Resort Recon: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! If You Love The Poly, Don’t Miss This!

Easily the most beloved resort on Walt Disney World property, who, here, has stayed at the Polynesian Village Resort?  Let’s see “a show of hands” in the poll below!

After you’ve responded, please click on the picture, also below, to be taken to a phenomenal 360 degree video presented by Josh of ResortTV1!  That’s right, I said 360 degree video!

What’s that, you ask?  Well, Josh presents his leisurely stroll through the Poly and its beautiful grounds with special videography.  Watch on a computer, laptop, or smartphone so that you can scan around as if you are actually there!

That’s right!  It’s a 360 degree view!  Josh takes you to check out the Lava Pool.  Catch its towering volcano, waterfall, and thrilling 142 foot-long waterslide!

See Seven Seas Lagoon as well as the Polynesian’s view of the Magic Kingdom, Cinderella Castle, the Grand Floridian Resort, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort!

Catch all of that and more as you walk with ResortTV1!  Then, come back to their YouTube channel tonight at 6 PM Eastern as Josh and Jenna present this week’s LIVE stream from the parks!

Hurricane Hanna’s … Again?! Hey! When It’s Good, It’s Good!

If you’ve learned anything about Mrs. All in WDW and I over the last (almost) six years, when we find something (or somewhere) we like, we tend to visit time and time again.

Don’t believe me?  Type Laguna Bar in the search box at the top of the page.  At one point, I was even the “Mayor” of Laguna Bar on FourSquare.  My name is still all over their FourSquare page!

Anyway, for us, Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill fits into Laguna’s “mold”.  We love the place so much, we visit often.  Why?  Easy.  Friendly bartenders, great food, and a beautiful view!

Nestled safely between the boardwalk and beach of Crescent Lake and the Beach & Yacht Club Resorts’ Stormalong Bay, Hanna is a fantastic spot to sit back and relax.

And, I did mention the food, didn’t I?  Delicious!  Let’s take a look …

A different recipe than in day’s past, Hurricane’s Seared Tuna is, now, served with an Asian slaw and a citrus soy glaze.  Mrs. All in WDW and I shared it as a refreshing starter.  Very satisfying.

Another option is their House-Made Popcorn Shrimp.  With a trio of dipping sauces, the presentation is quite unique and, although they look a bit on the crispy side, the shrimp tasted great!

If you’re going to nibble on apps, you have to toss in some of Hanna’s House Chips.  Crispy, and like everything else, very shareable.  Hey!  They serve a pretty generous portion for a mere $3!

Finally, all of those appetizers – spread out over several hours, I must add – led us to split a Grilled Chicken Sandwich.  Served on a pretzel roll with smoked cheddar and spicy mustard, we loved it!

Having said all of that, although the food is great, it isn’t the cuisine that keeps bringing us back to Hurricane Hanna’s.  My friends, it is the people (the staff) and the setting (Crescent Lake).

One of WDW’s best outdoor bars, we can’t recommend Hanna highly enough.  The bartenders keep it fun.  You can’t possibly get enough of the views.  Two thumbs up from both of us, folks.  Visit sometime soon!

Let the Ranting Begin! Episode 482 – Our Sunday News!

Hello, folks!  Pull up your WDW Main Street Podcast bar stool and join John and Doug as they discuss all of the latest news from around Walt Disney World!

How upset are the guys about the news that Spaceship Earth will be closing for over two years?  #rantingmeansratings

How happy are they that Tom Sawyer Island reopens without any major changes?  Do they wish that WDW would just overhaul the whole thing and make it something new?

Grab yourself a cold beverage, sit back, relax, and watch the “fur” fly!  Hey!  Enjoy this … Episode 482 – Our Sunday News! … action-packed episode, everyone!

The Demise of DinoLand U.S.A.?

Well, I know one thing for sure.  When it comes to DinoLand U.S.A., we do not want to “Leave it Alone”!  In fact, like the WDW Main Street Podcast crew, almost 40% of us want to “Eliminate” it entirely!

In total, over 90% of our respondents want to, at the very least, “Rehabilitate” this themed land.  A bit of a stunning result, this fact will disappoint some.  Notably, those that posted comments such as …

‘It’s fine.  Leave it alone!’  Or, ‘My kids love The Boneyard and Primeval Whirl.  When they were younger, they also liked TriceraTop Spin.’  And, ‘Leave it be for the kids!’  Finally, ‘We love DinoLand!  Yes, it is tacky, but The Boneyard and TriceraTop Spin are perfect for little kids and Primeval Whirl is a family favorite.’

Of course, there was this counterpoint … ‘To everyone saying to leave it because their kids love it, do you think kids wouldn’t love something well themed?  Storybook Circus in Fantasyland is really well done, and, I assume, beloved by small children.’  An honest question, I would say.

Other Dino fans quoted the land’s backstory … ‘I didn’t like it until I read the backstory. Now, I think it’s cute. I’d be sad to see it go away!’ And, ‘If they made the backstory more obvious, I can see how it would be more appealing.’

What is that backstory, you ask?  Check out this link.  It’s an interesting read!

In spite of this tale, however, much of your feedback took a different tone …

‘Eliminate. Unless they could rehabilitate it into something less nightmarishly garish and tacky.’

‘Eliminate.  Do something with Tarzan, Up, Dalmations, or Pocahontas.’

‘Eliminate!  The least Disney part of any Disney Park.  Don’t hate it, but it just seems so out of place with the vibe of Disney and specifically the Animal Kingdom.’

‘I’ve always thought they should have an Australia section in the Animal Kingdom.  Think of all the unique animals they have there.  DinoLand should go.  It doesn’t really fit in.’

‘I’ll be honest … I really despise this area.  I was just forced to be in it yesterday.  It is just not Disney to me.  I’m OK with kiddy rides, but the theming is awful.’

‘Eliminate.  Too much space for cheap rides.  I know they are supposed to be cheap.  I know the story.  I just think it could be better used.’

‘I feel like it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the park.  The whole Dino area, including Dinosaur, seems old and out-dated.’

‘I don’t make the connection.  It’s like an old-school carnival.  Maybe keep Dinosaur but not that whole area.’

‘Lose the old-school carnival theme, and make it more of a serious dinosaur exhibit area.’

‘It’s cute, but I never thought it fit at WDW.  It’s like a carnival.  Walt hated carnivals.  He wanted his parks to be the opposite of carnivals.’

‘Get rid of it.  Why would any of this be sacred … given Disney’s penchant for doing away with beloved rides.’

‘Eliminate.  As a first timer, I was stunned to see carny rides at Walt Disney World.  I didn’t pay a ton of cash for my son to play in a carnival.  He can do that at any of the carnivals over the summer … here at home!’

Well, there you have it, folks.  Once again, you have spoken.  Eliminate or rehabilitate … it really doesn’t matter.  In its current form, DinoLand U.S.A. doesn’t pass your approval.  What replaces it? Only time will tell!  Hey!  It’s gotta be next on Disney’s hit list, no?

Rehabilitate? Or, Eliminate? – DinoLand U.S.A.

Home to a cast of attractions such as DINOSAUR, Finding Nemo: The Musical, Primeval Whirl, and TriceraTop Spin, rumors of DinoLand U.S.A.’s demise pop up all of the time (it seems).

What do you think, folks?  If it were gone, would you miss this themed land?  Better yet, let’s get creative!  Allow me to resurrect a popular All in WDW feature – Rehabilitate? Or, Eliminate?!

What’s this all about you ask?  Well, open up your imaginations, because it goes something like …

Welcome to the The Walt Disney Company!  I hope you’re enjoying your “career” in Disney’s design and development division – Walt Disney Imagineering!

As you know, WDI is responsible for the creation and construction of Disney theme parks worldwide, and we need your help!  Tap into your creativity.  Imagine that you’re an … Imagineer!  Yes!  In fact, in today’s case, you’re a “re-imagineer”!

DinoLand U.S.A.!  Should we rehabilitate?  Leave the theme alone, but give it a bit of a facelift, maybe?  Should we eliminate?  Replace it with new themes and attractions altogether?  Or, should we simply leave it completely alone?

Your task, today, is a two-part job.  First, what’s your vote?  Second, if you want to rehabilitate, what do you suggest we do?  If you want to eliminate, what should take its place?  What’s your “Project Plan”?

Leave your comments on this post, on Facebook, or on Twitter, my friends!  This is what we do.  It’s Imagineering.  It’s “Re-Imagineering”!  We need your help!  Now, get to work!