Pop Century or Caribbean Beach Resort?

[e_yerger]

Hi! My fiance and I (late 20's) are visiting at the end of April. We originally had planned to stay at Pop Century for 6 days 5 nights, but thinking on upgrading to Caribbean Beach. We've stayed at both previously, but Caribbean Beach was before the big construction and before skyliner (Pop has been post room upgrades, but pre-skyliner). We plan on 2 days at EP and 1 day at HS, so Skyliner will be used frequently. Other days will be 2 days at MK and 1 day at AK. So equal use of buses and skyliner. Which option would you guys do?

Room details:
Sat - Thurs late April
Pop: Standard Room, standard view (will be a mystery where they put us)
CBR: Standard Room with extra sleeper (according to TP this would put us in Jamaica or Aruba?)

 

[Schneewittchen37]

I've stayed at both. I'd stay a CBR over Pop for several reasons:

1. Pop only has the food court. If the world ever gets back to normal, CBR has more dining options.
2. Pop has value pools. That means that Pop does not have water slides or hot tubs. CBR has a really fantastic main pool with two slides and a very pleasant hot tub.
3. CBR rooms are more comfy to me. Yes, Pop was remodeled a while back, but so was CBR. Pop has vinyl floors, some people like that, I hate it, it's too cold and clammy for me. Pop rooms are smaller by about 55 square feet, so there's less space for suitcases, backpacks, and generally moving around without bumping into each other.
4. Pop bathrooms are trash. Cramped one vessel sink with narrow counters. Two people cannot get ready at the same time. CBR has a standard depth counter with two basins. Pop tubs have sliding glass shower doors with metal frames for shin bashing. CBR tubs have a shower curtain. Yay for my knees.
5. The grounds at CBR are lush and beautiful in spots and yes there's a central body of water. Pop has kitsch and a body of water too.
6. You can walk from CBR to Riviera and have easy access to fine dining, etc. At Pop you can walk to AoA and experience a different food court....

I'm done.

Edit: I'm not done.
7. I think the beds at CBR are more comfortable.

 

[e_yerger]

I've stayed at both. I'd stay a CBR over Pop for several reasons:

1. Pop only has the food court. If the world ever gets back to normal, CBR has more dining options.
2. Pop has value pools. That means that Pop does not have water slides or hot tubs. CBR has a really fantastic main pool with two slides and a very pleasant hot tub.
3. CBR rooms are more comfy to me. Yes, Pop was remodeled a while back, but so was CBR. Pop has vinyl floors, some people like that, I hate it, it's too cold and clammy for me. Pop rooms are smaller by about 55 square feet, so there's less space for suitcases, backpacks, and generally moving around without bumping into each other.
4. Pop bathrooms are trash. Cramped one vessel sink with narrow counters. Two people cannot get ready at the same time. CBR has a standard depth counter with two basins. Pop tubs have sliding glass shower doors with metal frames for shin bashing. CBR tubs have a shower curtain. Yay for my knees.
5. The grounds at CBR are lush and beautiful in spots and yes there's a central body of water. Pop has kitsch and a body of water too.
6. You can walk from CBR to Riviera and have easy access to fine dining, etc. At Pop you can walk to AoA and experience a different food court....

I'm done.

Have you been to one, or both, of them post-reopening? If so, what are your thoughts on transportation from the different resorts.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Hi! My fiance and I (late 20's) are visiting at the end of April. We originally had planned to stay at Pop Century for 6 days 5 nights, but thinking on upgrading to Caribbean Beach. We've stayed at both previously, but Caribbean Beach was before the big construction and before skyliner (Pop has been post room upgrades, but pre-skyliner). We plan on 2 days at EP and 1 day at HS, so Skyliner will be used frequently. Other days will be 2 days at MK and 1 day at AK. So equal use of buses and skyliner. Which option would you guys do?

Room details:
Sat - Thurs late April
Pop: Standard Room, standard view (will be a mystery where they put us)
CBR: Standard Room with extra sleeper (according to TP this would put us in Jamaica or Aruba?)

I have stayed at CBR and POP and personally don't think of CBR as an upgrade. Unpopular opinion here, I know, but it's a moderate with a value feel to me. POP has more recently renovated rooms that CBR and while the POP rooms are a bit smaller, they are definitely much nicer than the CBR rooms. For two people, a room at POP is great. Also, views at Values and Moderates don't really matter since you don't have a balcony. It's not really worth any extra money, at least not to us.

I also don't care for the transportation at CBR. The Skyliner is great when it's running (I don't love heights but it's the only option to Epcot and DHS when running) and it's quick BUT, it does go down and when it does the buses are so so slow to pick up the slack. Also, the regular bus routes to AK and MK aren't fantastic either since there are so many internal bus stops. Trinidad was closed when we were there and I think we still made 5 stops since the bus will also stop at the Skyliner. In normal/non Covid times, it's still not a great resort when it comes to transportation, I think it would be a total of 6 stops. Pop is similar but because they have much larger buses running to/from the parks and only one bus stop, I think it seems less taxing all else being equal with the Skyliner. Also as far as dining, there is only one food court at both Pop and CBR since COVID has kept the sit down restaurant at CBR from opening.

Not sure if Coronado Springs is on your radar but if you can get a tower room for the price of CBR, I"d snag that in a heartbeat. No Skyliner but it's a deluxe feeling resort with mod prices. Maybe the positives on CBR, the lobby, it is nice and new and the proximity to Riviera is nice so you can walk over and grab a bite or Skyliner over. I've stayed at these resorts pre and post -covid and really do like CSR a lot with POP in a close second. We only have chosen CBR in the past for the pulldown 5th sleeper.

 

[Schneewittchen37]

Have you been to one, or both, of them post-reopening? If so, what are your thoughts on transportation from the different resorts.

I haven't been back since re-opening. My next trip is in 3 weeks, and I'm staying at Yacht Club or Fort Wilderness. (long story)

I'm talking about visits in 2019 before the shutdown. But I have used the Skyliner for giggles, it's fun.

 

[e_yerger]

I have stayed at CBR and POP and personally don't think of CBR as an upgrade. Unpopular opinion here, I know, but it's a moderate with a value feel to me. POP has more recently renovated rooms that CBR and while the POP rooms are a bit smaller, they are definitely much nicer than the CBR rooms. For two people, a room at POP is great. Also, views at Values and Moderates don't really matter since you don't have a balcony. It's not really worth any extra money, at least not to us.

I also don't care for the transportation at CBR. The Skyliner is great when it's running (I don't love heights but it's the only option to Epcot and DHS when running) and it's quick BUT, it does go down and when it does the buses are so so slow to pick up the slack. Also, the regular bus routes to AK and MK aren't fantastic either since there are so many internal bus stops. Trinidad was closed when we were there and I think we still made 5 stops since the bus will also stop at the Skyliner. In normal/non Covid times, it's still not a great resort when it comes to transportation, I think it would be a total of 6 stops. Pop is similar but because they have much larger buses running to/from the parks and only one bus stop, I think it seems less taxing all else being equal with the Skyliner. Also as far as dining, there is only one food court at both Pop and CBR since COVID has kept the sit down restaurant at CBR from opening.

Not sure if Coronado Springs is on your radar but if you can get a tower room for the price of CBR, I"d snag that in a heartbeat. No Skyliner but it's a deluxe feeling resort with mod prices. Maybe the positives on CBR, the lobby, it is nice and new and the proximity to Riviera is nice so you can walk over and grab a bite or Skyliner over. I've stayed at these resorts pre and post -covid and really do like CSR a lot with POP in a close second. We only have chosen CBR in the past for the pulldown 5th sleeper.

The Coronado tower was not on our radar, but it might be worth thinking about. I was definitely stuck on being on a skyliner resort, because I wanted the ease to go between Epcot and HS since it takes up half of our trip.

I definitely liked the look of Pop rooms better than CBR (I try to avoid carpet if I can). But now I'm going to go down the rabbit hole of Gran Destino Tower LOL

 

[Dug720]

The Coronado tower was not on our radar, but it might be worth thinking about. I was definitely stuck on being on a skyliner resort, because I wanted the ease to go between Epcot and HS since it takes up half of our trip.

I definitely liked the look of Pop rooms better than CBR (I try to avoid carpet if I can). But now I'm going to go down the rabbit hole of Gran Destino Tower LOL

Just keep in mind that if there are thunderstorms (seems likely in April), the Skyliner will go down and you'll be on busses anyway. So if that's the main draw, it could be a disappointment.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Just keep in mind that if there are thunderstorms (seems likely in April), the Skyliner will go down and you'll be on busses anyway. So if that's the main draw, it could be a disappointment.

Exactly!! I felt like we could always start our day with Skyliner travel but midday/evening it was usually down for inclement weather. Rain is not an issue but if it gets really windy/and or any lighting in the area, it will stop running and that is a disappointment. It's definitely not the same transport benefit as an Epcot area resort where you can walk to/from DHS/EP or a monorail resort. I had higher hopes for the Skyliner. When it's running, it's awesome because it is so fast but when it's down, the buses are a big bummer at these resorts.

The Coronado tower was not on our radar, but it might be worth thinking about. I was definitely stuck on being on a skyliner resort, because I wanted the ease to go between Epcot and HS since it takes up half of our trip.

I definitely liked the look of Pop rooms better than CBR (I try to avoid carpet if I can). But now I'm going to go down the rabbit hole of Gran Destino Tower LOL

Also, you may already know this, but on days you take the Sklyliner to DHS, be sure to get out to the Skyliner station early. I know it varies some but I think the Skyliners start running 60 min+ prior to park open but people start lining up well before that. It's lessened some given you don't have to be in the park to get the ROTR boarding pass but it's still gets log jammed for sure.

 

[Moliphino]

It really depends on how much time you plan to stay at the resort. I'd pick Pop because the long bus ride through CBR annoys me and I don't really spend time at the resort aside from sleeping (we don't use the pools and rarely eat at the resort).

 

[Lydia S]

I've only stayed at Pop, and seriously considered CBR. The price difference isn't worth it for us though as we're not generally "Lounge around the pool" people and spend most of our time at the parks. What we loved about Pop was that you could also take the buses going to AoA if it was less crowded/you just missed the Pop one. We found that the short walk to AoA really helped with the variety of food and shopping too.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I would echo @Moliphino said. If you are planning on spending time at the resort for dining and swimming I would say CBR but unless those are important to you I would recommend Pop for sure! We love Pop and find it meets our needs very well. I'd rather spend the extra money saved elsewhere. Also, the single bus stop with organized queues is a huge plus in my books for MK and AK.

 

[eeyore70disney]

Do the busses run to HS or EP before the skyliner opens?

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Do the busses run to HS or EP before the skyliner opens?

No, there is no bus service offered at Skyliner resorts to Epcot and DHS unless the Skyliner is down.

 

[Moliphino]

No, there is no bus service offered at Skyliner resorts to Epcot and DHS unless the Skyliner is down.

AOA does have buses to Epcot and DHS. I'm not sure what time they start compared to the Skyliner, but you can walk over from Pop to use them.

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

IMO Pop is a much better choice. And honestly I'd stay at the All Stars before I would stay at CBR again lol. We really disliked the rooms there. Maybe once they re-do the rooms we would consider trying it again but it just wasn't for us when we stayed in late 2018.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Buses only run to Epcot/DHS at Skyliner resorts during very busy times, during non peak times, they are not running buses and even during these busier times, the buses aren't very frequent. When buses are running, they usually will start 45-one hour prior to park opening but it definitely can vary. If you are trying to arrive at a park early, the buses can be spotty but usually they're pretty reliable early AM.

 

[mousehouse23]

I think it depends on what kind of vacation you're looking for.

If you envision yourself enjoying the food/lounges/pool/atmosphere of the resort a lot, I'd vote for Gran Destino tower, then CBR, then Pop. Those tower rooms are really nice, and it'd be the sort of place I'd want to stay at if I were traveling with my fiancé. Three Bridges is such a nice place to relax with a drink and some food at night, too.

I know the bus situation at CSR is less than ideal, but if you're comfortable with Uber, I'd do that on the days where you feel pinched for time and/or exhausted.

 

[hereforthechurros]

CBR for the pool, Banana Cabana, slightly more interesting food choices and shorter Skyliner rides. Plus with Rivera right there it doubles the food options. We really enjoyed getting QS from Primo Piatto. Values are loud and busy with large families everywhere but even as parents ourselves we prefer the less hectic atmosphere mods have to offer. Few beachy spots and the island make it feel so much more resorty than the values.

What’s on your pro Pop list?

 

[Nabas]

The Coronado tower was not on our radar, but it might be worth thinking about. I was definitely stuck on being on a skyliner resort, because I wanted the ease to go between Epcot and HS since it takes up half of our trip.

The Skyliner has long lines at park opening and closing. The buses definitely are faster at these times. If you want to stay at either POP or CBR for the Skyliner at park opening, it's not worth it IMO. We were at AOA and ran into LOTS of other Guests who complained about missing park opening because of the Skyliner.

At other times of the day, the Skyliner often is a walk-on.

The advantage of CBR is that you don't have to transfer on the Skyliner. That's one less line to wait in.

 

[e_yerger]

Thanks for all the advice!

We sat on it and i think we’re going to take the risk of inconstant skyliner at Pop. Like i said, we’re engaged, and our wedding is in October. So the $350 and $500 difference from CBR and CSR (respectively) goes a far way with the costs of our dining if we stay at Pop.

We’re comfortable with using Lyft to get around property, so if we see the skyliner backed up in the morning of our DHS day we’ll just call a Lyft. You guys definitely drive a hard case though for CBR and CSR, so I’m not writing them off completely i’m going to relook at our itinerary and if there are times we fit in for pool time, I may upgrade us to CBR (feel like that’s a good happy medium, and the one-less-transfer for Skyliner).