guynhawaii
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2007
Aloha,
Several tidbits and thoughts from recent visit to DLR. Myself, wife and our pair of college age children checked into GCH on Saturday, 21 May for a five PM stay including four days at the parks. Used Genie+, ILL and park hoppers.
DCA Rope Drop (RD) strategy. Attended RD twice at both parks. For DCA, first DCA visit we RD GOTG. Recommend to line up on the FAR left at the rope where the CMs hold everyone before entering GOTG. The CM leading everyone into GOTG leads single file from the FAR left. Did single rider for RSR and later used ILL for RSR. Then used single rider for IC and G+ for TSM. Worked around the park clockwise. Would use G+ later for the rides we earlier used the standby/SR lines. Done by 12:30. Second DCA visit, for RD we used the GCH/DCA entrance and did double rides on TSM and IC. Used Single Rider on IC. Then worked counterclockwise to GOTG and RSR. Used G+ for GOTG and single rider for RSR. Purchased ILL for RSR only to have it refunded back when it unexpectedly closed for the rest of the day/week. DCA was basically a half day for us as we used RD/G+ and ILL to do all of the significant rides twice with minimal waiting.
DL RD strategy. Used RD, G+ and ILL. Lined up inside the hub on the right side facing the castle by Tomorrowland. Hit Fantasyland, rolled to Matterhorn, Space MT and proceeded to go clockwise to Adventureland, NOS, etc...Used ILL to purchase ROTR. Second DL visit was tough as PP was down as well as Matterhorn, Splash and others which resulted in unusual overcrowding early in the AM. Was able to recover later in the day using G+.
Observations. Due to the evening entertainment, RSR and SR were walk ons starting around 8:30 PM. SWGE was a ghost town. Both rides closed at 9 PM. CMs were outstanding except for one which is a stellar batting average. Very professional and greatly more proficient than the CMs at WDW which we visited last March during Spring Break.
Food and Beverage. Our greatest disappointment. Quality and quantity have both taken significant hits. Schmoozies (msp?) uses more ice in their drinks which greatly dilutes the taste. Noticed this last July and a repeat again this May. The CMs stated they use the same menu as before C19 which may be true as our last DLR visit was in 2018. But the menu using more ice has most definitely changed since our 2018 visit. Smokejumpers Grills has gone off the cliff. The fixins bar has yet to return. The waffle fries are gone. Used mobile order and the food was cold. Unbelievable that the chicken sandwich by Popeyes, KFC, McDonalds, Chick Fil A, etc...is vastly superior at half the cost. GCH Craftsman Grill and Storytellers Cafe were also great disappointments. The Quesadillas and pepperoni pizzas were undercooked. Mgr gave us a $50 credit. The waiter at Storytellers cafe was the worst we have experienced in memory. Refused to refill our drinks or take our plates away. We had to ask the other waiters for help and assistance. Needless to say, we shall not be returning to these GCH restaurants.
Cafe Orleans. Waiter was superlative. Received big tip. The Monte Cristo has been greatly reduced in both quantity and quality. Mostly batter...grossly too much batter. Menu rather limited. No okra in the gumbo. Unable to order the Pomme Fries separately. Changed the size of the fries to bigger fries which we preferred. Nice atmosphere but food was a disappointment.
Rancho Del Zocalo. No more free drink refills. Still using refried beans vice the more healthier black beans. Chicken meal was of poor quality.
Pym Test Kitchen. Enjoyed the free drink refills. Portions (other than the preztel) were small and over priced.
Overall. Enjoyed the rides and managed the parks well with the use of RD, G+ and ILL. Food was a disappointment. Prefer Maxpass and the Early AM entry for the DLR hotel guests. Don't like being channeled to used G+ and ILL. But had to adjust IOT manage the parks with minimal waits. Sadly, don't anticipate any return to DLR in the future. Can get a bigger bang for the entertainment $$ elsewhere.
Several tidbits and thoughts from recent visit to DLR. Myself, wife and our pair of college age children checked into GCH on Saturday, 21 May for a five PM stay including four days at the parks. Used Genie+, ILL and park hoppers.
DCA Rope Drop (RD) strategy. Attended RD twice at both parks. For DCA, first DCA visit we RD GOTG. Recommend to line up on the FAR left at the rope where the CMs hold everyone before entering GOTG. The CM leading everyone into GOTG leads single file from the FAR left. Did single rider for RSR and later used ILL for RSR. Then used single rider for IC and G+ for TSM. Worked around the park clockwise. Would use G+ later for the rides we earlier used the standby/SR lines. Done by 12:30. Second DCA visit, for RD we used the GCH/DCA entrance and did double rides on TSM and IC. Used Single Rider on IC. Then worked counterclockwise to GOTG and RSR. Used G+ for GOTG and single rider for RSR. Purchased ILL for RSR only to have it refunded back when it unexpectedly closed for the rest of the day/week. DCA was basically a half day for us as we used RD/G+ and ILL to do all of the significant rides twice with minimal waiting.
DL RD strategy. Used RD, G+ and ILL. Lined up inside the hub on the right side facing the castle by Tomorrowland. Hit Fantasyland, rolled to Matterhorn, Space MT and proceeded to go clockwise to Adventureland, NOS, etc...Used ILL to purchase ROTR. Second DL visit was tough as PP was down as well as Matterhorn, Splash and others which resulted in unusual overcrowding early in the AM. Was able to recover later in the day using G+.
Observations. Due to the evening entertainment, RSR and SR were walk ons starting around 8:30 PM. SWGE was a ghost town. Both rides closed at 9 PM. CMs were outstanding except for one which is a stellar batting average. Very professional and greatly more proficient than the CMs at WDW which we visited last March during Spring Break.
Food and Beverage. Our greatest disappointment. Quality and quantity have both taken significant hits. Schmoozies (msp?) uses more ice in their drinks which greatly dilutes the taste. Noticed this last July and a repeat again this May. The CMs stated they use the same menu as before C19 which may be true as our last DLR visit was in 2018. But the menu using more ice has most definitely changed since our 2018 visit. Smokejumpers Grills has gone off the cliff. The fixins bar has yet to return. The waffle fries are gone. Used mobile order and the food was cold. Unbelievable that the chicken sandwich by Popeyes, KFC, McDonalds, Chick Fil A, etc...is vastly superior at half the cost. GCH Craftsman Grill and Storytellers Cafe were also great disappointments. The Quesadillas and pepperoni pizzas were undercooked. Mgr gave us a $50 credit. The waiter at Storytellers cafe was the worst we have experienced in memory. Refused to refill our drinks or take our plates away. We had to ask the other waiters for help and assistance. Needless to say, we shall not be returning to these GCH restaurants.
Cafe Orleans. Waiter was superlative. Received big tip. The Monte Cristo has been greatly reduced in both quantity and quality. Mostly batter...grossly too much batter. Menu rather limited. No okra in the gumbo. Unable to order the Pomme Fries separately. Changed the size of the fries to bigger fries which we preferred. Nice atmosphere but food was a disappointment.
Rancho Del Zocalo. No more free drink refills. Still using refried beans vice the more healthier black beans. Chicken meal was of poor quality.
Pym Test Kitchen. Enjoyed the free drink refills. Portions (other than the preztel) were small and over priced.
Overall. Enjoyed the rides and managed the parks well with the use of RD, G+ and ILL. Food was a disappointment. Prefer Maxpass and the Early AM entry for the DLR hotel guests. Don't like being channeled to used G+ and ILL. But had to adjust IOT manage the parks with minimal waits. Sadly, don't anticipate any return to DLR in the future. Can get a bigger bang for the entertainment $$ elsewhere.