Well guys we have just returned after being away for nearly 5 weeks and our quest for the west was the middle week.
The itinerarys have not changed so I thought we would add our comments for people to read and take on board or not as the case may be.
This is our 2nd trip last year was costa rica. Both were fabulous and the guides are a credit to Disney. The trips were very different but not for the obvious reasons like scenery and language, but the levels of service and the general treatment.
It felt to us that the quest for the west was very much a coach tour (apart from brooks lodge) the hotels treated us as such.
We arrived early at the wort and also paid the hotel to upgrade to a suite as we wanted more space for our whole stay. So I cannot comment on the regular rooms but the hotel restaurant service and food (silver dollar) was excellent and we ate there from choice twice.
However when the tour started we were disappointed - the tour food was less than average. Despite the booklet telling us on arrival that breakfast was to be served in the restaurant we were told on our first night it was in the function room each day. This function room was freezing cold, had no windows, no decor, one grumpy waiter, muffins cut in half, no fresh fruit, no yoghurt or healthy cereal like museili. Ughhhh....
It felt very much low end coach tour fayre (we are ex hoteliers so we know the difference and when someone is cutting costs!! - this was one such occasion) To eat in that room each day with no character or warmth did not add to the disney experience.
The arrival dinner was fine and the food definately adult fayre - salad, roasted greek style vegetables and dauphoise potatoes with either steak or salmon. Luckily my son had the one childs meal offered - hot dog, because all the others that ordered steak expecing child friendly starch or vegetables were dissapointed - most just ate protein that night. It doesn't take anything to offer a few fries??
The next hotel we had been warned was "national park" we were pleasantly surprised by the hotel and again don't be fooled, the hotel rooms are fine - we just got the tour rooms!!- ground floor, no view and no breeze (some were lucky enough to be the other side) Be assured you will need to use the small fan in the wardrobe. The rooms have a tiny window and they get very hot. We did not sleep particularly well on those nights due to this. Again dinner in a characterless function room - food was however much better and staff more attentive.
Brooks lodge is another world and took us back to our costa rica treatment.... excellent. They made us feel like they wanted and needed the business and wanted us back. This was a little peice of heaven. We were lucky enought to have a cabin which completed our experience. The food is to die for and the girls in the spa are to highly recommended - my massage was superb.
The other venue, playhouse, picnics etc were great. To be honest Disney trips are not cheap and we were maybe spoiled when we went to Costa Rica because we never felt like a coach tour more like fellow travellers on a unique experience. On this trip even when we went to dinner at old faithful, disney guides booked us the table - the table seater said - "disney tour" and we were paying for this meal ourselves!! It just says it all. This also makes it sound like we are against tours we are not but this is not priced at that level - it is priced at the notch above and that is why we book it.
It sounds like we did not have a great time - trust me we did and the group of people were awesome... we truly had a ball. The activities and scenery were just amazing and our 6 year old had the time of his life. He dressed as a cowboy most days and gave the whole group a great laugh.
Its just that last year we thought it was worth every penny and that disney tours could not be beaten, I have raved about the experience to anyone who would listen.
To be honest this year following this experience I will be a little more reserved with my praise. I would have said we could have done it alot cheaper and nicer. I appreciate that we wold not have had the fun without Camerons companions and that is why we will probably use Disney again, however disney need to realise that once they start changing the little things and cutting corners - people will notice. It is those little things that people like us pay the extra dollars for.
Brooks lodge I cannor rate highly enough Adam and his team were great. One thing mosquitos are the size of birds and in two weeks its horse flies so take strong repellant - also long sleve clothes becuase you will not wish to be outside without them.
I am happy to answer any specific questions on itinerary and pre and post days
The itinerarys have not changed so I thought we would add our comments for people to read and take on board or not as the case may be.
This is our 2nd trip last year was costa rica. Both were fabulous and the guides are a credit to Disney. The trips were very different but not for the obvious reasons like scenery and language, but the levels of service and the general treatment.
It felt to us that the quest for the west was very much a coach tour (apart from brooks lodge) the hotels treated us as such.
We arrived early at the wort and also paid the hotel to upgrade to a suite as we wanted more space for our whole stay. So I cannot comment on the regular rooms but the hotel restaurant service and food (silver dollar) was excellent and we ate there from choice twice.
However when the tour started we were disappointed - the tour food was less than average. Despite the booklet telling us on arrival that breakfast was to be served in the restaurant we were told on our first night it was in the function room each day. This function room was freezing cold, had no windows, no decor, one grumpy waiter, muffins cut in half, no fresh fruit, no yoghurt or healthy cereal like museili. Ughhhh....
It felt very much low end coach tour fayre (we are ex hoteliers so we know the difference and when someone is cutting costs!! - this was one such occasion) To eat in that room each day with no character or warmth did not add to the disney experience.
The arrival dinner was fine and the food definately adult fayre - salad, roasted greek style vegetables and dauphoise potatoes with either steak or salmon. Luckily my son had the one childs meal offered - hot dog, because all the others that ordered steak expecing child friendly starch or vegetables were dissapointed - most just ate protein that night. It doesn't take anything to offer a few fries??
The next hotel we had been warned was "national park" we were pleasantly surprised by the hotel and again don't be fooled, the hotel rooms are fine - we just got the tour rooms!!- ground floor, no view and no breeze (some were lucky enough to be the other side) Be assured you will need to use the small fan in the wardrobe. The rooms have a tiny window and they get very hot. We did not sleep particularly well on those nights due to this. Again dinner in a characterless function room - food was however much better and staff more attentive.
Brooks lodge is another world and took us back to our costa rica treatment.... excellent. They made us feel like they wanted and needed the business and wanted us back. This was a little peice of heaven. We were lucky enought to have a cabin which completed our experience. The food is to die for and the girls in the spa are to highly recommended - my massage was superb.
The other venue, playhouse, picnics etc were great. To be honest Disney trips are not cheap and we were maybe spoiled when we went to Costa Rica because we never felt like a coach tour more like fellow travellers on a unique experience. On this trip even when we went to dinner at old faithful, disney guides booked us the table - the table seater said - "disney tour" and we were paying for this meal ourselves!! It just says it all. This also makes it sound like we are against tours we are not but this is not priced at that level - it is priced at the notch above and that is why we book it.
It sounds like we did not have a great time - trust me we did and the group of people were awesome... we truly had a ball. The activities and scenery were just amazing and our 6 year old had the time of his life. He dressed as a cowboy most days and gave the whole group a great laugh.
Its just that last year we thought it was worth every penny and that disney tours could not be beaten, I have raved about the experience to anyone who would listen.
To be honest this year following this experience I will be a little more reserved with my praise. I would have said we could have done it alot cheaper and nicer. I appreciate that we wold not have had the fun without Camerons companions and that is why we will probably use Disney again, however disney need to realise that once they start changing the little things and cutting corners - people will notice. It is those little things that people like us pay the extra dollars for.
Brooks lodge I cannor rate highly enough Adam and his team were great. One thing mosquitos are the size of birds and in two weeks its horse flies so take strong repellant - also long sleve clothes becuase you will not wish to be outside without them.
I am happy to answer any specific questions on itinerary and pre and post days
) and it is MORE THAN DOUBLE the ABD price. 
