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Andrew Della Vecchia -- August 2000 -- Walt Disney World (Offsite)Trip Report for WDW August 2000 ------------ General Info ------------ Intro ------ What’s this a DVC Member staying outside of WDW?!? Let me plead my case ;-> This trip was spur of the moment and fun. My wife had a received one of those rare employee benefits, a training class. The class may not have any interest to me, but the location of it did. When I heard that the site for the training was in Orlando, I started to daydream. There were drawbacks. I would not be staying in WDW, I would be solo in the parks during the day (my wife was in the training class), and rumor has it that August is hot and crowded. That was the picky side of me speaking. Being one to throw caution to the wind in the face of Mickey Ice Cream Bars, I had to do it. I can not go on further without mentioning thanks to my wife. Without this wonderful person, I could not have had any fun on any trip (or even been on this trip). There is no one else in the world (including what is outside of WDW) that I want to ever be with.
Travel ++++++ Arrived: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 at 08:30 at Orlando International (US Air) Returned: Monday, August 27, 2000 at 02:00 to Philadelphia International (US Air) Rental Car Used: Chevrolet Cavalier from Avis Comments on Travel ------------------ I purchased e-tickets (airline tickets, not the cool Magic Kingdom ones) through Expedia (http://www.expedia.com) because of a 50% off discount from a previous purchase. After having the e-ticket experience, I can honestly recommend them. You simply present photo ID at the check-in to receive your tickets (quite quickly). The nonsense of remembering paper tickets is removed for added peace of mind. The flight down from Philadelphia was great! My wife was in Orlando a day earlier for training. I figured that I would get a head start on the day by taking the earliest flight (6:15 AM). The plane was a Boeing 757 and was supposed to arrive at 8:50 AM. It left on time and arrived early. What a great way to start off a vacation! Since we were staying outside of WDW (no shuttles available to WDW), I figured a rental car was essential. This proved a worthwhile investment. The area around the hotel was filled with tourist trap-like places. If you wanted to get to the fun of WDW, you need a car or taxi. I picked Avis purely on two criteria. The first was that the car company had to be located in the airport. The second was the price. I wanted to keep the cost down. Avis fit both requirements. Picking up the car from Avis was slightly more inconvenient than National. The employees were fine, but the location and process was not nearly as efficient. National, as well as Dollar, is located on the first floor of the parking lot while the rest are on the higher levels. This is a factor when carrying luggage. Instead of picking out the car you like within your agreement class, you get assigned a car. I am mentioning this because the condition of the car is at the whim of the agency. One could argue about this, but who likes to argue on vacation? The car that I received was a 4-door Cavalier. I would say it is an ‘average’ quality rental car, except for one item. The brakes were slightly warped which did not bode well with me. It was not a huge item, but one of quality. After the trip, dropping the car off was on par with National. The only difference is that you have to go through the parking lot more to get to the higher level (which means a longer walk to the airport terminal…. no biggie after a week of park touring). I mentioned the brakes to the attendant who assured me he would write a note. The flight home was supposed to leave at 18:15. Due to storms, the plane from Philadelphia landed late (19:00). There were storms across the East Coast that prevented us from leaving on time. The situation worsened over several hours. It was almost an experiment in the limits of human patience. Fortunately, the airplane doors were not closed. This is HUGE. Once the doors are closed, you are stuck on the airplane. The pilot allowed everyone to go back to the terminal at their leisure. My wife noticed that a flight that was previously scheduled to leave after us was on the runway. Oh, that was upsetting. That flight was less expensive than the early one I was on. They did end up sitting around for a bit on the runway, but did leave about a half of an hour earlier than us. Then, it happened. We were cleared at 23:30 to depart. That does not mean we actually left then. There was a family that had some type of situation. >From my observation, the father and his son went exploring the airport. As you can imagine, the mother and remaining children were upset. As they were being helped off of the plane, the missing family members were found. This meant they had to re-stow their carry-ons, which took time. Finally, we left the terminal at 24:00. Given we were one of the last planes to leave for Philly, there was no traffic. The actual flight was fine. Some turbulence was to be expected. Wait, the fun continues at Philly Int’l. Except for the luggage, the plane emptied in record time. Everyone was sitting around the baggage carousel at a few past 02:00. Where’s the luggage? It took awhile, but an announcer made a request for someone to go clear out a luggage jam. "Will this nightmare ever end?" You know there have been documented cases of people starting to burst out in laughter when on the brink of insanity. Well, I started to chuckle. Without warning, the buzzer and lights went off to trumpet forth the march of our luggage from the belly of the flying beast. Before you know it, I was being picked up by my dad around 02:45 (parents are great in their devotion to their children). Before I close this section, I must mention that the staff of the Flight 1484 needs to be thanked. They did their best to keep the situation comfortable. Good job! Anyone who reads this should also consider this the worse, possible scenario. Delays in flights do not always take hours and should not scare anyone from flying. It can happen anytime and anywhere. If anything, it made me appreciate the blessings that I have. Passes Used +++++++++++ WDW Annual Pass 3-day Universal Escape Pass Comments on Passes ------------------ When it came to buying tickets, I was in a daze. I bought various tickets in my past experiences. We always say that we should just get what we need for the trip. This time, I took in consideration of a future trip. There was no doubt that my wife and I would return to WDW within the next year for a long trip, so the Annual Pass seemed like a good option. I understand that the rules for renewal changed in a poor manner, but we would still save some cash over a couple of trips. Universal has done a great job with their area. As a result, I plan on at least 1 day per trip to Universal Orlando for future vacations. Originally, I thought about a 2-day Escape Pass. There was a pretty good deal with the 3-day Escape Pass (about $33/day), so I spent the extra money for long-term value. I also noticed that there was promotional ‘Express Pass’ effort taking place for multi-day ticket holders. Weather +++++++ Wednesday - High in the upper 80s; Low in the low 70s; Partly Cloudy Thursday - High in the lower 90s; Low in the low 70s; Partly Cloudy with chance of afternoon showers/thunderstorms. Friday - High in the lower 90s; Low in the 70s; Partly Cloudy with chance of afternoon showers/thunderstorms. Saturday - High in the lower 90s; Low in the 70s; Partly Cloudy with chance of afternoon showers/thunderstorms. Sunday - High in the lower 90s; Low in the 70s; Partly Cloudy with chance of afternoon showers/thunderstorms. Comments on weather: -------------------- Hot and humid weather is a drawback about August. I was not as bothered as I expected. In some ways, this weather was welcomed. The heat does not sit in Florida. There is always some breeze keeping things moving. The afternoon storms were not as bad as I expected. I was actually surprised at the low number of storms despite the weather reports. There were only 2 afternoons that I experienced any rain. They lasted only about 30 minutes and were fairly spaced apart. The crowds tended to clear out. You can expect that some of the rides/shows get temporarily closed to avoid danger. Hotel: Radisson Barcello ++++++++++++++++++ Room type: Deluxe Transportation: Shuttles to Universal Comments on Hotel: This is your standard type of accommodation. There is no theming, no fancy restaurants or shops, no huge pool, and basic services. The price was relatively inexpensive, but you can get more for your money at the Maingate Resorts. Even though the room was considered a ‘deluxe,’ it had some problems. The plumbing was poor. The hot water took a long time (>10 minutes) to start. There were also some annoying noises as the water was being used. Surprisingly, the resort staff did not seem to care about this when it was mentioned. Service is very important, and not listening to your customers is a sure sign of poor service. Another drawback about the room is the lack of soundproofing. Noise from the hallway was unavoidable. You would hear people who were not doing anything out of the ordinary. Outside noise was not as bad, but you wanted everything to be quieter. There are positives to the room. You can find larger than average rooms here. I would put it on par with the size of a room at the Yacht and Beach Clubs. There is a microwave oven as well as 2 TVs and a mini-frig ready for your use. The location was off of exit 29 of International Drive. There are a lot of disjointed sites to see here. This gives a kind of tourist trap feel. Do not get me wrong, the area is clean and professional. It just does not have the style and class associated to the WDW area (where even the resorts seem ‘designed’ to match the entire area). You can find FAO Schwartz, Ripley’s Believe or Not Museum, Wonder Works, and other places. We talked to others that went to the local sites. They did enjoy them. The area is very busy, so be careful travelling here. The landscaping and shape of the sites can hide approaching vehicles. Getting to WDW tended to be more annoying than I hoped. The drive can take anywhere from 20-35 minutes. This means you have to wake up earlier and deal with traffic. It also means you have to do the reverse late at night (*note: evening traffic can be worse during park closing times). Being this far away does put a damper on taking afternoon breaks. Having a rental car and staying in WDW is great. You get to your room quick! There is little to no drive and the roads are excellent. Even when taking WDW transportation (which can take 20-35 minutes), you do not have to deal with I4 at all. When you leave WDW, there is a noticeable decrease in enjoyment. You have to be more alert. This does stay in your mind. You end up taking afternoon breaks in quiet areas of the parks rather than taking a long drive. I should also note that you lose money on parking when staying outside of WDW. Parking is pricey at $6/day. Fortunately, I have both the Annual Pass and a DVC Membership. Both of these cards give you parking for free. Going to Universal was definitely an opposite feeling. You still do not get the feeling of "being away from it all" when driving to Universal, but it is closer in distance. I think the whole commute took about 5-10 minutes. There is a shuttle available, but I did not want to chance it. For those that want a nicer commute, use Universal Blvd. All in all, I would not recommend this hotel for anyone wanting to go to WDW. If you want to save some money, but be close to WDW; then stay at the Maingate Resorts. I have heard/read plenty of good reviews for them. I would say this hotel is more for those that may go to WDW for a day or two, want to hit the local sites, and spend a couple of days at Universal. Even then, I noticed plenty of nicer, true resorts mere footsteps away. Here are the pros/cons that were experienced with this resort. Pros: -Relatively close to Universal -Relatively inexpensive -Plenty of odd, but interesting attractions nearby -Located on International Drive and close to I4 Cons: -Far from WDW -No parking privileges at parks -No e-ticket access -Plain and ordinary -No true restaurant, just a temporary setup for buffet -Under construction (for a restaurant) -Poor plumbing -Can hear too much noise -Better options at the Maingate Resorts -Area is more for the ‘college/high school’ crowd wanting to party Overall Park Touring (Fireworks/Evening Show Seen is in parenthesis) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wednesday: Epcot -> Animal Kingdom -> Studios Thursday: Universal Orlando (both parks) -> Epcot (Tapestry of Nations & Illuminations 2000) Friday: Studios -> Downtown Disney -> Magic Kingdom Saturday: Studios -> Epcot Sunday: Magic Kingdom -> Animal Kingdom -> airport Comments on Touring: As you can see, we took a strong park hopping strategy. This worked well for being a short trip. We tried to avoid any early entry parks. When you read this report, please note that I was traveling the parks by myself during the day. You gain a lot of flexibility. Some rides have single rider lines that cut your wait time to a very short time! There was a myth that was smashed in this trip. I have read that August was a busy time of year. I also have read that the last 2 weeks of August are when schools starting to go into session. Let me put the two of them together for a new view. I can say the volume of people in the parks was higher on the weekends, but somewhat low during the week. I was able to get on rides with relatively short waits the whole time. The park staff seemed ready for the crowds. To their credit, they did a great job. I compare this time to other times of the year toward the end of this report. Even when the wait was long, I used the Fast Pass setup. I tried a different strategy with Fast Pass. When you get a Fast Pass Ticket, there is a window of time for you to return. When that window opens up, you are able to get a new Fast Pass Ticket on top of the current one. This little trick works well when the windows are close to each other. I noticed this on Space Mountain. My wife and I were able to get on the ride about 2 times within 15-20 minutes of each other. The Stand By line was about 45-60 minutes. There are other tips you can read at: http://www.geocities.com/andrew_dv/wdw/antilemmingtouring.html Universal has the ultimate setup right now. The Express Pass idea is fantastic. I arrived at the park gate 07:00. By 11:00, I toured almost all of the big rides in both parks at least once (some twice). There were little to no crowds and no almost any waits! ******************************** Place of Interests ****************************************** Before going into each POI, I would like to share the definition of my ratings. I summarized all of the days into one to avoid confusion. *Please note that the weekend crowds caused the ratings to go up. The weekdays were at relatively low crowd levels. Average Wait Time Ratings (Note: This rating deals with queue time for rides and attractions) ------------------------- Low: 0-20 minutes Moderate: 21-40 minutes High: 41-90 minutes Oppressive: 91+ minutes Crowd Level Ratings (Note: This rating deals with the ability to navigate the park.) ------------------- Low: Easy to get around. No one is blocking any views. Counter service is completely accessible. Shows are no problem to get into. Moderate: Some change in path required getting around. Some views are more difficult to see. Counter service is still accessible, but some patience is needed. Shows fill up. High: Slow movement around park. Views must be seen through a crowd. Counter service lines take a long time. Definite need to arrive early to get into a show. Oppressive: One big concrete block +++++++++++++++ +Magic Kingdom+ +++++++++++++++ Avg Wait Times Experienced -------------------------- Morning: Low-Moderate Afternoon: Moderate Evening: Moderate Perceived Crowd Levels ---------------------- Morning: Low-Moderate Afternoon: Moderate Evening: Moderate-High Used Fast Pass? --------------- Yes, we used this feature on Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Range Spin. On Buzz, the setup did not work as nice as the rest. Comments on MK -------------- I noticed there is a large number of construction walls here and there. From what I read from Screamscape (http://www.screamscape.com), there is going to be a real neat setup in Adventureland. I noticed there is a new bridge being built in between Adventureland and Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom (WDW). It looks like this bridge is in line with the current bridge between Adventureland and the Crystal Palace. This is a good idea for helping traffic, but may take away some great topiary. The crowd patterns followed a typical scheme. Many folks miss some of the more pleasant areas of this park. If you want a great place to spend some time, go to the rose garden that is in between the Castle and Tomorrowland. The blossoms are just beautiful. There is an increased amount of travelling entertainment. For those that enjoy the park for more than the rides, this is a blessing. ++++++ +Epcot + ++++++ Avg Wait Times Experienced -------------------------- Morning: Low Afternoon: Low Evening: Low Perceived Crowd Levels ---------------------- Morning: Low Afternoon: Low-Slightly Moderate Evening: Moderate Used Fast Pass? --------------- No, there was no real need for it. The only line was at Test Track. Since we could get on the Single Rider Line, we did. The wait was negligible. Comments on Epcot This is a great park for its culture. Do not just follow the crowds to Spaceship Earth. Take your time and enjoy. Future World is always a great place to go. Funny, but the crowds congregate around 2 places: Spaceship Earth and Test Track. There is Fast Pass at "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience," but the stand by line is short. I was very happy to see that this park was on the empty side. I really enjoy just being at Epcot. When you hear about the offerings at World Showcase, you get confused. Besides Norway, Israel, and Mexico, there are no rides at the countries. This does not mean there is nothing to do (besides museums and movies). Some think of it as a place of odd food and gimmicks. Yes, the food is great. Again, look around at what is being presented to you. The architecture at the pavilions alone is enough to spend a day with. Look for what is beyond surface level. For example, the Italy Pavilion has a few shops, but no ride or movie. Does this mean it is something to skip? No. This pavilion does have some of the most fascinating architecture and art. When I am there, I spend a lot of time looking up to see the very intricate detail in the various statues, arches, etc. Sometimes, people skip the shops. If you go in to the shops thinking "America," you miss what is being presented. Ask questions about items that seem different to you. The CMs tend to be knowledgeable about the cultural aspects of the products. In the case of art, the artist may be there as well. Also, do spend time listening to the entertainers at the World Showcase. The music is wonderful and often reflects an aspect of their culture. There is one aspect of Epcot that many agree on. Nighttime at this park is beautiful. From the illuminated concrete to the fire blasts of Illuminations 2000, Epcot is the best nighttime park. ++++++++++++++++++++ +Disney-MGM Studios+ ++++++++++++++++++++ Avg Wait Times Experienced -------------------------- Morning: Low Afternoon: Low-Moderate Evening: Low-Moderate Perceived Crowd Levels ---------------------- Morning: Low Afternoon: Moderate Evening: Low (they are all at Fantasmic!) Used Fast Pass? --------------- Yes, we used Fast Pass on Rock N Rollercoaster as well as the Tower of Terror. Everything else was nearly a walk-on. Comments on Disney-MGM Studios ------------------------------ This park is lopsided with crowds. Most of the time, people go over to the RnR and ToT while the rest of the park is uncrowded. The weekend seemed a bit more crowded around, but not bad at all. Whenever we go to Muppetvision, I always try to look for something that I did not see before (A net full of Jell-O? read that out loud till you get it). Before you go, read up on some Internet sites for what to look for. As with Muppetvision, ToT has some interesting items to look for as well. I finally got to see what is spelled out at the bottom of the hotel directory board (it is behind the CM in the lobby). We definitely skipped Fantasmic! this time. I would rather ride ToT several times than sit on those benches. If you have not seen this, it is a great show to see. Just prepare for the exit like you would a major sporting event. ++++++++++++++++ +Animal Kingdom+ ++++++++++++++++ Avg Wait Times Experienced -------------------------- Afternoon: Moderate Evening: Low Perceived Crowd Levels ---------------------- Afternoon: Moderate Evening: Low Used Fast Pass? --------------- No The only ride that I wanted to use Fast Pass on was Dinosaur (the former CTX). By the time I walked to it from the other attractions, I was just too tired to wait for a Fast Pass window to open up. Comments on the Animal Kingdom ------------------------------------- This park has improved so much since it opened. It is still a diamond in the rough. The animals always seem to be well taken care of (much more than any zoo) and it shows in their playfulness. Even with hot days, I was seeing lots of critters having a good time. I may seem like a broken record, but look what is beyond the rides (including the safari). I spent hours one day just looking for paths. You walk down these paths with no one in view. There are many enjoyable parts that get overlooked. Did you ever go to the "It’s Tough to be a Bug," and think you are just in an ordinary queue? Absolutely not! The reason is that the queue is more of a jungle trek than a way to get to a 3-D movie. There are even benches for you to sit at. If someone wants to get to the movie then let him. Have fun here! I had a great driver on the safari. She was from South Africa. As we were driving, she mentioned many aspects of the animals that other drivers never touched on. What added an extra touch was that her accent really gave notice to the African names of the animals. It was great! I would really like to see an addition of another animal area. To me, it is fun and fascinating to see animals that you would not ordinary see outside of a documentary. From my understanding, the Beastly Kingdom is going to be added next. This will add more rides, but not many animals (if at all). If it were up to me, I would add something like the Great Barrier Reef of Australia to the park. It would be something like the DisneySea idea with a more concentrated theme. The AK is the best place to implement something like DisneySea. I think it is even better than creating a second park. I am not sure if I have a favorite at the AK. It is all fun! +++++++++++++++++ +Downtown Disney+ +++++++++++++++++ No wait times here. Lots of shops, restaurants, nightclubs, House of Blues, Bongos Cuban Café, Cirque Du Soleil, Forty Thrist Street, and DisneyQuest. General Comments ---------------- If you can, go here in the afternoon! This place is much more enjoyable than the nighttime. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +Universal's Islands of Adventure+ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Avg Wait Times Experienced -------------------------- Morning: Low Afternoon: Low Perceived Crowd Levels ---------------------- Morning: Low Afternoon: Moderate Comments -------- IOA is great! Universal has to keep adding on to this. I have heard that the Jurassic Park Island is going to get another ride. Great! I can not wait to be chased down in an vehicle by a huge T-Rex! Spidey still delivers the best excitement. The other rides are awesome as well, but the web slinger takes it the extra steps in high tech coolness. There are two new family rides at this park. The first is Storm Force at the Marvel Superhero Island. This is similar to the TeaCup Ride at the MK with a slight spin <pun>. Storm, from the X-Men, is in need of your help to defeat Magneto. You spin your car to generate energy to help her. I did not notice anything special for spinning extra hard, but it was a fun ride nonetheless. The other new ride is the Flying Unicorn. OK, this is definitely a kiddie coaster. In some ways, I was embarrassed to be on it. That’s ok, there were plenty of adults on this ride. My legs were a bit confined in the seat. The coaster itself is fun and is over quick. There are no high-g turns or loops, etc. I did not see too many kids on it, but those that were there enjoyed it. I should mention the water fountain/statue in the Lost Continent. It is located in front of the Sinbad show. This is no ordinary fountain. A Universal CM can speak back and forth to you as well as control water fountain jets. The voice can be changed and sound fx are used. It is hilarious! Definitely spend some time bantering here. Just watch out for that water. You can get dowsed. Ask the fountain about how he got there. He tells you about a legend. The legend has it that someone was trapped in the fountain with an evil spell. One thing to note about Seuss Landing is that this island is very bright when that Florida summer sun hits. Be sure to keep that sunblock on. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +Universal Studios Florida+ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Avg Wait Times Experienced -------------------------- Morning: Low Afternoon: Low Perceived Crowd Levels ---------------------- Morning: Low Afternoon: Moderate Comments on USF -------- For some reason, Twister really hit me in a different way this time. Maybe it was the lack of a full house, but I felt somewhat vulnerable. They do an excellent job with the pre-show as well as give perspective to the power of a tornado. The show itself always impressed me. It did not disappoint this time. The Men In Black: Alien Attack ride is fantastic! If you have any understanding about MIB, you are definitely going to enjoy this. This puts Buzz Lightyear to shame. The aliens are not cut outs, but actually animatronics. You get to have lots of fun and there is twist at the end where you battle another MIB Rookie Team (you find out they are aliens). You even get to push the red button. After all is said and done, Agent J rates you in a classic Will Smith fashion. Even though I was neuralized, I remember everything about it (maybe, I am an alien <grin>). Whatever you do, do not just run through the ride entry/exit. There are some great gags, especially with the worm at the exit ("Oh great, we get to hear that song again!"). As with the MIB story, nothing is what it seems and it is all funny. Here is an important suggestion for those going on the Back to the Future Ride. Avoid the back seat! You do get bumped around a lot. Your head does hit the cushion. If you do have safety concerns about this, then be cautious. One last noteworthy item is that I was able to sit up front for T2 (about the 3rd or 4th row). Just my opinion, but I thought the experience was a slight bit better. Do not worry about not getting a particular seat, because the view is great everywhere. ******************************** Restaurants ****************************************** Star Rating * - Don't bother. ** - Ehhh, it's a meal and it did not make me sick. *** - Good eating. **** - Now we are talking! ***** - Can I live here? Prelog Before going to WDW, I wanted to try a new strategy for eating. Many times when I go, I get lots of priority seating arrangements at table service restaurants. This time, I wanted to save money and time. I am also trying to remove as much meat from my diet as possible. Those factors presented quite a bit of a challenge. First off, I promised my wife we would go to Mama Melrose’s. Both of us enjoy this restaurant, so we got a PS for this. Surprisingly, it was easy to get the time we wanted only a week in advance. Next was the idea of money. I was traveling single for most of the time, so I thought that counter service would do instead of trying to carry a backpack (hot weather, travel lite). Well, the counter service food is fairly priced (even compared to outside stops), but the beverages are over priced (typically it was from a $1.90 for a small to $3.25 for a large). In fact, the beverages accounted for a majority of total cost of food (I get several servings during the day). For future reference, you can get a cup of ice from the counter service stops. It is a small size and is not convenient to carry around during the day. This option works ok for meals. In future trips, I am going to bring my own bottles. This saves a large amount of money and allows you to avoid lines for afternoon refreshment. Finally, the need to find non-meat entrees. I was at the whim of menus at this point, until I received a message from Deb Wills’ list server (her excellent site is at: http://wdwig.com). There is a new book specifically geared for vegetarians and vegans called: "Vegetarian Walt Disney World and Gerater Orlando Including Universal Orlando." The authors are Susan Shumake and Than Saffel. Somehow their names are a smaller font on the cover than Paul McCartney, who wrote the foreword. So, how did it turn out? All in all, I feel I meet my goals. We saved some money, I ate healthier, and our schedule was more flexible. WDW is more than accommodating for those with special dietary needs. Even when the menu does not have vegetarian/vegan options, they do make an order special for you (now that’s service!). The non-meat options can be much tastier than the meat based ones (all a matter of taste, of course). For future trips, I am going to follow similar goals. The water bottles are going to happen as well as looking for healthier food options. For longer trips, more table restaurants are going to be incorporated to provide some more relaxed/exotic meals. ++++++++++++++++ +Pecos Bill’s Cafe+ ++++++++++++++++ Where: Magic Kingdom Type of Service: Counter Type of Food: Various fast and healthy foods Characters: No Meal Experienced: Lunch/Dinner Ranking: 3.5 Comments -------- This little gem always seemed out of the way in past trips. Now, I am putting this on the "must" list. I always thought the counter service food at the MK was common. This stop seems to have more than the average options. If you are looking for vegetarian options, the Kit Carson Salad (without chicken) is the salad to get. The entrée is filled with different shredded veggies (including jicama) and cubed cheese. There is a new electronic order system being tested in this restaurant. I do not understand why only a few people were using this. The system is a simplistic touch screen setup. Anyone, who can browse the Internet or us an ATM, can use this. After selecting your order, you can use your credit card just like a supermarket setup. This works well and the order was completed quickly by a friendly staff. ++++++++++++++++ +Mama Melrose's+ ++++++++++++++++ Where: Disney-MGM Studios Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Italian/Seafood Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Ranking: 4 Comments -------- I adore the serenity of this restaurant. No one can convince me that this is not a good place to go. The service is always great and the food is very good (less dressing on that salad would be nice). Time seems to just slow to a nice relaxing crawl. Try to ask for a table in the far area for a more romantic feel. ++++++++++++++++++++ +Rosie’s All-American Cafe+ ++++++++++++++++++++ Where: Disney-MGM Studios Type of Service: Counter Type of Food: Fast and healthy foods Characters: No Meal Experienced: Lunch Ranking: 2.5 Comments -------- This is an outdoor stop nearby the ToT. The veggie burger is so good, my wife enjoyed it (and she does not like veggie burgers). Even still, there are lots of other options in this area. You can get fruit salads and similar. Most of the seats are umbrella-covered tables. Even on a hot day, it is a cool spot to sit. ++++++++++++++++ +Hard Rock Cafe+ ++++++++++++++++ Where: Universal CityWalk Type of Service: Table Type of Food: American Characters: No Meal Experienced: Lunch Ranking: 3 Comments -------- I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by heat when I headed over to the Hard Rock. I was going to go to Jimmy Buffet’s, but the restaurant did not open till 11:30. I HAD to have something soon. When I walked in as a single, I thought they would give me a seat in the corner. In actuality, I was giving a seat right in the center. I like this restaurant. The options are variations on American favorites (and there are non-meat options as well). The size of the restaurant is impressive and has plenty of rock and roll artifacts on the walls. In the center is the bar with a Pink Cadillac rotating over it. +++++++++++++++++++ +Electric Umbrella+ +++++++++++++++++++ Where: Epcot Center Type of Service: Counter Type of Food: Typical fast food Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Ranking: 2.5 Comments -------- This was the only meat dish that I had. What can I say, chicken fingers are a weakness.
++++++++++++++++++++ +Sunshine Season Food Fair+ ++++++++++++++++++++ Where: Epcot (The Land Pavilion) Type of Service: Counter Type of Food: Various vegetarian, Italian, and sweet options Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Ranking: 3 Comments -------- Come here for a nice simple and relaxing dinner. The options are fresh and well prepared. My only issue is that the salad that comes with the combo meal is a bit small. Other than that, good place. After eating a good meal, you can go across the pavilion to take the "Living with the Land" boat ride. At dinnertime, this ride is relatively easy to get on. ++++++++++++++++ +Pure and Simple+ ++++++++++++++++ Where: Epcot Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Healthy and lite Characters: No Meal Experienced: Lunch Ranking: 3 Comments -------- I gave this stop a 3 rather than 2.5 for its service. I asked for a vegetarian version of the chicken wrap. They made a special effort to accommodate me. I have to go back to this place to try the waffles. They smelled so good! ++++++++++++++++ +Beaches and Cream+ ++++++++++++++++ Where: Yacht/Beach Club Type of Service: Table/countertop (bar) Type of Food: Ice Cream, Fountain Soda, Shakes, and other goodies Characters: No Meal Experienced: Evening Dessert Splurge Ranking: 3.5 Comments -------- Just thinking about the dessert we had here is making me go into chocolate shock. My wife and I stopped by here after Epcot in the evening. I never had a lime-Rickey, so I gave it a go. Not bad, but not something to really desire. We both split a "Fudge Mud Slide." Well, split is not a good word. The two of us could not come close to finishing this delicious meal. If you have the option, sit at the counter. There is lots of energy going on up front. I was impressed with the employees. They were working like a machine. A definite! ++++++++++++++++ +Forty Thirst Street+ ++++++++++++++++ Where: Downtown Disney – West Side Type of Service: Counter Type of Food: Frozen beverages Characters: No Meal Experienced: Afternoon thirst quencher Ranking: 3 Comments -------- When I was walking through Downtown Disney, the sun was beating down on me. I took a chance and went in here for something to drink. For about $5, you can get an interesting frozen drink (no alcohol). That seemed pricey to me, but I was being adventurous. At first I thought it would be like an Orange Julius, but that was not the case. Typical fruit drinks can be sugary/syrupy rather than refreshing. The "Mango Tango" (I like saying that) was very refreshing! I was walking around thinking it was several degrees cooler. If you find yourself tired and exhausted, give this place a try. You may find yourself surprised. ++++++++++++++++ +Villa Pizza+ ++++++++++++++++ Where: Orlando International Airport Type of Service: Counter Type of Food: Fast food, Italian style Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Ranking: 0.5 Comments -------- Avoid, avoid, avoid, avoid, avoid ******************************** General Comments ****************************************** Best Of (this trip) ------- Best Park: Epcot Best Flowers/landscaping (hard one): Animal Kingdom (Epcot and Magic Kingdom are close 2nd place) Best Firework Display: Illuminations 2000 Best Overall Ride: The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman (My wife still thinks Tower of Terror is her favorite) Best Immersion/Dark Ride: The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman (MIB is a very close 2nd) Best Staff: All of WDW Best 3D: The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman Best Coaster: The Incredible Hulk Coaster Best Show: Twister Best Lunch: Pecos Bill’s Cafe Best Dinner: Mama Melrose’s Attending Mass at WDW -------------------------- I never wrote this in my trip reports, so I hope I do not offend. Just because I am on vacation does not mean I should not go to Mass on Sunday. Thankfully, many others feel the same way. For Catholics, there are two places that I know of to attend Mass. The closest to WDW is the Luau Cove at the Polynesian Resort. Mass times are 08:00 and 10:15 on Sunday. This is a nice place for Mass. A special thanks to WDW for allowing us to celebrate Mass here. The other option, I know of, is at Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine. The location of the Chuch is 8300 Vineland Avenue in Orlando, FL. Check their web site for Mass times (http://www.maryqueenoftheuniverse.org/). If you have never gone here, please do so. This is a beautiful Church with inspired clergy.
Late August vs. other times I went into this trip thinking that the crowds and heat would be unbearable. After thinking about it, the late August weekday crowds were close to the levels in November. I would dare to call it "off season" like. Sometimes, I even thought the crowds were less. Other times (weekend), I thought the crowds were more. This might have been to increase number of ride cars, entertainment events, longer hours, or similar. The type of crowd was different as well. My gut reaction is that the crowds during this time were more down to earth than other times. Children seemed a bit more behaved and the families seemed quite a bit more polite. For some reason, the teens were even more behaved. I noticed that parents were much more attuned to the children rather themselves. It was nice to see. Another nice item about this time is that there are more events and longer hours. You can take that afternoon break knowing that there is plenty of evening time available. There are many more entertainers walking around as well. I must also mention the landscaping. In a word: beautiful! There is a big difference in the "lushness" of the area. All areas had more blossoms and more exotics. The main drawback of late August touring has to do with the weather. The humidity gets high in the afternoon and the temperature can get into the mid-90s. The afternoon storms can be expected and there is a remote possibility that a hurricane can hit (for example: Debby threatened Florida, but thankful it dissipated). With all factors combined, the heat index can get over 100. If and only if you take breaks, I can honestly say that this weather is tolerable. Without getting too detailed, I would recommend this time for families who can not take their children out of school during the fall to spring timeframe. With various schools that go back into session in late August, the parks can be toured with minor effort. Special Note to CMs --------------------- When I write about trip experiences at WDW, I always forget to give full credit to the CMs. The Imagineers may have designed the parks, but it is you folks that make the experience worth while. Each and every time I am at WDW, I notice that the CMs are always aware of their customer needs. Just a quick example, my wife and I were getting tired at the MK. We decided to head into Pecos Bill’s Café for lunch. The electronic food system was closed, so we went into the normal line. We were both feeling a bit tired from the heat and must have shown it on our face. The CM at the register started to talk to us asking us where we were from and such. It was nice and gave a good feeling. Instead of talking away, I leave you with a simple: Keep up the great work! You are an important part of everyone’s vacation fun! Current Fast Pass Experience -------------------- I expected Fast Pass to be a staple. Sometimes, it was a necessity while other times it was worthless. There are some rides you have to question why it is available. There are still other rides that desperately need it. Keep tweaking this system, it needs some more work. Finally ------- This trip was a pleasant surprise. It really came at a good time when I needed to get away. I believe this is a blessing. I am very grateful for this. My image of this time has changed and re-enforces some advice given to me. Go when you want to go. Andrew Della Vecchia andrewdv@adelphia.net Mail a Comment to Andrew Della Vecchia |
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