Category — q. Reviews

(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)

FIRST TIME VISITORS AND DISNEYLAND

I recently had a chance to visit the Disneyland Resort.

This site is aimed at first-time family visitors to Walt Disney World who may never return.

So what’s the argument for such families going to Disneyland instead of to Walt Disney World?

THE DISNEYLAND RESORT VS. THE WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT

[Read more →]

OVERVIEW: THE CAMPSITES AT DISNEY’S FORT WILDERNESS RESORT

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort has three types of accommodations:

• Air-conditioned cabins sleeping six with full kitchens (click here for a review of the cabins)
• Group campsites, which I’ll review if I can ever get my scout troop to make the 1100 mile drive to Walt Disney World
• Family campsites, which are the topic of this review

The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, while wonderful for returning visitors who like to camp and for RV owners, are at the bottom of the list of recommended resorts for typical first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.

[Read more →]

FANTASMIC AT DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Fantasmic is a 25+ minute evening fireworks (and more) show in that takes place in the Hollywood Hills Amphitheatre at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios theme park.

It combines fireworks, projected filmed animation, live action, audio-animatronics, music, and flames into a delightful and continually surprising show.

Without giving the show away, the Fantasmic follows a dream of Mickey Mouse about good and evil.

Fantasmic is probably my favorite thing at Walt Disney World, and certainly is my favorite at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Because this high regard is shared by many, it is listed as a favorite on this site’s Comprehensive Guide to Rides. [Read more →]

For the first page of this review, click here.

MORE ON JAMBO HOUSE AT DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

There are currently 8 official Disney owned and operated deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World.

In their recommended order for first time family visitors, they are

1. Polynesian
2. Wilderness Lodge
3. Animal Kingdom Lodge–Jambo House
4. Contemporary
5. Grand Floridian
6. Beach Club
7. Yacht Club
8. BoardWalk Inn

(Many of these also offer Disney Vacation Club studios and villas, all for rent to the general public–see this for more on the Disney Vacation Club resorts.)

[Read more →]

OVERVIEW: DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

Jambo House opened as Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in 2001.

It was renamed Jambo House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge with the opening of the nearby Disney Vacation Club property Kidani Village in 2009.

Because of their differences, I count three separate properties here:

• Jambo House, the topic of this review
• The Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) villas at Jambo House, reviewed here, and
• The DVC villas at Kidani Village, for which see this for a review.

I will call Jambo House in the rest of this review both its official name and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the name that most people still know it by.

But whatever I call it, the key is this: Jambo House/Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a great place for first time visitors to stay, bested only by Disney’s Polynesian Resort and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

[Read more →]

ILLUMINATIONS AT EPCOT AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Illuminations: Reflections of Earth is a 12 minute nightly fireworks (and more) show in and around Epcot’s World Showcase Lagoon.

It combines fireworks, music, flames, a cool thingy (I won’t be more specific, you’ll know it when you see it!), and lasers into a surprising and exciting show.

Other than a few introductory and ending comments, the show is not narrated.

Without giving the scoop away, the show is essentially the story of the world–from its beginnings to the present.

Illuminations is in the top five of many repeat visitors to Walt Disney World, and it is listed as a favorite on this site’s Comprehensive Guide to Rides. [Read more →]