Deluxe Resort Snobs Have A Blast at POP!!!

[The Pluto People]

The story: We were sick of the cold and the snow in northern NJ. Everyone was talking about the cheap flights Delta was offering to Florida so we investigated. We found a roundtrip airfare from Newark to Orlando for $127 so we jumped on that. Now...where to stay...to save $$ we decided not to go to the parks but, instead, just sit by the pool and relax. Of course the Poly seemed the perfect place to that but the price ($258 plus tax AAA rate - the codes had all expired by the time we decided to go) seemed so high for what was supposed to be a budget trip. We talked and talked and decided to book a value resort - Pop Century !!! Pop was $220 cheaper per night than the Poly!! We have been to WDW world about 20 times and have always stayed in a Deluxe Resort or the Dolphin (which we loved). How would we fare at a Value resort ? We had a BLAST!!! When we arrived at the Pop a bell hop asked if we needed help - we did for the beer and goodies we had stopped to buy (Tiffany Towncar was great yet again). The bell hop allowed US to take the luggage cart and bring our stuff to the room!! After a 2 minute wait to check in we were told our room was ready - at 11:30 in the morning!!! We have ALWAYS waited for our room!! We got what we asked for (thanks DIS):4th floor 50s, Tramp building. We overlooked the bowling pin pool. The room was cute, immaculate,very comfortable, and,as we found out, house keeping was great. We changed into our suits and rushed to the pool where we relaxed and listened to great hits of the fifties!! We loved the food court (bought the refillable mugs), the bus service, the cleanliness of the place (the pools and pool decks were spotless), and the CMs!! The CMs at Pop were all, and we mean ALL, friendly, smiling and attentive. When we asked for extra towels for the pool we were always told to take as many as we needed. We found the music at the main pool to be more to our liking so we spent most of our time there - it was closer to the food court to refill the mugs. We gotta tell ya folks that we will be hard pressed to spend more money (lots more $$$) to stay at a Deluxe again!!! And, we forgot to mention, at the Pop we constantly experienced an urge ......to DANCE !!! People were dancing everywhere!!!

 

[indymom1]

Thank you so much for this post!!! We are adding on a week at DW in late July early August and then are heading to the beach with extended family. This is the resort that my DS(8) has picked even though he has no idea that we are going He thought that he was looking at hotels for our DCL cruise next year. Anyway after some of the posts that we read I was getting nervous but you have made me very excited...THANK YOU!!!

 

[cyndibelle]

you know you are sooo right about the dancing part..you gotta dance...every time we are there...i find myself dancing...dancing to the buses...dancing to the hotel room...dancing wherever we are....we just love pop.....glad you had such a wonderful time...

 

[n2mm]

That was a great open minded report. I'm sure lots of folks will be glad to read about your positive experience. We too have only had good experiences with Pop. We went to WDW 5 times last year. We stayed at WL on two trips, BW for one trip, and Pop for our May and Oct trips. We enjoyed all of them equally and have no problem doing it again. We just returned from our 9 day trip in January and stayed at the WL. But can't wait until our 16 day May trip at Pop. Staying at a value a couple of times a year gives us the option to extend our trips for a longer amount of time.

 

[shellybaxter]

I too am a resort snob, never wanting to try the values, but DH and I visited POP on our last trip to check things out. I looked like some much fun. Only one BIG concern. How were the beds? Comfortable or not? Hard or soft? I can't sleep on a hard bed and I've heard reports that the POP beds are really hard.

Shelly

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Thanks for your report! Sometimes I want to have a quick getaway to WDW but can't afford it! This is a great option!

 

[newholidayx2]

thank you sooooo much - we're DVCers, have stayed twice at the Wilderness Lodge
Told DH last wk I wanted to extend our 9night Aug vacation another 5nights by staying at the Pop. He told me he didnt think I could do it.
Guess what? today I put the deposit down on the 5nights before our 3night WL and 6night BCV stays.

I requested 70s bldg, nonsmoking. Do they play ea decades music at their bldgs? that would be sooo cool
thanks again

 

[Octoberbeauty]

Thank you soo much for posting this! I have recently decided to stay at Pop because I just couldn't justify the $1,000 difference to stay at WL. So, I am very happy to hear how wonderful it was. You've made my day!

 

[Kitster]

We had a BLAST!!!...........we were told our room was ready - at 11:30 in the morning!!!..........The room was cute, immaculate,very comfortable......The CMs at Pop were all, and we mean ALL, friendly, smiling and attentive........And, we forgot to mention, at the Pop we constantly experienced an urge ......to DANCE !!! People were dancing everywhere!!!

This is why I choose to stay at POP when we're at WDW; it feels like I'm coming home when I hit the front door. My SO and I have made so many friends during our stays, and all of them have been the cast members who work there. (If you ever get the chance to have Donna check you in, ask her if she remembers the crazy California pin traders........I'll bet she does )

I can't wait to go 'home' in April. I just keep thinking "There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home......"

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

It's reasons like your trip report that I always encourage those who might stay offsite to check out a value resort. They can be so much fun. And even after you leave the parks, you're still at Disney, having fun.

 

[#1hockeymom]

I totally agree with your entire post! So glad you had a wonderful time!

 

[magicmouse2]

Great report! great to hear some positive reviews!! I am a resort snob too but our next trip wil be on a budget and we will be spending a few days away from our dvc resort (avoiding weekend points rates ) and I really fancy staying at POP!

 

[Bedknobs/Broomsticks]

I, too, consider myself a bit of a resort snob and so I've been a little apprehensive about our upcoming Easter trip to Pop. Thanks for sharing your experience. I know if I just relax and let the pixie dust float my way, we'll have a blast.