Need morning coffee strategy...Pop Century

[bangzoom6877]

Okay, we are coffee fanatics...I have to have my morning coffee or I feel I can't function, and with all the walking we will be doing each day at the world I know it will be a necessity. DH needs his coffee too. However we are staying at Pop Century and so no coffee maker in the room (the only drawback to staying in a value, in my opinion).

There are only 2 mornings of the 5 days we will be at Disney that we are eating breakfast at a restaurant. The other 3 mornings, we will need to figure out a way to have our coffee in the most time-efficient way possible. DH does not want to purchase and bring a travel coffee maker (does not want to clean it each day and honestly neither do I). We are not going to the food court for breakfast on those days we do not have an ADR in order to save time (children are only 1 and 3)...so we have requested a fridge (totally worth the $11 a night), and we will stock up on cereal and milk, yogurt, etc. in the room for the few days we will be there (need milk for the baby anyway). We figured this would be the most time efficient way to do breakfast each day while also having to get the kids ready, so we can get to the parks nice and early.

So, any suggestions about the coffee situation? We will have our car with us. And we are driving to the parks each day rather than lug the double stroller and cranky kids onto the bus (just think our kids will handle a drive better than the bus). Is there a Dunkin' Donuts just off property where I can purchase a coffee at the end of the evening before returning to the room so that I can put it into the fridge and have iced coffee in the morning? Or maybe stop by the food court on the way back, pick up a coffee and put that in the fridge for the next morning?

Please, if anyone can help me I would appreciate it. I know I sound like an addict (but I suppose I am), but I really need my morning coffee! Hot or iced, don't care! DH prefers hot but he said he would do iced if necessary! I told him he probably will want iced since it will be so hot there in July!

Thanks,
Bonnie

 

[krystalleigh1]

Some ideas:

1. Get in on a fridge or coffee maker swap. They're all listed at the top of the budget board. There are some fridge swaps that have both fridge and coffee maker (mine does) or you could just do a coffee maker swap.

2. It's totally do-able to get coffee at the main building. Get a refillable mug and when you're close to the main building just fill it up. Either in the am or pm. I believe it's Nescafe so not the greatest coffee, but it's still coffee. You'll have to pay for the mug (around $12 I think) but then you get unlimited drink refills while you're there. They have coffee, sodas, frozen sodas, hot chocolate (I think).

 

[disneyfan2]

The coffee is really bad at the values(never been to POP) so i recommend bringing your own cheap coffee maker, maybe a 2 cupper and then leaving it.
I bought a refillable mug for hubby and we could not stand the coffee, and i am generallly not fussy. So we switched to TEA but then we only had cream for our coffee

 

[simonkodousek]

I agree with the above poster; the coffee in WDW is horrible. If possible, I would stop at a Wal-Mart and buy a cheap ($10 or so) four cup coffee maker for your room. You can bring the coffee and filters from home to save some more $$$. This way you will have an unlimited amount of coffee to drink in the morning, afternoon, evening, or night, without having to go to the food court every morning. IMHO, it is a worthy investment!

P.S.: I am the same way in the mornings... I literally cannot focus on ANYTHING during the day unless I have a cup of coffee when I wake up.

 

[TSMAMI]

We bring a water steamer. You just pour the water in it and it heats up, doesn't get dirty, that way you can by the coffee singles(that look like a tea bag). Maxwell house make them.

 

[rockin_rep]

The coffee is really bad at the values(never been to POP) so i recommend bringing your own cheap coffee maker, maybe a 2 cupper and then leaving it.
I bought a refillable mug for hubby and we could not stand the coffee, and i am generallly not fussy. So we switched to TEA but then we only had cream for our coffee

Wherever we travel i take our little 4 cup pot.

Easy when driving but also when flying i've just carried it on.
Will be flying to disney again soon and plan to carry it on with me then, too.

 

[maj42169]

I know there is a McDonalds RIGHT outside of the ALL Star resorts......you could get coffee there since you are driving around......I don't know how close this is to POP or driving around the area because we only use Disney transportation.....

 

[boldlyreal]

Last year, every morning one of us would walk over to the food court and get the coffee and bring it back. I bought a refillable mug and filled it and then transfered the coffee into my favorite travel mug and then refilled again for my mom. It was a nice walk from our room, I just threw on sweats and my lands end house shoes.

 

[MollyMoo]

Gosh, your addiction isn't that bad! Coffee is the first thing after opening my eyes! Couldn't wait for a restaurant for breakfast. I would get a cheap-o coffee maker, a water steamer (istant is better than nothing) or get refillable mugs and flip a coin with the hubs to see who slinks over to the food court to get the morning fix.

 

[L.E. Ott]

OK, I'm gonna risk being flamed here but.......Two years ago when we stayed at Pop, I drank the coffee every morning, and didn't find anything wrong with it at all. And this is coming from a coffee snob who only buys whole bean and grinds it seconds before brewing a pot. It's by no stretch gourmet, but it's still a decent cup especially if you're refilling your big resort mug. But then it also may have been the experience/environment. I'd get my cup, then walk back to the room, making several detours to see the sights on the way back, when it was still early enough to not get ran over by a pack of kids. I'm firmly convinced that while looking out over the lake, or walking out on the Bridge to Nowhere, and feeding the ducks and bunnies along the way, that even the worst gas station coffee would probably tase good.

 

[MollyMoo]

OK, I'm gonna risk being flamed here but.......Two years ago when we stayed at Pop, I drank the coffee every morning, and didn't find anything wrong with it at all. And this is coming from a coffee snob who only buys whole bean and grinds it seconds before brewing a pot. It's by no stretch gourmet, but it's still a decent cup especially if you're refilling your big resort mug. But then it also may have been the experience/environment. I'd get my cup, then walk back to the room, making several detours to see the sights on the way back, when it was still early enough to not get ran over by a pack of kids. I'm firmly convinced that while looking out over the lake, or walking out on the Bridge to Nowhere, and feeding the ducks and bunnies along the way, that even the worst gas station coffee would probably tase good.

Here, here!

 

[disnut8]

You are at Pop Century and are driving to the parks. Every day except your Animal Kingdom day, you probably will be coming out of Pop Century and making a right. At the next light (Buena Vista Drive), make a left and up on the right just outside of the Boardwalk is a Hess gas station. Coffee to go.

 

[BrianD]

I agree about the food court coffee not being THAT bad. It is no worse than coffee anywhere else on Disney property (excluding the Kona Coffee bar at the Poly, of course). POP is not that big of a resort and the food court opens up at 6:00 AM.

Your other option is the Hess station.

 

[coffeehousemom]

OK gotta throw in my 2 cents worth here. As a coffee house owner Disney coffee is not the best but have had much much worse!! If you really cant wait to do the food court thing or you want to bring your own beans these two options have my vote.

1 small 4 cup machine about $8 at walmart

2 take an electric tea pot & use either those prefilled coffee "pouches" or do a Melita system or French press both make awesome coffee to your preferences & size needs.

 

[Simba22]

I agree with the above poster; the coffee in WDW is horrible. If possible, I would stop at a Wal-Mart and buy a cheap ($10 or so) four cup coffee maker for your room. You can bring the coffee and filters from home to save some more $$$. This way you will have an unlimited amount of coffee to drink in the morning, afternoon, evening, or night, without having to go to the food court every morning. IMHO, it is a worthy investment!

P.S.: I am the same way in the mornings... I literally cannot focus on ANYTHING during the day unless I have a cup of coffee when I wake up.

I also agree...the WDW coffee is the worst I've ever had. 8 sugars was not enough to make it even remotely edible. I also highly recommend using a coffee maker swap or just buying one and bringing it with you if you have the room.

I bought a refillable mug on our March trip with the intent of getting coffee every morning...I ended up using it most nights to get hot chocolate before bed.

 

[disneygal2007]

I need my coffee and we bring a small pot. Or go to the mickey dees drive through Give me my joe and no one will get hurt

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Just take the morning stroll to Everything Pop for your coffee. Driving around WDW IMO is a pain.

This is my favorite part of vacation, getting up earlier than everyone else, sneaking out for my coffee, along with my book and just enjoying the silence. I sacrifice sleep for this and its a great payoff.

 

[Circusgirl]

I am a total coffee snob, and bring my favorite ground coffee, filters, cone and an electric kettle with me. It only requires rinsing out the cone and coffee cup and is totally worth it for excellent morning coffee. Saves time, too.

 

[rockin_rep]

I also agree...the WDW coffee is the worst I've ever had. 8 sugars was not enough to make it even remotely edible. I also highly recommend using a coffee maker swap or just buying one and bringing it with you if you have the room.

I bought a refillable mug on our March trip with the intent of getting coffee every morning...I ended up using it most nights to get hot chocolate before bed.

Wow, $8 is great! I'll have to get a new one and then leave it there this time. We love our coffee in the morning when we're getting ready and don't want to spend an extra second havning to run to the food court. We also do oatmeal or cereal in the am too so we can save time. (and money!)

And do you carry on your coffee pot, or pack and check it?

I'm always afraid it will break when checked, but have so many other things to carry on, too!

 

[honeybee30]

I can't stand the food court and I can't stand the food court coffee, so we just by-pass both and buy our coffee from a kiosk in the parks. For instance, there is a one right in front of AK that we always hit on the way in. There's nothing like drinking a fresh cappucino as you stroll through the AK first thing in the morning!