Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I'm not overly impressed with the food at WDW. I find the food at WDW to be unremarkable. Now to be fair I have never eaten at VV or Cali Grill. That doesn't mean I haven't enjoyed some of my meals at WDW, I certainly have. I mostly enjoy the "variety" of food available on property. The BBQ I had the Whispering Canyon easily was the worst BBQ I have ever eaten in my life ( mostly fat..no meat). If someone was to ask me the best restaurants I have EVER eaten at. Not one would be in WDW.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Have to get to Cali Grill or V&A - they will leave a much different impression.
Originally Posted By hopemax >'m not overly impressed with the food at WDW. I find the food at WDW to be unremarkable I hadn't seen any comments elsewhere, but is everyone up to speed on what this world class resort destination is doing to their kids meals? It's been rolled out a few places (MGM TS, and Tonys) with the intention to go resort wide. Now kids get a choice of 3 fixed meals, or a build your own, which means a choice of two entrees, two appetizers and two desserts. You can see the meals here <a href="http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_ddpkids.htm" target="_blank">http://www.allearsnet.com/menu /menu_ddpkids.htm</a> The people who have ran into this so far, have reported various degrees of cooperation about substitutions. Somtimes it is no problem, sometimes there is klucking but they will do it, and other times completely refused. So if your kid wants the pizza, they have to have the salad, not the vegi's. If they want the ice cream dessert, they have to order one of the ala carte entrees.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Are WL and AKL "World class" Resorts?<< NO. They are however "themed" resorts. Only one themed reseort IMHO deserves to be called "World Class" and that is Atlantis in Nassau.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I'm trying to get a handle on what a 5 star hotel is. Probably the nicest hotels I've stayed in are the Drake Hotel in Chicago, the Registry Resort in Scottsdale AZ, the Registry Resort in Naples FL and the Hyatt Regency in Monterey CA. Anyone know if any of those would be considered 5 star? (I know the Registry Resorts now have new ownership... not sure who it is.) My guess is that the Registry Naples was 5 star and the others I've listed are 4 star. Am I correct or way off base?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I'm trying to get a handle on what a 5 star hotel is.<< And as long as you continue booking Disney hotel, you never will.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<And as long as you continue booking Disney hotel, you never will.>> I said pretty much the same thing back in post #4. What I'm wondering about is where the ones I've listed would fall.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I guess I would have to stay at some of the places you listed and compare to the 5*****s hotels I have stayed at, such as the Peninsula Hong Kong, or Manila Hotel, to name a few...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Probably the nicest hotels I've stayed in are the Drake Hotel in Chicago,< the Drake ( nice choice btw) - is a 4 diamond property. Watching this though as it was bought by Hilton this year, I am hoping for no changes and no 'corporate cutbacks '
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<the Drake ( nice choice btw) - is a 4 diamond property>> Thanks vbdad. That is my favorite of the hotels I listed. We stayed there for our 25th wedding anniversary. It was WONDERFUL. I mentioned our anniversary when I booked, and when we arrive found out they had upgraded us to an Executive Suite. It was unbelievable. Large living room, dining room, bar area, marble bathroom, and a corner bedroom with floor to ceiling windows on both sides overlooking Lake Michigan. When we got to our room there was a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket on the dining room table, a chocolate mousse cake and a note of congratulations from the hotel general manager. It was probably the most awesome night of my life. I did some internet searches and found that all of the hotels I listed are 4 star hotels with the exception of the Monterey Hyatt which was 3 star. The Naples Registry is now the Naples Grande Resort, and the Scottsdale Registry is now (I believe) the Scottsdale Radisson Resort and Spa. Not 100% sure, but the location and pool correspond with what I remember.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I also love the Drake - ( we celebrated a wedding anniversary there (20yrs) eight years ago - and at that time a friend I grew up with was the head chef there. So now take your experience at the Drake and compare it to say GF, and you can see why I do not think the WDW resorts are 5 star resorts ( or 4 ) -. Now I don't have a complaint about that necessarily as they are catering to an entirely different vacation experience...so I am not bashing them, just calling it as I see it.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I believe the Ritz-Carlton and Portofino Bay are 4 Diamond AAA resorts, and I do not believe there are any 5's....but I know othjers from there will know more than me.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>I'm not overly impressed with the food at WDW. I find the food at WDW to be unremarkable. Now to be fair I have never eaten at VV or Cali Grill.<< I agree. And I would say that about California Grill too. V&A is about the only one that wowed me. I think California Grill is more about the setting; rightfully so. The food is no more spectacular then many niche eateries in New York, Chicago or L.A. So World Class? No.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Now kids get a choice of 3 fixed meals, or a build your own, which means a choice of two entrees, two appetizers and two desserts. You can see the meals here <a href="http://www.allearsnet.com/menu" target="_blank">http://www.allearsnet.com/menu</a> /menu_ddpkids.htm<< It is another crazy move. Another example of change for change's sake. Well that and trying to squeeze more nickles out of an overtapped dining system. The Disney execs have never heard of the saying, "If it's not broke, don't fix it". One more step closer to catering to those who want low-frills, all inclusive, cruiseline type vacation plans and offerings.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>I'm trying to get a handle on what a 5 star hotel is. Probably the nicest hotels I've stayed in are the Drake Hotel in Chicago, the Registry Resort in Scottsdale AZ, the Registry Resort in Naples FL and the Hyatt Regency in Monterey CA. Anyone know if any of those would be considered 5 star? (I know the Registry Resorts now have new ownership... not sure who it is.) My guess is that the Registry Naples was 5 star and the others I've listed are 4 star. Am I correct or way off base?<< I can only speak towards Chicago and Naples. For Naples the only one that would be 5-star is the Ritz Carlton/Pelican Bay. A favorite haunt of the A list. For Chicago, again the Ritz Carlton, maybe Four Seasons, maybe. And, more recently, the Peninsula. As much as I would consider the Drake a 5 star establishment, and I have a personal affinity for it since I had my wedding in the Gold Coast Room, it would probably by 4, 4.5 best, in most experts minds.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>...It was probably the most awesome night of my life.<< That's awesome to hear RT. I can believe it. Those folks know real service and the real meaning of "be our guest". When they say it, they mean it. From dining, to receptions, to accomodating out of towners they always do right by me. >>the Drake ( nice choice btw) - is a 4 diamond property. Watching this though as it was bought by Hilton this year, I am hoping for no changes and no 'corporate cutbacks '<< For the time being there won't be. However time has a way of slowly transplanting the old and bringing in the unfamiliar. I'm more worried about the slippery slope of change here, change there. Little tiny changes. This is another example of if it's not broke.... I think, currently at least, they thankfully realize this.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I believe the reserve wine list and some of the specials also makes Cali Grill a WC restaurant. If I had any one concern over it , that would be consistency of service, which can vary widely more than it should.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Are there any 5 star hotels/ resorts in Orlando?<< NO. This is a value market.
