Disney's POP CENTURY RESORT Information & Questions

[mickeysmith]

We are here! We stepped off the plane at 11:55pm to an empty airport. Went straight to baggage claim and our 2 suitcases were already there! Headed back over to terminal B to ME and stepped on the bus at 12:16. At 12:25am the bus pulled out and we arrived at 12:46am. The bus was at least 3/4 full of guests going to Pop. We were the first stop (there was one lone traveler going elsewhere next). While DD16 grabbed our bags I went to beat the crowd and check in. Unfortunately the system is down until 9am do that delayed things a bit but not to bad. The resort is so peaceful and pretty late at night. We got the floor & location we requested. In building 6 (70s). Got a connecting room (didn't ask for it/don't need it). Old hairdryer still on the wall. Was bummed to find out vending only has food, no drinks. Would be nice to get a bottle of water, oh well. Happy to see they replaced the badly damaged flooring in the elevator since last year. I had noted DD16's birthday celebration and she received a pin, a card was in the room and a voice mail from Micky and Minnie which was cute (and never happened in the past). Off to bed now. Tomorrow we hope to make RD at AK, afternoon at HS and F&W tomorrow night. That could be a bit ambitious since it's nearly 2am!

Loved reading this first thing this morning! Thank you for posting. Smiling all day thinking of my happy place! Have an awesome day!!

 

[DisneyObsessed87]

me too!!!

Yay! Sunday is only 4 days away!

We are here! We stepped off the plane at 11:55pm to an empty airport. Went straight to baggage claim and our 2 suitcases were already there! Headed back over to terminal B to ME and stepped on the bus at 12:16. At 12:25am the bus pulled out and we arrived at 12:46am. The bus was at least 3/4 full of guests going to Pop. We were the first stop (there was one lone traveler going elsewhere next).

While DD16 grabbed our bags I went to beat the crowd and check in. Unfortunately the system is down until 9am do that delayed things a bit but not to bad.

The resort is so peaceful and pretty late at night. We got the floor & location we requested. In building 6 (70s). Got a connecting room (didn't ask for it/don't need it). Old hairdryer still on the wall. Was bummed to find out vending only has food, no drinks. Would be nice to get a bottle of water, oh well. Happy to see they replaced the badly damaged flooring in the elevator since last year.

I had noted DD16's birthday celebration and she received a pin, a card was in the room and a voice mail from Micky and Minnie which was cute (and never happened in the past).

Off to bed now. Tomorrow we hope to make RD at AK, afternoon at HS and F&W tomorrow night. That could be a bit ambitious since it's nearly 2am!

Awww. So sweet about the the card and voicemail. Hope you enjoy your trip!

 

[Pikester]

We are here! We stepped off the plane at 11:55pm to an empty airport. Went straight to baggage claim and our 2 suitcases were already there! Headed back over to terminal B to ME and stepped on the bus at 12:16. At 12:25am the bus pulled out and we arrived at 12:46am. The bus was at least 3/4 full of guests going to Pop. We were the first stop (there was one lone traveler going elsewhere next). While DD16 grabbed our bags I went to beat the crowd and check in. Unfortunately the system is down until 9am do that delayed things a bit but not to bad. The resort is so peaceful and pretty late at night. We got the floor & location we requested. In building 6 (70s). Got a connecting room (didn't ask for it/don't need it). Old hairdryer still on the wall. Was bummed to find out vending only has food, no drinks. Would be nice to get a bottle of water, oh well. Happy to see they replaced the badly damaged flooring in the elevator since last year. I had noted DD16's birthday celebration and she received a pin, a card was in the room and a voice mail from Micky and Minnie which was cute (and never happened in the past). Off to bed now. Tomorrow we hope to make RD at AK, afternoon at HS and F&W tomorrow night. That could be a bit ambitious since it's nearly 2am!

I could have sworn each floor had a Coke products machine in with the ice machine.

 

[shyjade]

I could have sworn each floor had a Coke products machine in with the ice machine.

I thought so, too. But at least the 2nd floor of building 6 only has ice and snacks. It's a small room. I probably should've ventured father because I know there were drinks on the 4th floor last year, but I was too tired to think of that 5 hours ago! Lol

This is our first time at a value when we haven't been on the 4th floor. It's definitely not as quiet, but the overhead noise doesn't bother me (yet). We're at Disney!

 

[dandelion]

I had noted DD16's birthday celebration and she received a pin, a card was in the room and a voice mail from Micky and Minnie which was cute (and never happened in the past).

How did you note the birthday celebration? Our trip in January is my DDs 18th birthday present (and her Christmas, and my Christmas )

I know I'm going to enjoy your reports shyjade since our trips may be similar. DD and I have travelled alone before, but only to tour colleges. This one will be much more fun!

 

[Minnesota!]

We are here! We stepped off the plane at 11:55pm to an empty airport. Went straight to baggage claim and our 2 suitcases were already there! Headed back over to terminal B to ME and stepped on the bus at 12:16. At 12:25am the bus pulled out and we arrived at 12:46am. The bus was at least 3/4 full of guests going to Pop. We were the first stop (there was one lone traveler going elsewhere next).

While DD16 grabbed our bags I went to beat the crowd and check in. Unfortunately the system is down until 9am do that delayed things a bit but not to bad.

The resort is so peaceful and pretty late at night. We got the floor & location we requested. In building 6 (70s). Got a connecting room (didn't ask for it/don't need it). Old hairdryer still on the wall. Was bummed to find out vending only has food, no drinks. Would be nice to get a bottle of water, oh well. Happy to see they replaced the badly damaged flooring in the elevator since last year.

I had noted DD16's birthday celebration and she received a pin, a card was in the room and a voice mail from Micky and Minnie which was cute (and never happened in the past).

Off to bed now. Tomorrow we hope to make RD at AK, afternoon at HS and F&W tomorrow night. That could be a bit ambitious since it's nearly 2am!

I am such a sap - this made me tear up. I want to be back at Pop SO bad. Sounds like a great time to arrive - quiet, quick. Enjoy your trip!

I could have sworn each floor had a Coke products machine in with the ice machine.

I agree! But, we always stay on 4th floor...so maybe they alternate?

 

[deedeew80]

Hi everyone! We are looking to book a trip to WDW April 28-May5 & staying at the POP! DH & I have stayed at POP before, a few years ago. We enjoyed it. This time we will be taking our 2 children for the first time! DD5 & DD3 (age they will be during the trip, they are 4 & 2 now) Some questions I have about POP are: Is there a big difference between standard & preferred rooms? Is there "Disney" themes throughout the resort? How is the food court? I have read that we can walk from POP to the AoA resort, is this correct? Thank you for any information! So excited to be bringing my children for the first time!!!

 

[shyjade]

How did you note the birthday celebration? Our trip in January is my DDs 18th birthday present (and her Christmas, and my Christmas ) I know I'm going to enjoy your reports shyjade since our trips may be similar. DD and I have travelled alone before, but only to tour colleges. This one will be much more fun!

When I made modifications to our ressie on the phone the CM added it. However, I think you can also note it during online check-in.

 

[Chrystmasangel]

Do any of the rooms have a microwave? Just thinking we could make our little one grits in the morning while we get ready.

You can take a small single serve coffee brewer and use it to just heat water and then use the extremely hot water for the grits. Should work if they are the instant grits.

 

[mara512]

Hi everyone! We are looking to book a trip to WDW April 28-May5 & staying at the POP! DH & I have stayed at POP before, a few years ago. We enjoyed it. This time we will be taking our 2 children for the first time! DD5 & DD3 (age they will be during the trip, they are 4 & 2 now) Some questions I have about POP are: Is there a big difference between standard & preferred rooms? Is there "Disney" themes throughout the resort? How is the food court? I have read that we can walk from POP to the AoA resort, is this correct? Thank you for any information! So excited to be bringing my children for the first time!!!

Hello so excited for you and your upcoming trip. Preferred rooms are closer to the main building and the bus stop. There are some standard rooms that are fairly close also but you are guaranteed to get them with a request. There are different Disney themes. If you download a map of Pop you can see the theming to each building or you can check out the picture blogs of Pop. You can walk to AOA it is just across the bridge from Pop. The food court has recently changed some of the menus but when I was there I found the variety and quality to be very sufficient. Hope this helps.

 

[jcarwash]

Hi everyone! We are looking to book a trip to WDW April 28-May5 & staying at the POP! DH & I have stayed at POP before, a few years ago. We enjoyed it. This time we will be taking our 2 children for the first time! DD5 & DD3 (age they will be during the trip, they are 4 & 2 now) Some questions I have about POP are: Is there a big difference between standard & preferred rooms? Is there "Disney" themes throughout the resort? How is the food court? I have read that we can walk from POP to the AoA resort, is this correct? Thank you for any information! So excited to be bringing my children for the first time!!!

The difference between preferred and standard rooms is the location. (Pop has preferred pool, preferred, standard pool, and standard). The rooms themselves are identical inside. I'm one who says reserving standard is just fine for your money.

Each section has a Disney theme (icons) in addition to the decade theme. 50's has Lady and the Tramp, 60's has Mowgli and Baloo from The Jungle Book, 70's has a Mickey Mouse telephone, and 80's/90's has Roger Rabbit.

The food court is great!

And yes, the bridge over Hourglass Lake connects Pop Century and Art of Animation.

 

[marauder]

Just got back from a 9 day stay at Pop. We had issues at the beginning of the stay. Was assigned to the far side of the 70's building. Large number of insects on the door and the window. Lots flew in when we opened it. Figured it might just temporary thing.

Lived with it for one night. Next morning we asked them to spray room and outside of room. Upon returning to room after visiting the parks, things were just as bad.

We asked around and found out it was only certain areas of the resort, primarily lake front rooms. They moved us to a different room away from the lake and everything was fine.

Rest of stay was great except everything was very crowded. On the weekend the resort was full.

 

[FantasmicMike]

We're spending our first WDW vacation at POP during the first week of January. Me, DW, DD6 and DS10 will be arriving at the airport at 9:15AM and taking the ME on over. After checking in, we're going to Epcot for lunch and the afternoon. Two quick questions with this in mind:

1) While I know that the room likely won't be ready (which is fine), how busy is check-in likely to be that early in the morning? Should I plan to spend awhile there doing so, or can I expect it to be quick (so that we can get over to Epcot)?

2) Does POP have somewhere to leave additional carry-on bags? Since we're taking ME and having our checked luggage delivered, I'm only worried if we bring more than one backpack for the day, and having to lug them around.

 

[HizMinnie2015]

We're spending our first WDW vacation at POP during the first week of January. Me, DW, DD6 and DS10 will be arriving at the airport at 9:15AM and taking the ME on over. After checking in, we're going to Epcot for lunch and the afternoon. Two quick questions with this in mind:

1) While I know that the room likely won't be ready (which is fine), how busy is check-in likely to be that early in the morning? Should I plan to spend awhile there doing so, or can I expect it to be quick (so that we can get over to Epcot)?

2) Does POP have somewhere to leave additional carry-on bags? Since we're taking ME and having our checked luggage delivered, I'm only worried if we bring more than one backpack for the day, and having to lug them around.

I would do on-line check in if I were you... it helps the process go faster and smoother from what I've been told.

You are able to leave any carry on with Bell Services and they will hold your bags until you come back..

Remember to ask for a text/phone call when your room is ready!

 

[marauder]

We arrived at the park at 11:00 a.m. and our room was ready for us. It all depends on how "picky" you are with your preferences and how busy the resort is. If you go when there are lots of rooms are available then it is easy to place you, if not they have to wait for the people to vacate the room.

Online reservations make check-in much easier and quicker.

Bell-staff will take any carry-ons from you and check them if you need them to.

 

[sully&mike]

I ordered an adorable Gift Basket from Memories by Betsy.
She delivers right to the resort.
Anyone know if CMs put this into our room at POP to surprise my DD?
We arrive really late on 1/15, so I was thinking that I'd have it delivered on 1/16 while we're at the parks. Though, I could switch that plan if I had to have it delivered on day 1. I just know that DD will be dead tired when we arrive in the hotel room and it won't mean as much on day 1.

Any advice is appreciated!
TIA!

 

[FantasmicMike]

We arrived at the park at 11:00 a.m. and our room was ready for us. It all depends on how "picky" you are with your preferences and how busy the resort is. If you go when there are lots of rooms are available then it is easy to place you, if not they have to wait for the people to vacate the room.

We're not going to be very picky - we do have a "Preferred" room reservation, but no real preferences for those. The one exception might be that my mother (arriving later in the day) has an additional room, and we might want those to either be linked or at least close by.

Does having those two reservations linked through MDE help indicate that we'd preferred linked or nearby rooms? I'll be sure to make that request anyway when we arrive.

 

[marauder]

Does having those two reservations linked through MDE help indicate that we'd preferred linked or nearby rooms? I'll be sure to make that request anyway when we arrive.

No resort reservations doesn't know you are linked via MDE (at least they claim not to.) The best way to make that request is to call in advance and have the information put onto your reservation. When you do online check-in it allows you to make two requests but it only involves check-boxes you can't request things like joining rooms or things like that since you can't enter anything via text.

We had another group staying with us and arriving long after we did. They were able to accommodate a request that we made when we arrived to put them in the same building even though they were in a different room category. (They had preferred and we had standard.)

 

[deedeew80]

Thanks for your replies! I just found out that the time we are going there will be cheerleading competitions going on those weekends. Our dates are April 28-May 5. Does anyone know anything about this? Apparently the cheerleaders stay at POP and/or the All Star Resorts. Will them being there effect my stay? Thanks for any info.

 

[marauder]

Thanks for your replies! I just found out that the time we are going there will be cheerleading competitions going on those weekends. Our dates are April 28-May 5. Does anyone know anything about this? Apparently the cheerleaders stay at POP and/or the All Star Resorts. Will them being there effect my stay? Thanks for any info.

Don't know about that particular event, it is my understanding that most sports teams and cheerleading teams tend to stay at the All-Stars resorts, but they can also be at Pop. The resort is huge, so unless they are in your actual building there shouldn't be a problem. If you don't like noise I would suggest not having a Pool-view Preferred, since the main areas you will see them unless they are in your building will be the pool and the dining areas.