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

[Marla1106]

I have to disagree with telling them we are going "tomorrow". Although our girls 9 & 11 at the time knew they'd be going to DW they did not know when. We told them the morning we were leaving because we felt that if we told them prior they wouldn't get much sleep the night before due to being so excited and be tired and/or cranky for their first day at the (and my) "Happiest Place on Earth".

That is true. We have an 11 hour car drive down though. So if they don't sleep much that night, they will get plenty of sleep in the car. Also, my boys are only 7 and 4. They pass out at 7pm every night. LOL So while they may be very excited they will still fall asleep quickly.

 

[pooksma]

That is true. We have an 11 hour car drive down though. So if they don't sleep much that night, they will get plenty of sleep in the car. Also, my boys are only 7 and 4. They pass out at 7pm every night. LOL So while they may be very excited they will still fall asleep quickly.

I wish my 12 yr old would do that This is our second time "surprising" him and if I tell him the night before, he won't sleep.

 

[Marla1106]

I wish my 12 yr old would do that This is our second time "surprising" him and if I tell him the night before, he won't sleep.

LOL LOL That is funny. My kids are very good sleepers so far. Now, YDS is only 4 and still has a hard time with what tomorrow means. LOL So he probably won't completely understand. Plus he doesn't really remember the last time we went. He had just turned 2 the last time we went.

I had thought about telling the morning we leave, but we are getting up like at 5am and I know they will be so tired and out of it. LOL I won't get any reaction at that time. So I will tell them the day before b/c otherwise they will wonder why I'm packing in such a hurry. LOL

 

[Megsie1000]

We leave Thursday morning at the buttcrack of dawn!

Traveling will be me, DH, DD (9), DD (7), DS (4). We have two rooms. Traveling with us will be my friend, who is a Disney World virgin, and her two kids ages 9 and 7. They have one room. Also my BIL and my niece who have one room and my Mom will have her own room. So, 5 rooms altogether. My BIL arrives the day before us but has not put in any room requests and didn't get his reservation linked with ours. I linked mine, Christina's and my Mom's reservations. So BIL may end up far away from us but he doesn't seem to mind. Maybe that's the idea. We'll see where they have put him when we check in, I guess.

I am sure we are looking at crazy crowds but we are excited anyway. Trying to avoid the 24-hour day at MK so we had to switch around a couple park days and deal with the ADR headache that entailed. Our annual passes expire June 2 so we had to squeeze in our trip between when the kids get out of school and that deadline. We won't be renewing for financial reasons, so this is a last trip for a while.

I am hoping we end up in the Lady building near the classic hall. But we didn't pay for preferred ($250 extra for our two rooms to upgrade), so I realize that is only a request. Crossing my fingers!

 

[jcarwash]

I am hoping we end up in the Lady building near the classic hall. But we didn't pay for preferred ($250 extra for our two rooms to upgrade), so I realize that is only a request. Crossing my fingers!

There's plenty of standard rooms in building 1/Lady, so good luck! I think you may get your request!

 

[cbeeindisney]

Is it true that you can see a bit of Illuminations from the 4th floor of the 50s buildings, if so, that is where I'm requesting to stay next time?!

 

[acwsmom]

Is it true that you can see a bit of Illuminations from the 4th floor of the 50s buildings, if so, that is where I'm requesting to stay next time?!

It's true! You can see it on the 3rd floor too. We've stayed in the 50's and the 70's, lakeview for both, and could see the fireworks and hear the music from our room on the 3rd floor. We always knew it was 9:00 when we started to hear the fireworks!

 

[cbeeindisney]

It's true! You can see it on the 3rd floor too. We've stayed in the 50's and the 70's, lakeview for both, and could see the fireworks and hear the music from our room on the 3rd floor. We always knew it was 9:00 when we started to hear the fireworks!

Yay! Thank you, that's exciting, that's where I'll be when we're down there

 

[acwsmom]

Yay! Thank you, that's exciting, that's where I'll be when we're down there

In the 70's, you have to be on the side facing the bridge. If you are in the 50's, you have to be on the side of the building facing away from the bridge. But don't worry if your room is somewhere else - plenty of people head that way when the fireworks start. We had several people stand on the balcony in front of our room last time we were there. We all had fun just watching them together.

 

[FancyNancy]

Re: fan

Pop has a good supply of box fans you can request, too, if you don't bring your own.

82 or so days!! I cannot wait to be there, checking in. So my favorite place!

That's great to know! I won't bother bringing mine with me I'll just note on my ressie that I need one

 

[Kat016]

Can I request one at check in or do I have to make arrangements prior to our arrival for a fan?

 

[Robin K]

Just returned from our 5 night stay at POP! We had building 2 in the 50s section which is one of the areas we requested. We were on the back side facing the trees/parking lot. We were on the 4th floor. It was SO quiet. I was shocked at how little I heard. The day before we left we heard some workers outside...they were hanging plastic getting ready to paint. But it was 9 am..we had a late start that day.
The buses were wonderful, no long waits at all. We only had to stand once and that was to Magic Kingdom. The only bus complaint is the bus stop is right in the sun. There should be some overhead thing..I think anyway!
The food court was pretty good. We grabbed a pizza our first night since we arrived so late. The last day we ate the build our own nachos (wonderful) and a pork sandwich...mom enjoyed it. I thought the honey mustard had a kick-not terrible but nothing I would order again.
Any questions..I am here to help!

 

[DisneyDork712]

Is it true that you can see a bit of Illuminations from the 4th floor of the 50s buildings, if so, that is where I'm requesting to stay next time?!

You can see bits of Wishes, too!!

I took this video a couple of years ago - it shows Illuminations on the right, and Wishes off to the left!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUw7t9N50dE

In person you can also hear the Illuminations music!

We actually had a room in a different area, but walked over to the top floor of the 50's building to see the show!

While we were there, quite a few people wandered over to catch the show! So if you request a room there, keep in mind that you may have a lot of foot traffic around fireworks time!

 

[Janet B]

Just got home last night. Pop does have cherry coke on one of the drink stations but in the 12 days that we were there, we only found it to be in use just one time. Every other time, that one was closed up. I was always trying to get some too.

That's too bad ... was the times it was closed late in the evening? I know that POP usually only has one drink station when we have returned from the parks.

Thank you, Janet B! I'm so excited!!! DH has been down there since January and I visited in Feb and April and the very FIRST thing I did was to get my Florida drivers' license so I could get my resident AP! Made me ridiculously happy! It's going to be quite an adventure getting down there with that Penske truck! LOL! I will definitely enjoy a few days of Disney fun before my last leg of the trip!

Bring plenty of Disney music to keep your mind off the driving ..You need a sign in the window.. "POP or BUST" Safe travels!!

I posted on a separate thread about me leaving my anniversary ring in the safe at Pop. Thought I would give an update:

I called and talked to someone at lost and found who was less than helpful. She indicated that I must be mistaken and not left it in the safe as the maid didn't see it when cleaning the room (I had checked the safe even before leaving, so I can see how she wouldn't have seen it). I pressed further and insisted and she said that the room was already occupied and they would have to wait to look for my ring.

I wasn't satisfied with that response so I manged, after being on hold several times, to talk to someone who actually was located at Pop. I couldn't talk to the manager, but the person I talked to said she would pass along the message. Later that night (11 pm) she left me a message (do not disturb on my iPhone) saying she found my ring and I could call back and she gave me a different phone number. In the morning I talked to a different manager who confirmed they had my ring and it was in the safe at lost and found for Pop - the only issue I had here, was that they said I was in a different room. After I got off the phone, I confirmed my room number with my travel documents and I was right.

Took a few days of playing phone tag with lost and found for Pop. They don't answer the phone all the time and my cell phone doesn't work at work (I work next to radiation equipment at a hospital, lead and phone signals don't work). Finally got a hold of them and they UPS'ed my ring back and I got it on Tuesday.

Yesterday I got a post card from lost and found saying that they could not find my lost object, but they would continue to look.

Anyway, if you were staying in 3169 and you let someone in the room to check the safe - THANK YOU!!!!

Congrats on recovering your ring! Happy that your perseverance paid off. And that's funny about getting the snail mail saying that they will be continuing to look...

I'm so glad that they found it and that you got it back!!
In their defense though, they do have a tremendous amount of staff and sometimes things?situations can go in more than one direction...and when I checked on this for you at the actual hotel front desk, your reservation was noted that it was found and sent... So they were really trying very hard to reunite you with your item. POP isn't perfect, but I do think that they really try to do the best they can! Keep in mind this is the largest hotel on Disney property...2,880 rooms! When it was built 10 years ago, POP was the 10th largest hotel in the US, and the 27th largest in the world!!

stitchlovestink, nice of you to help out..

Re: fan

Pop has a good supply of box fans you can request, too, if you don't bring your own.

82 or so days!! I cannot wait to be there, checking in. So my favorite place!

Minnesota, Thanks for the info..

My aunt & I leave a wk from tomorrow for 4 nights at Pop for 5/26-5/30! My aunts 60 & has never been to Disney let alone FL! We watched the Disney planning DVD last wk on mothers day & she's even more excited. I can't wait to go! I'm also hoping to book a bounce back for DH & I for the fall for F&W (we've never been!). My aunts so funny, when I started talking about the parks she said "we get to go to the parks too??". Then when I talked about rides she said "now you have pay for the rides?". When I said it included she said "well we got a great deal then!". We also have the reg dining plan. Our plans:

Sun: Check in, hopefully rooms ready, our plan arrives around 11a, then off to AK & have a CS lunch, then DTD for dinner at TS Wolfgang Puck ( I thought 2 places would be a lot of 60 yr old aunt, but she's gung ho to go to both 1st day)

Mon: DHS, CS lunch- not sure where, TS dinner Mama Melrose. I can't wait for her to see Fantasmic!

Tue: Epcot, CS lunch-not sure where, TS Biergarten dinner

Wed: MK, hopefully CS lunch at BOG (hope to get in line early), TS dinner at Ohana (I've never been, so excited to go-DH very jealous because we've never been able to get in)

Thur: back home

I've found getting up early works best & then going back to hotel after lunch for a little break & a swim, then back to parks for dinner- aunt seems open to this (when we went to Vegas last yr we got up early every day, had breakfast & hit the pool right when it opened to get good pool chairs, lol. So I know she doesn't mind getting up early on vacation) I keeping telling myself that we can't do it all, but I still want too!

Plans seem great!! Your Aunt sounds so sweet (and up to the challenge of Disney! ) If you are looking for suggestions we like the french bakery (which has been expanded), Mexico, England or Sunshine seasons for CS in Epcot.

Also, depending on the timing of your Mama Melrose ADR, you might want to eat light ... we like Starring Rolls at HS. Did you book the Fantasmic! package? If so, typically the ADR times are earlier and the meal does includes the appetizer, so lots of food.

Wishing you loads of for getting into BOG fairly quickly! And congrats on getting O'hana, we love it for both breakfast and dinner.

Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere yet but we just got home last night from 12 days at Pop and we did share a bus with Art of Animation on 2 occasions.

The first time was early in our trip and I forget now where we were headed. But the second time was yesterday morning as we were heading to the MK at about 8:30 am.

We did notice that every time, AoA had much larger crowds at their bus stops than Pop (kind of glad that we weren't able to switch to a LM room after all). At closing this week, there would be multiple MEARS buses picking up AoA guests from the MK.

hmm... wonder if that is not the norm and tranpo pulled the POP bus over to AoA due to scheduling issues...really hope the sharing will not continue... Both resorts are big.

 

[ClendeninHouse]

My family and I are headed to Pop in September and I'm so excited. My DH and I stayed at Pop for our honeymoon in 2009 and loved it. Now we'll be taking our 2 and half year old and 1 and a half year old for their first trip. I cannot wait! I've been reading up on this thread and I can hardly contain my excitement for our trip.

 

[Jimmysmom0703]

Im so excited to stay at POP. Its our 1st time there.my original date are 8/25 to 8/30, but I.might change it to 8/27 to 9/1..the flights are CRAZY priced right now n I figured I get up Sunday n fly home!!

 

[cbeeindisney]

Im so excited to stay at POP. Its our 1st time there.my original date are 8/25 to 8/30, but I.might change it to 8/27 to 9/1..the flights are CRAZY priced right now n I figured I get up Sunday n fly home!!

How exciting! You'll love it there! We stayed August last year and intend to go back

 

[stitchlovestink]

That's too bad ... was the times it was closed late in the evening? I know that POP usually only has one drink station when we have returned from the parks.

Well my experiences in March and May (but it was slower and low occupancy levels according to my CM friend there) they rarely had all of the soda dispensers operational. I believe there are 8 sets. I mostly only saw 6 open...and sometimes only 4! and Yes, late at night after about 11pm, it was down to just 2 dispensers (always the two closest to the gift shop).
I don't think the whole time I was there I ever saw ALL of the seating areas open! They always had sections closed off. I'm guessing to make it easier for the CMs and I'm figuring so they didn't have to staff as many working the dining room.

hmm... wonder if that is not the norm and tranpo pulled the POP bus over to AoA due to scheduling issues...really hope the sharing will not continue... Both resorts are big.

We shared a bus with AoA on one of my trips in March. It was a mid morning trip to MK. There were only 6 of us at POP...When we left there, the driver made a right and went the back way over to AoA! Their queue was packed!!! We filled up and there were still people left! On my May trip I was on a bus to MK and a driver was training another driver. There were only 3 of us guests on the bus (me and another couple). The trainer came and sat down once we were in route to MK. So I struck up a convo with him! I asked him about the two resorts sharing buses and he said it was an extreme rarity. When it happened, it was pretty much always a case that AoA was horribly back up. If the driver arrived at POP and had a fairly empty queue there, and AoA was swamped, they were sending them there to 'fill up' and help alleviate the waiting issues. They try not to do it, but on occasion it does happen. I used the buses a TON in January (12 days there!) and in March (7 days there) and only once did I experience this. I only rode the bus a handful of times in May because it really wasn't a pleasure trip, but it never happened then.

 

[brooke789]

We just checked in today! Got here about 1:45 and our room was already ready. Also, flowers that DH had ordered (secretly) for Mother's Day were in the room waiting!

We're really pleased with the size of the room. We were trying to figure out (before arrival) how we'd work it all. We had a mountain of drinks & snacks, a cooler, a double stroller and two kids portable beds. We had decided that we'd tote the stroller to and from the car after we used it each time, but turns out we have PLENTY of room! The kids beds are between the tv & window (we moved the little table to just behind the door), the stroller fits perfectly between the TV and the wall separateing the vanity area. All of our shoes/snacks & drinks are on the floor in that area also. We did take the suit cases back to the car after we unloaded them but we are totally happy with all of our space and don't even feel cramped!

Also, from the description here I was expecting the refrigerator to be almost unusable. We put a thermometer in there and it is 36 degrees (didn't google but sounds cold enough to me!) we also fit a TON in there. I unloaded our entire cooler into the refrigerator. We have: a gallon of milk, 4 Izze drinks, 2 Starbucks Fraps, 3 Starbucks Refreshers, 2 Can Sodas, tub of pimento cheese, 18 Gogurts, 12 Naked juices, two kids straw cups w/milk + 6 beer bottles! Maybe I misunderstood, but the descriptions I read sounded like you were lucky to get a half gallon of milk in the fridge!

Anyway...just wanted to share!!

Just wanted to update with a pic of the fridge now that we're home

 

[mjperry]

I think sharing a bus is a good idea, if pop has three people and AOA is packed or vice versa then it's the responsible thing to do, and for Disney saves money so why not.