Feel like I need to get off Disboards.

[nugov2]

Just to help clarify Pop Century: it is not a single building, only some of the rooms face a parking lot (most face gardens, a lake, or swimming pools), and there really is no common area. I also don't know of any motels with anything that resembles Classic Hall.

Motels are typically cheaper, roadside buildings intended for short stays. They thrive mostly on street traffic being able to pull in and stay there when driving. The word itself (a combination of "motor" and "hotel") stemmed from the idea of a place where drivers would stop during long trips when they needed sleep, then be on their way.



And how about Pop Century? Have you stayed there either? I'm just thinking you might not have a full understanding of exactly how Pop Century is or isn't like a motel or what the rooms and amenities may or may not be like in comparison.

It's sort of like calling a Disney park an amusement park. You might not be technically wrong, but the underlying connotation and deeper semantics of the world "amusement park" don't fit what the Disney parks really are.

Here is the direct quote from MouseSavers website:

The Value resort buildings are big, brightly-painted concrete rectangles with some whimsical theming overlays. All four resorts have motel-style exterior corridors, meaning the door and window of your room face outward onto an open walkway. These resorts frequently host large youth groups. Some rooms face into courtyards that contain pools. Due to these factors, noise can be a significant issue at the Value resorts.

So I think we will just have to agree to disagree No I have not stayed at Pop Century or any other value for that matter, but have been to a Value so I know what they are like(amenities, quality etc.)


Just looking at the sign for Pop Century you can tell it has been modeled after many iconic motels. Just google historic vegas motels or something similar you will find them. The Holiday Motel is specifically one that reminds me of a sign that inspired Pop. It isn't a twin, but it looks very much the same. Many unique Motels boast similar style signs. Again, I agree with you in the difference is that Pop offers things because it is a resort in addition to a place to stay. That is why you get the bus, music and friendly staff. So I guess the term values are motel-style resorts is the best description of them.

 

[saylorbunch]

Hmmmmmm, this thread has me thinking that maybe we should consider staying offsite next year. I like not having to drive, and I would LOVE to stay Deluxe on the monorail...but... I know DVC is not right for my family, and the age difference in my boys is so big that they want/need totally different experiences and room. Thanks, OP!! My DH will thank you, too, when he sees the money we'll save!

Great! Glad I could help! Never thought my complaining would actually HELP someone!! Lol!!

 

[saylorbunch]

Well, this post didn't really help me... Do you have a family of 6?? There is nothing a Disney hotel can offer me that's worth thousands... GO TEAM OFF-SITE!!!

 

[doconeill]

Didn't realize there would be a debate about what constitutes a "motel"...but even Mousesavers says "Motel-style"...

Personally, I think of the All-Stars and POP, which are the same basic design (POP's buildings are a bigger version), and the Little Mermaid buildings at AOA, as "motel-style". All doors are external, to the outside environment, and no common entrance. There aren't internal common corridors and a common entrance as is the case with a standard hotel. So you can walk directly from the outside into your room. I don't consider them "motels" specifically, as they are not designed as "waystations" but destinations.

Some of the moderates may be similar. Port Orleans Riverside is external door rooms.

Saratoga Springs and Old Key West are often called "Condo-style", but I think that's more about how parking is laid out around the buildings. They are a bit different - at least at SSR they have internal corridors, but they are "open air" - there are no doors to enter the building itself, and the corridors are essentially open to the elements, but some rooms have doors that are "internal", as in not facing directly outside.

 

[saylorbunch]

The problem with the DIS is that it is easy to get information overload here, and then it is compounded with all kinds of stories that detail the best way to have a WDW vacation. If you get immersed in some threads it is very easy to second guess decisions that you made and perhaps feel that if you are not following the "plan" the trip will be a DISaster.

Years ago, when I first found the DIS, my family bout the DDP. It was an amazing value back then and there was a lot of discussion about how to max it. Oh my goodness! I fell right in. I scoured the menus, planned to go where the prices were the highest...made my family crazy with endless questions about their dining options. My DSIL was the only one who would even talk to me about teh trip, and that was because he worked nights and I was the only one around when he was up. Finally my DD had enough. Between the touring plans I was trying to create, the dining nightmare I was putting them through, and more that I have blocked out, there was a mutiny!

It seems that my perfect vacation was already stressing my family out, but I had been soaking up every tip here. So I tossed it all out, made a lose touring plan and chose ADR's that my family would like rather than the suggestions I had found here. But I remember how I felt for a while. If I did not follow all of the "lessons learned" here, my family would have teh worst vacation ever!

The OP has been reading all of the concerns folks have shared here, and she is feeling somewhat like I felt those years ago. ANd if you read a few posts here, you can understand that there are some people who will tell her that her vacation will indeed be terrible in part due to choices she made that were best for her family.

Thank you!! Unlike most around here, we only get to do this about once every 5 years, so I of course, want to make the most of it!!! I'm happy with my trip plans so far, but like I aid earlier, just hearing one more thing that many August people staying on site gets to do, I got my panties in a bind for a moment. One moment. I stay on the Dis, because I got the greatest advice...stop and smell the roses. 5 years ago I was go, go, go. Have to get that FP, have to get to that ride. We're going to smell lots of roses, and experience the magic!!! And have a wonderful time in the Disney parks, while staying off-site where my DH and I have our own room and bathroom, and each of the 4 kids have their own bed!!!! And they can jump in the pool in their pajamas!!!

 

[saylorbunch]

I haven't read thru all 6 pages of this, but I don't see why the issues you bring up have anything to do with getting off Disboards. I guess if its stressing you out so much, go ahead.

We almost always stay offsite. For one, I'll take the trade of more days in the parks vs. staying onsite. I know plenty will disagree with that, but that's fine. Other than an occasional pool trip, we tend to not be in the room all that much except to sleep. And when we are in the "room", we're much more enjoying the condo or townhouse that we rent, since we can spread out instead of feeling like we're in a small box.

That being said, if all else were equal, I'd love to stay onsite. By staying offsite, we lose DME, magic hours and other minor perks. The Disney resorts are beautiful and yes, I fully understand that we lose a little magic by staying offsite.

But, I also think Disney does a nice job with offsite guests. Parking facilities are excellent and they move you pretty efficiently from the parking lots to the gate and back. We're just as entitled to FastPasses as onsite guests (ask that at Universal) and have good access to dining. While onsite guests get first pick, I've never had major problems getting good dining ADR's.

Yes, there is some testing going on with FP+ that is directed to specific groups of onsite guests. That seems completely fair to me. For the perks the testers may be getting, they're also having to deal with the bumps that happen during a testing period.

On BOG, yes, a dinner ADR is nearly impossible. I ran into that for our upcoming trip. So, we'll go for lunch...I've heard that's better anyway.

I'd hate to get to a point where planning on a Disney trip caused me so much stress. I've actually always enjoyed the process, and, as an offsite guest later this month, I've enjoyed the planning aspect this time as well. If such a vacation was to cause me an undue amount of stress, I think I'd find somewhere else to go.

Well, I wish you would have, because I explained myself later on... There is no undue stress here. Geez. I really enjoyed MOST of the replies.