Most Recent Reviews
Reviewed by MouseDaddy Review Date: 01/04/2014
Rating: (8) Recommended
We stayed here for 5 nights just prior to Thanksgiving, 11/22-11/27. Myself, DW, twin 12 yo DD & DS and both grandmas shared a 2 bedroom villa at Congress Park. Room was awesome...clean, great theming, with plenty of space for all. View of Downtown Disney, Characters in Flight, Cirque etc.
Bit of a hike from our room to the Artist's Palette or High Rock Spring pool... it's a really large resort that takes up a huge amount of acreage. But a pleasant stretch of the legs in nice weather and we had a car so I'd drive over to pick up coffee & danish on more inclement mornings. And hey, it's Disney, so how bad can it be to have to walk around a little?
The pool area is impressive with a nice bar area and the arcade right there. Lots of activities around the resort and we participated in a few poolside games and had a great time at the nightly marshmallow roast/smores campfire.
While we loved Artist's Palette and ate several meals there, a bit disappointing that AP & The Turf Club are the only dining options on property. Especially with a resort of this size and the TC's restricted hours it would seem another casual sit down/counter option or two might be appropriate.
We really enjoyed the equestrian theming of this resort and found it to be very relaxed & restful. We've stayed previously at GF and our fav the Beach Club and found Saratoga to compare favorably. Great attention to detail as with all WDW resorts.
Circumstances dictated we drive to the parks so can't comment on resort bus transportation. The pedestrian walkway/boat dock near our building was closed due to the construction on the new Disney Springs so we had to grab a boat from the dock near the golf course. We did use the boats several times over our stay and encountered no issues.
Overall it was a great trip and all agreed it was a very nice resort that we'd be happy to stay at again.
Pros:
Proximity to Downtown DisneyCons:
Large resortReview of Disney Dining Plan
Reviewed by MeIAm Review Date: 01/04/2014
Rating: (4) Not Recommended
I think the DDP could work well for people staying in hotel rooms where they have to buy all their meals in the restaurants, however, if you will be eating breakfasts in your room and some meals off grounds, or you brought some meal items with you then the Plan would not work out for you financially.
We were at Disney checking in after dinner on a Friday and out on Mon. Cost would be $351 for 3 nights for 2 adults. We ate on property, brought cereal, bought milk on property and spent about $125 on the food we wanted to get.
We didn't gain any weight this trip because we didn't overeat, which can be a concern when you've already paid for two desserts a day, and buy the most expensive items because you want to get your money's worth out of the Plan.
I have tried to make the numbers work for us but just can't. Making ADRs can be a pain but need to be done and then you are tied to them.
I would recommend, if price is a concern, to check menus and see if it works for you. The convenience may be worth whatever the price.
Pros:
ease if in a hotel roomCons:
cost, cost, planning ahead, costReviewed by Irishrabbit Review Date: 01/04/2014
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
It has been years since we have eaten at Portobello, so we decided to try it again last month (Dec 2013).
We had ressies for 7pm, but got there about 6:30. Luckily they weren't busy, and were able to seat us early. (tables are way too close together)
We were on the DDP, and ordered the fried calamari & rice balls as appetizers. Both were delicious. The calamari was lightly breaded and cooked to perfection, not chewy at all, and the rice balls were hot & oozing with mozzarella. The marinara sauce was very good too. Unfortunately that was the best part of our meal.
Hubby ordered spaghetti & meatballs, and I ordered the lasagna. Hubby said his was just ok, nothing special. I on the other hand was served a slice of lasagna that was hard (like 3-day leftovers) and was iced cold in the middle. Our server did offer to get me something else, but I was already turned off by the place, and just wanted to get the check and go. The manager came over to apologize, and said there must be a problem with the ovens, and assured me the lasagna was made fresh everyday (although I truly doubt that!). Being we were on the DDP, there was no way to take my meal off, so they took our appetizers off the tab, which we were fine with.
I certainly would not go here again, once I have a bad food experience someplace, that pretty much finishes it for me. I would not recommend Portobello to anybody after my experience.
Pros:
Nice location overlooking the lagoonCons:
foodReviewed by Irishrabbit Review Date: 01/04/2014
Rating: (5) Recommended
First of all, we've stayed at moderates and deluxe resorts at WDW. This past Dec we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge. We especially liked the boat service to the MK and Contemporary resort. As usual, the bus service to get everywhere else was difficult most times.
There were many occasions while waiting for a bus to Downtown Disney, 2 or 3 buses from Epcot or Animal Kingdom would come, and have only a handful of people on them. Even though 20 minutes is the average waiting time, we found 30-35 minutes was the average waiting time at WL. Overcrowded buses are still an issue. I can't believe there hasn't been anybody hurt, especially at night when the buses are packed in so tightly, and buses stopping short because of traffic issues or being cut off. I still believe that each resort should have a direct bus to the Boardwalk after 6 pm to help with people going there for dining reservations. Getting a bus from Boardwalk back to DD to connect back to your resort is now taking up to 2 hours. Come to Disney, enjoy waiting for and riding our buses 3-4 hours a day is what it has turned into. I also believe there should be a para-transit bus with the increased amount of guests using scooters. I am glad that the parks and DD have made lining up for buses more organized than in the past, and it is no longer a free-for-all getting on buses from those locations. Especially for people patiently waiting, then groups cut in and jump on the buses first. WL shared a few lines with the Grand Floridian, which seemed silly to me. Why not share with the Poly or Contemporary which are much closer and have much less traffic. Getting from your resort to a dinner reservation at another resort, or theme park is becoming a major hassle, not to mention time consuming. Having to allow 2 hours now to get to your desired dining location in time is totally ridiculous!
I know there are many resorts now, but there has to be a better way to better organize the buses to get people to and from their desired destinations quicker than they are now.
Pros:
Boats from WL to MK and Contempory are great!Cons:
Long waits and overcrowded busesReview of Walt Disney World's Magical Express
Reviewed by Irishrabbit Review Date: 01/04/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
The Magical Express works well for us. Very convenient to not have to wait for bags, then deal with rental car agencies. Check in is super easy, and we never wait more than 30 minutes to get on board and be on our way to our resort. This year, we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, and luckily it was the first stop. In past years, we've stayed at POFQ, and it was the last stop. The Cast members are always courteous, and the trip to and from the airport is pleasant. They've changed the tv program that is shown during the ride which was quite informative.
I hope Disney keeps the Magical Express, and it makes getting to and from WDW stress free!
Pros:
Makes getting to WDW a breeze!Cons:
multiple stopsReview of Yachtsman Steakhouse
Reviewed by Irishrabbit Review Date: 01/04/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
Hubby & I have made Yachtmans Steakhouse our "must do" for each of our visits to WDW. As in the past, we made this our dinner spot for the last night of our trip.
Unfortunately this year, I wasn't feeling well most of the day, so I couldn't really enjoy my meal as much as I normally would.
We were thrilled to have our favorite server, Yun, taking care of us again.
We had the Lobster Bisque as an appetizer, and it was delicious. So rich and creamy. Hubby had the New York Strip and I opted for the Filet Mignon. Both were cooked to perfection.
Hubby had Pumpkin Cheesecake for dessert, and said it was wonderful. I had a few bites of the sorbet, which was very good. Yun suggested some herbal tea since I wasn't feeling so good, and it helped to settle my stomach.
I must say, we love this restaurant. The steaks are always delicious, and the dining room is beautiful. The staff is very welcoming, and the service here is top notch. Most especially our fav server Yun who I previously mentioned.
We highly recommend this restaurant, and actually think Yachtmans Steakhouse is so much better than Le Cellier, hands down!
Pros:
Great food and serviceCons:
—Review of House of Blues Restaurant and Bar
Reviewed by Irishrabbit Review Date: 01/04/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
We ate here on 12/13, our first night at WDW. Have eaten here before, but wanted to try the new menu. Our ressies were 8:15, and we only waited a few minutes before we were shown to our table.
We had spinach dip for an appetizer, which was very good. Instead of thin tortilla chips it came with a thicker cracker kind of chip. I really thought this was much better than a thin chip, really held up well without breaking. Both hubby and I decided on the Lobster Mac & Cheese. Boy, this was super yummy! Very cheesy, ooey and gooey and they didn't skimp on lobster either! I also liked that they used a bigger pasta, not the typical elbow macaroni. Our server kept refilling our iced teas without having to be asked, and the manager on duty stopped by to make sure we were happy with our meals. The only thing we were surprised about is there is no beer on tap, only bottles. No big deal though.
We very much enjoyed our meal here. Love the music playing too, such a fun atmosphere!
Pros:
Great food, fun atmosphereCons:
No beer on tapReview of Wilderness Lodge (Deluxe Resort)
Reviewed by Irishrabbit Review Date: 01/04/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
Hubby & I stayed at the WL 12/13-12/20. We'd stayed here years ago, but this trip was my 50th Birthday trip from hubby.
We used the Magical Express from the airport, and were greeted by a cast member as soon as we got off the bus. Check in was fairly quick. There were magic bands waiting for us even though we didn't opt to take them. We're old fashioned when it comes to those, would much rather have the card. We opted for a "woods view" room, and were assigned a room on the 6th floor overlooking a few trees, but with major views of the parking lot & bus loading area. The room was very old looking, and not what I was expecting for this special trip. We called the front desk, and were told there wasn't much available that night, but they would have the manager call us. The front end manager (Jackson?) called us & asked if we could stay in this room that night, and the next day he could get us into a room "more appropriate for a birthday celebration". The next morning we had bell services bring our luggage downstairs to be stored, and our important stuff was locked in a safe by the front desk. Because we had breakfast reservations at the Kona Café and things were taking longer than expected, the cast member had a taxi take us over to the Poly on them so we could make our reservation. We got back to the resort around 4, and went to the front desk to get our new room keys. We were assigned room #4169, which turned out to be a concierge suite overlooking Bay Lake! Needless to say, this room was incredible, amazing views, totally worthy of a 50th Birthday trip! This room seemed to have been updated, and was very comfortable. Our Mousekeeper Qun kept our room spotless, and made us little animals out of small towels to go along with the stuffed characters we had purchased!
The dining options at WL are very good, having both a quick service, casual and fine dining spot.
The lobby was decorated beautifully for Christmas too. WL has a nice shop, much larger than I remembered, with a nice selection of merchandise, including resort themed items.
The bus service at WL seemed to be a bit better than last year when we stayed at POFQ. We did wait about 30 minutes for buses, and twice waited 40 minutes on nights we needed to make connections to get to dinner reservations. The boat from WL to MK & Contemporary was very pleasant. I do recommend this beautiful resort, it made for an incredible birthday present for me, but it is a bit pricey.
Pros:
Great location, good on-site restaurantsCons:
Rooms are a bit old, need some updatingReviewed by WarEagleAuburn Review Date: 01/03/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
The Wilderness Lodge is our home resort and we are so happy it is. The lodge is absolutely stunning. We usually reserve a two bedroom villa and it is quite comfortable for a week long stay. I especially like two bathrooms for our family. We love the convenience of having both boats and buses for our transportation. If you aren't able to stay at this resort you should at least try to visit just to see the lobby.
Pros:
Beautiful lodge!Cons:
NoneReview of Garden Grocer
Reviewed by WarEagleAuburn Review Date: 01/03/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
We always use Garden Grocer for our trips to Disney. It is such a great service to get things like gallons of milk, water (both bottled and gallons since the water at Disney is yucky), OJ, bagels, etc. The price is higher than our local grocery store, but the convenience is worth it, and you end up paying less than you would have if you bought all this stuff from the hotel store. I love how they let you know it was delivered and even if you aren't there Disney will put it in freezer/refrigerator until you get into your room. Never had a single problem.
