Most Recent Reviews
Review of FastPass+ (Retired)
Reviewed by mom2mybugs Review Date: 02/05/2014
Rating: (4) Recommended
We were at Disney during marathon week in January. I was very worried about the bands and fast pass plus issues so I screenshot all my reservations. During this non peak time and since I wasn't at opening every day (running my first marathon took a bit of touring and sleep out of me!) The fast pass limit was fine and I could easily make changes if I was going to miss a fastpass. I live in absolute terror of the summer though. Since Disney has made staying on-site so expensive for a family of 5, we plan on staying off-site for 7 days and 4 on-site. Ok...no easy fast pass for those "cheap days". 3 of the family has magic bands already and annual passes so we might be able to get them ahead if Disney grants the ok, but my 17 and 15 year olds are just out of luck. Have fun standing in hour plus lines at opening because that is what they will be in crowded peak time in July. In the past, we were genius at Fastpasses. Sure we did park crossing but we got on everything...sometimes two or three times a day. And we park hop a lot. So great...3 of us can do later day fast passes and do standby lines at the first park when they are shorter. But by the time we get to park two, the two teenagers will be out of luck again because the passes will be gone. I always loved that Disney didn't punish for staying at value or off-site, but now they really are doing just that. Maybe after the test phase and first year are really done they will let everyone get them early. However it will be too late for our final family trip before college. The benefits will just not outweigh the consequences. I will just have to hope that following unofficial guides touring plan will offset no family fast pass+, because I'm not paying 150 more a night to live in one room just for three fast passes a day.
Pros:
didnt have to be at park openingCons:
limited to 3, lack of spontaneity, no park hopingReview of Biergarten - Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by Fishfamily Review Date: 02/04/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
This was my 3rd time at the Biergarten. We went on Jan 10th. It's a highlight of the trip, our favorite restaurant in Epcot. The food was good and the service was prompt.
Each time I go I'm just amazed by the theming, you really feel like you're in a German village at night.
The big beers are fun, liter steins.
The band is a hoot, they play several instruments and tell some jokes. This is a great place to rest after lots of walking at Epcot, the only drawback to our visit was we were seated around noon and the band didn't start until 12:45 or so.
Some people grumble about sitting with strangers, I enjoy it, everyone is there to have a good time, just enjoy it!
Pros:
Atmoshere, entertainmentCons:
None really, just try to find out when the band comes on before bookingReview of Starring Rolls
Reviewed by xtandt Review Date: 02/04/2014
Rating: (8) Recommended
Has great desserts. But it does get very crowded inside. Limited seating outside. But still go, grab something and eat it while walking.
Pros:
Awesome dessertsCons:
can get very crowdReview of Garden Gallery
Reviewed by xtandt Review Date: 02/04/2014
Rating: (7) Recommended
Had the breakfast buffet. It was very good and had a large selection. Made to order omelets, pancakes and waffles. Also had lots of breads, meats, fruit and other selections. Would eat here again/
Pros:
Lots of choicesCons:
noneReview of Shades of Green
Reviewed by xtandt Review Date: 02/04/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
I have stayed here before and wasn't impressed. The rooms have been redone and are very clean and huge. Parking is $5/day, not a big deal. Most of the employees were very pleasant, Would come back again.
Pros:
BeautifulCons:
Pay to parkReview of Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe
Reviewed by bookworm_julie Review Date: 02/04/2014
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
It was 6pm and apparently this was the only quick service place in Magic Kingdom open for dinner so we were stuck eating here. The lines were not really that long (maybe four people ahead of us) but it easily took half an hour to order and get our food. And we ordered salads!
Mine was close to inedible - it came with chicken and it was an overcooked dry chicken breast that was not even sliced. I had to slice it myself which was really hard seeing as it was in a salad. My friend's salad came with chicken that was pre-sliced and not nearly as dried out.
Would not recommend this place to anyone, unless you are stuck for a place to eat, as we were.
Pros:
They served foodCons:
The food was terrible, and so was the serviceReview of Cinderella's Royal Table Breakfast
Reviewed by bookworm_julie Review Date: 02/04/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
Amazing. We (two 28 year old females) dined here for breakfast and were chosen to be the princesses of the day! It was awesome and wonderful that they didn't just pick kids.
The food was amazing - I had heard you don't go here for the food but we both loved our breakfast!
The princesses were wonderful! Totally spot on and it didn't matter that we had no kids with us - they spent just as much time a our table as the tables with kids.
And being in the castle? Pure magic.
I highly recommend this breakfast, even for grown-ups!
Pros:
Being inside the castle, meeting the princesses, the foodCons:
NoneReview of Be Our Guest Dinner
Reviewed by bookworm_julie Review Date: 02/04/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
Awesome experience! From checking in to the moment we left we felt like royalty. I can't really explain the atmosphere as it was just magical - it wa literally like walking in to the movie and being there. The service was wonderful and the food was delicious! My steak was tender and juicy, my friend said the french onion soup was delicious, and the grey stuff - well, believe the dishes!
Overall, a huge highlight of the trip and we hated that we had to leave at the end of the night.
Tip: Suggest a later evening reservation. We were there at 7:30 and by the time we left, the places was mostly empty which was great for exploring the different rooms.
Pros:
Excellent atmosphere, and the food was amazing!Cons:
We had to leaveReview of Spice Road Table
Reviewed by bookworm_julie Review Date: 02/04/2014
Rating: (3) Not Recommended
They offer two sampler platters (one meat, one seafood), and we each ordered one. I had the meat and while I could tell it was clearly cooked properly and was well seasoned, it was not to my liking. I did enjoy the chicken roll. My friend had the seafood one and didn't finish it - it was not too her liking either.
To get a full meal you would easily have to spend a lot of money. At $7 to $10 per small plate, you'd need many orders to make a complete meal.
The service was so so - we were mostly ignored and we were the only people in the place. We left hungry and went to France for dessert.
Pros:
opportunity to try many different things on the menuCons:
really expensive for the food you getReview of Art of Animation Resort (Value Resort)
Reviewed by bookworm_julie Review Date: 02/04/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
Two adults stayed in a Little Mermaid room. We had two double beds which was great for our girls trip. Check in was a breeze and our Magic Bands were waiting for us, all customized (could not ship to Canada). We were in the Ursula building and it was only about a 6-7 minute walk to the main building and bus stop. It was also a shorter walk to the buses if you cut along the sidewalk by the parking lot.
Breakfast pastries were excellent. Make your own pasta was also really good, as was the french toast for breakfast.
The themeing of the room and the entire resort was really well done. Really lifelike and you could tell a lot of thought and detail was put in to it.
The only real con was the housekeeping. We had to request cups one night since we had none, and it took over an hour for them to arrive which was annoying. It also seemed like they did a real rushed job as the garbage cans were only dumped out once during our stay.
Regardless, I would not hesitate to stay here again and would hightly recommend it!
