An honest review of Pop Century - just back

[stillsmiling04@comca]

We stayed at Pop this year in July, last year we stayed at All Star Movies in August. Both times of course were one of the busiest times of the year.
At Pop we did not experience any of the a/c problems. Actually the room would get quite cool and we could turn it up. The noise level was not awful. However we did hear more noise then at All Star Movies.
For the food court, we didn't like it at all. It was very crazy and loud all the time. Just never seemed comfortable. Everytime we went in something new was broken and not working. Although as my husband pointed out there are alot more people at Pop. It is a larger hotel however the food court is the same size as the All Stars.
I would not pick Pop as my first choice however I can't say we would never go back. One reason for this is we prefer the value resorts because of the themes and feel comfortable with the child experience.
Our next trip is going to be around Nov/Dec of 2006. A whole new experience in itself.

 

[pigby]

We have stayed at POP twice and would stay there again. In October last year, our room at POP was far quieter than the room at POFQ.

In July this year stayed there again - the room we were allocated (pool view) was not quite so quiet as the room we were allocated the previous - but was quieter than our room at WL! At WL we had an interconnecting room (not by request) and kept awake the whole of our first night due to 'party' noise from next door.

I think, to summarise, that it definitely depends on the room and not the resort. To those going in the near future., don't worry and try to get a top floor, non pool view if you are worried about noise.

 

[TENIA66]

good to know

 

[cottontail]

Hi Dodie:

Just curious did you have a room with a door inbetween the next room or rooms. Also dh and i when staying at a hotel like to have a fan on the airconditioning unit blowing all night as we sleep,it kinda of covers noise.
Are you able to do that?

Deb.

 

[SplashMom]

Is it possible that some rooms have more noise protection than others? We have stayed at Pop twice and it was very quiet both times. Also, it was in March during our spring break and the resort was full both times. We didn't hear anything from rooms around us. We have, however, stayed at other hotels that did have much higher noise levels. Maybe it depends on the room.

As far as the air conditioning, it was quite cool. We had it set at 68 the entire time and found it quite cool (almost cold!) most of the time. The food court was quite busy and loud however. We did as an earlier poster suggested. We got our food and went outside to a table around the pool and found it quiet and relaxing. We didn't eat there very much but that worked out quite well for us.

Overall, we loved Pop. We aren't in the room that much but we liked the pools and the fast transportation. We are definitely going back!

 

[WillCAD]

Is it possible that some rooms have more noise protection than others? We have stayed at Pop twice and it was very quiet both times. Also, it was in March during our spring break and the resort was full both times. We didn't hear anything from rooms around us. We have, however, stayed at other hotels that did have much higher noise levels. Maybe it depends on the room.

I don't think there's any difference in wall construction between rooms, except the rooms on the ends of the building. Those rooms appear to me to have been put together with standard wall board (also called gyp board or drywall) and aluminum studs. I don't know if there is any insulation or sound-dampening material inside.

I think the difference in noise probably depends on a combination of how noisy your neighbors are and how sensitive you are to the noise. I have only encountered nose from a surrounding room once at a Disney Value, at All-Star Sports, and that was only one night.

But I have encountered plenty of noise from outside the room. People walking past the room can be heard inside, children running past can be heard inside, and the thumps of footfalls can be felt inside except on the ground floor. And the absolute worst was in 2001 at ASMU when I got a room in Bldg#8 that faced Bldg#9. There is a little courtyard between the buildings, and into that courtyard at 8am every morning come the Mousekeeping CMs on little gas-powered stretch-limo golf carts. I tell ya WHUT, those golf cart motors were a rude awakening every morning, just like having your neighbor get up on Saturday and cut his lawn at 8am.

 

[919Florida]

I also want to share that my stay at Pop Century was amazing. I have stayed at Coronado, Yacht Club and Pop Century so far.

Pop Century was great. I loved the food court, the icons were really neat, loved the lake at the resort. Can't get that at any other value resort. I also did not notice the walls being "paper thin" and I stayed there during peak season and it was busy. Also never had to wait any longer then 10 minutes for a bus.

I loved Pop Century and I for one will be going back.

 

[PrincessJasmine]

Slightly nervous now about my upcoming trip, but hey...it's Disney, right? Any Disney hotel is better than none at all in my opinion.

 

[TDC Nala]

I do hear noise and hear it quite often in Disney resort rooms, especially those with connecting doors. Sometimes it's bad and sometimes it isn't. There was a screaming family at OKW once - the kids screamed, the parents screamed back, the kids thought it would be fun to try to open the connecting door (locked) and the parents never stopped them from playing with it, just screamed some more. Sometimes I get screamers and sometimes I don't, doesn't matter where I stay.

I did have someone post once that they resented having their sleep interrupted by the ones like me who come back to the resort after PI closes and have to open and close the door (not slam it, just open and close it) to access the room. Sorry about that.

 

[nowellsl]

Just back from a weekend at POP. No noise problems at all. The resort did seem more crowded than it usually is. The food court was always crowded but I really think the free dining was a factor in that. A lot of people using counter service credits! The mom's night out with the buttermilk fried chicked is excellent!! The only buses that were crowded were Downtown Disney but no problems at any of the parks - but we don't usually try to board at park closing. All in all it was a great stay and we're going back in December.

 

[4greatboys]

We stayed there Sept 9-14. 9 women in 3 rooms. We never once heard our friends through the walls and believe me we are a loud bunch. I never saw any big lines at the food court and there were always plenty of tables.
We like our room cool so when it said 68 it didnt really feel 68 so we had maint come by. He put our thermostat on 63--which while cooler def was not 63! lol
All in all we had a great stay at Pop and I would definately stay there again.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

I was just there the 8-11th. The place was sold out. At night when we returned, the parking lots were full...all of them, we had to MAKE a parking space...literally!

Not once did we see an issue at the food court and were there three times during peak eating hours. Maybe we got lucky.

The noise was the same there as was at POR. The neighbors to the one side were with us though and on the other side was a family with little kids. Never heard anyone outside. Maybe we got lucky.

WE had control of our air, WE adjusted it a few times, as it would get too cold/hot. It was at least 95 each day we were there. Perhaps not all the rooms have the ones that aren't adjustable, because ours was! Again, maybe we just got lucky.

 

[Bugfella]

I've now stayed at Pop, ASM, POFQ, WL, FW and GF.

I agree that POP has the worst room noise carryover. In May we drove to Orlando and did not arrive until 2am and then checked into POP. After we got to our room, we heard the people next door talking in normal voices. I quickly determined that they were just checking in as we were from their conversation. The CM's must know about the noise and place groups arriving late in the same location.

Our kids were very excited and cooing but I had to calm them down because they needed to sleep and I realized that everyone else in the building did too.

Due to DD and DS requirements, we're going back to Pop in November for 2 nights because the pool and theming are fantastic. But then we go to POR because its more relaxing. --Bugfella