Most Recent Reviews
Review of Captain's Grille Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by maze4 Review Date: 10/01/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
Ate here 9/13 ressie at 5pm. was at Epcot so took short boatride over to explore resort as we are new DVC members. A storm was coming so we headed inside to explore gift shops etc. we arrived 10 min early and was seated immediately. We were the only ones in the entire restaurant. Our waiter who I forgot his name and wished I'd remember was excellent he talked to us and carried on conversation while it was storming outside. This was our 25th anniv adults only trip (our first ever!!) and dh ordered seafood dish and I ordered strip The food was excellent. We opted to not get dessert and get side salads instead which you are allowed. The side salads were good size and didn't just have lettuce and a piece of crouton like most. Our food came out hot, fresh and quick. Our server came around frequently for refills and then surprised us with a champagne toast. How lovely he told us he wanted to do something since we didn't get desserts. This hidden gem is truly wonderful and great if you don't want to use 2 credits for Yachtmans. I think the food is just as great if not better. The waiter told us that it is usually not crowed and can always get a ressie. Its a favorite of castmembers because it is so quiet. When we left after almost 1.5 hrs there were only 4 other couples in the entire place. Will return again !!
Pros:
quiet, waiter was excellent food excellentCons:
noneReview of Chefs de France - Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by maze4 Review Date: 10/01/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
Ate here 9/15. Celebrating 25th anniv w adults only trip. Wanted to try restaurants that kids wouldn't eat at. Was nervous at this restaurant has mixed reviews. Arrived early and really wasn't hungry as we were snacking at F&W thought about cancelling but would have had to pay penalty. Was seated by window which was nice to people watch. Our server Alexis (s is silent) was exceptional. He explained the menu to us and I felt bad as I had to keep asking him to repeat as he had such a thick accent. He took his time and would repeat. I then started to understand better and we had several conversations with him about his family and he wanting to move to US permantly. we ordered bacon salad which was so big could have had this as a meal. dh had fruits d mer a la provencale (seafood dish) and I had tenderloin. Everything was excellent and large portions. The meal came quick and Alexis kept coming refilling drinks and cleaning dishes. Our meal also came with a baguette which was served warm and even though I didn't come hungry we both ate everything. desserts dh had cygnet au chocolat puff pastry filled with moussee and choco sauce w ice cream. I had gateau au chocolat choco cake w moussee and mint ice cream. Again Love IT!!!!!! Despite what people say about how rude servers were I'm glad we tried it and will eat here again. Nothing special for anniv but had such a wonderful eating experience that it made the day very memorable. It was loud inside but didn't matter
Pros:
Alexis our server, food quality, dessertsCons:
noneReview of Boatwright's Dining Hall Dinner
Reviewed by Peglmt Review Date: 10/02/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
Probably the best meal we had all week! I had the Crawfish Etouffee and my husband had the Jambalaya. Our waitress Jenny was as fantastic as the food, she was personable, funny and just an all around great waitress. In addition to the great food and service we loved the atmosphere of the restaurant, it was rustic and comfortable. I only wish we could have spent more time in the bar and had the opportunity to see Yehaa Bob. We will be going back for sure.
Pros:
Food, bar, waitstaffCons:
noneReview of Disney Dining Plan
Reviewed by maze4 Review Date: 10/02/2016
Rating: (7) Recommended
We have been using dp since 2006. It has changed through the years and not all for the good. I do like the fact that meals are prepaid for but doesn't include tips so you still have to either carry $ with you or charge them. Also having an alcoholic drinks also isn't included so have to pay oop or charge. What I really don't like is when servers get confused when you order extra items not included and they bring out separate bills with tips on both. I just wish it was all inclusive. Or Ala Carte also make recommendations for F&W should have plan just for festival where you could be able to use those credits. We did use our snack credits which worked but wasn't enough
Pros:
ConvenienceCons:
Doesn't include tips, alcoholReview of Artist Point
Reviewed by sleepydog25 Review Date: 10/03/2016
Rating: (9) Recommended
Artist Point built a very good reputation for many years before taking a downturn a few years back. Based on our last two visits, it's on the rebound thanks to a new(ish) chef. The newer menu has kicked aside some of the Asian fusion elements that never made much sense and returned to focusing on the main stars--the salmon and the buffalo to name a couple. Service has been excellent, and the wine list continues to be superb. I will admit--as another reviewer noted--that the plating and sides need to be re-evaluated. I'm all for smaller portions in fine dining, but then your accompaniments must be beyond reproach and sometimes AP's aren't. Overall, though, AP remains a gem for us.
Pros:
Ambiance, wine list, serviceCons:
PlatingReview of Remy - Specialty French Dining
Reviewed by sleepydog25 Review Date: 10/03/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
Victoria & Albert's on a ship--that's Remy in a nutshell. We've dined there three times, the most recent on our anniversary a few months ago, and it has always been exceptional. The menu is imaginative; the plating artistic; the dishes themselves supremely tasty; the service above reproach; and the ambiance is without peer. For our anniversary dinner, we found ourselves the only diners in Remy the entire evening. Odd, yes, but our servers said that on the first night of the cruise, they usually only have a few couples. That night was a rarity, they admitted. Thus, we had the entire staff at our disposal from the wait staff, to the sommelier, and even Chef Patrick who came out to speak with us. While the cost of the meal is now up to $75, that is a superb "bargain" given the level of the dining experience. If you cruise on the Dream or the Fantasy, do yourself a favor and book Remy. (By the way, Palo is also excellent.)
Pros:
Service, menu, wine selection, ambiance, costCons:
Absolutely noneReview of Sanaa Lunch/Dinner - Kidani Village
Reviewed by sleepydog25 Review Date: 10/03/2016
Rating: (9) Recommended
Sanaa is one the more underrated restaurants on property. The food, while not exotic, certainly is a notch above typical fare. The flavor profile of such things as the butter chicken or the braised beef is rich and complex. Service is always good, and they have an above average wine list. Our favorite option is to do the full bread service and split that along with a bowl of the tomato/paneer soup. Pair with a nice Pinotage or Sauv Blanc, and you have a delicious and (relatively) inexpensive meal. That you can almost always view animals on the savannah (during the day, of course) makes this a must do for us each trip.
Pros:
Food, service, valueCons:
—Review of Art of Animation Resort (Value Resort)
Reviewed by pwood78 Review Date: 10/03/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
We stayed in the Lion King Suites in Building 6 on the 1st floor. We requested 1st floor, near transportation...and we got it. It was a quick walk to the buses, food court, Nemo pool.
We loved the theming. The room was spacious, the beds were super comfy. Ok, so the sofa bed wasn't that comfy because it was hard, but there wasn't that annoying bar going across your back. The 2 bathrooms were great.
Mousekeeping came in early each morning to clean.
We loved swimming in the big blue pool in the Nemo section. The resort was so big, and we spent so much time walking in the parks, we didn't even make it to the Cars or Little Mermaid sections to check them out.
The food in the food court was all delicious. We had breakfast and dinner. The cheeseburger, the surf and surf burger, the meatball sub, the pizza, pancakes, french toast....alllllll yummy!
The buses ran quickly, we never waited longer than 5 minutes the entire week. Coming or going.
We stayed Sept 24-30. The first night we arrived, we took the bus to MK to transfer to Monorail to have dinner at 1900 Park Fare. There was a major car accident, luckily we caught the bus quickly, and the bus driver packed in as many people as he could because he knew that anyone left behind would have a really long wait before the next bus arrived. Some people were angry about packing us in, but once we passed the scene of the accident everyone understood.
I would definitely recommend this resort.
Like I said the con was that when sleeping on the murphy bed near the door in the mornings or late at night I could hear people in the hallway, but it wasn't a lot, basically people coming in or leaving to go to the parks.
Pros:
EverythingCons:
Hear noise from hallway sometimesReviewed by pwood78 Review Date: 10/03/2016
Rating: (4) Not Recommended
I have attended the MNSSHP party several times in the past. We attended this year on Sunday Sept 25, 2016. It didn't seem really crowded, but the lines were insane to meet characters and to trick or treat.
I felt like we had to stick to one theme and couldn't do everything.
We got in the park at 4pm and rode some rides and had a quick service dinner, at 7pm we attempted to trick or treat. We waited 10 minutes in 1 line to get 2 pieces of candy so we gave up on trick or treating, it was a waste of time.
We walked past every character meet and greet, the lines were ridiculously long, which I knew beforehand that the lines start really early and take a long time, so I didn't plan on meeting characters anyway.
so we stuck with watching the parade, shows and dance parties. Unfortunately, everyone but me was pooped out by 10pm, so I missed the fireworks. With 2 more hours we may have been able to do a little shopping, watch fireworks and maybe jump on a quick ride or 2.
I wouldn't recommend going to the party anymore. It isn't the same as in the past.
The Toy Story dance party is gone. And the villains used to come off the stage after the show and do meet and greets, I met 5 villains back to back in 15 minutes last time I went in 2011. They don't do meet and greets after the stage show anymore, and there aren't many villains out at all doing meets.
Pros:
Parades/ShowsCons:
LinesReviewed by manatee2420 Review Date: 10/07/2016
Rating: (7) Recommended
My husband, parents, and I attended on September 18th. We made a special trip from Georgia to celebrate. I have long wanted to go to MNSSHP and, being my 30th birthday that day, the timing finally seemed right. To say I had high hopes would be an understatement. I mean, to finally go to my favorite place on earth in the fall and on my birthday no less!
The party seemed much more crowded than I expected. As a teacher bound by school schedules, my husband and I usually go to Disney during the peak summer dates everyone bemoans online as terrible times to go. The September parties were touted online as so much less crowded and more pleasant. I honestly thought the crowds were equal to the most crowded summertime dates. Lines for everything were long. I hated how there were no wait times posted for characters. We waited over an hour to see the Seven Dwarfs. That was to be expected. But, we also waited over an hour to see Minnie/Donald/Daisy when the line appeared to be half as long as the Seven Dwarf line. If we had known it was to be that long, we would've gone and done something else. The line for the MNSSHP pin was at least a half an hour. We didn't stand in it. No pin was worth that after just spending over 2 hours waiting for characters! Best decision we made all night. There were even lines to get your picture taken by the Photopass photographers, which I never saw before!
Following some advice I read online, we intended to watch the later shows as they were "less crowded." Unfortunately, the weather rolled in. They ended up canceling the castle show (before the storm even hit the area) and postponing Wishes indefinitely once the rain poured. We ran for Pirates of the Caribbean, rode it with no wait, and then huddled under the exit area since the trick or treat stations were closed (due to being outside) and we didn't want to be stuck in an inside character line if the rain stopped and Wishes got started. It seemed really dumb to me that Disney would plan a party during hurricane season with so much that gets closed down (trick or treating, shows, character greetings that were mostly outside) when the rain comes. At least put the trick or treating inside somewhere...
The silver lining is that a quarter of 12 the rain stopped. Disney did show Wishes followed immediately by the second Boo to You Parade without the Headless Horseman. The Hocus Pocus show was canceled. I would advise everyone if there is any hint of rain in the forecast (which there probably will be) to ignore any advice you might read online and see the first show of everything. It might be more crowded, but at least you'll get to see it!
So, the party didn't live up to my expectations and I feel hesitant recommending it. Why isn't maybe a choice? If you don't care about characters, the experience would probably be more pleasant since those lines were longest. Most of the rides had short lines, but if you're there to ride, then go during the daytime and skip the extra fee. Dressing up was fun, although it was hotter than expected and polyester doesn't breathe well at all even though my costume was sleeveless. I might consider trying this another year with a different touring plan to see if the experience is better. If it's the same or worse, I won't be attending MNSSHP anymore.
