9 Night Trip- Pop or Contemporary?

[3"Mouse"keteers]

Hi! We are planning a nine night trip to Disney in Oct. We can't really afford the Contemporary especially for nine nights, but we might be able to swing it if we only stayed maybe 5 (we also have the 40% off pin). I've heard bad reviews about the rooms at Pop and the beds and was wondering if I would be miserable after sleeping on a hard mattress for nine nights? Should we shorten the trip and stay at Contemp. or go the whole nine days and tough it out at Pop? I need your advice. We also have a two year old, if that makes a difference.........

 

[engle]

Why not do a moderate resort and stay the whole 9 days??

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If your not going to try the Contemporary for all 9 nights, you should at least try it for a few nights. Another thing to think about is if you were to stay in a Garden Wing room there it is half the cost of a Bay Lake view, which is the cheaper view in the Tower. If that's still not a good option maybe you could still stay at the Contemporary for a few days, then try a Moderate Resort for the rest of your time at WDW if you are that worried about the beds at Pop Century.

 

[AJKMOM]

Before we bought DVC, we used to split our stay almost every trip. It is easy to do if you want to try 2 different places. If not, check out the pricing for a moderate. The more money you spend now, the longer it will be until your next trip.

 

[Jalva22]

Here would be MY choice. It's a highly personal thing and what I'd choose may not be best for you and your party.

First alternative: Check the cost to see if you could swing 9 days split between Pop and a moderate.

If that won't work: Cut a couple days off and see if you could swing it then.

If that won't work: You're stuck with Pop or losing 4 days. My choice at that point would be to either bite the bullet and stay at Pop OR postpone my trip until I could afford better lodging without sacrificing 4 days at WDW.

One final alternative: Research some offsite places.

I'd just hate to see you sacrifice almost half your time at WDW to stay in a Deluxe. There are also cheaper Deluxe resorts than the Contemporary. Check out Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge rates. Don't be afraid of standard view at either place, they still beat Pop by a long way IMO.

 

[DW-Admin]

Contemporary all the way. You have to look at what time of the year you are going as well. We can get everything and more done in 3-5 September days. But looking to mid-summer, you will probably need that larger period of time to get everything in. I am speaking from experience in my last June trip. I recommend a September trip, at Contemporary, with hopefully free dining for you .



At least that's what we are doing this fall. But we are doing a week at Contemporary with deluxe dining

Good luck in your plans.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

We often stay less ngts so we can enjoy a deluxe - it's just so lovely and relaxing it actually makes the vacation feel much longer than 5 or 6 ngts!

With a 2 yr old you'll have the monorial so handy and be walking distance to the MK.

I'd request a Garden Wing Bay lake view - first floor, if possible, since there are not balconies in the wing, but first floor has a patio.

We'd definitely go for 5 ngts at a deluxe, yet feel we were away longer, rather than the hectic pace of a value (we've stayed 4/5 ngts at POP too).

Whichever you decide, have an absolutely wonderful trip!!

 

[Bugsmom73]

Look into WL. It is a great alternative.

 

[fakereadhed]

I've heard bad reviews about the rooms at Pop and the beds and was wondering if I would be miserable after sleeping on a hard mattress for nine nights?

Pop Century has nice, clean, small, basic rooms with decent beds. If you want a sore back you'll have to go to NickHotel. I like soft beds, and the Pop beds are OK- not like my pillowtop at home, but sleepable.(is that a word?)

What Pop doesn't have is a monorail running through it, 70's styling(well maybe in the 70's section ), room service, a hot tub, or a TS restaurant.

If you decide to go for Pop(around $50 bucks a night with the 40% in value season for me)I would recommend dinner at California Grill and Chef Mickey's to soak up some Contemporary flavor-especially since you say you can't really afford to stay there. Really, for me, the part I enjoy most about staying deluxe is the lobby and TS so I make a point to visit the deluxe resorts for meals. Sleeping in a deluxe room for me is not the highlight- I have my eyes shut anyway.

 

[BrittBritt]

I think this is such a tough question to get advice from others about since it's so personal. We would rather stay at Disney for the longest length of time, so we wouldn't hesitate to stay at Pop (or split time at a moderate). Other people, of course, would rather have the experience of the deluxe property, and the length of time isn't as important to them.
What are your priorities? Length of stay? Hotel experience? Of course, having the monorail right in the Contemporary would be great with your 2-year-old. Maybe stay there the days you're going to MK or EPCOT, and switch to another resort for days you'll be at another park?
Either way---you know you'll have a great time.

 

[unicorn1]

Stayed at both - definitely CR if those are the only two options.

If I were ever lucky enough to stay 9 days at WDW though, I would definitely do a split stay. I love experiencing different resorts and we pack light, so maybe that's why. Nine days sets up nicely to split it in my opinion.

 

[tink774]

We would rather stay at Disney for the longest length of time, so we wouldn't hesitate to stay at Pop (or split time at a moderate).

I agree 100%. I'd much rather stay at a value or a moderate for a longer period of time. It depends on what you want out of your resort, though. For me and my family, the resort is pretty much just where we shower and sleep. But if you plan on actually spending time at your resort and are looking for there to be more activities available outside the parks, then a place like the CR would be a better choice. And if you plan to spend most of your park time at MK and/or EPCOT, then the monorail would be a good benefit, especially with your DS.

As for the POP, I have stayed there twice in the last two years and neither myself nor anyone I have traveled there with have had problems with the beds. There will be plenty of space for the three of you in the rooms. My sister, my mother, and I were all able to fit comfortably in one room for a week. I have not been there with children, but others have said that the pools at the POP are great for kids. The only problem I have experienced there is the crowded food court at breakfast, but that can be avoided if you get there really early. Or perhaps you can get a fridge and keep milk in it to have cereal in the morning (this is usually what we do). But that's up to you.

Whatever you decide, have a wonderful trip! Whichever resort you choose, I'll still be jealous that you're there.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Nine days is definitely a pretty long trip. You could easily trim off a day or two and still have plenty of time at WDW. Even a five day trip is enough to see all four parks plus. Even with nine days you won't see EVERYTHING WDW has to offer though. I'm satisfied as long as I make it to each park though. It's easier to powerhouse through five full days than to keep up the pace for nine.

If beds are your consideration, the beds at Pop and the mods are pretty much the same. The beds at the deluxes are maybe a little better (I sort of think the ones at GF were better than anywhere else on property - or maybe my opnion was just tainted 'cause it was GF!). The deluxes are queen sized beds, the mods and values are full - so that's the real difference.

If it's a quality bed you want, consider the Swan. Their beds are a step above the ones at Disney. They are REALLY nice! If you can get teh $199 rate, than that may be a good option for you.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Just wanted to add that last time I stayed at a mod (POR,FQ & CBR) or value (POP), the mods had pillow top beds, POP did not.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

If it were me, I would not cut 4 days off my trip just to stay at the Contemporary. Can you do maybe 7 days at a Moderate? Or a split stay?

Personally, I prefer the Moderates. I get to stay at a beautiful, tranquil resort without shelling out the big bucks (because we really only sleep there). The Values are not my taste at all, and I just can't justify the cost of a Deluxe.

 

[Mike N Kathy]

Since you have the 40% code... If i was you i would price the wilderness lodge its very nice.. and cheaper then the other deluxes so Maybe you can compromise instead of doing the Contemporary and maybe do like 7 nights

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I would go for 7 and stay at the WL. With a two year old, you might appreciate what a deluxe has to offer. The CR would be first with 5 becuase the monorail is awesome with little ones.

Save the values when they get older and the buses might not be such an issue. It can be a lot to tote a toddler back and forth on the bus everyday IMO.

Whatever you decide, have a great time and remember to go at your todler's speed if you want to really enjoy yourself. A great pool might be the way to go on a day off to relax with one another.

 

[Pezalicious]

While it's one of my least favorite themed hotels, ASM has pillow top mattresses. I believe it's the only value resort to have them so far.

 

[Sysyphus]

I'd be quite happy with nine days at any of the values - DW hated the small beds at ASMo.

See my sig below to see who's in charge - although this time I really don't mind losing

 

[Calliaz]

I really like Pop and we stayed their for 8 nights last month; however, we did get sick of it about 5 days in to the trip. I really wish I had split the stay. I would either see if I could afford a moderate for your entire trip or split the stay.