Pop Century Preferred Rooms worth it?

[sarahhhmarie27]

I have been going to Disney since I was little now and even worked there, but one resort I never been to is Pop Century. I am staying there in May and my fiance and I have a preferred room, but are on a budget in a way. I was also looking into standard rooms and here is where the question comes in: How far are the standard rooms from the lobby/food court? Is a preferred room even worth the cost its about a 70-100 dollar different according to Disney. I have issues with my ankle so I like being close to the pool and lobby. So is all the different buildings fairly close to the lobby or are they like the All Stars where they are a little bit of a walk? Thank you!!

 

[rainynight]

No, not at all worth it. We got one the first time staying there and had a further walk than non-preferred rooms. I complained about it and got refunded the difference and the guy explained how the way its set up some of the preferred rooms are actually further away. From any room the walk to the main building is short. Its a very compact resort and to me its kind of a scam that they even offer a "preferred" room.

 

[sarahhhmarie27]

No, not at all worth it. We got one the first time staying there and had a further walk than non-preferred rooms. I complained about it and got refunded the difference and the guy explained how the way its set up some of the preferred rooms are actually further away. From any room the walk to the main building is short. Its a very compact resort and to me its kind of a scam that they even offer a "preferred" room.

Wow that's crazy... maybe we will switch then... I was on the phone with them earlier I was trying to ask her about the distance and wouldn't give me a straight answer. She kept repeating herself saying they are the closest when I wasn't asking about the preferred rooms. Thank you!

 

[dpswift]

If you have ankle problems you might want to. It is a very big resort. Otherwise request room in one of the closer buildings. The 80s and the 90s are a right good hike. I love the resort but around the computer pool is not all that close.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

do look at the map and request a room in one of the closer buildings.

When we stayed at POP (several years ago) they told us the preferred rooms faced some of the 'more exciting icons. It wasn't done like AS Movies or AS Music where 'preferred' is an entire very close by building.

 

[akayek31]

We always pay for preferred pool view. It is the closest I have ever been to the lobby. When we went in Feb my kids wanted to stay in the 90's section since they were born in that decade (turned out to be the 80's but they didn't want me to complain) and those are closer to the buses if you walk through the 90's parking lot.

 

[kellydizfan]

I recommend it. We didn't have a preferred room and we had such a hike across the parking lots and around the building to get to the food court and busses each morning. My friend and her daughter were with us and they had a preferred room and they were right by the pool as you walk out the back doors of the food court. Would have loved to been there instead so I would pay it. Not sure I will stay there again. Way too crowded for my taste and it is nice though. If I had to I would. We did go during free dining back in August 2011. We are going to try Coronado Springs this time around in December and have requested a preferred room so we could be near the main pool and the food court etc.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

IMO....Not worth the $$. We have always had a preffered poolside room. Over the years the price of that room has sky rocketed. So, this last trip we decided not to reserve the same room. We were put in the 50's and LOVED it. I have 2 bad knees and the walk was no further and the laundry was actually closer. When we go back I will be requesting the 50's building.

 

[ceecee]

YES! Especially if you want to be nearer to the food court and bus stop. Look at the map and request a bldg. We always paid the extra after the first year we were way out there and it was a walk to anything, it used to only be like $10 more a night so worth it to me.

 

[luckygirl539]

We always get a preferred room. Some people luck out when they get a standard room and aren't too far, but 80s and 90s are too far.

 

[gojoe]

I've done prefered and not. Give me prefered any day or maybe I should say night. The last thing I want to do is walk to the furthest building and top floor all the way in the back at the end of a long long long day. And that from the bus stop. During Thanksgiving we came back late to the resort with our car. After going up and down every row I finally found a spot, on the other side from where my room was located.

 

[sarahhhmarie27]

Which building should I then request? I am going to call again tomorrow because the lady confused me today, because I am going to tell them I have a bad ankle and I want to be right in front and I heard that some preferred are not as close and I want to be close if I am paying the extra! And thanks everyone!!

 

[erincon23]

I've stayed at Pop four times, and paid for preferred once. Of the three non-preferred, one was VERY far (before I knew anything about the resort), but the other two were great. I strongly suggest that you go to the resort board and post on the Pop Century thread here -- http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3000350 -- it's very active and very helpful. In the first post, you'll find a link to the resort map, and you can actually see where the preferred and non-preferred rooms are. Pop is a great resort, lots of fun, fantastic food court, great bus service. I have major foot problems, and after a long park day have a hard time walking very far -- but you can request non-preferred areas that will be just fine for even ouchy feet and legs.

 

[sarahhhmarie27]

I've stayed at Pop four times, and paid for preferred once. Of the three non-preferred, one was VERY far (before I knew anything about the resort), but the other two were great. I strongly suggest that you go to the resort board and post on the Pop Century thread here -- http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3000350 -- it's very active and very helpful. In the first post, you'll find a link to the resort map, and you can actually see where the preferred and non-preferred rooms are. Pop is a great resort, lots of fun, fantastic food court, great bus service. I have major foot problems, and after a long park day have a hard time walking very far -- but you can request non-preferred areas that will be just fine for even ouchy feet and legs.

Thank you so much! I just also posted it there as well as looking at all the info they post!!

 

[MomToOne]

you can request non-preferred areas that will be just fine for even ouchy feet and legs.

The problem with only requesting a room in a certain section is that it is just a request. They don't have to honor it. In the 5 times I've requested a certain building/section at a Value resort, my request has been honored only once. It's been so bad, I have started wondering if they hate requests and PURPOSELY put people who make requests in the farthest possible room....

 

[dpswift]

We have stayed at POP four times. The only time we requested a decade (50s because it was close and we did not want a preferred room) our request was honored. that was before they changed what they considered a preferred room. It has seemed that repeat POP visiters get better rooms if they are available.

 

[ShelliRenee]

Two days before we stayed at Pop, my knee went out. During check-in, I explained what happened and asked if we could have a room on the first floor. They moved us to a room right by the computer pool. It was very convenient and the walk was very doable.

 

[rainynight]

I recommend it. We didn't have a preferred room and we had such a hike across the parking lots and around the building to get to the food court and busses each morning. My friend and her daughter were with us and they had a preferred room and they were right by the pool as you walk out the back doors of the food court. Would have loved to been there instead so I would pay it. Not sure I will stay there again. Way too crowded for my taste and it is nice though. If I had to I would. We did go during free dining back in August 2011. We are going to try Coronado Springs this time around in December and have requested a preferred room so we could be near the main pool and the food court etc.

We had a room last visit right by the main pool by the food court as well and didn't pay extra for the preferred room. After the first night we requested a different room cause by the pool was loud most the night. There is really no need to pay for a preferred room since its a small resort and you can simply look at a map and request a closer building. We walked all around the resort and no point is more than 5-6 mins from the main building, and that was walking slowly.

 

[Minnesota!]

We have stayed at PC many times and never requested a preferred room. We have stayed in all decades except for 60's, and none has been far. The furthest room is, I would say, a 3 minute walk, tops to Classic Hall.

FWIW, the best room we have ever had was on the backside of the 50's building - 3rd floor, overlooking the lake. Very very nice! But I actually prefer to be in 80's or 90's since it's such a close walk to the bus stops!

I would NOT do it and save the money.

 

[sunshinecruise]

We have stayed at Pop Century many times. I would suggest that you request the 50's or 70's and ask for a room close to the food court. We usually stay in the 50's because there is a pool there and my dh likes to swim in the morning. I think that the 80's and 90's buildings are too far from the lobby/food court. I do not like to stay in that section.