Ive been mostly lurking on this thread for a couple of months, but now that our plans are set, its time to really jump in! I have a question that Id like to ask you all, and hope to get some good feedback.
The query in brief: If you were reading a travel reviews comparing the Flagship Disney resort (GF) to a luxury non-Disney Orlando hotel, would you prefer that the reviews be by the same person, or would it be just as good if done by different writers/reviewers?
The long version: We are from California, and I am the only one in the family who has ever been to WDW (about 20 years ago). We have three daughters (12, 9 and 4) who absolutely love
Disneyland, but have never been to any other Disney park. Our plans began when my partner found out about a required work conference at WDW in February. Our youngest daughters 5th birthday is during the conference, and we decided to make it a family trip so we could be together for her birthday. We made plans to stay at the GF since it was one of the hotels available for conference attendees, and seems to be generally well regarded. You may be asking at this point
how does a travel review work into all of this? Well, I do occasional freelance travel writing, and decided to pitch the idea of a WDW/GF review to some of the editors I know. I figured that nothing would come of this because Disney reviews are a dime a dozen, and there seems to be more luck in selling reviews of more trendy locales. Surprisingly, one editor contacted me interested in a review. Apparently, they get many letters from people who are concerned that the deluxe Disney resorts are not up to the caliber of the high-end non-Disney resorts, and that Disney is often far more expensive.
After much discussion, they are planning a pair of reviews aimed at the luxury market that will compare the GF with the Ritz-Carlton. Both reviews will be based on ROH rooms. The confounding factor is that we will be at the GF during a busy time (Presidents Week), and the editor thinks that back-to-back stays at two different resorts might not be comparable given that the week on either side of Presidents week are generally quite light.
So, what do you GF fans think? What would be more helpful to travelers - two reviews written by the same person (at the GF during a holiday week, or reviews done simultaneously at the two resorts by two different people)?
Id like to keep the identifying information anonymous for myself and the magazine, as it is important in travel writing to be treated as any other guest. Once the trip is finished, I will happily divulge more information
and of course plug the article!
...well it's supposed to have some type of Indian?? (I think maybe Tandoori) flavor and it goes with the mint yogurt sauce. I think it's gray because it's coated with spices....a thick layer. I am not a foodie, but it kind of reminded me of gyros at first w/ the yogurt sauce and I liked it, lol, but it got old fast...the spices are THICK and not as good & tasty as gyros by a long shot but it was that color - although that's usually lamb...not sure what gives. It's a staple on the GF concierge menu.
As for fresh iced tea....I am not really a tea drinker, but they have these huge glass containers filled w/iced tea. Not sure how fresh it is.
I usually take a few cans of diet coke a day, too, and DD takes a Sprite. We do ask for bottled water because that's all DD7 drinks and I hate that hotel water. They have Perrier (not my thing) and another brand, but not Zephyrillis. Can't remember what it is though!!
Do they have plastic water bottles stashed somewhere if you ask for it??
.... I know I know it may not be the Nesquick blah blah...but DH (known him for 22 years has had stomach flu ONCE) and he thought it tasted funky, but dummy him drank it....the choco covered the funk. I think when you are that sick you do have an idea of what is coming up and out. 
He was SUPER SUPER SICK so we do not touch chocomilk. Even DD7 who loves chocolate milk is leary of the stuff on vacation.
