Let the memories (of our May 2011 trip) begin! *UPDATED SEPT. 18th- LINK to NEW TR!*

[Queila]

INTRO

Bonjour and welcome to my trip report.



My name is Queila and I am 33 years old. I work part time as a dental hygienist and I live in the suburbs of Montreal with my husband Joey and my three year old daughter Beatriz.

I was born and raised in Brazil but moved to Canada in 2001 to be with my italo-canadian husband. Brazil is hot and Canada is cold. If you ask me the perfect compromise would be to live in Florida. Preferably not more than a two hour drive to WDW.

Is that too much to ask??

This is our third trip as a family of three.

We brought Beatriz to Disney for the first time when she was 14 months old and then again when she was two and a half and now at three and a half.

Each trip has been very different from the other and while in some aspects things get easier as she gets older in others things get more challenging.

I have written a TR for our May 2010 trip followed by a short PTR so in case you are interested you can click here.

Our trip was from May 12th to May 19th 2011 and we stayed at the Pop Century Resort with a standard Disney Dining Plan.

I hope you stick around and participate with comments!

Q

*******************************************************

Day 1- Thursday- May 12th 2011- Disney, here we go!!!
Day 1 -Thursday- May 12th 2011- Arrival at Pop Century.
Day 1- Thursday- May 12th 2011- Off to Magic Kingdom and meal at Cosmic Rays.
Day 1- Thursday- May 12th 2011- Magic Kingdom- Tomorrowland.
Day 1- Thursday- May 12th 2011- Making the most of our time at Magic Kingdom.
Day 1- Thursday- May 12th 2011- Evening at Magic Kingdom with Electrical Parade.

Day 2- Friday- May 13th 2011- "Hollywoody" Studios Day.
Day 2- Friday- May 13th 2011- Our window decoration.
Day 2- Friday- May 13th 2011- Making the most of our day at Hollywood Studios and lunch at Starring Rolls.
Day 2- Friday- May,13th 2011- More Hollywood Studios and Pixar Parade.
Day 2- Friday- May,13th 2011- Evening at the Boardwalk, meal at Kouzzina and swimming.

Day 3- Saturday- May, 14th 2011- Epcot with a "VIP visit" to Soarin'.
Day 3- Saturday- May, 14th 2011- Lunch at Sunshine Seasons and Flower & Garden Festival.
Day 3- Saturday- May, 14th 2011- Pixar Weekend.
Day 3- Saturday- May, 14th 2011- Pixar Weekend Part Deux.
Day 3- Saturday- May, 14th 2011- Chilling at the Mexican pavillon.
Day 3- Saturday- May, 14th 2011- Meal at San Angel Inn..
Day 3- Saturday- May, 14th 2011- Last hours at Epcot.

Day 4- Sunday- May, 15th 2011- Morning at Magic Kingdom;
Day 4- Sunday- May, 15th 2011- Magic Kingdom- Part Deux;
Day 4- Sunday- May, 15th 2011- Super at Jiko;
Day 4- Sunday- May, 15th 2011- Fantasmic.

Day 5- Monday- May, 16th 2011- Animal Kingdom Day- a ten minute EMH;
Day 5- Monday- May, 16th 2011- Morning at Animal Kingdom;
Day 5- Monday- May, 16th 2011- Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ;
Day 5- Monday- May, 16th 2011- Afternoon at Animal Kingdom- Part 1.
Day 5- Monday- May, 16th 2011- Afternoon at Animal Kingdom- Part 2;
Day 5- Monday, May, 16th 2011- Afternoon at Animal Kingdom- Part 3;
Day 5- Monday, May, 16th 2011- [URL="http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43350093&postcount=263"]Super at Tusker House and evening at Pop Century[/URL].

Day 6- Tuesday- May, 17th 2011- Back to Magic Kingdom and our second rope drop;
Day 6- Tuesday- May, 17th 2011- Toy Story mania has gotten nothing on Rapunzel;
Day 6- Tuesday- May, 17th 2011- Dole whips, whispering canyons and water parks;
Day 6- Tuesday- May, 17th 2011- Trip to Typhoon Lagoon;
Day 6- Tuesday- May, 17th 2011- An evening and a wish come true.

​

 

[patches07]

I am FIRST! I have never been first!!!!!!

 

[Queila]

Day 1- Thursday- May, 12th 2011- Disney Here we go!!!

The countdown is over!!

We had made a countdown for our 2010 trip but I think Beatriz was too small to fully understand the concept.

Not this time.

Every morning she reminded us to stick on the next Mickey head and we were so happy the day was finally here.

Beatriz even had special manicure done for the occasion:

Our flight with Air Canada was scheduled for 9 am so we left home at 6. Joey had loaded the car the night before so all we had to do was get up and leave.

We hit a bit of traffic on our way to the city since it was a regular weekday but it was nothing too dramatic. We left our car in a Park & Fly service and before you know it we were all checked in.

Breakfast was at Burger King and then we went to our gate.

Beatriz always has fun looking at the planes:

The flight left right on time and we were very excited to be on our way! Beatriz did great in the plane and kept her eyes glued on the screen. They had Toy Story 3 among their film selections e and that was enough to keep all the kids busy during the three hour flight. We did not hear a kid crying the whole time. Can you tell she was into it?

We arrived in Orlando AHEAD of schedule and we went straight to catch our Magical Express. I love it how we feel so comfortable at the Orlando airport already. It really feels like we are coming "home".

"Look mommy! The Mickey bus!!"

Next up:
Arriving at Pop Century.​

 

[Queila]

I am FIRST! I have never been first!!!!!!

and good job on being number 1!!! Hope you stick around.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

Count me in! Your trip reports are always my favorite! Your little girl is about six months older than mine. I love seeing how a trip is with a little one!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

your daughter is beautiful...

 

[ericandkelly]

Subscribing...

 

[Queila]

MAY 12TH 2011- DAY 1- ARRIVING AT POP CENTURY

So it turns out there was a bus leaving to Pop Century right away.

We sat all the way in the back of the bus this time and Beatriz was SUPER excited:

I have to say the ride in the Magical Express on our way TO the hotel is always one of my favorite moments of the trip!

It is just a perfect moment: we are already in Orlando being exposed to our first dose of pixie dust but we still have the whole trip ahead of us!!

The anticipation is such a great part of a fun trip and it was not different this time!

Time for the first family picture:

Welcome to Pop Century!

While Joey went straight to the online check- in counter I brought Beatriz to the restroom for a potty break and that is when she first saw the Fast Forward Arcade.

She had never been to an arcade before and I think all the lights and noises were very attractive to her. I spent some five minutes in there with her and THE REST OF OUR TRIP trying to avoid it.

Checking in was fast and easy and we found out we were going to stay at the 70's section of the resort which was surprisingly close to the main building (Classic Hall). We were both born in the 70's so that was kind of cool.

We learned that each decade is identified by a different icon but it took us a while to fully identify ours. I just could not figure out what this was supposed to be:

It's an 8-track tape y'all!

I guess by the time I was old enough to be interested in music devices we had already moved on to walkmans. Remember those? On a side note Beatriz saw a TV with a tube in the back the other day and asked me what is was! For all she knows all TV's are flat screen.

It made me feel so... ancient.

Ok. Back to the report.
I had been reading the boards and I often saw people complaining about all the walking in the value resorts but I will tell you that: we were further from the lobby at the Animal Kingdom Lodge than we were at Pop and, no, we did not have a preferred room.

Here is our building:

I only knew Pop from pictures and I was under the impression that all the buildings were a lot more scattered so I was pleasant surprised with our location.

Our area was the one with the Big Wheel in front:

This thing was HUGE and we meant to take a picture of Beatriz in front of it to highlight the contrast but we never did it.

You always think you will have time to do everything but as it turns out ...

Another complaint I read often was the noise level but our room was located at the back of the building at the end of the corridor and on the 4th floor so it was VERY QUIET.

So I guess we hit the jackpot when it came to location within the hotel.

We were in our room by 13h10, exactly 1 hour and twenty minutes after landing. I thought that was pretty good timing specially compared to our previous trip.

Here are some pictures of our room:

We ended up connecting the two double beds and turned them into a King Size Plus type of bed for the three of us.

Love is in the little details:

Art work:

So after we let Beatriz jump on the bed for a little bit it was time to wind down and try to nap a little bit before hitting Magic Kingdom. I wanted her to be rested so we could last all the way to Wishes at 10 pm that night. So we snacked a bit in our room, took off our "airplane clothes", closed the blinds, set up our alarm for 15h30 and tried to go to bed for a couple of hours.

Next up:
Who fell asleep and who stayed awake through nap time?
An evening at Magic Kingdom.​

 

[pinkxray]

I'm in. Beatriz is getting so big. I love the excitement in her eyes.

I really wish we had taken Caitlin when she was a bit younger. I have told DH if we have another kid we're starting them out young

I love your Pop pictures. We were orginally going to stay there for a few days instead of VWL but I switched for some reason. We went to visit to eat there a few times and I wished I had kept our days there. Even DH wants to stay there for a few days next time.

 

[TanzUnited99]

Hi Q! Am joining in!

You have a lovely daughter and I love the pics of her excited face! Lol at her wanting to spend a lot of time in the Arcade!

We are staying at Pop in Sept so thank you for the lovely pics. I'm glad to read you enjoyed your stay at this resort.

Yes, I remember the walkman and listening to music on one in my childhood! Look forward to reading more and hearing all about your dining experiences!

 

[JAMIESMITH]

I LOVE the photo of B looking at her reflection on the bus. I can't wait to take Madilyn to Disney and see it for myself for the first time! That big wheel is so cool. I wasn't born until the 80s, but all my cousins and I had to have a big wheel! Can't wait to read more

 

[Queila]

Count me in! Your trip reports are always my favorite! Your little girl is about six months older than mine. I love seeing how a trip is with a little one!

and thank you for the kind compliment. It is appreciated. Travelling with a little one is different but really special. I love experiencing things through her eyes.

your daughter is beautiful...

Thank you! She is very smart too. Our pride and joy.

Subscribing...

and hope you come back.

I'm in. Beatriz is getting so big. I love the excitement in her eyes.

I really wish we had taken Caitlin when she was a bit younger. I have told DH if we have another kid we're starting them out young

I love your Pop pictures. We were orginally going to stay there for a few days instead of VWL but I switched for some reason. We went to visit to eat there a few times and I wished I had kept our days there. Even DH wants to stay there for a few days next time.

Hello and . Beatriz is totally into Disney right now and I am hoping she won't lose interest any time soon. She is our excuse to keep going back to Disney after all...

I find she is in a good age because she truly believes the magic, you know?

Too bad we did not cross each other. I bet WL was awesome and a good trade. We ate at Whispering Canyon one day and were really impressed with what we saw.

Hi Q! Am joining in!

You have a lovely daughter and I love the pics of her excited face! Lol at her wanting to spend a lot of time in the Arcade!

We are staying at Pop in Sept so thank you for the lovely pics. I'm glad to read you enjoyed your stay at this resort.

Yes, I remember the walkman and listening to music on one in my childhood! Look forward to reading more and hearing all about your dining experiences!

Hey there and to my TR!

The arcade thing took me by surprise. All the way to WDW and she wants to spend her time in there??

Pop is a great hotel and a wonderful vale for your money. While it does not have the grandeur and the same feel of a deluxe it is still a great Disney experience. I am sure your family will enjoy it.

Don't worry... there are plenty of dining experiences to be reported!

I LOVE the photo of B looking at her reflection on the bus. I can't wait to take Madilyn to Disney and see it for myself for the first time! That big wheel is so cool. I wasn't born until the 80s, but all my cousins and I had to have a big wheel! Can't wait to read more

!

That picture is probably one of my favorites from the entire trip! I hope you get to bring your little M to WDW sometime soon. It is really a special place to visit with a little one.

 

[PoohGal05]

I'm in! I love reading other people's trips reports! Gets me excited about our own trip coming up at the end of the summer!

 

[jecskc]

I just read your other TR the other day. Look how much Beatriz has grown !! Can't wait to read more

 

[cherjp]

excellent trippie ! looking forward to more

 

[patches07]

Looking forward to more your daughter is a very pretty little girl.

 

[natebenma]

I'm here!!!

Loved your first TR- can't wait to hear all about your family's new adventures!

Dee

 

[cherjp]

Hi just read all your previous trip , it was fabulous. Your little girl has grown so much! they don't stay small forever, I have 2 boys now 17 and 14 and always feel like I closed my eyes for a second and hey look what age they are now!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you xx Sorry to hear of your sad loss too. xx

looking forward to more reports. I love trippies full of pictures and funny stories.

 

[Queila]

I'm in! I love reading other people's trips reports! Gets me excited about our own trip coming up at the end of the summer!

. Reading about other people's trip not only helps us with our planning but it helps to build up the anticipation. Hope you stick around.

I just read your other TR the other day. Look how much Beatriz has grown !! Can't wait to read more

Thanks for following me here. They grow up so fast. A friend of mine just had a baby and it feels like yesterday I had a newborn!

excellent trippie ! looking forward to more

Looking forward to more your daughter is a very pretty little girl.

Thank you! She keeps us busy.

I'm here!!!

Loved your first TR- can't wait to hear all about your family's new adventures!

Dee

Hey Dee! to my new TR. Loved your participation on my old TR and I hope you stick around!

Hi just read all your previous trip , it was fabulous. Your little girl has grown so much! they don't stay small forever, I have 2 boys now 17 and 14 and always feel like I closed my eyes for a second and hey look what age they are now!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you xx Sorry to hear of your sad loss too. xx

looking forward to more reports. I love trippies full of pictures and funny stories.

Thank you! I still cannot believe I have a 3 year old that asks me questions and tries to win arguments.

 

[cherjp]

Its the winning smile that does it , how could you not let her win ?