Resort Thread Disney's POP CENTURY Resort

Just returned from a quick trip. Enjoyed Pop. We usually stay at Pop each yr in Feb. and May, however this yr. it was this long weekend instead of Feb.

1) For the first time we experienced them combining parties on the skyliner for park open (this had not been our experience in the past.)

2) The ice cream section/possible new drink/coffee section is still closed in the food court.

3) The posted hrs. for the skyliner does not have them starting until 730am. During all of our President Day week trips and most, if not all of our May trips skyliner posted opening was always 7am. This week crowds were higher than either of our Feb or May trips which was a bummer with the later start time. Ppl. still line up at the same time (we were out there between 615-625 each day and were never 1st in line - somewhere between 3rd-6th party in line). The later skyliner start also means there's no way. to be one of the first 100 or so through the tapstyles. Usually when we go to Epcot, we're there early enough to be held at security before they open, however as we flew in (in skyline #2 of the day from Pop) ppl. were already streaming in, had made it through security, through the tapstyle and were in line where they first hold you for Remy/Guardians.

At DHS we're usually able to be one of the first cp families at the tapstyle, but again with the later skyliner start we were more like 10thish family in line.

3) The new morning skyliner process is a mess and could so easily be fixed it's kinda insulting they don't.
-There are kinda 2 lines now, HOWEVER there is ABSOLUTELY 0 signage to indicate that. Our first morning for the first 45 mins. everyone was lining up on the traditional "pop" side. The CMs got there a lil before 7. put poles and a rope in front of skyliner for AoA line, however said absolutely nothing to the huge line they could see etc. Most ppl. from AoA still walked across to join the large Pop line because common sense would tell you oh I see a line of ppl. and there's nothing indicating there's a different line. Then 1 family stood at the poles/rope for AoA. Lots of ppl. confused; the lady behind us kinda almost lost it (I get it at that point she'd been there for an hr., sees a huge line behind her and now. it looks like aother line is starting with 0 communication from any of the CMs). Another morning there. was already 1 family waiting at the invisible AoA line when we got into the regular line. Again 95% of the AoA ppl. walked over and joined the regular line and a few others got behind the family in the invisible line. Eventually the CMs came and put the poles/rope up, again without speaking.

Now, each morning we were there, ehen it was time to actually load the CMs told the AoA line they would have to wait a few mins. - Again one day one of the dads in that line was very confused and kept asking why they had to wait. - I have no idea when they actually started pulling from the AoA line as we were already on the skyliner, but it's just such a mess and. some simple signage would fix the issue and make the job of the cms so much easier.

4) Ride breakdowns - nothing to do with Pop, but man did rides seem to be down all over the place. On Sat. Rise and Slinky were down during Eehs (I also really dislike them having non resort guests enter the park and lined up at the lands at EEHs opening). This just really diminishes even further such a short window of a resort guest perk.

In our Epcot day; they didn't let the line start the long walk into and through the Remy que until 833am...again not a huge delay, but we've been used to them at least letting us through the. que at 815am. EEhs really needs to be an hr to really be a perk I think.

Enjoyed our trip....these were just some. notes.
 

I'm not liking the 7:30 Skyliner start time! I was hoping to get over to Primo Piata at Riviera for a quick breakfast, since they open at 7:00, but that later start time might change those plans!
 
Historically the Skyliner starts running approx. 1 hour prior to ETPE. Currently Epcot and DHS are opening at 8:30 for ETPE guests so a 7:30 start time is as expected.

For those reporting the Skyliner is starting later than previously, do you have historical dates you visited in the past? I can look up the historical park hours to see if the park hours were different which would mean the Skyliner hours were different or if truly they have made a change and now start running the Skyliner later than in the past.
 
Historically the Skyliner starts running approx. 1 hour prior to ETPE. Currently Epcot and DHS are opening at 8:30 for ETPE guests so a 7:30 start time is as expected.

For those reporting the Skyliner is starting later than previously, do you have historical dates you visited in the past? I can look up the historical park hours to see if the park hours were different which would mean the Skyliner hours were different or if truly they have made a change and now start running the Skyliner later than in the past.
https://www.wdwmagic.com/calendar.htm

Here's a link to the historical WDW hours for anyone.

Over Presidents Day week for 2024 & 2022 and when we were the in May those yrs. Epcot and DHS both opened at 9 (830 EEH) just like this past weekend, however the skyliner posted hrs. were 7am open.

In 2023; DHS did open a half hr. prior a
however wven then both the DHS & Epcot line started at 7am.

Like I said an hr. prior to EEHs in our opinion is very tight (especially considering we all know buses pickup before that) and definitely not as helpful as when they used to open at 7 (1.5 hrs. before park open).
 
https://www.wdwmagic.com/calendar.htm

Here's a link to the historical WDW hours for anyone.

Over Presidents Day week for 2024 & 2022 and when we were the in May those yrs. Epcot and DHS both opened at 9 (830 EEH) just like this past weekend, however the skyliner posted hrs. were 7am open.

In 2023; DHS did open a half hr. prior a
however wven then both the DHS & Epcot line started at 7am.

Like I said an hr. prior to EEHs in our opinion is very tight (especially considering we all know buses pickup before that) and definitely not as helpful as when they used to open at 7 (1.5 hrs. before park open).
Thanks for this. It's the information I was looking for as I didn't want to cause unnecessary concern for those with upcoming trips if there was an easy answer. Hoping your experience of the later opening is not common so that guests can arrive towards the front of ETPE crowds. We'll be monitoring a couple of mornings during our upcoming trip but that's not for a few months yet.
 
Good question I have been wondering about the construction at POP.
Do not like hearing about this mess Skyliner lines .
So , potentially the cast members are creating a line that would mess with emergency evacuation if guests were departing the Skyliner that early in the morn … Does not matter , almost sounds like the cast members have tried to remedy without actual permission from management or lower level
“cast leaders “ cried to resolve a problem by creating a solution that is worse.
And really nobody to complain too since this involves 2 different resorts .
But I could foresee a battle royal breaking out across resort lines . Would that be North vs South or East vs the West ?
I have always thought the extra half hour was insulting to guests…
Disney sure makes us feel like we shouldn’t visit anymore some days .
They just might get their Wish when EPIC opens at Universal Stios Resort.
 
What kind of construction are we expecting?
We don’t really know what to expect. It’s a ‘soft goods’ refurbishment scheduled to take place over a 1 year period.

It was something guests were advised about last fall but I can’t see any additional information at this time so we don’t really know.

We anticipate they may close blocks of rooms for the refurbishments but won’t really know if that’s accurate until the actual construction begins.
 
And one more Question: 70's or 50's? What is everyone's preferred section? We stayed in 50's last time. Was considering requestion 70's this time. looks to be the same distance to food court, but maybe I'm wrong?
 
And one more Question: 70's or 50's? What is everyone's preferred section? We stayed in 50's last time. Was considering requestion 70's this time. looks to be the same distance to food court, but maybe I'm wrong?
Our order of preference for a standard room is:
1. 60’s
2. 70’s
3. 50’s

Pop runs at/ near capacity at all times so location request is never guaranteed.
 
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And one more Question: 70's or 50's? What is everyone's preferred section? We stayed in 50's last time. Was considering requestion 70's this time. looks to be the same distance to food court, but maybe I'm wrong?
We prefer 50s if 60s is not available. Honestly they're both probably the same distance with 70s probably being closer to buses if walking through parking lot, but I'm weird and like to walk through the lobby to go to the buses and that wouldn't make sense going through 70s. There's also a pool at 50s (not 70s) and I just prefer the decor more. It's really not a huge thing either way though.
 
Good question I have been wondering about the construction at POP.
Do not like hearing about this mess Skyliner lines .
So , potentially the cast members are creating a line that would mess with emergency evacuation if guests were departing the Skyliner that early in the morn … Does not matter , almost sounds like the cast members have tried to remedy without actual permission from management or lower level
“cast leaders “ cried to resolve a problem by creating a solution that is worse.
And really nobody to complain too since this involves 2 different resorts .
But I could foresee a battle royal breaking out across resort lines . Would that be North vs South or East vs the West ?
I have always thought the extra half hour was insulting to guests…
Disney sure makes us feel like we shouldn’t visit anymore some days .
They just might get their Wish when EPIC opens at Universal Stios Resort.

We were at Pop & AoA in June of 2024. They were doing the 2 separate lines at that point already. I know they had started it a few weeks or months before we arrived because I had read about it on message boards and FB before we arrived. The lines were neat and orderly. The AoA line was against the far railing (opposite side as the Skyliner station) on the bridge so it wasn't blocking any entrance/exit. There was a CM making sure that line stayed in place and also didn't block the bridge at the entrance to the station. Another CM was merging the lines at the entrance and everything was very calm and organized. I'm not sure why it was such a mess recently. It can probably be easily fixed by simply having the signs out by 6:30.

I'm not happy to hear that the Skyliner isn't starting until 7:30 each morning. I'm sure that's contributing to the super long lines people have been experiencing for it at rope drop recently. Repeat guests have been used to it starting at 7:00 (and in our experience, usually by 6:50) and just assume it's still the same. In June, we walked out of our room shortly after 7:00 (I remember I booked our LLs for the day before we left the room) and the end of the line on the AoA side was on the bridge...so not very many people ahead of us. We were on the Skyliner in a few minutes. My first picture at the entrance to DHS that morning was at 7:39 (for an 8:30 EE) -- so probably about 30 minutes after we left our room that morning. I'm a little sad that our future DHS rope drop mornings may not be as casual and require more rushing to get to the Skyliner earlier than we've had to in the past. We don't do rope drop at EP, so at least we won't have to worry about that. But we won't be going until 2026, so things will likely change again before then. :)
 
We haven't been at POP since the skyliner was still under construction. While I LOVE this resort, I am a little concerned about the Skyliner lines for our upcoming trip and all the early morning rushing around involved. Do you still have your own gondola per family or do you share in the morning since it's so busy?
 
We haven't been at POP since the skyliner was still under construction. While I LOVE this resort, I am a little concerned about the Skyliner lines for our upcoming trip and all the early morning rushing around involved. Do you still have your own gondola per family or do you share in the morning since it's so busy?
In the morning and later in the day you will likely share. Personally, I would not stress about the lines. We’ve been as far back as the 50’s section and boarded within 15-20 mins of when the Skyliner started running. The line is constantly moving so the line moves quite quickly. We love the Skyliner!! It’s a complete game changer!!
 










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