Most Recent Reviews
Reviewed by mg0914 Review Date: 01/29/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
Stayed in a studio with savannah view from 12/23-12/29. Everything about Kidani is beautiful: the exterior, the lobby, the rooms. Cast members are super friendly. Family of four in a studio can be tight at times but bathroom was spacious.
Did not mind that there's no quick service. Shuttles run every 10 minutes to Jambo and it's a 3 minute ride. Pool/pool bar very nice. Small gift shop has soda station for refills and most essentials. Gift shop at Jambo much larger with resort themed merchandise - definitely one of better resort gift shops. Took advantage of Sanaa's bar after long days in parks.
Speaking of long days in parks - walking to our room was quite an adventure! It was a very long walk from the lobby to our room (although our walk was entirely indoors) and this is the only reason I gave Kidani a 9 and not a 10. We have experienced these long walks before at other Disney hotels - Boardwalk, Old Key West, Coronado & Saratoga so....I guess we're used to it. I'm not complaining! But in rating the hotel I wanted to consider everything.
Saw tons of animals from our room. This of course makes AKL unique. It's very peaceful watching them roam through the savannah. Points here are lower than other DVC resorts and I've never understood that. We have stayed at AKL 4 times now - twice at Kidani and twice at Jambo. I know some people think it's a long ride to the parks but I do not agree. We have stayed at 11 different WDW resorts and the distance to the parks doesn't seem any different from other resorts.
Buses were pretty much on time every day. Staying the week of Christmas means packed buses of course. The bus stop at Kidani had a flat screen TV with the estimated arrival times for buses to each park. A cast member said Kidani was one of only a few resorts testing this new system. It used GPS on all the buses and constantly updated the ETAs. It was very cool. Accuracy was exceptional. Word is Disney will move forward and place them at other resorts soon.
Overall we had a terrific stay at Kidani and would highly recommend it!
Pros:
beautiful hotel, savannah viewsCons:
long walk to roomReviewed by retired605 Review Date: 01/29/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
My husband and I stayed in a deluxe studio for 4 nights January 23-27. Our home resort is Beach Club and we have never stayed anywhere else using points. We didn't know what to expect staying in a savannah view room but we had a wonderful time. The resort is beautiful and being able to see animals from the balcony was unique.
All the cast members were friendly, check-in was quick and efficient and the room was large and very clean. KV is very sprawling as it has to be to accommodate the savannah. We were lucky to be semi-close to an elevator! Having parking on the ground floor is convenient but I would think walking children to the pool through the parking garage might be a problem.
We walked to Jambo House once and it is a hike but they have a shuttle. If you want any kind of quick service food you have to go to Jambo House which is a drawback. The only other 'con' is the location. You have to drive or take a bus to get anywhere.
Beach Club is definitely still our favorite place to stay but this was a good experience that I would recommend.
Pros:
architecture and themeCons:
lack of food options; locationReview of FastPass+ (Retired)
Reviewed by Kadancer Review Date: 01/29/2014
Rating: (3) Recommended
Although we thoroughly enjoyed the simplicity of use, we found the fast pass + system to be slow and extremely limitng. We are experienced park hoppers who have learned to enhance our experience during peak seasons by getting to the parks early and using paper fast passes to make the lines tolerable for our autistic son. The new system basically puts us in a position where we can be in the parks for the first couple of hours and then must return him to the hotel. Lines become too long and he is not able to understand the purpose of waiting in line at a kiosk in order to obtain/change a fast pass (at times these lines in the Animal Kingdom during the Christmas holiday were almost 30 minutes long). I am concerned that many other families of children with disabilities will also be affected by this change. Our family also falls into the rare group that does not use apps as large as the Disney app on our phone, so we had to do our daily planning on the campground internet which was very slow. The lack of the system accommodating park hopping and the limit of three per day are other disappointing aspects of the program.
Pros:
convenience of useCons:
limitations on experienceReview of FastPass+ (Retired)
Reviewed by Metcalfmom Review Date: 01/29/2014
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
Hate, hate, hate magic bands. Used them on three trips this fall. And it's going to get worse. I'm going to give you my magic band (mb) diatribe now that I shared with my travel agent that she promised to share with Disney folks. If she can get it to anyone who will/can do something...great. However, I realize this is probably an exercise in futility. It will make me feel better...maybe:-).
First of all, and this is a problem that probably won't happen again since in a couple of months everyone will be using mb. We had an mb time at Soarin at almost the same time we had a regular fast pass at Test Track. We decided to do Soarin first since every other time we do Test Track, it breaks down (that's an issue I'll be coming to shortly). Anyway, we mentioned our coinciding time to cast member running Soarin. He told us we weren't supposed to use paper tickets. Just mb. Paper tickets were for day visitors and others without mb.
Well, I gave him a piece of my mind. We were paying big money to stay at Beach Club and purchase airline tickets. Why should we not be able to use fast passes to ride our favorite rides? With new mb categories we wouldn't be able to ride Soarin and Test Track with a fast pass. But people coming for the day could??!! I was furious.
After riding both rides, we went to customer service to complain. They listened nicely and offered us a fast pass for Soarin. I actually turned it down. I said there is a bigger issue here that they are not getting. Which I will now share with you.
I was told that by February everyone will have mbs. People with reservations and staying on site will have maybe six months lead time to schedule fp. Big whoop. Others will get choices when they purchase tickets. No more paper fp.
IF, and this is a big if, they keep the same restricted categories, (and most of these comments concern EPCOT), then when we come for a long weekend, we will only be able to ride our two favorite rides, Soarin and Test Track, once or twice the entire time, unless we are willing to stand in line for an hour or more which greatly reduces the time we could be doing something else.
And I must comment here that whoever has been in charge if EPCOT for the last few years has done a dismal job of creating new and exciting rides there. For heavens sake, the maelstrom is in the top priority list. A mildly exciting ride at best. Mission space is a disaster. Nemo, universe of energy, imagination,...these rides are virtually empty. Why would anyone need a fast pass for a ride that has no wait? Ridiculous. And Soarin was created at Disneyland so no imagination involved there.
And all the money to change test track? After doing the car creating once, the thrill is gone. Always the trouble with Test Track was that it broke down so often. And that's still going on, same as before. Now people are beginning to skip the car creating, leaving that room to get in line. We did that every time. Soon no one will be using that very expensive technology because the ride itself is the thrill. The money should have been spent updating the ride itself so it doesn't break down as much.
Anyway....I digress.
This mb idea is just crazy. It will discourage park hopping since you have to confine yourself to one park a day with the mb fast passes. The three times we've been to WDW with the mb we've been able to schedule fp at EPCOT for the afternoon and spend mornings at studios or mk riding our favorite rides using paper fast passes. We won't be able to do that anymore. By the afternoon, lines at popular rides are way too long for older adults.
I am to the point, unless something happens that will ameliorate some if these problems, we won't be going back. We've been to WDW approaching 50 times. We obviously LOVE going there. But this will take the fun out of it for us. And, based on the conversation I had with a very candid cast member at the resort, the "cast members" hate the mb and the problems they've caused and they are getting more and more complaints from the "regulars" like us about how the changes are and will continue to adversely affect their Disney experience.
My one question is "why". Whatever the reason, we are extremely saddened that our magical trips may soon be coming to an end.
I will add that while not senior citizens yet, we are quickly approaching that milestone. My husband is disabled and must use a scooter. That's why we always stay at beach club. We can " walk" to EPCOT, our favorite park, and take the boat to the studios (will always be MGM to us) or the monorail to mk. Buses and scooters are too complicated and bothersome for us. Fast passes are a God send to us.
I can understand trying to control access in some circumstances...esp at mk where you have little ones clamoring to ride and possessing little patience. But at EPCOT the only rides with lines on a consistent all day basis are Soarin and Test Track. Which goes back to my previous comments about lack of new exciting rides there. To me it's the most neglected park.
With the "magic" bands and "my" Disney experience why can't the bands work differently at the different parks? With the bands it's certainly obvious which park you are in so why couldn't experiences be molded to each visitors desired vacation goals?
And I'm with Deb, we've been going to WDW on at least a yearly basis since 1984 when we brought our four daughters for the first time. We were hooked. I remember the excitement building for new rides every time we went. I remember walking around MK as they built splash mountain. And boy, was the wait worth it. That first trip over the falls was indeed magical! And tower of terror....that first plunge was electrifying when we finally got to ride. Remember then it was just up and down one time! Same with Soarin and Test Track! The anticipation was almost unbearable but the payoff so worth it. I haven't felt that in years. Maybe a little with renovation of TT but I've already noted what a disappointment that was.
Anyway, our trips to our happy place are still very happy and treasured. But these magic bands and the ancillary changes accompanying them threaten to ruin future trips...if we return:-(
Posted by Gigi METCALF
Pros:
NoneCons:
SeveralReview of Boardwalk Villas (Disney Vacation Club)
Reviewed by lizzie1974 Review Date: 01/29/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
Stayed in a studio from 1/18 - 1/26. Expected a garden view but the room ended up overlooking the Village Green and a small part of the boardwalk. We had a room right off the lobby so that meant it was just a short walk out to the boardwalk, laundry and pool area.
Walked to Epcot everyday. The walk to HS was about 15 minutes, which is insignificant when you figure how much walking you're doing in any given day at Disney.
Only cons: Since the room was on the 2nd floor and near a service entrance, we heard quite a few loud, rumbly carts being rolled in and out. Sometimes very early in the morning.
The DTD bus was a direct drop off for Boardwalk but on the way home, Boardwalk is the last stop after Swan, Dolphin, Yacht & Beach. One night it took nearly an hour because there was also a driver shift change required.
The pros far outweigh the cons though. We'd definitely stay again.
Pros:
locationCons:
very fewReview of MagicBand
Reviewed by rlaneyd Review Date: 01/29/2014
Rating: (5) Not Recommended
NOT A FAN OF THE BAND!!! Sorry, but I do prefer the Key to the World card that I slip in/out with ease in my Passporter pouch holder. No matter how I adjusted it the band just wasn't fitting me to suit. Sometimes it would work in the restaurants, sometimes it wouldn't. My husband had trouble with his band entering the parks a few times. Disney needs a better option for people who do not want wear the band around their wrist and fearful of losing it if attached elsewhere, like looped thru my wristwatch band.
Pros:
Everything loaded on itCons:
Didn't function properly every time, not comfortableReview of FastPass+ (Retired)
Reviewed by rlaneyd Review Date: 01/29/2014
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
Husband & I always stay on property. Our trip was 12/6/13 - 12/15/13 in December. Stayed at Saratoga Springs.
Not early risers when on vacation, so FP+ was a plus in this regard. Had no problems scanning the Magic Bands at any of our FP+ selections.
Since we're in our 50s, not tech savvy, don't own smart phones, and probably never will, that was when the + in FP+ ended.
Had my laptop computer (in the resort room) and IPod touch (in the parks, restaurants, shops). Making changes or even booking FP+s was time consuming - error messages, server busy, system slow, preference groupings are ridiculous, no ability to park hop, limited to 3 per day.
Too much like work. On vacation I want to be "UNPLUGGED" from the rest of the world, not attached to some tech toy. No fun, no magic, no return visit for a long while since I paid a lot of money for the trip. HUGELY disappointed.
Pros:
Concept goodCons:
Not for park hoppers, restrictive, cumbersomeReview of Caribbean Beach Resort (Moderate Resort)
Reviewed by TruckDriverMickey Review Date: 01/29/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
Just read the newsletter about the Caribbean and thought I'd do a quick-y review mostly to give everyone a "heads-up" regarding booking. We had an unexpected chance to drop by the world last Sept. and made a last minute call for reservations. As we spend most of our time in the parks, downtown, and hanging out at the up-scale resorts and only sleep in the room we usually stay at the All-Stars, Pop Century, or Animation. I gave the cast member our dates and chatted a bit about our many visits over the years, he asked if we had ever stayed at the Caribbean and told him we had years ago when the kids were little. Here's the thing.. He said the Caribbean just popped up on his screen for the dates we wanted for the same price as Pop C. But, we had to move quickly as it may disappear (off his screen). Naturally we went for it and had a great stay at a great rate. Didn't think these things still happened. The last time was a special post card with PIN. Thanks Mr. Mouse...
Pros:
Great theming, large but quiet.Cons:
nothing..Review of Boulangerie Patisserie les Halles
Reviewed by jenniemouse Review Date: 01/28/2014
Rating: (7) Recommended
Sandwiches were very good. Confusing order when on dining plan but you get a yummy dessert. Crème brule was super good. Took our food outside and sat.
Pros:
foodCons:
linesReview of Akershus Royal Banquet Hall - Breakfast
Reviewed by jenniemouse Review Date: 01/28/2014
Rating: (8) Recommended
Loved seeing all princesses but missed some when we were at buffet and in bathroom but waitress made sure they came back. Food was good. Loved the potato casserole! Enjoyed it.
