Do you love Pop Century? Tell me why!

[MusicalAstronaut]

My sister & I are booked at Pop for our (hopefully) upcoming trip. She's less than thrilled - it's a value but we paid more than we'd normally pay for CS/CB because everything is rack rate, she said it smells like diapers, she "definitely wouldn't ever" go in the pool, she's been since the renovation and didn't think it was anything special, etc.. I honestly didn't think she would feel that strongly about it so I need some people who love Pop to help me! I've never stayed there but I'm excited about the Skyliner and being able to easily get to Riviera to explore the new spots to eat & drink. I need to turn her attitude around. What do you love about Pop Century?

 

[SaintsManiac]

If she's been since the refurb and still feels that way I doubt you'll change her mind.

The reasons I love Pop: awesome CMs, compact layout, Skyliner, comfy beds, tons of room storage, food court options, shopping options.

We aren't big pool people, so I can't comment there. The one time we used it my then 5 year old loved it.

We also enjoy walking over to AoA for fun.

4 nights is usually good for me there. We stayed a week in November and it felt a little too long to be in rooms that size.

 

[rstevens333]

The rooms are slick and new. The scenery is goofy and fun. The transportation is as good as it gets without being able to walk to a park. The wifi is recently upgraded and excellent. If you take Magical Express, you can hop off one stop early at AOA and walk over.

The food is surprisingly good, especially if you like 50s Prime Time Cafe / Sci-Fi Dine-in type food. There's Dole Whip at the ice cream counter. You can walk to AOA for other food. (which one has the giant meatball entree? I like that. I love Pop's meatloaf, too.)

The lobby isn't deluxe, but the piped in scent is citrusy and pleasant. The store is really extensive and pleasant.

And that dorky giant 90s laptop makes me laugh every time.

We got "stuck" at Pop when things shut down for the hurricane a couple years ago and I still go back. It's a really fun place to be.

 

[FinnsMom7]

We almost always stay at Pop and personally, the resort for me and DH is just a place to shower, sleep and recharge - so I don't like paying a ton on the room, I rather put my money into experiences and food/drinks. But after the reno and with Skyliner - Pop is the best of the values IMO. I LOVE the skyliner. Epcot is our fav park so it makes getting there super convenient. I even took the Skyliner to CBR one morning to get coffee at the Joffrey's stand. May have taken a little longer then going to cafe at resort but it was peaceful, and way better coffee.
I am not a big pool person, but if I want major pool time I would stay moderate or above- we splurged 2 years ago on a BB offer and stayed at BCV - now thats the pool to relax at - but that trip was limited park time and we wanted to get monies worth at resort.

 

[bffer]

We nearly always stay at POP. We love the theming and the layout makes it an easy resort to get around. There is a trail around Hourglass Lake that is nice to take a quick walk or jog around or to simply check out AoA. The rooms are clean and get the job done. (I mean, we just use the rooms for showering, sleeping and getting some of the girl's homework done.) The pools are fine. The computer pool is smaller and quieter if she's not into all the kids running around. I think the food court is the best of the values.

And, of course, the Skyliner. I was looking forward to trying out the Skyliner, but POP wasn't available when we booked, so we are stuck at ASMu (unless, of course, Disney ends up doing resort changes as rumored). I think the Skyliner makes POP and AoA much more attractive.

 

[Moliphino]

It sounds like she's just determined to hate it.

I love the Skyliner and the great bus service. Only one bus stop in the resort, so there's no time wasted like at other resorts.
We are park commandos, so we don't spend much time hanging around or using the amenities. It's a great place to sleep and shower and not spend a ton of money.

 

[Disneylover99]

If she's been since the refurb and still feels that way I doubt you'll change her mind.

Yes. This.

I wouldn’t try to change her attitude. Just let it be. Pop may grow on her once she is there. But don’t force it. Just go, have fun and see what she thinks or how she feels about it after the trip.

 

[KittyKitty]

I also book the Pop for the 1st part of my trip. I love the food court over at AoA, and its a easy walk.

 

[VH103428]

Pop is our "Home" but it is because we feel our kids can run around and be kids. I don't mean that we just allow our kids to run around and scream, but it is more relaxing with kids there for us than say at Port Orleans. There is more of a kid atmosphere at Pop and I feel the moderates and deluxes have more of a resort flare. My kids know the nicer the place looks the more well behaved I expect them to be. Pop makes us all comfortable, but if it is an adult trip I wouldn't stay at Pop.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

Yes. This.

I wouldn’t try to change her attitude. Just let it be. Pop may grow on her once she is there. But don’t force it. Just go, have fun and see what she thinks or how she feels about it after the trip.

That’s true. It’s just that we obviously cannot modify our resort, she didn’t want to stay at an all star & this was the next cheapest, so when we talked about it later I was surprised at how annoyed she was. I grabbed this reservation right when Disney announced the opening dates (we were originally booked July 5-9, now 17-21) so I thought she’d be excited that we still could go. It’s going to be so hot in July so I’ll be using the pool, even if she’s being a grumpy gills about it. And honestly, it’s a large pool, right? I did a POR stay one July and the pool area was the worst because so many people were together in there. Maybe Pop will be better with a bigger pool or we could try a quiet pool....

 

[The WDW 3]

We stayed at AOA our last trip and a good chance That we’ll try POP for our next trip.

So, MT!

 

[Disneylover99]

That’s true. It’s just that we obviously cannot modify our resort, she didn’t want to stay at an all star & this was the next cheapest, so when we talked about it later I was surprised at how annoyed she was. I grabbed this reservation right when Disney announced the opening dates (we were originally booked July 5-9, now 17-21) so I thought she’d be excited that we still could go. It’s going to be so hot in July so I’ll be using the pool, even if she’s being a grumpy gills about it. And honestly, it’s a large pool, right? I did a POR stay one July and the pool area was the worst because so many people were together in there. Maybe Pop will be better with a bigger pool or we could try a quiet pool....

Well, I love the Pop pools!
They‘re fun!

I’m not sure if the main pool (the hippy dippy pool) will be open though. It was closed for refurbishment when everything shut down, so I’m not sure what the status of it is now.

 

[VandVsmama]

That’s true. It’s just that we obviously cannot modify our resort, she didn’t want to stay at an all star & this was the next cheapest, so when we talked about it later I was surprised at how annoyed she was. I grabbed this reservation right when Disney announced the opening dates (we were originally booked July 5-9, now 17-21) so I thought she’d be excited that we still could go. It’s going to be so hot in July so I’ll be using the pool, even if she’s being a grumpy gills about it. And honestly, it’s a large pool, right? I did a POR stay one July and the pool area was the worst because so many people were together in there. Maybe Pop will be better with a bigger pool or we could try a quiet pool....

Well, on the bright side of things, there will be fewer people there. So if she thinks it smells like dirty diapers, then there will be fewer people to create that odor.

You could always bring some room air freshener with you.

We haven't ever stayed at POP, but are going to on our next trip this coming January. It'll just be DH & I and I am looking forward to it. DH tends to be the Negative Nancy between the two of us and will probably not like POP for some of the same reasons he didn't care much for ASMusic last time:

• pretty spread out resort + we ended up in a room far away from main entrance
• lots of loud children (but hello? You're at a Disney resort. This goes without saying)
• room 'felt small' - but we didn't spend a whole lot of time in the room anyway
• food court options were just sort of 'meh'
• bus transportation

BUT...in my opinion, there are some pluses to POP:

• doesn't share bus service with the 3 All Stars resorts
• Skyliner access to Epcot and DHS, so you can sit on your sweaty ride to either of those parks instead of standing on a sweaty bus with lots of other people.
• if you get tired of the food court, I've heard that the AoA food court has some nice options.
• renovated rooms
• we sprung for a preferred room so we'd be closer to main entrance since DH whines about how it is to walk places at WDW sometimes.

That being said, she can look at the glass as half full or half empty. From what I've read, the non-suite rooms at AoA are the farthest away from the main building, so your sister might not have been too happy there. However, maybe she's mostly annoyed because maybe she really wanted to stay in a Moderate but all the 2 of you could afford was a Value.

If it were me, I'd rather stay at a Value than not be able to go to WDW at all.

 

[Ross Kratter]

I like Pop for the Skyliner and the renovated rooms.

 

[FinnsMom7]

I want to add another positive for POP - with the Skyliner brings much easier access to other resorts and all of the boardwalk area for dining options and non park exploring. Some of the other hotels require a bus to the park or DS and then a transfer to those resorts.

 

[shu24]

The Skyliner is wonderful to have at POP. My favorite resort of the ones I've stayed at has been POP. Is it as pretty as CB/CS- nope, but it has it's own charm. I feel it is more Disney themed than CB/CS. You likely will have a shorter walk back to your room/bus than at CB/CS unless you were used to only preferred. My first stay the staff put balloons and a 'welcome to POP' note in my room. I love the music that plays on the POP bus, I find the food court has a lot of great choices and we always make a visit to AoA since it is just a quick trip over the bridge. We are not ones to make use of the resort pool, but I think if you visited the quieter pools at POP rather than the main pool your sister might be more happy. To me, POP is a fun resort and the bold colors and lively atmosphere at the main pool add to that. We experienced a POP bus driver that asked pop culture trivia questions on the ride back from Disney Springs one afternoon. He was awesome and that was a magical memory for my DD and I that would not have occurred on a bus to another resort. I hope you and your sis still have a great time, maybe not her ideal resort, but I hope she looks for POP's charm rather than focuses on how it isn't the experience she has become used to at CB/CS.

 

[WEDWDW]

Skyliner is EPIC-she will love it!

And POP has the beautiful Lake and what to me is the most unique thing at any WDW Resort-the Lobby Shadow Boxes!

I honestly have no idea what the Dirty Diaper Smell means-never experienced it .

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

Well, on the bright side of things, there will be fewer people there. So if she thinks it smells like dirty diapers, then there will be fewer people to create that odor.

You could always bring some room air freshener with you.

We haven't ever stayed at POP, but are going to on our next trip this coming January. It'll just be DH & I and I am looking forward to it. DH tends to be the Negative Nancy between the two of us and will probably not like POP for some of the same reasons he didn't care much for ASMusic last time:

• pretty spread out resort + we ended up in a room far away from main entrance
• lots of loud children (but hello? You're at a Disney resort. This goes without saying)
• room 'felt small' - but we didn't spend a whole lot of time in the room anyway
• food court options were just sort of 'meh'
• bus transportation

BUT...in my opinion, there are some pluses to POP:

• doesn't share bus service with the 3 All Stars resorts
• Skyliner access to Epcot and DHS, so you can sit on your sweaty ride to either of those parks instead of standing on a sweaty bus with lots of other people.
• if you get tired of the food court, I've heard that the AoA food court has some nice options.
• renovated rooms
• we sprung for a preferred room so we'd be closer to main entrance since DH whines about how it is to walk places at WDW sometimes.

That being said, she can look at the glass as half full or half empty. From what I've read, the non-suite rooms at AoA are the farthest away from the main building, so your sister might not have been too happy there. However, maybe she's mostly annoyed because maybe she really wanted to stay in a Moderate but all the 2 of you could afford was a Value.

If it were me, I'd rather stay at a Value than not be able to go to WDW at all.

Thank you so much for this! I'm sure you're right, because we originally were supposed to stay at CB, but the price was just too high without any discounts. Also last time she was there she was with her Ex, so maybe he made some of the grumpy comments & now she's repeating them. That's a great idea about the room freshener haha! I have one that smells like the Yacht Club so that'd be perfect.

 

[WEDWDW]

Maybe Pop will be better with a bigger pool or we could try a quiet pool....

All 3 of the POP Pools are fairly large.

Our favorite is Bowling Pool-I mean where else on Earth can you swim in a Pool shaped like a gigantic Bowling Pin!?

 

[scrappinginontario]

We absolutely love Pop and have stayed there over 25+ times but if your sister has stayed there since the refurb and still says she doesn't like it I think she's made up her mind and you may want to start looking elsewhere. This is your vacation too and if she's only going to complain about the resort the entire time it will affect your trip.

I feel badly for you because now you have to compromise because Pop is an AMAZING resort for all the reasons mentioned above!!