JeffJewell
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2000
...at WDW last week. I know this is off-topic for this board, but I believe that the people who are most likely to have any interest at all in things I have to say are all here, and I respectfully request the indulgence of the moderators.
Top Ten highlights of the Jewell familys 12/1/01-12/9/01 WDW vacation
10. Bomas breakfast buffet: Since Spoodles buffet has gone the way the dodo, this is the best breakfast spread in WDW. There is plenty to satisfy the non-adventurous eater, yet more variety than anywhere else. The family wants me to be sure to mention the Crystal Palace in the same breath as Boma more traditional fare (still more interesting than your average Shoneys breakfast bar), but great fun with the characters.
9. The photographers that accost you upon entry to the parks: There are several reasons I normally pooh-pooh those photographers, but one of the main reasons for this trip was to get family photographs. I guess the stars were all in alignment: every single one of these things turned out perfectly, with sixteen eyes open and eight huge smiles. Each of the photographers wisely snapped two images so we could pick the better of the two when the time came, but each time we ended up buying prints of both, simply because they all turned out so well (of course, the MVMCP photo, of which they only took one, didnt turn out so well. Que sera, I guess ).
8. Restaurant Marrakech (and the Morocco Pavilion in general): Ive made the point many times that I believe Disney Magic to be found in the details, and nowhere in WDW are the details quite so detailed as in the Morocco Pavilion. The handcrafted tile- and wood-work leave me flabbergasted every time I see them. Lunch was very good, but for us, the building itself was the biggest attraction. I suspect I looked quite the fool, wandering around the place taking pictures of walls and ceilings and moldings, what with the complete lack of Kodak Picture Spot signs located inside the buildings...
7. The food at Spoodles: Staying at the Boardwalk, we ended up eating at Spoodles twice for breakfast and once for dinner. I specify the food here because the service was uniformly terrible all three trips (well, I suppose thats not entirely fair at dinner, a big chunk of the problem could be blamed on the kitchen. With several former restaurant people at the table, we understand those things. But the guy didnt go very far out of his way towards guest recovery after the problems [I wonder how much effect the gratuity automatically added to parties of 8 or more bit had on his decision-making process]).
6. Roller Coasters: Some readers will be surprised to learn that I have my own homerish tendencies with some things WDW; in particular, Space Mountain is just the coolest roller coaster ever. Every time I ride it, it seems faster and just plain more fun. Big Thunder Mountain is probably the most well-themed coaster Ive ever been on. And last but definitely not least, the Rock n Roller Coaster was enjoyed by all (yes, my 84 year old grandmother traded in the wheel chair for the super-stretch limo, to the delight of the CMs, it seemed. She laughed hysterically the whole ride [I was worried just for a moment until I was positive it was laughing], and when we pulled into the unload area she wondered out loud: Is that all? Oh, good heavens! You go, girl).
5. Candlelight Processional: Beautiful and moving. My family had an initial lukewarm reaction to Wayne Brady as narrator, but after the show, my mother specifically mentioned that she had a new respect for him (I can see where one might not consider Mr. Brady, best known for his prime time television buffoonery, to be the most appropriate celebrity to host such a solemn event. After the show, I can safely say he was entirely appropriate). If, like me, you're the type of person whom music grabs by the spine and by the lungs, this show will bring tears.
4. Festival of the Lion King: The best permanent show on Disney property. There was a thread recently in which I seem to remember some folks suggesting that the Lion King movie might not fall into the classic category, and that some of that had to do with the music and the way that music fit into the story. I wont take issue with the stop the plot while we sing nature of the whole thing, but Circle of Life is simply an incredibly uplifting and inspirational song. My problem with the Lion King music is that WDW seems intent on overplaying it (Festival of the Lion King in AK, Legend of the Lion King in MK and the movie in the Land Pavilion at FutureWorld [perhaps called simply Circle of Life? Slips my mind, at the moment] all rely heavily on that song to supply an emotional connection to the attraction).
3. Artist Point: Despite the fact that I personally preferred Jiko, the family has spoken: Artist Point was the best dinner we had at WDW.
2. Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party: We went on Sunday the 2nd, and the crowds seemed light, particularly compared to what Id come to expect based on the number of complaints about last years Parties being packed. We picked a school night for just that reason. Ill be interested to read what folks thought who attended Friday night the 7th: there were signs all over that it was completely sold out that night.
1. IllumiNations Cruise: IllumiNations is Suzys very favorite thing about WDW. Historically, our schedule has always included about a three-hour camp-out session in the San Angel Cantina so that we can sit down comfortably with a decent view during the show. I knew wed have more to do than time to do it in this trip, and decided that 120 bucks was a decent value for being able to use those camp-out hours elsewhere. It was far better than a decent value: Captain Mike was exactly the right flavor of manic to fit in with my family, and even the weather conspired to keep the smoke everywhere out of our view. Absolutely perfect. Each and every family member possessing the necessary vocabulary mentioned the cruise as the best part of the trip.
Jeff
Top Ten highlights of the Jewell familys 12/1/01-12/9/01 WDW vacation
10. Bomas breakfast buffet: Since Spoodles buffet has gone the way the dodo, this is the best breakfast spread in WDW. There is plenty to satisfy the non-adventurous eater, yet more variety than anywhere else. The family wants me to be sure to mention the Crystal Palace in the same breath as Boma more traditional fare (still more interesting than your average Shoneys breakfast bar), but great fun with the characters.
9. The photographers that accost you upon entry to the parks: There are several reasons I normally pooh-pooh those photographers, but one of the main reasons for this trip was to get family photographs. I guess the stars were all in alignment: every single one of these things turned out perfectly, with sixteen eyes open and eight huge smiles. Each of the photographers wisely snapped two images so we could pick the better of the two when the time came, but each time we ended up buying prints of both, simply because they all turned out so well (of course, the MVMCP photo, of which they only took one, didnt turn out so well. Que sera, I guess ).
8. Restaurant Marrakech (and the Morocco Pavilion in general): Ive made the point many times that I believe Disney Magic to be found in the details, and nowhere in WDW are the details quite so detailed as in the Morocco Pavilion. The handcrafted tile- and wood-work leave me flabbergasted every time I see them. Lunch was very good, but for us, the building itself was the biggest attraction. I suspect I looked quite the fool, wandering around the place taking pictures of walls and ceilings and moldings, what with the complete lack of Kodak Picture Spot signs located inside the buildings...
7. The food at Spoodles: Staying at the Boardwalk, we ended up eating at Spoodles twice for breakfast and once for dinner. I specify the food here because the service was uniformly terrible all three trips (well, I suppose thats not entirely fair at dinner, a big chunk of the problem could be blamed on the kitchen. With several former restaurant people at the table, we understand those things. But the guy didnt go very far out of his way towards guest recovery after the problems [I wonder how much effect the gratuity automatically added to parties of 8 or more bit had on his decision-making process]).
6. Roller Coasters: Some readers will be surprised to learn that I have my own homerish tendencies with some things WDW; in particular, Space Mountain is just the coolest roller coaster ever. Every time I ride it, it seems faster and just plain more fun. Big Thunder Mountain is probably the most well-themed coaster Ive ever been on. And last but definitely not least, the Rock n Roller Coaster was enjoyed by all (yes, my 84 year old grandmother traded in the wheel chair for the super-stretch limo, to the delight of the CMs, it seemed. She laughed hysterically the whole ride [I was worried just for a moment until I was positive it was laughing], and when we pulled into the unload area she wondered out loud: Is that all? Oh, good heavens! You go, girl).
5. Candlelight Processional: Beautiful and moving. My family had an initial lukewarm reaction to Wayne Brady as narrator, but after the show, my mother specifically mentioned that she had a new respect for him (I can see where one might not consider Mr. Brady, best known for his prime time television buffoonery, to be the most appropriate celebrity to host such a solemn event. After the show, I can safely say he was entirely appropriate). If, like me, you're the type of person whom music grabs by the spine and by the lungs, this show will bring tears.
4. Festival of the Lion King: The best permanent show on Disney property. There was a thread recently in which I seem to remember some folks suggesting that the Lion King movie might not fall into the classic category, and that some of that had to do with the music and the way that music fit into the story. I wont take issue with the stop the plot while we sing nature of the whole thing, but Circle of Life is simply an incredibly uplifting and inspirational song. My problem with the Lion King music is that WDW seems intent on overplaying it (Festival of the Lion King in AK, Legend of the Lion King in MK and the movie in the Land Pavilion at FutureWorld [perhaps called simply Circle of Life? Slips my mind, at the moment] all rely heavily on that song to supply an emotional connection to the attraction).
3. Artist Point: Despite the fact that I personally preferred Jiko, the family has spoken: Artist Point was the best dinner we had at WDW.
2. Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party: We went on Sunday the 2nd, and the crowds seemed light, particularly compared to what Id come to expect based on the number of complaints about last years Parties being packed. We picked a school night for just that reason. Ill be interested to read what folks thought who attended Friday night the 7th: there were signs all over that it was completely sold out that night.
1. IllumiNations Cruise: IllumiNations is Suzys very favorite thing about WDW. Historically, our schedule has always included about a three-hour camp-out session in the San Angel Cantina so that we can sit down comfortably with a decent view during the show. I knew wed have more to do than time to do it in this trip, and decided that 120 bucks was a decent value for being able to use those camp-out hours elsewhere. It was far better than a decent value: Captain Mike was exactly the right flavor of manic to fit in with my family, and even the weather conspired to keep the smoke everywhere out of our view. Absolutely perfect. Each and every family member possessing the necessary vocabulary mentioned the cruise as the best part of the trip.
Jeff
