Pop Century Questions

[GoingNutty]

My friends and I will be staying two nights at the Pop Century in August. We will be spending the majority of our time at the parks but would love to hit the pool as well! Does anyone know how late the pool is open until?

Are the buses to and from the parks running all day?

Are the preferred rooms really worth it?

There will be 4 of us staying in one room. Do we need to tell them that or can we tell them there are only two? (It's cheaper for 2!) There will be extended hours at the park one night we are there and we would love to take advantage of it.

Any other hints or tips would be appreciated!
Jennie

 

[kaytieeldr]

The pools are technically open 24 hours, but there are no lifeguards overnight – swim at your own risk.

Buses run from an hour or more before the parks open to at least an hour after they close, about every twenty minutes.

Whether preferred locations are worth “it” is entirely subjective. No room at the entire resort is further than a leisurely seven minute stroll from Classic Hall.

YES you need to tell them there are four of you in the room. While I can understand wanting to save money, if you can’t afford $30 per night each, then staying onsite is not a good idea for you.

If you don’t ALL register in the room, you won’t all get room keys. Your room key is what proves you are staying onsite and are eligible for all the associated perks including Extra Magic (what you are calling extended) Hours

 

[spiceycat]

the quiet pools are open 24 hours.

I think the main pool closes when the lifeguards leaves.

there are lifeguards at each and every pool - I definitely appreciated that. they watch the little ones and they take their jobs very seriously. I also appreciated that.

I liked the 50's lakeside - it is standard.

 

[jennib5426]

I was there in March and the pool was opened until midnight, every night.

Buses run all day starting about an hour before the parks open.
The lines for buses get really long in the morning, for example if MK opens at 9am the bus line is really long from 8am on. Get an early start if you want to be at a park at opening time.

I have always gotten a preffered room and I think it is worth the extra $10 per night. I love haveing a one minute walk to the food court and buses.

I have stayed in the 60's & 70's buildings and both were great locations.
I have nevered stayed in the 50's section but it seems to be very popular.

 

[hollyb]

Pools are open 24/7 all of them, not sure what a quiet pool is cuz none of the pools were quite. LOL Lifeguards do leave at midnight.

We stayed in the 70's building looking out over the lake, had a 4 mintue walk to Classic hall and the hippy dippy pool, did not pay prefered prices.

Have a great time

 

[jenseib]

From what I know, the Pools Close at around 11 or 12. Not 24 hours. And I have heard of people getting kicked out for being in after that.
Read the Groovy New Pop Thread and it should answer any questions you have.
Yes you HAVE to report all 4 people. Again, it is a risk of being kicked out if you are found out. Plus your tickets most likely are are your room key too (if you get a package) And to go to Extra magicla Hours you need a key per person. The beds are small at Pop too. Only full size, so 4 adults in one roome is going to be pretty tight, just so you know.

 

[DisneyGirlie]

Oh I love Pop!

Anyway. Yes, I know for a fact that the pools are open until midnight. Some have said 24 hours. That may be true, but I can't confirm because I don't know. But, yeah they are definitely open until at least midnight.

The buses are really good at Pop! The run about every 15 minutes. 15 minutes is the longest I've ever waited for a bus there. And if one gets packed but the line for the bus is still relaly long they'll call like 2 more buses in. Its great. They definitely try very hard to accomadate you with transportation. As everyone else has said, they run starting about one hour before park opening. Some might start a little earlier so that some people can get to their early character breakfast ADR's. They run about an hour after parks close, but if there's still people standing there, obviously they are going to keep sending buses so don't worry.

The bad thing about not getting a preferred room is you don't know where you're going to end up. The first time I didn't request a preferred room, I got to stay in the '50s in a room that faced the "lake." It was lovely. The next time we went to Pop and I didn't request preferred we got put out in the '80s which was out in the boonies. It was way off to the side and I had to cross a parking lot each time to get there. Not a very attractive view to look at while going to your room on property. So this time we requested preferred, hopefully all will go well.

Yes, the PP who told you that you need to tell them there are 4 people staying in your room is correct. For the reasons they listed, and who wants to cheat Disney?


Hmmm...
any other tips or advice?
I'd say if you can, take half an hour or so to just walk around the resort. Its a pretty cool place. Back behind the '50s and '60s buildings I noticed all these little signs with years on them stating big things that happened in that year.
If you expect to have breakfast in the foodcourt, get there EARLY. We went there one day and saw that every single table was full so we just left. We might eat breakfast at Pop once a trip, but other than that we eat breakfast in the parks or just skip breakfast and have an early lunch at 11:00am or something.
Oh by the way, if park extra magic hours run really late like 1am or something, don't leave hungry. The Pop foodcourt closes at like midnight or a little before, not sure. So if you're hungry all you have left for food is vending machines. I learned that the hard way when I came back late from the Pirate & Princess Party and I was starving. Oh well. Lesson learned.

Have a Magical time!
I hope you enjoy Pop as much as I do!

 

[GoingNutty]

Thanks for all your help everyone!!

I thought of another question. How does the Fast Pass work? Do you get them at the park or do you have to buy them beforehand? Also, how much do they cost?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Derek&Ashley]

No offense, but maybe you should buy a guide book. If you don't know about fast passes, then I'm willing to bet you don't know about a lot of other stuff too.

Anyway, fast passes are easy. They are free and you get them near the entrance to the ride you want them for. You put your theme park ticket into a machine and it will come back out along with your fastpass ticket which will tell you when to come back for the ride. It will also give you a time when you will be able to get another fastpass with your park ticket.

 

[NewCrew42]

You can also probably check out a guide book from your local library. It's free!

My son who is 12 loves Birnbaums (the grown-up version) (because of the color photos)(quick and easy read) but has read the Unofficial Guide (which is huge and funny) as well as the Passporter (which is extremely organized).

 

[jenseib]

I suggest Birnbaums too. I would do alot more reading and research before you guys go. it will really help if you are prepared.

 

[NewCrew42]

I think as you read you find you have more questions and the DIS boards are a great source. The knowledge here is supreme!

 

[spiceycat]

Thanks for all your help everyone!!

I thought of another question. How does the Fast Pass work? Do you get them at the park or do you have to buy them beforehand? Also, how much do they cost?

Thanks in advance!

very easy - they don't cost anything.

just go to the machine put your ticket in the machine and out comes a fast pass - remember to get your ticket. lots of people forget their tickets.

here the home site of the dis might help you

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwplan.htm

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/themeparks.htm

 

[MiaSRN62]

the quiet pools are open 24 hours.

Not quiet at all....I was awakened at 3 am'ish in Oct to the screams of kids in the pool by the 80's/90's section.

And I vote for getting preferred. I got standard on our last 4 visits. Once I got the 70's which wasn't bad. But the other three times I got the 80's or 90's and they are far to the food court. I'm springing for preferred for our Sept stay.

Jennie, definitely get a guidebook and read these boards head to toe before your trip. August can be a busy time and the more you know, the more you maximize your time in WDW. Have a great stay !

 

[Tinkerbell63]

When we've stayed at POP, we felt the preferred rooms were worth it. It's about a minute walk to the food court and bus loading area.

 

[lovesdumbo]

How are you getting to Orlando? If you fly and use the free Magic Express bus service than you need all 4 of you on the reservation.

 

[jenseib]

I don't think preffered are worht it at all. You will only be there 2 days and you said you won't be at the hotel much anyways. Nothing is further than about 7 minutes walk.
Definately tell them all 4 of you wil lbe staying though. Not worth the hassle to not do it.

These boards are pretty strict to Disnye rules too, just so you know.

 

[GoingNutty]

Thanks again everyone! I haven't been to Disney in about 15 years so I definetly want to maximize my trip. My husband has never been there at all! We are staying the majority of the trip at a friends house in Ocala but will be staying overnight the last two days at Pop so we can get in a day at Disney and a day at Universal. I ordered the DVD from Disneys website and will definetly have to check into some of the guidebooks. Does anyone know if AAA still has Disney guide books?

Also, the ticket mentioned for the Fast Pass (which I am now so excited about!)- is it just your ticket into the park?

Thanks again for all your help! Any other info or suggestions are appreciated!

 

[cwf1028]

Yes, it is just your park ticket. The fastpass system is free to everyone with park admission. There is usually a CM at the fastpass machines for each ride and they can answer any questions you have.

 

[englishrose47]

Read these boards you will learn so much . I did my first Disney trip this year and was so well informed on so many things thanks to all the Dissers. Check out the menus for the parks or Pop, with only 1 day you have to plan carefully which park you want to do or get a Hopper. 1 day is not much time but plan it carefully to maximise your day!!