Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts Tres

[WDW1974]

I agree, and this seems to becoming quite a problem with signature dining at WDW. My party and I got dressed up in 2011 to go to dinner at the California Grill, heck, I even wore my best belt, and still felt like we had walked into an Outback Steakhouse perched on top of the contemporary. Fortunately the food and service made up for it.

I think Disney should seriously consider 21+ sections of signature restaurants or time slots where only adults or families with children 13 and up can dine.

But you hit on the heart of it, Disney doesn't think that having rubes at fine dining locales is bad. They want the family of six on the DDP to come into the Cal Grill and 'we'll all have the steak with none of that funny sauce or veggies, we want fries' ... And that's why they've dumbed down the dress code yet again . Now, tees are fine provided they don't have offensive words or imagery. REALLY??!! You are a fine dining locale and that's your code.

As much as I love CG, I wonder how often I'll dine there in the future. Much better to go to a place like Il Mulino where the rubes feel they don't belong and Disney hasn't twisted arms to get them on the DDP. People are dressed as they should be (only one guy with shorts and he was at the bar), kids are minimal and well-behaved and there are more than 6-8 choices on the menu.

 

[luv]

Some of that may come from the fact that it shares a bus with Blizzard many times? Driving, yeah, I don't see it as all that far. But, for Bus transit, it feels like it's a haul! Still, aside from Wilderness Lodge, I think it's the most stunning resort on property. Add in the Savannah Walk and it trumps Wilderness (I just like Wilderness more, personal opinion).

I don't take the bus, generally, and can't compare based on my extensive experience bussing from all the hotels. The UG times don't show that AKL is so much worse, though.

And I have driven all over, from all the hotels. AKL is not worse than most. It's not the perfect placement of the Beach Club, but it's fine.

I'd never discount AKL because it is "so far from everything." It isn't. And it's pretty damn close to the AK!! Blizzard Beach, too!

Not saying everyone must like AKL best, just because I do...but this business of it being "so far from everything" has to end. I guess it's my personal mission...to rid the Disney community of this ignorance, lol!! Like Doctors Without Borders, only minus the life-risking and do-gooding.

 

[englanddg]

But you hit on the heart of it, Disney doesn't think that having rubes at fine dining locales is bad. They want the family of six on the DDP to come into the Cal Grill and 'we'll all have the steak with none of that funny sauce or veggies, we want fries' ... And that's why they've dumbed down the dress code yet again . Now, tees are fine provided they don't have offensive words or imagery. REALLY??!! You are a fine dining locale and that's your code.

As much as I love CG, I wonder how often I'll dine there in the future. Much better to go to a place like Il Mulino where the rubes feel they don't belong and Disney hasn't twisted arms to get them on the DDP. People are dressed as they should be (only one guy with shorts and he was at the bar), kids are minimal and well-behaved and there are more than 6-8 choices on the menu.

Being a parent with a kid who does very well with fine dining, I really don't think age restrictions are required, merely attire and price.

I took my kid (age 7) to Jiko, for example, and she loves to dress up and play "young lady" at fine dining... We had a blast, she has table manners, etc. Our waiter even brought her a wine glass with coke in it so she could "toast" with me.

She also behaves herself very well in places like Le Cellier and other signature dines. I've taken her to places far fancier than anything Disney has to offer here in Atlanta.

Point is, I am upset that due to age restrictions, she will not be able to join me at Remy or Palo on our upcoming Fanstasy Cruise, as I know she would enjoy both.

 

[WDW1974]

It just doesn't work. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is not going to change that. Even if there is a spot behind the construction walls where it works beautifully, its an object in space intended to be viewed from many angles. Eric's Castle is nice, but overall New Fantasyland is mostly some new landscaping.

Yep. To me, the Beast's castle looks like it belongs in Storybook Land in Anaheim or Paris. The scale is all wrong and it looks small and fake ... Like a WDI-topper on a building. If you have to stand in one special spot and crane your neck in just one position to see, then something is really wrong with the design.

 

[WDW1974]

'Cause I was...like...nine years old.

If I hadn't of seen photo evidence, then I never would have believed you were ever a 'kid'.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Yep. To me, the Beast's castle looks like it belongs in Storybook Land in Anaheim or Paris. The scale is all wrong and it looks small and fake ... Like a WDI-topper on a building. If you have to stand in one special spot and crane your neck in just one position to see, then something is really wrong with the design.

Not that it would still exist, but I always think its a shame that e Magic Kingdom doesn't have something charming like Storybook Land.

 

[stlphil]

...

I realized on this trip that MK is absolutely my least favorite WDW/O-Town theme park. Yep, will take BOTH Studios parks over it right now.

While I still enjoy being at WDW despite all the cutbacks and decline, when I'm in the Magic Kingdom I'm constantly disappointed and thinking "I really wish I was at Disneyland instead right now" (except when I'm in Tomorrowland).

 

[WDW1974]

@WDW1974 Glad you enjoyed your trip! Have you heard anything about the Wonder getting the Magic treatment? I could not agree with you more about the Toy Story Musical. We saw it for the first time in March and I fell asleep!! There was one time when I had bad service on the Magic, but other than that minor instance it was awesome as usual.

Your service at Jiko was good? We have only eaten there once, on our honeymoon no less and the service was terrible and we have not been back since. We really liked the food, but since we had to actually tap our server on the back to get his attention at one point we don't really have that one on the top of our list anymore. It has been oh my 6 years though so we are willing to give it another shot.

Not specifically, but the Wonder will be getting some sort of makeover in fall 2014. I'd hope the changes aren't as drastic. I love the double stairways and would hate to see them change that. I also love the Route 66 theming for the nightclubs as well as the Beach Blanket Buffet. So, I hope the changes are minimal.

Service at Jiko started a bit slow, but was then fantastic. No complaints at all. I do believe that when you have an issue at a restaurant you should deal with it there immediately. I didn't at BoG because I didn't want to ruin the meal for my special dining companion and she knew just how how ugly things were about to get. Now, I'm home and it was two weeks ago and I already can hear the Disney exec asking me why I didn't bring my concerns up there. ... That said, I'd give Mojo another go. Much like a good friend here on MAGIC who had a truly nightmarish service experience at the California Grill and hasn't been back, I think you owe it yourself and the restaurant to give it one more shot.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

I fear asking where else you dined (Waffle House? Cosmic Ray's?) if that was your greatest meal. Although to be fair, my biggest issues weren't the food, which I just found bland.

Speaking of TL food, @WDWFigment had a burger at TDL's TL and somehow managed to survive!
http://instagram.com/p/ZFloOwiwOj/

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Spirit, How's Georgie K doing?

 

[WDW1974]

I usually don't wade through literally dozens of pages when E. F. Hutton - whoops! - I mean @WDW1974 puts up a thread like this just because it's always spiraled out of control by the time I visit the site, and I don't have the patience to catch up. But I wanted to make one comment on the cruise thing:

For the life of me, I don't understand why ANYONE would pay the prices that DCL charges. If the WDW parks and resorts are overpriced, the DCL is that times TWO.

In March, we spent a week on the Oasis of the Seas with Royal Caribbean. We got two rooms (which gave the wife and I some privacy from the kiddies, and let us stay out late too!). One was a balcony, the other was an interior across the hall. It's was a Spring Break cruise, and the two rooms together totaled $5700. That felt high, but it was Spring Break, so I understood. When we were deciding what to do, I called DCL to price it out. Their option was a 5 person room (which would have meant we were stuffed all in one space), at a cost of close to $9,000. That's a difference, for the same cruise with similar ports, and a single, smaller stateroom, of $3,300 or over 30%!!! To get two separate rooms in the same config as I could get on Royal would have been even MORE.

Are you kidding me?

We've been on a number of cruises, DCL included, and our trip on Oasis was FAR AND AWAY the best cruise we have ever been on. From service, to kids clubs, to activities, to the INCREDIBLE food, to shows... Simply amazing. Jaw-dropping, at times. So much so that we booked another while we were on the ship.

I'm sure some of the DCL passengers cruise using DVC, and my guess is our fine Spirit did not pay "full boat" (ha) to take this cruise (does he ever?? )... But outside of those kinds of folks, I just can't understand how anyone would pay that much of a premium for - at best - an equal experience if they just did their homework. And you can't use the characters against me in an argument for DCL... The Oasis was a Dreamworks cruise, and there were characters a-plenty. My 4 year old daugter was crazy about the Penguins from Madagascar and anything from How to Train Your Dragon.

As long as the Oasis is on the seas, along with her sister ship the Allure, you won't find the Buried's on a DCL ship.

First, my sea-going pal, I most assuredly didn't pay anything close to full price. For an ocean view cabin for two the price was just under $1000 and we had onboard credits of either $75 or $100. For that price, that cruise,that time of year, I believe we got a very fair deal. Oh, and even though I am not a DVCer, I can say that using points to cruise is not very smart.

DCL is priced at the top of the market because it is a premium product. But every cruise I have taken, including a transatlantic (and I'm booked on another in 2014) have been discounted heavily. I am Faux Top One Percent and what you learn is the wealthy tend to not pay sticker for anything. ... Like Disney tees, who in their right mind pays $20-35forone? I have had Rodeo Drive as the local shopping area and I still haven't spent $35 for a t-shirt.

As to the RCCL product, I am intimately familiar with it. I took a free media cruise on the Oasis in 2009. While it may have been a deal for you at Spring Break, I can tell you that it also commands a premium because of its size and novelty. While a marvel of what man can build, I'd never take a cruise on it unless it was free. It is way too big and has a 'pretend you aren't at sea' vibe. Don't need the surf machine, the carousel, the rock climbing wall etc ... And lets not even talk about how they nickel and dime and Franklin you with fees for everything, including a dozen 'specialty' restaurants. I know folks who love the ships , even Mr. And Mrs. Lee (wonder if Gramps had to take out a second mortgage to cover Mrs. Lee's spa services on the Allure), but I would never take that line of ginormous ships over Disney. ... Or over Princess or NCL for that matter. But I am glad you and the fam were able to get value from them. I just don't see it.

 

[WDW1974]

Quoted for truth. My 7 nights on the Magic were the longest of my life and I felt cheated for the exorbitant cost paid. Much happier with Oasis/Allure at a huge drop in price!

You are the first person I know who didn't enjoy a MAGICal cruise and that includes @Lee who had a 23-year no vomit streak end due to some improperly prepared lobster.

 

[WDW1974]

WDW has operated like this for so long it has become the new norm for them. It became where I had to overlook so many short comings on my vacation the Magic was just not there for me anymore. I never thought I would ever feel that way.

You need to visit DLR ... Or maybe take a DCL voyage out if Galveston this fall (they are discounting those like hell). ... Or just visit WDW when I'm around. I'm like sugar or Sally Field, I make everything better.

 

[WDW1974]

It's listed on the old WDW site as well...don't know about the new one. I always went with "golf" attire for our signature dines. Though, I will say I wear golf shorts, not pants. Way too hot for that! The kid wears a nice sundress with a shirt, or something along those lines.

I doubt you'll ever see them enforce the rules, outside of V&A though.

Happy to say they enforce them at Palo. I even forgot what it was with all the easing up (no formal night on a 5-nighter) and had the maitre'd discretely ask if I could change out of my pricey blue jeans for brunch (wore a suit to dinner). Didn't have a problem with it, and he was so apologetic. Took me 10 minutes to walk back and put on beige jeans. My only issue is that fact that many jeans (like mine) arr considerably more upscale than a pair of office-worker Dockers from the Wal-Mart. I do think they need to account for what people are actually wearing. But I didn't mind changing and told him how much I wished WDW would enforce its policies.

 

[englanddg]

Happy to say they enforce them at Palo. I even forgot what it was with all the easing up (no formal night on a 5-nighter) and had the maitre'd discretely ask if I could change out of my pricey blue jeans for brunch (wore a suit to dinner). Didn't have a problem with it, and he was so apologetic. Took me 10 minutes to walk back and put on beige jeans. My only issue is that fact that many jeans (like mine) arr considerably more upscale than a pair of office-worker Dockers from the Wal-Mart. I do think they need to account for what people are actually wearing. But I didn't mind changing and told him how much I wished WDW would enforce its policies.

See my later post about Palo and age restrictions. I will be going in shirt and tie to both these meals. Not a big deal to me...but I am a tad upset my kid can't join me.

 

[WDW1974]

Top four of all time? What make up the other three?

Wrath of Khan
Voyage Home
First Contact

honorable mention would be the 2009 reboot and the Final Frontier

 

[englanddg]

Wrath of Khan
Voyage Home
First Contact

honorable mention would be the 2009 reboot and the Final Frontier

Wow...Final Frontier made the honorable mention list over First Contact? Of course I'd place II at the top of my list, it's just epic. Undiscovered Country is my 2nd favorite, followed by Voyage Home. None of the NG movies even make the list for me.

 

[WDW1974]

They sure wouldn't fit in the Harry Potter shops, which are all pretty much packed to the brim with merchandise. (and whatever happened to collapsible strollers, anyway? And "making your six-year-old actually walk sometimes"?)

Disney wants to corner the market on the fat, lazy, morbidly obese guest. They won't make attractions like Forbidden Journey where some folks just can't ride. Nope everything at WDW has to be acceptable for. A special needs 5-year-old and his 432-pound granny. UNI couldn't give two blanks about either group largely ... And I like that.

It has gotten so in your face that Disney now stocks an info sheet with local ECV renters that is now out with the assorted brochures at some resorts and behind the counters at others.

 

[WDW1974]

While you were not telling me you were here in town..... I finally ate at Shula's Steakhouse.

Holy crap that was amazing.

Don't take it personally, Dave. This was a special trip with a special someone and I told very few. When she left, I remained in O-Town but had some business and the was sick for three days and did little or you might have heard from me. Next time, you definitely will.

But I can't see how you could have possibly enjoyed Shula's .... The ONLY place for real steak at WDW is Le Cellier, you should know that!!!

 

[Longhairbear]

.. Oh, and even though I am not a DVCer, I can say that using points to cruise is not very smart.

..

I always used to say never use DVC points for a cruise, and most members would agree. But we did for the Pixar cruise in CA. It cost about the same points as a one bedroom at Wilderness for a week. Factor in no air fare, and that meals are included, except for Palo, we actually spent less than going to WDW.