A previous on-site guest stays off-site.
2 years ago we stayed at pop century. This year we stayed at a condo. This is our family of 6 (parent 30s kids 7,7,12,12) review:
Day 1 Sun Dec 10th
Arrived in Orlando VIA USAir @3pm. Received luggage quickly. Checked in with Alamo..picked up our Toyota mini-van and were on the way to our condo by 4pm. We checked in and arrive at the condo. We stayed at Fantasy world Resort. We had a 2 bedroom , 2 and a ½ bath condo. There was a pool, arcade and convenient store. The condo was located 3 miles from Disney. After we unpacked we then went to the grocery store. We spent 150.00 on food. Our plan was to eat every breakfast and every dinner at the condo. Except for the last day where we went out to dinner. Lunches we did in the park. After we dropped off the groceries and had dinner we went and walked around Old town. We did the go-karts and then went back to rest up for Epcot.
Day 2 Mon Dec 11th
EPCOT. We woke up ..had breakfast and took showers. We were at Epcot by 9:30am. We did Space ship earth, Test Track, Mission Space, honey I shrunk the Audience, Soaring, ate lunch in Mexico and did a few of the raised in world showcase. We probably did other rides but I am drawing a blank. The longest wait was for Soaring which was about 45 minutes. Most other rides we walked right on. Did most rides several times. Mexico the food was ok to good. I have never been impressed with the food at Disney especially when you consider the price. We left Epcot around 4ish and went back to Condo to freshen up and have dinner. Kids also played in the pool for an hour or so. We then went back to Epcot and saw the fireworks. Epcot had the best Fireworks. Then went back to the condo for bed.
Day 3 Tuesday Dec 12th
MGM. We woke up ..had breakfast and took showers. We were at MGM shortly after opening. We did Indiana Jones, rocking roller coaster, Tower of terror, Voyage of the little mermaid, Muppet vision, star tours and our favorite show the car stunt show. Awesome!! We had lunch at prime time and again it was ok to good. Never had to wait more then 10 minutes for a ride. Did most rides several times. Again I may have missed a few rides we did. We did not dot the fireworks here as we did them before and we all agreed it wasnt necessary to see again. Went back to the condo to swim and hangout.
Day 4 Wednesday Dec 13th
Magic kingdom. We woke up ..had breakfast and took showers. We were there shortly after opening. We did piratesMickey's PhilharMagic , haunted mansion. all three mountains, t-cups, buzz, peter pan, stitch and a few other rides. Again we walked on most rides had to wait at the most 10 minutes. We had burgers and hot dogs for lunch. Then did some more rides. Food was ok at best. We then went back to the condo to clean up..swim have dinner and then we went to MVMCP. We saw the first parade and then the fire works. We had great seating on the curb out side of Hagen daz. Got to see Tinkle bell fly (missed that the previous visit) Went back to the condo. Kids also got to ride in the front of the monorail. They seemed to enjoy that.
Day 5 Thursday Dec 14th
Animal kingdom. We woke up ..had breakfast and took showers. We were there shortly after opening. We did Bugs life, Everest, Dinosaur, primeval whirl (for the most part we didnt enjoy primeval whirl) lion king festival, Rapids where we asked to stay on ride twice which the CM allowed, Safari. Most attractions we walked right on. 10 minute wait tops. Being tired of Disney food we went for Pizza then to the condo and the pool. Swam for a few hours. Had dinner then went to the 9pm showing of La Nouba. This was the highlight of the trip. The childrens jaws were on the floor the entire time. Great show for the entire family. Word of advice,,,,the seating is great anywhere except the front row. Still great but a little to close to appreciate everything that there is to see. Walked around downtown Disney and did some shopping.
Day 6 Friday Dec 15th
Universal studios and islands of adventure. We woke up ..had breakfast and took showers. Got there shortly after opening. We did , Nickelodeon, ET, Mummy, Shrek, Earth quake, Jaws, fear factor, Spiderman, dinosaur, ripsaw, Spiderman, hulk, and a few others. Never had more then a 10 minute wait. Had Chinese and it was just terrible. Stayed there until closing. Went to Ruby Tuesdays to have dinner. Pretty good. We then went back to old town and did a few rides. The best being Sky coaster. A bungee like jump from 300 feet in the air. It was so scary that it was fun. The two oldest kids loved it. Went back packed and went to bed.
Day 7 Saturday Dec 16th
Flew home.
Overall it was a great trip. Would never stay in the park again. We loved having all the space, the washer and dryer, home cooked food, being able to see other parts of Orlando. We really enjoyed Universal and would want to go back. We do go combat style when we go,,,meaning we just go non stop. It works for us and we all wouldnt want to change our style. If we were to repeat the same trip we would do Epcot and MGM in one day ..Animal kingdom and magic kingdom in one day as long as we were there when the crowds were light. I do not know how people can go during peak season. We probably would of spent 2 days at universal and add Sea world to the itinerary. Again, we go gangbusters when we go but that is how we move. Weather was cool but not cold. A few rain showers but we were always in a show or ride during the showers so we never had to use out ponchos except for the water rides.
2 years ago we stayed at pop century. This year we stayed at a condo. This is our family of 6 (parent 30s kids 7,7,12,12) review:
Day 1 Sun Dec 10th
Arrived in Orlando VIA USAir @3pm. Received luggage quickly. Checked in with Alamo..picked up our Toyota mini-van and were on the way to our condo by 4pm. We checked in and arrive at the condo. We stayed at Fantasy world Resort. We had a 2 bedroom , 2 and a ½ bath condo. There was a pool, arcade and convenient store. The condo was located 3 miles from Disney. After we unpacked we then went to the grocery store. We spent 150.00 on food. Our plan was to eat every breakfast and every dinner at the condo. Except for the last day where we went out to dinner. Lunches we did in the park. After we dropped off the groceries and had dinner we went and walked around Old town. We did the go-karts and then went back to rest up for Epcot.
Day 2 Mon Dec 11th
EPCOT. We woke up ..had breakfast and took showers. We were at Epcot by 9:30am. We did Space ship earth, Test Track, Mission Space, honey I shrunk the Audience, Soaring, ate lunch in Mexico and did a few of the raised in world showcase. We probably did other rides but I am drawing a blank. The longest wait was for Soaring which was about 45 minutes. Most other rides we walked right on. Did most rides several times. Mexico the food was ok to good. I have never been impressed with the food at Disney especially when you consider the price. We left Epcot around 4ish and went back to Condo to freshen up and have dinner. Kids also played in the pool for an hour or so. We then went back to Epcot and saw the fireworks. Epcot had the best Fireworks. Then went back to the condo for bed.
Day 3 Tuesday Dec 12th
MGM. We woke up ..had breakfast and took showers. We were at MGM shortly after opening. We did Indiana Jones, rocking roller coaster, Tower of terror, Voyage of the little mermaid, Muppet vision, star tours and our favorite show the car stunt show. Awesome!! We had lunch at prime time and again it was ok to good. Never had to wait more then 10 minutes for a ride. Did most rides several times. Again I may have missed a few rides we did. We did not dot the fireworks here as we did them before and we all agreed it wasnt necessary to see again. Went back to the condo to swim and hangout.
Day 4 Wednesday Dec 13th
Magic kingdom. We woke up ..had breakfast and took showers. We were there shortly after opening. We did piratesMickey's PhilharMagic , haunted mansion. all three mountains, t-cups, buzz, peter pan, stitch and a few other rides. Again we walked on most rides had to wait at the most 10 minutes. We had burgers and hot dogs for lunch. Then did some more rides. Food was ok at best. We then went back to the condo to clean up..swim have dinner and then we went to MVMCP. We saw the first parade and then the fire works. We had great seating on the curb out side of Hagen daz. Got to see Tinkle bell fly (missed that the previous visit) Went back to the condo. Kids also got to ride in the front of the monorail. They seemed to enjoy that.
Day 5 Thursday Dec 14th
Animal kingdom. We woke up ..had breakfast and took showers. We were there shortly after opening. We did Bugs life, Everest, Dinosaur, primeval whirl (for the most part we didnt enjoy primeval whirl) lion king festival, Rapids where we asked to stay on ride twice which the CM allowed, Safari. Most attractions we walked right on. 10 minute wait tops. Being tired of Disney food we went for Pizza then to the condo and the pool. Swam for a few hours. Had dinner then went to the 9pm showing of La Nouba. This was the highlight of the trip. The childrens jaws were on the floor the entire time. Great show for the entire family. Word of advice,,,,the seating is great anywhere except the front row. Still great but a little to close to appreciate everything that there is to see. Walked around downtown Disney and did some shopping.
Day 6 Friday Dec 15th
Universal studios and islands of adventure. We woke up ..had breakfast and took showers. Got there shortly after opening. We did , Nickelodeon, ET, Mummy, Shrek, Earth quake, Jaws, fear factor, Spiderman, dinosaur, ripsaw, Spiderman, hulk, and a few others. Never had more then a 10 minute wait. Had Chinese and it was just terrible. Stayed there until closing. Went to Ruby Tuesdays to have dinner. Pretty good. We then went back to old town and did a few rides. The best being Sky coaster. A bungee like jump from 300 feet in the air. It was so scary that it was fun. The two oldest kids loved it. Went back packed and went to bed.
Day 7 Saturday Dec 16th
Flew home.
Overall it was a great trip. Would never stay in the park again. We loved having all the space, the washer and dryer, home cooked food, being able to see other parts of Orlando. We really enjoyed Universal and would want to go back. We do go combat style when we go,,,meaning we just go non stop. It works for us and we all wouldnt want to change our style. If we were to repeat the same trip we would do Epcot and MGM in one day ..Animal kingdom and magic kingdom in one day as long as we were there when the crowds were light. I do not know how people can go during peak season. We probably would of spent 2 days at universal and add Sea world to the itinerary. Again, we go gangbusters when we go but that is how we move. Weather was cool but not cold. A few rain showers but we were always in a show or ride during the showers so we never had to use out ponchos except for the water rides.
