POP - why is it so POPular?

[Giggle]

Forgive me for my ignorance. I have not stayed on Disney Property since 1996. WOW! I have only been three times since then and have not actually visited the Disney Parks, only a character meal at Poly, DTD, Seaworld, and Universal. So the last time I went to Disney, there was no POP and we stayed at ASMusic and loved it. It seems now that the # 1 Value resort choice is POP. What makes it so special?

 

[Alaska Catdog]

I love POP, it's my second favorite resort out of all the ones we've stayed at. I love it for several reasons. The attention to detail in the theming is amazing I'm always finding something new to see or experience. The resort was clean and tidy. I love the counter service restaurant, it's got a lot of choices and is fresh and tasty. The resort is huge but it's set up in a way that you don't feel like a sardine, the crowd management is stellar. The bus system is easy to understand and they had enough busses for all the guests to get to the parks in a reasonable amount of time (which is more than I can say for CBR and CSR). But the best thing about POP is that with all this, you get one of the cheapest rooms onsite. We've stayed at 4 deluxes and 3 mods and Pop. I can honestly say that the only resort I'd rathan stay in so far is Yacht Club and that because the pool is so much better (I'm a lazy river addict). So there you go, you got my two cents.

 

[MelanieC]

Don't get me wrong- I'd love to stay at a Deluxe, but we prefer to stay longer and stay at a value. My kids will only stay at the Movies or Pop -DD15 says it's just not Disney at any other resort. She hated SOG & Contemporary-DH and I loved the Contemporary!

I've stayed at the Movies and POP. While I love the movie Icons at the Movies, Pop is just spread out a little nicer, more whimsical, bigger gift shop. One thing I love is the lake-would be great if they finished the other resort and you could walk across the bridge. There just is something that makes POP feel like home. We don't take the buses so that isn't a consideration for us.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

POP puts you in a childhood state from right when you enter the gates. Many childhood memories on display.

 

[Giggle]

So there you go, you got my two cents.

Your two cents was very helpful. I'll keep it in mind for our next trip.

 

[Giggle]

One thing I love is the lake-would be great if they finished the other resort and you could walk across the bridge.

Hmmm... what resort across the lake? Sounds interesting. More details please.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

The other half of the POP is on the other side of the lake. At this point, only the Classic Years (1950's - 1990's) are finished, with the Legendary Years (1900's - 1940's) possibly to come. However, that section has been delayed for some time.

 

[minnie61650]

Pop--the unfinished section........


This was published in June 2006 from this website:
http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=eo060630bb
After the strong success of the All Star Resorts, it became clear to Disney management that more "value level" resort capacity at Walt Disney World would be a good investment. Having more inexpensive rooms on-site would bring more customers through the gates to stay for longer duration visits, rather than staying off site at the chain motels on the 192 and International Drive strips.
Construction for the new Pop Century Resort, began in late 1999 and continued at a steady, if not breakneck, pace for almost two years.
Located just South of Caribbean Beach Resort off of Victory Way, the new resort was expected to be the perfect place for sports teams to stay while competing at various tournaments at the nearby Wide World of Sports. The influx of amateur softball and baseball teams, cheerleading and dance squads, and fans of the Atlanta Braves (who make Wide World of Sports their Spring training home base) would certainly fill this new resort's rooms as soon as it was built.
Then came the tragedy of 9/11. As our nation mourned the loss of heros and innocent civilians to the dastardly attacks on New York and Washington (not forgetting the patriots on the flight that "failed" it's mission when it crashed in Pennsylvania), going on vacation to visit Mickey Mouse became much less important. More families stayed home or took shorter, local trips for vacation in the two years or so that followed.
Without the need for the extra capacity, construction on the Pop Century Resort buildings was put on hold and the buildings were mothballed. It wasn't until late 2003, just in time for the Christmas holiday week in fact, that the Classic Years (depicting the 1950s, '60s, '70s, '80s, and '90s) half of the resort opened. The Legendary Years (depicting the decades from 1900 through 1940) remains incomplete and unopened with no published plans for completion.
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There have been rumors that someday Disney may finish that
area and put Family Suites in there.
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Here's a link to an article that talks about the unfinished section of Pop becoming suites:
It has photos of how the unfinished section of Pop looks.

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jeff_lange/archive/2006/04/13/1813.aspx


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*NOTE:Remember it is just a rumor about that section becoming Suites.
If you really want to stay in a Family Suite --All Star Music has them now.

 

[Giggle]

Thanks Mickey and Minnie!

 

[I Love Pluto]

POP puts you in a childhood state from right when you enter the gates. Many childhood memories on display.

I agree! You used a great choice of words to express that Pop "feeling".

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I think people like Pop for lots of different reasons. But I think there's a couple of factors that make it so popular. It's a relatively inexpensive way to stay on Disney property. And, it's the newest of the values. For our trip last year, we considered an All-Star until we read a little further and learned that Pop was newer. Is newer always better? Not necessarily, but to us it seemed like the better choice. It just sounded like a nice, clean, inexpensive and cool place to stay. We weren't disappointed!

 

[Vagabond88]

I've been to WDW only about 5 times and I've stayed in only 3 resorts because some of those trips I didn't stay overnight. The resorts I stayed in were one of the All-Stars ones I can't remember which because I was very young, The Polynesian Resort, and lastly POP century. I must say it's hard for me to choose, The Polynesian Resort was amazing it was just so beautiful but POP felt so whimsical and so, forgive my making a word up here, DISNEY-ish lol. The only thing I didn't like about POP was the food, it wasn't very good, atleast to me, and prices were ridiculous but that's just part of it.

 

[disneymoon_0307]

POP is the best resort there is. Now don't get me wrong I love Deluxe and would love the stay at the Contemporary, but sometimes I would rather stay longer than stay in a deluxe. We stayed in the 80's building this past Sep. when we went. It was close to everything the pool, main building, and the bus stop. The attention to detail is so amazing and it's like your a kid again. I like the flower shaped pool and the sprayers. POP definitely appeals to a much younger audience but my family loves it and we are staying there again this year. Also the food court at POP is amazing. They have so much variety and I have to get a Parmesean Crusted Chicken at least once. They actually have real meals so if you're on a tight budget and you can't eat in the park every night you still get a full course meal w/ dessert and a drink for almost $10. I think everyone should stay in POP at least once.