POP Century~Unofficially the Grooviest FAQ Thread #7~Sept 2012

[Hielostar]

36 hours and we'll be landing in Orlando. Thunderstorms go away! How have the crowds been for the others there now? Is POP full?

It hasn't been crazy crowded - except for the breakfast and dinner times at the food court, which are a bit ridiculous. I think a decent portion of that extra crowd is due to all the cheerleaders and their families that are here for the Summit Championship this weekend. I think they should be out of here by Monday.

Anyone there right now finding that the food at POP is a bit so-so these days? I'm just trying to figure out if the food is just not the right fit for my group or if standards have been sliding a bit lately. I gave it the honest try over the past couple of days (and tried a bunch of different things over breakfast/lunch/dinner) and found it to be very 'meh'.

 

[Janet B]

Surprise Last Minute Trip to POP!!! Checking in on May 6 to see DD!! How could I not go when rooms are 60% off??!! DD is gonna have to look at getting a perrmanent job with Disney when her CP is over so we can keep these discounts! This is my third trip to WDW this year and I'm loving it!

Scrolling back to see what I've missed...and I read this...good luck to your DD, hope she is offered a permanent job with Disney!

My DD is only 14... guess I have a while to wait on any possible CM discounts..

Awesome! We will be at POP that week too. The 2nd to the 8th. Couldn't resist DH's CM discount either.

Nice!

Then I come back with younger DD less than a month later to celebrate her graduation from high school! We are staying 11 nights for that trip! Good thing we have APs! LOL!! (That will put me at 33 nights at POP so far just this year!!)

now this is just too much POP is indeed your "home away from home"

I can't believe it is only 30 days til our vacation! I really can't wait to check in to Pop! We loved it the last time we stayed there and the kids were super excited we are staying there again!

Agree, POP is awesome, and so kid friendly!

I checked in this morning at 10am, and although I booked Standard instead of Preferred, I got a king bed room at the front of the 60's building next to the Hippie Dippy pool - loving it! It's so nice to walk out the main building and have your room right there. So happy to finally be here!

Congrats on the upgrade! Fantastic Location!!

This time next Wed. we will be checking into POP. I am soo excited. It will be a quick trip of only 4nights. Seems impossible to do everything we want in that short amount of time. We usually go for at least 9 days. But this time it is just DH and I. We will have a blast!!
I have requested 60's building near the bridge. When we were there in Dec. they basically let us choose where we wanted to stay. Castmember handed us the map and said 'you pick'..anywhere you want and we will see what we have available! It was perfect. Ground floor, last room, right by the bridge! We absolutely loved it there. Hopefully I get some pixie dust this time!

Wow, nice!! Hope you get that same pixie dust!

We will be going again in Aug. and I really want to try CSR but I am afraid I will miss POP. POP has that 'just right' feeling for us that we can't shake. lol But want to try something different.
The price difference will be $585 to upgrade to CSR business class compared to POP. I think it is worth the price, DH is not quite sure. We have even thought about a split stay since we feel the need to keep up our POPathon. lol

GO for the split!! Have not read any reviews on BC at CSR, but it sounds good and you get a great pool in the mix. You can get your POPathon and have your [free] drinks too...

 

[Janet B]

I would be awfully suprprised if they did not have Illuminations. I have been there in a soaking rain and it was still up going. Of course, I got a great spot for it that night! I am excited to be staying at Pop in June! I think it is one of the best resorts on property.

but shhh... we don't want everyone coming and not being able to get a ressie now, do we??

We too have seen Illuminations in the rain... not as nice as no rain, but hey I'm in Disney!! I'll take it!!

 

[Janet B]

It hasn't been crazy crowded - except for the breakfast and dinner times at the food court, which are a bit ridiculous. I think a decent portion of that extra crowd is due to all the cheerleaders and their families that are here for the Summit Championship this weekend. I think they should be out of here by Monday.

Anyone there right now finding that the food at POP is a bit so-so these days? I'm just trying to figure out if the food is just not the right fit for my group or if standards have been sliding a bit lately. I gave it the honest try over the past couple of days (and tried a bunch of different things over breakfast/lunch/dinner) and found it to be very 'meh'.

Hielostar, sorry that the food has just been so-so (can't wait to get to POP and try it out myself ) We tradionally do not eat a lot of meals at POP... breakfasts mostly (and we love the chocolate croissants!), and snacks in the evening (we are more park people and eat our CS out). Will be interesting to read what other POPers think...(and we do have several POPers heading out this month and next).

 

[KFoley]

Love this thread!! Can't wait for October for our first stay here!!

 

[heathere3]

They now have 2 different specials every night. They have rotisserie chicken tonight and I'm not sure of the other special. They also changed the kids nuggets to be real chicken, those are good

Thanks so much for the info! We'll be arriving tomorrow in our bright, matching tie dye Mickey head shirts ! WOHOOOOO!

 

[Janet B]

Love this thread!! Can't wait for October for our first stay here!!

to the DIS and the POP Century FAQ thread!! Stick around, plenty of great info and fun to be found here.

 

[Hielostar]

Hielostar, sorry that the food has just been so-so (can't wait to get to POP and try it out myself ) We tradionally do not eat a lot of meals at POP... breakfasts mostly (and we love the chocolate croissants!), and snacks in the evening (we are more park people and eat our CS out). Will be interesting to read what other POPers think...(and we do have several POPers heading out this month and next).

Yeah, I think we are going to have out CS out at the parks for lunch before leaving to head back to POP for our afternoon break and do evening snacks, as we have a few snacks in the room from our "International Drive Convenience Store Run" (We have a car for this trip since we'll be over at the Dark Side for a couple of days too). I'm definitely enjoying lounging by the Hippy Dippy pool (the sun actually stayed out for most of the day - only really started raining in the evening) and already have had a refreshing Banana Cabana over at Petals!

 

[momtob&t]

We have been here since Tuesday. It was quiet but has definitely gotten busier since lunch time yesterday but as mentioned, most of them are cheerleading people. We were resort hopping today on a Hidden Mickey hunt so it didnt' affect us too much. We didn't even notice the menu change although I did get a peek and saw chicken and dumplings which I hadn't noticed before. Thought it was strange but didn't look at any of the other stations to notice the changes.

I've been rather disappointed with the room service. I think our room was lighly vacuumed and the tub washed but that's it. :-( Still tooth paste by the sink and a couple of other things I noticed weren't touched.

On a positive note, the sun was out for most of the day which was GREAT! The past few days have definitely not been the greatest! Looking at the forcast for the next 3 of our trip has me hopeful that I MIGHT get a bit of colour to go home with.

 

[Janet B]

Yeah, I think we are going to have out CS out at the parks for lunch before leaving to head back to POP for our afternoon break and do evening snacks, as we have a few snacks in the room from our "International Drive Convenience Store Run" (We have a car for this trip since we'll be over at the Dark Side for a couple of days too). I'm definitely enjoying lounging by the Hippy Dippy pool (the sun actually stayed out for most of the day - only really started raining in the evening) and already have had a refreshing Banana Cabana over at Petals!

Sounds like a good plan... so many great CS places to choose in Disney. We did a Disney/Dark side trip a few years back.... loved the WWoHP...in a perfect world we would have Harry in HS.

Enjoy the trip to the Dark side but make sure to come back!!

from some sun and spirts!!

We have been here since Tuesday. It was quiet but has definitely gotten busier since lunch time yesterday but as mentioned, most of them are cheerleading people. We were resort hopping today on a Hidden Mickey hunt so it didnt' affect us too much. We didn't even notice the menu change although I did get a peek and saw chicken and dumplings which I hadn't noticed before. Thought it was strange but didn't look at any of the other stations to notice the changes.

I've been rather disappointed with the room service. I think our room was lighly vacuumed and the tub washed but that's it. :-( Still tooth paste by the sink and a couple of other things I noticed weren't touched.

On a positive note, the sun was out for most of the day which was GREAT! The past few days have definitely not been the greatest! Looking at the forcast for the next 3 of our trip has me hopeful that I MIGHT get a bit of colour to go home with.

momtob&t, your hidden mickey hunt sounds like fun! Hoping the sun sticks around for you and all the other POPers currently there or soon to be arriving.

Suggest you call housekeeping and explain your concerns (or go to the front desk in AM) so it can be addressed while you are there.

 

[tlpbupu]

Love this thread!! Can't wait for October for our first stay here!!

Us too! When are you going?

 

[Timsierramist]

Hielostar, sorry that the food has just been so-so (can't wait to get to POP and try it out myself ) We tradionally do not eat a lot of meals at POP... breakfasts mostly (and we love the chocolate croissants!), and snacks in the evening (we are more park people and eat our CS out). Will be interesting to read what other POPers think...(and we do have several POPers heading out this month and next).

I'm a Disneyland vet headed to WDW for the 1st time. It's always been a financial thing, not a "I don't want to go" thing for me.

Anyways, my standards are pretty low, but i'll be checking-in in about 36 hours and I'll see how the meals taste. I plan to only eat breakfast at POP, but if the crowds get as intense and annoying as it sounds, maybe i'll just head to the parks to eat. I'd rather spend as much time in the parks enjoying the attractions and scenery. Since i'm only planning on eating counter service, the food will be there so that I have the energy to keep moving, lol.

 

[AuroraRora]

This is my 3rd day and I've been out at the parks so much that I've yet to get to the food court or get a refillable mug - tonight I remembered Pop is famous for the tie-dye cheesecake and I've yet to get any!

There's definitely a big kids group here, in the lobby they have a separate check-in area with signs all over the place saying its for Varsity Competition check-in.

 

[jcarwash]

Anyways, my standards are pretty low, but i'll be checking-in in about 36 hours and I'll see how the meals taste. I plan to only eat breakfast at POP, but if the crowds get as intense and annoying as it sounds, maybe i'll just head to the parks to eat. I'd rather spend as much time in the parks enjoying the attractions and scenery. Since i'm only planning on eating counter service, the food will be there so that I have the energy to keep moving, lol.

I think you will be happy with the food at Pop. If you eat, or go get, breakfast between 6 and 8, you should find it will be a nicer, quieter experience. Approaching 8am and after is when Everything Pop gets much busier for breakfast.

 

[jpessa]

Does anyone know if the store at POP sells coffee cream? Not creamer, but actual cream? I know they sell milk, so if they also sell cream I'm set and don't have to do a grocery run.

 

[jcarwash]

Does anyone know if the store at POP sells coffee cream? Not creamer, but actual cream? I know they sell milk, so if they also sell cream I'm set and don't have to do a grocery run.

Unless selections have changed, I am pretty sure cream is not sold. This easywdw photo report has details of the fridge cases and at that time I cannot spot any cream.

 

[figment5]

My DD 10 and DD 8 are looking forward to their PoP! waffles soon. The end of May will not get here fast enough! We have been watching a Disney movie every night since we hit 30 days out!

 

[DianaPrince]

Weve stayed at Pop a few times over the years. I never asked but they used to have a frozen coke machine near soda machines few years ago. anyone know why or when exactly they took it out? My boys loved it!

 

[seadd67]

The food court at POP Is super good!,ok IMO(I admit i see everything through the Mouses sunglasses,sorry) i have not eaten anything there that I would say was,i would not try again. We get off to such a early start we hardly ever notice the crowds In the food court. It seems after 7am the folks start to build up in the food court, we have not eaten there for Breakfast that much but will try it more this trip, any food suggestions?. I am trying to convert my self to a CS person, its not going so well. I am thinking of doing a CS lunch with a TS dinner.

 

[shoes99]

Does anyone know if the store at POP sells coffee cream? Not creamer, but actual cream? I know they sell milk, so if they also sell cream I'm set and don't have to do a grocery run.

If you are visiting a resort that has a DVC property attached, they will have half n half in their refrigerator section.