All I Want For Christmas Is an Okapi, a Dinosaur, a Herd of Elephants and ...

[MHTeacher]

Actually, I'll just take one of each of the festive cupcakes!

Enjoy your weekend!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Happy Saturday! I could almost smell that Mickey waffle this morning!

 

[MeMom]

I hope you don't mind me interrupting your trip report to share some highlights of my pictures I took of Art of Animation on my trip last week at Pop. Maybe they will get you even more excited for your upcoming trip! You'll have a hard time containing yourself with all of the picture opportunities!

It is so nice to see life across the lake!

The newly opened bridge

The Cars area is amazing, especially the "road" that you will walk on to get to the building fronts. In the first picture you can see Luigi, Guido, Flo, and in the back right is Fillmore. In the second picture are Doc and Ramone and if you look closely you can also see Mater on the right of the picture and Sarge in the back middle. I was amazed at how many Cars characters there were. The last picture shows Sheriff at dusk with his headlights and siren light on. Disney is definitely in the details!

There are drawings of two different characters on each side of the buildings. The end of the building shows those two characters coming together in color.

There is a playground outside of the pool area which my nephew enjoyed. You may not be able to pool hop, but I think it is okay to playground hop!

It was also amazing to me the way that the landscaping was made to make you feel like you were "under the sea."

I also am including a picture taken from outside our building at Pop on May 25th during the worst of the brush fire while we were there. We were headed back to the resort and really thought Pop Century was on fire. It was supposedly a few miles away, but you wouldn't believe it from this picture. It ended up burning over 20 acres along Interstate 4 and Osceola Parkway. Thank goodness they got it under control pretty quickly. It was scary for a few moments!

Okay, sorry for the hijack. Back to your regular scheduled programming...

Do not apologize at all! We are happy to see these pictures. We are looking very forward to seeing it all for ourselves in two weeks. By the time we get there, the Cars section will be open, so we can explore it. It does look so cool! I will be taking many, many pictures!

We read about that fire. So glad they controlled it before it did more damage.

Awww!!! I really hat the last day I usually am ready to go home, but wish that it was the beginning of the trip at the same time. Thanks for the shopping pics. I would actually love a cup of the regular cheesecake about now.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!!

I'm usually not ready to go home.

See, I'm trying to decide between the cheesecake and the carrot cake, and I think the cheesecake has a slight edge at this moment. I've had enough tie-dyed cheesecake to last me for a while, and I've had carrot cake second to that, so I need to give the regular cheesecake a chance to catch up.

I would choose the little carrot cake. I get those all the time when we're there! And of course the breakfast pizza.

The last day is always sad, even when I feel like I'm ready to come home. I admire you for being able to take pictures...I just never can bring myself to.

Oh, yes, I am snap happy with the camera until we leave Disney property.

One cheesecake and one carrot cake. Who wants a tie-dyed cheesecake>

Now I've never been to Pop (unfortunately!!) but because of that, I believe I'd choose the tie-dyed cheesecake. It looks so good!

Can't wait to see where you ended up that last morning!

Oh, look, here's our tie-dyes cheesecake person. We now have one for each.

I'm going to need a tray.

And it should be purple, of course.

Actually, I'll just take one of each of the festive cupcakes!

Enjoy your weekend!

Now, see....you are just overloading the tray with your big order here!

Happy Saturday! I could almost smell that Mickey waffle this morning!

And a waffle for CP. Good thing Jill has a TiW card.

 

[Poolrat]

Add me in for a tye-dye cheesecake.

You have 2 weeks I have 3.

 

[MeMom]

Oh, what a beautiful morning!

Good morning, Hollywood!

His dust is star dust.

My dust is just dust dust, and dusting is my least favorite chore.


Blue skies and palm trees! Do we really have to go home????

Bella is not afraid of Piglet.

A Times Guide - helpful for those who get to be here all day.
Not us, unfortunately.

Time to see some more Hundred Acre Wood friends.

This makes me smile!

Tigger is a thief!

Seriously, he is. He took my sunglasses one time at Crystal Palace. You have to watch that guy!!!

These are fun to look at.

Brooklynn decided she wanted to ride Great Movie Ride again, but Jill wanted to see if she could get Bella to do some more character greets. I took Brooklynn, and Jill took Bella.

 

[MeMom]

Add me in for a tye-dye cheesecake.

You have 2 weeks I have 3.

Two weeks from right now, we should be at MCO, baby!!!


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Ready to ride. She should know this by heart now.

Miracle of miracles - we're gonna get the cowboy!

This is probably not good!

 

[MeMom]

After that, we shopped our way out. Jill handed out all of her leftover discount coupons.

Is this a fun place, or what?!?!?

Christmas still abounds after the new year comes in.

So long, Hollywood, until June!

It was back to Pop Schrentry, which is where Bella is right now in pronouncing it.

We love Walt Disney World!

Enough for today. Tomorrow, we finish, for real, and we go home.
We're going to keep this report open to put up some of the October highlights and to communicate through while we're gone on the summer trip. Have a great day, everyone!

 

[MHTeacher]

Two weeks from right now, we should be at MCO, baby!!!

These two weeks will fly by!

Ready to ride. She should know this by heart now.

This made me laugh because when my girls were younger, after a trip, I would hear them "playing" GMR in their rooms. One girl would ride in the "car" and the other would be "your tour guide through the movies!"

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I just love the pictures when Tigger stole Brooklynn's friend. The girls look like they are laughing and having a great time! So cute.

I'm sorry it's the last day on your trip. But I'm so glad you're going to go again soon and share some more fun!

Question - I've never had tie dyed cheesecake. Does it have any flavor beyond cheesecake flavor?

 

[2xcited2sleep]

We're on the last day already? Thank goodness you are returning so soon. Don't know what I do without a TR of yours to follow.

Your last day sure was beautiful - the sky looks so blue!!

So proud of Bella with the characters. She's really getting into it at the end!

 

[micandminforever]

Breakfast at Pop, I will take the banana bread or the apple pastry. Then take the carrot cake for an afternoon snack.

Your pictures remind me why I really look forward to staying there in Dec.

By the end of the trip Bella looks she's having fun with the characters. It will be great to see the pictures of this summer with Bella, Brooklynn and the characters.

 

[reelmom]

We got back last night. It's always to good to be back home but so sad that the trip is over. We had a great time despite all the rain. It rained 11 out of the 13 days we were there. According to the news reports, some days had close to 2 inches of rain. We sloshed on anyways. Oh yeah, the car accident my husband was in on his way to the store wasn't a highlight either. Thankfully, no one was injured. My car got to stay in Orlando. The good news is that we will have to go back to get it when the body shop calls. We bought AP's to Universal so I guess we will go back there. All in all, we had a wonderful time. Our first stay at Pop Century was amazing and I think it is my favorite place to stay now. We enjoyed the food court and the Hippy Dippy Pool. We were also able to go to the AoA hotel the day it opened. I will try and post some pictures in a little while. Going to go unpack and start planning our next Disney trip~ Our first cruise on the Disney Dream.

 

[marDgreen88]

Two weeks! Wow! Bella looks so comfortable in the character pictures! I bet this summer she'll be a PRO!

It's so cute how much Brooklynn loves GMR.

 

[MaryAz]

Ah, the last day. Good thing you have a first day coming up in 2 weeks!!! Fun pics as always!

 

[Megablocks]

I love GMR!! I watch the montage at the end on YouTube a lot...definitely my favorite part!

So glad Bella has warmed up to the characters so much! Way to go, Bella! It will be fun when she's the one showing Sophie and you can remember how shy she used to be with them.

That's so nice of Jill to give out the leftover coupons. I actually went to dinner tonight with Charles, Kailyn, and my BFF, and we all split an appetizer. The guy sitting next to us with his wife and baby came over and asked, "are those the cheese fries?" Turned out he had a coupon for a free appetizer, and they weren't using it, so they gave it to us. So nice and so appreciated!

 

[Kgroo]

Love the pics of Bella with the characters!! So cute when the characters interact with the kids-it makes them feel so special

The last time we were on the GMR, we got the cowboy scene. When it was time for the interaction between the driver and the cowboy, there was no one there. Our driver just had to stand there and wait. It was pretty funny.

So exciting that you are down to 2 weeks we hit double digits this week. It will be here before we know it. I am trying to learn to enjoy the anticipation -the trip will be over so quick.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I would never have guessed that you went to DHS on your last day. My money was on MK.....

Between new baby, basketball, and errands, I'm getting all packed and ready to go.

Tomorrow is more basketball, getting Megan's flight information to her, taking the dogs to the kennel, and visiting my mother....
Plus everything needs to be packed and ready for the car.
We will see you in a couple of days!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Yay for your trip coming up in two weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also yay for the elusive cowboy scene!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Awww, such sweetness with the girls and their friends from the Hundred Acre Woods. That Tigger is such a character!

 

[MeMom]

These two weeks will fly by!

This made me laugh because when my girls were younger, after a trip, I would hear them "playing" GMR in their rooms. One girl would ride in the "car" and the other would be "your tour guide through the movies!"

I love to watch kids in the midst of creative play! So many times these days, kids are watching TV or playing a video game where they are immersed in someone else's creativity. I like to watch them do their own things. The last week of school, when we can finally let our kids 'play' a little, I get out a tub of toys and let them go for it. It's fun to sit back and watch them 'play school' (imagine that they enjoy playing school!) or create forts with blocks and green Army men or rolls little cars all over the room.

Did you video any of your girls' performances? I bet with one just having graduated, you would enjoy going back in time to watch them.

I just love the pictures when Tigger stole Brooklynn's friend. The girls look like they are laughing and having a great time! So cute.

I'm sorry it's the last day on your trip. But I'm so glad you're going to go again soon and share some more fun!

Question - I've never had tie dyed cheesecake. Does it have any flavor beyond cheesecake flavor?

Brooklynn thought it was funny, but I'm betting she had a small bit of worry that she would get her little friend back, too.

If you get a moist one, it is good. The base layer is red velvet cake. I have had several that had a dry cake base, and those are not a bit exciting.

We're on the last day already? Thank goodness you are returning so soon. Don't know what I do without a TR of yours to follow.

Your last day sure was beautiful - the sky looks so blue!!

So proud of Bella with the characters. She's really getting into it at the end!

Well, it's nice to hear you enjoy the reports. Sometimes I wonder if people are sick of hearing about our trips or if they think some of the pictures (and especially the ridiculous comments often made ) should not be allowed to continue. We sure do enjoy the friendships we have made through having the reports going.

I hope those skies stay blue the whole time we are there!

Breakfast at Pop, I will take the banana bread or the apple pastry. Then take the carrot cake for an afternoon snack.

Your pictures remind me why I really look forward to staying there in Dec.

By the end of the trip Bella looks she's having fun with the characters. It will be great to see the pictures of this summer with Bella, Brooklynn and the characters.

The banana bread is good. It is quite often my choice, if I am getting a food court breakfast. However, I am most often found eating a Pop-tart in the room, since I can get a whole box of them for the price of one food court pastry.

I think Bella is going to do great with the characters this time. She's old enough and experienced enough noe to know that they are not a threat.

We got back last night. It's always to good to be back home but so sad that the trip is over. We had a great time despite all the rain. It rained 11 out of the 13 days we were there. According to the news reports, some days had close to 2 inches of rain. We sloshed on anyways. Oh yeah, the car accident my husband was in on his way to the store wasn't a highlight either. Thankfully, no one was injured. My car got to stay in Orlando. The good news is that we will have to go back to get it when the body shop calls. We bought AP's to Universal so I guess we will go back there. All in all, we had a wonderful time. Our first stay at Pop Century was amazing and I think it is my favorite place to stay now. We enjoyed the food court and the Hippy Dippy Pool. We were also able to go to the AoA hotel the day it opened. I will try and post some pictures in a little while. Going to go unpack and start planning our next Disney trip~ Our first cruise on the Disney Dream.

It's always good to hear that people have a good stay at Pop. We feel 'responsible', to some degree, when we recommend it, and we hope people are not disappointed by the lack of amenities, space, etc.

So sorry about the car accident, but it's a good excuse to go back, even if you are going to the dark side this time.

Yes, please share some pictures!

A cruise - very cool!

Two weeks! Wow! Bella looks so comfortable in the character pictures! I bet this summer she'll be a PRO!

It's so cute how much Brooklynn loves GMR.

I think Bella will be a pro, too. And in October, she'll want to show Sophie how it is done.

If you asked Brooklynn what her top Hollywood ride was, I'm pretty sure Toy Story would lose to GMR.

Ah, the last day. Good thing you have a first day coming up in 2 weeks!!! Fun pics as always!

Yep, and we're beginning to formulate some plans now.

I love GMR!! I watch the montage at the end on YouTube a lot...definitely my favorite part!

So glad Bella has warmed up to the characters so much! Way to go, Bella! It will be fun when she's the one showing Sophie and you can remember how shy she used to be with them.

That's so nice of Jill to give out the leftover coupons. I actually went to dinner tonight with Charles, Kailyn, and my BFF, and we all split an appetizer. The guy sitting next to us with his wife and baby came over and asked, "are those the cheese fries?" Turned out he had a coupon for a free appetizer, and they weren't using it, so they gave it to us. So nice and so appreciated!

I enjoy the music to that montage, too.

Wouldn't it be great if people could be happy and giving all the time? What a nice world this would be!

Love the pics of Bella with the characters!! So cute when the characters interact with the kids-it makes them feel so special

The last time we were on the GMR, we got the cowboy scene. When it was time for the interaction between the driver and the cowboy, there was no one there. Our driver just had to stand there and wait. It was pretty funny.

So exciting that you are down to 2 weeks we hit double digits this week. It will be here before we know it. I am trying to learn to enjoy the anticipation -the trip will be over so quick.

That's wilde that there was no villain at GMR! Major glitch!

I do better counting in weeks than days. Weeks fly by, for the most part, and the smaller numbers make me happier than the big ones. I play mind games with myself.

I would never have guessed that you went to DHS on your last day. My money was on MK.....

Between new baby, basketball, and errands, I'm getting all packed and ready to go.

Tomorrow is more basketball, getting Megan's flight information to her, taking the dogs to the kennel, and visiting my mother....
Plus everything needs to be packed and ready for the car.
We will see you in a couple of days!

Looking forward to it.

We do often go back to Magic Kingdom one last time, but it's a lot harder to leave that park and the true essence of Disney magic. It is easier to hop over to Hollywood from Pop, and it is much easier to make ourselves go.

Yay for your trip coming up in two weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also yay for the elusive cowboy scene!!!

I was sorry Jill had not gone with us, since we got the cowboy, but she got some good character time with Bella. I hope there are Photopass pictures of that.

Awww, such sweetness with the girls and their friends from the Hundred Acre Woods. That Tigger is such a character!

Yes, he's full of silliness!
Eeyore just steps back and let's him have the limelight.



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We are beginning to formulate plans for our trip. There are so many things we want to get in. We have some DIS meets planned; one to see Yehaa Bob for the first time. Epcot has Brave games and a play area for kids, so I want to check that out. We want to see Brave at the eat-in movie theater. Tom Sawyer Island/Fort Langhorn is reopening after a refurb on June 30, so I'd like to boat over and see that. We want to ride the riverboat, because the girls have not done that. We want to do the Behind the Seeds Tour. Animal Kingdom is having a Sundown Celebration in the evenings up to the 30th. We want to check out Art of Animation. We're trying out several new restaurants. There will be much to see and do this time!