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Andrew Della Vecchia -- December 2001 -- Walt Disney World (OKWR)12/07/2001-12/15/2001 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ What's this report about? +++++++++++++++++++++++ This report is about the celebration of Christmas and the other Holiday Seasons at WDW. I am going to give my normal information as well. This time, expect more focus on decorations, shows, and the like. General Info +++++++++++ Travel ++++ Airline: US Airways Arrived to MCO: Friday, December 7, 2001 @ 08:30 Returned to PHL: Saturday, December 15, 2001 @ 15:30 Rental Car Company Used: National Rental Car Comments on Travel ---------------- How many times have I gone to WDW this year? Lots! I am very grateful for it as well. My wife and I started planning this trip at the beginning of the year. We have gone to WDW during Christmas time and have enjoyed it. WDW takes a step higher than most places during the Holidays. Although not all-encompassing, there is a diverse celebration of beliefs. In a time where secular means removal of individual belief, this is very welcome. I believe in freedom! Let all celebrate together! At first, we thought this would be the only trip. Well, that was not how it would end up. Again, I am very thankful for such a blessing. Moving on, the trip was planned through DVC. We wanted to stay at the OKW. Unfortunately, the rooms were booked in such a way that we could not stay in one room the entire trip. We had to book it to stay in two different places. That was a downer. I knew I should have called earlier. Not all was lost! We were placed on a waiting list for a studio at all of the different WDW DVC Resorts. After a few weeks, we had a studio set for the entire week. Thinking I wouldn't mind the extra space (and Jacuzzi tub) in the one-bedroom, I asked to remain on the list for that one as well. The rest of the trip planning went well. The airfare was fairly inexpensive, but the times were not my favorite (those early morning flights can get to you). Getting a rental through National was as easy as always. My favorite part of every trip is planning out where to eat. I save my appetite for weeks before trips. Which restaurants to go on which days is fun. Questions travel through my head like ",should I go to the California Grill after a day at the MK, AK, or Epcot?" You might think that is a bit crazy, but it makes a difference. It also does not take long for us to agree on everything then get a PS. Let's get to the actual travel. I have to save everything was pleasantly uneventful. The enhanced security can be a pain (especially when going through your carry-ons!). Just my advice, but do not pack carry-ons. It makes everything easier. The "skip the counter" rental service at National went as expected. Is it worth the extra money? Previously, I would have said no. National changed their policy on what is classified as an Intermediate. That made me upset. However, I have to agree that cutting out the counter is something that is hard to put a price tag on. National's cars also tend to be a bit more kept. Traveling around WDW in a rental has changed. Make sure you have your IDs ready. They are required at all of the resorts. The parks are the same. The travel for coming home went well. Once again, we were picked for bag searches. Let me repeat my previous statement about carry-ons. Don't take them unless you need them. It is just easier. Passes Used +++++++++ WDW Annual Pass Universal Multi-Day Pass Comments on Passes ---------------- Those APs continue to get their workout. Both of us really enjoy the flexibility they give. It is also fun when people see you use the biometric scanner. Sometimes, that really throws people off. If you are going to Universal, definitely get the multi-day pass. They give park hopping privileges. When you see how close IOA is to the Studios, you understand how well that plays out for park hopping. Weather Summary +++++++++++++ How do you like a high of 80 degrees and sunny for almost every day? Yes, this was a true blessing. Let me note this is not the average weather for this season. In past trips, it was more in the low-mid 70s and cooler at night. Either way, that is good weather as well. Resort: Old Key West ++++++++++++++++++ "Welcome Home!" That may seem odd to hear at first, but it actually fits into this resort. The layout is not in the "gargantuan" room next to room style. It is more similar to a planned community of townhouses/condos. Taking a bird's eye view of the OKW, you get the sense that the Imagineers are going for a community feel. Instead of areas (ala moderates), the division of the property is called by calmly named streets and proximity to ponds. Each building is architecture and painting worthy of the Key West title. The landscaping here is worth given praise. As with the colors and design of the buildings, the horticulture reflects a relaxed, vacation community. Shrubs, trees, fountains, and even well integrated golf greens edge the visual levels of relaxation into a comfort zone. Checking into the OKW is a pretty straightforward process. The front desk is located in the central community area. Inside, the decor is nicely arranged to assist in relaxing you for those longer waits. In all honesty, we have not had to wait long to check-in. The only issue encountered was that our room was not ready when we arrived in the morning. Speaking of that central area, there are some places worth noting. Here you can rent boats, use the main pool, dine at "Olivia's Café" and "Goods To Go," have a drink, or do some shopping. They really made this the hub of activity. The location of the community area is also a real nice benefit. The hubbub of a busy lobby or restaurants is separate from where you are sleeping. There are several pools at this resort. All of them are smaller than other deluxe accommodations and lack a slide, but are worthy of a good afternoon swim. My take on it is that they are definitely for the family wanting a mid-day break. Did you ever see pictures of the OKW and wonder what the lighthouse might have in it? If you have, then you would be interested to know that it is a sauna. I think that is all. Oh wait! I forgot the rooms. We have stayed in the studio and one bedroom here. In general, the rooms at the OKW have a greater square footage than other DVC resorts. The question is how they compare in terms of quality. Let me talk about the studios first. We did not stay in one this time around, but have done so in the past. The studios at the OKW are oddly shaped. Instead of the galley design, there is an in right-triangle layout. When you walk-in, there are 2 queen beds with the standard entertainment/chest of drawers. Next to that are a breakfast table and the entrance out to the porch/balcony. As you go down the branch, the first area you are at is the kitchenette. A wet bar sink, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, cabinets, toaster, and similar are located here. This is adequate for breakfast and lunches, but does not work well for dinners. At the end of the studio is the bathroom. This is where some of the extra square footage has been located. The bathrooms are much larger than the standard deluxe rooms. However, the vanity is located in the room. We would prefer if they separated the vanity outside of the bathroom. Now, let's move on to the one bedroom villa. That is the style of room used this trip. Walking into the one bedroom villa at the OKW is eye-opening. We have stayed in the one bedroom villas at the Boardwalk, but this is not the same. The rooms are noticeable bigger in size. This style of room is wonderful! When you walk-in to the villa, there is a nice entrance foyer. From there you can go forward into the great room or left to the quarters. The great room area is really the combination of the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Although they are one room that does not mean it is cramped at all. The two of us felt like this is larger than our former apartment. Another item to note is that the concept of the great room is to facilitate an open-air feel. To add to this, there are plenty of large windows and set of patio doors to bring you more to the outdoors. This is definitely a good vacation design. The kitchen is a full, open area with all of the amenities of home (at least mine anyway). An island at the end of the kitchen area doubles also as a unit to hold the TV facing into the living area. We found that one could prepare breakfast, lunch, or dinner here. Moving over to the dining area, there is a serving area above a set of cabinets. Next to that is the dining table which looks to comfortably seat a family of 4-5. The living area has plenty of seating. There is a fold-out couch and a love seat. With that is a nicely cushioned chair with an ottoman. As said before, the TV from the kitchen faces outward. Nice! Let's go over to the quarters. From the entrance, you enter a hallway. The first door you meet leads to a laundry room. Here is a difference to be noted with the other DVC resorts. The washer and dryer are separate, full units. In the one-bedrooms at the Boardwalk, the washer and dryer are stacked (not nearly as efficient as and much noisier than separate units). Having the w/d in its own room is also nice. Going past the laundry room, you enter the bedroom. This is huge! The bed is king sized with two nightstands. As with other villas, there is a 2nd TV and plenty of drawer space. There is also a door out onto the patio/balcony that gets shared with the great room. Next to the bedroom is what I call the Jacuzzi room. Yes, there is a large whirlpool tub there along with a sink/mirror and a closet. Can you imagine it? Getting into the tub at night after having fun in the parks? It's great! Finally, there is the bathroom. Again, this is a large bathroom. Another sink is in here along with the shower and facilities. As you might guess, we prefer the one-bedroom to the studio. That's not to knock the studio. It's just you get to really enjoy one-bedroom villa more. Generally comparing the rooms to the other resorts is not easy. Each resort has its own pluses/minuses. For short trips, studios do just fine. However, long trips definitely prefer the villas. Between DVC resorts at WDW, the OKW studios are not our favorite. The ones at the Boardwalk and the Wilderness Lodge are definitely smaller, but have a nicer layout with a couch. Now, the OKW villas are definitely top notch. For convenience, amenities, and shear square footage, the OKW gets the nod for being the best. What about transportation? Is it convenient? Is it quick? To be quick and to the point, the OKW has a very convenient and good bus system. The stops are easy to walk to. I noticed that sometimes it was nearly instant a bus came. Other times, I waited a max of 20 minutes. That is very good. As a side note to transportation, we also had a rental car. This resort lends itself to rental or personal cars better than any resort. You can walk right out your door, past the gardens, and there is the car. No lobby or anything to get through. Just to summarize, this is a great place to stay for a WDW trip. It lends itself to quiet, family time more than any other resort. If that is what you want, this is where you should stay. Overall Park Touring (Fireworks/Evening Show Seen is in parenthesis) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Friday: MGM > break > MGM (Osborne Spectacle of Lights) Saturday: Epcot > break > Epcot (Holidays around the World) Sunday: MK > break > Downtown Disney Monday: Epcot > break > Epcot (Holidays around the World) Tuesday: Universal IOA > Universal Studios > break > MGM (Osborne Spectacle of Lights) Wednesday: AK > break > Resort Tour Thursday: MGM > break > Epcot (Holidays around the World) Friday: MK > break > Resort Tour > Epcot (Holidays around the World) Saturday: Resort Tour > depart (..sob..) Comments on Touring ----------------- I'm not going to say too much on our touring. We did not spend all day at the parks. Our resort was great and wanted to enjoy it. That allowed us to be much more relaxed for the evening events. **************** * PDAs and WDW * **************** ******************************** Place of Interests ****************************************** 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. Definitely need to arrive early to get into a show. Oppressive: One big concrete block Holiday Fun/Decoration Level (SOMETHING NEW) ------------------------------ This is completely subjective, but felt it necessary to this report. The level can be 0 to 5 with the following description: 0 " You're a mean one Mr. Grinch. 1 " Three ghosts are going to visit you for a talk. 2 " Good enough for marketing, but Julenessan is going to give you a kick on the bum. 3 " Friendly celebration, Pere Noel is going to fill your shoe. 4 " Impressive, but don't push it further. 5 " Too much, you're competing with the Griswold's. Easy said, anything past 4 and it is in the overkill range. Anything under 2-2.5, and it is getting in the dull range. Also, I may break the decoration levels into smaller groups. +++++++++++++++++ Magic Kingdom +++++++++++++++ Average Wait Times Experienced: Low to Moderate Perceived Crowd Levels: Moderate Decoration Level (Park): 2.5 Used Fastpass: Yes Comments on MK ------------ The MK is always a great park to have some fun. The rides are such that you actually enjoy them for more than a minute at 60 mph. As far as decorations for the park, it needs some work. There is a large tree at the town square surrounded with a little train and other decorations. Main Street, USA has an even amount of wreaths and similar to spruce it up a bit. The decorations are simple, but effective. Going past Main Street, you have to look at the plantings. There are plenty of poinsettias as well as some Christmas tunes. I can not speak on Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. We usually want to go to a nice, romantic dinner in the evening. Given the cost of tickets, we would not get much out of them. +++++++++ Epcot +++++++ Average Wait Times Experienced: Low Perceived Crowd Levels: Low to Moderate Decoration Level (everything): 4.0 Used Fast Pass: Yes Comments on Epcot --------------- Epcot is my pick for best celebration of Holidays in the truest sense of the term. There is so much beyond the pavilions that it just can not be written. Do not try to look for wreaths and similar traditional decorations Future World. Instead, look at the flower arrangements as well as the species being used. There are lots of evergreens mixed with poinsettias and other very fragrant flowers. Walking from Future World to the International Showcase, take notice of the large arches. During the day, they do not look too nice. However, keep walking to the center. Turn around and notice the view of the fountain. Then, turn around and notice the view of the large tree. Keep that in mind as you return to it at night. At night, that very same walkway is amazing. There is a wonderful tree lighting ceremony. Musicians play a rather contemporary take on Christmas music with an interesting variety of instruments. The accompanying singer is nice to listen. This year, it was extra special that everyone joined the group in singing the Peace Prayer of St. Francis. Singing that in unison with others took a lot off of my shoulders. Once the tree is illuminated, the arches are lit. The music starts. The fountain begins to dance. The park becomes energetic and peaceful. Now, look all around. As you look to the fountain, listen to the music Notice how it dances in time with the lights in the arches. Look to the tree; see how it celebrates faith and hope. Spend time here, a lot of time. Let's talk about Holidays around the World. This works so well for the World Showcase. At each pavilion, you can learn about how each culture celebrates the Holidays. There is at least one CM that is usually in character of the Holiday representative. They explain the traditions of their celebration. For instance, St. Nicholas speaks at the German Pavilion about their Christian traditions. If you have seen it before or never at all, this really is a nice learning experience. If you want to see them all, be sure to read the times on the maps and displays. If you go during this time, do not miss the Candlelight Processional. If you are planning on dinner at an Epcot restaurant, most certainly purchase a dinner package. You receive reserved seating as well as a full dinner (appetizer, entrée, and dessert). Surprisingly, gratuity is included. The Processional is always a heart warming experience. The Disney orchestra, guest speaker, guest conductor, guest choir, and the Voices of Liberty all come together to share a celebration of Christ's Birth. Trumpets blare, scripture is read along with the profound "One Solitary Life," the conductor dances, everyone sings, lights twinkle, and all have a good time. ++++++++++++++++++++++ Disney-MGM Studios ++++++++++++++++++++ Average Wait Times Experienced: Low to Moderate Perceived Crowd Levels: Low Decoration Level (Park): 2.0 Decoration Level (Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights): 5.0 Used Fast Pass: No Comments on Disney-MGM Studios ---------------------------- What?!?! Ah!?!?! Where's the tree?!?! That darn hat! OK, I liked the hat back in October. However, I do not like it in this trip. There used to be a beautiful tree right where the giant hat is at now. On certain nights, there was a parade with Belle. Children would get dressed up as very cute Christmas decorations and walk in the parade. They would process forward to the tree where there was a nice storytelling session with the characters from Beauty and the Beast. After that was over, you had just enough time to get to the lighting of the Osborne Show. " sob " Sadly, the tree has been moved to the front of the Studios. We did not notice any nighttime parades either. I really missed that. Oh well, best to move along" The Osborne Spectacle of Lights operates every night. The lighting ceremony is cute at first, but does wear on. The light show, itself, is enjoyable. One item to note is that they make artificial snow fall on New York Street. I think it is just bubbles that are tiny. They run during the show. The light show spans the entire backlot of MGM. As you walk around, you can see there is some division to the setup. Up front around the arch, the focus is definitely on the Christian side. As you move forward, there is a mix of celebrations. Finally, the end has a fair wish for a good New Year. Oh, one thing I should mention is the specs they give you. These are cardboard and plastic eyewear that reflects the lights into a pattern. From what I can tell, Disney changes the pattern now and then. For awhile the pattern was a snowflake. This year, it was an angel. Neat, but it is not something really needed to get a good experience. I can not describe the shear overwhelming experience this is. After seeing so many lights, it just becomes too much. This really attracts a lot of people. If you arrive at the wrong time (which can be any time, any day), it is just packed. A word of advice here is to hang out up front and wait till a pocket appears. It happens more than you expect and makes the experience nicer. Getting back to the hat. That was put there for the "100 Years" Celebration. Keeping that in mind, we went to the new museum/show about Walt Disney. The exhibit is divided up into several areas. Each one outlines the progress of Walt's life. There are various quotes, artifacts, and footage to take in. After that, there is a 15 minute documentary on Walt. It is pretty respectable and can be watched a few more times (wink). Honestly, this is a must-see. My favorite is the area with models from all of the different Disney Theme Parks. ++++++++++++++++++ Animal Kingdom ++++++++++++++++ Average Wait Times Experienced: Low Perceived Crowd Levels: Low to Moderate Decoration Level: 1.0 Used Fast Pass: No Comments on the Animal Kingdom ---------------------------- Well, the AK really had the bare minimum decorations. A nicely decorated tree is out front, but not much more. I guess it would be forced to put decorations everywhere. It might also cause problems if the animals ever got into them. The "Chester and Hester's Dinorama" expansion is coming along. Personally, I'm not crazy about it. The Dinoland area had a nice theme to it. What Dinorama does is give the land a cheap feel. The area where there were educational exhibits is gone. Instead, a large concrete pad with midway games is in its place. That is disappointing. On the other side, the new Dumbo-like ride in Dinoland looks nice. The progression on the wild mouse coaster is impressive (those coaster types can be intense). Also, there is a new dino character that walks around. The character does silly things like growling and dancing every once in awhile. It's a hoot! Why did they close down the Flame Tree BBQ? Sometimes, the managers do not understand the impact of closing certain eateries. This one hurts in that the nearby seating area is wonderful! We used to get a salad and fries, then walk to a water viewing seat. With all of the plants, statues, and similar, this was a great way to enjoy an hour or so. +++++++++++++++++ Downtown Disney+ +++++++++++++++ Decoration Rating: 2.0 Comments on the Downtown Disney ----------------------------- We do not spend much time here. On most trips, we go once or twice at night just to see what is going on. The crowds can really get large. People really enjoy spending money here. There are a light amount of decorations here during Christmas Season. Most come for the shops. However, a nice Christmas Tree lighting does take place at dusk. You can also listening/watch to various singers in the early evening hours. ++++++++++++++++++ Resort Touring ++++++++++++++++ WL Decoration Rating: Perfect GF Decoration Rating: Next to Perfect AKL Decoration Rating: 3.0 Comments ------- If you go to WDW during the Season, you must take a tour of the resorts. We have seen a fair amount of them, but have not seen them all. Our favorites are the AK Lodge, WL Lodge, and the GF. During the day, we really like going to the GF. At night we enjoy walking around the AK Lodge and WL Lodge. Out of them all, the WL Lodge is where it is at! The Wilderness Lodge is wonderful during Christmas! All of the various woods blend extremely well with the American Northwest themed decorations. It just would be too hard for me to describe how nice it is done. The Villas follow suit with a very classy, hard to put in words view. Excellent job! For those that want to take pictures of the WL tree, bring along your wide angle lens. You will need it! We had such a great time at the WL (as we always do). The night started with a few moments admiring the decorated lobby. After having a fantastic dinner at Artist Point (see below), we toured the Lodge. Hours went buy going from sitting area to sitting area (note: the lodge has 7 levels with sitting areas perched for just the right views). We notice how the mood of quiet, warm celebration continued into the Villas. I am amazed at how few people spend time in the Iron Spike Room. Those comfortable chairs in the lobby are also available here with a couple of fire places. The room has some great woodwork along with private areas. For the collector types, there are many pieces of Walt Disney Memorabilia to ponder. Leaving the WL is rough. I think this is my favorite resort of all time. The memories I have here are special ones. Where the WL decorations are warm, the GF is opulent. The flower arrangements alone are amazing. There is not one petal out of line. I think the types of flowers were also picked for fragrance. That was one of the first senses I noticed. The GF has something I really have not seen before. There is a candy shop made out of ginger bread. That is clever. The little ginger bread houses on the above floors look well done also. In the lobby, the GF has an impressive tree. As with the WL, the decorations are themed to match the resort. The pomp and circumstance of the GF is a part of the decorations. It is not overdone, but done just right. Finally, the AK Lodge is really nice to visit. You might not expect it to fit well, but there are decorations. The WDW staff did a really good job making them fit into the theme. As stated in a previous trip report, you have to come here at night. That is when the animals are most active on the savannah. It is also when the colors of the resort blend in well with torches, lights, and the decorations. +++++++++++++++++++++ Universal Studios +++++++++++++++++++ Average Wait Times Experienced: Low Perceived Crowd Levels: Low to Moderate Decoration Level: 1.0 Used Express Pass: No Comments on the Universal Studios ------------------------------- Universal Studios only has a few attractions that I really look forward. MIB, T2-3D, and Twister are my favorites with Back to the Future following. The rest of it is alright, but can be skipped for more IOA time. The decorations here are ultra-forced. Disney really puts them to shame. On top of that, the music played is mainly the typical commercial variety (except for the Vince Guardi Trio). ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Universal Islands of Adventure ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Average Wait Times Experienced: Low Perceived Crowd Levels: Low Decoration Level: 2.0 Used Express Pass: No Comments on the Universal Studios ------------------------------- IOA is a great thrill ride park. Even after experience them many times, I'm ready to go again. Universal must continue to push the envelope with rides like this. In a couple of years, the rides may start to seem dated. Outside of Dr. Seuss Island, the decorations are not much. Ginghams at Dr. Seuss Islands is fun and whimsical. At the same time, it is commercial. Universal could do better. General Comments --------------- ******************************** Restaurants ****************************************** Star Rating 1 Don't bother. 2 Ehhh, it's a meal and it did not make me sick. 3 Good eating. 4 Now we are talking! 5 Can I live here? Service Rating (SOMETHING NEW) --------------------------- I'm adding this to all of my trip reports now. For the most part, service at WDW is great. However, there can be those times where it is not so great. I'll break down the ratings as 1-5. Here is my impression of what that means: 1 " Completely ignored the customer 2 " Concerned only with a making money 3 " Content, but wanted more 4 " Pleasant experience with room for improvement 5 " You leave knowing customer is #1 concern +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hollywood Brown Derby +++++++++++++++++++++++ Where: Disney-MGM Studios Type of Service: Table Type of Food: American style Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Star Rating: 3.5 Service Rating: 3.5 Comments ------ For being in a theme park, the Hollywood Brown Derby has nice atmosphere. With the Christmas Season, there is an added bonus of some decorations. Everything is done in a classy manner. We did not get a very good table. I'll give a brief description. The restaurant has 2 tiers. One is slightly lower than the other. The higher tier surrounds the lower one. The seating on the higher tier as well as the perimeter of the lower one has some "boundaries" to them. Then there is the remaining center portion of the lower tier. That is where we sat. Even though the tables where fine, the lack of that tiny bit of privacy took away from the experience The service could have been better. Our waitress started off pretty good, but trailed off. Still, she provide very good service. As always, the food was good. The salads, entrees, and dessert were prepared as expected. On that alone, I would recommend this restaurant. Just my recommendation, but make sure you do not get seated in the center portion. You come here to relax and enjoy a good meal. Getting more private seating just adds to the overall experience. ++++++++++++++++++ Mama Melrose's ++++++++++++++++ Where: Disney-MGM Studios Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Italian-American style Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Star Rating: 3.5 Service Rating: 4.5 Comments ------ This steady restaurant continues to be one of our favorites. Sometimes the food is average, while other times it is great. This time it is somewhere in the middle. During this time of year, you may find it to be crowded. This is all dependent on when you arrive. If it is before the light show starts, the restaurant is crowded. You can be treated with a virtually empty experience if you wait a little while. Most people either go to Fantasmic or to the light show at the same time. The time to go to the shows is after a dinner here. The lights are right around the corner. This short walk is welcome when you have eaten just a bit too much. +++++++++++++++++++++ Beaches and Cream +++++++++++++++++++ Where: Yacht/Beach Club Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Ice Cream Shoppe Style Characters: No Meal Experienced: Lunch Star Rating: 3.0 Service Rating: 4.0 Comments ------ For being such a small place to eat at, there is a lot going on. I have gone here during the day and the night, but prefer the day time. You can have a good meal, then sit out by the pool for awhile. The surrounding Y/B Clubs are a great resort (can't wait to use my DVC points here!). +++++++++++++++++++++ Pecos Bill's Café +++++++++++++++++++ Where: Magic Kingdom Type of Service: Counter Type of Food: Fast food Characters: No Meal Experienced: Lunch Star Rating: 2.0 Service Rating: 3.0 Comments ------ I tried something different this time. Instead of the Kit Karson Salad, I went for the "Slue Foot Sue's Sweetheart of a Deal Chicken Wrap." All in all, it is not too shabby. I'd skip the sauce the next time. ++++++++++++ Spoodles ++++++++++ Where: Boardwalk Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Mediterranean Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Star Rating: 4.0 Service Rating: 4.0 Comments ------ I'm going to be short. I return to this restaurant because it has a great service and quality for the price. The food is very good. Just make sure you get a good seat at night. The view then is romantic. ++++++++++++++++ Artist Point ++++++++++++++ Where: Wilderness Lodge Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Wild game and vegetarian Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Star Rating: 4 Service Rating: 4.5 Comments ------ Combining this restaurant with a resort tour of the Wilderness Lodge is a perfect way of spending an evening. We arrived a few minutes before our PS to get into a relaxed mood. There is something about sitting in that lobby that takes away any stress. I will not explain our meals like the last trip report. Instead, I'll simply say that they were great. We had our salads, separate entrees, and shared a good dessert. Service was fantastic. As to the mood, so much can be said yet must be experienced. That relaxing mood that started in the lobby continues into the restaurant. You are here to enjoy a good, relaxing dinner. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Whispering Canyon Cafe ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Where: Wilderness Lodge Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Variations on American style Characters: No Meal Experienced: Breakfast Star Rating: 3.0 Service Rating: 4.0 Comments ------ "Mustang Sally! I need some ketchup over here!" If you mind a place that is fun-themed from the top to the bottom, you will not like this. However, if you enjoy a very family-oriented restaurant where children are a big focus, then definitely come here. The waiters and waitresses play up to their parts. Each one has a western name and enjoys being called by it. The kids are a big focus here. You might have wondered why I wrote that quote about ketchup. When we were there, a funny little drill was taken place. As each table asked for ketchup, the kids from the other tables with ketchup had to bring it over to them. This continued a couple of times. It was fun and cute to watch happen. A lot of other activities take place. There can be mock gun fights with a waiter, pretend horse riding/rodeo, and similar. Again, it can really be an enjoyable experience for those open to it. +++++++++++++++++++ California Cafe +++++++++++++++++ Where: Contemporary Type of Service: Table Type of Food: California style Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Star Rating: 4.5 Service Rating: 4.5 Comments ------ Another one where I have to just bottom line it: Great restaurant with great food and great service! Try the Tempura Tuna Bonsai! ++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Flying Fish Cafe ++++++++++++++++++++++ Where: Boardwalk Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Mainly Seafood, but other entrees as well Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Star Rating: 4.5 Service Rating: 5 Comments ------ To me, this was the best tasting meal of the trip. Originally, we had planned for a simple dinner at the GF Café. Fortunately, that priority seating was cancelled on us. We have not eaten here in a long time. The last time, I was happy with my meal but expected something more. This time was just outstanding! The décor of the restaurant is still the same as I remember it. There are the "whimsical" flying fish hanging from the ceiling (FYI, the name comes from a coaster car. Ask your server about the details. You'll get some great information on the restaurant's design and designers.). BTW, the ceiling has small lights that change color now and then. The bar and kitchen are both open air. I like that. I'm a fan of cooking. Our server's name was Brad. I mention that because he does an excellent job. He is attentive, friendly, courteous, and works with the customer. Let's talk about meals. My wife was not too adventurous and ordered "Handmade Autumn Squash Ravioli." She enjoyed it to a point. On the other hand, I had a different experience. To start I ordered the "Frisee Salad." As with all of the WDW salads, this one was a great start to the meal. Moving on, I ordered the "Sesame Crusted Yellow fin Tuna" for my main entrée. When I was told it was served rare to medium-rare, I ordered it medium-rare. Oh, I should have ordered it rare. Don't get me wrong, it was fantastic! The tuna came seared on the outside and rare inside. The fish was served on top of a soy reduction sauce along with a vegetable tempura roll. I devoured it! In the middle of this uncontrollable frenzy, I considered what the tuna would have been rare. That would have put it over the top! Definitely get a seating here if you are a fan of seafood. The food and service is top quality ++++++++++++++ Le Cellier ++++++++++++ Where: Epcot Type of Service: Table Type of Food: North American Style Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Star Rating: 3.0 Service Rating: 2.0 Comments ------ We picked this restaurant as part of our "Candlelight Processional" dinner package. Both of us enjoyed coming here before, so it seemed like a great idea. Well, it was mixed. I'll start off by saying the table assignment was terrible. We were right next to the 2 swinging doors at the kitchen. Given the place was packed and the show time, we just thought we would just deal with it. Well, we should have asked for a better table and waited. It was way too busy for us. The other aspect we did not like is how packed everyone was here. There was one table after the other. I think this has to do with everyone getting their dinner packages fulfilled. Whatever the reason, this restaurant loses its quiet, romantic feel when the seating is bad. The service followed suit with the poor table. I did not get that "Disney" quality feel with this dinner. Our waitress was more in the "get "'em in, get "'em out" mode. Given that we were paid in full for the package, I did not worry about giving any extra tipping. The food was good and enjoyable. I probably would have given it a better rating if the seating, noise, and service was up to speed. This is a good restaurant, but not when there are dinner events going on. ++++++++++++++++++++ Matsunoma Lounge ++++++++++++++++++ Where: Epcot Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Sushi Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Star Rating: 3.0 Service Rating: 3.0 Comments ------ This lounge has a hidden surprise to it. If you time it just right, you can watch the nightly parade as well as Illuminations. Don't expect speedy service here. I think it may be shared with the other restaurants. From past experience, I thought the sushi was of good quality. This time was no different. My wife was being a bit more open than before and ordered a few rolls. I decided to stick with selections of tuna. One roll ordered was a tempura roll, which could be hit or miss. The plate came out with some well presented sushi. We started with the vegetable rolls working our way through to the various tuna and shrimp rolls. I thought the tuna could have been better. However, the tempura roll was a definite hit. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Where: Universal City Walk Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Jimmy's Favorites Characters: No Meal Experienced: Lunch Star Rating: 3.5 Service Rating: 4.0 Comments ------ This is a really good place for lunch! After touring IOA or Universal Studios for even a half of a day, you really want to sit down and relax. Margaritaville is exactly what you would think it would be. The atmosphere is fun, playful, and just Jimmy Buffet in nature. The food is simple, but good. The service is better than I expected. If you are a Parrot Head by nature, than put this on your list. I can only imagine how much of a party this place is at night. General Comments +++++++++++++++ Attending Mass at WDW ------------------------ 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 Church 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. Mid-December vs. other times --------------------------- As stated earlier, this is not the time to go to see shows and get on rides. You do enjoy them, but you'll be missing some of the celebrations going on. The hours are normally shortened during this time. With the cutbacks, the hours are shortened even more. With that in mind, consider that a lot of the celebrations are at night. If that's fine with you, then let's talk about crowds. During the day, the crowds are comfortable. It is not empty, but lines are short. The only exception is the MK, which always gets crowded after lunch. I noticed that the closer to early Dec you are there, the less the crowd levels. During the night, the crowds are more noticeable. Almost everyone is enjoying a fantastic dinner, lights, parades, shows, or other Christmas Season Celebrations. There are also a fair amount of local residents coming in as well. The rides are pretty empty, but I've already discussed that. Compared to other times, this is a pretty good time to go. Crowds are reasonable and there is plenty of entertainment. The flip side is that hours and operations are cut which hinders a lot of turns on the rides. There are also some times where the different events cause people to pack the restaurants. If that and the various celebrations is AOK with you, then you might enjoy it. Otherwise, think of going early November (great time) or January-Early February. A note on service --------------- Service at WDW is always great. Despite the cuts, there is still that same great service. Although still great, there are some areas to improve upon. My hope is that the little patches that appear here and there get corrected. Thanks again to the great CMs out there! Cutbacks ------ The cutbacks were a bit more noticeable than before. Instead of an all out rant, I'll go into what we felt was a downer:
Finally +++++ This was another great trip. Both of us think that the resort along with the celebrations was what made it great. Having a nice day at the parks, a relaxing dip in the pool, a great dinner, nice decorations and shows at night, then some time in the Jacuzzi, is just great stuff! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you! Andrew Della Vecchia Andrew_dv@yahoo.com Mail a Comment to Andrew Della Vecchia |
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