Hi everyone. We just returned late Saturday night from an 8 day stay at WDW. Our travel dates were 9/23-10/1. This trip included myself, husband Nick, our two girls- Sage (age 5 1/2) and Aria (just turned 1), and my parents. This was Sage's 2nd trip, her first was right before her 4th birthday. Link to that trip report if you're interested 
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/sages-first-magical-trip.894130/
On our last trip, we stayed at Pop Century and fell in love with the resort. The cleanliness, the friendliness of the staff, the big Disney statues, the Hippie Dippie Pool, the kiddie pool, it just felt like home to us. We originally booked this stay at Pop but when free dining was released, we had to switch over to All Star Sports. I was nervous about the switch, we all loved Pop so much, but we knew it wasn't really all that different. Our family of 4 requested a connecting room with my parents. We also requested first floor, thinking that would be easier getting in and out with the double stroller.
Travel Day
We flew out of Providence at 7:20am.
We were bummed there were no morning direct flights via Southwest so our flight did have one stop. There was no plane change so we had to stay on the plane for about 30 minutes while people got off and on. It made the whole flying process a little longer but overall it wasn't bad. This was Sage's 2nd flight, Aria's first. Both girls did great! Sage played, colored and worked a little on her homework. Aria played with her toys & books and was passed back and forth between my mom and I, and eventually, fell asleep. So that was nice!.
Even though there was a bit of a line for the Magical Express, the bus came quickly and we were loaded on. We made great time getting to Sports. We landed at MCO around 11:25 and were checking in at Sports at 12:45. No bad at all!
We were able to get both of our requests, connecting rooms on the first floor, and were assigned to tennis building 5. About 10 days prior to our trip, I ordered some things online from Walmart and Target and shipped them to All Star Sports- baby food, diapers, formula, wipes, breakfast items, etc. A few days before leaving, I got confirmation emails from both places that my items had been delivered. I asked about our packages when we checked in. I was told that within the past several months, Disney hotels have been so overwhelmed with the amount of package deliveries, that they no longer have the space to store them within each hotel. Instead, they have rented a facility off site and all packages are sent there. When you check in, it is then that your packages are attempted to be found. I was told this process could take up to 4 days! I explained that since my packages were confirmed delivered, I only packed enough baby items for that day. And we absolutely needed our items ASAP. They said they would do their best to have my packages to me by midnight.
For the next few hours, we checked out our room and the grounds, ate lunch at the food court, unpacked, and then went for a swim in the pool. Sage loved the kiddie pool at Pop so we started at the Sports kiddie pool.
A few things- we noticed a strong sewer smell in the pool area. It was really terrible and made us not want to even spend time there. The water was warm. Like, too warm. It was 90 degrees and super humid every day of our trip. I don't know how hot they keep the pools but it was not refreshing at all. I actually had to get out after a while because it was making me more hot. We spent a little time in the kiddie pool and then went over to the main pool to see if the water was any better. It was a bit better, but not much.
I'm not trying to sound like a scrooge, but after being so bummed to not be at Pop, all these little problems with Sports were not making us happy.
At about 7 that night we were getting the girls ready for bed and we still not have any of our packages. I was stressing out because I was hoping to have the diaper bag all packed for the next day before going to bed. But I didn't have the diapers and food we needed. I put the girls to bed (having my parents next door was so nice, I could go over in their room instead of sitting in the dark/quiet) and Nick went back down to the front desk to check on our packages. Between 7 and midnight, they were able to locate about 75% of our stuff. The only downside was that every time they found a box, they would call our room (waking the girls) or knock on our door (waking the girls). Needless to say, we all slept pretty terrible that first night.
We had a busy day planned for Saturday, a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique appointment for Sage and some Fantasyland fun! More coming soon
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/sages-first-magical-trip.894130/
On our last trip, we stayed at Pop Century and fell in love with the resort. The cleanliness, the friendliness of the staff, the big Disney statues, the Hippie Dippie Pool, the kiddie pool, it just felt like home to us. We originally booked this stay at Pop but when free dining was released, we had to switch over to All Star Sports. I was nervous about the switch, we all loved Pop so much, but we knew it wasn't really all that different. Our family of 4 requested a connecting room with my parents. We also requested first floor, thinking that would be easier getting in and out with the double stroller.
Travel Day
We flew out of Providence at 7:20am.
We were bummed there were no morning direct flights via Southwest so our flight did have one stop. There was no plane change so we had to stay on the plane for about 30 minutes while people got off and on. It made the whole flying process a little longer but overall it wasn't bad. This was Sage's 2nd flight, Aria's first. Both girls did great! Sage played, colored and worked a little on her homework. Aria played with her toys & books and was passed back and forth between my mom and I, and eventually, fell asleep. So that was nice!.
Even though there was a bit of a line for the Magical Express, the bus came quickly and we were loaded on. We made great time getting to Sports. We landed at MCO around 11:25 and were checking in at Sports at 12:45. No bad at all!
We were able to get both of our requests, connecting rooms on the first floor, and were assigned to tennis building 5. About 10 days prior to our trip, I ordered some things online from Walmart and Target and shipped them to All Star Sports- baby food, diapers, formula, wipes, breakfast items, etc. A few days before leaving, I got confirmation emails from both places that my items had been delivered. I asked about our packages when we checked in. I was told that within the past several months, Disney hotels have been so overwhelmed with the amount of package deliveries, that they no longer have the space to store them within each hotel. Instead, they have rented a facility off site and all packages are sent there. When you check in, it is then that your packages are attempted to be found. I was told this process could take up to 4 days! I explained that since my packages were confirmed delivered, I only packed enough baby items for that day. And we absolutely needed our items ASAP. They said they would do their best to have my packages to me by midnight.
For the next few hours, we checked out our room and the grounds, ate lunch at the food court, unpacked, and then went for a swim in the pool. Sage loved the kiddie pool at Pop so we started at the Sports kiddie pool.
A few things- we noticed a strong sewer smell in the pool area. It was really terrible and made us not want to even spend time there. The water was warm. Like, too warm. It was 90 degrees and super humid every day of our trip. I don't know how hot they keep the pools but it was not refreshing at all. I actually had to get out after a while because it was making me more hot. We spent a little time in the kiddie pool and then went over to the main pool to see if the water was any better. It was a bit better, but not much.
I'm not trying to sound like a scrooge, but after being so bummed to not be at Pop, all these little problems with Sports were not making us happy.
At about 7 that night we were getting the girls ready for bed and we still not have any of our packages. I was stressing out because I was hoping to have the diaper bag all packed for the next day before going to bed. But I didn't have the diapers and food we needed. I put the girls to bed (having my parents next door was so nice, I could go over in their room instead of sitting in the dark/quiet) and Nick went back down to the front desk to check on our packages. Between 7 and midnight, they were able to locate about 75% of our stuff. The only downside was that every time they found a box, they would call our room (waking the girls) or knock on our door (waking the girls). Needless to say, we all slept pretty terrible that first night.
We had a busy day planned for Saturday, a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique appointment for Sage and some Fantasyland fun! More coming soon
An adult who needs to take afternoon naps because the afternoon heat/humidity wipes me out. I can only imagine the nightmare I was as a toddler!!!! Your children were angels compared to me lol.