Help me feel good about Pop

[RookieLady]

Life is what you make it. I stay at all three levels and have different experiences at each. At Pop the beds are smaller, the toiletries not as nice, and I don't think it is as centrally located as some other resorts, so the bus trips take a little longer (depending on where you are going). On the upside, the buses are far superior to my moderate experiences (more plentiful/frequent), the running trail is beautiful, and its whimsy. If you go in planning to like it, you will. If you go in looking at its drawbacks, that's what you will see. There are great things to like at Pop if you focus on that, and there are drawbacks to Pop, if you want to focus your attention there.

I choose Pop during high price periods for quick trips where we plan to maximize park time and/or when it's cold and we won't be using a pool. By the way, there is nothing wrong with Pop's pool, but my boys prefer a slide.

Focus on mom's desires and the fun to be had at Pop, and it's easier to ignore the drawbacks (which by the way are present at every Disney hotel).

 

[HopperFan]

16x and would probably be my first pick unless I got a great discount at a moderate (CSR or POR). The only thing missing for ME is the queen beds. We may use a pool slide once or twice and never use hot tubs (we have one at home and I'm not in to public hot tubs). We enjoy eating all over the world so no table service is fine because I will travel to where I want to eat.

- POP is much more lushly landscaped than the Allstars which I feel cuts down on audible and visible noise.
- LAKE with walking path all around it, that lake is on a moderate level.
- Rooms facing the lake are very quiet, once spent about 12 days there and never saw/heard anyone on our floor.
- Great food court with great CMs but a quick walk over to AoA with more options and food on real plates with real silverware.
- One of the best resorts to walk around and enjoy the theme and decor.
- Over the bridge to walk AoA is a treat in itself, wow, some of the best theme work on property - don't miss it.
- Great bus service, consistently better than POR for us.
- Bridge to AoA is great spot for quiet time or catch the tops of Illuminations.
- Some higher rooms have view of Illuminations, Wishes and DHS fireworks when they have them.
- Other than in the food court at prime time and the main pool, have found it to be a very quiet.
- Been in fall MANY of our trips, even during Free Dining, and never felt like it was crowded.
- Only negative I have is during Jan & Feb, it is overrun with Big Tour Groups so we have moved offsite now.

 

[Jhondy210]

We are staying at POP for the first time in Jan. I've only ever stayed Deluxe with DVC (courtesy of my parents). Now that my parents have sold their DVC, that I'm grown up and married, and have to pay for my own vacation, we are trying POP. I looked at doing POFQ but I didn't think it was worth 50% more money then what I would pay for POP. I also was more excited about POP then I was POFQ. I think it looks like it has a fun atmosphere.

My only concerns are BTG since we are going in Jan. and I'm worried that the resort will be loud and overrun by them. I'm also a bit concerned about the beds. My husband is 6'6 so I'm hoping our request of a king bed will be met otherwise we may be sleeping in separate beds for the week.

I'm excited to see POP and to be able to walk around AOA. I think the resort is going to be nice and meet our needs plus we will be happy to be saving the money we would have spent on a moderate.

 

[Wes1stTrip2016]

- Only negative I have is during Jan & Feb, it is overrun with Big Tour Groups so we have moved offsite now.

We are going 2/27-3/5 - is there anyway to know if there will be large tour groups there at that time?

 

[HopperFan]

We are going 2/27-3/5 - is there anyway to know if there will be large tour groups there at that time?

You will probably be fine. I was there that week last year, bumping out my normal Jan/Feb time frame for a Disney resort (Jan trip I still went but stayed offsite). One country has to be back to school by early February, the other by late February. We saw only one group (and that was in the park) on our trip during that week.

 

[HopperFan]

We are staying at POP for the first time in Jan. I've only ever stayed Deluxe with DVC (courtesy of my parents). Now that my parents have sold their DVC, that I'm grown up and married, and have to pay for my own vacation, we are trying POP. I looked at doing POFQ but I didn't think it was worth 50% more money then what I would pay for POP. I also was more excited about POP then I was POFQ. I think it looks like it has a fun atmosphere.

My only concerns are BTG since we are going in Jan. and I'm worried that the resort will be loud and overrun by them. I'm also a bit concerned about the beds. My husband is 6'6 so I'm hoping our request of a king bed will be met otherwise we may be sleeping in separate beds for the week.

I'm excited to see POP and to be able to walk around AOA. I think the resort is going to be nice and meet our needs plus we will be happy to be saving the money we would have spent on a moderate.

If you can afford Preferred at least your room should be surrounded by other families.

 

[Jhondy210]

If you can afford Preferred at least your room should be surrounded by other families.

We are booked preferred and are going the lat week of Jan. (Jan 24-31) so I'm hoping that we won't be at the height of the BTG. I was going to book Preferred Pool because my husband wanted to be able to look out the window to see if the pool was busy but I didn't want the noise especially if the big groups are there. Hopefully, the groups that are there the same time as us will not be the outrageously bad behavior kids.

 

[Minnesota!]

Pop is AWESOME. We did a split stay with AKL and CSR a few years ago and I was SO sad that we chose CSR over Pop. It is just such a FUN place. So much fun. All the time.

I hope you love it as much as I do..

 

[apress]

Thanks everyone for all of the positives with Pop. I'm starting to get excited and I'm sure we will have a great time. We have a lot of great things planned and I just need to have a great attitude and remember I'm in DISNEY!!!

 

[disneyfanatic60]

We also will be there in just about three weeks (November 15). We stayed at Pop in March as well. We have stayed there many, many times and have never been disappointed. We have stayed at many deluxe and moderate resorts over the years as well. I would not hesitate to stay at Pop especially when trying to be more economical. As far as crowds, etc., I agree as long and your are prepared and have some flexibility you can handle anything. I hope you enjoy your trip and Pop! I can't wait to be back there again!

 

[SPOERLX3]

We have stayed at every moderate and 2 of the 3 AS resorts. Once we stayed at POP (we checked in on the first day POP opened), we have never stayed anywhere else. This will be our 9th trip to POP and we LOVE everything about it! We have never felt like it was a step back, with all the larger than life icons, it has a wonderful Disney feel.
Best way to look at it, if you don't like it; You are making your mom happy and you can always go back to POR next time. No worries about not liking it since there are thousands of families that LOVE it!

 

[Deb123]

We LOVE Pop! Checking in tomorrow for a 2 week stay. We were at BWV's last month for a 2 week stay as well and even though we loved our stay there, I am not any less excited to be at Pop next! Looking forward to Pop! We've been to Disney more times than I can count and have stayed at all levels of resorts. Disney resorts are all special and unique in their own way. Different resorts have different experiences. Pop is our tried and true resort. You'll love it, very Fun resort!

 

[O'BWV]

The title says it all. I'm three weeks out and I am really bummed about staying at Pop. I know, I shouldn't feel this way but I feel like we are taking a step back by being at Pop. The last two times my family has stayed at Riverside and we loved it, but this time my mom is going and she wants to stay at Pop so that is where we are at. The other thing that has me worried is the predication of crowds. Everyone is saying it will be packed and there is nothing available at the other resorts. Help me find my Disney joy again. thanks

We stayed at Pop just two weeks ago. We were there for three days for my daughter's food tasting for her wedding at Disney next July. We usually stay at either BLT or BC Villas but for this short a period it just didn't make sense. We fit five adults in the room, four on the beds and one on a cot, which they brought without flinching. We had a blast. Food court is good (No ADRs! Hallelujah!) and we almost made it into the pool which looks awesome. Bus situation is as everyone has described, ran frequently even though it seemed like all of WDW was jammed - yikes! Even though it was crowded, it wasn't out of hand, MK and Epcot F&W being the two obvious exceptions. Go, check it out, have some fun, and let us know how it worked out. The Disney 'magic' seems to always find its way through the cracks in any situation.

 

[SPOERLX3]

We stayed at Pop just two weeks ago. We were there for three days for my daughter's food tasting for her wedding at Disney next July. We usually stay at either BLT or BC Villas but for this short a period it just didn't make sense. We fit five adults in the room, four on the beds and one on a cot, which they brought without flinching. We had a blast. Food court is good (No ADRs! Hallelujah!) and we almost made it into the pool which looks awesome. Bus situation is as everyone has described, ran frequently even though it seemed like all of WDW was jammed - yikes! Even though it was crowded, it wasn't out of hand, MK and Epcot F&W being the two obvious exceptions. Go, check it out, have some fun, and let us know how it worked out. The Disney 'magic' seems to always find its way through the cracks in any situation.

How in the world did you get them to allow 5 adults in a POP room?

 

[SA mom]

I've never stayed there, but it looks like so much fun! And that Disney Magic is...well...Magic! You're going to have blast!

 

[Disneylover99]

We have stayed at every moderate and 2 of the 3 AS resorts. Once we stayed at POP (we checked in on the first day POP opened), we have never stayed anywhere else. This will be our 9th trip to POP and we LOVE everything about it! We have never felt like it was a step back, with all the larger than life icons, it has a wonderful Disney feel.
Best way to look at it, if you don't like it; You are making your mom happy and you can always go back to POR next time. No worries about not liking it since there are thousands of families that LOVE it!

That's cool!!!

 

[GoofyNewfie]

We preferred Pop over POR.