Originally Posted By RandySavage RESORTS: DISNEY’S BEACH CLUB Growing up, I’ve was fortunate to stay at a number of great Disney Resorts. When we were younger we usually split time between the Contemporary and the Polynesian, until we discovered the Beach Club which then became our annual go-to. Our last trip was to the Grand Floridian in 1998. Now, ten years later with a new, younger generation in tow, we considered going back to the monorail resorts because of ease of access to the Magic Kingdom. But in the end our old favorite, the Beach Club, won out. PROS: Stormalong Bay: Afternoons in this incredible pool was probably the most popular part of the whole trip for the kids. I have yet to see a resort pool that can match it. Rooms, Location, Concierge Food: Our party ranged in size from 11-13 depending on the day. We had a ground floor, two bedroom suite and an upper floor room. The ground floor room was phenomenal, with Epcot and the pool literally a few steps away, without ever having to use the hallway or lobby. Views were of the Boardwalk . We had some very inquisitive ducks that were entertaining. Getting a concierge room meant that we had access to loads of complimentary snacks, drinks, beer, pudding, wine, breakfast, PB&Js, etc. Definitely worth it. Hotel Condition: Overall, the Beach Club looked freshly painted, green with plantings and very nice. Staff: Overall was very good. Art the greeter was there one day. Good to see him after ten years even though we didn’t get a chance to chat. Movies on the Beach: They have little fire nightly and show films on the beach. I thought it was a nice touch. Frogs: I’m astonished at the lack of mosquitoes at WDW and have always feared that they secretly drench the place in insecticides. However, there was a chorus of frogs chirping from the canal at the Beach Club. Since frogs breath through their sensitive skin they are usually the first to fall victim to excessive toxins in the environment. I took their presence to be a good sign. CONS: Upkeep: Upon closer inspection there were a few issues. There were some discarded beer bottles in the bushes outside our room. Some of the paint on the trimmings in the lobby was chipped. The hair dryer did not work and the shower head was loose in the wall. The restaurant formerly known as Ariels was closed off and sad looking with its fish tank emptied. Worst of all, at night a great number of the light bulbs that trace the outline of the roof were dead. I noticed the same thing at the Boardwalk. That is a bad show which needs to be addressed. Friend Ships: These boats are very slow, very loud and reek of diesel fumes. The jungle cruise-like boats that ply the waters of Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon are vastly superior. It would be nice for Disney to scuttle the friendships and switch to the other boats. RESORTS: ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE We visited this resort one late afternoon and had dinner at Boma. PROS: Boma: Very good buffet. Lobby: Up there with Wilderness Lodge. Absolutely stunning lobby with lots of interesting exhibits, and a particularly cool “library†documenting and an old African expedition. Fire pits: There were a couple great areas with rocking chairs surrounding fire pits. Savanna: The Arusha Rock kopje and trees trimmed to look like African acacias were very well done. CONS: Savanna: A large chain link fence was visible surrounding the far edge of savanna. This destroyed the illusion of it being real. The savanna here featured Watusi cattle (as does Kilimanjaro Safaris). Watusi, while having impressive horns, are domesticated animals. I don’t think they should be included in either the AK Lodge or Kilimanjaro Safaris… it’s the equivalent of going to Yellowstone to see grizzlies, bison and pronghorns and having some Texas longhorn cattle shipped in. Also, there weren’t many animals visible at the time of my visit (granted, there had just been a downpour). Architecture: While the thatched roof with dormers over the main building is beautiful, I think the same thatch could and should have been used on the wing buildings. Without the thatch roofs they sort of resemble motels with African colors. RESORTS: GRAND FLORIDIAN We had breakfast at this resort and took the Monorail to the Magic Kingdom. I had a few nitpicks for this flagship hotel: (i) the bird cages in the lobby were abandoned (they used to have a parrot and finches); (ii) it seemed that landscaping at the GF has been outsourced to a third party because one of the paths was blocked by a lawn care truck where several slovenly-looking characters in tank tops hung around spraying a bush; (iii) the monorail had bizarre smell to it. RESORTS: CONTEMPORARY We had dinner at the California Grill. The menu, food and service were not as good as they were ten years ago when this restaurant was the newest and hottest place in Orlando. The views to the northwest and west were very nice. The views to the northeast, east and south were depressing. Much of what was once greenfields ten years ago has been built up or is being cleared for development. Several large buildings are going up just south of Epcot. Something massive is being cleared just northeast of Bay Lake, probably a housing development. Walt Disney World once felt isolated and covered in woods and swamps. Unfortunately, reality has caught up. A quick glance on Live Earth shows how much of the property has been built up in the past ten years. It is epitomized by the horrid, massive addition going up next to the Contemporary. They are building a large ugly Holiday Inn looking tower that will hulk over Tomorrowland. The architect made no attempt to have the building fit or compliment the existing contemporary. Just shameful. The overcrowding will get significantly worse with the Western Beltway Expansion is completed (as well as the Four Seasons). In twenty years, it seems likely that Orlando and WDW sprawl will have eaten up all those green spaces like a cancer. I think Walt once said that in Florida he had all the land he would ever need. Well, it’s not going to end up quite as idyllic as he had envisioned. Thank you, Meg Crofton... your legacy will be that you put the final nails in WDW's coffin.
