Most Recent Reviews
Review of Cafe Orleans Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by PixarPixie Review Date: 08/12/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
Overall my daughter and I enjoyed our meal. We hot and tired and arrived about 45 minutes early. It was no problem and we were seated in about 5 minutes.
My daughter ordered the pan-seared salmon with pasta marinara...she loved it and nearly cleaned her plate.
I order the house salad. It was okay. The dressing was cloyingly sweet and didn't taste house made. I ate it anyway and enjoyed the candied nuts very much. When I was down to about five bites left on my plate I found a piece of plastic wrap under the last of my lettuce. I notified the wait staff and the manager promptly came over to apologize and remove the salad from my bill. It really didn't bother me much.
The rest of my meal meal was lovely. I ordered the Vegetable Ragout with Salmon. It was delicious and tasted very fresh. The zucchini and eggplant were cooked separately from the tomato ragout resulting in a nice al dente bite on the veggies. The salmon was cooked med-well but not over done.
For dessert we order the Royal Street Bananas Foster Crepe, they were large enough for two-three people to share...so yummy. We also got the "Mickey" shaped Beignets. There were four or five on the plate and they were huge! So, yes we ordered too much dessert.
I'm hesitant to complain about the speed of service because it was kind of nice not being rushed through our meal.
Did I mention they serve espresso?!
Pros:
Great customer serviceCons:
Food took a while to arriveReview of Boardwalk Villas (Disney Vacation Club)
Reviewed by Peglmt Review Date: 08/11/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
Stayed here on rented points in Sept of '12. We are used to staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge in a Savanna view room so we were worried if we would be happy at the Boardwalk. We worried for nothing we LOVED the Boardwalk Villas! The room had a nice homey feel with plenty of room for my husband and I and we enjoyed having the kitchenette for a quick breakfast. Our room was directly over Wyland Galleries which to the left gave us a view of the boat dock Crescent Lake and the Yacht and Beach Club resorts. Loved having the option to either walk or take a boat to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
As much as we loved the resort it isn't without its flaws. For me the worst was having to share a bus with the Yacht & Beach Club and Swan & Dolphin resorts. For the price people pay to stay at these resorts to be packed onto a bus like cattle is inexcusable.
I have to agree with other posters who noted the lack of a counter service restaurant within the resort as being a con. Yes there are numerous dining choices on the Boardwalk itself but it would be nice to be able to get a quick bite to eat without having to go outside and walk a bit.
For my husband and I the pros of this resort far outweigh the cons and we will be staying here again next year.
Pros:
Location, room size, dining options, kitchenetteCons:
5 resorts sharing 1 bus, size of main pool relative to size of resortReview of Wild Africa Trek - Animal Kingdom
Reviewed by Ebersole2 Review Date: 08/11/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
I have been coming to Disney World since as long as I can remember. I am 33 right now. I told our guides at the end of the Wild Animal Trek, that that excursion was THE best thing I have every done at Disney in my years visiting. The cost is steep, but what one receives is remarkable. The price is worth is for the photos alone. About three weeks after one’s trek, Disney sends you a CD of our journey. My now husband and I have now well-over 100 extra professional pictures of our honeymoon! You leave the trek with a sunglasses holder, buttons (you can wear in the park saying you survived) “green†water canteens, .and thousands of tips on how one can save endangered species. In addition, part of the cost of admission helps an endangered animal which you personally choose at the end of your trip.
The trek itself takes you far into the Animal Kingdom. People on the Kilimanjaro Safari were taking pictures of us! You see things you could never find on one’s own nor receive access to! It is a remarkable, educational adventure. Both of tour guides were certifiable biology majors with goals to work in animal rescue.
It is definitely worth noting that is an extreme trek. You wear a lot of hot gear, and you move quickly and briskly. People with height anxiety may very uncomfortable on the rope ladders, and those not use to walking in rough terrain, may feel discomfort. The most fit and comfortable one is with the outdoors, the better.
Pros:
The price is worth is for the photos aloneCons:
It is definitely worth noting that is an extreme trek., may make person scared of heightsReview of Tusker House Character Breakfast
Reviewed by Ebersole2 Review Date: 08/11/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
Tusker House was our 4th Character Breakfast. We ate here before boarding the Animal Kingdom’s Wild Animal Trek which is close by. The large breakfast bar is the perfect start to tacking Disney’s Animal Kingdom which feels like the land with the most walking. The Animal Kingdom continues to impress me for it really feels the most authentic as far as décor is concerned. Photo opportunities abound in this restaurant. There is a substantial amount of African inspired dishes on the breakfast bar. Many were a bit too unique for my taste, but sampling was fun. I would say this was the least children friendly buffet as far as food goes. Seriously, character meals are for adults too!
Pros:
Photo opportunities abound in this restaurantCons:
some of the buffet food was too exoticReview of Spirit of Aloha Dinner
Reviewed by Ebersole2 Review Date: 08/11/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
We attended this dinner show the last night at the park. It was a great distraction to the woes were had that we had to leave! Ha! Book this show for one reason and two words: FIRE DANCER. Enough said. : )
Pros:
fire dancer, in show, fun, romantic time for couplesCons:
noneReview of Restaurant Marrakesh - Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by Ebersole2 Review Date: 08/11/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
As honeymooners, we wanted our dining experiences to be quiet, romantic, and exotic. Marrakesh delivered. The cuisine was delicious. We were not sure what to expect, but immediately sought out Moroccan restaurants when we returned to Michigan because we were so inspired. There were not many kids in the place due to the formal atmosphere and spiced cuisine. There is not dress code, but it seems one should dress up when dining here. Highly recommended for a romantic evening out. Try the mint tea- delicious and refreshing on hot Disney nights.
Pros:
quiet, romantic, and exotic, the mint teaCons:
noneReview of Coral Reef - Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by Ebersole2 Review Date: 08/11/2013
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
Disappointment and Disney rarely go in the same sentence, but when it comes to the Coral Reef, I must put the two together. My family had visited this restaurant for years when it used to be the Living Seas. I remember butter in the shape of Mickey, walking around and viewing the tanks, and my parents grinning over how delicious the food was. I knew the restaurant had undergone a name change and potentially new management, and I read the mediocre reviews online, but my husband and I are seafood lovers, and a seafood restaurant just sounds fresh and inviting after a long day in the Animal Kingdom. We were very disappointed. At this point, we were used to be seating in nice places –near windows, in plush booths, etc… because we were honeymooning. We were spoiled with free desserts or at least greetings of congratulations. We were seating very far back not close to the tanks, in a seemingly empty restaurant. The menu was lack luster and spare – one sided. The seafood was just ok. All the whimsical elements I remember from childhood were gone. The restaurant felt dated and neglected. We will not be going back.
Pros:
not many, disappointingCons:
poor menu selection, weak serviceReview of Biergarten - Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by Ebersole2 Review Date: 08/11/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
It is true that at some restaurants even with a reservation one must wait. We encountered this at the Biergarten where we did have to wait 40 minutes beyond our 8pm reservation. However, the experience was worth it. The food was delicious and the wait staff was tremendously friendly. It is worth noting that the tables are community-oriented so you do sit with perfect strangers. We were honeymooning, and I don’t know if this was more Disney magic, but our waitress Did sit us with two other celebrating couples so our table was all the more joyful and friendly. We were all celebrating successful marriage and that was special. Make sure you also tell someone or note on your reservation you are celebrating!
Pros:
great service, special attention to us celebratingCons:
over 40 minute long wait beyond our booked reservation timeReview of Chefs de France - Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by Ebersole2 Review Date: 08/11/2013
Rating: (3) Not Recommended
My honeymooning husband and I booked Les Chef de Paris because we are famous of Pixar and Remy, the rat. It is cute taking pictures with animatronic Remy, but the restaurant had a very touristy, faux French feel. We felt that Paris was the least authentic Epcot World, and would really not recommend this restaurant.
Pros:
cute photo optsCons:
faux, underwhelming French entreesReview of Akershus Royal Banquet Hall - Breakfast
Reviewed by Ebersole2 Review Date: 08/11/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
For the parents that want their children to meet the princesses, this seems to be a less stressful situation than Cinderella’s Table. It was a pretty easy reservation to book less than 90 days out. All the princesses are there, and one’s picture is taken with Belle. The girls don’t spend much time at each table, but they are all sweetly in character. Ariel asked me, “And how did you meet your handsome, brave sailor†referring to my new husband. As honeymooners, we booked, Akershus for what was billed and Nordic cuisine. They had much of it, in addition to normal, American Fare, and it was a very tasty breakfast
