Originally posted by Mecllap:
[our following offsite stay at Clarion Maingate was much better for us.>
I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed your off site stay, but sorry you didn't like POP. I know everyone's taste is different, so it's a great thing that the world (Disney World and the REAL world!
) is full of such a wide variety of choices!
<And the beds! -- So glad I brought a twin-size memory foam mattress pad along as my carry-on -- the bed was awful (overheard some other families talking about their having the worst beds ever in a hotel, so it wasn't just me). And they were "short-sheeted" -- the smallest possible sheets to just cover the mattress and not tuck in at the bottom.>
Honestly, we didn't experience this at POP at all...but I know I have read other reports where people think the beds are hard. I can't stand when the sheets come up off of a bed (in fact, I have my sheets pinned down with a safety pin at home, so I would have noticed this big-time!), and I'm sorry you had that experience. And, yes, I did think the walls are a tad thin, that's why I was beyond glad I had the white noise machine with us to block outside sounds, especially for sleeping.
<The room was small (some have said like a Motel 6, and that's pretty close)-- we did have just enough room for the twin size blowup mattress for my grandson. The housekeeping service was fine (and I did appreciate the way they worked around our trying to make the room "livable" -- with our own dorm fridge and the extra mattress).>
As you know, it was just me and Mark on this particular trip, and we didn't feel the room was small. I don't know how it would have been if we would have had to put in an extra mattress, though...I'm not exactly sure where you would put that??
(We have stayed in the past at All Star Movies and All Star Music with our sons when they were teens, and felt the room was big enough for the four of us, certainly not spacious, but not tiny, either).
<The worst part was the long hike from parking back and forth to the room -- even leaving in the morning, in the heat, it was awful, and it was really horrible getting back to the room with a tired kid and my old grandma body in the evening -- especially from the Magic Kingdom. Even if we had taken the bus, we still would have had the same long hike back. We didn't try taking the bus, because the line was forming by the curb in the sun (not under the "shade" structure), and it was the same long walk (the only walk it saves it getting to your car at the Parks, which is awful from MK).>
Maybe it wasn't quite as hot during the time we were down in Florida, because I don't recall the walk as being really awful. In fact, I think the buildings at POP are a bit closer together than at the All Star resorts, which I honestly think makes the walk at bit easier. But, we never tried driving to the Magic Kingdom...I think the bus option to get to that park is so much more convenient, since you get let off pretty close and don't have to deal with the ferry or monorail.
<DonnaW -- you and your hubby are obviously younger and in better shape than I am! And I hope you continue to enjoy your visits to WDW and Pop Century -- but my next WDW visits are unlikely to include the Pop -- as much I enjoyed the decor (I wish they had spent the money on more convenient parking; larger, quieter rooms; and better bedding, instead of all the outside decor that does nothing for "creature comforts.">
Not sure how much younger or in better shape we are! LOL! But, yep, we LOVED POP Century!!!
But, again, everyone has different thoughts...I do appreciate your comments, though. Thanks so much for sharing!!!!
<Do you think Disney ever reads this stuff???!!! 
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
It was one of the greatest "pixie dust" moments of my life!!
