An honest review of Pop Century - just back

[Dodie]

I agree with Dodie about the Pop food court - the high ceilings make for a great noise chamber that is deafening. If I remember correctly - isn't all of Pop's food court floor tile? That also increases the noise level, though it makes the floors MUCH easier to clean than the carpeted floors at the All-Stars.

The food court area itself is tiled, but the dining areas are carpeted. Since this would seem to be a maintenance nightmare in terms of cleaning up spills, DH and I guessed that this carpeting might be an attempt of muffling some of the sound. If so, I can't imagine how much worse it would have been without it!

I see the noise issue regarding Pop so often on here that I am starting to wonder if certian rooms have a problem. Not sure how that could be, but I can't understand why some people hear so much and others don't.

If this is the case, I would recommend that you avoid room 3167 (50's section) like the plague.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

We stayed at the Pop for short last minute trip. I didn't like how the front door opens up right to side of the bed. My DH was taking a nap as we walked in, I thought we were going to hit him. The walls were too thin for me also.
The food court was so busy and noisy we walked in and turned around. then ate breakfast at MK. Thank goodness we had a rental car, the lines foor the buses were long and in the 96 degrees sun.

 

[Kay1]

We are very light sleepers and always request a top-floor room in an out-of-the-way location, but sometimes we get stuck next to loud people. I wish people would be a little more considerate at hotels especially late at night and early mornings. At Disney, there are those who like to stay out late for the fireworks vs. the early birds. . .Oy.

We actually like the Pop food court more than any other, mainly because it offers several meatless items. We always sit in a booth by the bar and I've never noticed any particularly loudness. I'll try to notice next time.

The thing about the A/C would have ticked me off, too. We've been staying at off-property hotels through Priceline and EasyClick. The last two times we stayed at Disney (Pop and ASMU) the rooms were very clean but the common areas were not. There was even trash strewn about. We're staying at Coronado Springs for our little Christmas trip and I'm going to see if it's any cleaner.

We'll probably drive over to the Pop Century food court while we're there!

 

[maryliz]

Sorry you had such a bad experience. I was there in Aug and never heard one thing from another room. And there were kids on both sides of us -- I saw them. I've been to WDW 24 times and stayed at all levels of resorts. The only noise "problem" (and I really wouldn't classify it as such but can't think of a better word) was at VWL and AKL where we had some noisy people in the corridors at night. And definitely not every night. I guess I can be thankful that I'm not a light sleeper.

And no problem with the A/C whatsoever, we never touched it. And it was very, very hot outside !

MaryLiz

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I also like the vegetarian (even vegan!!) options at the Pop Century food court.

But I do find the qhole food court set-up a challenge. Here's me, my friend, her two kids trying to get a meal. The things the kids want, naturally, are at different "stations." I want something vegan, my friend wants something else. So what do we do?

I line up with one child in one line, while she lines up with another child in another line, and we get one meal each. Then we each carry our tray with a meal on it and get in another line, again with a child who by this point is getting bored (especially after a long day of standing in lines at the parks). Also, the food on our trays is getting cold. Eventually we each get our second meals and can go stand in line again to pay for them. Then we sit down to eat food, some of which is at room temperature.

If the kids are really past it, we try plan number two: one sits down with the kids and tries to keep them entertained. The other adult goes in the first line, gets the meal, pays for it, and runs it to the table. One kid starts to eat. The adult runs back for meal number two and does the same thing. Then she goes and gets the two adult meals. While this keeps the kids from getting fed up with standing in line, it means that the adults only get to start eating when the kids are finished (and asking every two minutes if we can go to the room and get our bathing suits).

I just like it so much better when you can either order all the food for your entire family from one person - or better yet, when someone brings it to your table.

Teresa

 

[Crazy Kanga]

We were there in June and we had no issue with noise. I had heard so much about it here that I was expecting it, but none. I even asked our neighbors in the room next to us if my kids were bothering them ,because I felt that at times they were a little noisy( for wich they were scolded and threatened with punishment) they both said they couldn't hear a thing. Iam not at all insinuating that anyone here is lying or exaggerating, only that it seems to vary.

The busses on the other hand were a major problem for us, and we ended up driving a lot on this trip which we normally leave to Disney. We prefer it that way because we end up getting lost or missing a turn which is frustrating. Also we had a problem getting a luggage cart when we arrived which made unloading a weeks worth food and all of our luggage a nightmare.
We didn't ever eat in the food court so I can't give any input there, but when we were in the gift shop, I did notice it was very busy in there.

We might be back someday, but I think we will try a moderat next time, mainly for the bus service-we had excellent bus service at CSR!

 

[auntie k]

I appreciate your honesty. We are there for the first time in Oct. We can only afford value - so guess we will keep our ressie. The cleanliness of the AS has left a little to be desired. So far, POP seems to get good marks on cleanliness.

We travel with a fan for "white noise" so hopefully we can enjoy our stay.
How comfortable were the beds?

 

[TheRatPack]

Great, now I'll be constipated my whole trip because I'll live with the fear that my neighbors can hear me poop....LOL

Just joking of course, but how awful to know your neighbors regularity.

 

[Disney Spaz]

I agree that POP was not for us. And after staying at ASMo we would stay there again over POP. But for many the POP is great. I will say that when my DS were younger I did not notice the noises as much at the AS's probably because I was use to noise but now that DS are older we notice the noises easier. I think everbody who is considering POP or any resort for that matter should take each review for what it is, opinion. If you know what your getting into you will not be set up for disappointment.

 

[Grumpy92]

I have read several reviews about POP. We are staying there for Thanksgiving and I am a little bit concerned. We usually try to stay away from the values but we wanted to save some $$ on this trip. Now I am beginning to think we should upgrade to a moderate, as the resort will be filled and busy with lots of guest.

 

[Metallicat]

I am 44 yrs old with no small children (my daughter is almost 24) and when she and I visit WDW, we love staying at POP. We have stayed at just about every WDW resort and the one I thought was noisiest was the Wilderness Lodge. will never stay there again! there were kids clip clopping up and down the halls in the wee early hours and I hated that. also the walls were very thin. I learned a long time ago to take ear plugs with me (after staying at the Wilderness lodge) but at POP, never had to use them for some reason or another.
We have spent 20 nights at POP (yep, liked it THAT much ) usually in May and Oct. and I am always cold in those rooms. in fact, I am thinking about bringing my Mickey throw just in case I get chilly when we come in for a nap.
The food court is no louder/messier than any of the other food courts in the value resorts. its probably less noisey because the cheerleader groups and alot of youth groups stay at the All Stars. I will say that the bus service is extremely slow (in my opinion) so I just drive my rental car to the parks and park for free to save time and not risk having to stand up for the ride back.
I'm going back in a few weeks for 10 nights and will be staying at POP again.

 

[Tissa]

I guess everyone has different opinions and experiences. When we stayed at Movies everything was ok but the room was too hot and we were there in March. I stayed at POP in June and never had a problem with the air and never heard any noise that kept me awake. I'd pick POP over Movies if we had to do a value again.

 

[mrFDNY]

hi all,
i have stayed at pop(2 times) and all-star music(once)i think it has to do with your personal opinon.i've read many people complain about the noise levels at pop.as for us we did'nt care for ASM,but loved pop.i live in brooklyn,nyc so there is noise everywhere,maybe i'm just used to it.it is not uncommon to have 10-15 cars sitting at the red traffic light in front of my house at 3 or 4 in the am.this is the city that never sleeps(i have no problem sleeping)so m,aybe i'm used to people conjestion and loud noise levels it does not bother me.i have never had any problems with noise at pop.but i can see where others might.have a great day all.
mrFDNY

 

[LakeAriel]

I'll be bringing ear plugs just in case! Thanks

 

[minnie61650]

We stayed at the Pop for short last minute trip. I didn't like how the front door opens up right to side of the bed. My DH was taking a nap as we walked in, I thought we were going to hit him. The walls were too thin for me also.
The food court was so busy and noisy we walked in and turned around. then ate breakfast at MK. Thank goodness we had a rental car, the lines foor the buses were long and in the 96 degrees sun.

The rooms at POP and at the ALL stars are both 260 square feet. They are also laid out the same.

The POP rooms seem smaller because the bed is closer to the door with a bigger gap being between the bathroom wall and the far bed. At All-Stars this gap wider/
http://allearsnet.com/acc/asmv59.jpg
http://allearsnet.com/acc/popcent56.jpg

You will notice in PC pic the bed is closer to the door by looking at how close the headboard is while at Movies you have a little more room.
The beds at POP are Bolted to the floor so you can't move them.
You can move the beds at All Stars so you push one the beds against the wall.
Thus giving you more usuable floor space.

The All Star resorts have 1960 rooms each.
Pop has 2,880rooms.
That means more people in the pools,food court and in line waiting for the bus at POP.
When phase 2 of POP is built it will be 2 bus stops at POP and the 2 POPs will have the same # of rooms as the 3 All Stars.

Also All Star is closer to the main road to get to parks and thats why bus rides are shorter from there than from POP.

Linda
AKA All Star Goddess

 

[Olallamom]

My DH & I will be visiting POP at the end of Oct for a 2nd honeymoon of sorts. This is a spur of the moment budget trip. We stayed at POR in June with the kids, it was fabulous. Our expectations are low, it should be interesting. I will post a review when we get back.
I probably will not plan on relying on the food court alot after reading the reviews. Luckily we will be child free, which tends to leave more options open for eating.

 

[eclectics]

In our room at the Poly (Deluxe) we could hear the toddler next door scream quite clearly but at the POFQ (Moderate) we didn't hear a peep out of any of our neighbors. Go figure!

 

[jjan]

I could be wrong here, but I think that when you press the button on the phone for the front desk, you actually get a call center and not actually the front desk. I think that it was posted by Chip 'N Dale on the transportation board. Just letting everyone know, so the the blame is place where it should be and not on the CM's at Pop.

We also love Pop and have stayed there 28 nights during 4 trips and have had no real problems at all. Sure we have heard a toilet flush here and there, but nothing that would wake us up. We do use a white noise maker at night, but only because we use one at home since my DD and I are both light sleepers and are very noise sensitive. I also think that the rooms with the connecting doors tend to let in the noise a little bit more from your neighbors than the rooms without them. The food court is kind of a pain with the different stations especially when you have kids that want something totally different than you want. There are definitely quieter places in there than other places... near the bar area and also in the opposite end of the food court against the wall we found to be much more peaceful.

All in all, we love Pop and can't wait to go back in November/December

 

[Aimeedyan]

If this is the case, I would recommend that you avoid room 3167 (50's section) like the plague.

We were in 50's, too! We were on the 2nd floor, if I remember right, overlooking the pool. The pool noise was BAD until the wee hours of the morning, but the noise from room to room and from people walking outside was the worst.

 

[RadioNate]

I was at POP last week. I didn't have the noise issue. We could hear toilets flush and showers but I notice those at nearly every WDW hotel.

I thought the Food Court was an insane zoo and too small for the volume of the hotel. Wasn't thrilled with the food either but it wasn't anything out of the ordnary and not unexpected.

My problem was with the bus service. The busses were all VERY crowded. I don't think we sat more than once or twice our entire stay. Leaving the MK one night the line for POP was all the way down to the entrance of the bus depot area. For those unfamiliar, POP is the last bus stop, so it went the legnth of the entire bus area. They also had people snaked through both stops 17 and 18.

We were told by a supervisor that POP is the biggest resort and that this 'always happens' at closing time.

We'll be returning to moderates. This was a budget last minute trip and it was better than not going at all but I think the extra to stay at a moderate is worth it.