First time staying on-site. SO excited! Tips and/or suggestions?

[C.Ann]

Got "the" post card today and snagged the Pop Century for Dec. 2 - 7 for $49 a night..

I've NEVER stayed on-site before and my head is spinning.. It will be me, my DD and my just-turned-6-yr.-old granddaughter..

Things we should check out?

Must see's?

Info on the food courts?

Campfire over at Fort Wilderness?

Electrical water pageant?

Busses from Pop Century?

--------------------

Please tell me anything and everything.. I'm SO exited - yet a bit itimidated at the same time..

Thanks!

 

[CindysGusGus]

no advice just a BIG congrats!!!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Have you read the Unofficial Guide? It's such a fun read and full of information as well. I highly recommend.

I was up all night reading my copy.

 

[hmmchowell]

Passporter is a great book with a lot of info and you can take it to Disney and sort of use it as a journal. We're not going til Nov. and mine is already dog-eared I've used it so much!!
Have a great time!

 

[orvilleair]

I went to POR for my first on site trip this year and I know what you are feeling about the intimidation.

Consider arriving before your check-in time (3:00 pm). I showed up at POR at 12:45 pm and had my room by 1:30. The wife and kids explored the grounds and ate in the food court. They had a good time.

I don't have any info on Pop Century, but I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun.

 

[septbride2002]

C.Ann,
Staying on property is such a huge deal! We love to stay on property since you are in the magic all the time.

One thing I like to do is hop on the Monorail and go shopping at all the monorail resorts. Also I like to watch the fireworks and the Electrical Water Pagent from the Polynesian Beach.

~Amanda

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Originally posted by C.Ann
Got "the" post card today and snagged the Pop Century for Dec. 2 - 7 for $49 a night..
I've NEVER stayed on-site before and my head is spinning.. It will be me, my DD and my just-turned-6-yr.-old granddaughter..

Info on the food courts?
Campfire over at Fort Wilderness?
Busses from Pop Century?
Electrical water pageant?

C.ANN

Maybe I can help with a few of your questions....

Electrical Water Pageant
Polynesian Resort 9:00pm
Grand Floridian Resort 9:15pm
Wilderness Lodge 9:35pm
Ft. Wildeness Campground 9:45pm
Contemporary Resort 10:00pm

The times are from my 2004 PassPorter. (LOVE MY PASSPORTER)

Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground
following are fun activities,and resturants, located at the Campground.

Recreation:
Children's Playground:
Climb, slide and play to your heart's content at outdoor activity areas located at Pioneer Hall, the Meadow Recreation area.
Fishing:
Hook a fun-filled fishing trip for the entire family. (Catch and release only.)$165-$195
Horse-Drawn Excursions:
Take a relaxing, old-fashioned wagon or carriage ride through the Resort & Campground.
Horse Drawn Carriage Ride
Leaves from Crockett's Tavern
6:00-10:00p.m. $30.00
Horse Drawn Wagon Ride
Leaves from Pioneer hall @ Ft Wilderness.
7:00 & 9:30p.m. "Hayride"($8/adult and $4/children)
Horseback Riding:
Take a guided trail ride through the woods at the Resort & Campground. $32.00 at the livery (must be 9+yrs.,48"+)
Pony Rides:
Take a leisurely pony ride with an accompanying adult at the lead. (Ages 2 and older.) $3.00
Chip'n Dale's Campfire Sing-a-long:
Gather 'round the campfire with your nutty pals for songs and fun, then watch a classic Disney movie under the stars. 8:00p.m. *Note:Campfire starts at 7:00 PM during the Winter months.
Petting Farm:
Interact with lovable critters at the petting farm located between Pioneer Hall and the Tri-Circle D Ranch.(free)
Tennis:
Hit the hard courts for a set or two. (Bring your own equipment - rentals are not available.)

RESTAURANTS
Trail's End Buffet
Beamed ceiling and split rails give this Pioneer Hall buffet its frontier flavor.
Location: Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Specialties: All-you-care-to-eat home-style buffet
Breakfast: Breakfast meats, omelets, Mickey waffles, French toast
Lunch: Fried chicken, pizza, sandwiches, soup and salad
Dinner: Fried chicken, BBQ ribs, peel and eat shrimp and chefs specialities
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Service Type: Buffet
Menu
Hoop-Dee-Doo
Musical Revue @ Pioneer Hall:
The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is a hilarious vaudville-style entertainment plus all-you-can-eat vittles. Enjoy a special evening at Pioneer Hall. Casual dress. Price includes tax and gratuity.
Location: Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Specialties: All-You-Care-To-Eat fried chicken, smoked BBQ pork ribs, corn, baked beans, tossed green salad, fresh baked bread and strawberry shortcake. Unlimited draft beer, wine, sangria and soft drinks.
Meals: Dinner
Service Type: Dinner Show
Special Requirementsriority Seating Required.
Priority Seating:
Please call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463)†
Menu
Mickey's Backyard BBQ
Come join a knee-slappin' good ol' time. You'll be thrown back to Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer's old stompin' grounds when you enter the outdoor pavilion just a stone's throw away from Pioneer Hall. This is an outdoor (under cover in a pavilion) picnic event, with Disney Characters, live Country Western music and an all you can eat BBQ Buffet. Open seasonally, on selected days. Price includes tax and gratuit
Location: Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Character Meals: Mickey and Friends
Specialties:
All-You-Care-To-Eat Buffet featuring BBQ pork ribs, baked chicken, hot dogs with all the fixin's, corn-on-the-cob, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, corn bread, watermelon, marble cake. Unlimited draft beer, wine, lemonade and iced tea.
Meals: Dinner
Service Type: Dinner Show and Character Dining
Special Requirements: Priority Seating Required.
Priority Seating:
Please call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463)†
Menu
Crockett's Tavern Lounge
Blaze a trail to this refreshing outpost of flavor featuring pizza, appetizers, smoothies and full service bar. They pioneered great taste.
Chuck Wagon
(loacted near the campfire area)Open during the Campfire Program, serving hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, and marshmallows for roasting.
Location: Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

Info on the food courts?

Pop Century Breakfast Menu

Pop Century Lunch & Dinner

Pop Pizza Delivery

Busses from Pop Century?

From The All New Pop Century FAR OUT FAQ Thread!

Originally posted by Chip 'n Dale Express
TRANSPORTATION
Q: What about transportation?
Transportation from Pop Century should be very good. Because of the anticipated demand, buses will be running more frequently than some other resorts. During peak times, buses could potentially run every 5-8 minutes. Pop Century will be a “Magic On Demand” resort. (MOD will be based out of Zone 5)

Q: Where are the bus stops located?
In front of Classic Hall. A very short walk from ANY building!

Q: How many bus stops are there?
Currently, only one. However, once the Legendary Years opens up, both the Classic and Legendary Years will each have their own bus stop.

Q: How far is it from the parks?
There will be only one stop, so all buses will be direct. Pop Century is in a great central location so travel times will be great.

Estimated Times (may vary by driver)
MK - 12 minutes
EC - 8 minutes
ST - 5 minutes
AK – 6-12 minutes
DTD - 10 minutes
BB - 6 minutes

The one open variable will be Blizzard Beach. As it stands right now, Blizzard Beach will be with the Animal Kingdom bus, just like it is with most resorts. If we find that this route is not working, we may break it away as its own separate bus. However, if this is done, it will be combined with Caribbean Beach.

Q: Do the buses make any other stops at other resorts?
Currently, no. Once the Legendary Years open up, it is conceivable that during non-peak times, the routes might be shared. However, judging by occupancy, this will not be happening during peak morning times.

You need to check-out the Pop Century Thread.....

 

[Taja]

Will be at PC as well, C.Ann! Current reservations are 11/30/04 - 12/12/04 (first and last are travel days). No post card, but am hoping for one or AP discounts! Congratulations on your post card!

Love WDW transportation, but be aware that you need to allow much more time than the actual transit time, as you have to wait for the bus to arrive and load. And there are no buses resort-to-resort, or DTD-to-parks, so be sure to plan transit time accordingly for PSs. Although I did discover recently that there are park-to park buses! Don't know how I missed that before!

Pop Century has a good reputation for their bus service, so far. Having just one stop makes life less complicated!

Also, be sure to check out transportaton to the monorail resorts (and to and from MK and EPCOT, if you haven't used it before), as well as the Friendship launches between EPCOT and Disney-MGM and related resorts (BC, YC, BW & S&D). They're great for resort-hopping from EPCOT!


__________________
Taja

 

[bridgettesmom]

Oh, Carol Ann you are in for a great time !! I absolutely love POP.
- You will absolutely love the memorabillia at POP. When you are checking in , the wall behind you has a lot of great stuff. Plus, the building as you walk around will bring back wonderful memories. Your granddaughter will love the Mickey phone in the 70's building. My 5 yr old niece always had "a conversation" with Mickey every time we walke d by. You must try the beehive? salad at POP it is unbelievable and the CM"s are terribly friendly with young kids. You must book a PS at Ohanas' , your DGD will love the Coconut race and the Luau lessons and then afterwards you can watch the electrical water parade from the Poly beach. I felt in love with the Poly the last time I ate at Ohanas' and I live in the caribbean!! This is where we are staying in our upcoming trip!! The busses from POP run every 5- 15 minutes and the do not share with any other resort.. you will love it. When we stayed at POP for the first time ever.. we paid rack rate $109 plus tax and it was worth every penny.. I truly hate to be the bearer of bad news, but, once you go onsite.. you can never go back offsite!!

 

[FINFAN]

I have not been to PC,,,,but at ASMU my kids loved the Mickey waffles, AND refillable mugs! Great souvee!

We took pictures of EVERYTHING!
Especially in front of each tree at each resort...9you could use them in your holidays cards)

We packed peanuts to feed the squirells in MK and Epcot. We had a crowd at the bridge leading into Adventureland...those squirrell are so tame!

looked for hidden mickeys to pass the time

We had a split stay at ASMU/CR and the EWP passed by and exactly when it ended, the fireworks at MK began! It was so cool to watch that from the CR.

Try to sit up front in the monorail and ask for a pilots card

If you can, book a little later time for Chef Mickeys...maybe you will have a bit more time for character interaction...Oh, there are also many tame ducks at CR, if you wanted to feed them outside CR after your breakfast!
You could also see if they still make character badges at the Christmas shop in DTD...would be a cute gift for your DGD.

 

[susy]

I can't believe that you are staying onsite-okay I'm off the floor now... I think you will love it! PC is a great resort for $49-wait unitl your DGD sees that flower pool-it is so pretty...
Things to do..let's see...

-make sure DGD brings some of her stuffed disney dolls-the mousekeepers often do fun things with those.

- call the night before for wake up call. I set the time for when I know we will already be up, so that my DS can answer.

-you can have the front desk print up your PS's when you check

-make some of those mousekeeping envelopes for tips.

-get refillable mugs.

-We always buy shirts from the resort we stay at. Also, a great souvenier is thereost magnet-we have them all on our frig!

-let DGD get a temp. tatoo and hair wrap by the pool. she can also start a charm bracelet. They have this is the gift shop.

-do EE, have packages sent back to the room