Just left today. While my kids like the resort I really don't know what to make of this place. Our second trip in almost 3 years. I feel like the resort is close to great potential but misses the mark on stuff.
First off we got a renovated 1 bedroom. Ask for building 15 if you have 1 or 2 bedroom requests. It is the only building refurbed. The refurb is AWESOME!!! Total difference than the old one and a great upgrade. We own at HHI and liked that refurb but this one was better as they really redid the whole thing including shower and new claw foot tub. We have 3 boys under 7 and the queen pool out couch and the single pull out bed in the living room was perfect and just enough space for the cost (we had a DVC discount cash room got it for like $230 a night with tax)
They are still in refurbishment of the restaurants and the pool menu is limited, green cabin door is limited and shutters while a full menu is basically in a holding room. Cast members said all food would be done by the end of the year. They also said a new bar was coming...sounds like Green Cabin gets refurbed when the other food options are done. I liked the Green Cabin menu last time I was here...didn't like the menu this time. Sliders were bad, most of the flatbreads not good.
There were CONSTANT weather closures for long periods of time at both the pool and beach. They seemed VERY cautious. Now of course on Saturday there was not 1 but 2 water spouts close to shore (basically water based tiny tornados) and I think that really scared the staff. Cast member said he had been there 8 years and only seen it 1 time before. But I think Disney doesn't have to be SOOO careful...weather radar had no storms within 10 miles of the resort and it was still closed.
They were in full Matthew Prep mode. Palm tree triming around the pool...stopped a lot of mini golf time. Given the hurricane path I would be canceling any trip there in the next 5 days...it seems like pool and beach might be closed for a while afterward...especially if there is beach erosion as there isn't much beach to begin with.
The resort is clearly in full refurb transition mode. Will be interested to see it in a year.
The beach is so tiny and the drop-off to the ocean is dramatic and the surf was so rough my boys never played in the water. Again pre-Matthew the waves were up. It beat the crap out of me everytime I went in. If you want quality beach time...go to Hilton Head...the Vero Beach...beach...is not a good one and the sand is VERY shelly and course.
No more fishing at the lake behind the resort. Again weather canceled stuff we wanted to do...kayak..jet ski...pool games...star gazing. They do have a lot of little things to with the kids. Pool is nice...better than HHI IMO. Goofy and Donald meet and greets in the lobby...Play Station stations in the lobby as well.
If you want to fish plenty of places to do it...just not at the resort. If Ebb and Flows stayed open later for mini golf, shuffle board etc it would help a lot. A nice resort for 3 days...but by the 4th you have run out of stuff to do. If we had not gotten a refurbed room this review would have been worse.
I give the resort a 3 1/2 stars and maybe with the refurb and new dining options that moves to a 4 as long as you are there 4 days or less.
First off we got a renovated 1 bedroom. Ask for building 15 if you have 1 or 2 bedroom requests. It is the only building refurbed. The refurb is AWESOME!!! Total difference than the old one and a great upgrade. We own at HHI and liked that refurb but this one was better as they really redid the whole thing including shower and new claw foot tub. We have 3 boys under 7 and the queen pool out couch and the single pull out bed in the living room was perfect and just enough space for the cost (we had a DVC discount cash room got it for like $230 a night with tax)
They are still in refurbishment of the restaurants and the pool menu is limited, green cabin door is limited and shutters while a full menu is basically in a holding room. Cast members said all food would be done by the end of the year. They also said a new bar was coming...sounds like Green Cabin gets refurbed when the other food options are done. I liked the Green Cabin menu last time I was here...didn't like the menu this time. Sliders were bad, most of the flatbreads not good.
There were CONSTANT weather closures for long periods of time at both the pool and beach. They seemed VERY cautious. Now of course on Saturday there was not 1 but 2 water spouts close to shore (basically water based tiny tornados) and I think that really scared the staff. Cast member said he had been there 8 years and only seen it 1 time before. But I think Disney doesn't have to be SOOO careful...weather radar had no storms within 10 miles of the resort and it was still closed.
They were in full Matthew Prep mode. Palm tree triming around the pool...stopped a lot of mini golf time. Given the hurricane path I would be canceling any trip there in the next 5 days...it seems like pool and beach might be closed for a while afterward...especially if there is beach erosion as there isn't much beach to begin with.
The resort is clearly in full refurb transition mode. Will be interested to see it in a year.
The beach is so tiny and the drop-off to the ocean is dramatic and the surf was so rough my boys never played in the water. Again pre-Matthew the waves were up. It beat the crap out of me everytime I went in. If you want quality beach time...go to Hilton Head...the Vero Beach...beach...is not a good one and the sand is VERY shelly and course.
No more fishing at the lake behind the resort. Again weather canceled stuff we wanted to do...kayak..jet ski...pool games...star gazing. They do have a lot of little things to with the kids. Pool is nice...better than HHI IMO. Goofy and Donald meet and greets in the lobby...Play Station stations in the lobby as well.
If you want to fish plenty of places to do it...just not at the resort. If Ebb and Flows stayed open later for mini golf, shuffle board etc it would help a lot. A nice resort for 3 days...but by the 4th you have run out of stuff to do. If we had not gotten a refurbed room this review would have been worse.
I give the resort a 3 1/2 stars and maybe with the refurb and new dining options that moves to a 4 as long as you are there 4 days or less.
