Most Recent Reviews
Reviewed by bethocindigo Review Date: 10/20/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
We took our 11 year-old son to the party on a Sunday evening for his early birthday present. We found it to be great! I will say that security is extremely tight and they strictly enforce party rules and guidelines. Our son had his orange 'Star Tours' gun taken from him and we had to leave it with guest services for the night. They also told him he could not wear his face mask and we had to leave it in a locker early in the day, however, around 5pm when costumed people were flooding into the park we saw another child wearing the same mask so I marched right back to the locker room and got it for my son to enjoy.
We brought our costumes early in the day, was able to swipe our magic band and charge the locker fee to the room, and leave our costumes in there until around dark. Later we came back and changed into them effortlessly.
The 'Boo-to-You' Parade is excellent, the fireworks display was LARGER than any I'd ever seen before and the Hocus Pocus show sounded lots of fun. We weren't close to it but I'll bet it was great.
A unique thing about this party if you don't go on a Friday night, is that we were able to ride the 7 Dwarves Mine train (which usually has an hour or more wait) 3 times in a row when lines were no more than 10 minutes long!
People-watching the fantastic array of costume varieties is SO MUCH FUN and our son had a blast spooking kids in line with his 'Five Nights At Freddy's' Freddy Fazbear Costume. Boy did he HAM it up!
Don't MISS the chance to take a special picture in front of the Haunted Mansion where they digitally add in a haunted driver later when you go onto the Disney website to download your pic!
I've heard that Friday evenings are the worst so if you can, try to go on a Sunday or a Tuesday night. We were SO GLAD we did. I would highly recommend this party. There is a lot to do and lots to see. Sure to be a unique experience for children and adults alike.
Pros:
special parade, fireworks, picture opportunities, and short lines for ridesCons:
noneReviewed by bethocindigo Review Date: 10/20/2016
Rating: (6) Recommended
For our family who could be happy sleeping in a packing-crate for the opportunity to enjoy a Disney vacation resort stay, Old Key West was NOT worth the extra $200 dollars a night over Port Orleans Riverside.
Our trip was a spur-of-the-moment last minute thing 3 months before our arrival date and I was told that our favorite spirited Resort which we like to stay at- Port Orleans, was booked solid. I asked for somewhere else that would be MUCH quieter than the Value Resorts and was told that Old Key West would be great. The only hitch was that it was OVER $200 MORE a night. I didn't see much choice so I agreed and hoped it might be a new magical resort experience to enjoy.
Nope. The good features were the private deck at each room (but incredibly small), the tiny kitchenette with a larger-than-normal refrigerator, coffee-maker, mini-microwave, and tiny sink to do dishes in, and the really NEAT Sandcastle pool 2 story waterslide that our son thoroughly enjoyed.
Other than those, this place was B-O-R-I-N-G. No music, no fun, no liveliness, NO quick-service dining hall to sit in each morning for breakfast with a large menu section to choose from......just quiet, quiet, quiet. WAY too quiet and dull. It needs much more theming. The 'deluxe' studio is only slightly bigger than our Riverside room and I could BARELY get past the toilet and into the tub each night as it is a really tight squeeze.
We will NOT be staying here again cause it might as well have been a Nursing Home!
Pros:
Pool at each separate section with a hot tub at every oneCons:
Toilet is TOO CLOSE to the tub in a Deluxe Studio RoomReview of Boulangerie Patisserie les Halles
Reviewed by bethocindigo Review Date: 10/20/2016
Rating: (9) Recommended
Ordering here is a bit confusing. Just know that you wait in line and then get your own personal server who will then walk with you as you pick out what you want and she'll add it to your tray.
We got LOTS of treats here to sample. The lobster bisque, creme' brulee, the macroon sampler, the raspberry macroon (my ultimate favorite), the napoleon, the chocolate mousse, a croissant, and a double espresso. All of that cost around a whopping $50! If you have the quick service dining plan, you can turn one meal into 3 snacks. Good to know.
So, after we finished paying the only spots left to enjoy our selections were tiny tables which were STANDING room only. Not cool for the price you pay, but the taste is TO DIE FOR!!!
Overall, we found the bisque out of this world, the pastries baked to perfection, and the coffee the smoothest, most delicious taste ever! BOY! Don't get a double though, or you'll be up until 2am! This place is NOT to be MISSED on your trek through the International Countries in Epcot.
Pros:
authentic food, espresso, and pastriesCons:
not many places to sitReview of Backlot Express
Reviewed by bethocindigo Review Date: 10/20/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
We purchased a 'Boba Fet' souvenier stein, the BB8 Lemon Cupcake, and the Chocolate Chewbacca Specialty cupcakes. I was pleasantly surprised that the BB8 one was SUPER-delicious and smoothe flavored.
Tables are all over inside and out but be aware that it gets INSANELY crowded during lunch times. To break up the monotony, we noticed that there was an incredibly-bouncy cast member periodically awarding free food surprises randomly through the crowd. That was lots of fun to watch and worked well keeping people's spirits up through the NUTTY lunch rush.
We LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT and will definitely be back. Just know that this place is tucked right across Star Tours and at the end of the Indiana Jones Show exit.
Pros:
Star-Wars themed souvenier steins, waffles, and desserts!Cons:
quite crowded at lunchReview of Trolley Car Cafe - Starbucks
Reviewed by bethocindigo Review Date: 10/20/2016
Rating: (9) Recommended
I loved the Turkey & Cranberry Sandwich. It was fresh, very large, and full of flavor. Unfortunately, it was so crowded and the lines were so slow that I got incredibly overwhelmed and forgot to order the darned coffee so I had to trek through MORE crowds around the park vainly searching for mediocre coffee elsewhere to wake me up!
Pros:
DELICIOUS Turkey & Cranberry SandwichCons:
Incredibly slow and crowded serviceReview of Rosie's All-American Cafe
Reviewed by bethocindigo Review Date: 10/20/2016
Rating: (6) Not Recommended
Everyone loves chicken fingers and when they arrived, they were fresh and hot. There was a wide array of dipping sauces that could be found on the fixins bar but after a few hours, both my husband and son complained about having heartburn so eat at your own discretion.
Pros:
Chicken Fingers and a fixins barCons:
gave us heartburnReview of Kringla Bakeri og Cafe
Reviewed by bethocindigo Review Date: 10/20/2016
Rating: (9) Recommended
The pastries are fabulous but my family was forced to wait in a very long and slow line while a large group of college-aged drunks with 'Getting DRUNK around the World screen-printing boasted loudly on their shirts' kept ordering Liquor shots and holding everyone up.
Pros:
varied pastry menuCons:
People ordering hard liquor shots can hold up the ordering lineReview of Sunshine Seasons
Reviewed by bethocindigo Review Date: 10/20/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
The Oak-Grilled Rotisserie Chicken is cooked right before your very eyes and its flavor it out of this world! I love ordering the Oak-Grilled Vegetable Sandwich because it is also BURSTING with flavor. Our young son who is over 9 had NO other dining choices though and didn't really like the chicken so its not good for pre-teens over 9 who are not entrée eaters. You may want to get them food elsewhere and bring it in here.
This quick service restaurant is located down inside the Land Pavillion and was designed to be like a Airport Cafeteria. The theming is fun to look at, there are LOTS of tables/ booths to sit at, and people-watching here is also LOTS of fun to do.
We always enjoy eating here and will come again as soon as we can!
Pros:
Varied MenuCons:
noneReview of Columbia Harbour House
Reviewed by mawdryn Review Date: 10/29/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
My husband, daughter (16) and I dined here right before MNSSHP on Sunday, October 23rd. My husband had the hummus sandwich, my daughter had the children's chicken nuggets and fries, and I had the lobster roll. Everything was delicious.
This is a restaurant I've wanted to try FOREVER, and I'm certainly glad I was able to fit it in this past trip. We will definitely be back in July...
Pros:
Location, Food Options and Quiet Seating Area UpstairsCons:
NoneReview of Columbia Harbour House
Reviewed by bethocindigo Review Date: 10/20/2016
Rating: (10) Recommended
We ate here 3 times in 2 days. It is just the BEST food in the Magic Kindgom for Quick-Service options and there is SO much seating, there's even a large section upstairs. You can even sit by the windows upstairs and have fun watching people go by. This was GREAT during Mickey's No-So Scary Halloween party because we could see all the neat costumes people had on as they were passing by.
This is a yummy place not to be missed.
