Most Recent Reviews
Reviewed by quintenglish Review Date: 01/07/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
I've visited Disney World countless times as this is by far my favourite place to stay. The staff here are friendlier than anywhere else I've been, the area is gorgeous and the facilities are great. Of all the Disney resorts, this is probably the best value for money you will find.
This place is huge though - everything is very spread out, but I don't think this is a bad thing. After all, who wants to be crammed in like sardines?
The only downside is that it feels a little remote in relation to the parks, so unless you have your own car, you will be very dependent on the shuttle buses.
However, Downtown Disney is very accessible by footpath, which can be a near-perfect evening stroll if you can summon the energy.
I would absolutely recommend this hotel 100%. It's far from the most expensive Disney resort, but it's among the best.
Pros:
Quiet, beautiful, fantastically welcomingCons:
A bit far from the parksReview of House of Blues Restaurant and Bar
Reviewed by slapps Review Date: 01/08/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
We have wanted to do the Gospel Sunday Brunch for quite some time. We travel from upstate New York every year with our friends for our annual Disney Christmas vacation. This year we were in luck and would be at Disney on December 30th, 2012. When we arrived it was a cold day for the Orlando area. We were allowed to wait inside for the show to start.When we were allowed in the brunch was ready and we were seated in the pit (we requested this area). The food was great and the show was even better. The buffet was massive and all the food was hot and good. If you want to check out the menu just look at the House of Blues Orlando web. The entertainment was just fantastic, we had a preacher that kept the theme up-beat and fun. If you are looking for a change of pace from the parks, I highly recommend this show.
Pros:
Great brunch and entertainment.Cons:
Not much of anythingReview of Sci-Fi Dine-in Theatre Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by slapps Review Date: 01/08/2013
Rating: (4) Not Recommended
My wife and I ate here on our vacation on January 2nd, 2013. We did not have any reservations but, the hostess told us we could be seated in about 20 minutes. We were seated in about 15 minutes, this was a very pleasant surprise. We sat in the back seat of one of the drive-in cars. We had nice seats and could see the screen. We loved the movie and commercials they were a hoot. Our waitress was very attentive and quick to take our order. I ordered the PICNIC BURGER, it was terrible, by far the worst meal I have ever had at Disney. My burger portion of the sandwich was greasy and tasted like lighter fluid. Maybe it was just my sandwich. My wife had a burger that was just O.K., I was very disappointed and will never return to this restaurant again. I just hope this was a one time thing and there are items on the menu that are worth the cost. I gave this a four because I really liked the movie.
Pros:
The movie'sCons:
Terrible foodReview of Sanaa Lunch/Dinner - Kidani Village
Reviewed by Momrph11 Review Date: 01/09/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
Just had dinner here tonight and had a wonderful evening. Our waiter, Jim, took the time to describe some of the dishes ( he didn't know that we were New Yorkers who eat out often and enjoy Indian food) and even brought us a little of the lamb vindaloo to try when my husband commented that vindaloos were usually quite hot so we could see if our palate could handle it ( we do usually avoid the vindaloos as TOO hot). It was hot but manageable for our palates so we got the slow cooked lamb vindaloo with the butter chicken and the short ribs with the Durban shrimp and split all 4 between us. When we mentioned that the bread service of 5 breads was just too much bread, he offered us the lunch service of 3 with 3 sauces instead. The Durban shrimp was even hotter than the lamb, but we loved it anyway and I asked for recipes for all 4 which they did not have, but Jim brought me what recipes he could find. Then he had Chef Tricia come out to talk with us to describe how they make the short ribs! What a delightful person! We talked for several minutes not only about the short ribs but about how she snuck oatmeal into other dishes at home to increase her own consumption of it and how they were going to tweak the Sanaa menu this spring! After she was called away to speak to another table, the manager Stephanie came over to ask if things were ok! All in all a truly wonderful and memorable meal! We are looking forward to going back with our children this summer.
Pros:
The food, the staffCons:
NoneReview of Backstage Magic - 3 Park Tour
Reviewed by Jt3456 Review Date: 01/09/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
Coming to Disney World for the very first time, we decided we also wanted to include a look behind the scene. We think it was very much worth the tour to see how the magic worked.
Our tour guides, Walt from Disney and Rob from deep, deep, Deep South took us around throughout the Disney World Resort.
Starting at Epcot, we visited the American Adventure Pavilion in the World Showcase. They explained how they used forced perspective to shape the guest experience throughout the park (the pavilion is actually a five story structure but it visually appears to be a three story one), how the culture is engrained in all the cast members again to shape the guest experience and that the decisions on why Disney decides to do things or not (e.g. To spend more money to import the bricks from Georgia to build the American pavilion rather than use local Florida bricks) are focused on the guest experience. We then went inside to see the animatronic equipment.
At Hollywood Studios, we visited the building where they manufacture or rather hand make all the costumes worn by all the performers in the Disney franchise (cruise ships, other Disney parks.) You can actually see the building we walked through while riding the Studio Backlot Tour ride, but of course while riding you wouldn't be able to stop and talk to the seamstresses.
We then made our way to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror where we were introduced briefly how the ride and ride vehicles were maintained.
Off to the Animal Kingdom where we examined the parade vehicles for Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade and got to see the tallest tree in the Walt Disney Resort aka the AT&Tree disguised as a tree cell tower.
Lunch at the Wilderness Lodge where ate meat, meat, meat and more meat and a little beans and potato and corn. Followed by a peach-berry cobbler with ice cream.
After lunch we drove past the water treatment facility which processes all the grey and black water generated by the entire resort before returning the water to the environment. The waste is turned into "Green Magic Grow" aka fertilizer or Zip-pity-Do-Doo or other Disney related themed names.
We arrived at the "tree farm" where we saw all varieties of plants trees and topiaries that are used throughout the park. We saw cast members assembling stuffed topiaries.. The ones we saw in January would be ready to be put on display by spring.
Next was a visit to Central Shops where you could say this is the heavy industrial muscle of Disney was located - the paint shop, ride vehicle maintenance / refurbishment, animatronic shops were here. Nearby were the monorail and train maintenance facility, Disney power plant, and Disney University.
Finally we made our way into the Magic Kingdom. Saw the 3 o'clock parade, stroll down Main Street and then down underground or more correctly down to the first floor utilidors. Main Street USA and the park is actually on the second floor.
In short we thought it was a very comprehensive tour of the resort. Despite the long length if this tour we thought it was worth taking a day away from visiting a theme park on our vacation to take the tour.
Pros:
Provides a very good look "offstage."Cons:
Takes the whole day if you are short on vacation time.Review of Crystal Palace Breakfast
Reviewed by John Review Date: 01/09/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
It is our tradition to eat at the Crystal Palace at least once when we visit WDW. The food and service were great and the only negative was that we were a party of six and the table would normally sit a party of four comfortably and we found it to be very crowded.
Pros:
Good service and FoodCons:
Table was small for a party of sixReview of Whispering Canyon Cafe Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by John Review Date: 01/09/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
We ate at the Whispering Canyon in October and experienced the new menu. The service and food was great with the only drawback being it was way too much for all six of us to eat. We normally stay at the Wilderness Lodge and this is one of the places that it is a tradition for us to eat. We will surely maintain that tradition.
Pros:
Great Service and FoodCons:
Too much foodReview of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Reviewed by John Review Date: 01/09/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
Our grandaughter (7) loved the experience of being dressed and done up like a real princess. Our grandson (5) also loved the cool Dude experience. The Fairy God Mothers that attended to them were wonderful.
Pros:
Magical ExperienceCons:
NoneReviewed by Renee Review Date: 01/10/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
The last four times we've stayed at POFQ but it's getting old and we want to try someplace different on our next trip. The only bad thing was the food. Not much of a variety and you get tired of eating the same ole nuggets, pizza and burgers. We were there on Jan 2-8th thinking all the kids were back in school but apparently kids in the south go back the second week of Jan. (Kids in NE go back Jan. 2). The parks were so busy they had to close them and set records. Very, very, busy but the buses kept on coming and never had a problem.
Pros:
quietCons:
foodReviewed by Renee Review Date: 01/10/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
DO NOT MAKE RESERVATIONS ON THE DISNEY APP. I made reservations on the Disney app for Germany and Mexico. At both places I was told they didn't have my reservation. I had my confirmation number and the hostess at Akershus typed in my confirmation number and said, "oh your on the other system", whatever that means? We were the last to be seated. Same thing happen in Mexico but the hostess didn't type in the confirmation number, we got lucky and she sat us for dinner in 20 min. I made the reservations on the APP three days prior.
