A Spirited Valentine ...

[WDW1974]

@WDW1974 And here I thought you were the Tin Man of the forums. On a more serious note, I am so sorry for your loss. Teared up at your post. You are in my thoughts. The people of the Wdwmagic forums, despite their varying opinions, are all good people who share a common passion for Disney. Life is much too short.

Thanks ... it is the people I am here for. And you are almost right, I believe that 90% of the people here are really wonderful folks. People you'd want to spend time with and share a passion. The other 10% ...well, it is the Internet.

But I want to repeat again that the folks I have met from here have been largely wonderful (with one exception that turned out to be politically based and I am OK with that!) ... they are great people. And I probably have met close to three dozen people from here over the years (just not Frank in New Mexico ... never him!!!)

 

[WDW1974]

And what is the likelihood it will revert back to a character-free or at least EPCOT-Worthy Pavilion?

Truthfully? It is possible. Not now. Not near term. But some day? Or perhaps it will keep characters to some degree, but not as strongly as present. ... But you have to trust me on this one ... Nemo saved the Seas.

 

[WDW1974]

That's true, but rotational dining more than makes up for it. Not too fond of the steaks either, but the service, seafood, and of course the atmosphere are always on point. Not to mention soda being included is a plus.

Rotational dining (at least as we know it) is not going to be around when the new ships come online, at least that's the current planning. As to steaks, they can be hit or miss. Generally, they are fine, but not high caliber. And getting unlimited beverages is a plus, but you are paying for it with the DCL premium. People can -- and often do -- pay more for a 4-night Bahamas cruise on Disney than 7-9-11 nights on other lines to places more exciting than Nassau and Castaway Cay.

But dining will see changes fleetwide when the newest ships debut ...

 

[WDW1974]

Maybe the OLC Executives actually have an appreciation for theme unlike stateside Disney.

I'd like to say they do, but I don't believe in lying about theme parks!

 

[HMF]

Truthfully? It is possible. Not now. Not near term. But some day? Or perhaps it will keep characters to some degree, but not as strongly as present. ... But you have to trust me on this one ... Nemo saved the Seas.

Maybe, but to me it had the same effect as it would have if they shuttered it. Personally, I prefer to see things disappear than to see them become sad shadows of their former greatness. I feel it is better to have the good memories of how things were instead of seeing the sad things they become

 

[lazyboy97o]

Maybe the OLC Executives actually have an appreciation for theme unlike stateside Disney.

There is a lot that says otherwise.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I posted all my thoughts elsehwere, but I'll just state briefly here that if anyone here was/is on the fence about visiting DLP that they should definitely do so and during the 25th anniversary. The resort is (mostly) finally in good shape and it is a major improvement compared to a few years ago. The new entertainment (Mickey and the Magician in particular) is also of quality.

Stay at Newport Bay Club, have a meal at Walt's and drinks at Cafe Fantasia. See BTMRR, Small World, Peter Pan and others they way they were meant to be and get a copy of Disneyland Paris from A to Z while you're there.

 

[Rodan75]

Rotational dining (at least as we know it) is not going to be around when the new ships come online, at least that's the current planning. As to steaks, they can be hit or miss. Generally, they are fine, but not high caliber. And getting unlimited beverages is a plus, but you are paying for it with the DCL premium. People can -- and often do -- pay more for a 4-night Bahamas cruise on Disney than 7-9-11 nights on other lines to places more exciting than Nassau and Castaway Cay.

But dining will see changes fleetwide when the newest ships debut ...

Not sure how I feel about that. The rotational dining is a bit of a blessing and a curse. I think I've had one great service team in 5 cruises. But I like the opportunity to go to eat at all of the restaurants.

But food service in general, at least on the Fantasy, needs a lot of help. The menus are only unique 3 of 7 days...food quality has declined every year at every service venue.

 

[asianway]

Rotational dining (at least as we know it) is not going to be around when the new ships come online, at least that's the current planning. As to steaks, they can be hit or miss. Generally, they are fine, but not high caliber. And getting unlimited beverages is a plus, but you are paying for it with the DCL premium. People can -- and often do -- pay more for a 4-night Bahamas cruise on Disney than 7-9-11 nights on other lines to places more exciting than Nassau and Castaway Cay.

But dining will see changes fleetwide when the newest ships debut ...

Please, save me from the same three meals on every single cruise...it needs to be blown up.

And bring back the dessert buffet

 

[HMF]

I posted all my thoughts elsehwere, but I'll just state briefly here that if anyone here was/is on the fence about visiting DLP that they should definitely do so and during the 25th anniversary. The resort is (mostly) finally in good shape and it is a major improvement compared to a few years ago. The new entertainment (Mickey and the Magician in particular) is also of quality.

Stay at Newport Bay Club, have a meal at Walt's and drinks at Cafe Fantasia. See BTMRR, Small World, Peter Pan and others they way they were meant to be and get a copy of Disneyland Paris from A to Z while you're there.

Does anyone know if the 25th Anniversary will last into 2018 as per tradition?

 

[brb1006]

I don't get to TDR enough to be disappointed with anything. So glad to be heading back soon! ... But, again, there were extenuating circumstances behind the delays and changes ... and I don't mind.

I do worry that in a decade TDS will be nothing but a park dedicated to Duffy and his family and friends, but beyond that I see a very positive trajectory for those parks.

Then again Duffy was more beloved in Japan compared to the US. I remember years before Duffy debuted at WDW and DL. Not that many people had a problem with him (Then again this was back when he was more well-known to the Japanese and was still unheard of in the West) since he's been at Tokyo since 2007.

 

[IanDLBZF]

But dining will see changes fleetwide when the newest ships debut ...

But how? Could we be seeing "Freestyle Dining", similar to what NCL and RCCL offers on their ships? Could we be seeing new menus? Could we be seeing more seatings? What changes COULD we see?

 

[Daveeeeed]

Not sure how I feel about that. The rotational dining is a bit of a blessing and a curse. I think I've had one great service team in 5 cruises. But I like the opportunity to go to eat at all of the restaurants.

But food service in general, at least on the Fantasy, needs a lot of help. The menus are only unique 3 of 7 days...food quality has declined every year at every service venue.

Been on 4 cruises and all of them had great service with 2 cruises for us having out of this world. Getting to know the waiters is also something cool -- just being more personalized. Food quality is still superior to most cruise lines though (have you had the truffle cheese ravioli appetizer? Or the SeaBass?), and Castaway Cay is a phenomenal stop. DCL for me anyway is more about the ship than the ports, unlike Carnival which is basically just transportation.

Something cool that the waiters did for us one night was they saw how much we loved the truffle cheese ravioli appetizer, so they brought it to us in addition without asking the next night. And like I've said, just getting to talk to the same people brings them more to life than just people serving you randomly. It's that personal, intimate feel that Disney has nailed on their ships.

Besides the price, the main downsides are the pools, and probably lack of casinos for the adults, but really the pools you can do on land, and casinos can attract the wrong crowd. For a teen (and his friends), the Vibe is so so good from the activities to the counselers, to the private pool. It's just a really good setup.
But the included beverages (and actually really good!) salad wraps at the pool really help propel the ship. The fact that there is almost always someone cleaning the restrooms on the ship, or that you can see in movie movies if you so chose paired with a great dinner and a wonderful show (like Aladdin). Heck... the activities are wonderful too! I wouldn't recommend though if you have kids under 6 or 7 (and really the most fun they have starts around 11).

Of course you do pay more, but the service across the board is top notch and the ship is simply beautiful inside and out (especially the Fantasy). You really cannot get a better family ship than the Fantasy.

Funny story, as everything on the ships are free (obviously besides liquor, fine coffee, and merchandise) we went to Disney World for 1-night after our last cruise. I was going to not pay for ice cream that I got at the hotel as in my mind, it was included. Told the Cast Member that and they let me have it for free; that was very nice of him too!

 

[BrianLo]

I don't get to TDR enough to be disappointed with anything. So glad to be heading back soon!

Ya totally fair. I'm an oddball special case and have been to both an equal amount in the last decade. My opinion would surely be different if I visited WDW with any regularity, or was local. Not saying that makes me more objective, just that neither option is the default, thereby putting the other on a pedastle.

I have a policy that I need about 8 new things of major or minor significance (that appeal to me) to drag me to a park. Really the seasonal overlays, entertainment changes and kawaii isn't enough. I was at the 35th and it's been pretty minor tweaks outside of the Mystic Rhythms, Jungle Cruise and now Nemo. The same applies to WDW, the back half of NFL didn't drag me to visit, but Pandora will be enough!

I'd eagerly love to return to TDR, but I guess I somehow justify the addiction by waiting. That's probably why I'm so grumpy at them, my fake will power preventing me from returning. 2020 will do though!

 

[Rodan75]

Been on 4 cruises and all of them had great service with 2 cruises for us having out of this world. Getting to know the waiters is also something cool -- just being more personalized. Food quality is still superior to most cruise lines though (have you had the truffle cheese ravioli appetizer? Or the SeaBass?), and Castaway Cay is a phenomenal stop. DCL for me anyway is more about the ship than the ports, unlike Carnival which is basically just transportation.

Something cool that the waiters did for us one night was they saw how much we loved the truffle cheese ravioli appetizer, so they brought it to us in addition without asking the next night. And like I've said, just getting to talk to the same people brings them more to life than just people serving you randomly. It's that personal, intimate feel that Disney has nailed on their ships.

Besides the price, the main downsides are the pools, and probably lack of casinos for the adults, but really the pools you can do on land, and casinos can attract the wrong crowd. For a teen (and his friends), the Vibe is so so good from the activities to the counselers, to the private pool. It's just a really good setup.
But the included beverages (and actually really good!) salad wraps at the pool really help propel the ship. The fact that there is almost always someone cleaning the restrooms on the ship, or that you can see in movie movies if you so chose paired with a great dinner and a wonderful show (like Aladdin). Heck... the activities are wonderful too! I wouldn't recommend though if you have kids under 6 or 7 (and really the most fun they have starts around 11).

Of course you do pay more, but the service across the board is top notch and the ship is simply beautiful inside and out (especially the Fantasy). You really cannot get a better family ship than the Fantasy.

Funny story, as everything on the ships are free (obviously besides liquor, fine coffee, and merchandise) we went to Disney World for 1-night after our last cruise. I was going to not pay for ice cream that I got at the hotel as in my mind, it was included. Told the Cast Member that and they let me have it for free; that was very nice of him too!

Don't get me wrong. Pretty much love every thing else about DCL and the Fantasy specifically. But food on the Fantasy has gotten to be a sticking point. Better than Carnival isn't a selling point. It has to be the best given their price point.

 

[Longhairbear]

Thanks ... it is the people I am here for. And you are almost right, I believe that 90% of the people here are really wonderful folks. People you'd want to spend time with and share a passion. The other 10% ...well, it is the Internet.

But I want to repeat again that the folks I have met from here have been largely wonderful (with one exception that turned out to be politically based and I am OK with that!) ... they are great people. And I probably have met close to three dozen people from here over the years (just not Frank in New Mexico ... never him!!!)

You haven't met me, or my husband yet either!

 

[Longhairbear]

Rotational dining (at least as we know it) is not going to be around when the new ships come online, at least that's the current planning. As to steaks, they can be hit or miss. Generally, they are fine, but not high caliber. And getting unlimited beverages is a plus, but you are paying for it with the DCL premium. People can -- and often do -- pay more for a 4-night Bahamas cruise on Disney than 7-9-11 nights on other lines to places more exciting than Nassau and Castaway Cay.

But dining will see changes fleetwide when the newest ships debut ...

We've only been on one cruise, the California cruise on the Wonder. We liked the rotational dining, so that may go away on all ships?

 

[HMF]

There is a lot that says otherwise.

Pardon my ignorance for I have never been to TDR but from what I have heard my only real complaints are
*Stitch in Tiki Room? (Iago and Zazu actually fit better than that)
*Fantasyland is still stuck with the tent look for the dark rides as with MK largely.
*Haunted Mansion still has not been updated but that's a mixed blessing as I have mixed opinions on the 2007 updates and the 2011 updates were just horrible all around (plus no Hatbox Ghost but MK does not have him yet either.)
*Tomorrowland aesthetic is stuck in the 1980s
*Monsters Inc. in Tommorowland? (same issue with MILF)
*TDS, while I hear it is the most beautiful Disney Park in the world seems to be in process of getting the IP Virus as well. (Stormrider becoming Nemo like the Subs and Seas before it.) and a Frozen Land.
Other than that I hear TDR is virtually perfect.

 

[Kman101]

Ya totally fair. I'm an oddball special case and have been to both an equal amount in the last decade. My opinion would surely be different if I visited WDW with any regularity, or was local. Not saying that makes me more objective, just that neither option is the default, thereby putting the other on a pedastle.

I have a policy that I need about 8 new things of major or minor significance (that appeal to me) to drag me to a park. Really the seasonal overlays, entertainment changes and kawaii isn't enough. I was at the 35th and it's been pretty minor tweaks outside of the Mystic Rhythms, Jungle Cruise and now Nemo. The same applies to WDW, the back half of NFL didn't drag me to visit, but Pandora will be enough!

I'd eagerly love to return to TDR, but I guess I somehow justify the addiction by waiting. That's probably why I'm so grumpy at them, my fake will power preventing me from returning. 2020 will do though!

It does appear they've had a bit of a dormant period similar to WDW's, aside from special event stuff.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Does anyone know if the 25th Anniversary will last into 2018 as per tradition?

No end date has been set. My guess would be it goes until September of next year, like the 20th and DLR's 60th did.