Pop Century Room Renovations

[HopperFan]

I apologize if this has been asked before, but what size beds are the refurbished rooms going to have? The picture looks like maybe a queen bed and a murphy bed. Or is that a king bed?

Queen bed and Full Murphy bed
Will still have some HA rooms which will likely be King and a two bed option
I don't think you'll see a King with a murphy due to space issues and current Kings do not have a second bed

Does anyone know if the new rooms will have a better setup for working and charging devices? Our DD wants to book Pop for the Princess Half Marathon but her DH will need to work while they're there. He's a radiologist and will need a fairly reliable internet and desk-type workspace with multiple outlets.

Thanks!

There will be the small desk attached to the murphy bed for him to work on. The test photos show "plugs" above each night stand, so likely he can plug into those easily. I would also take an extension cord that would work with his laptop just in case there is a reach problem. We have found internet to be great in some spots and bad in others.

 

[scrapquitler]

supposedly they have done away with alarm clocks and will be putting in devices with multiple USB charging ports. When we stayed at Boardwalk last month, there were 2 or 3 USB charging ports in the room, and each had a couple regular plugs and a couple usb plugs. I guess we'll have to wait and see...but in the meantime, I travel with an extension cord and a power strip, and I doubt I'll change that habit anytime soon, even if they do put in multiple outlets.

 

[mikegood2]

Thanks! He'll need three different devices going at one time. The setup at the Contemporary would be perfect but they're budgeting like mad in order to pay off their student loans.

Your talking about next years Princess Half Marathon right? If you can wait to book a room a little while longer, or are willing to rebook if necessary, we should have more info about the rooms soon. By all acounts, the referbished rooms should start being used in circulation sometime in June. At that time most of our questions will be answered.

 

[jsmla]

Your talking about next years Princess Half Marathon right? If you can wait to book a room a little while longer, or are willing to rebook if necessary, we should have more info about the rooms soon. By all acounts, the referbished rooms should start being used in circulation sometime in June. At that time most of our questions will be answered.

She waited too late (9 months out!) and has to book with a rundisney specialty TA to secure a registration. We'll be booking soon to make sure she gets a bib. I'll pass this on and let them decide, they could swing a Deluxe but would really rather not unless he has to for work purposes.

I wonder how Coronado will be by February? Off to bug them on that thread, I guess.

Thanks again!

 

[jessiegirl1982]

Not sure why people are complaining about the lack of color. The current rooms have a lot of color, if you consider tan and beige to be "colorful"

Seriously, the current wall colors are off-white (with the exception of one colored wall). The carpet is mostly brown, the curtains are brown, the bathrooms are beige and muted green, the bed spreads are white (with a small strip of slightly-colorful, useless fabric). The only color in the rooms are the one photo collage on the wall.

What color are you guys going to miss?

These new rooms look great, and I can't wait to stay in one.

I was totally thinking this.... what is so special about the rooms right now? If anyone ever watches "Hotel Impossible", pretty much all of the renovations go for the neutral, modern clean look. It has a much wider appeal, and easier to keep clean, etc. I am glad the table will be gone when the bed is down.. we definitely use it as a catch all... putting the table down at night will force us to be more organized and cleaner!

 

[danielocha30]

yeah all our colorful stuff will look great on this rooms!

 

[mickey1968]

I happen to love the clean lines of the refurb. It makes me more excited to stay there.

I realize the chance of getting a refurb room in July are slim to none, but I wouldn't mind.

I have decided to make a trip over July 4th and am booking a Standard Pool View and will request a refurbed room. If there is not a refurb available then I will want to be on the other side in the 1950s so it should work either way.

 

[happymommy]

You might find that you won't put stuff on the table as there will be other flat surfaces to use (the beverage center and the dresser -- the TV is mounted on the wall so that provides a large empty flat surface). We used to use the table as a catchall as well. Then we started staying at AoA and for whatever reason, we don't throw stuff on the table there. Probably because there are so many other places to throw our stuff.

When we stayed at Pop Century, I would always (and still do, actually) take some small collapsible bins (fabric ones that fold flat) to use for all of our "stuff" on the table. I'd have one for card keys/sunglasses (now Magic Bands), one for receipts, and one for misc. stuff. It helps keep things in one spot and they're easy to move. I bought them at the Dollar Store but I've also seen them at Walmart.

I actually found these at the Dollar Tree for our last trip and bought a bunch of bins! I used a couple at Pop, and am taking a bunch this summer to Ko Olina (hard to keep things organized in a villa - my hubby keeps putting his room key, wallet, sunglasses, headphones, rental car keys, etc... on the kitchen counter or little table, so I want the stuff in a bin!). I can't stand clutter in a hotel room or villa (we own at the Marriott next to Aulani and I'm going to be there for a month.

Dollar Tree has good things for organizing, and since it was just a dollar, I don't care if it makes it home!

 

[sbarisch]

I plan on just putting a deposit down for our stay at POP. If the rates go up, will I be locked in at the current 2017 rate?

I believe that you will be locked in for that reservation.

 

[HopperFan]

I plan on just putting a deposit down for our stay at POP. If the rates go up, will I be locked in at the current 2017 rate?

2017 for sure should be safe.

I don't think we'll see a full "hit" until ALL rooms are completed.

But who knows, 2018 all bets may be off as to what might happen.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

At the end of April, there were no runners at the end of our beds. We were in a 60's room. I've seen room pictures at one of the Port Orleans resorts and those beds are runner free, too. It does take away something from the look of the room. My informant, who we had at least a 20 minutes discussion about the room refurbishment and other things, told me the pull down bed is an Inova bed in queen size.

 

[DisneyDreamers3]

Like a PP suggested, they could do a wall of color (I like the soothing of the blue) on the far wall before the bathroom. It can easily be touched up only a small nightstand would stand in their way. It would set apart the bed space from bath space and visually make it appear the room is bigger/deeper than it is. All white just makes no sense to me, for many reasons.

This coming weekend I am staying at the new Hyatt Place just outside DS. I am getting a new, modern, laminate furniture in earthy tones "suite" (plus breakfast) for much less than I could stay at a value. They fully pulled off a classy, warm, inviting room in similar colors with the use of more of the color. A bit more color could completely change the look of POP rooms from sterile to inviting.

@HopperFan, I stayed at this Hyatt for an entire week last November and it was AWESOME!!!!! I stayed in the exact room you've pictured and it was just as wonderful as it looks....actually better! And those beds..OH MY WORD...PURE HEAVEN!!!!!! Just a tip, request a double queen at the end of the hall...these rooms have more space. I loved everything about this room and look forward to staying there again one day! Enjoy your stay!

 

[HopperFan]

@HopperFan, I stayed at this Hyatt for an entire week last November and it was AWESOME!!!!! I stayed in the exact room you've pictured and it was just as wonderful as it looks....actually better! And those beds..OH MY WORD...PURE HEAVEN!!!!!! Just a tip, request a double queen at the end of the hall...these rooms have more space. I loved everything about this room and look forward to staying there again one day! Enjoy your stay!

Thanks, Hyatt has been upping their game and in active build mode. Great trip to try them out.

HEAVENLY bed ......... I have sleep issues so that will be awesome!

 

[mikegood2]

Thanks, Hyatt has been upping their game and in active build mode. Great trip to try them out.

HEAVENLY bed ......... I have sleep issues so that will be awesome!

They are nice. My previous 2 on-site stays at WDW were at the Swan & Dolphin and while not quite heavenly the heavenly beds were close to it

What are the beds like at the POP? Think I read they were fairly firm, which my back won't like, is that the case?

 

[DisneyDreamers3]

Questions for you all....I booked a BB last year and will be staying for 2 weeks; we arrive 9/2 (Labor Day weekend). My only room request when I made our ressie last September was for a renovated room. I recognize that even by September the inventory of renovated rooms will be limited- and everyone will likely be requesting a renovated room too. Because we are staying for 2 weeks, does this hurt or help our chances for a renovated room? If a renovated room is not available when we check in, would it be possible to ask to be moved to one later in our stay if one becomes available?

Also, is there a sense of how many buildings will be completed by August 31?

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your insights

 

[DisneyDreamers3]

They are nice. My previous 2 on-site stays at WDW were at the Swan & Dolphin and while not quite heavenly the heavenly beds were close to it

What are the beds like at the POP? Think I read they were fairly firm, which my back won't like, is that the case?

Speaking from my own experience staying at Pop many times, the beds were absolutely horrid They squeaked and felt like metal springs poking in our backs. I know other folks on here have reported a different experience with the beds, but sadly ours was just BAD.

 

[HopperFan]

They are nice. My previous 2 on-site stays at WDW were at the Swan & Dolphin and while not quite heavenly the heavenly beds were close to it

What are the beds like at the POP? Think I read they were fairly firm, which my back won't like, is that the case?

I like soft, I have 4" foam topper. POP beds are firm BUT I'm usually tired enough from the day that I sleep okay. Not great, but not bad. For me bad means I don't sleep, I walk around and end up in tears from exhaustion. And yes it's happened.

Questions for you all....I booked a BB last year and will be staying for 2 weeks; we arrive 9/2 (Labor Day weekend). My only room request when I made our ressie last September was for a renovated room. I recognize that even by September the inventory of renovated rooms will be limited- and everyone will likely be requesting a renovated room too. Because we are staying for 2 weeks, does this hurt or help our chances for a renovated room? If a renovated room is not available when we check in, would it be possible to ask to be moved to one later in our stay if one becomes available?

Also, is there a sense of how many buildings will be completed by August 31?

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your insights

They are going to have to speed up or do more rooms at same time. At this rate they'll not meet their deadline. So hopefully they are figuring out their routine and we'll see an increase in the speed. Original schedules posted showed something like 20 days and they aren't even close to that so far.

If it were me I would only request a renovated room. Call and get it on your reservation, call back as you get closer and make sure it's still there. You have just as good a chance as anyone else. You always can ask to be moved to a different location after check-in if what you want is not available.

 

[dansdad]

Questions for you all....I booked a BB last year and will be staying for 2 weeks; we arrive 9/2 (Labor Day weekend). My only room request when I made our ressie last September was for a renovated room. I recognize that even by September the inventory of renovated rooms will be limited- and everyone will likely be requesting a renovated room too.

You'd be surprised by how many guests will have no idea there is a room refurb going on. It took me years to realize that us here on the DIS, with much information, make up a very small percentage of guests.

Because we are staying for 2 weeks, does this hurt or help our chances for a renovated room?

It might hurt at first, but see below.

If a renovated room is not available when we check in, would it be possible to ask to be moved to one later in our stay if one becomes available?

Definitely. And you stand a very good chance of getting one at some point if you don't upon check in.

Also, is there a sense of how many buildings will be completed by August 31?

Tough to say right now. We should have a better grasp of that about July 1st.

 

[mickey1968]

I actually found these at the Dollar Tree for our last trip and bought a bunch of bins! I used a couple at Pop, and am taking a bunch this summer to Ko Olina (hard to keep things organized in a villa - my hubby keeps putting his room key, wallet, sunglasses, headphones, rental car keys, etc... on the kitchen counter or little table, so I want the stuff in a bin!). I can't stand clutter in a hotel room or villa (we own at the Marriott next to Aulani and I'm going to be there for a month.

Dollar Tree has good things for organizing, and since it was just a dollar, I don't care if it makes it home!

I started taking one of these collapsible bins with me too, but I use it for all of my toiletries, etc. It looks like it will be a perfect fit in those little cubbies under the new sinks.

 

[mickey1968]

I looked up Inovabed and now I kind of wish they had gone with the sofa option instead of the table. I know a lot of peeps are worried about the table, but I don't really use the table except to throw junk on and usually my carry-on bag with all my odds & ends in it stays in one of the chairs. The sofa option would have made this into a nice mini-suite and would have definitely erased the value designation. Oh, well, I am just going to request a refurbed room for July 4th week and hope for the best.