ITS a POP-O-LICOUS Thanksgiving

[rentayenta]

HI Rentaenta -

It was great fun!

I thought the split stay would be a problem but it really wasnt.
The biggest hassle was just repacking, but not too bad.

You check out of your room right from your room...ie you dont have to go to the front desk, and can review your bill online before leaving. As long as you agree to the charges they will deliver a bill to your door by 8am checkout day, or you can pick up a copy at the front desk.

We opted to just cab it over to Contemp after checking out but I know many people just bring their luggage to the front desk and tell them where they need to go. We just didnt want to 'wait' so a cab to the front of Contemp worked like a dream.

I liked saving a little money, and the kids got to see two hotels. It was like two vacations in one.

Maybe we'll cab it then. I call DHS MGM too Fun report- keep it coming!

 

[mikkiwikki]

Well - its finally time for some more POP pictures....When we returned from DHS that day I took these pics.

This place has so many fun photo ops for kids.

DECADES in front of Pop Main Hall from a different perspective.

Christmas tree in Pop lobby - check in is to your left, shopping center "everything pop" is to your right. Straight ahead is the bus stop.

On the way back to our room we once again had to stop and check out the pop Jets. I just loved this location.

Here is the view from our room 6241 again

AND then we swipe the key, opened the door to our room ANND...
- *****Pixie dust***** !!

This was totally unexpected and so cute.

For clarification - Here is the pop map - we were definitely in the 'mickey phone building' 70's building - the section to the left facing the lake. We loved the location. I think Ill request it every time we stay there.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/PopCenturyMap.pdf

 

[mikkiwikki]

Today - started out the same as past days - Daughter up at the crack of dawn, but today we are off to Crystal Palace so no food ...just coffee and drinks from the food court.

When the sun came up were were off like a flash to the Magic Kingdom. We waited no time at all for the bus, actually I think we waited 3 mins.

Before we knew it we were walking down main street. Here is a pic of the happy family.

And a few pics of the side streets - That stand is one that does the silouettes. I had 2 done of the kids later in the trip - I was amazed at how fast this woman free hand did their silouettes, and we got an extra copy for gramy and gramps - so christmas presents...CHECK! Gotta love disney.

I love pics of a completely empty main street - I dont know what it is about it...I just get so EXCITED. All the while my family is looking at me like - MOM so what its a STREET. But I have to sit there for 10 minutes taking pics...

Then we take our obligatory pics with the indian statue

Look at the pretty main street decorations

We Check into the crystal palace and start taking pics while we are waiting. We had a 8:00 ressie but no one was terribly hungry

Pic of the castle from in front of CP

Hubby waiting - he loves CP and asked that I make a ressie here this time after our past great experiences. So I happily obliged.

We are called and seated, and the waiter asks if we have been here before - of course we say - so he just takes our drink order and we are off to the buffet. (one of our faves)

Kids Plate - Poohs Puffed French toast, Mickey waffle, strawberries, grapes, breakfast pizza, and Muffin with strawberry jam on it (daughters idea).

Hubbies overexposed first plate, hash, sausage, bacon, eggs and biscut. I guess he was hungry!

My plate was bacon, biscut with gravy, eggs, and cheesy potatoes. All fine. I should have gotten an omelet but the line was moving kinda slow and I didnt feel like waiting.

Then kids met Piglet & Tiger & Winnie the Pooh himself. Great fun as always. We decided to forgoe the signature books this year, as I found them such a PITA last year. And plus I just like watching my kids interact with the characters, insteads of just watching them sign a book. But that is just me. I found we have more 'real' interaction without the books.

Pics of the dining room

My second plate - smoked salmon, cream cheese, croissant. The tomatoe was ripe, and melt in your mouth good!

Kids and hubby had more of the same - we are always very happy with the quality of the food here and today did not disappoint. Our waiter was responsive with OJ and coffee, so we could not be happier.

Next off to the Park..Its getting near rope drop at tomorrow land!
Will we go on Space Mountain again?

 

[rentayenta]

I LOVE your photos! I also enjoy an empty Main St.


We'll be dining at the Crystal Palace for the first time in May. Breakfast looks fantastic; have you been for dinner?

 

[mikkiwikki]

Great report, can't wait to read more! TSM is my all time favorite ride. My kids get ultra competitive over who can get the best score (usually ds).

DisDreamz!
I love your name BTW!

Yeah I have to agree. Icant believe it - but this ride is now my all time favorite ride as well. Its so interactive, and your not passively sitting there, and observing, but you feel like you are in a game. its so fun with family.

I loved it! Hope you stick around to read more!

 

[mikkiwikki]

I LOVE your photos! I also enjoy an empty Main St.


We'll be dining at the Crystal Palace for the first time in May. Breakfast looks fantastic; have you been for dinner?

Y know ...we have NEVER been for dinner! Never! And we go to CP every trip multiple times. BEcause we just love the atmosphere AND the food here. Its magical.

However, for whatever reason I never even considered it as a dinner destination. It must be because whenever I went as a kid we always just did CP for breakfast. It never even came to mind as an option. funny.

I just went over to all ears tho to look at the menu and it looks extensive! http://allears.net/menu/menu_cpd.htm
Wow ..a new ADR for my next trip Thanks!

If you go in may for dinner I would love to read about it!

 

[mikkiwikki]

To maintain the Pop interest level in this thread...

I'm going to post this pic of a Pool Night we had at Pop.

I just love this pic.

I was sitting by the pool watching my kids have a blast, drinking a Pina Colava...it was like heaven on earth!

Ive been wanting to post this pic since I started my report so - Date sequence be darned. here is one of my fave Pop pics.

To finish my story regading my Magic Kingdom day - 11282008

We did get to rope drop at tomorrow land. Listen to the countdown - 10-9-8-7-6 etc. but then DS announces...I dont want to go on space mountain its too scary I want to go on Tormorrowland Transit authority.

Check out the line of the people trying to get into Space Mountain. It was kinda funny actually - There was this MOB of people that went to the LEFT to line up for Space Mountain, and my little family made a hard right to TTA.

We were the FIRST ones on the TTA ride. and Like the ONLY ones..We were yelling at the people in the Space Mountain line as we passed overhead the humongous line -
"Space Mountain has NOTHING on TTA! You guys are missing the REAL ride."

So if you heard some maniacs yelling on 11282008 morning and you were in SM line. HI!

more EARLY morning TTA pics - after we got back to the station we asked if we could go around again. The kids love this of course. The CM at the station said - "I totally understand TTA is the Lazy river of Tomorrowland". Haha

Pic of the speedway from TTA

DD on TTA - breaking the sit down rule

Next it was off to Buzz - Kids with Zurg

Headed over to BTM - my DD loves this ride but DS will not ride.

Then we sauntered over to Frontier land, along those riverside paths for a "lunch" of mickey Ice cream bars

Next we went on POTC, and finished with Jungle Cruise - This is a ride the kids love and I am kinda annoyed with how they have turned the schtick into a comedy routine. I mean - it may be kinda - old and funny' to adults - but to the young kids WE ARE IN AFRICA. I HATE the whole routine the boat drivers go through - making fun of everything. I think there is no reason to poke so much fun at the ride. I just see all these young kids looking confused like - WHAT is with all the JOKES. What dink made up the scripts for the boat drivers. AND
WHY do they have to SCREEEEEEAM in to the microphones.? I feel deaf leaving the ride.

I mean if they honestly think its such a joke - then just shut the ride down. (which would be a total shame and would make me cry - but I mean I just dont get the mentality)

 

[mikkiwikki]

After a busy day at the parks and a huge breakfast, the last thing we could think about was eating a huge sit down dinner. Also the kids came back to the resort wanted to swim swim swim, so it was most convenient to towel off change, and eat at the food court.

Before going here I was very nervous that It would be 'hard to find seating' very busy, crowded noisy - and some of the other adjectives I had read about on the DIS. We found none of the above to be true. We went during the dinner hour and it was not busy or crowded, lots of seating, and you could watch TV while you were dining (disney channel of course)

DD got loaded nachos - i know bad mommy not a great selection but hubby had gotten some one day on the way home and DD had a taste, and had been asking for them since that time. They were loaded with cheese, chili , sour cream - and other artery clogging good substances. VERY tasty.

DS got the cheese pizza - sorry for the slice taken out of it. I was slow on the draw with camera, and he was hungry. My DD would always WAIT for me to take a pic, but not DS!

I got the shrimp lo mein - which was just as good as I had read and there was a ton of it. Good and hot, and the shrimp were not chewy at all - as I had feared, cooked just right. The carrots were well steamed but not mushy. Perfect.

Hubby got the beef teriakyi but for some reason I cant find that pic! Ill keep looking He loved this too, he said he was worried about the quality of the beef (he is a butcher and knows his meat ) but he said it was very tender, and tasty with a great sauce. He ordered twice on this trip.

We were using Tables in Wonderland (AKA DDE). We wanted to compare our costs to the DDP which we used last year. I havent finished my spreadsheet yet, but I believe we actually saved money.

Our total for this meal was $20.21 with tax!
You cant beat that! (of course the nachos werent really a food group per se ha!)

Ill end with another POP pic I shot on my way out.

 

[mikkiwikki]

Where are all the POP lovers?

Am I that boring? I'm beginning to get a complex.

Must work harder to be more interesting....funny...intriguing.

This trip report stuff is hard work.

Mayyyybbbbe everyone is just getting ready for a visit by the man in the big red suit...and its not the lack of my writing charisma that is resulting in the lack of reader posts....

Do I have to do something SHOCKING? No might get points...INtriguing but somewhat shocking but not shocking enough to get points...hmmm Hmm..what to do....

 

[momsoftwins]

i am on board for this trip report
u are goin a great job and love all the pics....post on..post on!!!!

 

[Hyonlyf]

My girls and I are following along and enjoying your TR! We are going to POP in February so glad to hear positive stories

 

[laurainsem]

Just got all caught up! 28 1/2 days and i'll be Poppin it too. Can't wait to read more; your getting me SO excited for my first trip to WDW!!!!

 

[mikkiwikki]

i am on board for this trip report
u are goin a great job and love all the pics....post on..post on!!!!

My girls and I are following along and enjoying your TR! We are going to POP in February so glad to hear positive stories

Just got all caught up! 28 1/2 days and i'll be Poppin it too. Can't wait to read more; your getting me SO excited for my first trip to WDW!!!!

Phew - OK - it was library quiet out there. I was just worried no one was reading and feeling a little silly. Thanks everyone - for the vote of confidence!

I'm feeling a little silly generally because I on the DIS in the past, I feel I was kinda hard on the values. Worried that my lack of readership had to do with my past value stance.

However - I can honestly say - I stand corrected. This trip just goes to show you that you really have to try something before you can pass judgement. Values can be fun and I really didnt feel like I was 'giving anything up' which was the core reason why I never stayed in the past.

I am *still* floored about the bed situation. I dont know but the pics of the beds I had seen before my trip, for some reason always made them look like you were going to be sleeping on a slab of cement, and some pics made the mattresses look concave. I totally came into the room thinking sleeping would be a tough stretch. I am serious when I say the bed in our room was just soooooo comfy. Softer than the bed at POR, and CBR seemed firmer and less comfortable as well in comparison.

I digressed a little here, but thanks to all my readers, and Ill carry on for the love of POP! Our new fave resort.

 

[alan_renfroe]

Just found your trip report and I'm subscribing!! We will be staying at the Pop for the first time in May. Great pictures! Thanks for sharing.

Alan

 

[sskem96]

I've stayed at Pop on my last 4 trips, and we love it there! Unfortunately, we started outgrowing the room (DD#2 was on the floor last year!), so we bought DVC! DD#1 says we have to go back to Pop sometimes, and I promised her we'd at least go hit the food court there for her favorite chicken nuggets next month.

We're planning to go for Thanksgiving next year. How are the crowds? We generally go off-season, but we're trying to get 2 trips out of our annual passes, and DH is limited on when he can go around the holidays because he's a grocery manager. He insists that we have to go while the Christmas decorations are up and the Candlelight Processional is going on, since he really liked that last year. We figure if we leave on Thanksgiving day, we can stay a week and the kids will only miss 3 days of school. Last year we went a week after Thanksgiving and stayed 10 days, but now that DD#1 is in Jr. High, that's not really an option anymore.

 

[Mulan2]

Hey Mikkiwikki! Just got caught up with your TR and it is FABULOUS!!!!!
I really love your food pictures and especially that you post the prices.
Glad you love Pop. Looks like you had great weather too.
So you are going back in August? Maybe we'll see you...

 

[mikkiwikki]

Hey Mikkiwikki! Just got caught up with your TR and it is FABULOUS!!!!!
I really love your food pictures and especially that you post the prices.
Glad you love Pop. Looks like you had great weather too.
So you are going back in August? Maybe we'll see you...

HI Mulan2! Fancy meeting you here! Thanks for stopping by!!

Yes the next planned trip is August 15th ish to 29th ish
That would be so fun - Can you imagine?
I foresee lots of rides on Mission Space & TTA in my future no?
Man - Disney wouldn't know what hit it.

We're planning to go for Thanksgiving next year. How are the crowds?

Hi sskem - we have gone over thanksgiving for the past 4 years. I will say that our dates were almost identical over the past 4 years, and I recall the first trip in 2005 seemed to be the least crowded. It seemed to get more busy at the years went on, and now I am more sophisticated with my touring (ie. use TGM tourguide mike etc to choose least busy parks) so Im assuming it is just catching on in popularity.

We love thanksgiving but this year was a little chillier than in years past. 2005 I dont think we ever put on light jackets. This year we definitely were wearing them for 50% of the days, some days were in the 40s. But that is NOT typical.

We are going to try to go in august this time, because for reasons similar to yours my kids are getting older and we dont want them to miss any school (whichis why disney is busiest over the summer I imagine) oh well.

Thanks for reading my TR! Stick around@!!

just found your trip report and I'm subscribing!! We will be staying at the Pop for the first time in May. Great pictures! Thanks for sharing.

THANKS for reading my TR! It has been a blast, and a great way to preserve the memories. I'm really getting into it. Stay tuned for more Pop pics.

 

[preschoolmom]

I'm really enjoying your report! We stayed at the Contemporary for our first trip, and we're planning Pop for our next trip (August 2009).

I LOVE all your photos!

 

[Mulan2]

OK Mikkiwikki,
Those are the exact dates that we will be down there, except the first week we will be cruising on the Magic. Then from the 24 to the 29th, we'll be at BWV!!!!! We will have to meet up!

 

[rentayenta]

Keep it comin'. I am really enjoying all of the pictures. And for what it's worth, I let my kids eat loaded nachos, even when we are not in Disney


for all of the Pop photos too. The pool looks really fun. I am hoping to get a room near that pool. Can you suggest what building to request?