Originally Posted By Doobie <<< Interesting, Doobie. What was it about Be Our Guest that left you underwhelmed? Service? Food quality? Menu offerings? >>> I know the Magic Kingdom has to put through a lot of people, so I wasn't expecting Jiko. But with all the hype it got (including the food being so upscale they had to serve wine with it), I really expected more. Not only was the taste of dinner not special, but the presentation was very unimpressive. Even bad upscale restaurants know how to make the food look pretty (and cruise lines manage to do it for hundreds of guests all at once), but this wasn't at all. The desserts were also unimpressive in their paper cupcake holders and being the same desserts as the quick service lunch. I was also disappointed in the lack of Enchantment in the Enchanted Castle. The overall look was good, but very little in the way of special effects. I've had lunch there twice and both times was underwhelmed with the food, but given the atmosphere and the ability to eat inside on a nice table with silverware, etc., it's at least worth it and definitely the best way to see the restaurant. But based on my one experience (and I do plan to do it again if I can ever get a short term reservation). I can't recommend dinner. Doobie.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Let's face it..most of WDW is overrated AND overly priced. Not to mention antiquated. The only park worth visiting (DAK) is the least visited, and only gets little mention with a wimpy 15th anniversary reminder to disney geeks. So much for the place where the magic used to live.>> I don't know that I agree with you on all of that, but I do agree that the AK is by far the most under-rated park at WDW.
Originally Posted By Daannzzz I agree with be Our Guest restaurant. The ball room is very pretty and we were seated next to the windows where it is always snowing which is a very wonderful effect, but the ballroom is also huge and there is nothing intimate about it. It feels like a huge mess-hall no matter what you do. I think I would prefer the smaller room. Dinner was very good but nothing special. Agree about LeCellier being fine but not big deal. Not a fan of Dole Whips. I love the Polynesian resort but the price is somewhat absurd.
Originally Posted By danyoung Like most people here, I disagree with quite a lot of this article. I just had a very nice meal at Le Cellier, and my waiter was in no way an ignorant college student. I always do rope drop, and get more done in that first couple of hours than most folks can do in a whole day when they arrive at noon. I will say that no attraction is worth a 120 minute wait, though.
Originally Posted By leobloom Soarin' would have been impressive in 1980. I suspect part of its popularity derives from the fact that it's a gently exhilerating ride. Then again, I've always thought the ride was a regression in the theming department: you've got the visible mechanics of the ride system, the visibility of the edge of the screen, and the decision not to hide the screen when you're loading. If Universal built Soarin', Disney fanboys would be pointing out how sloppy the presentation is.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Then again, I've always thought the ride was a regression in the theming department: you've got the visible mechanics of the ride system, the visibility of the edge of the screen, and the decision not to hide the screen when you're loading.>> In some attractions there is just no reasonable way to hide the mechanics behind it (Mission Space, for example). In those cases I almost think it is better to just leave it out there than make an attempt to disguise it which would undoubtedly not be very successful. Once the Soarin' experience starts, does anyone really spend time thinking about the mechanics of the ride anyway? I certainly don't... I just enjoy the experience. While I don't think it (or any other attraction) is worth a 2 hour wait like you frequently encounter at Epcot, it is one of my favorite attractions.
Originally Posted By ExpDave I just visited the Poly and I love it, BUT I do think it should be re-positioned as a moderate. And as mentioned above it would also be very nice to have a buffer between it and the MK parking lot.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I just visited the Poly and I love it, BUT I do think it should be re-positioned as a moderate. And as mentioned above it would also be very nice to have a buffer between it and the MK parking lot.>> Sometimes you pay for the room, other times you just pay for a great location. When I stayed at the Yacht Club I thought the location and pool were great, but didn't think the rooms were anything special (and that was staying on the concierge floor).
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad How about the whole area of EPCOT where honey I shrunk the audience is. The traveling water fountains never seem to work. They don't work on splash most of the time either and the figment ride seemed like something where the ride track turned out to be longer than the ride so they just filled it in at the end with filler. Oh I mean captain EO now which I have no desire to see. And still I like EPCOT I just don't understand why this area is neglected. It's like a tuxedo with a broken zipper. Everything else can look nice but you are still walking around with a wiener showing.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<They don't work on splash most of the time either>> Guess I'm not sure what you are referring to here. <<the figment ride seemed like something where the ride track turned out to be longer than the ride so they just filled it in at the end with filler.>> Are you referring to the "Figment Room" or the moon and twinkly lights area that follows? The Figment Room was created during the last change to JIYI in response to guests complaining about the lack of Figment in the attraction. I kind of like it... it is the only part of the attraction that retains any of the charm and whimsy of the original. The stuff that follows? Seems to be an Epcot tradition... like the final ho-hum portion of Spaceship Earth.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad JIYI had a great ride vehicle but the ride itselfI found to be underwhelming. The fountains where the water stream travels from place to place in front of the entrance to EO. Just like the one in the water caves on splash mountainWere the fountains I was referring to.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Guess I've never noticed the fountains in Splash Mountain. Of course then I've only ridden it a couple of times. The queue makes me claustrophobic and I'm not a big fan of walking around wet.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad Me either . I wimp out with a poncho and then sit on the front edge of the seat because the water drains out the holes in the back of the seat. Wet pants can ruin a day real fast. But, I can't skip this ride. It is probably my most favorite of all rides in all the parks . The details are amazing.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros While the Figment room at the end of the current version of the Imagination ride does retain some of the spirit of the original, I think that space was used much more effectively in the ride's second incarnation. With the bright yellow walls, it's really easy to see the monitors and ceiling move while the room is 'exploding', and there's almost no transition to the unloading room that is randomly in a starfield. There's also no real explaination of what the monitors are, why the guests are there, or why it explodes In the second version, the explosion was caused by our newly-overwhelming imaginations when we got re-scanned, which opened up to a black room with lots of little screens all over it, making it appear to be enormous. Then, you were gradually surrounded by the starfield, which lit up to become the unload. While I agree that the ride's second version had some flaws (many of which are still there in the current one), the finale was really well done, IMO
