thelionqueen
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2005
- Messages
- 5,384
Hello fellow DIS'ers, sadly, we are home from our FABULOUS 10 day WDW trip. We stayed at POP from 10/7-10/13 in the 50's building. (split stay @ OKW 10/3-10/7)
Here's is the preface....get comfortable, I type over 100 WPM and can't wait to share
We have only ever stayed at Deluxe resorts when visiting WDW. Contemporary (loved it) and the Polynesian...also loved it! We decided on staying value to get the most for our $$ during the MYW+ free dining package, so we decided on POP.
First thing I can say is....now this is important coming from me....
I WILL NEVER (probably never) STAY AT A DELUXE OR MODERATE AGAIN!!!
We had an AMAZING time at POP and cannot speak highly enough about it!!! There were some minor differences, which I'll go into further down, but all in all what a HUGE value for the money!!
1. We stayed in the 50's building facing the tip of the bowling pin pool...room 2409. I NEVER heard any voices of my neighbors and no doors slamming! NEVER!! I did hear the occasional toilet flush, but it was not very loud at all as I've read from other posters. It actually sounded like it came from the far back side of the building.
2. I LOVED the theming of the resort, it was Disney in it's truest fashion. I really loved the color of our building, it was purple and made me smile each time I walked to our room
3. The staff was amazing!! My cousin who went with us lost her car key (to rental car) and was already 10 mins. late to her CRT lunch. She asked a CM to hail a cab, but instead they took their PERSONAL POP van and rushed her to the front gate of MK!! Now that's service!
4. The food court was not busy whenever we went to it...remind you we never went early morning or late evening. Always seemed to be around 11:00am or 5:00pm. Not planned, but that is when we mostly went. My husband did go for a coffee refill around 7:00am and he said it was really busy.
5. The food was EXCELLENT!!! Much better than the Food & Fun center @ Contemporary. We ate at all stations, eventually, and had better-than-average meals every time! When we asked for extras, they obliged without hesitation and were never charged for anything extra we got..was all included in dining plan.
6. Again, I LOVED the theming @ POP. After staying deluxe, granted the rooms are bigger, but they didn't feel "Disneyfied" POP was cheery "Groovy" and a fun place to stay. Honestly, if the price @ the deluxes were even only like $20 more per night, I would choose POP.
7. Laundry facilities were AWESOME!! Clean, plentiful, COOL and well kept. Mind you, I pack like a million outfits for everyone and don't ever plan on doing laundry. But due to my husband putting wet swimming trunks in a suitcase leaving the clothes smelling terrible, I was forced to do laundry. The BEST part, is that the laundry facility is right next to the bowling pin pool. So we swam and did laundry at the same time..was GREAT!!
8. LOVED the decorations in the room! Picture was awesome and I loved looking at it before I went to sleep! The bedspreads were so cute..I wanted to take them home, and the setup was very nicely laid out for the most part. Beds were comfortable (kinda firm, but I prefer more firm to more soft) and pillows wonderful.
9. Everything POP gift shop was PERFECT!!! I found things there that I couldn't find anywhere else! It was laid out nicely and was well staffed and clean. LOVED IT
NOW for the draw backs. Remind you, I have only stayed @ Deluxe's prior to this trip, so the negatives are in comparison the CR and POLY.
1) Rooms were a little smaller that I would prefer...but not so small that I would not stay there again. I would prefer a little more room but not a really huge drawback. Other posters made it seem like it was a cracker box, but it is not. We are a family of 4 2 adults and 2 son's 8 & 4 and we were comfortable.
2) Mousekeeping was not nearly as good as I am used to. We got towel animals every day before staying here, and got not a single one the entire trip. But towel animals are not supremely important to me. Nice, but not necessary. They would put all the trash in a large bag and leave it in the room. This bothered me and I called the front desk. They said that this is normal, but said it was no problem and told MK to take all trash, which they did. So..good. In general, room was clean, just not the extra attention to detail I am used to. Again, good enough just not superb.
3) Water pressure is very low. I like strong pressured showers and they just weren't there. Again, OK just not superb. My showers were longer and nicer because of no pressure, but this is something I consider a negative.
4) No elevators on ends of buildings. This has to be my biggest drawback about the entire resort. We stay near the very end of the bldg. and had to climb 4 flights of stairs daily. The elevators were in center of the 3 buildings so you either had to climb the stairs which were closest to parking and your room. OR walk the entire distance of the room wing, catch the elevator and walk all the way back to your room.
***************NOTE TO FUTURE VISITORS AND SELF*************
Request room close to elevator
Unknown drawbacks by requesting room close to elevator....
More foot traffic obviously...therefore more noise??
Closer to room but further from parking....better or worse??
OK ya'll, my fingers are tired and I still have to start my dining and park review... Check my other reviews if you have the time..
I hope this helps those who's questions I may have answered. If you have any specific questions..feel free to ask!
Dining Review Link Part I
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=10251956#post10251956
Here's is the preface....get comfortable, I type over 100 WPM and can't wait to share
We have only ever stayed at Deluxe resorts when visiting WDW. Contemporary (loved it) and the Polynesian...also loved it! We decided on staying value to get the most for our $$ during the MYW+ free dining package, so we decided on POP.
First thing I can say is....now this is important coming from me....
I WILL NEVER (probably never) STAY AT A DELUXE OR MODERATE AGAIN!!!
We had an AMAZING time at POP and cannot speak highly enough about it!!! There were some minor differences, which I'll go into further down, but all in all what a HUGE value for the money!!
1. We stayed in the 50's building facing the tip of the bowling pin pool...room 2409. I NEVER heard any voices of my neighbors and no doors slamming! NEVER!! I did hear the occasional toilet flush, but it was not very loud at all as I've read from other posters. It actually sounded like it came from the far back side of the building.
2. I LOVED the theming of the resort, it was Disney in it's truest fashion. I really loved the color of our building, it was purple and made me smile each time I walked to our room
3. The staff was amazing!! My cousin who went with us lost her car key (to rental car) and was already 10 mins. late to her CRT lunch. She asked a CM to hail a cab, but instead they took their PERSONAL POP van and rushed her to the front gate of MK!! Now that's service!
4. The food court was not busy whenever we went to it...remind you we never went early morning or late evening. Always seemed to be around 11:00am or 5:00pm. Not planned, but that is when we mostly went. My husband did go for a coffee refill around 7:00am and he said it was really busy.
5. The food was EXCELLENT!!! Much better than the Food & Fun center @ Contemporary. We ate at all stations, eventually, and had better-than-average meals every time! When we asked for extras, they obliged without hesitation and were never charged for anything extra we got..was all included in dining plan.
6. Again, I LOVED the theming @ POP. After staying deluxe, granted the rooms are bigger, but they didn't feel "Disneyfied" POP was cheery "Groovy" and a fun place to stay. Honestly, if the price @ the deluxes were even only like $20 more per night, I would choose POP.
7. Laundry facilities were AWESOME!! Clean, plentiful, COOL and well kept. Mind you, I pack like a million outfits for everyone and don't ever plan on doing laundry. But due to my husband putting wet swimming trunks in a suitcase leaving the clothes smelling terrible, I was forced to do laundry. The BEST part, is that the laundry facility is right next to the bowling pin pool. So we swam and did laundry at the same time..was GREAT!!
8. LOVED the decorations in the room! Picture was awesome and I loved looking at it before I went to sleep! The bedspreads were so cute..I wanted to take them home, and the setup was very nicely laid out for the most part. Beds were comfortable (kinda firm, but I prefer more firm to more soft) and pillows wonderful.
9. Everything POP gift shop was PERFECT!!! I found things there that I couldn't find anywhere else! It was laid out nicely and was well staffed and clean. LOVED IT
NOW for the draw backs. Remind you, I have only stayed @ Deluxe's prior to this trip, so the negatives are in comparison the CR and POLY.
1) Rooms were a little smaller that I would prefer...but not so small that I would not stay there again. I would prefer a little more room but not a really huge drawback. Other posters made it seem like it was a cracker box, but it is not. We are a family of 4 2 adults and 2 son's 8 & 4 and we were comfortable.
2) Mousekeeping was not nearly as good as I am used to. We got towel animals every day before staying here, and got not a single one the entire trip. But towel animals are not supremely important to me. Nice, but not necessary. They would put all the trash in a large bag and leave it in the room. This bothered me and I called the front desk. They said that this is normal, but said it was no problem and told MK to take all trash, which they did. So..good. In general, room was clean, just not the extra attention to detail I am used to. Again, good enough just not superb.
3) Water pressure is very low. I like strong pressured showers and they just weren't there. Again, OK just not superb. My showers were longer and nicer because of no pressure, but this is something I consider a negative.
4) No elevators on ends of buildings. This has to be my biggest drawback about the entire resort. We stay near the very end of the bldg. and had to climb 4 flights of stairs daily. The elevators were in center of the 3 buildings so you either had to climb the stairs which were closest to parking and your room. OR walk the entire distance of the room wing, catch the elevator and walk all the way back to your room.
***************NOTE TO FUTURE VISITORS AND SELF*************
Request room close to elevator
Unknown drawbacks by requesting room close to elevator....
More foot traffic obviously...therefore more noise??
Closer to room but further from parking....better or worse??
OK ya'll, my fingers are tired and I still have to start my dining and park review... Check my other reviews if you have the time..
I hope this helps those who's questions I may have answered. If you have any specific questions..feel free to ask!
Dining Review Link Part I
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=10251956#post10251956
Great report. We LOVE 
POP. Can't wait to return in December. Thanks for such a detailed report!
. Disney does have something for everyone.........
