Pop Century Room Renovations

[VH103428]

I just received the same email...We check-in on 4/28. Last year we received the similar email about the Caribbean. We just get lucky I guess...lol.

 

[22Tink]

Interesting. I’m checking in March 25th and I haven’t received an email about the pool being closed.

 

[fla4fun]

I just received the same email...We check-in on 4/28. Last year we received the similar email about the Caribbean. We just get lucky I guess...lol.

So now it’s spanning two months . . .maybe they aren’t 100% sure when it will close and are just hedging their bets a little either way. I don’t swim in hotel pools, so it’s not a big deal for me, but being spring break I am sure it means a lot to others.

 

[VH103428]

I just called and spoke to a CM and she didn't know anything about it. She did put me on hold for a few seconds and when she returned she read me the same thing my email stated.

 

[MarBee]

For those that got the email about the pool closing, did it give specific dates? I’m going 2/25 to 3/3 and didn’t receive an email.
Thanks!

 

[ColoradoMom12]

I just called and spoke to a CM and she didn't know anything about it. She did put me on hold for a few seconds and when she returned she read me the same thing my email stated.

LOL. Gotta love the CMs who answer phone calls!

 

[Menagerie]

I check in May 4th and also got the email about the pool.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

For those that got the email about the pool closing, did it give specific dates? I’m going 2/25 to 3/3 and didn’t receive an email.
Thanks!

No, the email I received does not have dates.

 

[VH103428]

LOL. Gotta love the CMs who answer phone calls!

I actually feel bad that they are the last to know...Lol

 

[ellbell]

I check in on March 13 and have a standard pool view room booked and haven't received an email as of yet.

 

[HopperFan]

Jeez.. everyone.. it was a hypothetical situation that could very well play out how CBR renovations did .......

Though, if the food court is completely down for a reno, they would have to come up with alternative means and not just rely on AoA (Pop Up food stand, rooms converted into cafes, etc (and give gift cards to guests that were previously booked and take advantage of the offer). Pop has the most rooms out of any WDW resort, and AoA couldn't support handling both resorts on its own especially if another Hurricane hits (I was at Pop during Irma, and it was a bit mad.. way more organized than Matthew, though)... and I for one would not be keen on walking a mile to a the AoA food court every day.

The renovations happening at POP are nothing like what was/is happening at CBR. And honestly, impacting a value will not rank the same as impacting a moderate. The entire food court, table service, gift shop was being shut down for LONG time. This was a major impact to a moderate resort. No one is getting gift cards now because they are booking knowing what they are getting in to (although the rates seem to be lower than the others).

When the Allstar food courts were renovated they were only out of commission 4-5 months. AND this was during Free Dining. Some were able to change resorts but many were not. They set up beverage station and Grab and Go in the arcade. You had the ability to walk over to one of the other hotel's food courts to eat. They provided shuttle buses to get you there. No gift cards. A little inconvenient but it worked fine.

If they redo the POP food court I think you can expect the same as it would be easy to set up Grab & Go and drink machines in arcade. And you have AoA a short walk away for hot food, or plan your day to eat at the parks or Disney Springs. Who knows, if they do renovate maybe they will just move the CBR tent over to POP.

 

[Barbanellie]

We check in on May 10th, and I haven't gotten an e-mail about pool closure (yet).

 

[jessiegirl1982]

The renovations happening at POP are nothing like what was/is happening at CBR. And honestly, impacting a value will not rank the same as impacting a moderate. The entire food court, table service, gift shop was being shut down for LONG time. This was a major impact to a moderate resort. No one is getting gift cards now because they are booking knowing what they are getting in to (although the rates seem to be lower than the others).

When the Allstar food courts were renovated they were only out of commission 4-5 months. AND this was during Free Dining. Some were able to change resorts but many were not. They set up beverage station and Grab and Go in the arcade. You had the ability to walk over to one of the other hotel's food courts to eat. They provided shuttle buses to get you there. No gift cards. A little inconvenient but it worked fine.

If they redo the POP food court I think you can expect the same as it would be easy to set up Grab & Go and drink machines in arcade. And you have AoA a short walk away for hot food, or plan your day to eat at the parks or Disney Springs. Who knows, if they do renovate maybe they will just move the CBR tent over to POP.

Well, I disagree. CBR did the room renovations first, followed by food service, while also starting the Gondola. We are all speculating the same will be done with Pop food service. Obviously the scale of the food service reno’s at Pop would of a smaller scale than CBR (unless you buy into the rumor that Resort classifications are going away... the upgraded, Moderate like features of the Pop renovation along with addition of a non-bus transportation option definitely point to that). Who is to say Pop won’t get a TS restaurant? Nothing is beyond the realm of possibility at Disney.

 

[HopperFan]

Well, I disagree. CBR did the room renovations first, followed by food service, while also starting the Gondola. We are all speculating the same will be done with Pop food service. Obviously the scale of the food service reno’s at Pop would of a smaller scale than CBR (unless you buy into the rumor that Resort classifications are going away... the upgraded, Moderate like features of the Pop renovation along with addition of a non-bus transportation option definitely point to that). Who is to say Pop won’t get a TS restaurant? Nothing is beyond the realm of possibility at Disney.

Nothing will change the small size of POP's rooms, the garish decor, the lack of hot tubs and slides .... and with or without a classification ... they would be foolish to upgrade this hotel to add TS and more. They will probably already raise the rates to pay for the gondola, any more and they will price themselves right out of the market. Disney is having trouble filling TS at resorts as it is, I don't see any value for it at POP when all they need to do is upgrade the menu at food court. What they have done is add room service, I think that will be the extent of it.

Room renovations are irrelevant in this situation, all hotels eventually get them .... the CBR demolition and massive construction project is huge ..... villages demolished, main building with all the amenities shut down, bar shut down, walls next to main pool, food in tents etc. This warrants the gift card initially given. It was given because of the huge backlash on the size of the project without warning and difficulty in moving. It was not given because there is gondola construction or a tower being constructed. CSR is getting no perks, gift cards and rates are hanging in pretty good there even though they lost buildings, have a tower being constructed and now some dining impacts. It is business as usual. Poly had huge construction going on for a long time, business as usual. Wilderness Lodge, a construction zone for years. It's ongoing. Pools close all the time, POR was just out their main pool for awhile ....... no perks.

The gondola construction is of zero impact to the operation of POP, pools out is common and right now we have no idea if the food court will get any work any time soon. If it does, we already know from comparable projects that guests just have to work around it.

 

[Haley R]

For those that got the email about the pool closing, did it give specific dates? I’m going 2/25 to 3/3 and didn’t receive an email.
Thanks!

I’m not sure why you wouldn’t have gotten one. Your stay overlaps mine almost exactly and I got one. It’s kind of weird that the emails aren’t consistent.

 

[musika]

@MarBee my email does not have specific dates, just that the pool will be closed. We will be there 4/11-4/18. My heart's not broken that this pool is closed, but I do hope it doesn't mean nutty crowds at the other 2 pools.

Question for the masses - I'm a little torn on where to put in my room request for. I definitely want a refurb'd room. So given my dates above, I am thinking safest to request either 70s, 80s or 90s (we have a standard room booked, so even if the 60s by some miracle were finished, i think it would lower our odds of success by requesting it). Any preferences between those three? We have two small kids in tow (2 and 6) so easy access to a pool is good, but so is easy access to the rest of the resort. We will likely be renting a car for at least part of our stay if that sways the decision at all.

 

[scrappinginontario]

@MarBee my email does not have specific dates, just that the pool will be closed. We will be there 4/11-4/18. My heart's not broken that this pool is closed, but I do hope it doesn't mean nutty crowds at the other 2 pools.

Question for the masses - I'm a little torn on where to put in my room request for. I definitely want a refurb'd room. So given my dates above, I am thinking safest to request either 70s, 80s or 90s (we have a standard room booked, so even if the 60s by some miracle were finished, i think it would lower our odds of success by requesting it). Any preferences between those three? We have two small kids in tow (2 and 6) so easy access to a pool is good, but so is easy access to the rest of the resort. We will likely be renting a car for at least part of our stay if that sways the decision at all.

Personally, I'd wait a bit before putting in your request and see where things are at by April. I'd be surprised if the 60's are done so you're quite correct that the 70's, 80's and 90's would be best but you'll know more closer to your dates. I don't believe there is any advantage to requesting early.

 

[csmom]

I have a reservation from 3/3 through 3/9 and have not received the email.

 

[hhandsel]

My family and I have a reservation for 3/10-3/16 for a standard room and received the email yesterday afternoon about the construction with no specific time period given. For our stay will they still be doing the gift cards for no mouse keeping through our stay or has this already ended?

 

[KNovacovschi]

I actually feel bad that they are the last to know...Lol

Right, it doesn't help that they are in like Indiana answering the phones and the majority of them have never been to Disney. They need to be kept updated, a lot more then they are, as they are the main point of contact for guests. Even when calling from your room you are calling the call center not the front desk.