AKL, MVMCP, Boma, San Angel & All 4 Parks

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Me: 22 y/o female Disney CM
Dad: 54 y/o male steel worker visiting from Minnesota

AKL: We checked into Animal Kingdom Lodge on November 28th for a one night stay. We arrived around 11:00 AM (Shame on my dad for taking too long to get ready in the morning, this is the busiest check in time!) But we only had to wait about 10 minutes before we finally arrived at the front desk. We had an effortless check in since it was pre-paid, didn't need any tickets, and I already knew the whole spiel. (Worked front desk for over 2 years ) The room was ready (yes, 11 AM and ready - YAY!) We had a savannah view room, and were assigned room 2501. It was a nice room, close to the pool, food court, lobby area, view of the main savannah. No complaints. Very clean. Rooms come with fridges now, and we ordered a coffee pot at check in which arrived about 15 minutes later. The animal viewing was just... ehh... They didn't come very close, and there wasn't a lot out there during our stay. We saw about 3 zebras, 2 giraffes, some type of cattle (wasn't close enough to tell what kind). Most of the time they had their butts pointed towards us so no good pictures for us - oh well. I expected the rooms to be bigger, but they were an average hotel size. Beds seemed kind of small, but again, average hotel size. There was a double sink and a balcony which were pluses. The room is nicely decorated, but the lighting is somewhat dim - that goes for the whole resort I guess - to keep with the theme.
The beds were okay, not comfy, not uncomfy- just okay. I did wake up at 6:00 AM to the sounds of the room next door toilet flushing and shower running. I could also faintly hear them talking. Luckily they got ready quickly and I fell back asleep. So that just goes to show - it's not just the value resorts that have this problem.

Overall - It's a nice resort, but I would never pay $260 to stay there. Waaaay too much money. I would rather have a longer stay somewhere else or spend the extra money on merchandise or nice dinners.
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We ate dinner at Boma on the 28th. We had PS for 5:30 PM, and were seated in about 10 minutes. Our server, Mike, seemed to be a little bit on the slow side. We sat at the table for 10 minutes before he came and got our drink order - but then it was off to the buffet. Everything was very good. The salmon was excellent - had sort of a sweet spicy glaze on it. The carrot-ginger soup was also very good, but very sweet. Almost seemed like a dessert. The potato salad was also one of the best I've ever tasted. And of course, the zebra domes... Very good, but a close second was the praline cheesecake. I didn't care for the fruit tarts. The tart seems rather dry and flavorless, so I just picked off the fruit. I would like to start a small rant though - I have no problems with children at Disney World, but would it kill the parents to go up to the buffet with them? Kids were weaving in and out of the line, bumping into people, knocking food on the floor, and picking food out of the buffet with their hands - eating it - and going back for seconds.

Okay, we're done with dinner - my dad orders a coffee to go with his dessert. Remember Mike? Our server? Well, he's still a bit slow. It takes him about 10 minutes to get the coffee, and then disappears. Another 10 minutes. Ahhh, there's the bill, BUT I want a CM discount, so he has to go run the bill again. He must have to trek thru the savannah to get to the register cuz it takes him another 10 minutes to get back. Now I want to pay with my CC... argh... he's gone again for 10 minutes. Unfortunatley, the tip was included since I used a discount otherwise I don't think Mike would have gotten much.

Overall - Food was good. Service was bad.

 

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We went to MVMCP on the 28th. Unfortunately were were a little late since our server at Boma was slow. But we arrived around 8:00 PM. The weather was nice, I only wore a light jacket. First stop - free cocoa and cookies! I think everyone had the same idea at once - we waiting about 10-15 minutes in Tomorrowland for our free goodies. The hot chocolate was horrible - basically brown hot water. The cookies were very good compared to last years hard-as-a-hockey-puck-sugar-cookies. They were very soft and tasty - and the CM would give you as many as you wanted. We ended up throwing the cocoa away and eating the cookies. By this time there was no line - of course We then walked over to Stitch's Great Escapse which I've read many bad reviews about. There was no wait - we walked right into the preshow holding room. The pre-show isn't as good as AE, but Skippy is still there along with 'another guy' (which is just a modified Skippy). I guess making a whole new character was too much money? Anyways - onto the real show. I thought it was cute. Not great, basically the same thing as AE except it's Stitch. Instead of blood sprinkling you, it's spit, instead of low growls and chills down your back, Stitch bounces around and cracks jokes. There seemed to be a lot of extended darkness which was a disappointment - I thought they should have shown more of the new Stitch animatronic because it's really really good. The crowd seems to like it, lots of smiles and laughs when it was over. I agree, I liked it. It's not AE and that's the point. If you compare it to AE you will be disappointed, just see it with an open mind. I think it's a good addition - little girls like Stitch cuz he can be cute and cuddly. Little boys like Stitch because he can be abnoxious and gross. I like Stitch because he's very different from the other Disney characters, and I think he's cute, gross, and funny. He reminds me of my cat & ferret
We also went on Tomorrowland Transit Authority - no wait & the Haunted Mansion - only about a 10 minute wait. Peter Pan - 10 minutes.
Fireworks were very good, we watched them from Fantasyland by It's A Small World & Donald's Xmas Tree Lot. Afterwards, when in line for Peter Pan, everyone complained of the water on the streets. I heard lots of comments like "Oh, they must have a leak" & "This place is in such disrepair". Actually, the water is from the sprinklers on the roofs that run during the fireworks so the buildings don't catch fire from falling embers. :shrug: People are always so quick to assume the negative. Another thing I saw in line for Peter Pan, a small girl, about 3 years old, shoving the chain links from the queue line into her mouth while her father cheers he on. I guess he wanted to see how many fit???? Well, it turns out only 3.
We walked around for awhile, and then settled on a place to catch the 2nd parade. We sat at a table outside of Casey's near the crosswalk. I know I have read so many posts about people barging in last minute to get a good spot and blocking your view, and of course - nothing has changed. BUT, I do want to say a great big "You're My Hero" to the 2 gentlemen working crowd control at Casey's. Every time someone would stop in front of someone, or hop the fence, or stand in the crosswalk they were there within 5 seconds telling them to move. Thank you! I could not do that job, after about the 20th time I told someone to keep moving I would start twitching and loose it! They did it at least 70 times, if not more. I actually found it more enjoyable to watch them confront these rude people than watch the parade. Everytime I saw someone 'claim their place' I would just say (in my head of course) 'get em! get em!' and of course, they did.

Oh, and I saw my first DISer! Sorry, I didn't get to stop and say 'hi' since were in a crowd heading opposite directions - and Home Depot was out of the green Mickey heads so I didn't have any 'ID', but HELLO! to Deb who was wearing a laminated green mickey head with her name in the center. She was the only one I saw during our visit.

 

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We went to Epcot for lunch at San Angel. We walked up at 1:30 PM with no PS and were seated right away. Now another small rant - the table next to us had 3 children, ages 3-6. Now, San Angel isn't a large restaurant and the tables are packed very tightly together - and I know it looks like it's outside, but indeed, is indoors. That did not stop these kids from running all over the dining room, hitting peoples tables & chairs, trying to climb the fence by the water and screeeeaming the entire time. Their server personally brought them back their table twice. You think think would be enough of a 'hint' for mom, but nooo.... She's too busy talking with the other adults in her party and periodically using her cell phone to care what her kids are doing. Some people really take a vacation from everything, don't they? Oh well... we look over our menus - which is my one complaint about this restaurant - they need more selection. They only have about 6 - 8 items to choose from. Perhaps a create your own combo would be better? Meanwhile, the children next to us have left the restaurant and are now climbing on the wall above their mothers head screaming at the top of their lungs. It was actually echoing throughout the building. She does tell them to be quite without looking at them, and another adult stands for a moment to take the kids picture. (Oh, and here's a picture of the kids while they were temporarily possessed in Mexico) Sortly after, they leave. And just in time, here comes the food. I had the tacos al pastor and my dad had the carne asada tacos. They were very good, but again - only the tacos and a little guacamole. Would have liked to have seen a little more food on the plate. It tasted good. Is it authentic? Not really. Can you get the same quality at your local mexican restaurant - probably. But, the atmosphere is very nice and our server was quick and helpful - extra tip for her. I had the chocolate chimichange for dessert - VERY good But there were only a few desserts to choose from.

 

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I'm not sure when this opened, but it's pretty new. It's at Epcot Living Seas. I didn't really know what it was when I got in line (I don't think anyone there knew what it was, the CM had to walk around Sea Base Alpha gathering up people to see the show) - but lucky for us I guess - the secret isn't out yet.
It was excellent!!! Basically, it's a small theatre with room up front for little kids to sit on the floor in front of the screen. If you have kids - up front is where they will want to be! I thought we were going to see a cartoon show about sea turtles. Well, I was right, and I was wrong. It's an interactive show with Crush, from Finding Nemo. Basically - it's a cartoon character that can see the and hear the audience. I didn't realize it until he asked the CM in the room to ask the 'little boy in the black shell' a question. The CM comes over with a microphone and asks his name, and now the little kid can actually talk with Crush and ask him questions.
It was very cute - all the kids were so excited to learn that Crush was real - and that they could talk to him. One little girl asked Crush, "How are you talking so real?" He said it was because he's 152 years old and he's learned a lot of things in his life - and talking real was one of them.

Living Seas also has an area to learn about Sharks, again - tying into Finding Nemo. It was a cute set up.

 

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It's very sad they did away with the Animation Studio in FL, so they had to redo the Animation tour. This was my first time going in it. They no longer have the movie with Robin Williams, but it's set up like an animator showing you how a character is born and uses Mushu from Mulan as an example. It's cute and funny, but very loud (maybe cuz I was in the 2nd row?). Then it's onto the interactive stuff that wasn't that great. They had computers that you could color the characters however you wanted them. They had kiosks that would tell you which Disney character you're most like (I'm like Belle!), and they had The Incredibles characters there that you could get signatures and pictures. There was Mr. Incredible, ElastiGirl, and Frozone. I almost walked by the best part - the chance to learn how to draw a Disney character. It's worth the wait, about 5 minutes. It's like the thing at Disney Quest, except its actual pencils and paper instead of computers (hated those things). We learned how to draw Donald. The instructor was very funny and took his time so no one felt rushed. At the end, you get to keep your drawing so you can brag to all your friends.
And of course, all this empties out into a merchandise shop. They downsized it a great deal since the last time I was there. It's the shop that sells all of they Disney artwork and statues. I liked it better before - it seems too cramped now, where as before it was more like an art gallery and I could take my time to browse around.

 

[jimmiej]

I would like to start a small rant though - I have no problems with children at Disney World, but would it kill the parents to go up to the buffet with them? Kids were weaving in and out of the line, bumping into people, knocking food on the floor, and picking food out of the buffet with their hands - eating it - and going back for seconds.

I feel your pain. Some little kid practically knocked me down to get at the Boma Buffet. Parents?

 

[Minniespal]

Great reports ~ Thanx for sharing.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

I like Stitch because he's very different from the other Disney characters, and I think he's cute, gross, and funny. He reminds me of my cat & ferret

Great trip report! LOL I swear, everyone I know who has a ferret adores Stitch! My DH and I are always comparing Stitch to our ferrets! It's uncanny at times! Especially in the movie how Stitch drops to the floor and skuttles across it right after Nani and Lilo take him home! That is SUCH a ferret move! Which perhaps explains why whenever we watch it we still fall out of our chairs laughing. And thanks for the review on the Stitch ride, we went on it when it was AE but haven't hit it since the change.

One question, how is the Stitch shop after it? Like what kind of stuff do they have in there? Anything that someone who is decorating their bedroom in a Lilo and Stitch theme would find useful? Thanks so much!