Live Report: Mostly Free Dining

[PortieOwner]

We arrived at CSR a couple of days ago and we are doing "free" dining, Magical Beginings, and we also added on a day of paid dining at the start of the trip rather than stay offsite for a night and a morning. Here is a short synopsis. I'll try to answer questions tomorrow.

Just like my trip last year, I found lots of "conventional widsom" on these DisBoards isn't true.

It is hot and humid in Orlando. Two shirts-a-day weather. The sun is strong, I burned in about 45 minutes by the pool, with two layers of SPF-41 on. Pool at CSR at mid-day was nearly deserted.

Emerald Aisle, even late in the evening, has all sorts of neat non-intermediate vehicles. Buick Rendevous, Sebring convertibles, the Chevy HMR (?) vehicle, some that looked like Honda Elements, and probably some minivans and smaller SUVs (I was too tired and hassled to really do an inventory). National checkout was fast and efficient.

Even with very late check-in we got exactly the room we requested at CSR (I had it on my reservation but also faxed them last weekend).

Lines are miniscule at least at the Magic Kingdom. At nearly noon today (a MK early entry morning) the wait for Big Thunder was listed as 5 minutes but there was no line, just a walk-on. There are plenty of people on the parks but the lines are short. Between early entry for Magical Beginnings and resort Extra Magic Hour today we have been on everything in Fantasyland 2-3 times and Buzz Lightyear many times. Yesterday and today they were running Dumbo mostly empty in the first couple of hours. Longest wait for anything was the Ariel greeting, which was maybe 15 minutes, and the actress portraying Ariel was really talented.

The buses still pretty much stink. It took us nearly an hour to get back to CSR the other day, mid-day, from the MK. We have done much better just driving to the TTC and catching the monorail or ferry. Heard other guests commenting that "the lines for the rides are short, but it takes longer to ride the bus than to go on several rides".

Crystal Palace and Cape May Clambake were definitely taking walkup diners today. Boma was busy yesterday and we had to wait 15 minutes past our ADR time to get seated--this is bad when you have a hungry small child along. Boma is the only place so far where I felt some impact from "free dining"; "free" isn't free when waiting for 25 minutes to get seated and your kid is hungry and cranky.

Parking is not a problem at any resort--at Beach Club the lot was nearly empty and the parking guard didn't even give us a "3 hour" permit. We could have parked there overnight I suppose.

At Crystal Palace we had a great server, and because we started breakfast late (10:30) when we finished the place was empty and the characters visitied us many times (I think we met Eeyore 6 times). I thought the smoked salmon was the best food item here, and I really liked the honeydew melon they had.

The quality of the food at Cape May has improved since I ate there in 1997. My only real complaint is the piggish guests who loaded multiple plates with many dozens of mussels, leaving none for me or others. It was hard for the shellfish steaming man to keep up when one guest takes half the mussels in the pot. It was amusing to watch morbidly obese guests pour ladels full of melted butter all over their seafood. That's behavior I never get to see back home.

Boma was once again a good meal. Their head chef is a really dynamic man, he was all over the restaurant visiting with guests and running back to cook. There seemed to be some Disney execs dining there that night as well. I am not sure if there are some corporate meetings going on, but I am seeing a lot more Disney "suits" out in the theme parks, restaurants and resorts.

We have had a couple of meals at Pepper Market. I still like them for some things--they gave me a free refillable mug and included it as part of a counter service meal, and they gave me an extra muffin and bagel as part of a breakfast meal. The down sides: some of their specials weren't that great, the ginger-chicken special was pre-cooked and I didn't like it much. The buffalo shrimp pizza also wasn't too wonderful (but freshly cooked).

I expect we will have counter service and snack credits left over when the trip ends.

Disney castmembers, from restaurant servers to resort staff to attractions staff have been terrific. Check-in at CSR with semi-free dining took 5 minutes at most and they didn't need to see all our party members in the lobby either.

The AAA Story Time is a great little event. Our storyteller was Alladin and he did a great job. This alone made booking with AAA a good idea. AAA Diamond parking at the TTC is pretty convenient but if you are there early the regular lot is just as good or better.

Regarding skimpy tops, there are lots of them being worn this week. I'll continue to do research and report back.

Last observation: every time I visit people control their own kids less and less.

Portie

 

[melomouse]

Thank you for taking the time to post during your trip.

Glad park crowds are down, restaurant waits reflecting the popularity of FDP, and that Cape May's improved.The calmbake menu has always made me drool.....

Sorry about chubby underdressed guests with unruly kids. Easy come, easy go. You have no lines and got a free refillable mug at Pepper Market??

Enjoy the rest of your trip!!!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Crystal Palace and Cape May Clambake were definitely taking walkup diners today.

Thank you for posting that information, because sometimes when I read how you can no longer walk up to a restaurant or a popular restaurant with no ADR because of the Dinning Plan, I think to myself it maybe true but not 365 days a year.

I have said some Disboards members over hype ADR's & how you can not do walkup's anymore, so your post proves otherwise. I hope others who claim you can't do walkup's see what you posted.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Boma is the only place so far where I felt some impact from "free dining"; "free" isn't free when waiting for 25 minutes to get seated and your kid is hungry and cranky

Sure it is - AND it means you don't have to feel guilty if you run over to the snack bar or gift shop and get something small to appease the child's hunger

 

[PortieOwner]

Friday....the MK seemed a bit more crowded than earlier this week but the lines were non-existant. Everything this morning was a walk-on: Big Thunder, Buzz, Splash Mountain. Pirates was down again today (yesterday it shut while we were inside, and we were given a Fastpass to any other ride by a nice Disney suit).

Based on what I overheard, the larger crowds today are because of "Night of Joy" tonight and tomorrow night. Some of these kooks planned to be at MK all day and all night, with or without a small break during the afternoon. "Night of Joy" definitely brings down a large south Alabama/Georgia contingent.

They really pull out all the stops for the "Magical Beginnings". Much of the time from 8-9am many characters roamed Fantasyland playing with kids. Eeyore and Pooh played that hour in Pooh's playground and it was great for the kids. Alice and the Mad Hatter also played, Snow White and Happy (?) were out, as were Captain Hook, Wendy, Mickey and Pluto.

1900 Park Faire was a terrific breakfast late in the morning. We had the place to ourselves and it would be no problem walking up and eating. With only three or four other families in the place we saw each character 3-4 times. All of them were great--Mad Hatter was completely over the top and Tigger was about the most energetic I have seen. Alice was wonderful with our kid. Parking was no problem at Grand Floridian--they would let us parking in guest parking with no time limit but I opted for Valet Parking--$7 plus tip. This saved us 10-15 minutes walking each way to the far-away guest lots.

By the way Crystal Palace at 1030am also seemed quiet when we walked by. I doubt it would have been a problem to walk up for a reservation.

As I noticed last Fall, Disney seems to do a better job with their characters and actors than they used to. All the characters have given wonderful, A+ performances.

In the afternoon we toured the Studios. Again, building crowds, probably weekend people from Florida and some in for Night of Joy. No problems getting into any attraction--walkons for Playhouse Disney, Cars stunt show, Muppets, Star Tours, etc. But plenty of people on the streets of the Studios. At CSR there were a lot of people checking in today and a lot more cars in the parking lot.

ETA: AAA Diamond parking at the Studios is great. Right up front, the only people with better parking are handicapped.

I wish counter service was open later at the Studios. Table service is taking up too much time and reducing touring flexibility. I canceled our Kona Cafe reservation this afternoon. We went back to Pepper Market for dinner--and it was a good meal. Had the prime rib, a little fatty but still good for a counter service prime rib! The apple cobbler is on their dessert list and it is huge, warm, and topped with lots of ice cream.

Portie

 

[gigi1313]

thanks for the live updates... sounds like the perfect time to be touring... can only hope that it's the same way in three weeks when we arrive

 

[alicenwonder99]

Thanks for the updates! Sounds like you're having a great time.

Have you experienced the afternoon showers everyone talks about on the DIS? We're leaving in 10 days and wondering how much of a downpour to expect everyday.

Thanks for the detailed report of the crowds. I can't wait to get there and see what it's like to not have to wait for Dumbo for 1/2 hour!!! lol.

Mary

 

[magicmouse2]

Thanks for the report !

 

[Sammie]

Just like my trip last year, I found lots of "conventional widsom" on these DisBoards isn't true.

What did you find not to be true?

 

[Sammie]

Thank you for posting that information, because sometimes when I read how you can no longer walk up to a restaurant or a popular restaurant with no ADR because of the Dinning Plan, I think to myself it maybe true but not 365 days a year.

I have said some Disboards members over hype ADR's & how you can not do walkup's anymore, so your post proves otherwise. I hope others who claim you can't do walkup's see what you posted.

His post proves that was his experience on those particular days at those restuarants at those times. It does not prove it is true at other times.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

His post proves that was his experience on those particular days at those restuarants at those times. It does not prove it is true at other times.

I realize that, but out of 365 days a year there will be days when people can go to a restaurant as a walk up without an ADR. I just think some people here fail to mention that, because no restaurants are that busy everyday of the year where they have to turn people away.

 

[Nasus]

Thanks for the live updates. We are arriving on 9/21 and I'm afraid the walk on rides will be history! We've made all of our ADR's so no worries there, but it's good to know you can make changes. We made last minute changes on our trip in May with no problem.

I totally agree with you about the table service dining eating into park time. Not enough hours in the day, too bad sleep is necessary while at Disney
Susan

 

[Sammie]

I realize that, but out of 365 days a year there will be days when people can go to a restaurant as a walk up without an ADR. I just think some people here fail to mention that, because no restaurants are that busy everyday of the year where they have to turn people away.

Sure that is true, but why risk it. Nothing lost to make ADRs, but if one doesn't and gets there only to find out they can't get in, they are disappointed. I would always advise to err on the side of caution.

Easier to cancel them if you don't need them than do without.

 

[PortieOwner]

What did you find not to be true?

Off the top of my head, here are some nuggets I gleaned from the Disboards while preparing for my trip. All are false in my experience.

1. People who check in late don't get their room request honored.
2. National car rental stinks, and Emerald Aisle only has lousy intermediate cars (especially for people who arrive late at night).
3. Disney bus service is great!
4. ADRs are necessary if you wish to have a table service meal in September.
5. Only lousy desserts are available at Pepper Market.
6. Disney had banned skimpy tops.
7. It storms every day, mid-day in September (it has stormed twice so far, once in the mid-afternoon, and a second time at sunset).
8. Restaurant servers hate the dining plan.
9. It is not possible to pay for a child's meal OOP at a character meal.
10. Cape May has gone down hill.
11. Garden Grill has gone down hill.
12. At character meals, servers will rush you.

ETA:

13. Diamond AAA Parking isn't worth it. It's great at Epcot and MGM, and very good at MK unless you arrive at MK very early (before opening) and wind up in the first line or two in the lot, or arrive so late you can park anywhere at MK.
14. ABC Commissary is a bad place. (note: I only drank there but the food looked and smelled fine, the service was great, and the place is cool, comfortable, and carpeted!)
15. Conventioneers are never a problem at Coronado Springs.

There are others I cannot remember. Caveat emptor when reading these boards folks (including what I write here).

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Sure that is true, but why risk it. Nothing lost to make ADRs, but if one doesn't and gets there only to find out they can't get in, they are disappointed. I would always advise to err on the side of caution.

Easier to cancel them if you don't need them than do without.

I agree with you 100% with that statement. However in all the posts I have read about ADR's, I get the feeling that some people think you can never go to a restaurant as a walk up ever again. Common sense shows that's not true, so I just wish that the people who claim ADR's are so important (which I think are) also say there can always be a slight chance of going in as a walk up with no ADR. Because there could be the chance of a last minute cancellation. I guess seeing some people say there will never be a chance of being a walk in, kind of makes me mad, because it's just not true if you think logically.

 

[PortieOwner]

Another streamy day in central Florida. Someone asked about afternoon storms and that did happen one day (Thursday I think). I could see the storm clouds building when I was at the pool early in the afternoon. Storms moved through around 3PM. Tonight smaller storms moved through around sunset. Not huge amounts of rain fell in either rainstorm.

Crowds were perhaps heavier today. There is a very large number of Florida locals (who may be from as far away as Miami, Tampa, and Jax) at the parks this weekend plus Night of Joy people. While there were plenty of people inundating the MK this morning, lines stayed short as lone as we were there. Longest was 20 mins at the Grand Prix cars in Tomorrowland but that line was shorter by noon. Walkons continued for Pirates (finally fixed), Big Thunder, and Splash in the 9-11am period. It was also a walkon to see the non-princess chatacters in Toontown, and Buzz was a walkin as late as 11:15am. When we bailed at noon a lot of other people were heading to Epcot. My guess is Epcot was empty in the morning.

With weekend touring very typical in the off season for Florida locals I think that people from out of town should plan to fly in on Sundays and leave on Saturdays, leaving the MKK especially to locals on Sat-Sun.

We had lunch as Cosmic Rays. I had never seen Sunny Eclipse before so that was fun (but too loud). The food was pretty unremarkable even if the fixins bar was well stocked.

Late afternoon brought a trip to Epcot. Again, plenty of people walking around but lines were short. Soarin' was a 40 minute standby wait but fastpass return was 1 hour. Test Track reported a 20 min standby wait but it was actually a walk-on. Turtle Talk was a walk-in. There were minimal (5-15 min.) waits at the Epcot Character Connection.

Garden Grill continues to serve up a good meal and great service. They were not terribly busy either.

Portie

 

[gigi1313]

what and where is character connection?

 

[melomouse]

Off the top of my head, here are some nuggets I gleaned from the Disboards while preparing for my trip. All are false in my experience.

1. People who check in late don't get their room request honored.
2. National car rental stinks, and Emerald Aisle only has lousy intermediate cars (especially for people who arrive late at night).
3. Disney bus service is great!
4. ADRs are necessary if you wish to have a table service meal in September.
5. Only lousy desserts are available at Pepper Market.
6. Disney had banned skimpy tops.
7. It storms every day, mid-day in September (it has stormed twice so far, once in the mid-afternoon, and a second time at sunset).
8. Restaurant servers hate the dining plan.
9. It is not possible to pay for a child's meal OOP at a character meal.
10. Cape May has gone down hill.
11. Garden Grill has gone donw hill.
12. At character meals, servers will rush you.

ETA:

13. Diamond AAA Parking isn't worth it. It's great at Epcot and MGM, and very good at MK unless you arrive at MK very early (before opening) and wind up in the first line or two in the lot, or arrive so late you can park anywhere at MK.

There are others I cannot remember. Caveat emptor when reading these boards folks (including what I write here).

Though you have been kind enough to post while actually onsite, PortieOwner, and lots of us find some of your comments useful, it sounds as if you're a bit upset with previous posts you've found here and vehemently disagree with?? Or did some of the stuff you read here make you unnecessarily anxious pre-trip? Or raise/lower expectations too much???

I think you do all DIS'er's an injustice to suggest that anyone actually BELIEVES everything they read, KWIM???

 

[WAHMto5]

Thanks for all the great reviews and updates!!

 

[Sammie]

Off the top of my head, here are some nuggets I gleaned from the Disboards while preparing for my trip. All are false in my experience.

1. People who check in late don't get their room request honored.
2. National car rental stinks, and Emerald Aisle only has lousy intermediate cars (especially for people who arrive late at night).
3. Disney bus service is great!
4. ADRs are necessary if you wish to have a table service meal in September.
5. Only lousy desserts are available at Pepper Market.
6. Disney had banned skimpy tops.
7. It storms every day, mid-day in September (it has stormed twice so far, once in the mid-afternoon, and a second time at sunset).
8. Restaurant servers hate the dining plan.
9. It is not possible to pay for a child's meal OOP at a character meal.
10. Cape May has gone down hill.
11. Garden Grill has gone donw hill.
12. At character meals, servers will rush you.

ETA:

13. Diamond AAA Parking isn't worth it. It's great at Epcot and MGM, and very good at MK unless you arrive at MK very early (before opening) and wind up in the first line or two in the lot, or arrive so late you can park anywhere at MK.

There are others I cannot remember. Caveat emptor when reading these boards folks (including what I write here).

Those were people's accounts of what they experienced at the time of their trip. Just because you did not experience them during your trip does not make them false. Many things are based on when you go. You are going during a less busy time, so certainly that does affect many things.

I did not experience many of the things you did while there in August, that does not make your accounts false, just different.