POP Century~Unofficially the Grooviest FAQ Thread #8~July 2013

[angelmom27]

Disney released a new fall deal for FL residents was able to grab it. Tickets got upgraded from 2 to 3 day passes and still saved $66. Not bad. Just need to figure out how we are going to use that extra day. Would hate to see it go to waste.

 

[Simba77]

We are booked for POP in October. We have never stayed there before, but it looks like so much fun, even if we are all adults! We have preferred rooms booked and will request the 60's building (since I will be turning 50 there and that is MY decade). I hope we get it. How is the noise level if you are on one of the lower floors from the rooms above you? Can you hear people footsteps? Or water running through the pipes? I'm thinking I should request a top floor, there are four floors right?

Thanks for any help. This thread is awesome!!

You'll love it! Noise isn't really bad, and you don't tend to hear "normal" activity, but if there are some rambunctious kids above you, you'll hear some bumping and thumping footsteps. You just sort of have to hope that you get a quiet couple above you that likes to sleep a lot

I don't recall hearing any other noises that would be enough to disturb you. You can occasionally hear someone taking a shower or toilet flushes, but they're really not absurdly loud. I'm a light sleeper and I still slept through almost everything last time at POP.

There are 4 floors. If you do online check-in, it's one of the check box options. Unfortunately online check-in only allows you to make 2 selections (so 60s and 4th floor would be your two requests). I'm not sure how many things they'll let you request if you call in ahead of time. Keep in mind that most of the 60s is preferred rooms, so sometimes it can be a little bit harder to get that one if you reserve a standard room. I think 60s tends to be the one people request the most.

 

[wildfordisney]

New to posting been lurking since 2010. Going to Disney in Oct 2014 with family, I will be 66 then, I'm in very good shape, thank the lord, I have no walking problems, that being said, I'm debating on preferred vs standard room, in 2011 I choose preferred, in 2012 I didn't (solo trip), I stayed both trips at ASMU and got stuck in the Rock section in the standard room, at the end of the day I wished I would have gotten preferred, never stayed at POP before, excited about staying there, I know the layout of the building appears to be closer than the ASMU rooms, is a preferred room necessary at POP? Any advise would be appreciated, thank you in advance

 

[OHBelle]

You'll love it! Noise isn't really bad, and you don't tend to hear "normal" activity, but if there are some rambunctious kids above you, you'll hear some bumping and thumping footsteps. You just sort of have to hope that you get a quiet couple above you that likes to sleep a lot

I don't recall hearing any other noises that would be enough to disturb you. You can occasionally hear someone taking a shower or toilet flushes, but they're really not absurdly loud. I'm a light sleeper and I still slept through almost everything last time at POP.

There are 4 floors. If you do online check-in, it's one of the check box options. Unfortunately online check-in only allows you to make 2 selections (so 60s and 4th floor would be your two requests). I'm not sure how many things they'll let you request if you call in ahead of time. Keep in mind that most of the 60s is preferred rooms, so sometimes it can be a little bit harder to get that one if you reserve a standard room. I think 60s tends to be the one people request the most.

Thank you! We do have preferred rooms booked, so I hope that will increase our chances of getting into the 60's building.
Since we can make two choices, I think I will go ahead and request 60's first and the top floor second. If we get them great, if not we will still have lots of fun!

 

[cgerdon02]

I have been on quite the roller coaster ride! We went from AoA to Pop to CBR and now are back at Pop for October! We stayed here in 2011 and loved it, but we were at the parks from open to close every day. We have a little more down time planned this time around and are excited to actually get to explore the resort (we also plan to explore AoA too!) Going to call and add some room requests in a bit. What's your favorite decade and why?!

 

[Simba77]

Thank you! We do have preferred rooms booked, so I hope that will increase our chances of getting into the 60's building.
Since we can make two choices, I think I will go ahead and request 60's first and the top floor second. If we get them great, if not we will still have lots of fun!

Great! Yeah, there's really no reason to select anything other than those two at this point. With preferred you'll get a decent room no matter where you end up. And even if you aren't in the 60s section by some chance, you'll still see plenty of it because you walk by it and the Hippy Dippy pool ever time you go to the food court or buses and back. But 60s has the most preferred rooms of any section, so I wouldn't worry, and they're pretty good about granting requests.

Here's the map of which rooms are preferred (yellow lines)

 

[Simba77]

I have been on quite the roller coaster ride! We went from AoA to Pop to CBR and now are back at Pop for October! We stayed here in 2011 and loved it, but we were at the parks from open to close every day. We have a little more down time planned this time around and are excited to actually get to explore the resort (we also plan to explore AoA too!) Going to call and add some room requests in a bit. What's your favorite decade and why?!

I've been to POP twice. Got the 50s the first time, then requested it the 2nd time. I like it for the theme, the pool is nice and big, and the 50s music is nice. I decided to request it again for my trip in Sept. It will be my GF's first time ever at WDW!

We'll probably take a walk over to AoA and grab a bite there, too.

 

[Disneyhayes]

We're heading back to POP 11/17-11/23 We are going to have a preferred room. We stayed in 50's last time which was a pretty nice area. I am excited to explore AOA

 

[EpcotBill]

But 60s has the most preferred rooms of any section, so I wouldn't worry, and they're pretty good about granting requests.

That has never been my experience. I've stayed at Pop nine times and my requests were only granted once. I don't ask for much, just a building number and 4th floor. I always request building 1, 4th floor. They like to put me in the 80's or 90's. Then the negotiations begin and I end up in 50's or 70's after a long struggle.

 

[Simba77]

That has never been my experience. I've stayed at Pop nine times and my requests were only granted once. I don't ask for much, just a building number and 4th floor. I always request building 1, 4th floor. They like to put me in the 80's or 90's. Then the negotiations begin and I end up in 50's or 70's after a long struggle.

I guess is does depend on how specific your request is. Requesting a particular decade is more likely to be granted than requesting a specific building. Requesting building 1 and 4th floor for example, and you've booked a standard room, there are actually only 24 standard rooms in building 1 on the 4th floor. Two of those are king bed rooms. The red highlight are the only rooms that are standard rooms in building 1:

Also depends on when/how you make your requests and how crowded the resort is when your room is assigned.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

That has never been my experience. I've stayed at Pop nine times and my requests were only granted once. I don't ask for much, just a building number and 4th floor. I always request building 1, 4th floor. They like to put me in the 80's or 90's. Then the negotiations begin and I end up in 50's or 70's after a long struggle.

Funny. My last 2 stays I requested 2 things, then 3 things, and had all my requests filled each time. First time I requested 4th floor and lakeview and got 4th floor, building 3, lake view. In December I requested lake view, 4th floor and 60s. I got 4th floor, lake view, building 5. My first stay I didn't request anything so I can't say anything about that one.

Guess it's just luck of the draw!

 

[KNovacovschi]

We're heading back to POP 11/17-11/23 We are going to have a preferred room. We stayed in 50's last time which was a pretty nice area. I am excited to explore AOA

Will be there the exact same time, We arrive at 3:30 on the 17th. We also have preferred booked and 50's requested. We may just bump into each other once in awhile. We always do POP and request 50's section. I like the quietness of the area as well as pool and distance to bus/food court. Have a great trip!!!!

 

[Nixie]

Our last time we were there, our requests were magically granted which were close to the dining hall and close to the parking lot. We were upgraded (which I didn't know at the time) to a preferred room on the corner of the 70s building. It was absolutely perfect. Just a quick walk to the parking lot as to the dining room. We got to overlook the big wheel every time we got off the elevator.

 

[Nixie]

Do you think I should do online check on or not? We have 4 ressies that are supposed to be linked. We are a family of 6 that have been split up into 2 rooms. We are supposed to have guarnteed connecting rooms. We also have a note to try and keep the same room due to the continuing reservation. Do you think that will transfer over if I do online check in or will it hair all get messed up?

 

[stitchlovestink]

That has never been my experience. I've stayed at Pop nine times and my requests were only granted once. I don't ask for much, just a building number and 4th floor. I always request building 1, 4th floor. They like to put me in the 80's or 90's. Then the negotiations begin and I end up in 50's or 70's after a long struggle.

Off the top of my head, I don't know how many times I have stayed at POP in Total...but the # of nights is 118.
Just this year, I stayed there 6 separate times (as in 6 separate check ins). Sometimes, I get my request granted at check in and sometimes I have had to request to be moved. BUT, I have always been able to exactly what I wanted/needed without major episode/incident.
I'm sorry you have to struggle SO hard to get your request fulfilled. Actually, I LOVE bldg 1!! I have become personal friends w/ the mgr of that bldg. He is phenomenal!! A wonderfully NICE & KIND man!! He really tries to stay on top of his CMs. He used to be in charge of conceirge at the Grand and his philosophy is that ALL disney guests deserve to be treated the same no matter what level hotel you stay. The hotel is all about what extra ammenitities you receive! I Love how he thinks!

 

[EpcotBill]

I guess is does depend on how specific your request is. Requesting a particular decade is more likely to be granted than requesting a specific building. Requesting building 1 and 4th floor for example, and you've booked a standard room, there are actually only 24 standard rooms in building 1 on the 4th floor. Two of those are king bed rooms. The red highlight are the only rooms that are standard rooms in building 1:

Also depends on when/how you make your requests and how crowded the resort is when your room is assigned.

Yeah, that all sounds good but this goes back to when the only Preferred rooms were in the 60's. Also at check-in I have asked them to find anything in building 1 or 2 with no luck. I make my requests when I book the room. I usually go Labor Day week so it's not like the place is jam packed. I just want the newbies to know that they don't always grant requests and sometimes they don't try too hard when you ask to be moved. And yes, I've always been polite and calm when asking for another room.

 

[Simba77]

Do you think I should do online check on or not? We have 4 ressies that are supposed to be linked. We are a family of 6 that have been split up into 2 rooms. We are supposed to have guarnteed connecting rooms. We also have a note to try and keep the same room due to the continuing reservation. Do you think that will transfer over if I do online check in or will it hair all get messed up?

Online check-in shouldn't theoretically change anything that you've already established on your reservation. Things are never certain though. Online check-in is mostly just to get some extra information about you (credit card details and things like that), plus any specific room requests (like decade, floor, etc).

There's really no reason to do online check-in other than it speeds up your check in once you arrive at POP.

If you have specific room requests like a particular decade, you could just call them and have them note it - and at that time you could confirm that your reservation also is still linked, connecting rooms, etc.

 

[OHBelle]

Great! Yeah, there's really no reason to select anything other than those two at this point. With preferred you'll get a decent room no matter where you end up. And even if you aren't in the 60s section by some chance, you'll still see plenty of it because you walk by it and the Hippy Dippy pool ever time you go to the food court or buses and back. But 60s has the most preferred rooms of any section, so I wouldn't worry, and they're pretty good about granting requests.

Thank you so much. The map, which I am not allowed to include in my post yet, is very helpful. I think we will be fine anywhere in the preferred area.

We have two Disney first timers in our party and I think they will like it too.

 

[Simba77]

Yeah, that all sounds good but this goes back to when the only Preferred rooms were in the 60's. Also at check-in I have asked them to find anything in building 1 or 2 with no luck. I make my requests when I book the room. I usually go Labor Day week so it's not like the place is jam packed. I just want the newbies to know that they don't always grant requests and sometimes they don't try too hard when you ask to be moved. And yes, I've always been polite and calm when asking for another room.

That's rough! Maybe building 1 is just one of those that they tended to fill up with anyone who requested to be close to transportation. Not sure. I just know that most people who request a decade have had pretty good luck.

 

[Mom22girls56]

We booked through a TA...I'm wanting to request a certain building at POP...can I call and request or does my TA need to do so? And when should this be done?