MKReview of Everything POP! Breakfast
Reviewed by BMGDISNEY Review Date: 03/05/2014
Rating: (4) Recommended
We ate at POP twice during our stay of 7 days. The food was pretty good as breakfast usually is. The only complaint, and the only reason we ate there twice, is due to the fact that POP hosts tour groups. I don't mind that, but I do mind that while this place is super busy in the morning, the groups come into the food area and place their backpacks at every available table to "hold" their spot while they go to get their food, which can take a while. Meanwhile, there are people who have checked out and are unable to sit at a table. The other frustrating part is when the groups do not remove their trays or trash, and just leave them on the table once they're done. So super frustrating. The second day we settled for a continental breakfast and took it back to our room. We decided from that point that we would wait to eat breakfast once we got to whatever park we were going to for the morning. Wouldn't have been too big of a deal, but my husband likes to eat early in the morning. So by the time we would get to the parks, he was starved.
Pros:
Pastry sectionCons:
Tables not available due to numerous backpacks "saving" the tablesReview of MagicBand
Reviewed by BMGDISNEY Review Date: 03/05/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
We received our bands before we had left for Disney. We made sure they were in our carry on bags so they would be able to use when we arrived at the airport. We did not realize that the bands could be used to check in and check out of the resort so keep that in mind. Never had a problem with any of the bands. They all worked for the room, the dining plan, and the fast passes. The only problem I kept running into is when I would have my daughter go in one line, such as at Cosmic Ray's, and I in another, that I would forget to tell her the PIN number so that she could get her meal. Or if she was getting a snack from one place, and myself from another, she would have to track me down to once again get the PIN number. I appreciate the security so no one can use your band in case you lose it however. I just need to remember next year to give her the PIN number each time. The last thing on a teenagers mind is remembering a PIN number to get a snack. Also, since I do not include charging privileges on any of the bands, I don't mind her having the PIN number. Also saves me from unbudgeted and frivolous purchases. All in all, fantastic system, and the bugs had been worked out.
Pros:
Ease of useCons:
Everyone that is able to use it in your party needs the PIN number to use their creditsReview of Royal Anandapur Tea Company
Reviewed by BMGDISNEY Review Date: 03/05/2014
Rating: (4) Not Recommended
It was a warm day, so my daughter wanted an iced tea. Not really sure what was going on with the clerk here, but in order to get an iced tea, she had to have hot tea, then ice given in a second cup. My daughter was given a hot cup of water, then handed a tea bag that was supposed to be for the specialty tea. We could have brought our own blended tea in a tea bag from Teavana or the tea shop located in Downtown Disney. It definitely would have tasted better! So if you are ordering a "specialty tea" and they tell you it will be in the form of a bag that you need to soak, not prebrewed, don't waste your money. My husband had plain coffee. I had ordered an iced coffee latte. Also, got a "pastry" which was nothing more than a huge donut covered in sprinkles for the three of us to share, but yummy.Nothing that we ordered was considered a snack on the dining plan. So we paid for this experience out of our pocket. It was not like this last year when we visited. The teas were wonderful, and since my daughter is the tea lover, we wanted to treat her again this year. They were also iced last year with no bag given to us. If we do go back next year, and they tell me it will be in a tea bag, I will say no thank you and leave. I guess I have been spoiled by Teavana.
Pros:
Great big donutCons:
TeaReviewed by Dawnmh Review Date: 03/04/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
How could you not love it? What a wonderful place! Beautiful! Again, wonderful staff, clean island and fun! It was the best thing about our cruise!
We did the stingray adventure, which i read mixed reviews about, but we loved it. My little boy is 5yo and it was a great experience for him bc he isnt old enough for the full snorkeling adventures! He loved touching the rays too!
The food was great at the bbq place. Wonderful ribs, then they sliced fresh fruit ! I love a fresh pineapple!!!
The beach was beautiful and the in the water jungle gym was cool! That day the pelican plunge was not working which was disappointing, but we still had a good time. Glad i didnt pay for a cabana, the family beach was enjoyable!
I wish we didnt stop at nassau and had more time at the island. Even a longer day would be great! Im sure the island would be so beautiful at night!
I hope disney keeps this a private cruise island and doesnt put a resort on it, it would ruin it!
Pros:
EverythingCons:
Not enough time there!Review of Disney Dream Overall Experience
Reviewed by Dawnmh Review Date: 03/04/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
We have just returned from a Feb. 3 night cruise on the Dream. It was our first cruise and we could not have asked for a greater time!
The staff was more than great! So attentive and friendly! The ship was super clean and comfortable. The check in and boarding process was a breeze! I definitely recommend the online check in prior to getting there it makes it speedy. I would have liked someone taking a picture as you walked in and they announced your name, I'm sure my little boy's face was precious, an expression that's a once in a lifetime.
We had a cat 4E room with a larger balcony and it was wonderful! Perfect amt of space. Again, I would love a complete smoke free cruise, it was annoying to try to enjoy the outside and smell smoke from another balcony. I was afraid of the bathroom sizes but they were great! With the split baths, I didn't even notice they were smaller! Loved the storage under the bed too.
Our room host was great! Always there when we needed him or just a friendly face to say hi when you walked by!
I loved that I picked a floor that was not totally all rooms. I think it kept traffic down and it felt very private.
The dinners were good and I did like that the wait staff followed you through the different restaurants, it was very personal. You were seated at the same table number every night which was easy to remember. The food was good in the dining rooms, not excellent but good. I loved the potato soup at Artists Palate and the next night our server even got it for me, it wasn't even on the menu.
Lots of characters to see but the experiences were very short and limited. I thought that there may be roaming characters throughout the day for chance encounters but none of that. Make sure you get in line 15-30 m before the character is supposed to be there bc they cut off the line at a certain point. They have the times spread out during the day but not enough spread. Plus the pirate dressed ones only come out on the pirate day and in limited times. How about characters at the dinners? The longer cruises include a character breakfast, why not a character dinner on the shorter ones?
My only major complaint was the photos. What a rip off! Come on Disney, if I can get all my photopass pics(that are a greater amt of photos) on a disc for less than 175, then the limited amt of photos from the cruise should be affordable. We had two staterooms and we couldn't get the cheapest package (10 photos) bc there has to be someone from the stateroom ordering it in each pic and we had one of just my parents alone! Ridiculous! I paid the bill for both staterooms! I felt really let down by this bc pictures are the only permanently captured memories, at least make them affordable! Very disappointing!
I would definitely do another cruise but the one that stops twice at Castaway Cay. Nassau was a waste!
Pros:
Wonderful experience!Cons:
Stopping at nassauReview of FastPass+ (Retired)
Reviewed by mmc55 Review Date: 03/04/2014
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
OK it is nice to pre-select before arriving BUT! If it has no benefit once you arrive what good is it? At the AK Mickey Meet&Greet we waited LONGER than the standby line. At Illuminations FASTPASS+ only got us a standing view with 1000 other FP+ users - and the line to use FP+ began forming at 8:10p. At Fantasmic there was absolutely no difference between the FP+ area and standby. When making you selections there is limited times available. The worst thing is you only get one choice for the most popular attractions. The old Fastpass was 100x better. Disney has developed FP+ for their benefit If they expand it to all four per day that might change my mind. Or for Dinner reservations at popular restaurants. Also you are continually checking on your smartphone to make sure you can follow the designated times. I would give FP+ a zero if it were on the scale. At Star Tours the FP+ line was longer than standby.
Pros:
NoneCons:
Minimum choices/only 1 park per day/no real bevations at popular restaurantsnefitsReview of Beaches and Cream
Reviewed by Dawnmh Review Date: 03/04/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
We ate here for a change in normal restaurant pace! Plus we were staying at Beach Club.
I have gotten ice cream here in the past and it was great! Having a reservation here to eat dinner was not as enjoyable. The food was good and loved the "old ice cream shop" feel was fun, but wow did I feel cramped! There was only 3 of us, 2 adults 1 child, and I felt like a sardine. It would be a more fun enjoyable experience if it was a bit bigger or had private patio seating!
I will continue to go for ice cream but will pass on dinner.
Pros:
Neat atmosphereCons:
Too smallReview of Beach Club Resort (Deluxe Resort)
Reviewed by Dawnmh Review Date: 03/04/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
Loved staying here! We stayed the end of Feb. into March after going on the Dream cruise and it was great! Not too crowded ! Staff was wonderful and room was clean and great size! Our room had a garden view which was fine but it must have been above the supply area for the staff because it was very noisy when the carts continued to come and get supplies. That was only draw back because I would have liked to keep my balcony door open but the noise was awful. The only other thing I didn't like was coming from DTD, the bus stopped at Dolphin and Swan first. I don't mind sharing buses with other resorts but when those resorts are not truly Disney resorts, they should be dropped off last. The true Disney resorts should get priority.
The pool area was wonderful! My 5yo loved the big ship slide and the current like area in the corner was fun for him too. I would like to see a sign that kept kids out of the hot tubs. It was hard to enjoy when kids were treating the hot tubs like a splash pool. Parents weren't even watching them.
It was nice to be so close to Epcot and HS and be able to just walk around the boardwalk. I will definitely stay here again!
Hey Disney, making all resorts smoke free would be great , even on balconies!!
Pros:
Location, room sizeCons:
Too many stops going to DTDReview of Landscape of Flavors - Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by Jbyrd Review Date: 03/04/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
We stayed at AoA in March of 2013. We are planning another trip and I just realized that I never wrote reviews! AoA was amazing and we loved the Landscape of Flavors! The caprese sandwich and surf and surf burger were fantastic! I also couldn't get enough of there house made chips!! So, so good! We loved everything about AoA and their food options just enhanced the experience!
