Video Posted: Broke Splash Mountain in 1080p HD

Splash Mountain is one of the best rides in Disney World.  Sadly it's currently in possibly the worst shape in it's history. Many of the animatronics are broken, many of the water effects are out of order,  some of the lighting effects are not working, and it's in need of a paint job.

In the video you can see HERE I try to point out some of the glaring issues.  In time Disney will bring down Splash Mountain for a much needed rehab. You won't see it this year because Big Thunder is going down for a rehab.  You might see it in the winter of 2013 once a good chunk of the Fantasy Land expansion is open.

New Video: The Ziti Sisters in 1080p

All over Disney World you will find entertainment in the strangest of places.  For example over at the Italy Pavilion you will find the Ziti Sisters.  A troupe of goofy ladies who love to interact with the crowd.

I'd never seen the Ziti Sisters before so I had no idea what to expect.  They really are a funny troupe that manage to entertain everyone.

You can see a video of the Ziti Sisters here.

Dining Review: Yak and Yeti

My original review of Yak and Yeti, "Yak Yack and Yeti" was one of my harshest dining reviews.  I have to be honest though Yak and Yeti earned that awful review.  In fact it could have done so again if I hadn't changed up what I ordered.

The atmosphere at Yak and Yeti isn't bad.  It's above your average restaurant but it's a little lacking when compared to Disney standards.  The atmosphere is created by the use of a lot of Asian themed decorations and a somewhat open central atrium.  The problem with the atmosphere lies in the restaurant layout.  I just always feel like the tables are packed it.  In some ways it feels like a run of the mill restaurant.  I can't explain why I get this feeling.  There is just something inside that building that under whelms me.

I do know one thing that might ruin the atmosphere for me.  The small advertisements for Yak and Yeti's parent company blow the theme for me.  You just don't find this in a Disney restaurant.  If you do not know what I am talking about, Yak and Yeti is not owned by Disney.  Yak and Yeti is owned by the same company that owns the Rainforest Cafe and the T-Rex restaurant.

The service at Yak and Yeti was average for a Disney restaurant.  It wasn't amazing but the cast member was friendly enough. Our food was delivered quickly and the cast member checked in a few times to make sure everything was good.

The food at Yak and Yeti was better than last time but that's not saying all that much.  One thing that really stands out is are the fried green beans.  These are amazing.  I could eat these with every meal.  However, AVOID the pot stickers they are chewy and rubbery.  Not good at all.

When it comes to your main course avoid the duck at all costs.  Also avoid the ribs because they are a total disappointment.  The wok items are not bad.  I got the honey chicken and it was decent.  One problem with it was the fact that I couldn't help but think I could easily get it at home for less and it would also be better.

When it comes to desert Yak and Yeti hits a home run with the fried wantons.  I know they are such a simple food but they are really good.

One are where Yak and Yeti really excels is it's drinks.  Yak and Yeti has the best frozen drinks in Disney World.  The Yak Attack is one that really stands out.

If you want to have an amazing experience at Yak and Yeti do the following: Have an app of fried green beans, skip the main course, have some fried won tons, and order a drink.  You'll spend a lot less and have a better experience. 

New Video Posted - The Seas Lockout Tank

From another overlooked corner of the "World" comes the lockout tank at the Seas pavilion.  I would love to try this sometime but I get the feeling that really isn't going to happen.

This reminds me of the good old days before Nemo stuck his tail into the seas.  Back then the theming at the seas was top notch.  They really tried to convince you that you were going far below the ocean surface.

You can see the video here.

Dining Review: Biergarten

Biergarten is the restaurant located in the Germany Pavilion in Epcot.  For years I avoided this location.  I thought it was going to be a bunch of sausages and mediocre food.

To be honest my opinion may have never changed if not for Disney podcasts.  I listen to about seven different Disney podcasts.  Time and time again I heard how good Biergarten was.  In particular WDW Today really had a positive opinion of this location.

When I made our ADR my wife thought I was nuts but I assured her it had positive reviews.  After saying this I couldn't help but hold my breath and hope it didn't end up being a total mess. 

When we first entered Biergarten our waiter explained that it was tradition to sit with people you didn't know.  This seems like an ok idea when it works.  In our case it didn't really work.  We were seated with a another party that didn't speak or understand English.  They didn't know Spanish either so we didn't really have any way beyond gestures to communicate with them.

As we were brought to our table something hit us.  

Biergarten is one of the best, if not the best, themed restaurant in Walt Disney World.  Like the Mexico Pavilion you in the blink of an eye you are transported to night time.   In this case an outdoor banquet hall in Germany in the fall.  The detail level is amazing.  Click on the picture on the right and check out the details.  There are going to be a number of additional photos to expand on some of the cool details.  I'll be honest I was blown away because after all of the times I have been to Disney World I didn't think there could be such a detailed corner that I had not seen.  It just goes to show that no matter how many times you go to Disney World there will always be something new to experience.  Experiences like this make me excited to go back again and find another hidden gem.  They are out there.  Just being open to new experiences can lead you to a some amazing memories.

  

Here is a close up of a fall tree and a water wheel that could be overlooked.   It's just another example of how the imagineers go above and beyond when they design something.

In the corner you can find a full moon.  It's a really nice touch and I'm not 100% sure how they pull it off.  I don't know if it's an illuminated painting or a projection.

Now for the food.  I low expectations for the food.  After all I'd never really heard good things about German cuisine.  I honestly thought Germany mastered the art of beer making because bad food taste better after enough beer.  I now know that I was not only an idiot for believing that but I was completely pig headed.  The food at Biergarten is not just good it's great. 

Sure there are some sausages but there is a ton of other options too.  Oh and I should mention, the sausages are awesome.  To explain how good the food is I have to make some comparisons.  I have been to a bunch of buffets in Disney World.  I have been to Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Tusker House, and Akershus.  Biergarten beats all of them hands down.  Yes the food is that good.

Now when you go to Germany you have to do what the Germans do.  You need to drink beer! Now Biergarten has some of the best beers you will find in Disney World bet there is something else that  makes the beers special.  You can get them in liters.  Yes a one liter sized beer as seen in this picture.  When the beers came all I could think of was the scene in the Lord of the Rings when one of the hobits comes back to the table with a pint sized beer causing one of the others to say "It comes in pints!?!"  That is how I felt as I lifted my beer.  Best of all you burn calories with a beer like this.  Just picking it up is like doing a bicep curl.  If take small sips you'll need to change arms before you are done.  So now you have an excuse to order a beer bigger than your head.  You need the exercise!

Next the service.  The service was top notch.  In fact it was the best service I'd ever received at a buffet.  Our waiter was very friendly and attentive.  I also tested him right off the bat.  I tested him on the beers on the menu.  I wanted to order the most bitter beer they had.  I like a good IPA so I wanted something close.  He hit the nail on the head.  We also asked him about the lightest beer because one of the members of our party didn't really like beer but we threatened to disown her if she didn't order one.  He did a good job with that too.  Overall he did an amazing job.

Unlike most restaurant reviews I have to add another section to this review, the entertainment. Yes Biergarten offers some entertainment.

The entertainment consists of a ompa band.  It's fun music and fits right into the theming but they really go beyond just playing some music.  They really do entertain.  There is one part where the tuba player goes out and scares people who are not paying attention, another part where they play an Alps Horn, and a fun part when one of the members plays the bells at an insanely fast pace. Click here to see the tuba guy scare people and click here to see the fastest bell player in the "World."  Overall the entertainment is really fun and almost everyone will enjoy it.

The end result is Biergarten is one of the best restaurants in Disney World and I don't say that lightly.  For what you pay it's hard to find a better dining deal in all of Disney World.  The food is great, the service is great, the theming is amazing, and the entertainment is fun.  Biergarten is truly a hidden gem.

Review of Star Tours the Adventure Continues

Star Tours the Adventure Continues was one of the most hyped overhauls that I can remember.  In most cases when something is so hyped it falls short of expectations.  Does the new Star Tours fall short?

Overall Star Tours does meet the hype but lets break this review into some pros and cons.

Pros

3D - the 3D is t he best 3D I've ever seen.  Normally I'm not a fan of 3D.
Glasses - The glasses are not your standard 3D glasses and they seem to fit better.
Multiple Stories - The mix of ride scenes is great and keeps the ride fresh.
New Queue - The new queue has some really nice features.
Use of visitors in the ride - Having one of the visitors being the spy is a really nice touch.

Cons

Motion Sickness - If you have a problem with the old, you will have a problem with the new one.  My wife got really sick.
Potential of seeing the same thing twice - I rode three times.  Two of the rides were almost identical.  That was a bummer.
Non-Star Wars fans would miss a lot - If you are not a fan of the movies there are a ton of details that you would miss.  If you are not a fan this is basically just a 3D motion simulator.

Overall the new Star Tours is a great overhaul and should stand the test of time.

New Video Posted: Illuminations Globe Up Close

If you have never seen the Illuminations globe enter the lake check this video out. 

I'd never really given it much thought before.  To get the globe in they raise one of the bridges near the Africa trading post.  This surprised be because I've crossed this bridge many times over the years and never realized that this was a drawbridge.

The globe itself is rather impressive.  I can't imagine how many hours of engineering went into it.  It also looks like it could be a monster to try and fix. 

You can see the video here.

Dining Review: LIberty Tree Tavern

The Magic Kingdom is not known for it's quality dining.  The Crystal Palace is an overrated buffet, Cinderella's Castle is an over priced joke of a meal, and Tony's is...Tony's.

If you do not want quick service food what are you going to do?

Go to the Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch.

The Liberty Tree Tavern offers the best menu in the Magic Kingdom.   If you are a meat and potatoes kind of person you will love the menu.  From a classic turkey dinner to pot roast this dining location has it.

For an app we ordered the fried cheese.  This is beyond just your typical fried cheese sticks.  There are some great cheese balls with them.  The marinara sauce is nothing to write home about.  If I had to guess it's out a jar and just warmed up.

For my main course I got the turkey. In the past I'd gotten the pot roast so I wanted to try something new.  The turkey wasn't bad but it seemed like it was sliced in advanced.  In fact everything about the meal seemed prepared in advance.  Nothing seemed like it was cooked to order.  The gravy seemed like it was out box or jar and had a fake consistency.  The potatoes were almost certainly out of a box.

Now all of the prepared in advance food might sound bad but the food tasted good.  Everything was enjoyable.  I couldn't complain about anything.

For desert I got the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake.  I don't know if this was made in advance or not.  It was awesome.  This cake is just dangerous. It's one of the best deserts I had on my entire trip and I hit 16 different dining locations.

The atmosphere in the Liberty Tree Tavern is great.  Between the dark wood and rustic colonial decor it really makes you feel like you stepped out of the Magic Kingdom and into a colonial kitchen / dining room.  The layout isn't bad either.  The only odd thing is the location of the restrooms.  They are up above the restaurant.  To get there you have to climb a flight of stairs, take a left, take another left, go up some stairs and you are there.  It's just a strange location.

The service in the Liberty Tree Tavern was also very good.  The cast member who waited on us was very friendly and attentive.  If all cast members were like this it would be a blessing.

My only complaint about the Liberty Tree Tavern is an odd one.  This complaint also applies to a bunch of the dining locations in Disney World.  They go through great pains to theme a location.  Between the decor and the way they cast members are dressed Disney goes all out.  The only problem is they have someone walking around with with a table logging tablet.  When you are supposed to be in colonial America it kind of blows the theming to have someone walk around with a portable computer.

Overall the Liberty Tree Tavern is the best table dining location in the Magic Kingdom.  If you want a sit down meal make sure to hit the lunch here.  Beware of the dinner you can't order off of the menu at dinner.

New Video Posted: Glass Working at the Mexico Pavilion

Another underrated tidbit you can find it Disney is the glass worker at Mexico.  In this case she is making a glass rose. 

It's a good thing they do this inside where it's air conditioned because the process is insanely hot. You can feel the heat right through the shield in front of you.

You can see the video here.

Photo of the Week: Big Thunder Mountain

It's hard to find a ride as old as Big Thunder with theming as good as Big Thunder.  It gets even better when everything is running like all of the water effects.  Sadly right now Big Thunder is in tough shape.  The good news is Big Thunder is going down for a full refurb.  WOOOOO!

New Video Posted: Fountain of Nations at Night

The Fountain of Nations is one of the most underrated things in Disney World.  There are multiple shows set to a number of different music tracks.

Everyone has heard of the fountain shows in Vegas.  Lots of people line up to see them.  People don't realize that the Fountain of Nations show started years before the shows in Vegas.

Next time you are in Epcot stop and check them out.

You can see the video here.

New Video Posted: Citizens of Hollywood - Chef Pulls Table Cloths

The Citizens of Hollywood are a troop found at Disney Hollywood Studios.  They do a number of random shows throughout the day.  All the ones I've seen before have been slapstick.  While this one has some funny moments the ending was totally unexpected.

You can see the video here.