Just back from POP- Any questions?

[disneyaddict121784]

Wow.. I can't believe that I am home from a week 6/11-6/17 at WDW already!
My family and I(20) (mom,dad,and sister(18)) stayed in 2 rooms in the 70's building (6330 & 6331). The rooms were connected and we weren't expecting that at all. We had a view of the lake and the empty/non-constucted/ugly buildings for the early years. I really enjoyed the atmosphere at the resort and all of the different "POP" items hanging throughout it. During our stay we did not have hairdryers until Thursday when they magically appeared on the walls beside the sinks. We weren't sure if we were supposed to have them to begin with or not. Some things about the trip: Driving down from Ohio took FOREVER!! (lots of traffic and construction) but the ride home was so quic(no stopping) Every time we tried to ride RnRC the ride broke down... the 1st time we were inside the building right before the preshow. 2nd time right before the line to get onto the ride and 3rd time just after the preshow it broke down but we were able to wait inside for the ride to restart. We did get fastpasses for the first 2!

My advise from our trip:
1. AVOID EMH like the plague!! They are crazy! The lines for the rides were just as bad as during the day. The wrist bands are colorful though.
2. Go to the other parks that don't have EMH in either morning or night.
3. Ride SOARIN'. This ride is awesome... I quote my dad "This ride should last longer...it's that great and relaxing."
4. Use FastPass when available.
5. If you aren't a newbie to the parks or if you are.. split up the day(go to one in the morning and another at night)if you have that option, you won't be as tired at the end of the week.
6. If you eat at the Sci-Fi Dine-In bring a jacket! It was freezing in there!
7. They need to have more buses running or atleast 2 bus stops at the Parks. Some nights it seemed as though half the hotel was waiting in line!
All in all it was a great trip!

 

[scubalisa]

I second that about avoiding EMH- especially evening EMH at MK! One time we couldn't even walk during Spectromagic. Your better value is to avoid those days and just go on regular days. You can do and see so much more in a shorter amount of time!

 

[LadyLuc361]

Thanks for all the great info. This is a great thread!

I was wondering what the bus stops were like at POP. Is it just an open area where everyone stands around waiting for a bus? This is how it was at CSR when we were there May 2004. We never waited long for a bus there, but sometimes people would try to push their way up to the front of the crowd when the bus started pulling up. It kind of stressed me out. I liked it better at the parks where there is the corral area, which forms you into a line. Is it like this at POP too?

Thanks!

 

[Liz]

Thanks for all the great info. This is a great thread!

I was wondering what the bus stops were like at POP. Is it just an open area where everyone stands around waiting for a bus? This is how it was at CSR when we were there May 2004. We never waited long for a bus there, but sometimes people would try to push their way up to the front of the crowd when the bus started pulling up. It kind of stressed me out. I liked it better at the parks where there is the corral area, which forms you into a line. Is it like this at POP too?

Thanks!

The bus stops at Pop are great. There's a separate line for each park that forms a que. Very organized! You'll love it!

 

[LadyLuc361]

Thank you Liz!

 

[prost1964]

I just home today if anyone has questions about pop.

 

[dandee00]

This is the most informative post yet about POP. DH and I are planning at least 2 weeks to 18 days in January 2006. Does anyone know if the 50's building is non-smoking or has non-smoking rooms? Is the lake view, top floor of the 50's building the best for viewing Illuminations?
I was so impressed with all the postings on this thread I think I'll try to get a room booked this week.
Thanks to everyone who has posted for your enthusiam for POP!

 

[keddy]

1

 

[MARdisney]

Can you request a certain building if you didn't pay for "preferred"? We made our ressie way back in Feb with the only request being a non-smoking room. If you can make a request- tell me how...

 

[JennyDrake]

*Question 1: Did you like the 50's section? I will be taking an almost 2 yr old and I'm thinking I would love to be close to the 'main' building and bus stops...what building do you think would be best?? (what floor?) Should we pay extra to be in the 60's building?

We stayed in 50's and LOVED it--could not have been better. Maybe a 5 minute walk to the main building _I_ would not pay teh extra for a preferred room.

*Question 2: Was there a fridge in the room?

No, there was not.

*Question 3: How long did it take you to get to DTD?

Maybe 20 minutes from teh time we left the hotel room.

The front desk people were great, especially with my repeated trips and weird requests for shipping stuff out. The food court seemed bigger than AS. Checkout was efficient, but counter service was sluggish. The food choices were numerous and quite varied. The grilled flatbreads took a bit of time, but were very, very good.

Cathy found the resort to be simply garish, but didn’t mind the toned down theming and color scheme of the rooms. I could have done without the phrases on the buildings, but being used to the “cheap seats” at the AS, I expected over the top. I MEANT to ask for 4th floor so there would not be anyone taking clogging lessons at 3 a.m. on our ceiling, but I forgot that it had FOUR floors. It didn’t matter in the end as noise outside the room was not an issue.

We had a lake view that overlooked the soon-to-be-more Pop Century. The view was quite nice. Our requested 50’s building could not have been better. VERY close to food court and pools w/o the additional charges of a “preferred” location.

Bus service was not as horrible as foretold, especially TO the parks. I really like it that the waiting ques are roped off. NO more line darters and you can see JUST how many people are in line for each bus. We waited no more than 20 minutes for a bus, and most waits were around 10. Bus service FROM the parks was worse, but I don’t think any worse than I have experienced for AS. Even at peak exit times, we waited less than an hour. During the day we would wait about 10-15 minutes.

My only complaint was this noise the fan in the bathroom made. It was a metal “ping ping” like setting a metal lid down on a sauce pan. It made this noise randomly and for up to 20 minutes at a time day or night. It would wake me, but not keep me awake. More annoying than anything. I commented at the front desk and they offered to send someone in to look at it. I later learned that ALL rooms have this issue. It helped to keep the bathroom door closed.

All in all, I was pleased with PC and would stay there again! I don’t see significant differences pro or con between it and the AS, but I haven’t seen an AS food court in 3 years. The flatbread things alone would sway me toward PC if they are not offered at AS.

About my recent expereince there:

 

[LeslieMDisLvr]

i was wondering if you likd the 70s section.? that's the request we put in for our family reunion trip and i just wondered if it was close to stuff and if it was a nice building.

 

[kathy carleton]

Thank you for the time you spent sharing this info!! We leave in 2 weeks for our 1st trip to POP and 1st time to a value resort (many times to deluxe and mods).. looking forward to it. Many of my ques have been answered but maybe soemone can help with this:
*I must have coffee in room... can i request one or should i pack mine?
*good ground floor room # for the 70"s?
Thanks!! We are excited!!!

 

[DISUNC]

Thank you for the time you spent sharing this info!! We leave in 2 weeks for our 1st trip to POP and 1st time to a value resort (many times to deluxe and mods).. looking forward to it. Many of my ques have been answered but maybe soemone can help with this:
*I must have coffee in room... can i request one or should i pack mine?
*good ground floor room # for the 70"s?
Thanks!! We are excited!!!

I am the same way too. You have to bring your own coffee...and a coffee maker. I buy the prepackaged maxwell house coffee & a 4 cup maker.
Ground floor 70's is Fine...close to everything. Not sure of the room #'s...I stayed on the 3rd floor 70's last year.
Really, with the way POP is laid out, I dont think there is any BAD locations.

 

[kathy carleton]

thank you! i gotta have my coffee!! i have dragged my own percolator around Europe before!! I will go buy one....

 

[Minnie1156]

I am so glad to here a lot of positive info about POP. I can not wait to go!!
We leave on July 13th

 

[DISUNC]

I am so glad to here a lot of positive info about POP. I can not wait to go!!
We leave on July 13th

MINNIE1156
You will have a great time there. I was overly impressed with the place.....and very rarely do I ever get impressed at all. It's a lot of fun.
Andy