WDW Observations...

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

Yes, because you asked, demanded, pleaded, bribed and cried ... here's some quick trip observations from a great (they usually are) visit to WDW and Universal Studios.

Resorts: split my stay between the WL and the Swan (two of my faves) and was not disappointed at all!

WL renovations on rooms are complete and fantastic. From new, higher quality bedding (albeit they still are too cheap to triple sheet) and great, huge LCD flatscreen TVs to wonderful new lighting features and shelves under the sinks and new showerheads ... an all around upgrade that the lodge needed. Hell, they even have improved the quality of the toilet paper (likely due to the sponsorship with Brawny).

The hallways also look great, BUT are already showing gouges in walls, dents and scratches due to CMs with maid carts and luggage carts. Putting padding on the corners of the carts would cost nothing and reduce damage largely, but simple solutions seem to elude management at WDW.

Also, got a free, unsolicited upgrade to a courtyard view.

Lots of work being done still on the outside of the lodge and on the bubbling stream that begins in the lobby and travels out to the pool. Some rooms were awfully close to where men were on scaffolding ... very bad show. Artist Point is still very good, but a step or two below WDW's best. Serving plain bread with plain butter just doesn't cut it at a restaurant of this caliber. But the potato-chive potstickers may be the best veggie entree I've ever had anywhere.

Swan is even more upscale with all renovations complete. The place is more subdued and less over the top. Beds are still better than anything Disney offers. And the pool area has to be the most underrated on fan sites ... guess that has to do with the lacking of 'Disney magic.'

Also, renovations to Dolphin dining locales are complete with the Fountain (a MUCH better version of Beaches and Cream) and Pikabu (former Tubbi's) looking so much better. Tubbi's used to be so depressing and felt basement like, but now is very colorful with rich, bright hues and fish decor all over. Palios is closed for good at the Swan with a new Italian bistro set to open in Spring '07.

Most of the trip was centered around three fall events: Food and Wine at Epcot, MNSSHP at MK and HHN's at Uni.

From an enjoyment standpoint, I'm very pleased to state that MNSSHP has moved to the top of my fall event list. It actually is getting better with each year, and with Disney ... well, that's saying a lot. It's also a fun family event that seems to attract a wide demo from parents with young kids to tweens to couples without kids, many of whom are costumed a whole lot better than MK CMs.

HalloWishes is a great seasonal pyro display aided with half-perimeter fireworks. The music is a bit ... weird, but overall a great show. Boo to You is an addictive song and a better (BY FAR) parade than the sorry 100 Years of Snowglobes Now Minus the Globes for Your Dreaming Pleasure. Even this parade, with the Headless Horseman, has been plussed this year featuring a great Pirates float led by everyone's fave fem Cap'n Jack Sparrow. And the final float for Goofy's Candy Company may be a blatant commercial for a Disney 'brand' product, but it's fun just the same.

Lots of great lighting, spooky music, projections and as many pounds of free candy as you can carry make this a GREAT event and one well worth taking part of.

Oh, and maybe it was my going on a weeknight, but there were NO lines of more than 10-15 minutes for anything. Most were walk-ons.

AND READ THIS ANYONE WHO SAYS I ALWAYS BASH MK CLEANLINESS (which I do, but that's not the point) ... I was amazed at the fact the park looked spotless when I entered at 6:45 despite the fact Disney has long since given up clearing the park of day guests opting to arm-band MNSSHP guests instead. No trash could be seen on the ground or pouring out of cans. Things looked very, very good.

Food and Wine Fest at Epcot was a fun excuse to eat, drink, eat, drink, eat, drink, eat, drink, and drink some more. But it is starting to feel tired. Too many of the exact same booths selling the exact same stuff as years past. Samples are also getting smaller as the prices get larger. If I'm going to pay $125 to eat and drink my way around Epcot with a companion, I'm just going to make a PS for California Grill instead.

The endless waits with locals to get a free sample of wine at a seminar or a tidbit of food also just doesn't seem worth it anymore.

The Eat to the Beat concerts can be a mixed bag too. Seeing one Beach Boy with some other dudes (no, not John Stamos) was really kind of sad. But Little Richard, bless his heart, gave the crowds their monies worth and then some despite needing a hand to get on stage. And Three Dog Night, who I had never seen before, was actually great.

That brings me to Uni's Horror Nights. I posted a full review in the Other Theme Park thread started by TDLFAN, but I am thru with this event for a while. What was a great event has simply been ruined by having a Frequent Fear Pass for locals that ensures an incredibly packed park overrun by drunk 20-somethings and cursing teens. The haunted houses are all tired retreads. And the Universal 360 show is so bad it makes MGM's Fantasmic look like the greatest show ever staged. Nuff said.

Now for some random thoughts about Epcot and Disney-MGM, the only two parks I visited for non-events.

MS never in three days had any posted waits longer than 20 minutes, which likely meant it was always a walk-on. Test Track was usually posted at 40 minutes with actual waits closer to 20.

Nemo, as I've posted in other threads, is a good addition but nothing to get excited about. This isn't an Everest or a Soarin. It's a solid C-Ticket. No more. No less. I do think it will be a big hit with families and hey, that's what it was built for, right?

I would have preferred an updated sea base with an added thrill ride and family component as was pitched to WDI. Instead we have a Nemo-themed aquarium.

Also, pretty much everything you've read here of late is true. SSE will be getting a major overhaul but will keep its spirit intact. Canada and Norway's new films should debut next year (Canada's in January). Mexico will go down soon after for the Three Caballeros overlay.

Imagination is still in limbo with Disney desperate to make sure the third redo isn't a disaster like the last two, and that means they're doing a lot of thinking about what's going to be done.

WoL's reopening took many, including Epcot VP Brad Rex, by surprise. But higher-ups want added capacity for the holidays with Nemo, Soarin and TT expecting huge lines.

A new film is being created for Soarin, although it may be one for the yet-to-be-announced but happenning none-the-less DSP ride instead of a completely unique one for Epcot, which will get it first anyway.

The on-and-off-and-on-and-off-and-etc Epcot parade has been put off again as funds will likely go to the new Illuminations show to debut in fall '07 for Epcot's 25th.

OK ... enough from the CM/WDI/Insider grapevine.

Spent some time at the Studios and saw some good things merchandise wise. Sid's is once again selling a great collection of memorabilia type items and Hollywood-themed items. Keystone Clothiers has reopened after a major redo and looks terrific. The merchandise has also taken a turn for the upscale with a wide range of clothing and Disney watches for sale.

Star Tours looks and feels a lot more than 16 years old. Very tired.

ToT is so much better than at DCA ... I apologize again to anyone I told there isn't much of a difference. Boy, I haven't spent enough time at this park recently to realize just how much better and fully realized the FLA version is (and that's leaving out the whole 5th Dimension debate).

Saw Fantasmic again.

Wasn't at all impressed with Fantasmic again.

It's a commercial for 1990s animation. It doesn't flow properly. The stadium seating is a pain and takes away any magic, and the bought at WalMart boat in the finale really is sad.

Millionaire has been gutted and infrastructure for Midway Mania is being readied.

One great thing at the Studios is on Monday nights, the current EMH night, they really have a party atmosphere as they turn up the pop Disney music, add characters around and turn up the special lighting ... it makes the park feel so alive and joyfull ... at least until one looks at the BAH.

Great Movie Ride is still one of the best things about the park, but the finale movie really should have been redone instead of just removing clips and inserting Forrest Gump, Jack Sparrow and Marlin and Bruce from Finding Nemo.

Dining wise, I ate well. Thanks for asking. Despite a recent change in chefs, California Grill is still a treasure. The tamarind BBQ filet is one of the best pieces of beef you can eat. Captain Jack's in DD is a great, peaceful lunch spot that I hope doesn't disappear for a leasee, but fear it will.
Artist Point remains very good, but not great.

And Trail's End at FW is one of the best, hidden gems of Disney dining for basic comfort foods in peace and quiet. Great salads and soups and cafeteria quality entrees.

A sad note from FW though as the Petting Zoo basically doesn't exist except to give pony rides. No cows. No goats. No donkeys. No livestock. Just ponies. I guess the lawyers and the penny-pinchers win. And what was once a lively, but laidback corner of WDW just becomes empty.

Other negatives: Mansion NEEDS a rehab badly ... a major one. CBJ too ... Pirates as well. All of them suffer from one common theme -- terrible audio problems.

Lounge chairs at WL pool remained covered in bird waste for entire stay as they clearly don't wash them down at night.

Oh, and the fries at the ABC Commisary are inedible.

That about covers it ... If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

All in all, a great trip even though the weather was HOT for October and even though I wasn't able to find time for DAK as I had to go visit old WL furniture at Mouse Surplus!

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

I'm glad to hear that you had a good time. (I think it was good...right?) That's too bad about the Mansion and Country Bears needing a refurb. Hopefully the CBJ will get some work done while they are adding/removing the holiday version soon. It's interesting that you also included Pirates, since it just had a big redo this spring, but I guess they really didn't do enough to make a difference.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

Couple of DD observations I failed to mention above:

Construction of the new T-Rex themed eatery has begun in what was part of the parking lot. I am sooooo excited.

Basically everything from Rock N Roll Beach Club to Adventurer's Club no longer exists. But a boat dock has been added where the stage once was.

What had been a book store (Two R's) from 1975 until 3-4 years ago when it was turned into a scrapbooking store (because some MBA or consultant said that scrapbooks were a major new trend in vacations) is slowly turning back into a bookstore. With now a full third of the shop selling books, magazines and CDs/DVDs ... and the books include best-sellers, not just Disney related items.

Raglan Road continues to be a hit with locals. Gee, wonder if it has anything to do with the non-Disney quality? Or the fact it resembles some of the Anaheim DD eateries?

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<I'm glad to hear that you had a good time. (I think it was good...right?) >>

GREAT time!

<<That's too bad about the Mansion and Country Bears needing a refurb.>>

This is VERY old news. As they both have needed it for years. But show quality has never been a big concern to WDW execs of late.

<<Hopefully the CBJ will get some work done while they are adding/removing the holiday version soon.>>

Doubtful. It looks like the Holiday Show isn't scheduled this year in a cost-cutting move.

<<It's interesting that you also included Pirates, since it just had a big redo this spring, but I guess they really didn't do enough to make a difference.>>

No. They basically plopped a few Depp AAs and a few new fire effects into it.
So what you have is 1973 sound clashing and fading out alongside 2006 sound/speakers.

 

Originally Posted By irishfan

Any truth to the rumours that both Pirates and the Mansion are getting a serious refurb in 2007?

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

^^Don't know ... Space Mountain is due for a MAJOR (DL-like) redo starting sometime in '07.

I've heard rumors of possibly adding a few more movie AAs to Pirates and possibly a bit more rehab.

Nothing on Mansion at all.

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

WOW Spirit, that is one of the best Trip Reports I have read and I read them ALL! Thanks!!!


Have you ever stayed at Portafino Bay Hotel? It's one of my favs.

 

Originally Posted By irishfan

I'm sure Leemac mentioned recently that Pirates is to get a much bigger refurbishment in 2007(along with Pirates at TDL), and he hinted that the Mansion would so also, but I could be wrong.

 

Originally Posted By irishfan

Oh, and thanks for the report too!

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<WOW Spirit, that is one of the best Trip Reports I have read and I read them ALL! Thanks!!!>>

Thanks for the kind words.

My 20 minutes of typing weren't in vain

<<Have you ever stayed at Portafino Bay Hotel? It's one of my favs.>>

No. I have dined there frequently, but my Universal hotel stays have always been at the Royal Pacific, which I like a lot.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<I'm sure Leemac mentioned recently that Pirates is to get a much bigger refurbishment in 2007(along with Pirates at TDL), and he hinted that the Mansion would so also, but I could be wrong. >>

Well, Leemac and I are different people, but he may have been referring to PoC at DL, which is supposed to be significantly plussed yet again before the next movie comes out. And I believe DLP is the park that will also get Deppized as TDL's OLC management hasn't been excited about spending on their version.

How this will all play out with the MK's much shorter, inferior version remains to be seen.

But I have heard nothing regarding anything of substance happening to the MK's Mansion and sure needs it.

 

Originally Posted By irishfan

Ok, seems to be a lot of conflicting reports going around so. Leemac definetly said it was WDW's and not Disneylands which was to go down again. Regarding DLP, I cant see it happening in the next 12 months at least. At the moment Pirates is due to go down for only one week early in 2007.

Speaking of Paris, any idea when Soaring is going to reach the Studios?

 

Originally Posted By BlazesOfFire

<<but the finale movie really should have been redone instead of just removing clips and inserting Forrest Gump, Jack Sparrow and Marlin and Bruce from Finding Nemo.>>

I actually thought it was good that they kept the old while adding some new. Those other movies are classics too! No use ridding of them.

 

Originally Posted By Chelledun

Mom loved Three Dog Night - we watched a show and a half . We saw Starship last year, though, and that was really fabulous.

Totally agree with you that a new movie should have been added to the GMR. I was under the impression that was what had been done, so we went on the ride to see it. The attraction stopped half a dozen times while we were on it, and then I was disappointed to see just the new scenes inserted. It actually made the other clips look granier by comparison. Keep older clips, just restructure the thing.

The Boo to You parade is AWESOME!

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

>>>And the pool area has to be the most underrated on fan sites ... guess that has to do with the lacking of 'Disney magic.'<<<

shhhh! Let the stroller brigade have their Magic(TM).

>>Also, renovations to Dolphin dining locales are complete with the Fountain (a MUCH better version of Beaches and Cream) and Pikabu (former Tubbi's) looking so much better. Tubbi's used to be so depressing and felt basement like, but now is very colorful with rich, bright hues and fish decor all over.<<

I can't agree more .. Especially how out of place Tubbi's used to be. Good to hear.

>>Food and Wine Fest at Epcot was a fun excuse to eat, drink, eat, drink, eat, drink, eat, drink, and drink some more. But it is starting to feel tired.<<

Not only that but I have (and hopefully will not this year) notice more and more of a bar-hopping presence for this. While other changes have come to this once top-notch festival the thing most changed are a larger Pleasure Island contigent. Maybe I see this because in recent years I have been there on a weekend.

>>What was a great event has simply been ruined by having a Frequent Fear Pass for locals that ensures an incredibly packed park overrun by drunk 20-somethings and cursing teens.<<

Even worse to hear. Too bad. Really too bad. I haven't done this for 4 years.

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

>>SSE will be getting a major overhaul but will keep its spirit intact.<<

Some Kind Soul E-Mailed me when they saw my attempt to extract the info out of Lee. Take this for what it's worth, but they claim (along with some other sites) that the plan is close to what I hoped for. That the initial ascent and entire descent will be targeted for the refurb.

If they get rid of those screens, or even integrate them better, I think it will be one of the best moves they could make.

 

Originally Posted By Chelledun

>>Not only that but I have (and hopefully will not this year) notice more and more of a bar-hopping presence for this. While other changes have come to this once top-notch festival the thing most changed are a larger Pleasure Island contigent. Maybe I see this because in recent years I have been there on a weekend.

When we visited on a Saturday night, we were shocked at how many partiers there were. I have never noticed this before. Lines for EVERYTHING were long, long, long. Folks were holding and drinking two drinks while waiting in line for another, and the bathrooms were blech! It wasn't like this at all when we visited on the weeknights, so maybe this is a weekend thing.

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

>>A new film is being created for Soarin, although it may be one for the yet-to-be-announced but happenning none-the-less DSP ride instead of a completely unique one for Epcot, which will get it first anyway.<<


Yawn. I'm actually suprised that they would switch the original one out so soon. If the new film was to come out before a DSP attraction opened.

It would make more sense to give this film 3 or 4 more years.

>>ToT is so much better than at DCA ... I apologize again to anyone I told there isn't much of a difference. Boy, I haven't spent enough time at this park recently to realize just how much better and fully realized the FLA version is (and that's leaving out the whole 5th Dimension debate).<<

Apology Accepted

>>And Trail's End at FW is one of the best, hidden gems of Disney dining for basic comfort foods in peace and quiet. Great salads and soups and cafeteria quality entrees.<<

Darn IT Spirit! SHHHHHHH!!

You know what you're doing, right? Soon it will be a Jack Sparrow M&G for 29.99 per person. If you want to avoid the high price you can head right over to Will Turner's Tavern

>>Pirates as well. All of them suffer from one common theme -- terrible audio problems.<<

Good thing it was done for a quarter under rehab.

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

>>Hopefully the CBJ will get some work done while they are adding/removing the holiday version soon.<<

Word going around is that they will not be doing this for the holidays.

>> It's interesting that you also included Pirates, since it just had a big redo this spring, but I guess they really didn't do enough to make a difference.<<

I would second Spirit's comments after riding POTC at DL AFTER I rode MK's first. It is obvious they spent little to no time on the actual infrustructure of the attraction. No Ghost Pirates placed poorly took more importance.

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

>>I'm sure Leemac mentioned recently that Pirates is to get a much bigger refurbishment in 2007(along with Pirates at TDL), and he hinted that the Mansion would so also, but I could be wrong. <<

Yes. It sounded to me like HM would be cleaned up (putting it lightly) before the potential SM redo.