Fellow DVCers... do you feel like a snob?

[dapod423]

Hi everyone!! I'm a fairly new member of the club. I am paying cash for a trip coming up in May. I decided I couldn't wait any longer and am taking advantage of the Kids Stay and Play for Free. But in order to afford it Mom, DS4 and I are staying at POP. I have NEVER stayed at a value before!!! I feel like such a snob because I am REALLY nervous about it. How bad can it be, right? It definitely won't be my lovely "home" AKV but it will be OK, right? Does anyone else feel spoiled by DVC and snobby about staying at a value?

 

[Chuck S]

Do I feel a little spoiled staying at DVC? Yes. Do I feel snobbish about POP? No, not at all. We often spend a night at POP when we drive down and arrive a night early. We like POP. Their food court is pretty good, and the rooms have always been clean.

Don't really care for All-Stars, though. Their food courts are smaller and it seems to be noisier than POP.

 

[dazza5931]

we are dvc members and i have got to say that i love pop its a great resort stayed there 3 times and would gladly stay there at a drop of a hat stayed at saratoga last year a vacation is what you make it after all we only sleep in these rooms im sure you will have a blast

 

[DisneyPups]

POP ROCKS! (Get it? Haha). Seriously though. I only stayed at Pop before becoming a DVC member, and heck yeah, I would go back. That place is so much fun. Just to look at all the decorations and think of all the decades. And the buses are NONSTOP. I never had to wait for a Pop bus for very long.

 

[dmbkmb]

I have to agree with the others. Yes, being a DVC member I do feel like a snob sometimes when talking about all the disney trips I take in a year to people I work with and friends, but heh, I've stayed at POP too. I really like that place. A couple of years ago we went for marathon weekend and didn't want to use pts. So, yep Pop was our choice for the deal they were giving to runners. I really liked the place. Sure, it wasn't SSR, but Pop was definitely a good alternative. You will find it much better than you are anticipating. Enjoy your trip!

 

[wbl2745]

Clearly the rooms at Pop Century are not your 1-bedroom villa, but we've stayed there twice and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. As PPs have said, the buses aren't shared with any other resort so you have a really good chance of getting on the first bus that pulls up. The rooms are clean, quiet, and have what you'd expect. The food court is one of the better ones, and is certainly far better than the food court at the AKL where we stayed in December. The pools are great and it is nice to walk around the grounds by the lake in the morning. I don't think you have anything to worry about in staying there.

Look forward to having a great time!

 

[akl-fan]

I too love the 2bdr at AKV but Disney is Disney which ever resort you are in. Why not go over to AKV for some zebra domes, they always make me feel better!!!!

 

[cseca]

Out of all the values Pop is our favorite. DH always says if we can't stay in a DVC resort he wants to stay at Pop... so you'll be fine

 

[mom of princessx2]

Don't be nervous. Pop isn't bad. I do feel a bit spoiled about my frequent trips to WDW and love walking around the DVC resorts but Pop is my dd's favorite resort. We are going to stay there for the first night on our Dec trip as a surprise to them. It is quite nice walking along the back by the water and their food court has a wide selection of items.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

I do feel a bit like a villa snob, we have become very accustom to our 2 bedroom. I don't think I could ever go back while traveling with all 4 of our kids. I love having our master bedroom and bath, the privacy is key. I could do a value or a moderate if I was traveling with just my DH or 1-2 of my kids, but never the whole family.

 

[hansel1]

We have wanted to stay at pop for a while now. We own at boardwalk and Animal kingdom lodge. I think that pop has some advantages that my dvc's don't. We have visited pop specifically to see what a value was like and have to say that we enjoyed the food court and atmosphere for families was great. Ultimately our family is growing too much to use pop unless we booked two rooms and split up the kids, but just the wife and I alone have contemplated staying at pop on a low budget getaway in between the two week vacation stays.

 

[Kidanifan08]

I don't know that we are snobs, but one does get used to a certain level of accommodations and it is hard to go back. We did a 9 night stay at ASMu in 10/09, and I would never do that again. We did save alot of money and we got free standard DDP for F&W. But the rooms are so confining and it felt likes stuff was piling up everywhere -- park guides, popcorn buckets, souvenirs, dirty clothes, etc. We had a room overlooking the main pool, and the noise was incredible until late at night. It did not help that there were record high temps that week making the pools busier at night. We loved the theming of the resort and my son, who was 3 at the time, really enjoyed the pools and different buildings. I just don't think I could do another full week at a value resort. Once they open the Art of Animation, I would probably want to do 2 nights there so my son can see the place, but after that we would be heading for a DVC villa.

We did stay at POP in 2004, and I agree that the bus service is excellent -- often better than some of the more expensive resorts. The theming there is great, as well. We have done a number of moderates, and I find those rooms to be confining as well. Once you have had a 1 or 2BR villa, it is hard to stay in a standard room. I have the same aversion to standard hotel rooms on non-Disney trips as well, all because of DVC!

Have fun! Your DS4 will love it and you will spend the week knowing that your next trip will be back to your "home"!

 

[drewmer]

Not a snob for being nervous. AKv is wonderful. Pop is fun. If I plan on spending all day at the parks and want a clean comfortable room places like Pop are great. If I want to spend a bunch of time at the resorts then places like Pop are a little bit of a let down.

You will have a blast have fun

 

[Havana]

Going to Disney and staying at a value is better than not going at all. We started out as Value people. After our first deluxe stay we purchased DVC because we couldn't go back to a Value! If I had to stay at any Value, it would be Pop without hesitation.

 

[dapod423]

Thanks everyone!!! You made me feel alot better. I figure I have to try it out at least once. Since DH is not coming this trip I thought it best to try it now. I do have two more trips planned at AKV so I have something to look forward to!!!

 

[soxyes]

Me? I feel like part snob, part addict!

We've stayed in Values, Moderates and DVC villas. I love the villas and really enjoy the resorts and the room amenities. That being said, I think the addict part of me wins out. I'd book a quick value trip in a heartbeat if I could afford the funding and the additional time away from work!

On April 2nd we just returned home from 9 nights at Kidani. We have 9 nights planned in the Treehouse Villas for June-July, and I'm anxiously awaiting going back! I just love the atmosphere there and can't seem to have enough trips planned and in "the hopper." I think I have a problem!!

 

[spiceycat]

love Pop. if I did not belong to DVC, Pop would be my resort.

It is a fun place. Hoping the animation hotel won't change it.

take your child and mom too - around the resort. check out the entire thing. some things might surprise you and others will bring back such memories.... and make you laugh

 

[MinnieGi]

I had to laugh at your post b/c I fee sort of the same way - we have NEVER stayed value but will be in June!!

My DD's dance team is dancing at WDW in the parade and at DHS and the whole team is staying at All-Stars. Now mind you my kids have only stayed in villas!!!! You should have seen their faces when I told them our room would be just that a ROOM - no kitchen, no jacuzzi tub, no living room, no extra bedroom, no w/d. We've had DVC since they were babies so that is all they know and I guess assumed all WDW rooms were like ours!!

I know we'll have loads of fun since the dance girls will all be together but I admit I'm a little leary about us all fitting in one room when we are used to spreading out.

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

I often stay at Pop Century to avoid spending weekend points A night at the beginning or a couple at the end is fun!

And I wish they would let us use points there!

 

[nunzia]

I really love my DVC and maybe I've become a little snobish on DLR trips. I just associate the resort with staying at VGC..it is part of the experience. That said..when I'm there for the EXPO I'm staying at the Jolly Roger...location, location, location