Just back from POP, Monday May 28. The "good / bad".

[kinggoofy]

We just returned from a last minute trip to the POP from Wed 5-23 to Mon 5-28.

A few random thoughts.......( i'll start with the good)

Good -

1. Very nostalgic. We had a blast just walking around and gazing at the pictures.
2. Food court was alot better than i thought it would be.
3. The store had basically everything.
4. The main pool was very good. More than enough chairs.
5. The music they played was great.
6. Bus transportation was NEVER an issue.
7. Mousekeeping was "adequate". Basically good enough for me not to complain about it.

Before I list my "BADS", let me first say we have no children and have not stayed at a value resort in 10 years. This was a last minute trip and POP was the only place i could get an AP Room rate for the Memorial Weekend.....

BAD -
1. Rooms are WAY too small. You open the door and BOOM, there is a bed.
2. Only 1 sink in the room. the tub / toilet area is bigger, but only one sink was a bit inconveneient.
3. The water pressure from the sink was HORRIBLE.
4. No in room coffee maker. When i requested one, at first i was told NO. But after constance persuading, we got one. (thank goodness, because the regular coffee in the food court is HORRID. )
5. Beds are terrible. too low to the ground and the room we had, the mattresses were rock solid.

So as you can see, the "goods" outweigh the "bads". Would i stay here again ?....Yes and no. Yes, if this was the LAST possible place to stay. NO, if i had other choices.

My opinion, overall...B.

KG

 

[tinabheart]

Thanks for your honest trip report. I've only stayed at a mod before, but am considering POP for a quick birthday trip weekend. Since it's only for a few days, I think I can live with the cons you listed. We won't be in the room much this trip!

 

[magicmouse2]

I agree. I think the Lake is a nice plus though - no other value has a lake.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for your honest trip report. I've only stayed at a mod before, but am considering POP for a quick birthday trip weekend. Since it's only for a few days, I think I can live with the cons you listed. We won't be in the room much this trip!

You will find the rooms to be comparable in size to most mods...at least they were comparable to POR. The toilet/tub area is actually larger, but that's due to there being only the one sink. But I actually liked the larger tub/toilet area over the double sinks...we're a tall family and those tub/toilet areas in the mods are a very tight squeeze for us!!!

 

[tinabheart]

With just DS14 and I, one sink will be fine!

We stayed at CBR, which is the mod with the largest rooms. When staying for a week, room size is more important, but for a long weekend, I'm not going to worry about it. We are used to staying in suites with two tv's, two sleeping areas and sometimes two bathrooms. Even at CBR, we had to 'share' everything, and that's ok. I guess I'm a deluxe snob, but I just can't see spending that kind of money for three nights when I know we won't be using the room except to shower and sleep.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

We really enjoyed this resort last year. We didn't think the room was 2 small, although we did have 1 king bed rather than 2 doubles. We also did not have any bathroom problems and though the coffee in the food court was ok - matter of taste I guess.

 

[MidgeD79]

Our family will be there on 6/22/07. I'm glad I'm not a coffee drinker. We are driving down (7 of us) so we will have the advantage of our own van plus WDW transportation. We are getting adjoining rooms so that should help with the sinks/bathrooms. I'd like to stay in the 70's bldg and I don't read maps very well. Is there a particular section of that bldg that is closer to a pool, bus stop etc.?

 

[blessedby3]

We stayed POP in 2005 and are booked there again in Jan 2008. We enjoyed POP and didnt think the rooms were too small. They are the size of chain hotels IMO and we arent there that much to make a difference. We have stayed at all levels on the property and while I love the ammenities of a deluxe, not every trip can be that for us. Financially we have to see where we are and decide what level of lodging to stay at. We had great service at POP. I had to call mousekeeping twice (once for extra pillows and once for a bedrail) and they were there almost as soon as we got off the phone. They also did a great job on our room cleaning and we always got extra towels that were requested. We slept like rocks and found the beds to be fine. Once my head hits the pillows wherever I am in DisneyWorld Im pretty much out for the count!!

 

[kinggoofy]

A few more random thoughts regarding POP,

If you are used to a moderate, like we are, you MUST bring your own pool towels. You have to request them from housekeeping. When done, they do have a towel return at the pool.

Someone had mentioned 70's building.??

We were in the 60's building and after walking thru the resort, although its spread out, there really isnt a bad spot in this resort. I dont think its more than a 5-7 minute walk from any building to the main bus stop.

If we were to stay here again, i would NOT spend the extra money to be in a preferred room.

KG

 

[5boyz]

I agree with all points Kinggoofy made!!!! Plus the other pros from other posters!!! We are going again in July for 2 weeks, this time I would like to stay in 60's (stayed in 50's last year) but not preffered as nowhere is far from the Food Court, Main Pool or bus stops!!!

 

[wdwmike59]

BAD -
1. Rooms are WAY too small. You open the door and BOOM, there is a bed.
2. Only 1 sink in the room. the tub / toilet area is bigger, but only one sink was a bit inconveneient.
3. The water pressure from the sink was HORRIBLE.
4. No in room coffee maker. When i requested one, at first i was told NO. But after constance persuading, we got one. (thank goodness, because the regular coffee in the food court is HORRID. )
5. Beds are terrible. too low to the ground and the room we had, the mattresses were rock solid.

Except for #3, these are the things that differentiate values from the more expensive resorts. You get what you pay for. We have stayed at Pop twice, both times with connecting rooms for the four of us. Prices out just above a mod but gives you tons of room, two bathrooms, two TVs, etc. Still no coffee maker though Totally agree on the theming though. Outstanding, especially for those of us of a certain age.

 

[5boyz]

Hey WDWmike...we're neighbours, I'm from Brampton!!!!

What would that certain age be?? LOL!!!

 

[GalDisney]

I have stayed at Pop twice and enjoy the resort, especially for the price. That said, I do travel solo and I will say i would not want to stay there with more than two people in the room. If a family of four was staying in one room, i think it would be a bit much. But connecting rooms would be an option for parties of four or more. I love the resort itself. But I dont think i would want to stay there during peak season as the resort is large and the food court is crowded enough at breakfast in off season, I can imagine during peak! But in that case, I would probably just go to McDonalds at DTD for breakfast. I love Pop, especially at AP rates Cant beat $74.00!

 

[nbodyhome]

In Europe, the Pop rooms would be considered spacious!

Each level of hotels offers different amenities. The values don't offer in-room refrigerators, coffee makers, etc. That is part of what differentiates them as value resorts. But they are also less expensive, it's cheaper to just bring a coffee maker.

I used to be a Polynesian Resort "snob". Now I mostly stay at the Pop Century. It's fun, and I think the rooms are fairly decent size, and I've stayed there in the past with 2 other adults sharing a room.

 

[pixdust]

I get so confused reading the Good and the Bad posted from everyone. I am trying to lean toward staying at Pop just to save some money, but it always seems to end up in a split decision. Some say good, some say bad.
I would like to hear from more people with regards to the beds. Does everyone think that they are rock hard? After a long day at the parks the last thing I want to come back to is a rock hard bed.
Please, other Pop stayers, what did you think about the beds?

 

[5boyz]

I thought they were great!!!!!

 

[GalDisney]

I don't think the beds were too bad. It is difficult for me to sleep in a bed other than my own, though. I recommend Pop, I think you will enjoy it. Its Disney, how can anyone not

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

pixdust - we stayed there in March for 4 nights - then moved to AKL for the remainder.

The POP beds are hard. Not to the point of being really uncomfortable though. But we did notice a huge difference when we moved to AKL. Difference was a cheapish mattress compared to a very good comfortable mattress.

Our "bad" at the POP was the smells for the other guest emitting from our bathroom vent. We had a smoker nearby and our room filled with cigarette smoke two nights, and we also enjoyed (!) horrible "morning" smells from other guests.

The hotel was full and as others said, "you get what you pay for". Overall I didn't mind the "inconviences" because we weren't paying that much for the room and we were still on site!!

 

[pixdust]

Well thanks to those who gave me more , than down.
I just enjoyed our previous stays at WL and POR that I was having a hard time convincing myself that no matter where we stay we are STILL going to have a most excellent time. Looking forward to a Hippy Dippy Time.

 

[nbodyhome]

Everyone has their own view, I think it is interesting how different views can be. I find the beds very comfortable, I remember staying at Shades for 2 nights before heading over to POP a couple of years ago and being much happier with the Pop beds. I sleep well in them.

Of course, they aren't Heavenly beds, THOSE are my favorite!