Brief (ha ha) review from last week

[Dolby1000]

Hello everyone, this is a brief overview of the detailed review I am going to post about our trip to WDW last week (Wednesday – Saturday). For this overview, I am going to use the star system, and grade our experiences on a 1 – 5 star scale, with 5 being the highest rating. When I post the full review, I will explain in more detail why we graded Disney the way we did.

First of all, our overall trip was
4 stars (out of 5)
Overall, we had a wonderful four days. Please do not assume that if I rate something fairly low that I am taking a position that item then just RUINED our trip. Nothing could be further from the truth. Like I said we had a wonderful time. If I think things can be improved, well, that is what a good critical review is, discussing what worked and then taking a critical look at where I think it could be even better. As Disney is very, very expensive to visit, I do take this into account. If you are going to charge for the stars, you have to deliver them. I would say that they did in most cases, so again, please no flaming me just because I thought Finding Nemo wasn’t very good and that Expedition Everest was outstanding.
We also take cruises, and I am going to use the same criteria I use for them.

I am going to do this by theme park, then hotel, then overall experiences. I am only rating those attractions we actually visited.

Animal Kingdom
4 stars overall

5 Star Items
Escape from Everest
Festival of the Lion King

4 Star Items
Dinosaur
The Safari Ride (when did they get rid of being able to view the poachers as the sped off?)

3 Star Items
It’s Tough to be a Bug

2 Star Items
Finding Nemo (see my full length review for why we just didn’t like this at all)

1 Star Items
Dining choices

MGM
5 Stars overall (okay, it is my favorite, so there is a bias here)

5 Star Items
TOT - rode this 3 times
Rock and Roll Roller Coaster – rode twice
Lights, Action, Camera show
Indiana Jones Show
Star Tours – I think it still holds up well – rode it 5 times!!!

4 Star Items
Sci-Fi Drive in Theater
Muppet Vision 3D
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Fantasmic

3 Star Items
Hollywood & Vine (Dinner)
Daily Parade

2 Star Items
Narnia attraction
Animation Tour (what is up with that – it is all gone!)
Backlot Tour (there is no backlot, this is Catastrophe Canyon and that is it)

EPCOT
4 stars overall

5 Stars
Soarin – almost 6 stars, a ride that is not a thrill ride, yet is very thrilling

4 Stars
Mission to Mars (green tour)
Test Track
Lunch at Rose & Crown Pub (walk in – no waiting)
Turtle Talk

3 Stars
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (this one is showing its age)

2 Stars
Finding Nemo ride
Journey to the Land

Magic Kingdom
3 ½ Stars overall

5 Stars
Mickey’s Philharmagic (this is almost 6 stars, I though this was very, very good)
Splash Mountain

4 Stars
Wishes fireworks
Spectro Magic (okay, flame me now, I liked the Main Street Electrical Parade better)
Disney Railroad (hey, I like trains)
Haunted Mansion
PotC

3 Stars
BTMR
SM
Peter Pan
Winnie the Pooh
Snow White
Monster Inc. Laugh Show (it just wasn’t very funny)
Wishes Parade

1 Stars
Dining Choices (as in none at all if no ADR)

Other random observations;

Technology
1 Star
When entering the parks, and I mean all 4 of them, why is it that every 4th or 5th card through the reader fails? And what is with the finger print scan? Could Disney make the process of entering the parks any longer? We entered the parks 8 times in 4 days or 16 times between the two of us, 5 times, nearly 1/3 of the time, we had to put our card through the reader at least twice. Would we accept this failure rate if our ATM card failed every 4th time?
Why weren’t the CMs trained how to allow some one to buy just a popcorn and soda without taking 5 minutes per transaction? Again, people were paying with their cards and the poor CM had to swipe them several times. We waited longer for snacks than rides! It should not take 15 minutes to check out 4 parties wanting just popcorn and ice cream. The kiosks could not keep up with the demand because the technology was failing.

Dining Options
1 star (with no ADR you are dead, Disney lacks sufficient sit down restaurants to handle the crowds they bring. And what is with bringing in McDonalds! Ick! See my detailed review for further discussion)

Caribbean Beach Resort
3 Stars
Were never really there much during the day, but very poor food court, market had few take out selections, pizza was only 16 inches, far more than my DW and I could ever eat. Pillows were terrible, mattress sunk in the middle. Shower worked in reverse, cold was hot and hot was cold; remote for the TV was missing too. Lastly, at check in, we were given room 3550, which considering building 35 only had 35 rooms, didn’t exist!

Okay, this wasn’t as short as I wanted, but a much longer and detailed review will be posted on the trip reports board; keep an eye out for it. I am about 1/3 of the way done with it.

Oh yes, Year of a Million Dreams – 0 Stars, there was no visibility of this at all, I saw no ears, no landyards no ultimate Fast Passes, no Dream Team members, no proof that Disney was still even involved with this. Now, this has no effect on my rating as we didn’t expect anything, and so, not seeing anything, met my expectations.

Dolby1000
Chicago, IL
Nov. 2007

And of course, fire away with any questions or flaming, I am ready for it! I know, I dared to criticize Disney! I am ready to pay the price!

 

[scottny]

put a link in your siggie when u post your tr i would like to read it. will there be pics?
i was going to do CBR but chose POR again.

 

[debbiedana]

I'm really looking forward to your full report!

And you won't get any flames from me! No person or entity is perfect, not even our beloved Disney.

I agree with you on many points already, particularly sit down dining. I mean, really, I didn't even know I was GOING to WDW 180 days before, let alone have a plan of what park I'm going to be in on any particular day. I'm 60-something days out, I keep changing my plan, and I'm fully prepared that there will be no table service restaurants visited by me and DD on our trip! And McDonalds... ewwww. Guaranteed bathroom trips every ten minutes for several hours. Why, why why must Disney torture me? And I'm not sure why everyone loves Honey I Shrunk the Audience so much, it's tired and feels out of date.

I'm so glad someone else is of the same opinion as me! Can't wait for this report!

 

[Redbudlover]

Curious you saw no evidence of Year Of a Million Dreams. I was there a month ago and my party received dream fps twice! And saw lot of people with them hanging from lanyards around their necks!

 

[tar heel]

I agree in general with a lot of your evaluations, but our family loved the Nemo show. I work in the arts and "buy" performances, and I thought it was strong. I'll be interested in hearing what you didn't like.

 

[tomandrobin]

Curious you saw no evidence of Year Of a Million Dreams. I was there a month ago and my party received dream fps twice! And saw lot of people with them hanging from lanyards around their necks!

We have spent 31 days this past yeart at WDW. Our family has not won anything, nor have we seen anyone else actually win.

We do see families walking around with thier fastpasses, hats and lanyards. But to see a Dream Team in action.......nada!

 

[Devilman]

We were there last week, and didn't see any Dream CM in anypark!!
Is it over?

Also- are you talking about Nemo the ride or the Musical??
where is your elboration as to why you disliked either 1
DD8 and i saw Nemo the Musical, and were blown away

 

[Dolby1000]

The full novel of a trip report is now posted on the Trip Reports board.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them on this thread or over on the trip reports.

Dolby1000
Dave
Lisle, IL

 

[nitsirk]

We have spent 31 days this past yeart at WDW. Our family has not won anything, nor have we seen anyone else actually win.

We do see families walking around with thier fastpasses, hats and lanyards. But to see a Dream Team in action.......nada!

I thought it was just me but I have spent over twenty days in the park this year and I have received NOTHING! Glad to hear I'm not alone. But let's face it, I'm going to keep coming back anyway.

Fingers crossed for my upcoming trip in Dec.

 

[alicenwonder99]

I agree with some of your reviews.

I also like the Electrical Parade much, much more than the Spectro Magic. That was such a disappointment. 2 stars

We liked the Nemo musical, ALOT. 5 stars

How can you give the Backlor Tour 2 stars!!! That attraction deserves ZERO stars.

I think since the HM got redone, it now deserves a full 5 stars.

You didn't rate the buses. I usually HATE the WDW buses to the parks, but on this last trip, the buses were great. We stayed at the AKL. So, either the AKL is the place to stay for great bus service, or WDW has FINALLY perfected how to get people from the resorts to the parks. I'd give the buses 4 stars.

I'm going to read your full trip report now.

 

[maxiesmom]

I agree with most of your review, except I would give MGM -10 stars for dining. The dining they have stinks! Plus they need to have more breakfast options. The Starring Rolls always has an enormous line in the morning, and you couldn't pay me to eat at the ABC Comissary. There is not enough ketchup in the world to make their sausage edible.

Also, I would give the Magic Kingdom 4 stars for dining. I have found the food very good. It is not a fault of the restaurants that they are so popular you have to have ADRs.

 

[Dolby1000]

It is not a fault of the restaurants that they are so popular you have to have ADRs.[/QUOTE]

First off - Thanks to everyone who has read my review and posted their responses. It is fun to see what everyone else thinks. Everyone has been really cool, even in areas of disagreement, which is what good boards are all about.

I just have short reply to the above comment, what you say is true, yet, it is the fault of the DIsney planning that they LACK suffcient dining space to meet demand. That is the point I am trying make.

Dolby1000

 

[disneyagain]

Good Review....

We've been to WDW 3 times this year and received the dream fast pass at AK in April, A lanyard with pins in July and Mickey Ears in August. We saw dream team members all over the parks.....

Even though we spent a heck of a lot of money at disney this year, it sure is nice to receive a "free" trinket!

 

[disneyfantotheend]

We loved CBR food court, but that was many years ago. I do feel bad for those who do not know to book some ADRs. To end up eating CS all week is not a fun thing. And I do agree it is tough to know where you will be 180 days prior to your trip.

 

[Kovu_and_Kiara]

Thank you for your review. I am new to the disboards and I am finding a lot of great information.

What exactly are trip reports?

 

[las3888]

I enjoyed your review...we are just back also...(yesterday in fact). I agree with a lot of what you say, except I loved the Nemo Show. I also saw ZERO evidence of Year of a Million Dreams. We go 2-3 times a year and one time I saw somebody receive something and it was very awkward to see one person singled out while all the others were standing around grumbling...it seemed a bit awkward and unfair. I don't remember what exactly it was, but I remember thinking it wasn't a great promotion. I suppose it is for those who actually have received something!!!

Dining is impossible at this time. I think it's because the dining plan encourages people to eat on site. A few years ago before this existed, it wasn't a big deal to make ADRs, at least that's how it seemed to me. We have learned to either make ressies far in advance, and eat at some of the restaurants that aren't quite as popular, such as Biergarten (we almost never have a problem getting in there).

Thanks again...I also agree with you on the Main Street Electrical Parade...and definitely agree with you on the technology!!!

 

[maxiesmom]

It is not a fault of the restaurants that they are so popular you have to have ADRs.

I just have short reply to the above comment, what you say is true, yet, it is the fault of the DIsney planning that they LACK suffcient dining space to meet demand. That is the point I am trying make.

Dolby1000[/QUOTE]

I will agree to the point that I don't understand why they have so many "seasonal" restaurants in the Magic Kingdom. But it is not like they can expand say the Crystal Palace without tearing something else down.

I too remember the good old days when you could enter the park and make your dining ressies that day. Having to say 6 months in advace which park you will do on which day is hard! Good thing I like planning!

 

[dizneydiva2005]

I was there last week and I said the same thing about the dream team. Saw nothing!