An honest review of Pop Century - just back

[disneyholic family]

when i was there in august i went to see the Pop Century....to check out the theming, food court etc...
i totally agree with your assessment of the food court....i was so glad we hadn't stayed there as i know my daugther would not have been able to spend two seconds in there with all that noise....it was truly deafening..

as for sound-proofing in the rooms, we had a serious sound problem when we stayed at the CR.....it was terrible...and given the amount of money we were spending there a night i was very upset (we were in a 1 bedroom suite on the 14th floor concierge...so you can imagine)...
we checked out after only 3 days because it was so bad....i was awake the entire night....thanks to the baby next door who woke up every half hour on the dot...it was as if he was in our bed with us, the sound proofing was so non-existent....

 

[SpectroMagic*o*]

Thanks for the warning! I'll be staying there for the first time in 10 days...all I can hope for is that we dont have anyone on either side of us! I am a very cranky person if I dont get my sleep or if I am waken up when it's not time for me to wake up...I think I may have to invest in earplugs as well! Atleast I'll be prepared now, thanks!

ug:

 

[vfb2girls]

I too was a little nervous about our stay at POP after reading some of the reviews so I sat down and talked to my husband and talk to him about some of the pros and cons that I had read. We both decided that we are going to give POP a try. We are only staying for 5 nights and the last time we were at WDW we spent so little time in our room that I felt almost guilty spending all that money on a resort. Plus we always use a white noise machine so that should help. Like my husband said no matter what we still will have a great time.

 

[Lizzybee]

We've only stayed at POR and ASMo but I do know one thing, I believe I could sleep on my head in the bathtub after a day in the parks. I'm also pretty sure if the guests in the room next to me lit off the fireworks from the Wishes display in their room, I probably wouldn't hear it.
Seriously I'm sorry the OP didn't have a great stay. So far we have been pleased with both resorts where we've stayed. I didn't want to stay at Pop much because my kids would continually ask me "what does THAT saying mean" "What IS that big colored square?" "Were YOU alive in the 50s-60s". I chose ASMo our last trip because of the theme and price.

 

[DMRick]

We're stayed at all the values..All Stars and POP. I don't see any difference in any of them. They all have thin walls, super toilets and noisy food courts. I found the same thing in POR. I've enjoyed all my stays, and so far the little noise I've heard, hasn't bothered me. As two people in their 50's, we tend to sleep in in the morning and let the crowds leave the foodcourt..or go down really early, before they get there. I can't remember hearing our neighbors more than a little in their rooms, however I do hear them going by our rooms. I have heard a phone ring, and it sounded like it was far in the background..certainly not enough to wake me. We did have a problem with the air in POP, about a month after their opening, but they were able to fix it. It truly goes to show you, that reviews only tell you that what bothers one person, another may not even notice LOL.

 

[toesmom]

I guess everyone can have their opinion, as does the OP, but when you compare POP to some of the other disney resorts, this value resort won't measure up.

But my family incl 1yo and 5yo and dh thought pop was great, totally disney-themed, and a real value for $65 per night in february.

For all those traveling to POP Century, please don't be discouraged, it is a really nice hotel and you will feel disney atmosphere the minute you drive into the grounds...

Noise? We were on first floor and were not bothered in the least by neighbors on both sides, so it really depends on how loud your neighbors like to yell about toothbrushing or bedtimes....

Food Court? Well that was nuts.. but hey, part of the charm of that hotel I think.

A/c... I would definitely have complained if we had needed it. But housekeeping always brought us whatever we needed within a reasonable time so I can't complain.

And the CM keep the hotel grounds spotless.

And the free viewing of Illuminations from 4th floor 50's building is wonderful.

 

[dyna]

DH and I was there Aug28th - Sept 2nd building 1 all the way dowan at the end of building 4th floor facing the pool. We heard very very little noise from pool 1 night neighbors next to us was a little noisy but not bad. Toliets of course over all I was very very surprised how quiet our stay was. DH and I are very quiet ppl and we lived in almost total silence for a couple of years due to DD's illness and no tolerance for noise had there been noise we'd have heard it night or day.

AC we was able to turn down the temp the 1 night room was to warm. Other than that room was very comfy. Beds was wonderful wish my bed was that comfy here at home.

I agree the food court is a nightmare esp with the gift shop adjoining like it does I could just hear the little ones screaming but I want it!!!!!! on the way in or out of the food court. Yet the different stations to get food is no different than the All Stars Resorts. Nor is the food court that much more crowded early mornin or late night as ppl are going to and from park. WE AVOID the food court at these times. Food Court actually is no more noisy than say Cosmic Ray's or many of the restaurants in the parks.

Bus service was FANTASTIC best bus service I've had in 20 visits to disney goin to and coming back from the parks. NEVER once did we stand on a bus. Leaving the parks at park closing we never waited for more than 1 bus before we was able to get on and get a seat. Going to the parks usually we was able to walk right on the bus a couple of times we waited maybe 5 mins 1 time going to Epcot in the Evening we missed the bus by 30 seconds and had to wait 20 minutes that time for bus to come again. NOT BAD at all !!!! Now had I been waiting that 20 mins everytime I wanted to use bus I'd not be a happy camper.
We stayed at POFQ a few years ago there we waited for bus EVERYTIME we went to the parks sometimes for an hour or more early June visit like the 1st week of June so parks was not that busy yet. Wasn't like it was peak season or anything.

Pools We used the bowling pin pool most of the time took a little getting used to pool getting deeper in the middle further you go from the side of pool the deeper it gets. Pool was never crowded but I wouldn't call it quiet either.
Hippy Dippy pool we went down there one afternoon did not see nothing great about it since we was there used it that 1 visit but it was not worth the extra walking to us.
Loved Goofy and the Corvette over in the 70's section could have done without the fountains but I can see where kids would find them entertaining. It just so happens DH and I had a 1964 Corvette just like the one with Goofy only ours was white instead of red. Wish we had kept that thing a few more years before selling it that would have paid for a FEW NICE disney visits.

This was our 1st visit to Pop we will be back. Always stayed at AS in the past except for the one stay at POFQ. Can't say we will be returning to AS I do like the layout of the room better at AS. Layout at Pop made the room seem smaller to me and we never need to get in and out of bed that is upagainst the wall at AS. Just the theme is better at Pop. Last time I was at AS it was starting show signs of age nothing bad but could use some new carpet.

Over all I think AS has more drawer space than Pop not really a problem for DH and I even when we take DD next time still gonna have enough space for our clothes.

Lucky for me DD being mid teens next visit I won't have to listen to the whining and screaming as we go thru the gift shop with her cause she wants something from there. Deal is gonna be when we return from the parks she is free to shop there awhile but not going to buy something everytime she can meet us back at the room when she is done shopping.

BTW there are ways in and out of the food court without goin thru the gift shop if DD was little I'd be avoiding that gift shop big time. Unless I truely planned to buy her something there.

That food court adjoining the gift shop was the biggest issue I had at Pop only added to the noise and chaos of the food court.

 

[kandeebunny]

I have to say we've stayed at Pop twice...first time we had NO issues. Second trip this Sept we had major issues. I'd get a headache EVERY time we came in to the room 30mins after and within 30mins of leaving the room it was gone. There MUST be something there I am allergic to.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the food court there...we eat there even when not staying there. I have multiple food allergies and EVERY chef there is AMAZING! Unlike at the CR where there is NO chef at the "food court" and no selection. We've never experienced the noise at the food court either, but we don't hit at peak times.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

Thanks for the review! It's good to hear all sides

 

[Samantha]

I use a "fan" at home just for the "white noise". Amazing how it works.

Me too....and after reading this thread I'll be packing it with me to bring to POP - just in case it's too hot or too noisy.

 

[tndisneyfan]

We stayed in the 70's section building 10, I didn't really hear any noise from other rooms. We had a corner room so that could have made a difference. I wonder if it is certain sections that seem to have more noise than others.

 

[Merylj]

We stayed in the 70's section building 10, I didn't really hear any noise from other rooms. We had a corner room so that could have made a diffence. I wonder if it is certain sections that seem to have more noise than others.

I wonder that too. DD and I were at the POP at the end of Sept, I read every report I could find and knew all about " turbo toilets"
Our room was in the central section and we heard every flush of every loo. I think it`s down to location.
Those white noise machines are a great idea!
Pop is a great resort, the theming is fabulous and the busses are great. I think the OP`s post is a very fair report.

 

[stemikger]

I am not going to bash you, but I can't believe you stayed at the same place I have stayed two years in a row. My first stay at Pop was for 11 days and my second was for 8 days.

I stayed in the 60s section for both visits and never heard any noise in the rooms next door. We went in August both years and the rooms were always nice and cool and belive me I need a cool room. In fact, I had to make it less cool in the middle of the night.

And finally, the Food Court was and is my favoriate part of Pop. I never had any problems with getting my food. There was never a wait and the noise level was nothing more then you would experience in any other large food court.

For those of you who are going to Pop, trust me you will not regret it. Pop Century is a great place. I even like it better than CBR and POFQ (both moderates). My family and I are going back again in August 06 for our 3rd year in a row. I could afford a moderate, but we are hooked on Pop.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Thanks for a well written, honest, and very diplomatic review

 

[sarahsmom73]

My stay at POP in April was wonderful! DD and I did a Mommy Daughter trip and really had a blast. We liked it so much we headed back for Thanksgiving with my DH, brother and parents...

 

[ciera321]

Just a little help on the noise control. I am a light sleeper and hear everything, so I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and bought an alarm clock that has the sound effects on it. We took it with us to POR in June and it was wonderful. I set it on waterfall and it has a constent, soothing water sound that blocks everything out. We take it everywhere we go since you can always be sure, no matter where you go, there will be people that think since it's 6 am so everyone must be up...

 

[jtdl]

When we stayed at Pop the resort was full but we heard no noise at all from the adjointing rooms - not even the omminous toilet flushing! But I do agree with the original OP regarding the food court. It was a zoo when we were there and we dreaded having to eat there. When we stayed at ASMu it was a much less crowded time of the year so I can't really compare the food court. My biggest dislike about the values is that they don't have a sit down restaurant. I really didn't like the food offered at the Pop food court and the one night we did go to Trail's End for supper it took about 1.5 hours one way by bus! We ate mostly at the parks, but a couple of evenings we were hungry when we arrived back at Pop and had no choice but to eat at the food court - after touring the parks all day the last thing we felt like doing was travelling to another resort to eat supper. I do realize that these are "value" resorts, but I'm sure if they built sit down restaurants in these resorts, they would do a good business.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd and I stayed at Pop in early August. We have stayed at AllStarMusic so were curious as to how it compared. We both loved it! We were in room 2336...jukebox bldg in 50's, third floor, way to the back of the bldg...almost to the parking lot, last room before you got to the bowling pin stairway. Great view towards Epcot and Spaceship Earth!!!
We had no issues whatsoever with noise. That may have been due to having a room on only one side of us though. And toilets flushing is not a big deal. We have that at home! As far as the food court goes..this has to be one of our favorite food courts. I don't think it's small by any stretch of the imagination!!! Sure, there are different food stations, but that really is the easiest way to do it. I didn't find it all that noisey either. But what is noisy for one person may be quite acceptable for another.
And sure, the bus waits after the parks close are horrendous. This is a huge resort and when you have all those people leaving a park at once and trying to get to the same place, well....someone's gonna have to wait a long time. For this reason we tried to avoid being at park closings. Yes, we have been to WDW many times so missing a Wishes show isn't such a big deal, where it probably would be for most people.
I just hate to see a resort bashed because everything isn't perfect. Once again...you get what you pay for. You want fewer people around you? Stay at a deluxe. You want a sit-down restuarant as well as a food court? Stay at a moderate. Not having a food court is one of my big gripes when I stay at BWVs
Here's hoping that all of you going to Pop Century have a terrific time. Go with no preconceived notions and you should be fine..remember...an iffy week at WDW is better than a stellar week anywhere else!!!

 

[jann1033]

i wonder what causes the noise issues also. we stayed at pop when it was booked to capacity and never heard a thing..there had to be people on both sides and i am not a heavy sleeper ( we did hear lots of noise at Vero Disney which i thought had something to do with the between room doors) so maybe it is light sleepers, or noisy neighbors. same with the food court it was busy when it was fully booked( like you'd imagine) but not a problem any other time. guess it's just like everything, lots of variables.

i think we were in the 70s building( the one to the left of the big wheel,) rm 0245

as far as the op they fixed the ac so don't see that as a problem( recently i was in the hospital & my ac was messed up and it was over 80 in the room for 5 days...3 times nurses called maintenance and 3 times it still didn't work after they came and i was paying lots more than $70 a day )

i really don't see pop as much different than any place else we would stay( for that caliber of hotel). all disney hotels cost more than what you'd get other places for that price. i think if you go expecting them to be 5 * while paying for 2* ( disney price) you are bound to be disappointed. if you go with an open mind, you'll be ok. if things go wrong, call and get them fixed. if you don't want crowds go off season

 

[Kevboo]

We just came back from a 10 night stay at pop and thought it was great..It was our 2nd year there in a row.We never heard our neighbors at all...Would stay there again and probably will next year.