POP Century or Offsite?

[B-Ride]

The last 3 years we have been coming to Florida a couple of days before our stay at the Polynesian for two reasons - cheaper flights during the week and a chance to do some back to school shopping at the outlet mall. Usually we stay offsite at Caribe Royale which has Queen size beds and a separate sitting room which is good if someone can't sleep.

Pricing it out this year it suddenly occurred to me we could stay at Pop Century for a few dollars less. The upside would be staying on property which we really prefer (the kids figure the air is fresher at Disney) while the downside is the room is probably smaller and we would only have double beds.

I would be interested in any opinions from people who stay at POP. Our boys will be 17 and 19 so I am not sure sharing a double bed will work. They haven't had to do that since 2005 back when CSR only had double beds and we hadn't yet made our switch to the Poly.

Will staying at POP after 6 years at the Polynesian be too much of a shock?

 

[CDNLADY]

Hi I have stayed at all levels including DVC.. I love the pop best food court hands down.. Why not get to room that way everyone has there own beds and still cheaper then going deluxe, will you be disappointed, that depends on you , yes the Poly is nice but its a room that is how me and my family look at it. the pools are great , no water slides but that don't bother me or my kids who are 21, 20 and 17, and to be honest POP is there favourte resort . Now for offsite I personally hated it, my kids are older so we do late night hours and you cant do that staying off site, sure the rooms are bigger but to much traveling back and forth ( I do not use disney buses we take our car), but what ever you decide just go with and open mind off site or on and have a great trip ! Its Disney after all

 

[DeanDoug]

POP is our favorite value resort. I remember being on the ground level and having a couple of chairs outside our room (which could serve you if someone can't sleep.). You just can't go wrong staying on-property!

 

[B-Ride]

Thanks for the replies. I am definitely leaning that way. Now just have to convince the kids that the double bed is worth it to stay on site. I don't think it will be that difficult given how much they love Disney.

 

[ausmum66]

We have stayed at all levels of accommodation and used Pop about 2.5 years ago to save money...we were pleasantly surprised.

The 23 year old picked to stay here again!

 

[Karabee]

Im a deluxe girl at heart but we stayed at POP for a few night last trip and really liked it! The rooms were perfectly fine and I didn't even feel it was that big - even though I know it is! This year I'm going down in Dec and staying at SSR but since we're flying in a day early, it's off to POP for a night

 

[MinnieTeacher]

We stayed at the Pop Century one night before our stay at the Poly one year. My children were 8 and 3 at the time and I could not wait to get out of that room!! I can't imagine staying in a room that small with two teen boys. The resort and room were nice and clean, food court was great as well as the pools. The only downside to Pop is the room is the size and double beds. I think it would be way too crowded, just my opinion. I think the only way you could do it would to bring a twin air matress for one of the boys. Values were the only resorts in our budget this year so we are staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek beside the Carribean Beach resort and Epcot. Check it out on the Orlando board. That may be an option for you. Got a great deal on e-bay. Only downside to that is no Dining plan this year We wanted more room and that seemed to be the only option in our budget.

 

[Darkside]

This is our 19th year at WDW. We have stayed at timeshares, value and moderate resorts, hotels, and we now own at DVC. Our opinion is that ANY Disney property is better than staying off-site. Also, if you stay on site, you can have the bell men send your luggage on to the Poly for no extra charge.