[WVWISEGUY]

Just got back yesterday from a great week at WDW.

We arrived on Saturday, March 13 at 3:00PM at the Pop Century resort. My 2 sons, 7 & 4, loved the look of the resort as we pulled in. I was suprised that there was no one in the check in line, so check in only took about 2 minutes, and off to our room. We were in the 70's building close to the bus stops. I had daxed a request asking for a room close to bus stops and in the 70s and got it. After unpacking, we walked arounf=d the resort and the boys loved all of the theming and pools. Headed off to the Contemporary and Chef Mickeys at 6:00 for a 7:30PM PS. Met my parents there who I had made reservations for in the Poly, and they got the area I had faxed requests in for them. However, Chef Mickeys could not find our PS and determined that the PS had been entered for the previous day, but they fit us in. Characters and waiter were OK, but not as good as last summer, but still had a good time. Watched the foireworks and water parade before heading back to Pop.

Got up the next morning early and headed for breakfasts at Pop. Had quick meal with cereals and pastries, and went to get in line for the bus to MK and early entry. Had to wait about 5 minutes for bus, and we arrived at MK at 7:50. When the MK opened my DW took sons to Dumbo and I met my parents on Main Street because my mother had a wheelchair due to she has extreme arthritis. Headed to Dumbos and we watched as my sons rode. Then we headed for Winnie the Pooh and wait was only 5 minutes. After this, my oldest son wanted to go on Soace Mtn, so my wife, dad, and son headed there, while I took my younger son and my mother to Buzz Lightyear t get Fast Passes. Had a problem due to all of our tickets had gotten zapped by the entry machines into the MK, but the CM gave me FPs anyway. My group rode the People Mover and when we finished, the other group was coming out of Space Mtn. My dad was a little dizzy from Space Mtn which he only rode because of a promise to my son.:dazed We all headed to Buzz Lightyear and walked on through FP entry, the regular wait was 50 minutes, and it was just 9:30. After the ride, in which I helped my oldest son score the highest of our group, 358,000, we headed to Mickeys Toon Town Fair. My wife and sons rode Barnstormer 3 times without a wait, and they got to ride it the first time with Goofy. Stopped at Guests Services and had tickets fixed; the machines had zapped all of our days off all tickets and had even voided my Annual Pass. We headed back to Pop for Lunch before my 4 yr old went into melt down. After lunch, I took my oldest son swimming while my youngest took a nap. We headed to EPCOT for the evening around 4:30. We rode Energy, which my 4 yr old loved because of the dinosaurs, Imagination, Living Seas, which I was very disappointed in because I had not been in there for years and it has not been updated in my opinion. After that we headed to Canada for the 360 movie and then to England for Dinner at the Rose and Crown. We were seated at 7:45PM and had a table on the patio. Dinner was great, we had a great waiter and we finished as Illuminations was starting which we watched from our table. Great end to the evening.

Tuesday we headed to Animal Kingdom after breakfast. We decided to drive becuase we wee going to the Poly in the afternoon. We arrived at the gates to the parking lot at 7:30AM, but theydid not open until 7:45. We arrived at the entrance at 7:55, but there was a huge line of people for the area where they check packages and bags. My wife had a pack and had to wait nearly 10 minutes to have it checked. When we entered, she headed to the Safari for FPs, while I took the rest to Bugs Life. Several minutes later, my wife showed up. She said that they had the FP machines covered and were not going to uncover them until 9:00, but after so many people started complaining, they opened the machines and she got passes for 9:45. We went to Bugs Life and everyone loved it. Then we headed to the safari, which when we arrived was 9:46 and we waited about 5 minutes in FP line. Had a great time. After this, my parents headed to Lion KIng show, and my sons wanted to go to Rafiki's Planet watch. My wife and I talked our sons out of it because there was a line that was 30 minutes long to get on the train. As we headed towards Dino Loand, we checked out Kali River Rapids which only had a 5 minute wait and we went on it. This was one of the highlights of the trip. My oldest son and I got pretty wet but not soaked, but my wife and other son hardly got wet. We stopped and let sons play in the bone yard , had lunch at the Pizzafari, and left park at 12:30. CROWDED hardly descibes it. Drove to Poly and parked at Poly. They gave me a whole days pass since parents were staying there. I took youngest to my parents room and he took a long nap . My wife took oldest son to Mk and rode rides. The rest of us met wife and son for Dinner at Liberty Tree at 4:30 and had a good meal and characters were better than Chef Mickeys. After dinner, my parents went to do somethings on their own, and I took oldest son to Haunted mansion, while wife took youngest to Splash Mtn ( she had secured 2 sets of FPs for different times, so she took early and I took later for me and older son.) Started Raining:nooo: . MAde it through rain and we rode HM and Pirates before Splash Mtn. Met my wife and other son and headed ack to Main street when it started pouring as the Fireworks were going off. Then it started lightning. We toom the monorail to pOly and had to wait for 15 minutes for some reason before going through the Contamporary. Finally made it to Poly and went to parents room and dried off before heading back to Pop.

Tuesday we went to EPCOT and it started raining again, arrived around 9:30. Went to test track, but it was closed due to rain. Decided to ride Spaceship Earth and to the Land to try to stay dry. After this we headed to Italy for lunch at 12:30, and it quit raining. Met my parents for lunch and had a nice lunch, but was some disappointed in the food. But my sons loved the desserts. After luch we went back to Pop and took oldest to the game room while youngest napped. Ate dinner at the Pop and off to the MK once again arounf 7:00. This time, we rode Splash Mtn 2 times in a row and Big thunder Mtn 3 times in a row with 5 minute waits at the standby lines. We then did Jungle Cruise and Alladins Carpets 2 times. We went to the Poly at 9:30 to say goodbye to my parents who were leaving the next morning. My oldest and i took the boat while my wife and youngest took momonrail. The boat won by about 5 minutes. My parents drove us back to the Pop since they wanted to see the resort.

Wednesday, we went to MGM and arrived at 8:50. We went to Indiana Jones first and then to Who wants to be a Millionaire. Sons and wife loved both. After that I took oldest to animation and we drew MIckeys. It was pretty sad walking through the areas that used to house the artists and knowing they were not there anymore:cry: . My wife took youngeat to Playhouse Disney and then we all headed to the Great Movie Ride since my son wanted to get to see the bank expolde. Last summer we were in the car where the gangsters take over. We waited about 10 minutes. We headed back to Pop without even getting a FP. We spent the afternoon relaxing and then headed for MK and PS at Crystal Palace at 5:30. My wife went and got FP for Phiharmagic while we waited to be seated. Return time was 7:45. Great food and the characters and waiter were great. Headed to Splash Mtn, but all Fps were gone as was Big Thunder, and it was only 6:00. Previous nights there were still Fps available at 10:00PM. The standby line was 75 minutes wait and we talked the sons into skipping both, so we boarded the train and headed to Mickeys toon town. We rode the barnstormer 3 times, and headed to Mickeys Philharmagic. This was a great show. We then headed for Main Street to watch fireworks, but the parade was going on and thought we would never make it to main street, but found the CMs had a special path open. We went through the back lot behind the main street shops. Pretty cool to see the other side of the shops, no landscaping, and mostly just a parking lot. Did some shopping and waited for Fireworks and we were not disappointed. THEY WERE GREAT!!!:D Headed back to Pop.

Thursday, we went to EPCOT and rode test track, space ship earth, and american adventure. Test Track was alot of fun. We had lunch at america and the food was better than expected. Left park around 1:30 and went back to Pop and spent day at the pools and went to Blizzard Baech that evening and played minature golf. There were only 3 families there and kids loved the course. Went to DTD but did not stay because of the CROWDS. Went back to Pop and kids fed the rabbits outside our door grapes. Packed up and were ready to leave next morning.

Friday, had breakfast at Pop, shopped a little, traded in tickets from game room for prizes, packed van and left.:cry:

Stpped at DTD and had lunch at Rainforest Cafe. Had a great time. Did some shopping, had ice cream frim Ghiradali, and hit the road.

Was stuck for 2 hours in traffic on I4 in Orlando, then got stuck for 1 hour outside Savanna, and 4 yr old son got sick in van. Finally made it to Columbia, SC at 11:30PM. Tried to hook up with DisneyAnne, but schedules did not work out, plus hotel forgot to give me message she had left until check out. We stopped at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia before heading back to WV. We visit Zoos frequently, and this one was very nice. Even got to feed Giraffes by hand. Finally made it back to the Mountain Satte late Saturday Night.

Summary:

Had a GREAT Time!!!

We loved the Pop, we were afraid after staying at the Poly last summer we would be let down, but the CMs and theming were great. And for the price, it could not be beat.

Best comment from oldest son on the night it was raing, "DAD, a bad day at Disney is better than a good day at work or schoool."

Best meal: Rose and Crown.

Most Magical time: Getting to share DIsney with my sons and watching Wishes Fireworks

Last night I was putting my oldest son, Josiah, to bed. He said he could not get to sleep. and then he said, "Dad, i sleep better in a Disney bed, so can we go back now?":laugh

[crystalrp]

Great trip report! Glad you liked PC. Had read some unflattering reports so this was a nice change. Hope your family's PDD doesn't last too long! Thanks for sharing! :)

[alextina]

Great trip report Thanks for sharing.:D BTW did you notice much construction at the Poly we will be staying there at the end of May and are very excited about it since we have never stayed there before. I have heard that the construction will be done by May 2, but was curious as to whether on not it was very loud or noticeable right now. You know in the construction biz deadlines are made to be broken so I am sort of anticipating that there will still be some going on when we arrive.:dazed

[tinkerbell]

Oo I am so glad we went when we did .. it didnt rain at all :)
Hey I noticed you didnt mention riding Mission: Space?
you and BDavis checked in on our check out day !!! dern it
If you read my trip report we liked the Pop too .. and the CM's were soo great.. a much better experience then we had last August at CBR.

but it does sound like you had a very very magical time !!
thank you for helping me deal with my PDD !!

OH and I can really sympathize with your DS getting sick in the van :(

[tiggerlover1971]

great trip report

[Dana]

Thanks forthe great trip report. It's sounds like you all had a great time. I think your DS said it best about sleeping better in the WDW beds...lol That can be my next excuse to my family for going again.

[BDavis932]

Great trip report!! Thanks for sharing it with us!
I guess I didn't realize we were going to be there the exact same days. It would have been neat to meet up.

[WEDINDISNEY]

Great trip report. I know that when I read the trip reports it always makes me feel like Iam there and helps pass the time until we can go again.
Thanks so much for sharing. :)

[eeeee]

Best comment from oldest son on the night it was raing, "DAD, a bad day at Disney is better than a good day at work or schoool."

AMEN!

great report!

[WVWISEGUY]

Great trip report Thanks for sharing. BTW did you notice much construction at the Poly we will be staying there at the end of May and are very excited about it since we have never stayed there before. I have heard that the construction will be done by May 2, but was curious as to whether on not it was very loud or noticeable right now. You know in the construction biz deadlines are made to be broken so I am sort of anticipating that there will still be some going on when we arrive.

The construction was not loud and it was the building to the right as you exit the Great Ceremonial House. The Poly is a great resort and my parents loved it. They had a great garden view room with a view of the marina and could see the contemporary across the lake.

Hey I noticed you didnt mention riding Mission: Space?

No we did not ride Mission Space. My wife refused and my son was not sure about it. I wanted to but not sure about the fit since I am a large person.

I guess I didn't realize we were going to be there the exact same days. It would have been neat to meet up.

I know, I thought the same thing when reading your report.


Still suffering from PDD, but wanting to start planning next trip. This morning my 4 yr old told me that we did not stay at WDW long enough, so we needed to go back this weekend.:laugh

[tinkerbell]

Originally posted by WVWISEGUY

This morning my 4 yr old told me that we did not stay at WDW long enough, so we needed to go back this weekend.:laugh

Ok your 4 yr old is sooo very smart *grin* .. If DH would agree to less then 5 nights I would love a short trip the end of May so we could go during the flower and garden festival .. but I dont think we can do both a week in May and then 2/3 weeks in August.

[ajbdk5]

I loved your trip report wiseguy...great job!

You and your wife did an excellent job of "tag-teaming" it with the boys, good for you!:)