We just returned from a very nice 8 day stay in Disney. We chose to stay at Pop this time around which was nice but pretty sure I wouldn't want to stay there at certain times of the year and learned after one stay exactly what locations in the resort I wouldn't stay again. Everyone was super friendly at Pop from the time we stepped off the bus but they put us in room 7460 which was in the far corner by the computer pool. Since new to Pop we figured cool nice quiet section but the only thing is you have to walk a friggin mile to get anything. We got refillable mugs but Disney has no drink machines back there (kinda stupid), nor any way to get snacks, etc as all food was in the main building (we did get our excersise though). Its partially our fault for not doing enough research on the resort. We did use Garden Grocer though which was nice to stock our room with water and snacks. We did the frig but in reality if I would have had a way I would have gone to Walmart and bought a bigger fridge and just left it same price for what we paid to get the mini cube but it served its purpose. Downside of Garden Grocer was Disney did not deliver our refrigerated goods for 2 days even after multiple calls.
Lots of construction going on in our section as they were doing what looked to be remodeling many of the rooms. So quite a bit of banging and generators going on at certain times during the day. Resort did not seem to be that full and most of the people that we talked to and ran across seemed to be from the UK and South America. That is until Saturday as we were checking out it had transformed into kiddie world (guess many schools were out). Over all the resort was nice but think on the next stay will try another place. We previously stayed at my favorite the Wilderness Lodge so we perhaps were a bit spoiled. The counter service meals were good and a nice selection.
Bus transportation ran smoothly and efficently except for some handicap issues we ran across (Posted in another thread). Most cases not much wait for busses. There were a few occasions we had to wait on the next bus to come. Guys and Girls you really need to get some manners and give up the seats to the little one's (especially when you can see they are dead tired). As for the teenagers and 20 somethings not much hope for you all when it comes to this department, but then again many parents didn't either so they learn from what they see.
We hit all the parks and some numerous times and everything seemed to be in great shape around all the parks from what we could tell. There was some construction going on down Mainstreet in the Magic Kingdom and also in the back section around ToonTown. Early in the day getting on rides was no problem but as the day wore on many rides had long waits or what I consider a long wait for a 3 minute ride. Our trip in 2008 we didn't do much of the thrill rides because the little one didn't care for them but this time she had a taste for speed and liked it. So she was rather disappointed she couldn't get quickly back on the ride. Disney could do with putting a few more thrill rides in each of the various parks to perhaps thin out the wait times. We hit many of our favorites such as Muppets 3D, Micky's Philhamonic, Dumbo, Tea Cups, Barnstormer (yes we have a 5 year old), Toy Story, etc. Momma and the little one enjoyed so much going to draw the characters in HS, plus little Emma got to hold hands with Leo and walk down the street with him as they skipped along (needless to say neither of us had a camera ready so we missed it as it just happened out of the blue). Everywhere we went disney people were giving her candy, etc. She loved it but man she was bouncing off the walls. I think our little one felt entitled but hey its disney and its where kids dreams come true and hers did. She dined with Micky and Pals, Cindy and the princesses and finally met Tinkerbell and the fairies which had her walking on air. But nothing caught me off guard like the sheer enjoyment she had for Test Track and disappointment because she couldn't go on Everest to see the Yeti. As for me I got sheer enjoyment out of just watching her be a princess for a week and living on Disney Time.
The heat was on for many folks. I am from South Louisiana and South Texas so high heat and humidity is a normal thing. I know many would think it cruel but I really did have a mini vacation just watching most people deal with the moderate heat and humidity (90's Temp/50-60% Humidity). Heat index probably had it around 98 or so. Can't tell you how many kids I saw melting down in the heat and then hearing the parents blaring "We paid a lot of money to get in this park so come on". Really if the sun is kicking your butt its kicking the little one's as well. Saw many a person from the UK and elsewhere having a hard time dealing with the heat. On another note I would deprive no one of visiting Disney but if its hot/humid and your 80 + suggest you stay out of the parks. We saw quite a few elderly people sprawled out with the medics, etc trying to tend to them along with countless others really not handling the heat very well. Our little girl got picked to recieve the rose from the prince in the Beauty and the Beast Stage Play. Unfortunatly a little old lady in the front of us passed out toward the end of the show and all Cast Members, etc had to rush to help her. She didn't look to good coming in and I overheard the paramedic asking the lady with her if she was having any problems. I almost fell out of my seat when she told the medic Quote " I told her to drink more fluids because she had passed out twice already". This woman was not missing her disney trip even if she had to drag this sweet old lady around the park with her. Needless to say the Prince didn't know what to do when the cast memeber didn't come get our little girl for the rose, but he did leave it on the stage for her and we tried to explain to her why she didn't get to go up and get it from him.
Well we did many more things during our stay but alas we had to come back to the real world although the little one seems to be planning her next trip already.
Hope all with upcomeing trips enjoy and go have fun on Disney Time.
B
Lots of construction going on in our section as they were doing what looked to be remodeling many of the rooms. So quite a bit of banging and generators going on at certain times during the day. Resort did not seem to be that full and most of the people that we talked to and ran across seemed to be from the UK and South America. That is until Saturday as we were checking out it had transformed into kiddie world (guess many schools were out). Over all the resort was nice but think on the next stay will try another place. We previously stayed at my favorite the Wilderness Lodge so we perhaps were a bit spoiled. The counter service meals were good and a nice selection.
Bus transportation ran smoothly and efficently except for some handicap issues we ran across (Posted in another thread). Most cases not much wait for busses. There were a few occasions we had to wait on the next bus to come. Guys and Girls you really need to get some manners and give up the seats to the little one's (especially when you can see they are dead tired). As for the teenagers and 20 somethings not much hope for you all when it comes to this department, but then again many parents didn't either so they learn from what they see.
We hit all the parks and some numerous times and everything seemed to be in great shape around all the parks from what we could tell. There was some construction going on down Mainstreet in the Magic Kingdom and also in the back section around ToonTown. Early in the day getting on rides was no problem but as the day wore on many rides had long waits or what I consider a long wait for a 3 minute ride. Our trip in 2008 we didn't do much of the thrill rides because the little one didn't care for them but this time she had a taste for speed and liked it. So she was rather disappointed she couldn't get quickly back on the ride. Disney could do with putting a few more thrill rides in each of the various parks to perhaps thin out the wait times. We hit many of our favorites such as Muppets 3D, Micky's Philhamonic, Dumbo, Tea Cups, Barnstormer (yes we have a 5 year old), Toy Story, etc. Momma and the little one enjoyed so much going to draw the characters in HS, plus little Emma got to hold hands with Leo and walk down the street with him as they skipped along (needless to say neither of us had a camera ready so we missed it as it just happened out of the blue). Everywhere we went disney people were giving her candy, etc. She loved it but man she was bouncing off the walls. I think our little one felt entitled but hey its disney and its where kids dreams come true and hers did. She dined with Micky and Pals, Cindy and the princesses and finally met Tinkerbell and the fairies which had her walking on air. But nothing caught me off guard like the sheer enjoyment she had for Test Track and disappointment because she couldn't go on Everest to see the Yeti. As for me I got sheer enjoyment out of just watching her be a princess for a week and living on Disney Time.
The heat was on for many folks. I am from South Louisiana and South Texas so high heat and humidity is a normal thing. I know many would think it cruel but I really did have a mini vacation just watching most people deal with the moderate heat and humidity (90's Temp/50-60% Humidity). Heat index probably had it around 98 or so. Can't tell you how many kids I saw melting down in the heat and then hearing the parents blaring "We paid a lot of money to get in this park so come on". Really if the sun is kicking your butt its kicking the little one's as well. Saw many a person from the UK and elsewhere having a hard time dealing with the heat. On another note I would deprive no one of visiting Disney but if its hot/humid and your 80 + suggest you stay out of the parks. We saw quite a few elderly people sprawled out with the medics, etc trying to tend to them along with countless others really not handling the heat very well. Our little girl got picked to recieve the rose from the prince in the Beauty and the Beast Stage Play. Unfortunatly a little old lady in the front of us passed out toward the end of the show and all Cast Members, etc had to rush to help her. She didn't look to good coming in and I overheard the paramedic asking the lady with her if she was having any problems. I almost fell out of my seat when she told the medic Quote " I told her to drink more fluids because she had passed out twice already". This woman was not missing her disney trip even if she had to drag this sweet old lady around the park with her. Needless to say the Prince didn't know what to do when the cast memeber didn't come get our little girl for the rose, but he did leave it on the stage for her and we tried to explain to her why she didn't get to go up and get it from him.
Well we did many more things during our stay but alas we had to come back to the real world although the little one seems to be planning her next trip already.
Hope all with upcomeing trips enjoy and go have fun on Disney Time.
B
