Is POP really so bad?

[Andrew_Lubow]

I had no problem with Pop. For the money it really can't be beat. IMO I consider a moderate lite resort in the way it's set up and operates. The only thing I found a waste on my trip was taking a preferred room. I found myself located so far back in the rear of my 60's building I could have used a 50's room and been as close to the front of the resort. Unless being on the pool side is requested by you (and received) stick with either the 50's building (for it's pool) or 70's buildings since they're just as close to the main hall IMO and have easier access to parking then the 60's.

 

[MaggieDoodle]

We just returned from Pop Century and absolutely hated it. We waited in line for almost an hour just to check in. Though the parks were practically empty, we always had a long wait for the bus and were always so far back in the line that we never got on the first bus but had to wait another 15-20 minutes for the second one (or even the third). Though the food selections in the food court were good, it was always mobbed and very noisy, with people pushing and shoving and running over your feet. It was just very crowded and busy and not our cup of tea.

That being said, we travelled with another couple who stayed in the next room and they thought it was fine. The lines, etc. didn't bother them near as much as they did us. So it really all depends on what is important to you.

This being your husband's first trip since childhood, I think you'll be too busy having fun to worry about the hotel and you will probably be just fine at Pop Century.

Maggie

 

[Poohsmommi]

My point exactly. I did NOT intend to imply that roaches are more common in central Florida than anywhere else. I think you could say "We are talking about (anywhere except the frigid north), right? Roaches are very very very common in..."

I apologize for that unfortunate wording.

I still say Disney should be commended on their pest control procedures.

My misunderstanding. I apologize and I understand what you were saying. Perhaps they should use more pest control at the values as I have never had a problem at the moderate or the deluxes (knocking on wood)

 

[FSUMARCHIEF]

Here are my thoughts on the POP:

Positives:
We liked it for a short stay. We make a few short trips a year, and really can't justify spending SO much money for only a couple of nights. The theming is kinda neat. It allows you to stay in the "magic" for a VERY reasonable price. It is just as good as any Holiday Inn, etc. We really like the gift shop there. it's large with a nice variety of stuff. We've never eaten at the food court, so I can't speak to that. From at least one section of the 50's buildings you can catch Illuminations.

Negatives:
For a long trip, I think I would go insane with the doors slamming against the security hook. I have never stayed at the POP without hearing the toilets from other rooms as I lay in bed at night. It's all a matter of opinion, but I prefer a nice thick pillow. I always have to bring my own cause the ones I've had there are flat. The biggest negative for me is that the resort is loud. You hear the folks walking outside on the walkway. You hear everything.

We have not stayed at a Mod yet, though we will be in February. We have an 11 day trip coming up in January and will stay at the WL for 10 of those days. Yeah it's more, but I'm willing to pay more for a better night's sleep. If it was just a couple of night, that would be one thing. When we go for short trips, we'll always stay value. Can't beat the price.

God bless!
Mark

 

[Princess DD]

My husband and I are going October for 5 nights. It's his first time going since he was about 4 years old so I figure we'll rarely be in the room except to sleep. Is POP really as bad as everyone says it is? The UG makes it look like the worst place in WDW. Should I spend a little more and go for POR or CBR? I'm really confused. Thanks you guys.

We love the Pop Century!! We have stayed here 4 times since it opened Dec.03. and my DS and I are returning again this Dec. !! In my opinon it is much better than the All Stars - Better layout, better food court, better sceneary. When I go to WDW, I like to stay at either WL or Pop. I find both work for what I like to do. I suggest you give it a try with an open mind!! Have fun!!

 

[aubriee]

I'll be making my fourth trip to WDW this year in just a couple of months. In January we did a split stay at WL and AKL. We loved both resorts, but were never there enough to enjoy them. In May I did my first ever solo trip and knew that for financial reasons it made more sense for me to stay in a value resort. However the more I looked at those gaudy icons, the more I cringed, so I round up staying two nights at POP, rented DVC points for a studio at BWV for five nights, then added two more nights at POP. I was pleasantly shocked at POP. In fact I loved it and had absolutely no reservations about returning there after my five nights at BWV. It was just a friendly, feel good atmosphere. Everyone there (CMs as well as guests just seemed happy to be there). I loved it so much that after hearing me talk about it, my son and D-I-L decided they wanted to try it for our Sept 17th-24th trip. I had planned to take them to POFQ, but we changed our mind and just returned from POP this past Sat (9/24). For us it wasn't a financial thing, just a preference for POP.

In May I was in the 50's section and last week I was in the 70's section. Both were great! We never heard a sound, housekeeping was great (only place I've ever gotten towel animals), had a wonderful view of the lake, beds were comfortable, bus service great. We had absolutely no complaints with POP. Saying that, when I return in Dec I'll be taking my mom and think she would prefer doing a split stay at POFQ and CSR (especially since we'll be arriving at the end of POP Warner week). Howevever, I plan to take my GD back to WDW in the spring and will be staying at POP again. If you go in not expecting a deluxe resort and appreciate POP for it's own unique atmosphere you'll be fine! It's a fun, relaxed resort.

 

[stemikger]

We stayed at Pop two years in a row and we love it.

For the money it is the best resort in town.

I am going back this year.

It's a very fun place also.

 

[Lucky4me]

We stayed there the first week of December for a few days last year. We did not see any roaches in the pool. Or people for that matter.
I'm going back on a girls trip this year.

 

[goofy4tink]

We loved Pop last month. If it's just my dd and myself traveling, we will usually stay in a value resort. When we are with dh we are at BWV, our home resort. We love AllStarMusic also. But, I think we love Pop more. WE were in the 50's bldg, #2 at the far end, past the pool. Jukebox in the front, parking lot behind. Our room was on the third floor at the very end of the 'hall', just around the corner from the 'bowling pin' stairway. We never heard any outside noise, noise from toilet flushing (well, maybe once or twice). Yes, the pools were full of people but it's Disney!!! The food court was quite good. We ate there several times a day. I would carry breakfast back to our room while dd got dressed. Then we ate either a late lunch or an early dinner there. WE had no issues with the food or the numbers of people, but we do tend to eat at off hours.
The gift shop was great. My dd got her first Mr. Potato head set there. Pretty complete shop.
The buses were good. They were definately better than the bus service I have had at the deluxe resorts. Much more consistent. Yes, the lines at park closing is huge. But, we usually either left before the park closed or hung around the park until about 40 minutes after the park closed. The lines were much shorter that way.
If you need a resort with mega amenities, then don't choose Pop. If you need room service, interior corridors, table service meals...nope, Pop is not going to get it done for you. But, for the money..it's a great value. Great theming, great place to just walk around...the walkway down by the lake is wonderful.

 

[TBaseler]

We just got back from a stay at the Pop Century (returned home Sunday, 9/25/05). I don't think I'll stay there again. The grounds are very nice, the big sculptures are fun to look at, the room was nice looking (save for the stained carpet). My problem was the crowds, scarcity of the buses (we nearly always had to stand, some times waiting for several buses before we could even get on a bus), the grumpy and misinformed cast members, the dirty eating area. The phone in our room didn't work, when we went to the front desk to inform them, we stood in line 15 minutes and then were asked why we didn't just call down to tell them. We told them we couldn't call because the phone didn't work! They were misinformed about the refrigerator in our room and it took two different attempts at us talking to someone before it was explained to us about the refrigerator (apparently they are in the rooms, they don't turn on unless you ask and pay extra - the one cast member told us that since we didn't request the fridge, engineering would have to come and remove the fridge.)

The parks weren't busy at all, we hardly ever had to wait to get on a ride, but this resort was overflowing.

The room was noisy, I could hear toilets flushing, people talking next door sounded like they were in my room. I heard music and thought, "Geesh, someone has a radio up really loud!" Come to find out it was the piped in music in the courtyard. Our room was in building 10, room 303. So perhaps, it was just our location.

I understand that when you stay at the Pop or the All Stars you are going to encounter more crowds, but I didn't expect the bus service to be so poor as to allow scores of people waiting for 30-40 minutes as bus after bus filled up before you can get on one! It was just disappointing.

 

[Blondiex46]

I loved PC and would stay there again if there was room this time. Agreed it depends on what you are looking for. For me just a place to sleep and the kids to have a good time.

 

[goofy4tink]

Regarding the buses at Pop...I have heard others say this exact same thing. A friend of dh's came back to work and said they had had a wonderful trip except for the buses at Pop!! That they had to wait almost 2 hrs at park closing to get on a bus and they had to wait close to an hour at Pop for a bus to MK, and had to stand most of the time. This was never my experience. Not saying it doesn't happen, because obviously it does. But I wonder what time those that have had to wait/or stand have gotten to the bus stop. If you are getting to the stop between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., it can be crowded. We never rode the bus at this time. I don't think we were at park opening one day in August. I would suggest that if being there for park opening is important to you that you try to get to the bus before 8! It seems a lot of people get to the food court about 7:45, eat a quick breakfast, and then head to the bus around 8:15ish. That's what I saw when we were there. When dd and I took a walk outside to check on the bus situation, the line was pretty long, especially for MK. This was about 8:15 or so. This could be part of the problem. Pop is a huge resort and if you get even 50% of those people trying to get a bus at park opening time....well, it's going to be chaotic!!! Just my observations.

 

[Clover9990]

Honey, I live in Florida and anyone who tells you Roaches are a *normal* part of living in Florida does not keep a clean house.

That's the biggest bunch of baloney I've ever heard! And I've lived in Florida for 20 years! I don't care if your house passes the white glove test- it is indeed possible you will find some kind of critter every now and again lurking in your house!

 

[swilshire]

They were misinformed about the refrigerator in our room and it took two different attempts at us talking to someone before it was explained to us about the refrigerator (apparently they are in the rooms, they don't turn on unless you ask and pay extra - the one cast member told us that since we didn't request the fridge, engineering would have to come and remove the fridge.)

I hadn't heard that one. Has anyone else experienced that?

I was under the impression that they were gradually putting them in the rooms and if you got lucky enough to have one, it was yours for free. I was hoping we'd luck out next week.

Sheila

 

[egoldber]

I hadn't heard that one. Has anyone else experienced that?

I was under the impression that they were gradually putting them in the rooms and if you got lucky enough to have one, it was yours for free. I was hoping we'd luck out next week.

Sheila

We had one in our room when we stayed at Pop in July. We were in an 80s building. I had to crank it up to make it cold enough, but it was certainly free.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

Our stay was not bad. We did have bad luck with the bus service, but otherwise it was well worth the money.

 

[stemikger]

I read some bad things about the bus service. I would have been real upset if I had to wait that long.

I went to Pop Century two years in a row and the longest I waited was 15 minutes, this last trip we took, I didn't wait much longer than 5 minutes both ways.

Both of those trips were in August.

 

[LisaInNc]

I have stayed there several times when the budget demands it. For me going and having to stay at the POP is a lot better than not going at all. The Poly is always in my heart! I will be at the POP in four days!

I didn't care for the bus transportation there so I am using a car this time, the only time I will take a bus is my Adventurers Club night...Kungaloosh!

The noise never bothered me I guess we got lucky with good neighbors each time.

The mattress is a little hard and the room is small but it is Disney and I would sleep on a park bench if I had to!