POP Century~Unofficially the Grooviest FAQ Thread #7~Sept 2012

[stitchlovestink]

First time staying on property and have a couple of questions! We have breakfast reservations at ohana @ 945am. Is their a bus we can ride there? How early should we leave to be on time? Also how do we get to DTD?
Thanks!

Buses do not run directly from one resort to another.For your breakfast at O'hana you can take the bus to the MK and from there either take the monorail to the Poly or the Ferry! Just if you take the ferry, be sure to take the RESORT ferry! I think if it were me, I would take the monorail...should be the third stop, IIRC. They say allow 90 min travel time for dining reservations which would mean 8:15. I think if you leave POP by 8:30, you should be okay. And then if you want the shortest quickest most direct route, there's always a cab. Of course, that won't be free though.
To get to DTD is easy! There is a bus that goes there Directly from POP. It is the furtherest bus stop in front of the actual hotel. During the day it will also make a stop at Typhoon Lagoon and it stops at both DTD Market Place and DTD West Side. HTH!!

 

[winnieatepooh]

Well, I'm going out on a limb here but honestly I don't think it really matters when you make your request for a king room as long as it's done at least 10 days prior to check in. Because that is when rooms are assigned. So whether you ask for a king room 200 days or 20 days prior to arrival, they aren't going to assign you a room until somewhere between 3 and 10 days prior to arrival.
I think what is most important is the order in which you put your requests. If a king room is MOST important, then list it first! And keep in mind the more requests you give them, the more limiting it will make the choices of places they can put you. So they may find it near impossible to meet all of your requests, give up and just put you where there is an opening. That's probably why they only allow 2 requests if you do online checkin?? Just some thoughts for you to consider...

Thank you for your input! I will definitely make the request when I book, but also give them a call a few days before we get there to make sure they have the request for a king bed. Really it doesn't matter which building we are in, as long as it is fairly close to the bus stops and we can get a king bed. But really I could sleep on a park bench and as long as I was in WDW I'd be pretty darn happy!!!

 

[markpenske]

We just got back from a 12 night stay at the Pop C.
I must say it was disappointing from the start.
To me it seems like it is starting to show its age. kinda run down in some areas. When we checked in and went to our room we opened the door to Garbage in the room, unmade beds, an overall mess. To their credit they did clean up the room later that day.
We were on the quick service dining plan. The pop century food court was horrible: Dirty, noisy, bugs and the food was bad.
We've stayed at the pop century a few times in the past and liked it. My opinion is it was really gone down hill. The quality of the employees is not what it used to be.

 

[jjas]

We stayed there for the first time a couple weeks ago just for two nights and said never again.

It was the noisiest hotel I have EVER stayed in. You can hear everything going on in every room around you. At one point it sounded like someone was going to come through the ceiling of our room - and we were on the top floor of our building so I'm not sure what that was about. Kids were running up and down the corridors and banging on doors early in the morning - and you can hear every family walking by and talking in the morning.

I also am curious who thought it was a good idea to put that picture of the tye dyed cheesecake in the elevator. That is the most indelible looking thing!!!

 

[Ballard67]

We just got back from a 12 night stay at the Pop C.
I must say it was disappointing from the start.
To me it seems like it is starting to show its age. kinda run down in some areas. When we checked in and went to our room we opened the door to Garbage in the room, unmade beds, an overall mess. To their credit they did clean up the room later that day.
We were on the quick service dining plan. The pop century food court was horrible: Dirty, noisy, bugs and the food was bad.
We've stayed at the pop century a few times in the past and liked it. My opinion is it was really gone down hill. The quality of the employees is not what it used to be.

I am so sorry you had a bad stay,yes opening your room and seeing that would be discouraging. I think with any hotel everyone's experience is going to be different and yep some really bad!. I hope In the future you might try POP again, for me nothing says Disney like POP century. But I know something like that can just put a black eye on the whole stay,and then you find everything that's wrong with a hotel. POP yes has its age and down falls just like any other resort at WDW. Maybe try a another resort??, maybe you can find your Pixi dust somewhere else, the Mouse has alot of it

 

[markpenske]

I was ok with the room not being ready. It was a mistake that they gave us the room before it was cleaned. And as I mentioned they did fix it. My biggest complaint was the food court and the employees.
I dont know how to say this correctly but it seems like disney puts a certain type of worker at the value resorts that you would never see working at a deluxe resort.
We stayed at the pop century many times before, it was our yearly vacation spot. The last few years we stayed at the coronado. We thought we'd give the pop another try but dont think we'll stay there again.

 

[jcarwash]

When I was on the phone to Reservations the other day, I asked if it would be possible to request a good building without it going into the paid categories, and the CM told me that it was possible to request a room in a preferred building without paying for Preferred, it just meant that you weren't guaranteed it as you would be if you'd paid. So she put down my request, here's hoping it works out! I believe the King beds are in somewhat short supply, so if I were you, I'd request it as early as possible

There aren't preferred buildings, there are buildings (six of them) with preferred rooms in them. These building also have standard rooms in them. So for one example, you can book a standard room and request either building 1 or 3 in the 50's, and your room may be just steps away from a preferred rate room (or a standard pool view room, which also costs more).

 

[lovesdumbo]

I believe the King beds are in somewhat short supply

If I am reading the map right there are 2,880 rooms at Pop-10 building with 72 rooms on each of 4 floors.

5 of those buildings (Jukebox, Play-Doh, Mickey Phone, Walkman, Laptop) have only standard rooms and 5 (Lady, Tramp, Mogli, Big Wheel, Roger Rabbit) have accessible rooms. The standard room buildings have only 2 kings on the first 3 floors so only 6 rooms in 5 buildings = 30 standard king rooms in the entire resort.

The accessible buildings have 4 double bed accessible rooms on all 4 floors so 16 * 5 buildings = 80 total and 6 king accessible rooms on each floor so 24 * 5 = 120 total.

That leaves 2,650 standard double bed rooms.

All king rooms have connecting doors.

 

[jbugeye22]

I am here right now sitting at the pool, I have to say based on some of the reviews I was actually regretting booking here. I have a standard room In building 4 and I was pleasantly surprised by the accommodations. My last stay was at Coronado springs and I prefer this place. Right by the pool, clean rooms. I have heard that the rooms are tiny and I have to disagree. As first timers here we are very happy that I did not switch hotels.

 

[KELLY]

I am here right now sitting at the pool, I have to say based on some of the reviews I was actually regretting booking here. I have a standard room In building 4 and I was pleasantly surprised by the accommodations. My last stay was at Coronado springs and I prefer this place. Right by the pool, clean rooms. I have heard that the rooms are tiny and I have to disagree. As first timers here we are very happy that I did not switch hotels.

I have stayed at all levels and agree. I think the rooms being small is way over stated.

 

[mjperry]

To me it's a place to sleep, rest, and take a shower before you go have more fun.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Goofysrus]

To me it's a place to sleep, rest, and take a shower before you go have more fun.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I agree 100%!!!

 

[olwyngdh]

I have stayed at all levels and agree. I think the rooms being small is way over stated.

I agree--we had 3 adults and a child in a room at Pop last trip, and will again. I brought a hanging shoe thing for the bathroom door for toiletries, and hanging shelves to put in the closet for food, etc, and we had no issues with the size. I was in on one of the fridge swaps, and since they have fridges in the room now, we won't even have that floor space taken up. The *only* thing I wish Pop had that it doesn't is a hot tub!

 

[tracydeech]

I am here right now sitting at the pool, I have to say based on some of the reviews I was actually regretting booking here. I have a standard room In building 4 and I was pleasantly surprised by the accommodations. My last stay was at Coronado springs and I prefer this place. Right by the pool, clean rooms. I have heard that the rooms are tiny and I have to disagree. As first timers here we are very happy that I did not switch hotels.

Thank you for this review. I was getting worried reading some of the reviews. My family is not too hard to please so we should be fine. Staying there this fall! Can't wait!

 

[stitchlovestink]

Checked into POP today...was talking to one of the check in desk supervisors and surprisingly enough while some of the other hotels are booked solid, or close to it...POP is not! Yay For us!! This is supposed to be a busy week here!

My DD works at Saratoga Springs and it was a Mad House over there!!

 

[bentopher]

I'm so bummed

Serves me right for modifying my reservation too many times.
I was online yesterday doing my checkin (60 days).. and I noticed that it said "standard room". And I'm like hmmm...

So I call in cuz I KNOW when I booked this back in October I upgraded to a preferred view and sure enough, somewhere in my many modifications the preferred view was "lost" and now I'm only booked in a standard room.

Not to say that she can't book me the preferred room, cuz she can, but now that's $120 more.. and after budgeting to get this trip paid off, I'm not sure that I want to pay the extra cuz in my HEAD, the price was for the preferred room since that's what I originally booked.

Sigh.. just bummed and needed to vent.

Thanks.

 

[smitch425]

I'm so bummed

Serves me right for modifying my reservation too many times.
I was online yesterday doing my checkin (60 days).. and I noticed that it said "standard room". And I'm like hmmm...

So I call in cuz I KNOW when I booked this back in October I upgraded to a preferred view and sure enough, somewhere in my many modifications the preferred view was "lost" and now I'm only booked in a standard room.

Not to say that she can't book me the preferred room, cuz she can, but now that's $120 more.. and after budgeting to get this trip paid off, I'm not sure that I want to pay the extra cuz in my HEAD, the price was for the preferred room since that's what I originally booked.

Sigh.. just bummed and needed to vent.

Thanks.

Chin up! There are MANY standard rooms that will be closer to things than some of the preferred rooms. Consider it a blessing that you didn't spend the extra when there is no guarantee the room would be in a better location. I suggest requesting building 9 in the Rubik's Cube area. If you take the stairs on the far right of the building (when looking at the map), you can cut through the parking lot and be at the bus stops in no time.

 

[SnoopyGal7]

We just used Mears to go to Universal. Very easy and a good experience. They were right on time and picked us up at Pop in a small van. Stopped first at SeaWorld and were at IOA way before it opened (our preference).

Pick up was just as easy but they only pick up on the :15 of the hour. We were picked up at 5:15 and it was a deluxe coach bus heading to all the Disney hotels. They couldn't drop us at DTD so we hopped off at the first hotel drop and picked up Disney transportation to DTD. Easy peasy.

We did not need the express pass. It was freezing when we were there. Lines were short. We had a lot of fun and my boys loved the thrill rides. We only did IOA. Next time I'd do a day at both parks, I think!

Awesome, thanks for the info on mears! I think we'll be using their service when we go. How far in advance did you have to call to schedule a pick up time?

I was hesitant on whether or not it was worth it to sacrifice a day from disney to go to "the dark side". But once my husband saw the hulk roller coaster, Spider-Man ride, and the rip rock it coaster, he was sold. So, looks like we're going! Haha...

 

[bentopher]

Chin up! There are MANY standard rooms that will be closer to things than some of the preferred rooms. Consider it a blessing that you didn't spend the extra when there is no guarantee the room would be in a better location. I suggest requesting building 9 in the Rubik's Cube area. If you take the stairs on the far right of the building (when looking at the map), you can cut through the parking lot and be at the bus stops in no time.

Ahh gee thanks. I know once I digest it, it'll be ok.
It's just hard when you've had this plan in your head.. Preferred View, and request was 50's section. We wanted to spend time in the Bowling Pin pool, and yet be close enough to transportation.

Last time I did a standard room at the All Star Sports.. we were in the BACK and the longest walk. At night with 2 young little kids walking to your room is the WORST feeling ever. Didn't want to have to do that again this time, y'know?

Can I hope I end up with some at check-in? lol

 

[SnoopyGal7]

If I am reading the map right there are 2,880 rooms at Pop-10 building with 72 rooms on each of 4 floors.

5 of those buildings (Jukebox, Play-Doh, Mickey Phone, Walkman, Laptop) have only standard rooms and 5 (Lady, Tramp, Mogli, Big Wheel, Roger Rabbit) have accessible rooms. The standard room buildings have only 2 kings on the first 3 floors so only 6 rooms in 5 buildings = 30 standard king rooms in the entire resort.

The accessible buildings have 4 double bed accessible rooms on all 4 floors so 16 * 5 buildings = 80 total and 6 king accessible rooms on each floor so 24 * 5 = 120 total.

That leaves 2,650 standard double bed rooms.

All king rooms have connecting doors.

Soooooo, my husband and I are super low maintenance, and so some of the negative reviews on here don't worry me. I've read way more positive things about Pop, so I'm super excited! I'm just thrilled about being on site!

BUT.....( you knew that was coming, right?) I admit I'm sorta bummed that if your request a King room, you're not guaranteed one. It's just me and the hubs, and (get ready for a little TMI) we pretty much cuddle like sleepy bears all night. In other words, without a king, the alternative is two twin beds??? How do couples manage this? Do y'all just sleep in separate beds? Move the beds together? Cuddle up in one?

How good are the chances for us getting a king in September, especially if I make no other requests? I really don't care which building we get....I kinda look forward to the luck of the draw, and figure if they put us in the boonies, it's good exercise! but the no king is buggin me....I haven't even told my husband because I know he's going to be super bummed....lol.