Most Recent Reviews
Review of Boardwalk Inn (Deluxe Resort)
Reviewed by mom4graceloganford Review Date: 09/24/2013
Rating: (7) Recommended
This is the first review I have ever posted despite over 150 nights staying deluxe. I felt the need to write this review. We have stayed at all deluxe resorts except animal kingdom. We stayed 9/18 through 9/22 and it was our first time at Boardwalk, we had just spent the 5 nights prior at WL.
We stayed in a Deluxe room which gives you club level access and is a larger room with a Sofa bed. We had a great view from our room and balcony. We were right above seashore sweets and could actually watch performers from our balcony (although could not hear them well). I will post comments on the club level on the concierge review forum ( I also had a problem with that specifically room location so if you are considering a deluxe room see there also).
We are Disney resort veterans, I was well aware of the quick service options at this hotel. I did not realize specifically how unhappy with them we would be. First, on arrival day we checked in and wanted lunch. At the same time a huge storm rolled in. There is absolutely no way to get lunch without getting really wet if raining or ordering room service. Even with an umbrella and ponchos you would get soaked trying to get to Boardwalk Bakery as the rain was blowing sideways. Now the new menu at Boardwalk is great, we just couldn't get to it and we did not want to do room service so we waited 2 hours (with 3 hungry kids) for it to improve to send someone out for lunch. Same situation if you want to eat at ESPN or Big River, no internal way to reach food. At YC/BC you can at least get to the marketplace or Captain's Grille.
The Pool Quick Service was very disappointing. Menu looked great and food from Boardwalk bakery so I thought how could we go wrong. We planned to swim and have lunch Saturday. at 2:30 went to order lunch. They were out of 2 of 3 kids meals (only had pb&j left which we can't eat) and were out of the adult turkey sandwich. I asked if they could or would be getting more and they said no (keep in mind they are supposed to be serving food until 8 and it is 2:30). I was willing to wait for them to restock) I was told they would not order anymore, we would have to walk over to Boardwalk to get lunch (with three sopping wet little kids) So we grabbed a bag of chips and left the pool early. This is unacceptable service to me for a Disney Deluxe resort.
My other concern was the condition of the bathroom. This is a very expensive room and when sitting in the bathroom or showering, it felt like a bad motel that needed a rehab. It is tiny, there was what appeared to be mold growing around the doorway and on the ceiling corner and there was exposed caulk and lose fixture covers hanging down from the shower and toilet pipes. Also the shower would not drain because of a very bad clog. So bad that the 5 of us needed to rinse off before dinner and had water to our knees. It would have been impossible for housekeeping to clean the tub without identifying the clog, it should have already been reported to maintenance. it was fixed later that night, but made for a miserable experience trying to get out the door for dinner. We also found the sofa bed to be extremely uncomfortable compared to the sofa beds in the DVC villas. We also had a problem with the thermostat. It was an old model with no numbers on it, and we had to get up a few times during each night to adjust it. We were freezing or hot the entire trip. These are not major complaints, we still had a good time, but I expect more from a Deluxe resort whether it is Disney or not. I have never been disappointed in the other Disney properties.
All in all, the staff is very friendly, the location is great, and if the weather is nice, you have nice food options. Music through hotel was nice. Room was decent but we found ourselves disappointed overall and that it was to difficult to get a quick bite or drink(can't imagine if we had not had access to the club level options.)
Pros:
location viewCons:
quick service and condition of bathroomReview of Surf's Up Mickey and Friends Breakfast
Reviewed by tiggabump Review Date: 09/24/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
This was the best character experience we had the week we were there. We had reservations for 7am right when they opened. Had picture taken with Minnie and Daisy and Mickey. there were 9 of us and the service was wonderful. the food was good and we all enjoyed the smoothies. All the characters came multiple times to our tables and the interaction with the kids was great. The only complaint I have is we would have really liked the picture taken when we came in but no one brought it to our table and couldn't seen to find it.
Pros:
Good food and character interactionCons:
never brought picture around for us to seeReview of Goofy's Kitchen Character Dinner Buffet
Reviewed by tiggabump Review Date: 09/24/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
There were 9 of us for this meal we had reservations for 5 and were seated on time. Goofy was not out front so no picture and my grandson loves goofy. We had great service and the food was really good but only saw Chip & Dale and Minnie no other characters came around. We're very disappointed in this as we had 3 little ones with us.
Pros:
Good foodCons:
Characters did not get around very wellReview of Plaza Inn Minnie and Friends Breakfast
Reviewed by tiggabump Review Date: 09/24/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
We had the Character Breakfast 2x while here for a week 9/17 and 9/19. The food was good and plentiful but when you sit outside you don't get all the characters coming to you. My grandson (21 mo) really enjoyed chip & dale and Tigger but that was all we got to see on both meals. Since this is not an inexpensive breakfast they need a better way to bring the characters around to see everyone. They took a picture when we got there but never brought it around for us to see either time.
Pros:
Good food and character interactionCons:
CrowdedReview of Hungry Bear Restaurant
Reviewed by tiggabump Review Date: 09/24/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
My DH and I had lunch here because we wanted to try the fried green tomato sandwiches. We made the mistake of ordering 2. they are big enough to share. Enjoyed the slaw on the sandwich but not as a side. Would certainly have again but only order 1 and no slaw.
Pros:
Good foodCons:
long linesReview of Award Wieners
Reviewed by tiggabump Review Date: 09/24/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
The last day we were in California Adventure my DD and DN went to Award Weiners for a quick dinner. we all had the chili dogs and they were quite good. Plenty of chili and cheese. The only thing that would have make them better was fresh onions.
Pros:
Good foodCons:
limited menuReview of Corn Dog Wagon
Reviewed by tiggabump Review Date: 09/24/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
My husband only goes to Disneyland for the corn dogs at the little red wagon. He and I had lunch there on 9/17 and enjoyed it very much. the corn dogs were large and fresh and I like the option of getting apple slices instead of potato chips.
Pros:
great corn dogs very largeCons:
long linesReview of Storyteller's Cafe Breakfast
Reviewed by tiggabump Review Date: 09/24/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
We had the character breakfast 2x during our visit 9/16 & 9/20. We had purchased the meal tickets and they saved us quite a bit of $$$. the characters were few but good interaction with kids 10 yrs-7yrs & 21months. The little one loved the characters and they spent a lot of time with him. We enjoyed the buffet as we could pick what we wanted. Coffee and juice kept filled and Mickey waffles brought out hot and fresh as much as we wanted.
Pros:
Good food and character interactionCons:
a bit crowdedReview of Katsura Grill - Japan
Reviewed by AndyE Review Date: 09/24/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
3rd time at this place, a great alternative to fast food, I can't recommend this place enough!!!
Pros:
Location, service, value for moneyCons:
None what so everReview of Grand Californian Hotel
Reviewed by tiggabump Review Date: 09/24/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
We stayed at the Grand Californian from 9/15 to 9/20 we had 3 rooms which were always kept spotless for the rooms with the kids there were towel animals and mousekeeping used their stuffed animals to create scenes. every one was friendly and always said hello or welcome to Disneyland. There were 9 of us 6 adults and 3 children and we had no problems. I rented a EVC and a stroller from offsite and they were waiting at guest services for us. there was a long line for check in but it went quickly. Can't wait to got back for just a girls time
