It’s took me a couple of weeks to get back to reality away from the sunshine and palm trees and put my thoughts and observations together about WDW and I thought I would share. When we first arrived in Orlando I was shocked at all the building work going on and how some hotels along the route seemed a little worse for wear driving to Disney world. Thankfully plenty of trees and greenery still about at WDW.
PARKS - WOW busy even during hurricane season, but I guess that’s the draw of free dining and food n wine festival
AK - I loved Flights of Passage so much ! and River journey and rivers of light much better than I expected. MK Rides broke down too many times and became a joke every time notification a change to our fast pass.loved the new fireworks, didn’t really miss wishes as I expected too. Now our family is grown up we did not spend much time at MK as we like more exciting rides. MGM -ToT still our favourite. I did watch the shows but it felt like watching a movie I’d seen too many times before. Loved toy story mania, RNR, Star tours and can’t wait for Star Wars land opening - that will be when we next visit. Epcot - I remember the food n wine booth servings being a little better quality last time. Enjoyed Hawaii, Australia, Canada. Could not get fastpass for frozen unfortunately so didn’t experience this. still loved test track, Soaring and Mission space though i would have liked a new mission. I did notice more people drinking than when I was last there both older people and younger people. Didn’t bother us they weren’t disruptive just jolly. Prices - wow they have really increased for merchandise and some food items since our last visit. I saw a mug l liked but wow $24 ! no way I’m paying that. Restaurants - Narcoossess still the best experience and food lobster and fillet mmmm, followed by paddlefish, and turf club and the others we tried were good but not as good as previous visits. Chefs de France biggest let down, tough steak and runny creme brulee. Servers all fabulous couldn’t fault them. Counter service - loved The canteen in Pandora, lovely beef, and rice and gorgeous dessert. AK had the best counter service meals and choices by far. Previous favorite Columbia harbour house lobster roll had changed and no longer diced with veggies in the dressing and not as tasty.
Visited Disney Springs twice but without disney quest it just didn’t seem very Disney. Just a shopping and dining centre.
Cleanliness - I think standards have slipped. 2 particular restrooms in the parks were nasty and very smelly.
No real problems or complaints with buses even though we stayed at Saratoga springs. Though buses did get full quickly so we used our car also.
Cast members - less magical than ever before I don’t know if this was because of staff cuts or what, but some of them chatting between themselves about topics guests should not hear, standing chatting in front of tables at be our guest restaurant, and generally not seeming happy in their jobs. The staff at universal seemed a lot happier and more professional.
We did enjoy the vacation but it cost a lot more than ever before and the quality has slightly declined over the years imho, and they need to keep up the pace with the many new hi tech rides universal are opening.
I love and always will love Disney. Florida is my favorite place on earth, and we will return to WDW once Star Wars land opens, but for the next few years will likely vacation elsewhere.
PARKS - WOW busy even during hurricane season, but I guess that’s the draw of free dining and food n wine festival
AK - I loved Flights of Passage so much ! and River journey and rivers of light much better than I expected. MK Rides broke down too many times and became a joke every time notification a change to our fast pass.loved the new fireworks, didn’t really miss wishes as I expected too. Now our family is grown up we did not spend much time at MK as we like more exciting rides. MGM -ToT still our favourite. I did watch the shows but it felt like watching a movie I’d seen too many times before. Loved toy story mania, RNR, Star tours and can’t wait for Star Wars land opening - that will be when we next visit. Epcot - I remember the food n wine booth servings being a little better quality last time. Enjoyed Hawaii, Australia, Canada. Could not get fastpass for frozen unfortunately so didn’t experience this. still loved test track, Soaring and Mission space though i would have liked a new mission. I did notice more people drinking than when I was last there both older people and younger people. Didn’t bother us they weren’t disruptive just jolly. Prices - wow they have really increased for merchandise and some food items since our last visit. I saw a mug l liked but wow $24 ! no way I’m paying that. Restaurants - Narcoossess still the best experience and food lobster and fillet mmmm, followed by paddlefish, and turf club and the others we tried were good but not as good as previous visits. Chefs de France biggest let down, tough steak and runny creme brulee. Servers all fabulous couldn’t fault them. Counter service - loved The canteen in Pandora, lovely beef, and rice and gorgeous dessert. AK had the best counter service meals and choices by far. Previous favorite Columbia harbour house lobster roll had changed and no longer diced with veggies in the dressing and not as tasty.
Visited Disney Springs twice but without disney quest it just didn’t seem very Disney. Just a shopping and dining centre.
Cleanliness - I think standards have slipped. 2 particular restrooms in the parks were nasty and very smelly.
No real problems or complaints with buses even though we stayed at Saratoga springs. Though buses did get full quickly so we used our car also.
Cast members - less magical than ever before I don’t know if this was because of staff cuts or what, but some of them chatting between themselves about topics guests should not hear, standing chatting in front of tables at be our guest restaurant, and generally not seeming happy in their jobs. The staff at universal seemed a lot happier and more professional.
We did enjoy the vacation but it cost a lot more than ever before and the quality has slightly declined over the years imho, and they need to keep up the pace with the many new hi tech rides universal are opening.
I love and always will love Disney. Florida is my favorite place on earth, and we will return to WDW once Star Wars land opens, but for the next few years will likely vacation elsewhere.
