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.
