Most Recent Reviews
Review of Bay Lake Tower (Disney Vacation Club)
Reviewed by dvcmember1983 Review Date: 06/12/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
I really enjoyed staying here as a Disney Vacation Club member. It is beautiful with easy access to the Magic Kingdom. We loved being able to walk there! It is worth the stay there just for that alone. We hate the Magic Kingdom parking lot.
We stayed in a 2 bedroom lake view villa. My only complaint about our room is that it was smaller than the 2 bedroom theme park view villa that we stayed in a few years before. This villa was laid out much differently than the others we have stayed in.
My issues lied with the staff. When I did my online check in, I stated an arrival time of noon. We left Pennsylvania by car at 9:30 pm the night before our arrival date. When I got there, I expected my room to be semi ready since I stated an arrival time. That was not the case. I explained at check in that we had been awake all night and needed a place to sleep. Still no room. At 3:00 after walking around the resort and the monorail extremely exhausted, we walked back to check on the status of our room..still not ready! Finally at 3:30, I checked again..still not ready. At this time, I found a manager. I explained my displeasure of being awake for over 24 hours and after explaining to 3 cast members our situation we still had no room to rest. He found 3 maids to clean our room and get us in to rest. If I had not gone to the manager, I would have still been waiting. This is not the first case of this happening to us at a Disney Vacation Club resort. As a member, I still expect the same level of service that a paying guest would and I did not feel we got that. My other staff issue was on the day we left we called for bell services. I had a large amount of bags and was willing to tip accordingly. The bell lady was rude from the moment she arrived at our door. Acted like it was an inconvenience for her to be handling our luggage..needless to say she didn't get a tip at all. I don't tip for service like that.
Other than those 2 issues, everything was wonderful. We really enjoyed the pool area. I would stay here again!
Pros:
Clean, convenient to the Magic Kingdom,Cons:
Some staffReview of Garden Grocer
Reviewed by dvcmember1983 Review Date: 06/12/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa, so we needed groceries for some of our meals. It was very convenient. When I showed up to the resort my order was there waiting. I got a text message and a phone call before I even got there telling me that my order was waiting for me at the resort. I think I actually may have gotten more than what I paid for. I had more milk and bananas than what I could use and I know I didn't order that much. The only downfall is the food prices and the delivery fee is more than your average grocery store, but for the convenience of it we were willing to over look that.
Pros:
ConvenientCons:
ExpensiveReview of Art of Animation Resort (Value Resort)
Reviewed by nemo265 Review Date: 06/11/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
We stayed in AOA resort in the Little Mermaid Section,Bldg 8 for June 5-10. The walk to the food court wasn't as bad as people claim. It only took us about 8 minutes from our room which was a few rooms away from the Ariel statue and we are not the fastest walkers. We loved the large icons of all the movies,especially our section and the Cars section which we walked to so we can check it out.
The cast members were great and were dancing the chicken dance in the lobby, my daughter had fun when she joined in. Housekeeping did a great job although once they forgot wash clothes but when I called they sent over a big bag of them with extra towels.
My only complaint was the on the back side of the privacy curtain there was an ugly stain of some kind but we ignored it and eventually forgot about it during out stay.
Landscape of Flavors was not what we expected and the food could of been much better but was ok for a quick bite to eat. I would stay here again but wasn't happy with how Disney excluded this section of this resort from their 30% off promotion for the rest of the resorts for this time that we went.
The pools are nice and you can even hear music under water at the main finding nemo pool.Also the resort has wonderful statues of the characters that give you a unique Disney experience.
Pros:
Fun resort!Cons:
Landscape of Flavors was not what I expectedReview of Flame Tree Barbecue
Reviewed by elkhunter1 Review Date: 06/11/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
Our family loves Flame Tree-this is our favorite place in all of WDW for a Q/S meal.Our chicken and rib meals were moist and tasty once again-and now my wife and daughter enjoy baked beans too!Sat so we could view Expedition Everest(in the shade too.)for a great view while we were eating-very nice.No egrets this trip either(last trip one stole a man's burger when he got up to take a picture.)!Would definitely recommend this place if you are at Animal Kingdom.
Pros:
Food QualityCons:
—Review of Disney's Yacht Club Concierge Level
Reviewed by hello12345 Review Date: 06/11/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
We had reservations for a standard room for 2 days in early June. Checked in around 12:45pm and we were upgraded to Club level. Not sure why, but with the amount of money we have spent at Disney over past 5 years I didn't feel bad about it. For breakfast they had juice, danishes, fresh fruit, cereal, and bagels. For dinner they had light finger foods (Couldn't really make a meal out of it). Beer selection was pretty good; Bud Light, Sam Adams, Heinekin, and Yuengling. Only complaint was beer was slightly warm. I don't think they kept it chilled prior to putting it in fridge. Desserts were limited. Liqueur selection was limited to a few different types of brandy and kahlua. Not a bad spread if you spend a lot of time at resort. Park commandos would probably not benefit from club level. I would consider club level in the future if I was using a passholder discount, but I would not pay full price for this benefit. Staff was extremely friendly.
Pros:
Friendly StaffCons:
Beer not cold enoughReview of Le Cellier Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by OneLtlSpark Review Date: 06/10/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
For years, I have passed up Le Cellier in favor of other Disney restaurants. Being from Chicago, I didn't see the point of going to Epcot just to eat steak for dinner when it is so readily available at home. However, after lingering at the Canada booth at the Food & Wine Festival year after year and loving our samples there, I finally decided to make a reservation for my recent "girls only" vacation. I am so glad I did, and fully intend on making another reservation for my husband and I this fall!
The Cheddar Cheese Soup is simply delicious. It's creamy, tangy, and subtly smokey. If I could have, I would have brought a gallon home with me.
My entree, the Mushroom Fillet Mignon with Risotto, was perfectly cooked to medium and served with a rich truffle butter sauce. It was super decadent and wonderful. The risotto was also very well done - the rice had just the right texture and was a great complement to the butter and mushroom sauce.
Because I heard so much about them, I couldn't resist ordering the Poutine Fries. Wow. Just wow. Several cheeses are melted in with the fries, a blend (I'm guessing here) of a sharp cheddar and possibly a gorgonzola. Then there's the red wine reduction that is poured on top. It's a rich and strongly flavored sauce that is almost gravy-like, and it tempers the intense cheese flavor perfectly. I can see how this dish might be overwhelming, especially if you're not a fan of strong cheeses, but I will go back to it again and again because I loved how decadent it was.
Sadly, dessert was just not an option after such a lavish meal. I hope to try it on my next visit.
Service at the restaurant was good, but not exceptional. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and wines and she served us promptly, but did not engage us in any other way. The tables in the whole restaurant are also very close to each other, so privacy is limited here.
Overall, however, Le Cellier provided us girls a great meal, and I'm only sorry I waited so long to give it a try.
Pros:
Great menu and foodCons:
Cramped dining areaReview of Be Our Guest Dinner
Reviewed by OneLtlSpark Review Date: 06/10/2013
Rating: (7) Recommended
My sister and I dined here last week as part of her birthday celebration and had a lovely experience.
We were seated within 15 minutes of our 6:30 ADR and had the good fortune to be located in the West Wing. The atmosphere of the entire restaurant is stunning, but the West Wing offers a smaller, more intimate space with darker lighting and the magical rose under glass. Thunder and lightning will crackle every so often, adding the the overall mysterious ambiance.
Our server was charming, helpful with wine pairings, and very prompt. We started with the Assorted Cured Meats and Sausages tray. It included three cured meats, two different kinds of sausage, and two exceptional pate varieties, along with plenty of toasted baguette. The pates were the highlight of the tray - both were unique and flavorful - but we really enjoyed everything offered in this appetizer.
Our entrees included the Cornish Hen and the Sauteed Shrimp & Scallops. The Cornish hen was the standout. It was roasted to perfection, juicy, and lightly scented with fennel. The Shrimp & Scallops were good, but underwhelming. The sauce flavor wasn't fully developed, and the two scallops were just slightly over cooked. I suspect this was just the result of a very rushed and busy kitchen.
Our server recognized my sister's birthday and presented her with a birthday candle in the "grey stuff" and a card signed by Belle and The Beast, as well as himself (a gesture we thought was quite nice and personal). The dessert cart is wonderful! We loved being able to see our options and be served immediately. The triple chocolate cupcake was divine.
The Beast made the rounds through the restaurant and was available to greet us in his study after the meal. Having The Beast as a presence in the restaurant makes for a far more immersive experience - you really do get the impression you're his "guest."
I'll dine here again just for the experience of it. Everything is just gorgeous and straight out of the movie. I can't think of a better addition to the Magic Kingdom.
Two things to note: The waiting area is reserved exclusively for people with reservations, and it is very small without seating. There's not much to look at here, so people tend to crowd around the front to get a better look at the dining area. This is understandable, but does make for awkward dining if you're seated too close to the entry.
Similarly, in the West Wing, people crowd around the magic rose for pictures and some are not so polite about moving around diners. I saw many bump into tables and jostle glasses. I hope that as excitement over this restaurant settles down that more privacy will be offered to diners in these areas.
Pros:
AtmosphereCons:
crowdingReview of Beach Club Villas (Disney Vacation Club)
Reviewed by jake Review Date: 06/10/2013
Rating: (7) Recommended
The Beach Club Villas are outdated-but that did not detract from our stay. The walk to the room from the lobby was extreme- I would rather see an additional floor than the lengthy hallways.
Pros:
proximity to Epcot and Hollywood StudiosCons:
Outdated furnishings and distance from lobbyReview of Adult Only Pool Areas
Reviewed by dailey71 Review Date: 06/09/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
I enjoyed the hot tubs in the adult area since the hot tub in the family area would get filled up with kids splashing around. I love that the hot tubs have clear bottoms to see down the side of the ship. I also loved the cozy lounge chairs in the adult area. They do fill up fast each day. The adult areas are nice to escape the noise of the kids pools. One area that's not really an adult area, but comes close, is the Fuddle Puddle on the opposite side of the Funnelvision. It's a wading pool, gets great afternoon sun, but doesn't really attract kids since there's no loud music or movie screens. It has a small stage where a musician plays a guitar and sings after 5pm. Because it's not the adult pool which has a bar next to it, it tends to be quiet but still kid-free a majority of the time. I took my 12-yr-old daughter there with me a couple of times when we wanted to sit in the wading pool and sunbathe.
Pros:
No kidsCons:
—Review of The District
Reviewed by dailey71 Review Date: 06/09/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
I made a point of spending time in Europa on the Fantasy. I went to the Skyline Lounge and did the martini passport. You pre-pay for 7 martinis and get a passport booklet with martini recipes when you're done. It's a good deal since you basically get one drink free. The bartender there is really great and made suggestions to other guests for different drinks. The Skyline has night time views for cities from around the world that change every 12 min. It's a quiet bar to just sit and relax and view the skylines. I also spent time in the Tube which is the London-themed bar. They had magic shows, dance parties, and game shows there. If it got really crowded, you could view it on big screens in the La Piazza bar next door. My husband liked hanging out in O'Gills Pub to watch the NBA and NHL play-off games. La Piazza also has a hot snack bar late at night so that you don't have to leave the bars to grab a bite.
