Any tips for a first-time Pop Century Resort guest?

[raarbor24]

Hello everyone!

I recently made a reservation for a standard room at Disney's Pop Century Resort from 8/29/15 - 8/31/15 and any tips/advice on how to make a stay for a group of three more magical will be greatly appreciated! My family and I have never stayed at a Disney resort and we are celebrating a future imagineer's 19th birthday on a budget!

 

[spiceycat]

love Pop - see if you can get building 3 - Tramp - lake view - yes this is standard (pool view is preferred)

you can eat at Pop - or AoA.

walk around both places - here is a preview
http://www.mousesteps.com/wdw-resort-walks-mainmenu-53/pop-century-mainmenu-95

 

[uccats97]

I agree with taking time to walk around both Pop and AoA. Both resorts are have lots of fun things to see and signs with interesting facts to enjoy. I'm sure you'll have a great trip!

 

[raarbor24]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Vernie822]

If you have the time, take a stroll to Art of Animation! We actually took the bus back from one of the parks to have lunch there and then walked back to our room at Pop afterwards. Surf and surf burger was outstanding!

 

[wmjeffer]

Pop is a super fun resort! I've heard that, because Pop and AoA are so close, you can use either bus when returning back to the resort! A nice option if the AoA bus comes first

 

[electrocutie]

I'm going to be at POP at the same time (celebrating my birthday too!) Like other guests said- if you have the time definitely take a walk over to AOA- there's lots of fun photo ops there! Also- be sure to mention your celebration to cast members before (when calling about your reservation) and when you arrive (at check in).

 

[disnut8]

Simply this. Take a walk on the lake on the Pop Century side. There will be signposts with something specific that happened from every year from 1950 to 1999. With the ages of your group (especially the 19 year old one), all of you can laugh and comment on where you were during that year, what you were doing (your 19 year old will learn about you!). That, to me, is a great family time where you get to know each other better no matter how close you are. My son about sank to his knees when he found out the first Wal-Mart opened in his birth year. We called him the Wal-Mart baby for the rest of the trip! He was, um, not happy and raced around to see what happened in my birth year. Ah hum! First orbit around the moon!

 

[TwoCortWort]

We stayed at Pop our first time in December in Building 9 (standard view) and it that wasn't a far track to the eating area and bus stop. We could actually cut over to the buses through the parking lot without having to walk around. This time we will be in pool preferred (we were upgraded by Disney themselves and they added free QS dining with it...we were at ASSports Standard room before) but going to take time out and look at all the resort this time and check out AoA too. It's a fun themed place, we actually had Little Mermaid stuff in the room we stayed in.

 

[scrapquitler]

take a bit of time and check out the shadow boxes on the wall in the lobby by check in at Pop, there's different shadowboxes full of memorabilia from each decade and we had a good time looking at them and reminiscing about the the things inside them.

 

[scrapquitler]

take a bit of time and check out the shadow boxes on the wall in the lobby by check in at Pop, there's different shadowboxes full of memorabilia from each decade and we had a good time looking at them and reminiscing about the the things inside them.

 

[HollywoodTowerHotel]

We stayed at Pop our first time in December in Building 9 (standard view) and it that wasn't a far track to the eating area and bus stop. We could actually cut over to the buses through the parking lot without having to walk around. This time we will be in pool preferred (we were upgraded by Disney themselves and they added free QS dining with it...we were at ASSports Standard room before) but going to take time out and look at all the resort this time and check out AoA too. It's a fun themed place, we actually had Little Mermaid stuff in the room we stayed in.

When are you going that you are getting free QS dining (meaning is it during free dining promotion or did you get free dining some other way - and if so, do tell!)?

 

[twoplustwins]

We waited over an hour each night to get on a bus return to Pop from the parks. The lines were insane! I wish we would have figured out earlier to take the AoA bus and then just walk over the bridge to Pop.
Also, bring some ear plugs for bedtime or naps. The walls to the rooms are super thin and we heard kids running up and down past our room every night and every morning.

 

[pangyal]

I don't remember the building number, but we stayed at Pop one year in the bowling pin building and asked for lake view, which was honoured. It was really quiet and pretty, so I would recommend that building! Let's see, what else. The food court was good, except for the "breakfast sandwich" I hurriedly ordered on our super early last morning that trip and it was the saddest thing I've ever seen. It was two stale pieces of white Wonder bread with a cold slice of processed cheese between them. I recommend not ordering that.

 

[disnut8]

Also, bring some ear plugs for bedtime or naps. The walls to the rooms are super thin and we heard kids running up and down past our room every night and every morning.

To be fair, that happens at every resort with outside corridors. Parents just open the doors and let their kids play outside but not go too far. So, the kids use the corridors as racing aisles. Have had this happen at every moderate and value resort on grounds. And, one time at the Yacht Club, we were woken every morning by the family next door who would let their kids run up and down the INSIDE corridors. They didn't have their door closed, but moved the rack lock over so the door was opened but not all the way. So, every time the kids wanted to go back into the room, they'd open the door and let it bounce back on the latch and that noise was LOUD! Once they were done and everyone was ready to go, the father let the kids and the mom run up the hallway and then he would yell, "I'm coming to get you!" while standing right in front of our door. They were early risers so all this was done before they left at 7:30 AM. It lasted two mornings when, the kids had banged the doors for the third time and I went over (in my sleeping clothes) and asked the kid to get his parents. Then I suggested to the father that he tone it down until at least 8:00 AM.

 

[Tanooki]

If you are on the dining plan and eat at the food court (Everything Pop), you can have a very nice sundae for dessert Just get your meal and your drink, and tell the cashier that you want to get ice cream for dessert. He/she will stamp your receipt and you'll have 90 minutes to go to the ice cream counter to order your dessert. You can get a sundae made with 3 scoops of ice cream and as many toppings as you want or you can also get a milkshake if you prefer

 

[raarbor24]

Keep the responses coming!

 

[2013Frozen]

Good tips on taking the time to walk around the resort. Pool bat Petals is very nice. Food court can be a bit hectic, and in June he cast members were dancing to the Twist. While entertaining, to me, added to the hectic environment. A cast member at the Pizza counter did explain it was a better value for me to get a whole pizza for 2 CS credits (dinner) than buy two slices on their own for a CS meal. That tip was helpful and I only waited a few minutes for a fresh hot pizza for a group to enjoy. That was new to me, but hadn't been to Pop in a few years.

 

[JennyDrake]

TOP floor, NOT facing a pool will be the quietest room. Lake view rooms are terrific and the view is lovely.

 

[TwoCortWort]

When are you going that you are getting free QS dining (meaning is it during free dining promotion or did you get free dining some other way - and if so, do tell!)?

It's not during free dining, we actually don't qualify for it being AP holders. The story is we called about something, I am not 100% sure what the phone call was about, it wasn't about reservation or the discount, but the next thing I knew I got a phone call saying we were staying at Pop Century preferred pool view. I was like you upgraded? (again we had standard at ASSports) But we were upgraded by Disney and given free QS dining plan. I am not really sure as I said what and how it happened. We have been given free dining before, but during the time they offered it, but again by us calling about something else. Sorry I am not very informative, I was shocked when I was told about this. Switching resorts was a shock the dining was the biggest shock.

It will be interesting, because we aren't big eaters, but sure my niece will use up our credits for us like crazy.