Just finished a trip at the POP (or Scopa Towers for the WDW Today listeners) last week. It went very well--check-in wait was minimal on a Monday afternoon, and express check-out was seamless. Our room was 7104 in the Roger Rabbit building and was fairly close to the ice machine and the parking, which was my main concern. I don't remember hearing much external noise--just a little talking from the ajacent room, but nothing intrusive. Housekeeping was adequate--sheets were changed on the 3rd day, and hairs behind the door in the bathroom didn't disappear too rapidly, but towels/soap/shampoo were all supplied readily and we got towel animals! Plus they didn't do the yelling and clattering at 0700 like the people at ASMu on our last stay, so that was happy. It seemed clear that some housekeepers must know how to make the animals and some didn't, because you would walk down one walkway and every window would have the same animal, and other walkway would have zip. I saw a few DIS windows while I was there! They all looked great! Here's some photos of our room. We were right about where the breakdancer's hand is. And here's one of our window displays. We tried to change them up. The food court was busy, but they processed people quickly. In all, it was a successful visit, and I would stay there again, with the knowledge that every stay is different, depending heavily on your housekeeper and your neighbors. Thankfully, this time it was all good.
Hey, we were there too (Sept 22nd-30th). We were on the top back floor of building 10 (70's) facing the 80's. We had our window decorated all in Tinkerbelle, but on the top floor on the back of the building, doubt if anyone noticed it. We did see a few dry erase boards with green Mickey heads around them on a few doors though and signed them. I agree POP was great--quiet, good bus service, friendly CMs, quick check in, express check out was great, room was ready when we checked in, and refridgerator (for medical reasons) already in place. We were one of the ones who didn't get towel animals, but housekeeping was adequate. I'm already booked to go back to POP in Dec, but for some reason am considering switching to All Star Music. I'm afraid I'll miss POP though.
We were just there 27th-4th Oct. It was great!!! The housekeeping was wonderful. We left our towel animals like good responsible people (or so I thought) and as we were leaving the housekeeper ran up to us and gave DD one of the animals we left. I guess you are supposed to take them. Anyway, the Pop Jets were great and DD loved them and the kiddie pool. She even slept! I would stay there again in a heartbeat.
That is fuuny because I have never taken the towel animals and we get them when we stay at WL. This trip we stayed at Poly and didn't get any, Lol.
We also just returnes from our 2nd stay at the Pop and were not disappointed. I had requested a standard 50's room but got 80's instead room 7210. It turned out great cause the walk wasn't that far to the bus stops and foodcourt. Enjoyed the walks around the lake and reading all the fun facts posted all around it. I have to agree, the food court was very busy at times but most of the times we ate at early times so we never had any problems with the waits. Same goes for the buses. Yes, there were alot of people but the buses kept coming at a steady flow and we never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus. We also got towel animals!!! Our very first ones ever! I agree wit a previous poster, I guess it depends on the mousekeeper. My kids loved them, and the room was always nice and clean every time we returned from the parks. All in all we had a great time, hope to go again in 2007. The kids loved the place so we will probably choose Pop once again.
We were there 9/23 - 9/30 and stayed in the 50's section building one room 1122. I had not requested a preferred room but were upgraded for free at check in (I don't know why they upgraded us maybe because on reservation it showed we were celebrating an anniversary or they felt sorry for us because of all the airplane delays that day we didn't get there until 2:30 AM). Anyway the room location was great. We had a king size bed which was also great but we got stuck in a handicap room. I hate those bathrooms. The floor got drenched everytime we took a shower. We received towel animals several days and kept them in our window (didn't bring them home.....didn't know what you were supposed to do). It was kind of funny the first night we left 2 - $2 bills as tip in a special mousekeeping envelope that I had made up. We came back to the room that night and they had not taken it. We could tell they had picked it up and looked inside by the envelope looked. My DH went to the front desk the next morning and asked if they were able to except tips (we knew they were) and they said yes and he said well do you think they think the $2.00 bills are fake or something and have never seen them. Thats exactly what the front desk CM thought probably happened. Well from then on they took them!
We just returned as well. We were in building 2 (behind the big jukebox) I was very reluctant to return - we stayed one night for about 8 hours after a flight that didn't get in til midnight and the rest of our stay at AKL. I remembered pulling up and being horrified This time I knew what to expect so it didn't seem *as* garish. I can't imagine what this place would be like in the dead of summer or during holidays, the pool was always packed and at midnight we'd hear people coming in from the parking lots, talking as loudly as they can over each other. A few times our stops in the food court were hectic (especially morning mug refills) It was all certainly manageable and tolerable, but I think busier times it'd get frustrating and anything but relaxing. We didn't hear our neighbors too often - except one morning when I heard a big bang, a kid whining, and the whole family laughing hysterically The CMs we encountered were all very nice. We passed our housekeeper a few times and she was always pleasant. Our room was always well-cleaned. I didnt see any hairs or bits of paper or anything left behind when she was finished. She did leave us our first towel animal - not expected since we're a couple of adults. We did nothing on MNSSHP day so we went to the food court for lunch. We weren't sure what desserts counted, so mom asked a CM if the twinkie tiramisu was considered a dessert. He said yes, then went back himself to get one from the storage cooler instead of us waiting in line for it. Very nice of him! Then the day we checked out I had to leave a fridge for a fellow DISer that was already there. We hadn't been able to coordinate a time to meet up and I had called that morning but they had apparently already left for the parks so I left a message it'd be left with luggage services. I went up there, explained I was leaving it for a guest who would pick it up that day, she was already checked in. The CM went in back, looked up her room number and delivered it right to her room! Again, very nice! So although the decor doesn't really appeal, I'd certainly entertain the idea of staying there again with a great deal and low crowds.
