Expert Reviews of Walt Disney World

Animal Kingdom Lodge: Something for Everyone

6/26/2020 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • Once our kids (7 and 5) find out that we are heading to Walt Disney World, there is always one question that follows, "Are we staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge?" There is no denying that it is our family's favorite and it is always our top recommendation to friends and family that are planning their trip. Here are a few reasons why we love Animal Kingdom Lodge: 1. The immersive experience. It feels like you are in Africa! Of course, I’ve never been to Africa, but the theming of this resort is wonderful. From the activities and storytellers in the lobby to the landscaping and animals outside of your window. It just feels like you are somewhere and everything is an experience (and a good one at that!) 2. The Animals! They are obviously the star of the show at this resort, but to us it’s the freedom and fun […]

Sheraton Vistana Resort-Review

6/24/2020 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • In what seems like a lifetime ago, I lived next door to a resort while attending my Walt Disney World College Program. We never gave this resort much attention but thought it looked fun and dreamed of visiting someday. Fast forward many years to a reunion trip with my former CP roommates, that dream came true. The Sheraton Vistana Resort in Lake Buena Vista (situated on 535, just off of I-4), is minutes away from Disney Springs and the World Gateway entrance to Walt Disney World. As a Marriott timeshare vacation destination, it boasts many amenities attractive to those who wish to stay in sunny Orlando at length. We stayed only 3 nights, but found this was the absolute best choice for our reunion weekend! The reception/check-in area was inviting, modern, and easy to navigate. Once checked in, you are ushered to the events desk where you are informed of […]

Rose and Crown Dining Room at Disney’s Epcot – Review

2/7/2020 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • With so many fabulous table service restaurants in Disney World, it can be difficult to choose. While I have never personally been disappointed at any of the locations I’ve dined at, there are still a few my family has yet to try. We have a bucket list of restaurants that we haven’t dined at, and on each trip, we make sure to try at least 2 or 3 different restaurants. On our last family trip, we finally checked Rose and Crown off our dining bucket list. Nestled in the UK pavilion of Epcot, this family-friendly British pub boasts some truly delicious food. We were seated waterfront for our dinner. Had we chosen a later reservation it would have been the perfect spot to view the night show Epcot-Forever. Outside seating is covered, providing shade from the Florida sun, while inside looks like you’ve walked right into a traditional pub in […]

Epcot’s Newest Restaurant: Takumi Tei- Review

1/17/2020 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • From the moment you walk in Takumi-Tei, you will begin a culinary experience that rivals any at Walt Disney World. Here you are enlightened to Japanese culture through an amazing dining team and incredible artisan food. In this blog, I will tell you why I chose this new restaurant at Epcot to celebrate my birthday at Takumi-Tei. Takumi-Tei is Japanese for “house of artisan” and your entire dining experience is one that is truly that. You are greeted by the dining staff outside the restaurant door. Here you will be guided inside into a hallway with water, wood, earth, stone, and washi paper displayed. This is an intimate area where you are educated on the importance of each and how your dining is influenced by them. It’s important to note there is no waiting area inside. Once you walk in you are now part of the dining experience. You are […]

Walt Disney World’s Newest Dining Experience: Toledo Restaurant-Review

12/17/2019 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • On my most recent trip to Walt Disney World, I wanted to make it a trip of new experiences.  As a previous Walt Disney World Cast Member and frequent visitor, I enjoy seeing how they are always evolving. My next few series of blog posts are going to be all about these new experiences and if I would do it again! To start out my series I want to tell you all about this new hidden gem on the Walt Disney World property.  How many of you like amazing food and drink, a stunning but quiet atmosphere, with a view of the neighboring parks nighttime spectacular shows going off in the distance?  Oh, did I mention this restaurant is somehow only one dining credit on the Disney Dining Plan? I’d like to introduce you to Toledo one of the newest dining experiences on Disney property.  Toledo is located on the […]

Lightsaber Building at Savi’s Workshop-Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

12/6/2019 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • There are a lot of new things to see and do in Galaxy’s Edge, and while lightsaber building has been around for some time at the exit of Star Tours, the new Lightsaber building experience at Savi’s Workshop is completely different.  This experience will set each builder back approximately $199 “Credits” (as they’re referred to when paying for anything in Galaxy’s Edge) plus tax. Reservations are required and each builder can be accompanied by one additional adult or child. Like many reservations throughout the Disney Parks, there is also a 24-hour cancelation policy. If the reservation isn’t canceled before that time or if there is a no show, the full cost of the experience will be charged to the card you have on file.  I suggest arriving about 10 minutes early to check-in for your reservation. Once you have checked in, you will be given a menu that lists the […]

5 Reasons We Loved Our Private Fireworks Celebration Cruise

11/15/2019 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • We scheduled our Private Celebration Cruise to leave from the Contemporary Resort about 1 month before we went on vacation.  It was no problem to book and there seemed to be a good amount of availability. You’re able to book your cruise to leave from the Magic Kingdom Resorts to see the Happily Ever After fireworks or from the Boardwalk launch to see (at the time - June 2019) Illuminations.  We opted for Happily Ever After! We were a little bummed when we arrived as the day we booked was predicted to be thunderstorms all day but we got lucky as the skies parted and gave us a beautiful June night with a nice breeze. Note all the towels in the picture below which were put there due to the rain. There were so many things that made this worth our while, but here are the top 5 reasons I […]

Out of this World Dining at Oga’s Cantina

10/8/2019 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • Dining in Hollywood Studios' Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is something that is not to be missed! At Oga’s Cantina in the heart of Batuu- you can experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of the land! Dining reservations are highly recommended for Oga’s Cantina, but you can always inquire about walk-in seating. There is both a standing-room-only bar as well as some booths with seating along the periphery of the cantina. It’s hard to escape the upbeat atmosphere of Oga’s! With a deejay robot spinning the hits of the galactic airwaves- it’s hard not to get swept up into the excitement and energy of the cantina! And while the atmosphere alone is reason to visit Oga’s- I was pleasantly surprised by the food and drink I ordered! While looking at the menu- you will notice that there are a number of different options throughout the day- and several options for alcoholic […]

Face Painting at Walt Disney World {Review}

9/27/2019 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • On our family trips to Walt Disney World, we always try to add new activities to our itinerary and one thing my girls have always begged to do is face painting. I’ll admit, this is not something I was looking forward to spending my money on, but I was pleasantly surprised. At around $20+ per encounter, it is a bit pricey; however, it was such a fun experience. My girls chose to have their faces painted while at Animal Kingdom in the Pandora area. There was no wait when our girls arrived at the kiosk located near the Na’vi River Journey entrance, which was partly why we chose that particular location. There were 2 cast members working this location. There were a lot of styles to choose from including half face and entire face styles. One of my girls opted for a full face style and the other opted for […]

Restaurant Review: The Hollywood Brown Derby

8/6/2019 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • Hollywood Studios has always been one of my favorite Disney Parks, in part due to the nod to old Hollywood. It makes perfect sense that The Hollywood Brown Derby is my favorite restaurant in Hollywood Studios.  Walking into the lobby you will find a guest book filled with signatures, you might even find one from a Disney star or two. Once checked in, the host or hostess will take you to the dining room which is filled with that old Hollywood glamour. You will find caricatures of some familiar famous faces on the walls, rounded booths on the outside of the room, and tables in the center. This signature dining experience will cost you two table service credit at both lunch and dinner. This restaurant also offers a Fantasmic Dining package, which is a great way to get the best value for your 2 credits. With the Fantasmic Package, you […]