Most Recent Reviews
Review of Caribbean Beach Resort (Moderate Resort)
Reviewed by TriSec13 Review Date: 08/17/2016
Rating: (8) Recommended
We just spend 8 nights here, August 6-14.
Online check-in was a breeze, we got our room text while we were waiting for DME pickup at MCO. I never actually interacted with the admin staff.
Room was well-lit, clean, and remarkably quiet. Beds were comfortable, but a little on the high side. We were in Martinique, with about a quarter-mile walk to OPR.
The village grounds were amazing; lush, well-kept, and meticulously clean. Bus service was outstanding; I've read many times that it can be hit-or-miss from this resort, but we waited no more than ten minutes for any bus going anywhere the entire stay. (with one exception - Animal Kingdom)
But there were negatives. The Food court always seemed to be overflowing with people and was very noisy. Nothing overly outstanding, but it was all edible. They do lunch and dinner better here; avoid the 'breakfast potatoes', trust me on this. On the other hand, the Grab-and-Go was superior; try the sticky buns for a real breakfast treat!
The main pool is ridiculously small for the size of this resort. When you can't turn around without elbowing somebody, it's time to get out. And with that many people in it, the water was too warm to offer any real refreshment. The quiet pools were a little better, but that depends more on the time of day you hit them than anything else.
Elsewhere, I walked around Caribbean Cay, and that seemed a little tired and worn-out. With a drying lake and no water activities, this corner of the resort felt a little neglected. But this isn't Disney's fault - how long has that drought been going on in Central Florida?
In the end, the positives far outweighed the negatives; I'd easily stay here again.
Pros:
Landscaping, Bus Service, Quiet RoomsCons:
Main Pool, Food Court (breakfast), LakeReview of Disney's QUICK SERVICE Dining Plan
Reviewed by LISAE Review Date: 08/16/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
When we have visited in October/November and February we have felt the need for many table service meals and have really enjoyed them. On our previous summer visit two years ago we found that the table service meal was more like an endurance test during two weeks in the Florida sun.
This time we had the quick service dining plan for our two weeks (last week in July and first week in August).
We found that this was still too much food in the hot weather but enjoyed having the freedom of not having booked reservations.
We ordered water from garden grocer before our arrival, if we hadn't we would have needed to use credits for this.
In the event we brought quite a few snacks back home with us as we found it impossible to eat all the allowance of food.
It did give us the flexibility to have lots of frappucinos and ice-cream sundaes. Also as we weren't necessarily eating two full meals a day we did on occasion order pizza and salad and eat one large meal.
Definitely a must-do for me in the Summer and not having to allow for tips was an added bonus.
Pros:
ideal for a Summer meal planCons:
wouldn't be enough food for us in cooler weather.Review of Victoria and Albert's
Reviewed by Storkel Review Date: 08/22/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
This review is about the Chef's Table.
I might as well start by identifying the proverbial elephant in the room – the cost. I can only say that if the cost is a concern, then the Chef’s Table at Victoria & Albert’s is probably not for you. I do not mean that in a snobby or mean-spirited way, but we all have ways of assigning personal value to special experiences. To my wife and I, the experience was like no other. It is an evening we will cherish forever.
I won’t bore you with bite-by-bite details, but I will share some highlights and tips. First, the Chef’s Table is not booked through the normal dining reservation number or through the My Disney Experience app – you call Victoria & Albert’s directly. Their reservation line opens at 9 am. Count your 180 days, and be on the phone at 9 am.
The Chef’s Table seats up to 8 people, but you will not be seated with any other groups – it is your table, exclusively for your party. You will be escorted into the kitchen at 5 pm and introduced to the staff. They are the most talented group of people I have ever seen in a kitchen. They also answer any question you have about anything that is going on. Initially, I was shy about asking what I thought must seem like dumb questions, but they quickly put me at ease with their warm attitude and incredible knowledge.
Our waiter and waitress (James and Amy) were absolutely perfect in every way. They made us feel comfortable, guided us through the evening, and were perfect hosts. The menu offers 10 courses, but be prepared for more. We had several surprises, including off-menu items the chef (Chef Matt, who is a genius) thought up at the spur of the moment. My wife and I opted for wine pairings, and each pour matched each dish perfectly (even to my unsophisticated palate) – Israel Perez is a magician when it comes to selecting wines. The food? I can’t describe how wonderful each dish tasted, so I won’t try. Each bite was a joy. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly small portions – they know what they are doing. We were encouraged to take breaks during the meal and get some fresh air.
The entire meal took 4 hours and 45 minutes, so it is a marathon meal. It was worth every penny.
Pros:
An Unforgettable EveningCons:
NoneReviewed by monorailmom Review Date: 08/24/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
My DH and I stayed at Coronado 8/12-8/16 on a couples' only trip. While we are DVC members, we wanted to save our points for family trips, and got a great AP rate on a Business Class room. Coronado remains our favorite Moderate resort. The resort is just beautiful, I came home with so many pictures of the flowers that were blooming all around the lake. The pool is honestly one of the best at Disney World, even over some of the DVC resorts! Never crowded, could always find a table, and great service at the pool bar. Bus service was very good as well, waited once or twice at a park for over 15mins, but it wasn't a common occurrence. Only had to stand on a bus coming home from a park once.
The Business Class, while an uncharge, was not only a great convenience, but we believe saved us money in the long run. We stopped by every morning for breakfast, and again early each evening for light appetizers and wine. A few times we made it back to the resort before closing time at 10 and enjoyed another glass of wine to cap off the evening! 🙂 Room location here is perfect: quick walk to the bus stop, food court, and pool.
We look forward to more stays here!
Pros:
Location, bus service, beautiful surroundingsCons:
—Review of Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria
Reviewed by monorailmom Review Date: 08/24/2016
Rating: (9) Recommended
Via Napoli has become a last day tradition for our family, and my DH and I ate there on the last day of our recent couples' trip. We always enjoy our meals here. With the kids we order an appetizer (which is why this only gets a 9, they changed the appetizer menu where the offerings are smaller yet pricier) and dessert (Zeppoli, delicious!) DH and I ordered just a Margherita pizza to share and red wine flights. I wouldn't order the wine flights every time, but they were fun to try. The pizza was amazing as always. The service here is always above average in our experience. We already have it booked for an upcoming trip!!
Pros:
Excellent food and serviceCons:
—Review of El Mercado de Coronado
Reviewed by monorailmom Review Date: 08/24/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
We had lunch here during our recent trip. We were able to walk right up to the counters. My husband and I both had questions about the offerings, and the CM there was just SO helpful! She literally took out the pasta and different sauces to show me the options, and offered my husband a couple of different choices for his side of potatoes. We appreciated her help, and the food was fresh and really good! It was not as loud as a typical food court is either, which is great.
Pros:
—Cons:
—Review of Las Ventanas Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by monorailmom Review Date: 08/24/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
We ate here on our arrival day. We were seated immediately at a nice quiet table in a lovely dining room. Our server was excellent as were our entrees. It was a nice way to start our vacation, as opposed to dining in a loud, congested food court! Would definitely recommend giving this a try.
Pros:
—Cons:
—Review of Mama Melrose's Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by spikesmom Review Date: 08/26/2016
Rating: (9) Recommended
My daughter and I dined at Mama's on 8/21 for lunch and got the Fantasmic package. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the package included an appetizer as well as a dessert, even on the dining plan! I had the steak, and it was amazing! I will dream of it for a long time ... just delicious! The four cheese macaroni on the side was also very good. My daughter had the kids' pasta and meatballs ... she loved the pasta and sauce, but did not like the meatballs ... but kids can be fussy. The only thing I found odd was that the other folks sitting around us and using the dining plan were given their choice of dessert, while our server told us that the Fantasmic package included the dessert sampler for adults and an ice cream sundae for the kids ... my daughter would really have loved the spaghetti and meatball cupcake. Not sure if our server chose not to offer us a choice, or if it was a misunderstanding. I didn't bring it up, and we enjoyed what we had and left happy. Nice decor, good service and delicious food. One other note, the last time I did the Fantasmic package the reserved seating was way off to one side ... This time I was pleasantly surprised to find that we had the center section and had a perfect view of Fantasmic ... my little daughter loved every second!
Pros:
Delicious steak!, great seating for FantasmicCons:
no choice for dessert?Review of Liberty Inn -- CLOSED
Reviewed by brant007 Review Date: 08/26/2016
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
I ordered the hamburger platter and it was overdone, dry and tasteless. It was late and I was very hungry so I ate it anyway, but stopped half way through and threw it out. After I ordered the food and sat down is when I noticed how filthy the place was. Floor was full of litter and food and most of the tables were dirty. Would never even venture into this place again.
Pros:
Not crowdedCons:
Filthy and tasteless hamburgerReview of Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria
Reviewed by spikesmom Review Date: 08/26/2016
Rating: (7) Recommended
My daughter and I had a late lunch here on 8/20. We checked in early and the waiting area was packed. It is a very small space with minimal seating and a confused atmosphere. We were seated at the time of our reservation, and our server was very clear about what was covered with our dining plan. I had a quattro formaggi pizza, and was pleasantly surprised with the size of it ... fortunately it was quite large for one person and I was able to share with my daughter. She ordered the kids bocconcini and it was very minimal quantity even for a small 7 year old, even with the fruit cup that came with it ... only three small balls of friend mozzerella! My dessert was fantastic ... I ordered the zeppole and it again was a very large portion. My daughter had the sundae, which again was small, but she shared my dessert. Drinks were refilled quickly and the service was friendly. However, it is not a quiet place to eat ... it is a lot of glass and marble which echos. When we were there many of the parties were very large, 18 or 20 people. I felt we had to shout across the table at each other and while we enjoyed the food we did not leave feeling rested or refreshed!
