Most Recent Reviews
Review of Garden Grocer
Reviewed by bellebookworm9 Review Date: 07/25/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
We stayed in a suite at Art of Animation, so wanted to have some breakfasts and snacks in the room. I ordered these items from Garden Grocer (cereal, milk, coffee & creamer, juice, crackers, spreads) plus two cases of water. The total was about $100. While I think I could have saved some money had I gone to WalMart, the convenience was worth it. I asked for my order to be delivered between 11am and 1pm. Shortly after 11 I got a call that the delivery was at the resort. When we got to our room around 1pm, the groceries were already there and the cold items in the fridge!
Pros:
On time delivery, easy and convenientCons:
More expensive than say, WalMartReview of San Angel Inn Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by ndgaspar Review Date: 07/25/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
I've eaten at SAI on a number of occasions, both as part of a party of two and as a solo diner. I love the theming of the restaurant (and the whole pavilion) and have never been bothered by the low lighting. Service has always been excellent as well. There are usually 2 people with an eye on the table, providing refills and clearing dishes as needed. Dishes are always served promptly, but I have never been rushed along.
I've never been disappointed with my meal. The Carne Asada is my go-to dish here, as I like the variety on the plate. That being said, I miss the "old" menu. The Filete Montuleno was out of this world, as was the Capirotada de Chocolate Blanco (white chocolate bread pudding). I find the new dessert menu, in particular, to be a little disappointing.
The only downsides I've experienced are, as many others have noted, the proximity of the tables to each other. It's not uncommon to bump someone or have to squeeze between tables when you're leaving, which is a bit awkward in general, never mind when someone is in the middle of their meal. Also, it can get a bit loud. The best way to avoid this is to eat at non-peak times, but the pavilion itself gets very crowded if it rains and the volume increases then too.
I've recommended SAI to a number of people and some were glad to have at least tried it, while it has become a regular haunt for others.
Pros:
Servce, Theming, FoodCons:
Close Tables, Noise LevelReview of Grand Floridian Cafe Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by jmsz2006 Review Date: 07/24/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
We ended up having dinner one night at the Grand Floridian Cafe after canceling dinner reservations at 1900 Park Fare. We just got tired of paying $40.00 per person for a meal.
What a "happy accident"! We have never eaten here before and upon walking in was greeted immediately by a hostess. We were seated within minutes of our reservation. The atmosphere is great and we sat by the window and the view was beautiful! The wait staff was very attentive and the food was GREAT! I got the pork chop and my husband got the coffee encrusted steak. Both were delicious! My DD got a pasta dish which she loved and my DS got the lobster burger which he couldn't stop raving about.
Bottom line - LOVED this place , the prices were reasonable and the food was FANTASTIC. From now on this is one of our must due places to dine!
Pros:
atmosphere,wait staff, foodCons:
noneReviewed by yankeenative Review Date: 07/24/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
We've stayed @ many WDW resorts including Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge Villas, Saratoga Springs, Carribean Beach, Boardwalk, Pop Century and from Jul 12-19 2013 @ POFQ. We were in building 5, 3rd floor with a river view. This was my favorite resort of all. Everything was close to our building .. the pool, the laundry, a 3 or 4 minute walk to the eatery and gift shop and about a 5 or 6 minute walk to the bus depot area. I love the size of the resort, not too big and not too crowded.
My only complaint is the eatery and the repetitious meals each day, since we ate our evening meals at the resort. They may have changed a vegetable or two but never the meat items. We had pizza one evening which I thought was too much bread and too little sauce/cheese. The only food I really enjoyed at the eatery was the beignets!! They really do need more variety and some healthier choices.
We took the boat to DD twice with less than a 5 minute wait at the boat dock.
As for buses, when we traveled to Hollywood Studios (early day about 7:15 am) and Magic Kingdom (early day @ 7:15 am), the bus picked us up at POFQ and drove directly to those parks .. no Riverside stops.
Returning from HS, POFQ + POR were a combined bus stop. The driver stopped @ POFQ first on the return trip from HS.
From the MK, there were separate buses for the 2 resorts.
For Animal Kingdom, we were picked up first; however the driver went to all 4 stops in Riverside too. The return trip from AK is 1 bus serving both resorts. We stopped at the water park to pick up nice dripping wet riders who were standing in the pouring rain, then the driver proceeded to POFQ first, followed by Riverside.
We took the monorail to Epcot from the Contemporary after Chef Mickey's breakfast, so we never actually rode the bus to Epcot from the resort. Coming back from Epcot, the bus stop was combined tho, stopping at POFQ first.
Buses were usually at the bus depot for POFQ within 5 - 15 minutes of our arrival there.
Overall, it's a great resort and the kids always enjoyed the greeter holding the door for everyone while chatting with them.
Pros:
Great resort .. just the right sizeCons:
The EateryReview of Pirates League at Magic Kingdom
Reviewed by vickie1016 Review Date: 07/23/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
DD(7) was transformed into a Pirate Princess last week at Pirates League. We purchased a costume from home, so when we arrived a changing room was available for us to use. First she was given her "Pirate Name", then the transformation began. Our CM Jason was very in character and the makeup took about 25 minutes. Once our Pirate Princess was finished with her make-up, she took the Pirate Oath and received her sword, Then off to the secret room. The whole process took about 45 minutes. Being I had PhotoPass + the picture package was included & added to my card.
My only negative is that I would like to see a PhotoPass photographer inside while the "transformation" is taking place (like BBB).
Pros:
MagicalCons:
No photopass inside the main roomReviewed by DisneyJen Review Date: 09/18/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
We stayed at Kidani Village 8/27-9/1 before transferring to Beach Club for 2 nights. This was our second stay at Kidani, we also stayed one time at Jambo house. We absolutely love Kidani for many reasons. First, we love the welcoming atmosphere; there is always staff at the front door to welcome you "home" and the service is always top notch from everyone at the resort. We lucked out on both trips and were given rooms in the 7000 block of rooms, just down the hall from the lobby and bus stops. The view was great and the location really cut down our walking at the resort. Having animals roaming around right outside your room is an experience like no other, and I'm thrilled to have these memories with my son. Another highlight of this resort is the pool area, we spent every afternoon at the pool to relax and reenergize for the evening. We have no problem with the buses or the bus rides (as other people mention a lot), but this may be because we go during off peak seasons. I also must mention that laundry at this resort is free, which is awesome!
The only real problem I have with the resort is the lack of quick service restaurant. The walk over to the Mara is no big deal (there is also a van that goes back and forth), but if you are tired or you have hungry children, you need to be able to grab food quickly. I also mentioned the arcade as a negative just because we think it's too small. BUT they do have community hall with free games, movies, and lots of activities to do which is awesome.
You can NOT go wrong with a stay at Kidani!
Pros:
Warm atmosphere, Animals, Pool area, Fitness centerCons:
lack of quick service options, small arcadeReview of Behind the Seeds - Epcot
Reviewed by vickie1016 Review Date: 07/23/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
DH, DD (7) & I took this tour last week. Within our group were two other families with children all about the same age. This was very educational & DD loved it. Tour was about 1 hour long, the kids got to release ladybugs, taste cucumbers & guess different types of spices by smelling them. Loved that you can get up close to the plants & see how they grow, especially the tomato "tree".
Pros:
educationalCons:
—Review of Chef Mickey's Breakfast
Reviewed by mawdryn Review Date: 07/23/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
I have eaten at Chef Mickeys with my family for breakfast and dinner on many occasions, the last being for breakfast on July 2nd. There were positives and negatives to the dining experience.
My party of 6 waited about 20 minutes after our 11 am reservation time. No big deal, we weren't in any hurry.
We were seated at a table next to the window, facing the Magic Kingdom ( in the very back of the restaurant). The location was perfect. Unfortunately, the restaurant was filthy. I have never seen so much food all over the floor. The staff really should have done a better job with keeping things clean. The chairs were sticky and the table we were seated at wasn't wiped down properly.
The buffet was plentiful and was constantly being replenished. Everything we chose to eat tasted good. The hot items were hot and the cold items were chilled. The Mickey waffles were soooo yummy, as was the breakfast pizza.
The charaters were as awesome as ever. They spent a great deal of time with my kids (13, 13, 17 and 21). Our pictures are priceless!!!
The waitress surprised me and my husband with a cupcake to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary. That was a nice touch.
I really wanted to give Chef Mickeys a 10. I just couldn't get over how dirty it was.
Pros:
Characters and FoodCons:
DirtyReview of Tusker House Lunch and Dinner Buffet
Reviewed by allearsfan Review Date: 07/23/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
I ate lunch at Tusker House last week. This meal was fantastic! I loved the fresh fruit, the vegetarian and African-inspired dishes, and the salmon. I was brave enough to try the seafood mix (I don't normally try anything with mussel shells in it) and it was fantastic! Both kinds of couscous dishes were great. Oh, and the samosas with the mango chutney! It could just be that we don't normally get to eat anything remotely exotic where I live, but I thought this was one of the best of our trip (tied with Garden Grill) for freshness, variety, and flavor. I didn't even try the carved meat because I was enjoying the variety of foods I can't get at restaurants back home. My daughter, unfortunately, would eat only the mini corn dogs, mac-n-cheese, desserts, and maybe one other thing, so she missed out!
When we first arrived, we got our picture with Donald. I wasn't planning to purchase it (it is way too expensive at $35 or so dollars with no cheaper option), but it turned out great, so I bought it. Then a friendly cast member led us in and oriented us to the place on the way to our table. He was from Italy, so we joked around about how he got all the way to Africa (he pointed out it is just across the Sea from Italy, after all!)
Pros:
charming host, character interaction, FOOD!Cons:
cost of photoReview of Monsieur Paul France - Dinner
Reviewed by BirdsOfPreyDave Review Date: 07/23/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
This was our first visit since the conversion from Bistro de Paris, where we had eaten once before for a F&W special event. We arrived for our 7:15 reservation, and only had to wait a few minutes before being shown upstairs to our table. We were a party of two, and were seated one table away from a window. Our table was a little close to the couple next to us, but all worked out as we had a lovely conversation with them at one point in the evening. (She heard me mention the Tables in Wonderland card to the waiter, and wanted to know what it was.)
I have to admit that I would not have realized the room had been decorated from our last visit if I hadn't read it online. Very classy and tasteful, yet nothing distinctive. I notice in several reviews people discuss paper placemats. Linen tablecloths were in use, last night.
An amuse bouche was presented, with the chef's compliments, while we were reviewing the menu. It was a small cheese puff. The flavor of the cheese was nice, without being overpowering.
I knew we wanted a bottle of wine with dinner, but have to admit to being very intimidated by the wine list. (One mis-step and I'd be out a mortgage payment.) The waiter asked us about our preferences, and suggested a bottle of G. Blanchet Pouilly Fume 2010, a Sauvignon blanc and Chenin blanc in the $50 range. While neither of us fancy ourselves to know anything about wine, we both enjoyed this one.
From the bread bowl, we chose a bacon and mushroom roll and a dried tomato and pesto bread. The tomato and pesto bread certainly lived up to its name, with very bold flavors of each of these ingredients. Its green color and whimsical design also added to the experience. The mushroom and bacon roll, while quite tasty, had a very subtle flavor. I'm not sure I could have discerned the ingredients had I not had them described to me. My Americanized palette found the unsalted butter served with these breads to be too bland. A little crunchy sea salt on top would have made a world of difference for me.
Both of us chose the prix fixe menu without hesitation.
The appetizer, a lightly-cooked piece of salmon, let us know that we were in for a real treat with this meal. I'm usually not a big fan of salmon, but this dish was simply delicious. The salmon wasn't fishy in the slightest. It flaked apart, and had the slightest crunch from the sear that gave it the perfect texture. We weren't able to identify the herb, but a small serving of a pesto-like condiment accompanied the salmon, and really enhanced the flavor. We both enjoyed the crisp cucumber salad, which had a slight hint of dill, and was served inside a little edible cup, which I believe was a hollowed-out roasted potato. This was covered with a blini.
For the next course, I ordered the Maine lobster with sauteed mushrooms, mollet quail egg, and creamy black truffle bouillon. The flavor profile of this dish was exquisite! The lobster (several large pieces that included an entire claw) was sweet and perfectly cooked. The mushrooms and broth screamed with flavor. It was all I could do not to ask for more bread to get every last drop. (Not to worry, I didn’t lose my couth until later in the meal.) My friend ordered the Soupe aux truffes V.G.E., a beef broth with oxtail, vegetables, black winter truffle and covered with a puff pastry. The pastry was huge and absolutely beautiful. It was a shame to have to punch it in with a spoon to get to the soup. This dish, too, had a wonderful flavor. We had a spirited and good-natured argument that the other had ordered the wrong item from the menu. Discrete spoons across the table proved that both were superb.
We both decided on the lamb. While this worked out well for us because it was what we each wanted, I can see that it might be disappointing for other couples that the rib-eye portion is for two. This forces you both to have the same protein for this third course.
I can’t think of descriptive word that would do justice to how wonderful the lamb was. I’ve never had it cooked so perfectly, or with such flavor. There wasn’t even a hint of gaminess. The dish was served as individual ribs which had, of course, been frenched. Each plate had a generous portion size, with four ribs each, and a wonderful little potato and onion dish. The herb crust on the ribs was predominantly mint leaves, and was heavenly with the lamb. (I’ll never go back to mint jelly again when I cook lamb at home.) On the side was a small bowl of beans (fava, perhaps) with ham. This had a hearty flavor from the tomato-based sauce, and a nice crunch of slightly au dente beans. I mentioned earlier that I’d lost my couth at one point during this meal. As much as I was trying to mind my manners in such an upscale restaurant, I couldn’t stop myself from picking up each rib and giving the bone a little gnaw. It was just that good!
Then came dessert. Oh my goodness, how does one decide when there are so many wonderful choices? I finally picked the Le Mille-feuille, a puff pastry filled with pastry cream and topped with a light lemon cream. It was served with fresh berries and strawberry sorbet. When I read the term pastry cream, I was expecting something along the lines of an éclair filling. This had a much different texture and taste. There was nothing about this plate that wasn’t suited for a sugar addict, and the plate that was later picked up was quite cleaned. My friend opted for Le Moelleux. This was a warm chocolate and almond cake with a hazelnut crust. When he cut into it with his fork, a wonderful raspberry coulis ran out from the center to cover the plate. It was accompanied by a quenelle of hazelnut ice cream. His plate was cleaned too, and there were smiles all around.
We left well contented, and were just in time to view Wishes – the perfect way to end such a lovely evening. Our food was indescribably wonderful, the service was spot-on, and although the check is the highest we’ve seen during the entire vacation even with the $49 Tables in Wonderland discount, we felt we got a wonderful value for what we spent.
