 |  |
| Discussion Boards | Reviews | News | Trip Planning | Shop | Travel | Site Map |
| Disney Trip Report Archive An archive of reader-submitted trip reports | |
| Alex Stroup, editor | Search just the Trip Report Archive. |
|
Andrew Della Vecchia -- October 2001 -- Walt Disney World (AKL, Offsite)10/06/2001-10/14/2001 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ General Info ++++++++++++ Wow, another trip already? I was just there in May. It started as a business trip. Whether you know it or not, Orlando is a major hub of conference activity. During the fall timeframe, conference after conference is held there. One of those conferences really appealed to me. That is how it started. OK, that explains part of the trip. What about the WDW part? Well, it seemed like a good idea to add a few days on for some pre/post conference fun. Being right in the neighborhood, I decided it was a no brainer to add on a WDW trip. My wife was ecstatic with the idea. She went on a trip with me before. She had a great time. Starting off, we were going to have a full trip. We would leave on the Friday before the conference and return the Sunday after the conference. Thinking about it so more, we scaled it back to leave on Sunday and return on Saturday. That seemed like a good idea. Finding an affordable flight was another story. What is it with October? The prices were really high ($380+) for a Sun-Sat trip. After playing around with the dates, we found that a Sun-Sun flight would give us the sub $200 mark. That's more like it! It was set for now. The horrible atrocity of September 11, 2001 changed everything. The flight was cancelled. Given the seriousness of the situation, it was completely understood. Nothing more needs to be said about it. US Airways and Expedia were really nice with finding us a new flight. The schedule change would have gotten us in late on Sunday. After briefly talking with them, they changed our flight to Saturday morning. Ok, the simple trip is now a big one. That's fine with us. We have a great time in that area. Getting a rental car was interesting. We usually book National Rental or Dollar Rental through Expedia. This time, that did not happen. The rates/availability were not working well on their site for some reason. Instead, we booked through National Rental's web site. Even though the interface is a bit clutsy, it gives you all of the pricing information including taxes. What a huge plus for using their site! I like knowing exactly how much I am going to pay for everything. Initially, we would stay at a DVC resort till the conference. Once the conference started, we would stay at the Marriott till the departure. After learning about the AP rate, we decided on staying at the AK Lodge instead of a DVC Resort. The reason is that this was not the normal vacation and the cost was pretty low. That's it, everything is set! Travel ++++++ Airline: US Airways Arrived: Saturday, October 6, 2001 @ 15:00 Returned: Sunday, October 14, 2001 @ 17:00 Rental Car Company Used: National Rental Car Comments on Travel ------------------ OK, the big day has now arrived. There have been many changes to the airline, so we had no idea how they would effect us. We packed everything into two check-ins and one carry-on (note for self, pack an extra check-in even if it is slightly empty). Extra care was taken in what we packed, what we carried, and items such as identification/receipts. We also arrived 4 hours before our flight to ensure time for the new policies. Philly Int'l is changed. This airport is usually filled with people. Well, now it is quite empty. Arriving 4 hours is definitely overkill. The line was completely empty. Walking through security was pretty much the same. There were more guards, as well armed ones. That really did not bother me. We are all Americans. After the quick check-in, we are at the Terminal with about 3.5hrs left. Now what do we do? Well, we walk around the little shopping mall. We also have breakfast. Walking around, I did notice how many flights were cancelled or overbooked (many flights were asking for volunteers to be "bumped"). This made me feel less confident about this service. However, our plane was aok. It left and arrived on time. I was so glad we opted for the "skip the counter service." National Rental's queue is not so hot. We got our baggage and walked to the parking garage (simple walk, it's about 5 minutes from the claim area). Now, we just have to pick the car we want. Oh no! There are no intermediates left! What do we do now? Well, we had two choices. We could wait 10-20 minutes for the returns to come in. The other option was to take a Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Convertible. Guess which one I picked? No, I did not wait! I took the convertible. I never drove one! The Spyder is definitely not a practical vehicle. Our luggage just fit (one in the trunk, one in the back seat). However, it is a lot of fun to drive! Sadly, my wife did not like the Spyder. During the conference part of the trip, it was returned for a Toyota Corolla. It is a much more practical vehicle, but not that much fun to drive. Enough of that, how about the flight home? Here is where it gets interesting. We used curbside check-in at Orlando Int'l. This really is a nice feature so few people use. You do have to go through more hoops to get your boarding pass, but it is worth it. Getting to the terminal was pretty straightforward. Everything was going great until we were about to board the plane. There was a "major" problem with the plane. Ugh.. now what? An announcement was made that everyone was going to be moved to another plane. First, the passengers with a connecting flight would be serviced then everyone else. That is not happening. I am an impatient man when it comes to be redirected (especially when the words "can accommodate most of you" are being used). I went and searched for the terminal with the plane we were being put on. The nice attendant told me that I could just come over there to take care of everything. Very quietly, I asked my wife to join me over at that terminal. Our tickets were taken care of with no problems. The flight did leave a bit late. In fact, some passengers were being brought in standby to the plane. I am so glad I got those tickets. Getting into Philly Int'l was pretty typical. Even the baggage delay was normal. Oh wait, it wasn't this time. Do you believe that they actually left the entire plane's baggage back in Orlando Int'l? Yes and it took them an hour to find that out. I have no idea why they can not use those barcodes more efficiently. FedEx and UPS can teach these folks a thing or two about tracking. We did get our baggage back aok the next day. Even though it had some bumps, the travel was fine. Are rental cars worth it? ------------------------- My wife and I have been getting rental cars for our WDW trips for a couple of years now. Before that, we relied purely on the WDW transportation system. After it is all done, I wonder which is better? To be honest, I am not 100% sure. The convenience of a rental when staying at a WDW resort and ONLY going to Disney parks is not that great. The WDW transportation to parks has gotten better. We noticed this when we were tired of driving and the parking lot trams (which are very good). The other side is that rental cars are a must for staying at non-WDW resorts or going to non-WDW attractions. Taxis cost a lot of money and require you to be at a certain place at a certain time. The shuttle systems outside of WDW transportation can be mixed at best. The only item I mention as being completely up in the air is after the fireworks are up. Waiting in line to get back to the resort is troublesome. The different buses and such get uncomfortably packed! The rental car situation is nicer, but you do have to wait in traffic to get out sometimes (not really that bad). So, what is it? Is it worth it? For us, it is worth it. We go to the resorts for dinner, we hit non-WDW attractions once in awhile, and we like the convenience of getting to and from places without waiting for the bus/boat/monorail. On those real relaxed days, we use the WDW transportation. Passes Used +++++++++++ WDW Annual Pass SeaWorld Day Pass Comments on Passes ------------------ After the trip was planned, we decided to renew our APs. It is a near 100% chance we would go again within a year. The APs make sense if you go more than 8 days in 1 year. BTW, we used the AP to get a discount rate at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The price was so good, we saved the DVC points. We did not have too much choice about the SeaWorld pass. The cost of day passes is definitely not cheap. Thankfully, we had a good 10% off coupon. Weather Summary +++++++++++++++ The weather was once again a welcome blessing to be thankful. The entire week can be summarized as being in the low to upper 80s as highs and low to upper 60s as lows. Some days had some high humidity, while others did not. Every day was a chance of rain. When it happened, the rain lasted about 10-30 minutes tops. Interesting enough, the time was always around lunch and dinner time. The winds picked up here and there. One resort to another, then back again ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ As stated early, we would first stay at AK Lodge then go to the Marriott World Center. This changed once we left the AK Lodge. There is definitely a let down when leaving a WDW Resort. The Marriott is definitely nice. What is missing is the comfort and uniqueness that comes from Imagineering. When we first checked in at the World Center, an idea immediately came to me. "Why not go back to the AK Lodge when the conference is done?" I thought about it for a few minutes. "Sure, why not?" The rate was even cheaper by about $60/night. With a call to Disney and another to Marriott, the arrangements were made. This turned out to be a great idea. I got the benefit of being close to the conference while my wife enjoyed non-WDW events. We both got the benefit of enjoying the WDW experience as well. Resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If you read my May 2001 trip report, you can find my opinions on the Lodge from a visitor's point of view. Let me give you some opinions from someone who has stayed there. A lot of folks question whether or not to spend the money on staying at deluxe WDW resort. You just need it to sleep in, right? For some people, yes that is true and it is up to you. However, my wife and I have been to the parks many times. Sure, it is still has the appeal, but we want a resort experience. We want good vistas from our rooms. We want a nice pool to relax at. We want nice rooms. When we checked in (the first time), we originally had a pool view room. To our surprise, they bumped us up to a Savannah view. That was a nice feeling. The second time we checked in later in the trip, we asked for any upgrades. Fortunately, there was one available. Both of our rooms were on the Sunset side. At first, we thought we would not see any animals at all. It was at the end of the Savannah. We were wrong about that. Every animal but the zebras passed by our balcony. It was great! You just stand outside and watch the different critters play. Staying here is almost a replacement for going to the AK park. Between the two rooms, I enjoyed the first one a tiny bit better. That was located down a wing a bit more. The second one was off the lobby. Don't get me wrong, that had some benefits as well. The biggest is the closeness to the elevators that take you to the pool. The rooms themselves have a standard layout. The amenities are exactly what one would want as a deluxe room. There are 2 queen sized beds, a table, chairs, nightstands, entertainment unit/TV, nice sized bathroom, a double sink, plenty of lights, and lots of storage. The décor is in the African motive. One note is that the different rooms have slightly different colored furniture, curtains, and bed covers. It should also be noted the second room was a bit larger and seemed to have more closet space. Getting around the AK Lodge is pretty simple. If you get lost, just remember to always follow the lobby signs. If you stay here, definitely walk-on around at night. The general feel is more inviting. All of the dark and drab colors fall into place. Many of the hidden aspects of the AK Lodge can be found. There are lots of viewing areas which can become quite relaxing and romantic. The fire-pits are a bit more pleasing. The animals are the most active at night and in the morning. The pool is a wonderful area at night. Almost every night was a pool night. Around 21:00, I would go to the pool for about an hour. That was great! That is such a great way to end the day. This place is good for a getaway. Resort: Marriott World Center Orlando +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This is one huge resort! If you drive in from Int'l Drive or 536, you can see it as the giant off-white building. There is a golf course, pool/spa, restaurants, and large conference facilities. I asked for a king size, non-smoking room high up. The staff there fulfilled my request. We were on the 26 floor. The view is great here! We overlooked a corner of the WDW property as well as being able to sea all the way out to SeaWorld and beyond. The rooms here are a fair size. I would put them on par with the WDW Deluxe rooms. The differences are that these rooms are not quite as kept up. The décor is also what one would expect from any other room. There is no motif or the like. However, the décor is definitely welcoming and worthy of good notes. On a conference break, I was able to enjoy the pool. As with the resort, this pool is huge! They really designed this to handle a lot of guests. Unfortunately, it is not heated. That aside, I really enjoyed its beauty. There are some waterfalls, an outside spa, an inside spa with another pool, slide, and even another outdoor pool in this area. Definitely plenty of pool-like activities here. There is also a golf course here. I don't play golf, but it looked like a nice course. For a non-WDW resort, this has a great location. You are about a 5 minute drive to the entry of WDW. The trick is that parking can be challenging. The conference facilities here are great. They are in their own wing! Everything was extremely well done. The only notch this place gets knocked on is for the construction. The entire lobby floor was being redone. The noise did not bother us in the least bit. However, the view was not nearly as nice. I'd say if it wasn't for the price, construction, parking, and slightly un-kept room, this would be the place to stay. It really is a high-quality resort. Overall Park Touring (Fireworks/Evening Show Seen is in parenthesis) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Saturday: Arrive -> Epcot Sunday: MK -> break -> Epcot Monday: SeaWorld -> break -> Epcot Tuesday: Conference Wednesday: Conference Thursday: Conference Friday: Conference -> AK (late in the day) Saturday: Epcot -> MGM Sunday: Departure Comments on Touring ------------------- OK, I did not get too much park touring in. Hey, this was a business trip. My wife got some more fun in than I did. I did get to go here and there in the evening for a dinner break (conference has late night sessions). That was enjoyable. **************** * PDAs and WDW * **************** Should you bring the PDA? If you want to carry around lots of WDW info in such a small device, then the answer is an absolute yes. Carry everything in there. Your priority seating, departure times, itinerary, phone numbers, menus from wdwig.com, park operating hours, city guides, etc. It is a nice addition and does not encumber too much. ******************************** Place of Interests ****************************************** Even though parks were not a huge part of the trip, I'll relate my experiences to you anyway. 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: Low-Moderate Perceived Crowd Levels: Moderate Used FastPass: Yes Comments on MK -------------- The MK was definitely the most popular park with crowds this trip. In general, this type of imbalance is typical. Why not? It is a really fun park with lots to do! Getting on and off the rides was not a problem. The crowds were definitely more than what we experience, but not a problem. The only ride that we used FastPass on was Space Mountain. The rose garden here is one of the most overlooked attractions. If you are walking from Main Street, USA to the Castle, it is just to the right, past the walkway to Tomorrowland. IMHO, the roses here are better than those in Epcot (and even many non-WDW destinations). Try to spend some time here. You may be surprised how nice it is. At the time, there was some construction taking place around the back of the Castle. As usual, it was setup so it did not create a disturbance. If I had one suggestion to WDW about the MK, it would be to redo Fantasyland and the nearby area of Tomorrowland. They are really looking their age. Walking around there can be difficult. The queues are really tight. The paths connecting everything need improvement to handle the crowds. Enough of that stuff. Both of us had a lot of fun here. We rode all of the different Mountain rides, along with the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. After doing all of that, we managed to walk and sit at our favorite spots. I missed having enough time to see Carousel of Progress and the Tiki Room. +++++++++ + Epcot + +++++++++ Avg Wait Times Experienced: Low Perceived Crowd Levels: Low Used Fast Pass: No (used single rider line at Test Track) Comments on Epcot ----------------- Epcot is still our favorite park. The park has its rides, but seems more like a festival. We do not rush to get from one ride to the other. Instead, we enjoy just being there. Wow, look at that Test Track queue! Simply amazing how many people do not utilize FastPass or the Single Rider Queue. My wife and I always manage to get in a car in about 10-15 minutes by utilizing the non-standard queues. FYI, there is some work being done to allow everyone in the building to wait. Thank you for that! Waiting under the track as those cars scream buy can be a bit unnerving. Besides Test Track, this park was kind of quiet. Epcot always tends to be the least crowded park (even in the off season). The crowds were really not there at all. The only time we experienced any crowds was at night. They were not bad at all. Unfortunately, we did not get to see "Tapestry of Dreams." We both are fans of the former "Tapestry of Nations" parade. The nights we were at Epcot had some windy conditions. That caused the parade to be cancelled. Not a problem, that gives us another excuse to return. Another little treat we did not do is to purchased some cinnamon roasted pecans. OHHH, that is a nice little treat during the cooler times. I noticed FastPass is popping up here and there. My feelings on this are completely mixed. What I have noticed is that FastPass can make queues grow longer that really did not have much of wait to begin with. For example, Living with the Land used to be a walk-on almost all of the time. Now, you have to get FastPass or wait in a 30 minute queue. Interesting enough, that 30 minute queue only has a small amount of people waiting. ++++++++++++++++++++++ + Disney-MGM Studios + ++++++++++++++++++++++ Avg Wait Times Experienced: Moderate Perceived Crowd Levels: Moderate-High Used Fast Pass: No Comments on Disney-MGM Studios ------------------------------ Love or leave it, the big hat in front of the Great Movie Ride is up and complete. This seems like writing on the wall for the GMR. The hat pretty much hides the GMR. As you would guess, there is a store located underneath of it. Well, I do have to say that I think the hat is neat. It has that nice, new look to it. At night, it really looks nice. The stars in it have lights. There are spotlights in and out of it that really make quite prominent. One night, I was able to take a longer dinner break. After a pretty good meal at Mama Melrose's (see below), my wife and I went to ToT (we have pretty good constitutions). So many folks are at Fantasmic at this time. There was no wait for both ToT and RR. If you have seen Fantasmic, definitely get on ToT at night! The view for that split second is worth it. You can really see how well that hat is lit. After the rides, we met a nice family. There were out for a evening without the youngest. They learned from the ToT CM that the park rides were closed. I felt really bad for them. I told them about Fantasmic and other places. Hopefully, they had some fun. ++++++++++++++++++ + Animal Kingdom + ++++++++++++++++++ Avg Wait Times Experienced: Low Perceived Crowd Levels: Moderate->Empty in about the time of the parade Used Fast Pass: No Comments on the Animal Kingdom ------------------------------ I'm trying to figure out their new marketing gimmick of "Nahtazu." The only thing I can think of is that it really is "Not a Zoo" with a Swahili accent. If so, I can agree with that. The AK is not a zoo. Too many folks say the opposite. The zoos I have been to have this giant animals put in tight, little cages. Even the ones that claim they are more animal friendly still have small plots of land dedicated. The AK is more of an animal experience where you are a part of their habitat. I was happy to be done my conference mid-day on Friday. This mean we could hit a park or two. We decided on the AK and arrived late in the day. The parade was just starting up. This is a great time to go! We went to Dinosaur (please change that name back to CTX) with no wait. Then, we watched the remnants of the parade (cute, but I'm not crazy about it). After that, everyone was streaming out of the park. We watched the 3D movie and headed over to the safari. Only about a 5 minute wait till we were on a bus. The tour lasted over a half and hour! This is great! We saw so many animals. The broken bridge effect is working again as well. That's always fun. When the safari was over, the park was closing. Most of the shops stayed open for a little bit more. We picked up some gifts for our family. Even though it was only a couple of hours, it was thoroughly enjoyable! +++++++++++++++++ +Downtown Disney+ +++++++++++++++++ General Comments ---------------- ++++++++++++ + SeaWorld + ++++++++++++ Avg Wait Times Experienced: Low Perceived Crowd Levels: Low-Moderate Comments on SeaWorld -------------------- I have never been to SeaWorld. After taking this trip, I am definitely going to return. Though there are 2 rides, SeaWorld is not at all about that. This destination park is all about interacting and learning about aquatic life. Most attractions are unique viewing areas with information about the animals. As with other parks, there are divisions that group the attractions. The "Key West" area is fully enjoyable. Being a fan of Jimmy Buffet, I appreciated hearing some of his songs being played. Probably my favorite of this park is the "Terrors of the Deep" exhibit. You not only look into a shark tank, but go through a tube (it has a automated path in it) in the center of the tank. The experience is hard to beat without actually diving into there with the sharks. About the two rides there, both are fun. "Journey to Atlantis" gets a gold star for being unique with the log flume concept. What starts out as a boat becomes a coaster at the end. "Kraken" is a good roller coaster with lots of twists. However, it seems forced and does not add to the park. I think a dark ride similar to "Pirates of the Caribbean" would have been better suited than a coaster. If you have not been to SeaWorld, consider it. This seems like a great place for kids. From our point of view, adults that enjoy something other than rides enjoy it as well. ******************************** 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? ++++++++++++++++ + Artist Point + ++++++++++++++++ Where: Wilderness Lodge Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Wild game and vegetarian Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Ranking: 4.0 Comments -------- There was an unpleasantness from the last time I ate here (if you don't know what I mean, read my trip report from Feb 2000). After getting over some hesitation, I decided it was time to try again. After spending some time in the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge, we went to the restaurant. Upon entering the room, it is hard not to notice how the room was designed to give an open view of the outside. Most tables have plenty of space in between them. Even the booths are far enough from each other to give a private dinning experience while allowing for vistas. The menu has a wide range of selections that can please many an appetite. I went for a garden salad as a starter followed by the "late summer vegetables and spinach pasta" dish. The salad was very good, as is most salads at WDW. The main entrée was just right for what I want. Being one who makes pasta from scratch, I really appreciated how well the noodles are cooked. My wife had the shrimp entrée and no formal appetizer. The excellent multi-grain rolls with either the "smoked salmon" or "onion and garlic" butter was good enough. From what I was told, the shrimp was next to perfection. The finale of the meal was an excellent chocolate torte and Remy Martin VSOP. If you never had the 2 together, then you are seriously missing something special. This was definitely a good "welcome back to Artist Point" for me. I missed eating here as it was one of my favorites. +++++++++++++++++++++ + Yacht Club Galley + +++++++++++++++++++++ Where: Yacht Club Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Surf/turf style dishes and vegetarian Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Ranking: 4.0 Comments -------- Here is a restaurant that really changed from the last time I dinned. Previously, I was not too impressed with the selections at these prices. In typical fashion, I started the meal with a garden salad and balsamic vinaigrette. The salad was up to snuff with other WDW restaurants (aka great stuff -grin-). Yes, it is hard to mess up, but can be done when dressings are overdone or similar. For the main entrée, I went with a vegetable stuffed phyllo dough pastry served on top of a spicy tomato sauce. The term "spicy" is a bit misleading. It should be worded more like "burning." This is not a real problem as I tend to like these dishes once in awhile. Besides being spicy, the sauce has a nice flavor to it. The rest of the entrée was just as nice. Everything was cooked just right. One item that I need to mention is the bread they give you here. This is no dinner roll, but a soufflé-like loaf with cheeses melted on top. Oh, I could have a meal just out of the bread. ++++++++++++++++++ + Mama Melrose's + ++++++++++++++++++ Where: Disney-MGM Studios Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Italian-American style Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Ranking: 3.5 Comments -------- Dinning experiences inside the parks tend to be mixed. They all are fine, but could go further. Most good meals happen at the resort located restaurants. However, this one is different. The décor is simple. The colors tend to be dark. White lights are hung from the ceiling to give a romantic feel. Looking around the walls are decorated in an Italian-American style. What always surprises me about this restaurant is the number of selections on the menu. There are pasta, pizza (aka flatbread), meat, and vegetable dishes. As always, there is a kids menu as well. This time, I decided to go for the orichette pasta with a garden salad. The "little ear" pasta is served in a light cream sauce with bacon and chicken. I opted out of the chicken (personal preference), but had the bacon. This time, we ordered the cheesecake for dessert. A single slice was more than enough for the two of this. The creaminess of the cake was welcome. Sometimes, it can be too heavy or too lite. Service here was up from our last trip. That is the most important aspect. The atmosphere and staff are there to welcome you. +++++++++++++++++++++ + Beaches and Cream + +++++++++++++++++++++ Where: Yacht/Beach Club Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Ice Cream Shoppe Style Characters: No Meal Experienced: Lunch Ranking: 3.0 Comments -------- I really would like it if a place like this was close to home. As small of a place this is, it certain packs in a lot. We have managed to stop by here for lunch for a couple of trips now. If you can imagine it, we walk from Epcot or the Boardwalk. We always get a little smile as we wind around the bend to see Storm-along bay. Walk just a bit more and there you are in front of a nice little beach eatery. There is a sense of simplicity as you enter Beaches and Cream. The colors are blue and similar pastels matted with a white background. Across the back and right side is a service bar. In the rest of this little shop is a set of tables and booths. We have been at both the bar and booth. The service is always the same. The bar gives a view of the action while the table is more for family interaction. I had a turkey sandwhich while my wife went for a hamburger. The meals were ample in size and well priced. As far as quality, it is more than acceptable. Please note that you may want to save room for dessert. The sundaes are more than one might expect. Even the milk shake my wife and I split was too much for us. BTW, service gets an thumbs up for consistency. I can not remember the CMs names, but they are all great. Oddly enough, I am beginning to recognize their faces. +++++++++++++++++++++ + Pecos Bill's Café + +++++++++++++++++++++ Where: Magic Kingdom Type of Service: Counter Type of Food: Fast food Characters: No Meal Experienced: Lunch Ranking: 2.5 Comments -------- Counter service options at the Magic Kingdom are mixed. Most stops have burgers and fries. This one does have that option, but has a hidden treasure. The "Kit Karson Salad" gets my vote for favorite counter service meal. Yes, a salad gets the #1 spot in my book. If you never have had it, you are missing a treat. You can get this with or without chicken, but always with lots of fresh sliced vegetables and an excellent dressing. The only drawback of this stop is its drab ambience. I wouldn't mind seeing an update on the area to give a friendlier appeal. +++++++++++++++++++++ + Electric Umbrella + +++++++++++++++++++++ Where: Epcot (Future World) Type of Service: Counter Type of Food: Fast food Characters: No Meal Experienced: Lunch Ranking: 2.0 Comments -------- The food at the Electric Umbrella is standard counter service. The only food item that really stood out was the addition of the veggie burger. This is pretty much the same as what you can get at Rosie's in the Studios. The views at the Electric Umbrella are different. There are two levels that offer different perspectives. Most certainly the best areas are the ones that overlook the Fountain of Nations in the center of Future World. Surprisingly, the second floor view of the fountain can be better than a closer spot on the first floor. ++++++++++++++++++ + Official All Star Café + ++++++++++++++++++ Where: Wide World of Sports Type of Service: Table Type of Food: American Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Ranking: 2.5 Comments -------- If you have experienced the "sports bar" scene and were disappointed, this may change your mind. Let's start off with the entrance. It is a wide open space that allows for a more comfortable waiting area. In there, you have some interesting collectors' items to gaze upon. Fortunately, we really did not wait long for our table. The restaurant has two areas. Next to the entrance, is the bar area. We did not spend anytime here, but noticed it was worthy of a good drink. The main area is for the sports fan. There are large project screen televisions across each side of the room. Underneath those sets are even more normal sized televisions. From what I could tell, a large majority of seats had a view of all the games being watched. The tables are pretty standard. Each one is sized enough for four people. The location is mainly in the center of the room. The booths are a bit different and may be hard to describe. They are designed to look like a large baseball glove. The table of the booth is the glove's pocket while you sit along the fingers. Each one is located on the far end of the room. Both entrees were fine enough, but a bit pricey. All in all, this reminds me of a Rainforest, Bennigan's, or Planet Hollywood. The only difference is the food quality is more up to speed. ++++++++++++ + Spoodles + ++++++++++++ Where: Boardwalk Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Mediterranean Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Ranking: 4.0 Comments -------- The location of this restaurant is fantastic. It is situated across from the Yacht/Beach Clubs on the Boardwalk. This is perfect for those wishing to enjoy a dinner with proximity to Epcot. The food here is Mediterranean inspired. There are plenty of tapas to enjoy as well as bigger dinners. For wine lovers, this is one of the best ones to be at. The design of the restaurant follows an open air kitchen approach. From a fair amount of tables, you can look direct into it. What really strikes me about this place is the great use of inviting wood stains. The stain is dark enough to provide a romantic feel. At the same time, it is lite enough to keep one from a cave-like feeling. We have come here plenty of times and sat in different areas. Whether a table or booth, all areas are completely enjoyable. My favorite time to come here is at night. The lighting is just right. This is so you can look out along the Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach Clubs, and lagoon. Having a dinner here during the evening can be very romantic. Ok, on to the dinner. Our waitress was pleasant, prompt, and friendly. She was always right there when we needed something and gave us plenty of privacy. After hearing the dinner specials, I decided on the vegetable gratin this time along with a garden salad. The serving size of the gratin was moderately small, but had plenty to eat. If you like fennel (and I do), you would really like this dish. After the dinner was over, both of us strolled to Epcot for Illuminations. What a great way to end the evening. ++++++++ + Mara + ++++++++ Where: Animal Kingdom Lodge Type of Service: Counter Type of Food: Fast food (better than average) Characters: No Meal Experienced: Breakfast/lunch Ranking: 2.5 Comments -------- Basically, this is the food court for the Animal Kingdom Lodge. There are several areas for food service. The meals change from breakfast to lunch. Interesting to note, the menus are not the typical screens hanging over the counter. Instead of plastic placards, there are widescreen monitors displaying details of the various entrees. The "neat" effect is definitely up there for the geekiness in you. As far as food courts go, this gets the thumbs up! We would get breakfast here each day. I tried something different here and there. My favorite was the French Toast. Although not for the calorie counter, this is a great option. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Rosie's All American Café + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Where: Disney-MGM Studios Type of Service: Counter Type of Food: Fast food Characters: No Meal Experienced: Lunch Ranking: 2.0 Comments -------- There is not much to say about this simple little place. That is also a benefit of eating here. The location is right across from the entrance to the Beauty and the Beast / Fantasmic areas. Service is always pleasant and prompt. The seating area is simple as well being that it is outdoors. Give it a try for an easy counter service meal. ++++++++++++++++++++ + Matsunoma Lounge + ++++++++++++++++++++ Where: Epcot Type of Service: Table Type of Food: Sushi Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Ranking: 3.0 Comments -------- You can find the Lounge in the Great Ceremonial House of the Japan Pavilion at Epcot. When you enter the floor by the main stairway, there are three dinning options. The Lounge is directly to your right hand side. Just walk-in and find a seat. It is easy to see why this would be a good spot for the evening. You have an elevated view of the World Showcase here. I would think this would be great for Illuminations or Tapestry of Dreams. One would come to this stop mainly for sushi (FYI, sushi real refers to the vinegar rice. Sashimi refers to raw fish.) and drinks. My wife is not nearly a fan of Sushi, but I am. Going in, I had heard it was not the best sushi you can get. All that aside, I decided to try out some rolls. Trying to stay to the standards (ex: tuna), I gave my order to a very polite waitress. The drinks were brought out in an orderly fashion. A little while later, the sushi was served. The different pieces were well rolled, but could have been cut better. The different pieces of fish were of good quality. As I did not go for anything exotic, the tastes were normal. I do have to say that the Wassabi had quite a potency. I liked it, but would prefer a less sinus-clearing version. Afterwards, we just sat for a little while gazing out the window. This is a nice spot and plan to return. If you are looking for the best sushi, go over to the California Grill. If you want a good, quiet break, this is a good option for sushi fans. ++++++++++++++++++++++ + Wolfgang Puck Café + ++++++++++++++++++++++ Where: Downtown Disney - West Side Type of Service: Table Type of Food: California Cuisine Characters: No Meal Experienced: Dinner Ranking: 3.0 Comments -------- I usually stop by the Express once a trip for one of their California style pizzas. This time, we wanted to give the Café a go. We were there years back and enjoyed it. Let's see if it keeps up quality. We arrived around 17:00. There were plenty of tables ready. The table we had was situated to overlook the lake at Downtown Disney. Our waiter was good, but a bit absent minded. He needed to be reminded a time or two. For an appetizer, I order the vegetable sushi. If your interested, I questioned whether the fish sushi would be worthy or not. A lot of California style restaurants do some odd things that really overdo sushi. Well, the appetizer came out as expected. The sushi was overly stuffed with vegetables and a strange type of mustard. They fell a part from being stuffed too much. As far as tastes go, they were fine but made me want something more simple. Ok, the appetizer was not up to par. How about the dinner? I order pumpkin ravioli in a brown butter sage sauce. If you have never had this dish and like pastas, then you should give this one a go. Wolfgang did this dish right. The pasta was cooked well and stuffed enough to be happy. The brown butter sage sauce was definitely brown (meaning, not burnt or underdone). As the waiter became more concentrated with serving someone else wine, we decided to skip dessert. The experience was good and did not want to ruin it. 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. Early October vs. other times ----------------------------- In general, this time of year is a good time to go. The weather is good, the crowds are lite to moderate, and there are lots of attractions open. The weather is still warm enough to enjoy many water sports. Having warm weather at night makes the evening more enjoyable than other times. The flip side is that you get those quick afternoon showers. As far as crowds, it was mixed. The weekend was somewhat crowded, but not terrible. The weekday crowds were really lite. The nights were always very pleasant. If I compare this to other times, I would say this is as good as November for crowds and weather. November has slightly more erratic weather. If crowds would be your only decision, then February and late August (last 2 weeks) are a better decision. Of course, WDW is fun all year round. A note on service ----------------- Wow! Did someone give the CMs vitamins? Service is always great at WDW. However, everyone was on their game! Friendly, service-oriented, courteous, and many other highly positive words can be said about this new level of service! Please, keep going! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Cutbacks -------- When I wrote this report, I learned of the many cutbacks that have been hitting WDW. At its finest point, this hurts the people that work there the most. My hope and prayers go out to anyone effected by the cutbacks. Given the radical nature of the latest set of events, one can understand some of these changes. Items like limiting show times and eliminating early entry can be justified. However, cutting back the normal operating hours of the parks is a sign of bad judgement. People that come to WDW already think the park hours are too short. I certainly do not see any cutbacks in the ticket price (although they most definitely should cut prices). If the bang for the puck on a ticket goes down, the attendance goes down. Another item that I can not understand is that restaurants are being cut. This is strange, if not bizarre. I have been to the ones that are now closed and can not imagine why. They have been ones with plenty of customers having a good meal. Finally, why are you closing down the Carousel of Progress during the celebration of Walt's "100th Birthday?" That is surely a mistake that is going to hurt marketing. My suggestion to Disney Co is simple. Keep the park hours as they where in the past and stop closing restaurants. If not, you need to cut your prices or lose even more customers. A quieter WDW? -------------- After the tragedy this nation has suffered, the festive nature of WDW is not quite there. From the moment you step in to your airport, things are not quite the same. For good reason, travel is a bit more concerned. An unattended bag of garbage may no longer be just that. When you go to your luggage in Orlando Int'l, you see the rifles and camouflage mixed in the scenery of palm trees and tourist stores. Instead of easy going in and out of parks, there are security buffers. All bags are inspected before entering the parks. Everyone once in awhile you notice someone that looks like a tourist, but is really not (aka undercover). There is more scrutiny with parking when going to your resort (make sure you have a valid driver's license). The pomp and circumstance of the Millennium Celebration is now gone... and missed. However, all is definitely not lost. You have a new Millennium for new hope. The construction barriers that are now up will go down soon. The parks that are still there will get those new gems of fun. New dreams will complete old ones. There is more meaning for you to hold your family tight while watching the night time fireworks. That special feeling is never about rides and shows, it is about what is in you and what you share with others. Finally +++++++ I am calling this trip the one where "we tested the system." Our flights changed, the rental cars changed, our luggage was lost, and our room reservations changed. You would think that caused a lot of commotion, but it really was not much of problem at all. The service in the Orlando area is very good, if not excellent. I really do not want to put too much verbiage into this. This was a great trip that I feel thankful to have been blessed with. Thank you! Andrew Della Vecchia andrew_dv@yahoo.com Mail a Comment to Andrew Della Vecchia |
|