A Spirited Valentine ...

[Hyperspace Hoopla]

Are you still on this stupid kick? There is not one thing in that commercial that is unrealistic. If you bother to look at the commercial, they are showing 1900 Park Fare as the restaurant - NOT CRT as you have stated. If you also bother to check availability for 1900 Park Fare, you will see that you can get a reservation that is only a few days away, and many times, even sooner. As a matter of fact, I can get a ressie for 4 for TOMORROW. So it really isn't an unrealistic commercial.

Yeah, but how do they get THAT many Stormtroopers is an elevator at one time? They better not try that crap at checkout time.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Yeah, but how do they get THAT many Stormtroopers is an elevator at one time? They better not try that crap at checkout time.

True, but the referenced commercial was a different, older one.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Outside of the princess greeting you, everything else seems plausible.
Also, many a person eating a burger at Cosmic Rays may disagree that a cheeseburger is still a cheeseburger no matter what haha.

As I said, if you look at the commercial, it is a picture of 1900 Park Fare, where you can certainly meet a princess. I completely agree with you about Cosmic Rays!

 

[aladdin2007]

We can't complain about investment in Disney World but I agree with the point above...they really need to speed up attraction development across ALL 4 parks.

They're building the infrastructure which will see them well in the future, but Parks are their bread and butter and they must do better than they are right now. I still find myself frustrated despite the welcome developments this week. Possibly out of fear that as money is going on infrastructure, it won't be going on the parks where it is getting desperate.

agree, such as the Magic Kingdom which has such huge capacity issues as it is, the park is bursting at the seams I just dont see how they are going to handle all this added infrastructure and rooms, with throngs of people piling into this already over crowded park that isnt big enough, at all. I know the thought is, well the crowds will start dispersing to the other parks once the new things open, which might true a little bit, but still I dont believe its going to be enough and MK will still be the #1 go to spot. Its already a mess, and so difficult just getting there and into there on a normal weekday.

 

[ford91exploder]

I love the UOR hotels. The WDW and Uni parks aren't interchangeable products though.

No they are not. The UNI ones are fresher and actually have NEW STUFF every year!

 

[MisterPenguin]

such as the Magic Kingdom which has such huge capacity issues as it is, the park is bursting at the seams I just dont see how they are going to handle all this added infrastructure and rooms, with throngs of people piling into this already over crowded park that isnt big enough, at all.

Cabana Towers.

 

[Mike S]

I've stayed at three Uni resorts. Cabana Bay was okay, but both Royal Pacific and Portofino Bay are excellent resorts. Would have chosen the new Sapphire Falls, but they don't offer club level suites.

A bay view 450 Sq foot room during the first week of May at Portofino Bay is $256 a night. Average nightly room rate for a main building room at GF for the same time period with FL resident discount? $943. I've stayed in suites at both Disney and Universal. Disney will never match the three Loews resorts. Portofino Bay is Uni's top resort. Non-suite room rates start in the upper $200s.

If Disney really was worried about the competition, they would offer hotel rates competitive with that other park. As Spirit said, Poly could offer rooms for $99 a night and make a profit....

Cabana Bay is what Universal would call a value to put things in better perspective. In actuality it feels like a Disney moderate. It's the only Uni hotel I've stayed at so far and I love it.

LOVE the VO5 in the bathrooms!!! Marie

Meh, I bring my own. I like using what I know

I'm curious to see how effective 'the bubble' will be. Based on some videos I have seen of ride testing, once you climb the stairs to board a ride the view will be of a bunch of... highways. I love climbing to the top of Summit Pummet and seeing green as far as you can see

Not everything can be the sheer size of WDW to offer that kind of bubble. I witnessed the same kind of thing at DCA when exiting the Aladdin show. Not a vacation ruiner by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[wdisney9000]

Outside of the princess greeting you, everything else seems plausible.
Also, many a person eating a burger at Cosmic Rays may disagree that a cheeseburger is still a cheeseburger no matter what haha.

Lol, fair enough. And I agree that aside form Cinderella greeting you everything else is accurate. But they still plant that seed in a potential customers mind. If a person does enough research they should figure it out

 

[jpeden]

Cabana Bay is what Universal would call a value to put things in better perspective. In actuality it feels like a Disney moderate. It's the only Uni hotel I've stayed at so far and I love it.

We drove by it Last Saturday taking the back way into Disney Springs. Is it partially hotel style and partially motel style? I've only ever seen the hotel style part advertised but it certainly looked like it had motel style rooms as well.

 

[Mike S]

We drove by it Last Saturday taking the back way into Disney Springs. Is it partially hotel style and partially motel style? I've only ever seen the hotel style part advertised but it certainly looked like it had motel style rooms as well.

The inside of the rooms is where it matters and it's above Disney's values. I've stayed in both a suite and regular room at CBBR.

 

[wannabeBelle]

I thought Cabana Bay was adorable in terms of a resort. I wasn't thrilled with the bus transportation to the main entrance of the Uni parks, where all of the general public was let in. I stayed at Royal Pacific and got spoiled with the security down by the boat dock before you boarded the boat to go over to the parks. I wish they would change that but other than that I found the resort to be very cute. Marie

 

[LAKid53]

We drove by it Last Saturday taking the back way into Disney Springs. Is it partially hotel style and partially motel style? I've only ever seen the hotel style part advertised but it certainly looked like it had motel style rooms as well.

Some of the rooms open into an interior hallway, like most if the Deluxe resorts at Disney. It depends on which part of the resort you're staying in. We had one of the family suites. First floor, with a sliding glass door. Kitchenette that puts Disney's to shame - not just larger frig, microwave and coffee maker (can't remember if there was a toaster), but a breakfast bar counter with bar stools and plenty of shelfs. Split bathroom - water closet on one side, vanity in the middle and sink shower/tub on the other side. None of Disney's Moderates have this bathroom configuration. Two very comfortable queen beds, sleeper sofa in living room. Rack rate was between value and moderate. My only complaint about the resort were the thin walls. Oh, and the crappy bus transportation. But the food court was something any Disney value or moderate would envy - it was huge. Really fun hotel to stay at, in spite of the thin walls and crummy bus service.

 

[LAKid53]

I thought Cabana Bay was adorable in terms of a resort. I wasn't thrilled with the bus transportation to the main entrance of the Uni parks, where all of the general public was let in. I stayed at Royal Pacific and got spoiled with the security down by the boat dock before you boarded the boat to go over to the parks. I wish they would change that but other than that I found the resort to be very cute. Marie

I wasn't thrilled with the bus service at all. Of the 11 they had at the time of our trip, 6 were out of service due to A/C problems and of the 5 left, only 3 had functioning lifts for wheelchairs and EVCs. And those steep steps to climb up to get to the seats. I saw several older guests with canes really struggle to walk up those steps. Clearly they need to rethink the type of buses they use. Not sure where they could relocate the bus drop off, but yeah, going through that mass of security by the parking garage was a pain.

 

[LAKid53]

It was rumored a while back that Universal was looking at a monorail system to connect the theme park with the hotels. Now, both Disney and Universal are rumored to be looking at the Gondola transportation system. I'm with you on not being a water park person but Universal looks like they have something pretty cool. In the long run, it benefits visiting guest because, hopefully, one will try to outdo the other.

Thanks, hadn't heard that. As long as the gondolas drop you off at/near City Walk and not the security check near the parking garage.

 

[HauntedPirate]

If you want to see high prices, go check room prices the week of Christmas, a true "Gold" week. A standard room at AoA was $220/night when I looked earlier today. A family suite at AoA was $507/night. The cheapest room was $181/night at All-Star Sports.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Did anyone else notice Spirit subtly saying more DVC was coming to the Contemporary? Paraphrasing here - "They value timeshares more than conventions". So between VWL v2.0, CBR, and now apparently BLT v2.0, we seem to have a pretty good idea of where DVC's inventory will be for the next 5-6 years.

 

[HauntedPirate]

agree, such as the Magic Kingdom which has such huge capacity issues as it is, the park is bursting at the seams I just dont see how they are going to handle all this added infrastructure and rooms, with throngs of people piling into this already over crowded park that isnt big enough, at all. I know the thought is, well the crowds will start dispersing to the other parks once the new things open, which might true a little bit, but still I dont believe its going to be enough and MK will still be the #1 go to spot. Its already a mess, and so difficult just getting there and into there on a normal weekday.

No, no, they just completed the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history with the Fantasyland expansion!!! Lots of space for MORE MAGIC!!! MK has no capacity problems at all now!!! And with the new projection/laser/light show (with some fireworks sprinkled in so they can still call it a "fireworks spectacular"), MK will be MORE MAGICAL!!! than ever before!!!

More people go to MK because there's more to do there than at the other parks combined, in essence. Until Disney fixes that, nothing's going to change. Sure, their current big-price-tag projects - Pandora and SWL - will funnel some people away from MK for a while, but after a few years, I bet we're still looking at the same problems at MK unless there are some significant projects/changes/additions in the works. Yeah, I know Martin has hinted at some major improvements for Epcot for the 50th (and that's so long-overdue it's not even funny), so maybe all of that together may make a dent, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[LAKid53]

Did anyone else notice Spirit subtly saying more DVC was coming to the Contemporary? Paraphrasing here - "They value timeshares more than conventions". So between VWL v2.0, CBR, and now apparently BLT v2.0, we seem to have a pretty good idea of where DVC's inventory will be for the next 5-6 years.

I believe it's been known/rumored for a while that the Garden View wing at CR will become the new addition to BLT. Didn't realize they're also considering tearing down the convention center. But that makes sense - if they build another tower, they need more parking...and good views.

 

[LAKid53]

No, no, they just completed the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history with the Fantasyland expansion!!! Lots of space for MORE MAGIC!!! MK has no capacity problems at all now!!! And with the new projection/laser/light show (with some fireworks sprinkled in so they can still call it a "fireworks spectacular"), MK will be MORE MAGICAL!!! than ever before!!!

More people go to MK because there's more to do there than at the other parks combined, in essence. Until Disney fixes that, nothing's going to change. Sure, their current big-price-tag projects - Pandora and SWL - will funnel some people away from MK for a while, but after a few years, I bet we're still looking at the same problems at MK unless there are some significant projects/changes/additions in the works. Yeah, I know Martin has hinted at some major improvements for Epcot for the 50th (and that's so long-overdue it's not even funny), so maybe all of that together may make a dent, but I'm not holding my breath.

I keep saying this. Disney can rework MK all they want in an attempt to ease congestion and improve traffic flow. But until they increase the acreage of the park, the crowding will continue. Unless enough of us vote against the high prices with our feet.

 

[JoeCamel]

I wasn't thrilled with the bus service at all. Of the 11 they had at the time of our trip, 6 were out of service due to A/C problems and of the 5 left, only 3 had functioning lifts for wheelchairs and EVCs. And those steep steps to climb up to get to the seats. I saw several older guests with canes really struggle to walk up those steps. Clearly they need to rethink the type of buses they use. Not sure where they could relocate the bus drop off, but yeah, going through that mass of security by the parking garage was a pain.

The buses have been replaced and the security rarely gets more than a few deep with the installation of xray scanners and more screening positions. They installed big fans this week to cool the area as well