Flight: We flew from Atlantic City to Orlando via Spirit - great flight.
Car Rental: Using a code mentioned on the transportation board and an Entertainment Book coupon, I had booked a car with National. Pick-up of the car was easy although the service rep at the desk was a bit pushy and gruff when I didn't purchase optional insurance or pre-paid gas. We don't always rent a car. However, this vacation included 4 nights at Disney; the weekend visiting family in Saint Augustine, and 3 nights at Universal. If not for changing locations, we would have skipped the car rental and used Tiffany Towncar.
Arrival at Pop Century: We arrived at the resort at about 10:30. There was no line for check-in. At check-in I was told that the resort would be full and they wondered if I would like to relocate to AS Sports. They offered half off of the first night. I declined that offer and said that we were really looking forward to trying Pop Century.
Comments on Pop Century: We have never stayed in a value before - have stayed at Swan, POR and POFQ. We found the theming, food court and bus service at Pop Century to be great...as good as, or better than the previously mentioned resorts. We were on the second floor in the 50's building. (next to the Jukebox) We had a corner room overlooking the bowling pin pool. The location was excellent for us - We didn't mind the pool noise at night as I have read that some people do. It was just a short walk to the food court and buses. Our room was spotless - like that they recently added the hairdryers. Housekeeping was very efficient. We asked for additional pool towels and extra pillows and they arrived within minutes. The pool was never overly crowded. Tables could always be found at the food court. Lines WERE long at the ice cream counter in the evening. Bus lines looked VERY long most mornings. However, they always had someone directing the lines and busses at peak hours. We never waited more than 20 minutes.
Parks: Parks were crowded but we managed to do what we wanted to do by using fast passes. We did not find the early mornig hours or bonus evening hours to be too much of a bonus. For example...in Epcot, we got on Soarin' very easily using fastpass one day...during the extra evening hours, it was impossible. The line for fastpasses that night wrapped through the tables for the cafeteria at The Land. Magic Kingdom was exceptionally crowded with irrititable people one day...we ended up leaving much earlier than we anticipated....so many crying children and screaming parents! We had been on Soarin' at Disneyland...so, we enjoyed its addition to Epcot. Our best meal was at Chefs de France in Epcot.
I used Dreams UNlimited for the first time - Although I only used their services for the rooms at Disney and Universal, I was pleased with the service.
Car return: Car return was easy. Using the directions given on this website, we got gas at exit 9 off of the Beeline Expressway. Yet another good tip from these boards! INstead of using a back road taht some people know, we just got back on the Beeline Expressway to Exit 11 for the airport.
Return flight: Spirit - flight was delayed due to weather conditions in other places that day. It seemed as though all flights were backed up. We left qabout an hour late...no big deal...It was a safe and uneventful flight!
Car Rental: Using a code mentioned on the transportation board and an Entertainment Book coupon, I had booked a car with National. Pick-up of the car was easy although the service rep at the desk was a bit pushy and gruff when I didn't purchase optional insurance or pre-paid gas. We don't always rent a car. However, this vacation included 4 nights at Disney; the weekend visiting family in Saint Augustine, and 3 nights at Universal. If not for changing locations, we would have skipped the car rental and used Tiffany Towncar.
Arrival at Pop Century: We arrived at the resort at about 10:30. There was no line for check-in. At check-in I was told that the resort would be full and they wondered if I would like to relocate to AS Sports. They offered half off of the first night. I declined that offer and said that we were really looking forward to trying Pop Century.
Comments on Pop Century: We have never stayed in a value before - have stayed at Swan, POR and POFQ. We found the theming, food court and bus service at Pop Century to be great...as good as, or better than the previously mentioned resorts. We were on the second floor in the 50's building. (next to the Jukebox) We had a corner room overlooking the bowling pin pool. The location was excellent for us - We didn't mind the pool noise at night as I have read that some people do. It was just a short walk to the food court and buses. Our room was spotless - like that they recently added the hairdryers. Housekeeping was very efficient. We asked for additional pool towels and extra pillows and they arrived within minutes. The pool was never overly crowded. Tables could always be found at the food court. Lines WERE long at the ice cream counter in the evening. Bus lines looked VERY long most mornings. However, they always had someone directing the lines and busses at peak hours. We never waited more than 20 minutes.
Parks: Parks were crowded but we managed to do what we wanted to do by using fast passes. We did not find the early mornig hours or bonus evening hours to be too much of a bonus. For example...in Epcot, we got on Soarin' very easily using fastpass one day...during the extra evening hours, it was impossible. The line for fastpasses that night wrapped through the tables for the cafeteria at The Land. Magic Kingdom was exceptionally crowded with irrititable people one day...we ended up leaving much earlier than we anticipated....so many crying children and screaming parents! We had been on Soarin' at Disneyland...so, we enjoyed its addition to Epcot. Our best meal was at Chefs de France in Epcot.
I used Dreams UNlimited for the first time - Although I only used their services for the rooms at Disney and Universal, I was pleased with the service.
Car return: Car return was easy. Using the directions given on this website, we got gas at exit 9 off of the Beeline Expressway. Yet another good tip from these boards! INstead of using a back road taht some people know, we just got back on the Beeline Expressway to Exit 11 for the airport.
Return flight: Spirit - flight was delayed due to weather conditions in other places that day. It seemed as though all flights were backed up. We left qabout an hour late...no big deal...It was a safe and uneventful flight!
