Pop Century: A review (long, with pics) COMPLETE - dining & final thoughts

[abminer]

Hello!

Though not quite as elaborate as my dining reports, I've done resort reviews for my last 3 stays. We've been back from our stay at POP for a few weeks now so it's time for another! (here's my last review for those who are curious, http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2326873)

A little background on us:
me- 34, lifelong Dis fanatic, WDW expert. This was my 8th trip and I've stayed at a different resort each time; a new resort is half the fun. I've stayed at all resort levels (see my signature).

DBF- 40, His first trip was our 2009 trip to CSR. He may not be a total convert, but he now says he likes going every other year and we should keep it. I was curious to see how he reacted to a value since a mod was his only frame of reference.

no kiddos, yet...

I'm going to do this in a few separate posts, each looking at a different aspect of Pop Century. DISCLAIMER - I do serious Dis research before selecting a resort, but I always get nervous after I book if I read bad reviews... You'll see we had good and bad experiences at Pop, but what we liked (or didn't) may not be important to you. Be your own judge...

let's begin, and please ask any questions you like

 

[myhouseofmouse]

going back to POP for the third time in three weeks. Have loved it there the last 2 trips and will being having another family join us on this next trip. can not wait to get back there...hope you had a wonderful trip look forward to your review.

 

[janabananas]

We just came back from POP last night. Would love to see your take on it.

 

[abminer]

After an easy flight from Boston, we got our rental car quickly. We arrived at Pop at 1:10pm on a Sunday.

The regular check-in line had about 5 people on it, that's where we were because I wanted to make sure our requests were met or at least try hard to get them met (made at the time of reservation: king bed, lake view). The online desk was maybe 3 people long. Our line moved pretty fast, but we had a very loooong wait at the counter with a lackluster/rude CM (he didn't even make eye contact or explain what he was doing as we stood there for 10+ minutes while he was on the phone). He finally spoke to us to say he was working to meet our room requests and to hang on. A little later, he said that he’d found a room that fit the bill. Ok, about 30 min. after we arrived we had KTTW cards and a room that was ready!

We were given room 4437, which is in the 60s section on the Play-Doh side near the red yoyo stairwell. I don’t know what building number that is. We were happy to find it was a lake-facing, top floor, corner room with... full beds!? All that waiting and no king bed for us. This was the worst WDW check-in experience of my trips since ’05. I know requests aren't guaranteed, but courteous service is key no matter what room you end up with.

the check-in area is on your right when you enter the lobby:

and from the other direction:

here's our room from the outside:

 

[MainMom]

Heading to Pop at the end of the month! Looking forward to more of your report.

 

[7Le's]

We're checking in next Saturday~First time staying at POP Can't wait to read more of your review!!

 

[abminer]

Though our room didn’t have a king bed, DBF (who is 6’3”) said he didn't care that much and I agreed. The location was as quiet as it gets (our main concern). Across the lake we could see the (adorable, still under construction) Nemo section of the new Art of Animation Resort and to the right we could see the top of the Tower of Terror and the Swan. This was a prime location we weren’t ready to give up.

We’re pretty sure the few rooms before ours were empty our first two nights. We didn’t see or hear anyone. Our second to last morning we heard our neighbor’s alarm go off and a toilet flush, but we were already up.

I read complaints on the Dis about room size, but I don't think these rooms are so small. The room was smaller than at the mods and deluxes, but it was bigger than plenty of the $300+/night Manhattan hotels I stay in for work all the time. With more than 2 adults and 1 kid it might be uncomfortable, but for just dbf and I it was plenty. The room decor is a bit dull. With all the color outside, the interior of the room is fine enough, but generic so disappointing. I think my room at ASMu was more themed. The curtains at least could be 60s themed. At Disney I want more character, pardon the pun, than a Motel Six regardless of price. One poster and some mickeys in the bead spreads and carpets don’t quite cut it. I remember liking our CSR room except that I wanted more Disney and thought I’d find it here, though I did look at room pics before we left I had hopes. That said, the room showed very little wear-and-tear.

across from our door:

looking left out of our door:

looking down and to the right:

interior 1:

interior 2:

interior 3:

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
Can't wait to read more. I'll be there in 8 days and read that the beds are really hard and uncomfortable. What did you think about the beds? Thanks.

 

[janabananas]

Hi
Can't wait to read more. I'll be there in 8 days and read that the beds are really hard and uncomfortable. What did you think about the beds? Thanks.

I have stayed twice, and both times the beds were quite comfy.


As for the theming on the interior of the room, I don't mind that it is subdued, although I do agree it could use more Disney touches without being over the top. POP is so visually stimulating on the exterior. If the interior was the same way, I might be slightly overwhelmed.

 

[abminer]

Hi
Can't wait to read more. I'll be there in 8 days and read that the beds are really hard and uncomfortable. What did you think about the beds? Thanks.

I too read and worried about the beds. They are firm, but not so much so that we couldn't sleep easily. The pillows are similar. I did feel that the bedding was a bit scratchy, but again, certainly not enough to notice after a long day at the parks (we did MK for 16 hrs straight!). Unless you really need a pillow-top mattress to feel comfortable, I bet you won't notice.

 

[MainMom]

Wow! That is a GREAT room location!

 

[PoohsFan1]

I am loving your trip report so far. We are doing a split stay between BCV and Pop. This will be our first time staying at Pop, actually it will be our first time staying at a Value. Can't wait to read more of your trip and your take on Pop .

 

[abminer]

Wow! That is a GREAT room location!

yeah, it was. I had never made a room request with my reservation before, but now I'll do it every time.

 

[patches07]

I am loving your trip report so far. We will be at the POP November 2nd through November 9th of 2012 for my DS 3rd B-day it will be his first time.

 

[abminer]

on with the show...

Transportation:

Our only annoyance with our room location was that the 60s parking area was kind of far from where our room was. We couldn't find our (white) rental car on day 3 because spots aren't numbered and neither are rows. Maybe this is true at all the resorts, we usually use DME, but row names like they have at the parks would be great. At check-in, the CM told us we could park in the front lot whenever we wanted so after that we did and it was great.

We only used the buses once. The single-file, organized bus line is a great idea (the usual free-for-all that happens at resort bus stops in the a.m. is a pain and brings out the worst in people), but without any cover it gets hot on that line. On Monday we got onto the MK bus line at 8:05am and the line was short (AK was really long, maybe they had am emh?). By 8:15 the line was looong. The bus came at 8:20. It was packed. (We never had that at CSR in late Oct. Is early Oct. usually much more crowded? )
On the way home from the MK, Pop is the 2nd to last bus stop and even though two Pop buses were coming at a time, we had to wait for a third…at midnight. It was certainly standing room only and there was a huge line left on the curb behind us (CBR, the last stop, had one too).

Mousekeeping:

From the moment we checked in our room was spotless. We had a towel animal in the window when we arrived as did all the rooms on our hall. That was the only one we got, which was ok by us. It was a nice touch (and seeing them moved or changed was the first sign that our neighbors had checked in). We always got extra towels and soap. This was the best mousekeeping experience of my trips since ’07

 

[hotblooded]

I'm really enjoying your report so far. It's made me terribly homesick for Pop, even though my last stay there was lackluster because of cleanliness issues. Keep it coming!

 

[2010_Bride]

I love your report - keep it coming
I'm leaving exactly one week today for my first trip to POP! I also requested a lake view so fingers crossed...

 

[mlittig]

Great report I look forward to the next one

 

[janiejake]

Enjoying your report and looking forward to future installments! We are only staying at POP for one night, before checking into POR for the following 10 nights. Never stayed at a value before, and thought this would be a chance to get a 'taste'. Your comments (and photos!) are very helpful.

 

[abminer]

Dining:

I’m going to do a full dining review next, but this was our biggest complaint about Pop. Sadly, it was our only complaint about our last resort, CSR. After hating PM at CSR, we were really excited about Everything Pop food court because I’d read and heard so many good things about it. Eating is my favorite part of WDW trips and I love it all from snack carts to signature meals so when food is poor it really gets to me. At every WDW resort I’ve stayed in, I’ve made sure to eat at least one lunch/dinner at the CS and we usually eat most breakfasts there too. Everything Pop has plenty of seating, is bright and fun and there are plenty of dishes to choose from, but… the food was passable at best. I’m a foodie, not a huge food snob, but what we ate ranged from pretty good to horrible. In fact I got sick after some breakfast pizza. I was not right for 48 hours. Thank god I always pack Immodium in my touring backpack first aid kit This was such a shame because the food court CMs were the best we met on this trip. I reported it the next day to the front desk and they were nice, but didn’t offer anything. I asked for them to put 1 CS credit back on my card and they gave me two, which we really appreciated. Still, that breakfast was our third and final meal at the food court. We only used it to fill up our mugs for the rest of the trip.

entrance from the lobby, you pass through the (big) gift shop first:

seating:

we saw the morning CM dance twice (very cute):