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

[stitchlovestink]

I have a question that I know has been asked a billion times.

WHERE SHOULD I REQUEST A ROOM??

This will be our first time at pop, and it's really had to judge from pictures of the map.I would like to be as close as possible to buses/classic hall, but also Lady or the Tramp. Here's my dilemma.. I don't want my daughter to see the pool if possible! JUDGE ME NOT! But she loves to swim and I KNOW she will want to and we just simply don't have time for that (only 4 days) plus my in laws have a pool we swim in all summer. Is this at all possible? Plus being somewhat near a smoking area for DH?

Well then I wouldn't worry about Lady and the Tramp because those icons both face each other and are fairly close to the bowling pin pool! It'd be pretty tough to see these icons and NOT see the pool. If you want to truly avoid a pool and be close to classic hall, I think I would request the 70's bldg. you can go back and forth without going anywhere near a pool. Or you could ask for the front (parking lot) side of bldg 1 which is Lady but you wont see Lady.


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

 

[disneyfanbecky]

Thank you so much for the reassurance on going solo!! I am looking forward to the solo part of my trip now and checking out the Pop!! I also booked a preferred room so that it would be closer to main areas - thanks again!

 

[Janet B]

As for housekeeping-we are pretty clean people-I even have the kids make the beds a bit and bring calapsable hamper... They didn't leave soaps, wipe anything down, sweep...even left some scraps on the floor to see if they would pick up and. They didn't ....had to request after 5 days to have linens changed-they didn't after 4 lime they are to do. Again went to front desk, this is now the 3rd time, they assured me they wood fix it AND have added touch done.- had to go down again -fuming mad when we returned- we found dirty rags with cleaner left on the bed and the bed wet with cleaner!, I then requested the beddin be changed on that bed, I was angry and told them I hadn't left a tip-they said they would have it changed in 20 min- I looked and said I would hope so and that I was leaving and going to a park cuz I couldn't deal with this anymore. We never had probs at CBR..... Going to call and complain once we get home. Long drive ahead of us!

Wow...sorry that you encountered poor service during your stay; that is just unacceptable – at any level of resort. Just curious, did you speak with the manager on duty? It’s a shame that your issues could not be addressed satisfactory while you were still on vacation. Room request are just that - requests - but often times at check in, a CM can find room(s) more in line with a guest's specific requests. Did you inquire at check in if anything else was available? Of coiurse I do realize that it was a little bit more involved as you needed connecting rooms.

Definitely follow up with guest communications, will be curious what response you receive. Hopefully your next Disney stay will be more to your liking.

 

[Janet B]

We had quite a few issues with POP when we were there the first part of December. I wrote a pretty scathing email to customer service & received a personal email reply and a phone number to contact & discuss my issues. My biggest issue was with the front desk and the managers there. We were actually staying at POP because of "free" things given to us the last time we stayed there 5 years ago and the horrible service, etc. we received. Housekeeping was ok, not good. Room location for a preferred pool view room that I paid extra for stunk & I let the front desk know that I wouldn't accept the room first assigned. I also told them I would never use online check in again if this was what I would receive at a resort.

Hope you got some results when you got home. I'm planning to call the Guest Services Rep & talk to her today. She'd been on vacation.

And another poor stay ... wow... hope you get some satisfaction when you speak with guest services.

 

[Janet B]

I have a question that I know has been asked a billion times.

WHERE SHOULD I REQUEST A ROOM??

This will be our first time at pop, and it's really had to judge from pictures of the map.I would like to be as close as possible to buses/classic hall, but also Lady or the Tramp. Here's my dilemma.. I don't want my daughter to see the pool if possible! JUDGE ME NOT! But she loves to swim and I KNOW she will want to and we just simply don't have time for that (only 4 days) plus my in laws have a pool we swim in all summer. Is this at all possible? Plus being somewhat near a smoking area for DH?

Well then I wouldn't worry about Lady and the Tramp because those icons both face each other and are fairly close to the bowling pin pool! It'd be pretty tough to see these icons and NOT see the pool. If you want to truly avoid a pool and be close to classic hall, I think I would request the 70's bldg. you can go back and forth without going anywhere near a pool. Or you could ask for the front (parking lot) side of bldg 1 which is Lady but you wont see Lady.

Scottiesmommy08 ... as stichlovesink stated, the 70s might be a good fit ... as no pool.

Just a thought ... your DD will most likely be super excited to be at Disney, that even while she may think of the pool, you can draw her attention to the other stuff you have planned that she wouldn't be able to do if you took time to swim.

The parking lot side of Bldg 1 (Lady) would be a good fit, note it is considered preferred. What category did you book?

Also, bldg 9 might be a good fit ... the back side nearest Classic Hall & the 90s parking... which is also close to busing.

And you asked about designated smoking areas .... there is a DSA near the far end of Classic Hall, close to the 70s. DSAs are also located along the lake on Memory Lane. If you do decide or get assigned a room in the 50s, there is a DSA right near the doghouse, near the fork to either bldg 1 or 3.

 

[VeganCupcake]

Hi everyone what hours is the gift shop open? Tia!

 

[stitchlovestink]

I didn't even mention the problems with the CM, lots to think on and write down for a long letter. We decided to use POP first off because the kids wanted it, free dining-QS( with a family if 6, QS works better) I wanted POF, either way, we have to get 2 rooms. I even asked the CM if we are treated this way because it was a cheaper resort-ya that didn't help-just made them roll their eyes at us!

I'm truly sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience and all. But honestly your remark about the cheaper resort was uncalled for IMO. You get more flies with honey than vinegar. Whenever I have had a problem there I have gone to mgt and said to the manager..."I have a problem. It is XYZ. What can you do to help me straighten this situation out?" It has always gotten me great results and often BETTER than what I was hoping for!!! But I talk respectfully. When someone talks down or makes remarks like that, the CMs know that no matter what they do they have a very little chance of making You (person who made snotty comment) happy. So honestly, why bother? And truthly, I have to agree. I think your comment was rude and out of line. What purpose did it really serve? honestly? Did you feel better after saying it? I'm sure the CM felt better after hearing it...Not.
I don't believe that Disney and it's CMs are perfect. But they are human beings and should be treated like people with feelings. I really have found no matter where in WDW I am, if I have a problem and I talk calmly & rationally to the CMs, I really get a very reasonable resolution to my problem. But talking down to someone doesn't help your case, at least not IMO.
And I'm sure you know and have been told MANY times connecting rooms are not guaranteed if you had two adults. That is a HUGE risk you took going at the busiest time of year and 'needing' connecting rooms. I guess POP is not a good fit for your family. It seems like you need to go with a villa or something that will 'guarantee' you the connecting space that you require and maybe then you won't feel like you are being treated so 'poorly' because you are at the lowly value resorts because family suites fall into the value category too!


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

 

[PhoenixStrength]

I'm truly sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience and all. But honestly your remark about the cheaper resort was uncalled for IMO. You get more flies with honey than vinegar. Whenever I have had a problem there I have gone to mgt and said to the manager..."I have a problem. It is XYZ. What can you do to help me straighten this situation out?" It has always gotten me great results and often BETTER than what I was hoping for!!! But I talk respectfully. When someone talks down or makes remarks like that, the CMs know that no matter what they do they have a very little chance of making You (person who made snotty comment) happy. So honestly, why bother? And truthly, I have to agree. I think your comment was rude and out of line. What purpose did it really serve? honestly? Did you feel better after saying it? I'm sure the CM felt better after hearing it...Not.
I don't believe that Disney and it's CMs are perfect. But they are human beings and should be treated like people with feelings. I really have found no matter where in WDW I am, if I have a problem and I talk calmly & rationally to the CMs, I really get a very reasonable resolution to my problem. But talking down to someone doesn't help your case, at least not IMO.
And I'm sure you know and have been told MANY times connecting rooms are not guaranteed if you had two adults. That is a HUGE risk you took going at the busiest time of year and 'needing' connecting rooms. I guess POP is not a good fit for your family. It seems like you need to go with a villa or something that will 'guarantee' you the connecting space that you require and maybe then you won't feel like you are being treated so 'poorly' because you are at the lowly value resorts because family suites fall into the value category too!


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

I agree with this so much!

 

[stitchlovestink]

Hi everyone what hours is the gift shop open? Tia!

6am to midnight same as the food court


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

 

[KuyaJeff]

With less than 28 days left...I come with good news! I'm going to be back in Pop in late January! ...I'm bringing company this time! We originally booked AKL, financial issues constricted us a bit and we wanted to change to a moderate. But after logically going through all of them and their features, we couldn't convince ourselves that they would give us more bang for our buck than Pop!

We have a preferred pool view room booked! After looking at maps and such, am I correct in figuring that there's only 3 non-accessible king rooms? I need to call in some room preferences to be noted.

 

[The Wise One]

Are there mini-fridges in the POP rooms?

 

[stitchlovestink]

Are there mini-fridges in the POP rooms?

yes


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

 

[KELLY]

Now that the holidays are over. I'm back.

 

[EpcotBill]

Now that the holidays are over. I'm back.

Did I miss New Year's Eve?

 

[mlittig]

If you did, so did I

 

[nw2this]

We'd like a room as close to the action as possible with out paying extra.

Can you walk through the center of the 'T' shape to get from the non-pool view to rooms to the pool view rooms? in other words from back to front? or do you have to walk all the way around the building?

Based on the map the 80's buildings don't have pool views. Can you actually can see the 90's pool from the 80's courtyard rooms even though they aren't designated as pool views?

Thanks.

 

[cajunbaby1]

Hey y'all hope everyone had a good xmas.
I've changed from POR to the POP due to money issues. Having never stayed at Either resort so really no biggie.
Question is--Standard or Prefered?? It's gonna just be me yea so no kiddie issues. Is it worth the price difference? Would not like to have to wal like a gazillion miles to the food court, shopping.
Also did they update the Pop Century lately? I can't remember if they did or not recently.

Thanks in advance. I love this site!!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Hey y'all hope everyone had a good xmas.
I've changed from POR to the POP due to money issues. Having never stayed at Either resort so really no biggie.
Question is--Standard or Prefered?? It's gonna just be me yea so no kiddie issues. Is it worth the price difference? Would not like to have to wal like a gazillion miles to the food court, shopping.
Also did they update the Pop Century lately? I can't remember if they did or not recently.

Thanks in advance. I love this site!!

I vote Standard. As you pointed out already, the farthest walk is still not far at all, so I wouldn't waste the $$ for Preferred. I've stayed at POP solo twice and done Standard both times. Earlier this month I was Standard in building 5 (lakeview) and it took less than 2 minutes to get from my room to Classic Hall.

They updated POP Century's rooms recently. New mattresses, TVs, dressers, new paint...Also added a mini-fridge and a curtain for the vanity area.

 

[Janet B]

Hey y'all hope everyone had a good xmas.
I've changed from POR to the POP due to money issues. Having never stayed at Either resort so really no biggie.
Question is--Standard or Prefered?? It's gonna just be me yea so no kiddie issues. Is it worth the price difference? Would not like to have to wal like a gazillion miles to the food court, shopping.
Also did they update the Pop Century lately? I can't remember if they did or not recently.

Thanks in advance. I love this site!!

Another vote for standard We actually prefer the lake view rooms (which are considered standard). Remember too that if you are not happy with your room location you can always ask the CM at check in for another room and they will do their best to accommodate you.

As PhoenixStrength stated POP went thru a refurb with new mattresses, flat screen TVs, privacy curtain, paint, entertainment/dresser units, etc. in 2010. Mini fridges were added in March of this year (finally ).

 

[Janet B]

We'd like a room as close to the action as possible with out paying extra.

Can you walk through the center of the 'T' shape to get from the non-pool view to rooms to the pool view rooms? in other words from back to front? or do you have to walk all the way around the building?

Based on the map the 80's buildings don't have pool views. Can you actually can see the 90's pool from the 80's courtyard rooms even though they aren't designated as pool views?

Thanks.

Yes. POP is designed with exterior walkways; and the elevators are located in the middle of the "t" intersection, and this area is open making it possible to walk thru this middle section to go from the back (i.e. non pool side) to a pool side area.

The 80s (bldgs 7 & 9) do offer standard pool views, as well as bldg 8 (90s). And you can see (from an angle) the pool from the courtyard rooms of both 7 & 9 that face or open up on the pool side of the buildings.

We like standard rooms (request lake view) in bldgs 3, 4 or 5, and in my opinion they are convenient to Classic Hall and busing.