Pop Century - Preferred vs. Standard Room

[jaymar]

We just joined DVC and are going in June to BWV with siblings and kids. Our parents are looking to go as well. They would like to spend as little as possible, so I've recommended Pop Century to them. Are the walks to the food court and the bus very far from the 'standard' rooms? I don't think they would want to spend extra for a 'preferred' room unless the walk was very long. They are in good health. Also, any recommendations for a request they should make for location if they go with 'standard'? I figure the All-Stars are fine too, but just a little farther from the Boardwalk.

 

[salmoneous]

Actually, some of the rooms in the non-preferred buildings are closer than some of the rooms in the preferred. About the only reason I can see for paying extra for preferred is if you have small kids and want to use the kiddie pool.

As for room requests, it really depends upon what you want. If being close is important, that's what I'd ask for. On the other hand, I requested a view of the lake in the 50's. Nice view, close to parking, but far from the main building.

 

[timandlesley]

I would just make sure they request 50's or 70's not too bad of a walk at all. The 80's and especially 90's is a HIKE. We were in 50's and loved it. I'm paying for preferred this year because we will be checking in late and I don't want to be stuck in 80's and 90's if that's what they have left when we check in.

Lesley

 

[Stacerita]

We recently stayed in the 50's building 3 (i think). The walk was not far at all from the main building. The bowling pin pool was right next to it and the hippie dippy pool was a very short walk. If they dont want to go prefered, I would suggest that.

 

[nbodyhome]

I just stayed at the Pop - 50's building, I think it was room 3102. Only a few minutes walk to the main building, and the pool was right outside the door (but surprisingly little noise was heard inside the room). It was, IMHO, a perfect location.

Denise

 

[DisneyMom5]

I think preferred can be a waste of $, because the whole resort is very condensed. I agree with requesting 70s or 50s (we were in 50s and loved it!)
And you are able to use all the pools in the resort, no matter which bldg you stay in. We walked a little farther to use the daisy pool and kiddie pool one night. It was nice.

 

[jaymar]

Thanks for all of the good advice. After reading other threads, I'm wondering if maybe All Star Sports would be a better choice, only because it seems as if the bus service would be a little quicker to the parks, and maybe not so crowded. It's just my parents (in their early 60s) - no kids, and they don't care about the theming and will probably only be in the room to sleep. I know everyone has their favorites, just looking for comments about the location, bus service, etc. for Pop vs. AS. If anyone can give me tips on which All Star (I'm thinking Sports) and good locations to request for standard rooms, that would be great!

 

[blessedby3]

Just my 2cents, but we stayed at POP after Thanksgiving and we were in the 50's. Granted some of the 50's and 70's are just as close as the preferred 60's, but our room was in the fartherst 50's building and it was okay for the first few days, but after that our feet were killing us so bad and the walk to the food court and busses seemed long. Some nights we would come in from the park, and would be so tired that no one would want to walk back to the food court to get our mugs filled with drinks. We would end up buying a 2L for $3.50 to avoid someone going back after we got to the room for our mugs. This after we paid $12 per mug for the purpose of all you can drink drinks. If it were my mom and dad, I would go for the extra $12 per night and request a close room in the preferred building.

 

[nbodyhome]

I find the Pop Century to be pretty condensed as well - and if you stay 7 nights, that is another $100.00 or so. I'd take the extra little bit of exercise, and bring some drinks for in-room if walking was an issue (water/soda, whatever) and not get the preferred.

My 50's room was perfect, but I walked all over the resort for extra exercise and didn't find any building terribly far. Pop is one of my favorite resorts now.

Denise

 

[landmark]

... Granted some of the 50's and 70's are just as close as the preferred 60's, but our room was in the fartherst 50's building and it was okay for the first few days, but after that our feet were killing us so bad and the walk to the food court and busses seemed long. ...

I have to agree. (we were there the week after Thanksgiving as well ) We had a room in the 70's on the backside facing the 60's but was only 3 doors down from the lake. I have to say though that I think it was a closer walk to the main building than to the 70's parking lot but the jury is still out on that one. I didn't mind the walk though as I wanted a quiet location. I do have to say though that when I forgot something in the room it was a walk to go back. After the first day we were careful to be alot more organized before leaving the room. The walk only to leave the room and then return in the evening wasn't bad. If your parents are ones that would want to be going back and forth to the food court for drinks etc then preferred would definitly be closer but in June the pool may be crowded and loud at times. We filled mugs on the way out in the morning and then left them in our car during the day (no comment on the bus service) and then filled them on the way back to the room. I think that it's probably a less spread out resort than POR overall.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

When we were at Pop in January we were in the 70's Mickey phone building, room 6336. It was great, and not a bad walk to the food court.

In October we were in 80's Roger Rabbit room 7215 (I think) and it was FAR. I mean FAR!!! There wasn't a direct route to the food court and it was an absolute journey every morning and every night. We were talking about mugging a CM so we could steal his Segway. It was REALLY far. Which is what we get for checking in at midnight, I imagine. At least it was quiet.

I would absolutely request a room close to the food court. When I saw our room location I was kicking myself for not requesting anything other than non-smoking. Live and learn!

 

[abaldacci]

just another thought I would ask for a room on the upper floor it is quiet compared to the lower floors.

 

[drp4video]

The first time I stayed at POP we stayed in the preferred room, 4th floor overlooking the pool. It was fine, but not worth the extra money. The past two times I have stayed in the 70's bldg, once overlooking the fooseball players, and the second overlooking the lake. Both were great. I always request the top floor...cuts down on noise as no one is walking overhead.

I would not spend the extra money on the 60's rooms. Both times my 70's rooms were just as close to the food court as the 60's room. I can't speak to the issue of buses as I always rent a car. I love Pop. I have stayed at ASMU I think about 5 times, and like POP better..for one, it is newer.

Altho,we are leaving next monday and movin on up to a moderate...we are trying POR. I hope I like it as much as POP.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We have been in the 70's on the second floor and the 50's on the fourth floor. We didn't notice a noise difference between the rooms. We felt we were close enough to everything. The extra walks helped to tire the kids out a little more.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've stayed at Pop twice now, both times in the 50's section. The first time I was in bldg 2, the one furthest away, toward the back. In fact I was in the last room at the end of the bldg. Had a clear shot of Epcot!!! On the third floor and it was exceptionally quiet. A week ago, I was again put in 50's but in the first bldg, but on the ground floor, over towards the entrance road. It was again, very quiet. In fact I was really surprised how quiet it was. That bldg was about a 3 minute walk to the food court. The other bldg was about 4-5 minutes. Yes, it can seem like a long way at the end of the day, but I have to tell you that it really wasn't much further than my villa at BWV the days before. When you add up the time spent walking from the bus stop to the main bldg, then to the elevators, then to your room...well, I think the closest and shortest walk I have ever had was at POR in bldg 14!!!
I also didn't find, on either stay, the buses at Pop to be an issue. I did try to do the parks that weren't EMH that day though. The buses for MK always seemed to be the busiest.
I love Pop and will be staying there again next Dec!!!

 

[timandlesley]

We love Pop and are returning this year. We were in the 50's and may pay more for the 60's this year just to give it a try because with late check in I don't want to be stuck in the 80's or 90's. however about buses, we had a trick. When the MK bus line was long we just hopped on the Epcot bus that always seemed empty with no line and just rode the monorail over to MK. It was peaceful, got to sit on the bus and the kids LOVE the monorail anyway. Just a hint.

Lesley

 

[minniemoo]

Stayed at Pop Century - 50's - 3rd Floor-very quiet, short walk to the Food Court. 1st time staying at a Budget Disney Property and found the accomodations and service to be excellent. Noticed that there was a complaint on the cleanliness of the rooms and the service - but I found everything to be in 100% order from the time of arrival on 12/2 thru departure on 12/7. Would most certainly stay there again...