Category — q. Reviews

THE STAR TOURS RIDE

2016 update: Star Tours now includes scenes from The Force Awakens!

A new Star Wars-themed ride opened in 2011 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, using the same space and infrastructure as the former Star Tours.

The ride, Star Tours: The Adventure Continues, with fun new queue elements and a totally new 3-D high-def set of films (including scenes from The Force Awakens!) is different enough to qualify (at least to me) as an entirely new experience, rather than an update of the old Star Tours.

I’ve had many chances to ride it, and it’s a lot of fun, even for those unfamiliar with Star Wars.  For those who are fans of the movies, it bears multiple repeat rides!

REVIEW OF STAR TOURS: THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES

The core concept of the ride–an ineptly-piloted adventure in the universe of Star Wars–remains from the old ride.

The simulator technology–which can be a little rough on those with above-average motion sickness–also remains.

New is an enhanced queue and a whole new set of films that create the simulated universe in 3-D.

Any one of the films would be different enough to make this a fun new ride.

But what Disney has done is to create four sections of the film with options.–the first with two, and the next three with three each.

As a result, 54 different experiences are possible.  These experiences aren’t uniquely different–e.g. half have one of two possible beginnings, and half the other–but there’s still plenty of options to motivate repeat visits.

Moreover, these options mostly aren’t minor inserts in an otherwise identical presentation.  Three of the four are entire scenes (though the first one is short).  The result is substantively different experiences.

You have to actually ride it twice just to see how different the experiences can be!

For even more, see David Koenig’s comments on MousePlanet here, and Jim Korkis’s history of the ride here. And there’s much more on Star Tours in my co-author Josh’s post here.

Have you ridden it? What did you think?

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OLLIVANDERS AT THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s Hogsmeade has a branch of Ollivanders–in the books located solely in Diagon Alley. (Ollivanders has also been included in Universal Orlando’s new Diagon Alley.)

As a means both of crowd control to the associated gift shop and as a way of plussing the whole Hogsmeade Wizarding World experience, entry is through a show where the wand chooses the wizard.

Lines for this have been so long on my prior visits to the Wizarding World that I did not bother.

However, I recently had my first chance to take advantage of the early entry available to Universal resort hotel guests.

Even though I had to backtrack because I had forgotten my hotel room key–which serves as your entry pass–at 20 minutes after the early opening only three people were in line, so I did Ollivanders.

The short version: while your results will vary, what I saw was incredibly cute.

THE WIZARDS DEFINE HOW MUCH FUN IT IS TO WATCH THE WAND CHOOSE THEM AT OLLIVANDERS

Small groups of 20 or so are admitted to a tiny high-ceilinged space, filled with wands.

As my group entered, two friends, younger tweens–both, as it turned out, named Sarah–were driven to wordless awe by the space, capable only of “oohs” of admiration and longing.

When capable of words, one said haltingly to the other “Ooh, oooh, Sarah…look at the wands!”

The cast member playing the shop keeper picked the Sarahs, who as they came forward almost levitated with delight.

With show business and effects–which I am not going to give away–the wands picked the Sarah.

All was drop dead charming for me to watch–in the same way that Epcot’s Turtle Talk with Crush is.

However, Turtle Talk gives a much more consistently charming experience.

Part of the issue is that the shopkeeper stays in a most serious role, so the real fun is solely in the response of the kids.  (The actual effects of the wands are minor.) However, the chosen kid or kids have their backs to you, so you can’t see the expressions on their face.

Moreover, even though the space is small, the half of the attendees who weren’t near the Sarahs pre-choice to see their inarticulate awe couldn’t have had as much fun as I did.

So the upshot for many visitors to Ollivanders will be a slight entertainment hardly worth the wait if it’s more than 20 minutes or so–unless of course their own kids are chosen.

How to be chosen?  Have your kids act like the Sarahs…as you enter, try to get them into a position in the front where the shopkeeper can seem them…and have them thrum with awe and longing!

This is the second page of this review; for the first page, click here.

NOT FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS

First, I recommend that first time visitors don’t get guidebooks.

While I do have some on my recommended books page, I advise against buying them, for the simple reason that a lot of the fun of the first time visit to Walt Disney World cones from the surprises of the rides themselves. The wonder of “What Happens Next?” and subsequent surprise and gratified high expectations are a key part of a first visit.

There can only be one first time, and it is at its best when accompanied by wonder and curiosity, not “I know what will happen to me on this ride.”

The problem with guidebooks is that it’s hard to not read their material on the attractions before visiting. The wonderful Mike Neal and Disney photos of The Complete Walt Disney World 2011 make it doubly hard to skip this material; they are simply too darn seductive.

But this, like the issues with uneven detail and filler, is a nit. The real problem with The Complete Walt Disney World 2011 is its inaccuracies.

Just a few examples: [Read more →]

OVERVIEW: THE COMPLETE WALT DISNEY WORLD 2011

I still remember my shock when I opened the first (2007) printing of this series.

Such gorgeous photos, and so many of them! So many details and so much trivia! And such a nice typeface and design—albeit with a remarkably tiny font (though a size not uncommon in travel guides).

All other Disney World guidebooks—including my favorite, The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2011–immediately looked 20 years out of date after Julie and Mike Neal published theirs (Julie is the writer, Mike the photographer).

Their latest update, The Complete Walt Disney World 2011, came out in late March 2011.

It shares the strengths of the previously published installments of the series—gorgeous photos, nice design, and tremendous details. It also shares their weaknesses: uneven material, and just too many inaccuracies.

For first time family visitors to Walt Disney World, I don’t recommend it. For repeat visitors, it’s a near-essential part of a Disney library.

[Read more →]

This is the third page of this review. For the first page, click here. For the second page, click here.

TO WHOM ARE THE DELUXE ROOMS AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE MOST SUITED?

These expensive, spacious, but somewhat awkwardly laid-out rooms are best suited to three types of families:

• Larger families of 6 committed to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and who would have stayed in club rooms anyway will find the Deluxe Rooms a bargain.
• Families of 6 looking for deluxe lodging will find these rooms their most cost effective option. Almost all other deluxe options that hold 6 (and don’t rely on getting connecting rooms, which Disney will not guarantee) are designed—and priced—to a capacity of 8 or 9.
• Families of 4 who are simply looking for a more comfortable Wilderness Lodge option than a standard club room will find these rooms OK if concierge level service is what they really want, though personally I think such families would have even more comfort in a one-bedroom villa, or even a two-bedroom, at the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

DELUXE ROOMS AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE FOR LARGER FAMILIES

This site ranks the Wilderness Lodge as the second-best of the deluxe resorts for first time family visitors, bested only by the Polynesian.

The Wilderness Lodge comes in so high because of its spectacular kid appeal. Among its negatives are small, low-capacity (four person) rooms.

Club rooms at the Wilderness Lodge are also hold 4 in small rooms.

Families of 5 to 6 who are committed to both the Wilderness Lodge and club level rooms will find Deluxe Rooms a bargain.

They hold 6 in 50% more square feet, but at only about 33% more expense.

Taking two club rooms instead would increase your square footage, sleeping flexibility, and number of baths–though at a higher price. However, Disney won’t guarantee that two such rooms will be nearby, adjacent, or connecting.

Families of 5 who are not committed to the Wilderness Lodge, and don’t care about club service, should rent a standard room in Disney’s Polynesian Resort.

Standard rooms at the Polynesian, this site’s highest ranked deluxe resort, hold five in two queens and a daybed, and are between 75 and 150 square feet larger than Wilderness Lodge standard rooms.

The larger of the two Polynesian resort standard room floor plans is only 25 square feet smaller than a Wilderness Lodge Deluxe Room, but costs $180 a night less.

Families of six who are looking for a reasonably priced option at a high-ranking deluxe resort should pick Wilderness Lodge Deluxe Rooms.

Almost all of the other deluxe options that sleep 6 are designed and priced for families of 8 or 9.

For more on large families at Walt Disney World, see this.

DELUXE ROOMS AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE FOR FAMILIES SEEKING MORE COMFORTABLE ROOMS

The Deluxe Rooms also present a more spacious and comfortable option for families of four than standard Wilderness Lodge rooms.

This makes them a good choice for such families who are also committed to club-level service.

Personally, I find one bedroom villas at the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge more comfortable–and two bedroom villas are positively luxurious for a family of 4, or even 6.

One bedroom villas have almost 50% more floor space than Deluxe Rooms, a full kitchen, but cost $100 a night less.

Their layout–with a king in one room, and a fold-out couch in the second–works better for most families as well.

Moreover, their baths and master bedroom are equipped and decorated to a higher standard than that of the Deluxe Rooms.

Two bedroom villas are distinctly luxurious for small families.

They add a second sleeping bedroom with two queens or a queen and a fold-out couch, and another bathroom.

They contain more than twice the square footage of a deluxe room, but cost only 30% more.

You can’t get concierge service in either of these villa types, but to me the increase in space more than makes up for this lack.

For more on the trade-offs between club rooms and villas, see The Most Comfortable Place to Stay at Walt Disney World.

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MORE ON WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• For where to stay, see this
  • For your next best choices, in order, see this
  • For picking your resort based on appeal to kids, see this
  • For picking your resort based on convenience, see this
  • For where not to stay, see this

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• For what you get in each resort price category, see this
  • For Walt Disney World resort price seasons, see this
  • For resort reviews, see this
  • For the value resorts, see this
  • For the moderate resorts, see this
  • For the deluxe resorts, see this
  • For suites at the deluxe resorts, see this
  • For the Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resorts, see this

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• For a (geeky) overview of comparative room size, see this

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• Large families should look at this, and also at
  • Large Families Looking for Value Pricing at Walt Disney World
  • Large Families Looking for Deluxe Accommodations at Disney World
  • Beds and Sleeping Spaces at the Walt Disney World Resorts
  • Renting Disney Vacation Club Points
  • Suites at Walt Disney World

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• Military/DOD families should look at this

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• Tightwads should look at this

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• Families seeking the most comfortable place to stay should see this

For the first page of this review of deluxe rooms at the Wilderness Lodge, click here.

WHAT YOU GET IN A DELUXE ROOM AT DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE

Deluxe rooms at the Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, sometimes referred to as “Junior Suites,” have two sleeping spaces and a divided bath.

• One space includes the hallway; a closet; a door that connects to a yet another room not part of the deluxe room, but rather an added standard room should you need it; a door to the split bath; a small refrigerator and sink; a table with two chairs; two upholstered chairs; a long sofa that folds out into a queen bed; a door to the second space; and a balcony that overlooks Bay Lake, with two chairs and a table.
• The second space contains two queens, a TV, and a wardrobe; a door to the bath; another set of doors to the other space, and its own standing balcony.
• The split bath has two sinks in one space, and a standard tub and toilet in a separate room.

See the floor plan.

You enter from the hall, at the right of the floor plan, and face a long, too-narrow hallway.

On the left is a door to the bath that also serves as an alternate path to the bedroom.

On the right is a closet (not the fridge and sink, even though they are shown in the floor plan) and a door to a connecting room.

(By the way, if you choose to add a connecting room, it could have a king or two queens; a king connecting room would make this set-up more comfortable for parents, though at an even higher cost.)

Ahead of the hall you’ll find a small table and chairs on your right, and on your left a small sink and small fridge–what had been wrongly shown in the floor plan as in the hall.

Note that the small sink brings the total of sinks in the room to 3–see photo to right, taken from the balcony end of the room. Three sinks are handy if you have a lot of hair or faces to prepare.

Ahead is the couch, two upholstered chairs, and a TV.  The couch is long enough for a six-footer to nap–or sleep overnight–on it without unfolding it

The couch, when unfolded, also makes for a comfortable queen bed.

(The first page of this review has another photo of this space, as well as one of the view from the balcony.)

This area overall is quite small–it’s a little more than 10 feet wide and 8 feet long, barely fitting its furniture, and much tighter than the floor plan implies.

Beyond this space is the first of the two balconies in the room, with two chairs and a table on the balcony.

The second room is accessed both from a door near the sink/fridge and through the divided bath.

It includes two queens, a TV, a wardrobe, and its own balcony–this balcony is too small for chairs, unlike the balcony in the other space.

The space here is about 17 feet by 11.5′.  It’s about a foot short in both dimensions, which shows up most clearly in trying to get from the wardrobe to the wardrobe side of the queen bed on that side–this area is cramped.

Both this room and the other main room have windows on two sides–a nice touch.

The bath is accessible from both spaces.

The sink area is spacious, well laid out, and nicely decorated.

The bath, connected to the sink area by a door, is sparse and utilitarian.

CLUB LEVEL SERVICE AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE

As noted on the first page of this review, Deluxe Rooms are part of the Wilderness Lodge’s Club Service.

(“Club” is what Disney World calls “Concierge.”)

The club floor at the Wilderness Lodge is the seventh floor, but all Deluxe Rooms, regardless of what floor they are on, have the rights to use club services.

Club services include a lounge–the Old Faithful Club Lounge–with drinks and snacks, and an associated concierge staff that can assist with issues such as tickets, dining reservations, etc.

Perks also include robes and cool gold-colored room keys–not blue like we have had on our other trips, in standard rooms.

The staff also reprinted my annual pass, so it’s now the cool gold color as well.

(By the way, you can now get annual passes at the resorts–up until a few months ago, you could only get annual passes at the parks.)

We used the lounge for breakfast, pre and post dinner snacks, and for drinks.

The staff, besides reprinting my annual pass, also put tickets onto some of our room keys.

The access and service was delightful, and my gold annual pass still cracks me up. Next year, a black one!

I don’t recommend club rooms for first time visitors–they won’t be in their rooms enough for it to matter–but it certainly makes visits for a repeat visitor a little more comfortable.

Steve at TikimanPages.com has a great discussion of the value of Disney club service rooms here.

TO WHOM ARE THE DELUXE ROOMS AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE MOST SUITED?

This review continues here.

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