Category — q. Reviews

THE RAINFOREST CAFE AT DOWNTOWN DISNEY

All of this site’s eight night itineraries include an evening at Downtown Disney to see the amazing Cirque du Soleil.

And you gotta eat, so among the dozens of options available at Downtown Disney, the dining spot recommended in the itineraries is the Downtown Disney Rainforest Cafe.

Now the Rainforest Cafe is no Cress; it’s not even Whispering Canyon. But it is a wonderfully themed, usually reliable family dining spot.

DINING AT DOWNTOWN DISNEY AND THE RAINFOREST CAFE

There’s a variety of dining options at Downtown Disney, many either national brands or with some nationally known chef or celebrity in the name.

Rainforest Cafe is one of the national chains, which make some resist going there. I get this, but there’s only a couple of dozen of them in the country, in fewer than a dozen states, so for most families it will be new.

What makes it stand out among the Downtown Disney offerings is its distinctive and broadly appealing theming.

Rainforest Cafe has a…well…rainforest theme with elements of a safari tied in. The rainforest theme fills the ceiling, walls, and the spaces between seating areas, creating the impression you are in an active forest.

The theming is supported by animatronic figures of animals, which move every now and then, thunderstorms and lighting, and other effects.

This theming makes it fun for kids, and situates it well within an overall Disney World experience.

The menu is adequate without being special; not being special is usually good for kids! For menu details, see this. We enjoyed our meals–especially the “Awesome Appetizer Adventure.”

But the reason to go here is for the physical environment, not the food.  It’s the most fun restaurant for kids at Downtown Disney.

(You’ll find reviews saying that it’s loud and scary.  It’s no louder than most restaurants filled with kids, and it’s not scary for kids older than five who have already been on Disney rides.)

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CELEBRATE THE MAGIC: A GREAT FOLLOW UP TO THE MAGIC, THE MEMORIES AND YOU

On our December visit we had a chance to see the new evening show at the Magic Kingdom, Celebrate the Magic.

This show replaces the stunning prior show The Magic The Memories and You, and is just as good–though a little different.

It continues the jaw-dropping transformations of Cinderella’s Castle, but leaves out the former show’s photos of park guests.  Instead, it has a much more extensive focus on classic Disney films and characters–making it even more fun to most, but a little less personal. [Read more →]

Try the grey stuff
It’s delicious
Don’t believe me? Ask the dishes!

(Be Our Guest, from Beauty and the Beast, music and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken)

THE ENCHANTED FOREST: A MISSED OPPORTUNITY, BUT STILL A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT

The Enchanted Forest is one of two areas–the other being Storybook Circus–that together make up New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom.

It contains two attractions–Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid and Enchanted Tales with Belle, two dining spots–Be Our Guest and Gaston’s Tavern, and Ariel’s Grotto, a meet and greet opportunity.

Under the Sea is too slight for the opportunity this expansion presented, and that casts a sense of disappointment over all of the Enchanted Forest.

But Enchanted Tales with Belle is as good as anything Disney World has opened since 2005.

Moreover, although both Be Our Guest and Gaston’s Tavern have menu issues (Gaston’s is too limited, Be Our Guest is scarce on simple options for little kids), Be Our Guest is overall by far the best table service restaurant in the Magic Kingdom (and the first legit “date night” option there ever)–while Gaston’s is the most charming counter service option in the park.

Add to this the fact that the Enchanted Forest is incomplete, with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train still to open (I had thought this would be in 2013, but it’s now looking like 2014), and what you’ve got is a work in process that despite the disappointment of Under the Sea, has already demonstrated greatness, with the potential for more greatness to come.

REVIEW: THE ENCHANTED FOREST IN NEW FANTASYLAND AT THE MAGIC KINGDOM [Read more →]

Everybody hurries to the circus grounds
Time for lemonade and Cracker Jacks
Casey Junior’s back!
Casey Junior’s back!

(Casey Junior, from Dumbo, music and lyrics by Frank Churchill and Ned Washington)

STORYBOOK CIRCUS: GREAT FOR LITTLE KIDS, SO-SO FOR OLDER ONES

Storybook Circus is one of two areas that together make up New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom (the other is the Enchanted Forest).

Located in the space that used to house Mickey’s Toontown Fair, it continues that former land’s focus on little kids, through a re-themed ride, a moved ride, a character meet and greet area, and a play area.

However, the theming of Storybook Circus is much better than that of Mickey’s Toontown Fair, and much more nicely tied to Disney’s legacy. [Read more →]

THE BARNSTORMER FEATURING THE GREAT GOOFINI

The Barnstormer (featuring the “Great Goofini”–that is, Goofy in his plane-flying guise) is a kiddie coaster in the Storybook Circus section of the New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom.

The ride is identical to what’s been here for more than a decade, but has been lightly re-themed to match the new occupant of this terrain (which was formerly Mickey’s Toontown Fair): the Storybook Circus area.

It continues to be a hoot of an introduction to roller coasters for little ones (although they have to be at least 35 inches tall to ride), and is a fun–though brief–attraction for slightly older kids, but for them not worth much of a wait.

REVIEW OF THE BARNSTORMER AT STORYBOOK CIRCUS [Read more →]

PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE ROYAL ROOMS

ROYAL ROOMS AT PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE

There are two Port Orleans resorts at Walt Disney World: Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside.

On the map, French Quarter is the purple area on the right, and Riverside the green area on the left.

Port Orleans Riverside has two areas and three distinct room types.

Its Alligator Bayou area comprises the groups of buildings on the lower left corner of the map.  These rooms sleep five in two queen beds and one short (~66 inches long) Murphy bed.

Its Magnolia Bend area (the four blocks of rooms at the top of the Riverside part of the map) has two room types, Royal Rooms and Standard Rooms, each sleeping four in two queen beds.

This page reviews the Magnolia Bend Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside.

REVIEW OF THE ROYAL ROOMS [Read more →]