Most Recent Reviews
Reviewed by Wanda Review Date: 08/18/2015
Rating: (10) Recommended
We eat here every time we come to WDW, no matter which hotel we stay in. This time we stayed at AKL so it was so nice to just take the elevator down and be there. Ate there twice the second week of Aug. Staff is great. Fantastic omelet station, American and African dishes are wonderful. Large pastry section and also Fruit. Has a meat carving station, even at breakfast, which my husband loves. I am not a meat eater but the bread pudding with hot pecan caramel sauce to spoon over it is out of this world. You must try it the next time you visit WDW.
Pros:
EverythingCons:
No cons at allReviewed by Wanda Review Date: 08/18/2015
Rating: (9) Recommended
Stayed here 8-6 thru 8-13-15. Pool view due to closeness of lobby and restaurants. Like it better than savannah views. So many other places to see animals and pool view is close to everything and is beautiful. Very clean. Like it better than the Polynesian, but no monorail makes it tough. The buses are not crowded at all because they serve AKL only and do not go to other resorts. The staff are very friendly and will help you with anything you need. Carmen at the checkin desk is wonderful. Will stay here again but will get the deluxe pool view due to a little more square footage. Mara, food court, is very large compared to Polynesian and Wilderness lodge.
Pros:
Beautiful views, peaceful, great and friendly staff, very cleanCons:
NoneReview of Wilderness Lodge (Deluxe Resort)
Reviewed by pamleblanc4 Review Date: 08/17/2015
Rating: (9) Recommended
Just came back from our first trip to WL. Loved "almost" everything about it. Lobby is wonderful. Lots of places to sit and relax. Guest service and shop workers were fantastic, pleasant and warm. Whispering Canyon had excellent food (though got sick of the shouting for ketchup every 3 minutes). Pool is nice, having a small sandy beach was a bonus.
Boats to MK and Contemporary are the real jewel. So much easier than going to the TTC first. Never more than a 15 minute wait and never had a boat that was over full.
Downside... Rooms are quite small. Didn't really bother us all that much, but with 2 adults and 2 teens, it got a bit...close.
Roaring Fork is tiny and always busy. Overcrowded and difficult to get to the refill stations for drinks. (Many Bonus points for having them come out and serve your meal.)
Pool is LOUD! I get that you have fun, but don't feel the need to have music and microphones blaring all afternoon.
We have stayed at Polynesian (would NEVER go back after the destroyed the beach with the "villas"), French Quarter (love it) and Riverside. This is probably our new favorite hotel. Ambiance is just exceptional.
Pros:
Beautiful Grounds, Boat to MK, Not a ton of walking to go anywhere on propertyCons:
Roaring Forks is TINY!, Rooms are quite small, especially for Deluxe Hotel, no fun maid service at allReview of Cinderella's Royal Table Dinner
Reviewed by Livigs Review Date: 08/17/2015
Rating: (4) Not Recommended
We decided to go here b/c we wanted a great meal for the adults with great food. I have 2 boys, so while they liked the princesses, but it wasn't anything crazy special for them (they were more into Donald, Mickey, Chip & Dale, etc. in the other places).
I figured for 2 dining tickets, it would have been amazing. I should've read the reviews first. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't high end like I'd expect.
The pork belly confit was pretty good but not great. The steak and shrimp, which came way too quickly (I was barely finished w/ my app, and I eat pretty quickly), wasn't what I was expecting. The meat quality was ok, but it wasn't a high end steak. The shrimp were fairly bland. The mashed potatoes were good, but nothing I couldn't make myself.
All in all, I would say to only go here if you have girls that will love the princesses. Otherwise, not worth it.
Pros:
The castleCons:
The food; priceReview of Disney Dining Plan
Reviewed by Wanda Review Date: 08/18/2015
Rating: (1) Recommended
Was at WDW last week. My husband prices out the cost of the dining plan and what we eat. It costs us about $600 less without it. However, we used to get it in the past. Way too much food. I was very observant of this plan. First, due to the 9 and under rule, the amount served to 10, 11, and up year olds is just wasteful. I must have watched a ton of food be thrown away last week. Also, Disney has the healthy kids meal on the menu so I guess if a child is over 9 yrs old Disney does not think they need to eat healthy. I watched a girl of about 11 at Prime Time eat one piece of her four pieced fried chicken meal, and two bites of her huge sundae. The rest went in the trash. Such a shame. I saw this happen many times. I think if the parents want to be in the plan, the kids should not be forced to be on it just because they are in the same room. Food is so expensive there, and also, the dining plan is so expensive that it goes to waste. Half the women waste half their food. We order what we want and usually not dessert or appetizer because the amount of food in an entree is usually more than enough, and I love to eat.
Pros:
Way to much food and wastefulCons:
Everything from what I saw and readReviewed by joshwatkins23 Review Date: 08/18/2015
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
If you are looking for a deluxe resort that feels like a moderate resort, than Saratoga Springs is the place for you! We just returned from a stay at Saratoga Springs Aug 8-15. We stayed in a 1-bedroom room via DVC. Our last trip was in 2013 and we stayed at Old Key West. This time we tried Saratoga Springs and boy were we disappointed. I can honestly say that it feels no different than staying at Port Orleans Riverside or any other moderate resorts. The room was very clean and we were pleasantly surprised. We had a great view from our room as well. It was a perfect size for a family of 4 at our home away from home, but that is pretty much all the pros. I read reviews of people complaining about the bussing and just ignored them thinking it was just bad luck. Well, I have to say, the bussing is just awful. We stayed in the Grandstand which is the 1st pick up and drop off. Very convenient when/if a bus comes. We learned very quickly that we have to plan 2 hours of travel time to get to a dining reservation or to a park by a specific time. I've had 12 visits to WDW in my lifetime, 9 as an adult, and never have I experienced such poor transportation issues at a resort (I've stayed at all of the levels from value to deluxe). The entire resort feels like a moderate resort. There is nothing special about it, outside of the spa experience that you can purchase at any time (you don't have to stay at the resort). The bell services and housekeeping crew were wonderful. We did on-line check-in which turned out to be a waste of time as we had a NUMBER of issues that included 3 trips to the front desk in the first 2 hours that I arrived. I love WDW, and can't wait to go back - but I will never stay at Saratoga Springs again, and cannot recommend it to anyone. Despite the awful accommodations, my family still had a magical time....and look forward to our next visit....hopefully real soon.
Pros:
Room cleanlinessCons:
Feels like a moderate resort, Awful bussingReview of Raglan Road
Reviewed by ssdh90 Review Date: 08/19/2015
Rating: (3) Not Recommended
Just got back from a fantastic Disney World trip (Is there any other kind?). The only disappointment was Raglan Road. Food was very disappointing - Fish in "Fish and Chips" was incredibly dry, Pot pie was adequate at best. The atmosphere and music was so incredibly loud we couldn't talk. Ate the fish and chips next store at Cook's and at Epcot- so much better. Maybe it was a bad night, but you could tell this restaurant is NOT operated by Disney.
Pros:
Cute decorCons:
Very loud - food was disappointingReview of Plaza Restaurant
Reviewed by ssdh90 Review Date: 08/19/2015
Rating: (10) Recommended
Ate there with a party of ten for lunch last week. What a wonderful find! Everyone loved their food - our vegetarian member raved about the veggie sandwich. Highly recommend!
Pros:
Food and service were terrific!Cons:
nothingReview of Chefs de France - Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by ssdh90 Review Date: 08/19/2015
Rating: (10) Recommended
Had lunch with a party of 10 people. Everyone loved it. This was a new place for us and we will certainly go there again. Our vegetarian member couldn't stop raving about the Mac and cheese and the ham/cheese sandwiches and lobster bisck were to die for.
Pros:
Great food and atmosphere and serviceCons:
NothingReview of 'Ohana Dinner
Reviewed by ssdh90 Review Date: 08/19/2015
Rating: (10) Recommended
Unbelievable service and delicious all you can eat food brought to your table without stopping. We had a party of ten and all loved the fare. I am a vegetarian and thoroughly enjoyed the noodles, salad and vegetables. This is the best "meat restaurant" for a vegetarian. Highly recommended "cousin"
