Heard Pop Cent is Bad is that true?

[teambraunlovesdisney]

We just returned from our second stay at Pop! We love it. It was a great stay. The giant big wheel is reason enough to stay there especially if you are a product from the 70's and 80's.

 

[RLccweems]

Pop Century is the newest and doesn't share buses. I'd say it's the best of the value resorts.

I think it one of the best of all the All-stars....

 

[jdvm]

We hear lots of good comments about Pop Century from our Members and we deliver Lockers there FAR more than we deliver to the All Star resorts. We hear the bus service is better, the location is better.

It's funny, while at Pop the other day, I asked one of the front desk managers why Pop seemed to be more popular. She suggested that there were more groups that book at the All Star resorts.

I also think it's prettier at Christmas for what that's worth.

John

 

[MickeyNicki]

We really enjoyed our stay there but that was back when we used it just for a bed and shower. We did not use the pool but the lobby is awesome, great gift shop and the food court was very good.

 

[Goofy22]

Well we have stayed at both All Star Music Resort and Pop Century! I really liked both of them but the themeing of Pop seemed to catch my eye more than Asmu but Asmu was a little quiter not that Pop was loud and it was over Spring Break/Easter! So it was really busy everywhere all though Pop was a lil less crowded then asmu! Everything was comparable at both except like I said the theme of Pop won overall we are returning this July to POP! The bus issue at Pop was much nicer since it was not shared!

 

[DisneyGirlie]

Pop Century is the newest and doesn't share buses. I'd say it's the best of the value resorts.

ITA if only for those two reasons!
But honestly in addition to those wonderful reasons, the theming is pretty amazing. I love Pop!

 

[steelfish535]

We loved Pop. We stayed there this past September. The theming is fantastic. We didn't take transportation, we rented a car, so i can't speak for the bus system. The food court was great, and the pools were clean and not overcrowded. Mousekeeping was wonderful, we needed extra pillows and towels, and they were there within ten minutes and remembered to leave extra towels for the rest of our stay. The rooms were clean.
We liked it so much, we booked a bounce back program trip for this coming september!
Now, this is coming from someone who is spoiled and gets to spend every other trip staying on my parent's DVC points at one of the bigger, two bedroom hotels. Granted, they are wonderful, but I wouldn't pay the money to stay there.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

I'll give another YAY for POP as well. I've read some posts that said people thought it was noisy - I didn't have that experience AT ALL. The pools were great, the rooms were nice, although nothing fancy. They were just what we needed and nothing more. The gift shop and food court were great.
I thought the staff was also very attentive - we had a small thing in our room that needed fixed (we were in no big hurry about it), but they jumped right on it and took care of it.

 

[plgrn]

I've stayed at music and sports, but pop is my favorite. I like it almost as much as the poly, cs, better than cb. the theming is great.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

We love POP and usually split our stays between it and the Poly. Had a great stay there! Clean rooms, great theming, lovely room in the 70's building facing the lake, sister got balloons and a card signed by Lilo and Stitch for her birthday...incredible stay!

The only bad value stay that I had was at All Star Movies. No plans to return to that resort ever!

 

[Disney753]

Before Pop Opened We Stayed At Music Around 20 Times. When Pop Opened We Stayed There Because It Was New And We Fell In Love With The Place.then Last Year We Noticed That The Resort Was Starting To Loose Some Of It Appeal. They Had Taken Awway The Surreys, Cast Members Were Not As Pleasant And The Resort And Busses Seemed To Be Much More Packed Even At Slow Times And The Bus Stops At The Parks Seem To Be The Furthest Always. Not To Mention The Depressing Site Of The Never Finished Legendary Years.
The All Stars Has Since Gone Under Renovation And In A Few Short Weeks We Will Be Going Home. We Have Been To Disney 50 Plus Times And Have Stayed At Every Disney Hotel. Like Many State The Room For Us Is Just To Sleep And Shower But Who Doesnt Like Less Busy. I Read That Pop Even Only Half Completed Holds About 2500 People And I Think All Stars Is Less Or Seems To Me To Be Not As Busy. Pop Does Have The Best Arcade On Property Besides Disney Quest. My Very Favorite Resort Was Dixie Landings.again These Are Just My Thoughts.

 

[Knavey]

Here is my trip report from my 1 day stay at POP. I prefer AKL but there is a difference in $$$.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1718646

 

[sarahsmom73]

We have stayed twice and LOVED it! I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again!

 

[maggs]

I am not a fan of Pop, but no, it isnt bad. For me it was just far too big and busy and we had some issues with service, buses and the thin walls. We much prefer the All Stars and would only return to the AS if we were doing 'value' again.

Maggs

 

[JohnsonsRUs]

We have stayed twice at WL and once at POP, but are leaving tomorrow for another stay at POP. To quote DD10 "This is the best hotel I've ever been to!"

We loved staying there. The lines for the buses seemed bad, but they moved very fast and many times there were multiple buses to the parks and back to the hotel. The food court is great too.

IMO-For as much time as you actually spend at the hotel, it was perfect for us. I can imagine that if you were on a long trip, you might want a different hotel because you might be spending more time there. We had an awesome experience and are looking forward to our next trip.

 

[floridawannabe]

We have stayed at each of the All Stars and once at Pop Century (albeit for just a few nights). The main negative is that the buses can be very crowded and the bus stops are far away at the parks. BUT, we had issues with the buses at the Wilderness Lodge, so go figure.

At the values, I don't like the rooms that overlook the pool because it can get very noisy. We had pool view room at Pop Century and there were kids in the pool after one in the morning. Granted there wasn't a lot of them, but everything else was so quiet that the noise echoed.

The food courts can get old after a while, but they offer a decent selection of options at prices that are reasonable for Disney. The rooms are clean and functional, though small.

If you get a standard view room and anticipate and handle some waiting for buses, you'll be fine.

 

[Charleyann]

We had a bad experience at Pop this past Jan. It wasn't the resort itself but a people issue. If not for that issue, POP would have became a favorite. We loved the theming and brightness and cheery staff....

Charleyann

 

[etur0596]

Just returned yesterday (02/16) after a week's stay at the Pop Century. The resort is decent. I was surprised that it is crowded even at this time of the year. I was in the 60's building which is quite close to the cafeteria/parking/transportation.

The transportation to/from the resort is decent. Even though they advertise that the bus frequency is every 20 mins, I don't recall waiting for 20 mins between buses.

Also very easy to hail a taxi if you want to go to SeaWorld ($22) or Universal Studios ($29).

I did not rent a car but if you are planning to do it, please do well in advance online. Last minute rentals are quite expensive. Honestly I did not feel the need for a rental.

Hope you have a magical stay

 

[lilpnutmama]

We stayed at Pop two years ago and are going back.. in a week.. yeah! We liked it quite a lot. the room is small and stuff but it was perfect for us as we spent barely any time there. We had a toddler with us and she adored the theming and kiddy pool.

 

[Goofy22]

We loved Pop. We stayed there this past September. The theming is fantastic. We didn't take transportation, we rented a car, so i can't speak for the bus system. The food court was great, and the pools were clean and not overcrowded. Mousekeeping was wonderful, we needed extra pillows and towels, and they were there within ten minutes and remembered to leave extra towels for the rest of our stay. The rooms were clean.
We liked it so much, we booked a bounce back program trip for this coming september!
Now, this is coming from someone who is spoiled and gets to spend every other trip staying on my parent's DVC points at one of the bigger, two bedroom hotels. Granted, they are wonderful, but I wouldn't pay the money to stay there.

Steel fish I am spoiled by the same thing! Every other trip I stay on my parents DVC points you are correct they cant compare but for the price POP is awesome themeing I even much enjoyed ASMU! I would return to either of these 2 anytime! Even though I am spoiled by OKW, SSR and BCV! Like you said I wouldnt pay the price to stay at these without DVC!Walking through POP waiting for the bus they play music and it brung back memories they were playing Boy George "Karma Camelion" ! I use to love boy george when I was younger and my family teased the he** out of me so I quick called my mother and said listen! It was great all she could do was laugh! We are returning in July from the 23rd thru the 29th to POP! Also we stayed in the 90's section right by the computer pool our last stay
and I didn't feel it was a long walk at all and we had a baby with us also! I guess it depends on your definition of long it took maybe 4 min to get from our room in the 90's section to the main building/food court and buses!