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

[stitchlovestink]

Thanks everyone! What I may do is call tomorrow and take my preferred off then another day call and request 60s or 70s I think that was the closest after 60s? I just want to be close and I'm worried about distance I guess. I know when you paid for pref in music your always upfront well for me I always was and I just want that for pop but everyone is saying not worth the money then I don't want to do it. Comparing it to CB is far fetched but i love it there but hate the walk i know Pop isn't that far though. I just will call two separate times so they honor my request instead of thinking I'm like trying to pull on over or something. Thank you again everyone!!

If you want to be close to a pool though, there is no pool in the 70's section. You would have to either go to the pool in the 60's section or the 80's/90's section. The 60's section has a pool between its two bldgs and the 50's section has its own pool which is surrounded by its three bldgs. Just clarifying this for you so that you realize this before you call and request 70's. I'm not saying don't request the 70's, but you did say you wanted to be close to a pool, and this section is the one section that is most removed from a pool. Just so you are aware.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I meant to say no rooms in building 9 are more than 5 minutes. It takes us 3 minutes to get to the buses and 4 to get to the front door of the lobby. We stay right by the closest Rubik's cube stairwell to the buses. Granted, we timed it in the morning when we were anxious to get to the park. We might be a little slower at night. My main point was that paying extra for a preferred room won't guarantee you anything closer than a standard would. If being close is really a necessity, preferred pool view might be the only thing worth paying extra for. I still wouldn't do it, though. That's money that can be spent for more popcorn and Mickey Rice Krispie treats.

Well, I have to say again, I respectfully disagree. The preferred are the closest. HOWEVER, there are MANY standard rooms that are ALMOST as close as preferred. And there are MANY standard rooms that are GREAT locations!!
I do find it interesting that you (and there isn't anything wrong with this...it's not meant as a dig) like the 80's/90's section. I really don't know anyone else that has stayed there and has liked it. I have spent tons of time at POP and the people I know or have talked to who stay there have despised it. I was in bldg 7 for ONE night and I can honestly say NEVER AGAIN!! It was the night from HELL!!! It was too NOISY! The people in the computer pool were noisy until 3am, and it was a group of about 40 to 50 (summertime-July), it took forever to get to the food court to refill my mug (I do have mobility issues), and there were a few other Issues that I'm not going to elaborate about. I remember that it was so bad that they comped me that night. I didn't ask for that but when I spoke with the front desk manager about all of the issues, he said we are not going to charge you for your stay last night because that sounds like it was pretty unbearable. I wasn't supposed to be there to begin with...I was supposed to be in the 50's but we were such a late arrival, some other CM gave my room away! UGH!! (I know this because this was back when special requests blocked out your room when you had medical needs. so your room was assigned when your reservation was made back then. But some CM decided to release it since it was so late in the evening! Honestly, It is one of the few times, I hope that CM did get reprimanded!! He/she had NO right to release that room! At that time only the special requests dept had the right to release those rooms. They used to put a freeze on the ressies so that they couldn't be accidentally released by other agts. I know just to make the slightest little change was a huge deal because the agt had to call special request dept to release the hold temporarily so they could update it and then they had to have the hold put back on. It was a huge production. So that CM had NO right to give my room away. I was not a NO show for several more hours.) But Luckily, the manager was able to get that issue resolved and they moved me to a more acceptable location that day. Not one of my better starting vacations at POP, but the mgt did do their best to make good on a bad situation. And as I have said before, if approached properly, I think they do a great job of fixing issues.

 

[Sandi]

I have been going to Disney since I was little now and even worked there, but one resort I never been to is Pop Century. I am staying there in May and my fiance and I have a preferred room, but are on a budget in a way. I was also looking into standard rooms and here is where the question comes in: How far are the standard rooms from the lobby/food court? Is a preferred room even worth the cost its about a 70-100 dollar different according to Disney. I have issues with my ankle so I like being close to the pool and lobby. So is all the different buildings fairly close to the lobby or are they like the All Stars where they are a little bit of a walk? Thank you!!

You've gotten good advice from the other posters. I always book a standard room and have been pleased with my room assignments. My preference is for a lake view room, but those are further from the main building.

Are you planning to walk at the parks? Quite frankly, after all the walking at the parks, what's another 100 yards at the resort? Save your money.

 

[EpcotBill]

I think there is one major thing to consider with a Preferred room versus a Standard room. If you plan to use the elevators, even though your preferred room is physically closer to the main building you still have to walk to the center of your building to get the elevator.

The last time I was at Pop we were in a Standard room, 3rd flr in the 70's, right around the corner from the elevators. Every day we would see people coming from the far end of the Preferred wing to get to the elevator. Not a long walk in the grand scheme of things but I wouldn't pay more to have to walk farther.

 

[Sandi]

I think there is one major thing to consider with a Preferred room versus a Standard room. If you plan to use the elevators, even though your preferred room is physically closer to the main building you still have to walk to the center of your building to get the elevator.

The last time I was at Pop we were in a Standard room, 3rd flr in the 70's, right around the corner from the elevators. Every day we would see people coming from the far end of the Preferred wing to get to the elevator. Not a long walk in the grand scheme of things but I wouldn't pay more to have to walk farther.

That's a great point. Maybe requesting a first floor room should be her first priority. Personally, I love first floor rooms. Some people do not. The room assigner at Pop told me that, if someone requests a first floor room, that is the request they try to fulfill first.

 

[stitchlovestink]

That's a great point. Maybe requesting a first floor room should be her first priority. Personally, I love first floor rooms. Some people do not. The room assigner at Pop told me that, if someone requests a first floor room, that is the request they try to fulfill first.

Agreed! Sandi! I'm always on the ground floor. I kinda forget about the fact that there are three other floors!! LOL.

 

[smitch425]

Agreed! Sandi! I'm always on the ground floor. I kinda forget about the fact that there are three other floors!! LOL.

I always request the 4th floor. It is the quietest. Maybe I really am an oddball when it comes to POP.

 

[EpcotBill]

I always request the 4th floor. It is the quietest. Maybe I really am an oddball when it comes to POP.

I prefer 4th floor too. It takes longer to get there but you don't have to listen to turbo toilets. You also get a decent view way up there.

 

[Team Bunch]

We are coming this year for the first time and staying at pop. We have 3 small girls 6,3,2. I read on another thread to request general things ex: close to buses, food court, pools rather than a specific building. Do you think that applies to pop as well, or just go ahead and ask for a building? I see Smitch that you recommend building #9, what decade is that? If above are our priorities in order do you think 50, 60's seem best? Thanks for your input.

 

[rabeck]

Is walking to and from your room to the busses/lobby/food/pool that big of a deal? Besides needing an accessable room, what's the issue? Am I missing something?

 

[stitchlovestink]

Is walking to and from your room to the busses/lobby/food/pool that big of a deal? Besides needing an accessable room, what's the issue? Am I missing something?

Well it depends...there are days that I am at the resort where I might refill my mug 8+ times that day. So going back & forth to my room can be a big deal if it is further out. I also sometimes take my food back to my room if I am a solo traveler vs sitting in the food court alone. I don't care about a walk to the pool as I don't use the pools. But for me, being closer to the food court (for my drink refills) and the bus stops is important (and I can't safely cut thru parking lots & such).
And as far as the turbo toilets, I have found that closing the bathroom door solves that problem! But the beauty of the resort is that they pretty much have something that should make everyone happy!!

 

[Sandi]

Is walking to and from your room to the busses/lobby/food/pool that big of a deal? Besides needing an accessable room, what's the issue? Am I missing something?

It is not to me, but I guess it's a subjective thing. (Although you can objectively measure distance, I believe some people just feel like the walk is "too long" whether it really takes longer or not.) I think Pop is not too big, so there isn't a "too long" walk. But then, I don't have little kids anymore and am not pushing a stroller and carrying three bags, etc. Plus, I enjoy running in the mornings at Pop and I just can't see complaining about walking 100 yards more in a day when you've run 2 miles and then walked 10 miles through the parks (a slight exageration). It's all in our heads!

 

[homeschoolmomof4]

I always request the 4th floor. It is the quietest. Maybe I really am an oddball when it comes to POP.

Nope, not an oddball! We always request 4th floor at Pop! It is definitely quieter. One year we requested 1st floor close to the main building because my mother was with us and had some mobility issues. Never again. It was waaaay to noisy for us. We now request 4th floor lake view every time! We prefer lake view even more these days because we can take the AoA buses(sometimes they're less crowded/come more quickly than the Pop buses) and be back to our rooms fairly quickly. Plus, if you're 4th floor in the 50's buildings, you can get a view of the fireworks on the nights you're just too tired to stay out late.

 

[Pikester]

I always request the 4th floor. It is the quietest. Maybe I really am an oddball when it comes to POP.

We love the 4th floor too. We even take the stairs a lot to help work off all those Mickey bars we've been eating.

 

[cgerdon02]

I have booked two rooms at pop for October. We are traveling with four young kids, but money is tight and I really don't want to spring for preferred rooms. What building should I request for shortest travel from the buses? Carrying four sleeping kids at midnight is always fun times I know I'm not guaranteed the building I request, but thought I'd give it a try!!

Editing to see #9 has been requested.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

I have booked two rooms at pop for October. We are traveling with four young kids, but money is tight and I really don't want to spring for preferred rooms. What building should I request for shortest travel from the buses? Carrying four sleeping kids at midnight is always fun times I know I'm not guaranteed the building I request, but thought I'd give it a try!!

Editing to see #9 has been requested.

Buildings 4 & 5 are also good. You can cut right thru Classic Hall to your building. You'd be in your room in maybe 2 minutes from Classic Hall. That is further for the DTD and AK bus stops though, but still not bad as back-ups if 9 is full.

 

[olwyngdh]

OMG!!!

Forgot paperwork at home, had to go back and get it, but that was ok because Mickey was watching out for us and our flight was delayed long enough to go home and come back. Then, when we get here, we get upgraded to a preferred pool view room!!!! It is gonna be a great trip!

 

[stitchlovestink]

OMG!!!

Forgot paperwork at home, had to go back and get it, but that was ok because Mickey was watching out for us and our flight was delayed long enough to go home and come back. Then, when we get here, we get upgraded to a preferred pool view room!!!! It is gonna be a great trip!

Congrats!! I bet that means the overall hotel occupancy rate is low which is good because it will mean that the buses will be less crowded as will the food court...
I'll have to check with my inside source @ POP when I talk to them next and find out what the occupancy rate is...
Enjoy!!!

 

[trekker93]

congrats, I hope you have a great time and the weather is nice. I noticed last week that they are already in the high 80's during the day so it is good. The pools will be okay. Have fun!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Staying May 23rd for one night before WL for four nights!

We're hoping for a King Bed (noted it on reservation) and thought for sure it would be on the room requests for online check in but it was not so we'll see!!!