Just Back!

[letsgoagainsoon]

Just returned home from 7 nights at Pop Century with DH and DS, 18mos.

We really enjoyed Pop Century. Great room location. Nice shopping area and good food. DS loved the fountain jets at the pool.

We never waited very long for a bus, except once back to the resort after EMH at MK. However, the buses were ALWAYS packed. One night I had to sit on the floor of the bus with my DS (anyone who has tried to stand on a moving bus with a very active toddler, knows how difficult this is, if not impossible!), IMO, I think that it was rude no one offered me their seat.

At the parks--crowds were large, but manageable, especially with fastpass.

Weather was HOT, as expected, but it didn't rain nearly as much as we had expected it too, especially with the hurricane nearby.

Character meals were lots of fun for all of us.

We encountered some very nice CM's, as well as some not so nice ones, same goes for the other guests (see bus above).

Any questions, ask away! I will try and post a more detailed trip report on that board within the next day or so...

 

[MMPC123]

HI, am also going with an 18 month old in Oct. (staying also at Pop) Were the jet fountains too rough for a toddler? How was meal time? I am a little worried that I will be walking around trying to amuse very active DD instead of being able to enjoy eating a warm meal (have given up on anything hot some time ago!)

Best toddler show? Best toddler park? Any info would be wonderful. thanks in advance

 

[bubba73]

It sounds like you had a really good trip. I stayed at Pop about a month ago and I have been wanting to go back ever since I came home. Glad you had a good trip.

 

[CanadianPaco]

Wonderful!! Thanks for the post!! We are doing the single digit dance to POP!!

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

HI, am also going with an 18 month old in Oct. (staying also at Pop) Were the jet fountains too rough for a toddler? How was meal time? I am a little worried that I will be walking around trying to amuse very active DD instead of being able to enjoy eating a warm meal (have given up on anything hot some time ago!)

Best toddler show? Best toddler park? Any info would be wonderful. thanks in advance

At first my DS was a little apprehensive about the fountains, but I sat right there with him and within ten minutes he LOVED them! There are actually two different areas with fountains--one behind the big petal pool, this is the one we were at most because it was more like a baby pool, and the other one has the pop jets that you just run through (that aren't in a pool)--those were off to the left as you came out of the back of the main building. He did like those too.

We found that the character meals kept DS VERY occupied, I would highly recommend them. We did Crystal Palace for breakfast and Chef Mickeys for dinner, it was the first time in a LONG time I was able to enjoy a hot meal, without him wanting down and running around! We also did Sci-Fi, Rainforest Cafe at DD, and the Biergarten, as well. I found that anything that had a show or characters kept his interest long enough for DH and I to eat. BTW, we had AR's for all of those. In the MK we ate at Pinnochio Village Haus and sat on the side that he could see IASW, which he loved to watch!

I would say he liked MK the best, he LOVED IASW, Peter Pan, PotC, Buzz Lightyear, Haunted Mansion, Pooh, the Carousal, Aladdin Carpets, Liberty Riverboat (he fell asleep) and the Speedway (although I would never stand in line for that one long--not worth it!), and Mickeys Philharmagic. We did go over to Toon Town, but he wasnt interested in Mickey or Minnie's house and he was too small for the Barnstormer. We did play in the small play area for a bit, and he did like that.

He loved all of the characters, especially Chip and Dale, and I found that they all spent extra time with him as opposed to older kids.

MGM was pretted good for him too, he liked the shows, loved Playhouse Disney--did that 3x's. He did not like the new stunt show, maybe because it was SO hot that day and we were at the VERY top. DH and I did not care for it either.

At AK we did Tough to be a Bug, he LOVED it, Festival of the Lion King, he liked it at first, but fell asleep half way through it. Didn't do anything else there, really hot there.

At Epcot, he liked the Figment ride, the Land, and the Sea. In WS he rode El Rio in Mexico, which he loved, probably because of it's similarity to IASW. He also rode Maelstrom in Norway, and didnt mind that at all.

We did Blizzard Beach for about 3 hours, he really liked that too, there are some little tiny slides that you can ride on with her, and also she can ride with you on the lazy river.

I took little snacks in the parks for him to eat, so when he got fussy he could have a cracker or cookie, that helped big time. We bought a ton of water in the park and he drank ALOT.

I did not use the baby stations at all, so I don't know how they are, but many people say that they are great. We took our own stroller, the rented ones look so uncomfy, plus ours reclines.

Hope that helps, if you have any other questions, let me know...oh, take LOTS of film or memory sticks, you'll take a ton of pics!

 

[MMPC123]

Thanks so much for all the great info!

I am so looking forward to this trip. DD8 was only 4 the last time and only remembers tiny bits of the trip (loves looking back at the pictures ) I know she will have a ball! but am concerned about getting out of my "norm" and dealing with a toddler now that I am so out of practice after all these years

Glad to hear you and your family enjoyed your trip. thanks again for posting