Here is a quick review (2/12-18). We are back from a great trip. Here are the basics: Family of 5 including 3 teenagers, 1 night at Caribbean Beach, 5 nights Yacht Club (Club Level), Dinners – Spice Table, San Angel, Tutto Italia, Restaurant Marrakesh, and Crystal Palace.
We arrived very late the first night getting to Caribbean Beach hotel about 1/1:30 in the morning. We waited for about 20-30 minutes for the Magic Express to leave the airport, arrived at the hotel and immediately checked in. We then waited about 10-15 minutes for a van to come and take us to our room (too far to walk with all our luggage). In the morning woke up to sun and green (yea!). We had some issues with 3 of our magic bands they couldn’t fix when we checked in because of the hour so that morning headed to the concierge at the Old Port Royale and had that taken care of (very quickly) and had some breakfast. Had our luggage sent to the Yacht Club (bell service arrived right away) and headed to Magic Kingdom.
Crowds were there but not crazy yet (it got busier as the weekend went). Fast Passes all worked and got a few other rides in as well. Headed to Yacht Club via Monorail/Epcot, loved walking through when had the time. When got to Yacht Club checked in at front desk and they called up to Club level to have someone come down and get us. We were welcomed upstairs (welcome drink for mom and soft drinks for kids) and they called down for our luggage which was brought right up (bellman was one of the friendliest folks we met at hotel). We had drinks and snacks got unpacked and that night headed to Spice Table. Had an 8 o’clock adr, got there about 15 min early and were able to be seated. My husband asked when we checked in about a seat so we could see fireworks and they made it work. We sat one row back from the rail on the side and it was perfect. The food was good (baklava not so much), service was good. Perfect first dinner. Definitely recommend and would do again. Husband and kids headed to MK for a couple hours (it was open till 1 every day there)
Next day was spent at Animal Kingdom. Another good day (9:45 safari and all animals out). Dinner that night was San Angel. It worked out great. Two of our 3 teens often prefer to eat off the children’s menu. When we checked in one of them said we would like a children’s menu and the hostess told us they could order off it but they would get a larger portion and be charged double. No problem. We were seated right next to the river so great view. Our waiter Eduardo was great. We ended up ordering 2 entrées, 3 appetizers and one kids meal for the 5 of us (margaritas of course). He marked each appetizer as being with a meal and only brought and charged us for one kid’s meal. Worked out perfect and shows that the servers do have some control over what is happening (advise always be polite).
Day 3 Epcot. Busiest I have ever seen it. Dinner that night was Italy. Service was good, food good, nothing to write home about. Again was able to order off the kids menu no problems. Again a late night crew head back to MK for a bit.
Day 4 Hollywood Studios and some pool time. Dinner Morocco. All well. We ordered several appetizer and two kids meals. Enjoyed and then headed back to Hollywood Studios for first time at Fantasmic and few more rides during Extra Magic Hours.
Day 5 MK and Crystal Palace. We all made it till 1am this night with a break in between to pack and enjoy snacks at the hotel. Crystal Palace was a late adr, and it was raining. Food good, service great, pictures felt rushed this trip probably because of hour.
Day 6 (1/2 day) – Back to Epcot for the morning and Test track. Walked back through the countries and headed to Magic Express.
Notes on restaurant – we only did adr’s for dinner. Service at all of the restaurants was great, some better than others but all great. We were able to have teens order off of children’s menu at each place with no issues. Lunch for us was quick service or snacks every day. Breakfast was at the hotel.
Notes on hotels - Caribbean Beach, only there for about 7 hours most spent sleeping. Big for our taste, but very tropical and served our purpose. We had luggage moved to Yacht Club went great no problems at all. Yacht Club, we have stayed at Beach Club twice before so knew the area and pool both reasons we chose. Love the location. Our room 5190 was a standard view club level room. The room was clean and in very good shape, no signs of distress. Our view was of the front door, front circle. Plenty of trees so didn’t not feel a bad view for standard. The best thing was we could see MK’s fireworks every night from the room. Perfect. This was our first Club Level experience and it was worth it for our family of 5. We had breakfast every morning, afternoon snacks 1 or 2 days, drinks and appetizers every night and dessert I think 3 nights. The kids loved having access to the mini fridge with sodas 24 hours. The lounge crowds varied but folks were polite and respectful. Breakfast was when there was a crowd other times of the day folks seemed to grab and go. The staff was polite and helpful but nothing over the top. They did have the texting service while we were there and were willing to try for fast passes for us, didn’t work because most of our 3rd passes were too late for us to get the big ones we would have wanted. We were able to get beer one day before it was out to take to the pool but they were not able to leave dessert in our room upon request (they said quality issue). As I said worth for our family, but if it was just two of us not sure I would splurge.
Club level food – Breakfast changing muffin/pastry always bagels, croissants, hard boiled eggs, oatmeal (toppings available), cheese grits, yogurt, cold cereal and fresh fruit. Afternoon snacks – Cookies, chips, dips, granola, yogurt pretzels and Swedish fish. Evening – crackers, cheese, veggies, spreads, two hot appetizer (changed each night but similar), a favorite was the PB&J “shots” and rolls, Wine and Beer, soft drinks and lemonade. Dessert varied 3 or 4 pastries, cookies and cordials. The mini fridge was always available with sodas and coffee and water always available.
Overall good trip. Fast Pass + worked for us. Missed being able to do so some of the bigger rides more than once at Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios because couldn’t get fast passes again and the waits were very long. At MK because we took advantage of the late nights were able to do everything and many things multiple times.
Willing to answer any questions. If you are planning enjoy and have a good trip.
We arrived very late the first night getting to Caribbean Beach hotel about 1/1:30 in the morning. We waited for about 20-30 minutes for the Magic Express to leave the airport, arrived at the hotel and immediately checked in. We then waited about 10-15 minutes for a van to come and take us to our room (too far to walk with all our luggage). In the morning woke up to sun and green (yea!). We had some issues with 3 of our magic bands they couldn’t fix when we checked in because of the hour so that morning headed to the concierge at the Old Port Royale and had that taken care of (very quickly) and had some breakfast. Had our luggage sent to the Yacht Club (bell service arrived right away) and headed to Magic Kingdom.
Crowds were there but not crazy yet (it got busier as the weekend went). Fast Passes all worked and got a few other rides in as well. Headed to Yacht Club via Monorail/Epcot, loved walking through when had the time. When got to Yacht Club checked in at front desk and they called up to Club level to have someone come down and get us. We were welcomed upstairs (welcome drink for mom and soft drinks for kids) and they called down for our luggage which was brought right up (bellman was one of the friendliest folks we met at hotel). We had drinks and snacks got unpacked and that night headed to Spice Table. Had an 8 o’clock adr, got there about 15 min early and were able to be seated. My husband asked when we checked in about a seat so we could see fireworks and they made it work. We sat one row back from the rail on the side and it was perfect. The food was good (baklava not so much), service was good. Perfect first dinner. Definitely recommend and would do again. Husband and kids headed to MK for a couple hours (it was open till 1 every day there)
Next day was spent at Animal Kingdom. Another good day (9:45 safari and all animals out). Dinner that night was San Angel. It worked out great. Two of our 3 teens often prefer to eat off the children’s menu. When we checked in one of them said we would like a children’s menu and the hostess told us they could order off it but they would get a larger portion and be charged double. No problem. We were seated right next to the river so great view. Our waiter Eduardo was great. We ended up ordering 2 entrées, 3 appetizers and one kids meal for the 5 of us (margaritas of course). He marked each appetizer as being with a meal and only brought and charged us for one kid’s meal. Worked out perfect and shows that the servers do have some control over what is happening (advise always be polite).
Day 3 Epcot. Busiest I have ever seen it. Dinner that night was Italy. Service was good, food good, nothing to write home about. Again was able to order off the kids menu no problems. Again a late night crew head back to MK for a bit.
Day 4 Hollywood Studios and some pool time. Dinner Morocco. All well. We ordered several appetizer and two kids meals. Enjoyed and then headed back to Hollywood Studios for first time at Fantasmic and few more rides during Extra Magic Hours.
Day 5 MK and Crystal Palace. We all made it till 1am this night with a break in between to pack and enjoy snacks at the hotel. Crystal Palace was a late adr, and it was raining. Food good, service great, pictures felt rushed this trip probably because of hour.
Day 6 (1/2 day) – Back to Epcot for the morning and Test track. Walked back through the countries and headed to Magic Express.
Notes on restaurant – we only did adr’s for dinner. Service at all of the restaurants was great, some better than others but all great. We were able to have teens order off of children’s menu at each place with no issues. Lunch for us was quick service or snacks every day. Breakfast was at the hotel.
Notes on hotels - Caribbean Beach, only there for about 7 hours most spent sleeping. Big for our taste, but very tropical and served our purpose. We had luggage moved to Yacht Club went great no problems at all. Yacht Club, we have stayed at Beach Club twice before so knew the area and pool both reasons we chose. Love the location. Our room 5190 was a standard view club level room. The room was clean and in very good shape, no signs of distress. Our view was of the front door, front circle. Plenty of trees so didn’t not feel a bad view for standard. The best thing was we could see MK’s fireworks every night from the room. Perfect. This was our first Club Level experience and it was worth it for our family of 5. We had breakfast every morning, afternoon snacks 1 or 2 days, drinks and appetizers every night and dessert I think 3 nights. The kids loved having access to the mini fridge with sodas 24 hours. The lounge crowds varied but folks were polite and respectful. Breakfast was when there was a crowd other times of the day folks seemed to grab and go. The staff was polite and helpful but nothing over the top. They did have the texting service while we were there and were willing to try for fast passes for us, didn’t work because most of our 3rd passes were too late for us to get the big ones we would have wanted. We were able to get beer one day before it was out to take to the pool but they were not able to leave dessert in our room upon request (they said quality issue). As I said worth for our family, but if it was just two of us not sure I would splurge.
Club level food – Breakfast changing muffin/pastry always bagels, croissants, hard boiled eggs, oatmeal (toppings available), cheese grits, yogurt, cold cereal and fresh fruit. Afternoon snacks – Cookies, chips, dips, granola, yogurt pretzels and Swedish fish. Evening – crackers, cheese, veggies, spreads, two hot appetizer (changed each night but similar), a favorite was the PB&J “shots” and rolls, Wine and Beer, soft drinks and lemonade. Dessert varied 3 or 4 pastries, cookies and cordials. The mini fridge was always available with sodas and coffee and water always available.
Overall good trip. Fast Pass + worked for us. Missed being able to do so some of the bigger rides more than once at Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios because couldn’t get fast passes again and the waits were very long. At MK because we took advantage of the late nights were able to do everything and many things multiple times.
Willing to answer any questions. If you are planning enjoy and have a good trip.
