Help! DH insisting on Pop!

[leighe]

Ok - let me just admit it. I'm a bit of a resort snob. I love the deluxes for the room size, pools, and transportation options, and I think the moderates are all beautifully landscaped and just so quiet and peaceful.

DH and I decided to plan a spring break trip for just the two of us since we are doing a huge grand gathering-type trip with our DDs and all the grandparents, aunts, and uncles late in the summer. I was planning on bookin a moderate resort so to keep costs relatively low since we are going all out on the July trip. My TA was able to get us an AP package at Pop that includes free dining. DH and I discussed and agreed that it seemed silly to pay $100 more at a moderate for room only when we could have the room and dining for $100 less at Pop.

So now my problem is - I'm just not that excited about the trip. We've stayed at Pop before, and while I didn't hate it, I just didn't love it the way I do some other Disney resorts. This sounds really silly - but there was something about the bus stops that reminded me of herding cattle And the whole resort seemed so covered in concrete or something.

Anyway - I know I sound like a complete spoiled brat and any trip to Disney is better than no trip at all. Someone please tell me I'm going to have a fabulous time!!!!!

 

[scanmom]

I have never stayed at POP, but I really believe that if you try to have a fun attitude, you will have fun! Try to focus on all the good things about this trip! Now, more importantly (ha ha)... how did you get free dining? Inquiring minds NEED to know!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Well....if I'm not at BWV, staying on my DVC points, you'll find me at POP!!! I love POP. Sure, it's a completely different experience than the deluxes and moderates. But, if you can get past the 'it's a value, with no amenities' thing, you'll have a fine time.
I have found the bus service at POP to be among the best at WDW. No sharing a route with another resort, no driving around the resort, making multiple stops. Yes, there is a line-up que at POP. Personaly, I would like to see all the resorts do it that way. It would be nice if it were shaded though. I have to say that I hate getting to a bus stop early, taking a seat, and then in 10 mins when the bus comes along, you have others just approach the bus stop and hop on, while you're getting up. But, that's just a little peeve.
I love the food court there, the pools are more than adequate. Nope, there is little that I don't like about POP. That's where I'll be for Night of Joy in Sept...can't wait to be there.

 

[tinkamom]

I have never stayed at POP, but I really believe that if you try to have a fun attitude, you will have fun! Try to focus on all the good things about this trip! Now, more importantly (ha ha)... how did you get free dining? Inquiring minds NEED to know!!

I'd like to know this too!

 

[leighe]

I'm honestly not sure how we got the free dining. My TA had emailed me earlier in the week (last week) and said that she thought AP rates might be coming out on Wednesday or Thursday but apparently they offered free dining at the values instead of AP rates. The free dining wasn't avilable at any deluxes or moderates (and I'm not sure if that means it wasn't offerd at all or all of those packages were already booked.)

 

[tink70]

Ok - let me just admit it. I'm a bit of a resort snob. I love the deluxes for the room size, pools, and transportation options, and I think the moderates are all beautifully landscaped and just so quiet and peaceful.

I am also a resort snob, and would not want to stay at one of the value resorts, BUT, you are going alone with your hubby and then again with all your family. I would be thankful to be going twice. My DH does not like to go to WDW and goes for the rest of us, so twice for me would never happen.
So I say keep in mind how lucky you are to be going twice, and one of those times with just your hubby!!!
So I would not care where I was staying, its still on WDW Property!!!

Have fun!

 

[RMulieri]

I am also a resort snob, and would not want to stay at one of the value resorts, BUT, you are going alone with your hubby and then again with all your family. I would be thankful to be going twice. My DH does not like to go to WDW and goes for the rest of us, so twice for me would never happen.
So I say keep in mind how lucky you are to be going twice, and one of those times with just your hubby!!!
So I would not care where I was staying, its still on WDW Property!!!

Have fun!

I agree!!! I am lucky to get to go once a year( if that)and DH hates going ...hope to convert him though

 

[Tara8595]

I used to be all about the deluxes too, but I am a Pop convert (check my signature). Something you can do if you don't have a car is rent one.

There's something icky to me about public transportation in general and I just don't like having to wait. So, for a quick trip with the hubby, maybe he'll compromise and let you rent a car, so that you can just zip from place to place without issue.

I know some will tell you that the buses are faster, but the trams run far more often than the buses, so most of the time it's a wash and you don't have to sit with other sweaty people on your way back after a long day. Ditto on leaving MK after Wishes. Much faster in a car than waiting for the bus (I have definitive experience on that one when my party split up one August night, 1/2 did the bus, 1/2 took the rental car, and the car people made it back to Pop about 40 minutes sooner.)

OH - and ask for a room on the back with a lake view - they are all standard rooms, but nice and quiet.

 

[spiceycat]

Pop has 2,880 rooms - so 10,000 (maybe more - but since singles and couples love it - not likely) guests

that is 3 times the amount at Polyn - for half the room.

yes it is crowded at breakfast - but generally only at breakfast - that say heard some complaints lately about 9:30pm.

that is part of being in a value.

your husband might realize that some of the people who are invited can't do the moderate or deluxes.

value is a good choice when going with other people - then everyone can afford to stay together.

Pop has nice landscaping and a lake.

now if you or he are willing to be in a separate place than your relatives - that is a completely different case.

the free dinning might be part of the grand gathering - since it sounds like you are going with more than enough people.

 

[plutolovr]

Double check with your TA, I think she's misunderstanding the whole dining issue with APs.

Disney is not giving AP holders free dining, they're finally allowing AP holders to reserve a room with an AP discount and add the dining plan without having to purchase the one-day minimum park ticket.

 

[leighe]

Double check with your TA, I think she's misunderstanding the whole dining issue with APs.

Disney is not giving AP holders free dining, they're finally allowing AP holders to reserve a room with an AP discount and add the dining plan without having to purchase the one-day minimum park ticket.

You are right. I hadn't even bothered to look at it. We're doing a preferred room and Pop for 8 nights for $1420 - which is about $177 a night.

I am glad about no bus sharing. My favorite resort is the Beach Club but I hate when the buses go to YC, BWI, and S/D.

 

[ElizabethB]

I agree. Rent a car -- you'll avoid the miserable public transportation bus experience and be wherever you want to go much faster! If you want, spice things up by renting a convertible!

 

[debsays]

We have stayed at all three resort levels. When we go more than once we'll book Pop with no problem at all. My husband/I enjoy it for the time we spend in the room. It's fine for two people more than that I would upgrade. I will say that we always have a rental car and seldom eat at Pop. We REALLY enjoy eating at CSR food area. Enjoy your stay where ever you end up.

 

[leighe]

I've been thinking about it and I do remember liking all the colors and the theming. I was pregnant on our other trip to Pop so maybe that's why I don't remember having as much fun as on other trips.

 

[DizzDoll]

I too have done all three levels and I absolutely love Pop. For a "no-friller" it's a decent, clean, bright, vibrant resort with lovely landscaping, a beautiful walkway along the lake, that beautiful bridge, and no shared busses. The food court has decent food and there's also some very good shopping. You'll like it. It's not the ultimate in top of the line, however, it's not the bottom of the barrel, either, not by a very long shot.

 

[disneydreamin-gang]

Have you tried reading the Grooviest Pop thread. It is great. I too was concerned about staying at POP after staying at Mod but they changed my mind. I am really excited about going and staying at POP.

As for the two of you alone if you concentrate on DH and not the resort you will have a great time. My DH and I celebrated our 25th at CSR and fell in love all over again. It wouldn't have matter what resort we were at. It was just us for the first time. Just go with it and enjoy.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I have stayed at value, moderate and deluxe resorts - with moderate actually being my "favorite". That being said I did make the mistake 1 time of staying at the AllStar Music during Spring Break-----HUGE mistake--- I think that every teenager at WDW must have been staying at that same resort. There were kids running up and down the walkway all night long --- AND WE WERE ON THE 3rd FLOOR. Any other time than Spring Break and I would not (and don't) hesitate to stay at POP!! Have fun no matter where you stay!!

 

[mom2my3kids]

We love POP and you know what my husband and kids said after I told them I rented points and we are staying at OKW??? Darn it we wanted to go back to POP Century..

 

[Amy&Dan]

Ok - let me just admit it. I'm a bit of a resort snob. I love the deluxes for the room size, pools, and transportation options, and I think the moderates are all beautifully landscaped and just so quiet and peaceful.

DH and I decided to plan a spring break trip for just the two of us since we are doing a huge grand gathering-type trip with our DDs and all the grandparents, aunts, and uncles late in the summer. I was planning on bookin a moderate resort so to keep costs relatively low since we are going all out on the July trip. My TA was able to get us an AP package at Pop that includes free dining. DH and I discussed and agreed that it seemed silly to pay $100 more at a moderate for room only when we could have the room and dining for $100 less at Pop.

So now my problem is - I'm just not that excited about the trip. We've stayed at Pop before, and while I didn't hate it, I just didn't love it the way I do some other Disney resorts. This sounds really silly - but there was something about the bus stops that reminded me of herding cattle And the whole resort seemed so covered in concrete or something.

Anyway - I know I sound like a complete spoiled brat and any trip to Disney is better than no trip at all. Someone please tell me I'm going to have a fabulous time!!!!!

Go with Pop! I understand that you love a higher level resort but given that savings it would be sort of crazy not to go for it! Also, I hear you a bit on the bus ques, but then again they are better in some ways. I hate it at the deluxes and mods, when you have been waiting quite awhile, a bus comes up, its crowded and suddenly people who just walked up get right on and get the last seats. At a value, you do stand in line but then by golly you get on the bus in the order you got to the que. Make your husband wait in the sun, while you sit in the shade. That way you are saving him money and won't have to broil in line!

And I love Pop. When we stay there or at the All Stars, I don't usually miss my DVC as much as one would think. They are fun, clean and I love the food courts. Pop also has some nice quiet sections. Ask to be in the 80's, we had a room in the Rubix Cube building and it was so quiet back there. Way less kids and very nice.

 

[leighe]

Thanks for all the replies! I know we're going to have a great time and I keep thinking about how little we're spending for a whole week at WDW with some great meals as well.

I do know though that I will be totally jealous of all those people who just get to walk/monorail/boat back to their room as opposed to the parking lot or bus stops after Illuminations and/or Wishes. But I'll get over it.