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

[KELLY]

Us too!

Kelly, if you are still around, how is the magic band testing going? (And I'm sorry that POP was a let down for you this time. I think it might be for us as well since we had such a great POR stay in June. But the price is right at Pop for these quick in an out trips so we keep coming back! )

My MB is fine and working well. I'm able to switch times out very easily. The only one I had trouble switching was TSM we just kept it the same. My vacation is going good despite a few hiccups at pop. I did get suckered in to the sliders for my band. I actaully like having a slider on each side of my band it prevents it from rolling if you don't want it super tight. I sleep with mine, shower ,water parks and all is good. We have 4 days left so we are doing DTD with Disney quest, MK,Epcot and blizzard beach. We head home Monday. You are able to regular FP as well but we only did that maybe twice after our FP pluses were done. I really think they should give you 5 a day.

My issues isn't really the hotel it is more the food court. So we just decide to do the regular dining plan next year. Then the overall cost to stay at a moderate is pretty cheap.

 

[sjhanksaz]

I hear lots of complaints about the food court.

We will mostlikely only eat breakfast there once or twice. We plan on being out and about for the other meals.

Is breakfast at POP still good?

Should we walk over and eat breakfast at AoA instead?

 

[stitchlovestink]

almost all the building s at disney have elevators. I say almost. there are none at Carribbean beach. well, glad you finally got settled in.
also, it's always better to go down to the front desk if you have a problem.. when you call, you are really talking to a central call center, not the actual front desk. just for future reference.

True, you are going to a call center that isn't even on property if you are calling the general hotel #! Best to go to the desk if at all possible....

and there aren't any elevators at Old Key West either...they only have 2 floors.
did not know that about CBR.

and for future reference this is how the room number works...
it is a four digit number broken down the following way....
the first digit is your bldg number.... and if it is a 0 that is bldg 10
the second digit is the floor... so it will be a 1, 2, 3 or 4
the third and fourth digits will be your actual room number within the bldg... which will be 01 thru 72.

so for example if you had room 3150, you would be in bldg 3 in the fifties, on the first floor in room 50. HTH!

BTW, AoA's numbering works the same way except their room numbers may not go as high since they have suites instead of rooms.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I hear lots of complaints about the food court.

We will mostlikely only eat breakfast there once or twice. We plan on being out and about for the other meals.

Is breakfast at POP still good?

Should we walk over and eat breakfast at AoA instead?

Personally, when we walked over to AoA's food court in June it was WORSE than POP's!! The lines were LONGER & SLOWER! Now we went at lunchtime... My burger at POP was much better than the one I got at AoA. I am not a big fan of the new menu at POP, but honestly... I don't think AoA is better unless there is something on their menu that you are dying to have. And we definitely didn't like the clean up with the plates and silverware...etc... it was much more chaotic than POP. But POP's attendance was low and AoA was pretty close to being full. I don't really think for Bfast, you are going to find much of a difference but that is JMHO. Good Luck with whatever you decide.
We left CS credits on our last dining plan but I didn't feel too bad because we got it for the CM discounted price. We used all the TS credits and the snacks...so I know we got our money's worth. I told DD to treat a couple of her CM associates to dinner on our departure day. She was on the DDP with us, so she could buy multiple CS meals herself. So I said spread a little pixie dust to those other CMs working at the resort with her!! She just bought dinners and then handed them out instead of taking them home and putting them in her fridge! Boy were they Grateful!

 

[Simba77]

Hi everyone!

I wasn't sure where to ask this, but this thread has been so helpful so far. I booked reservations for my friend and I (19 days out!!) and she isn't able to access our reservations on MDE. It won't let her link reservations or anything even though I've "invited" her to see everything.

Does anyone know how she'll be able to see everything other than me giving her my login?

Thanks in advance! I'm so excited to check into POP for the first time in a couple weeks!!!

Do you know what error message she is getting?

 

[smidgy]

Personally, when we walked over to AoA's food court in June it was WORSE than POP's!! The lines were LONGER & SLOWER! Now we went at lunchtime... My burger at POP was much better than the one I got at AoA. I am not a big fan of the new menu at POP, but honestly... I don't think AoA is better unless there is something on their menu that you are dying to have. And we definitely didn't like the clean up with the plates and silverware...etc... it was much more chaotic than POP. But POP's attendance was low and AoA was pretty close to being full. I don't really think for Bfast, you are going to find much of a difference but that is JMHO. Good Luck with whatever you decide.
We left CS credits on our last dining plan but I didn't feel too bad because we got it for the CM discounted price. We used all the TS credits and the snacks...so I know we got our money's worth. I told DD to treat a couple of her CM associates to dinner on our departure day. She was on the DDP with us, so she could buy multiple CS meals herself. So I said spread a little pixie dust to those other CMs working at the resort with her!! She just bought dinners and then handed them out instead of taking them home and putting them in her fridge! Boy were they Grateful!

we stayed at pop 2 nights and AOA 6 nights (LM room) in april..BEFORE the pop food court changed over!!! so HAPPY we got in one last time with what USED TO BE one of the best food courts. AOA had to many strange options for us.. we are more american/traditional/ classic. (um, which is waht POP centruy SHOULD be, if you want new, strange , different, walk over to AOA).

sigh.. fare well Mom's night out! FRIED chicken, turkey, meatloaf. farewell shrimp lo mein.( a favorite!!!) farewelll chicken alfredo! SIGH!!!

 

[stitchlovestink]

we stayed at pop 2 nights and AOA 6 nights (LM room) in april..BEFORE the pop food court changed over!!! so HAPPY we got in one last time with what USED TO BE one of the best food courts. AOA had to many strange options for us.. we are more american/traditional/ classic. (um, which is waht POP centruy SHOULD be, if you want new, strange , different, walk over to AOA).

sigh.. fare well Mom's night out! FRIED chicken, turkey, meatloaf. farewell shrimp lo mein.( a favorite!!!) farewelll chicken alfredo! SIGH!!!

Well, this is just PURE speculation on my part, but I suspect if and/or when they get a new head chef in charge at POP, we will see some changes to the menu at POP again. The sous chefs who work under the head chef (well at least some of them and I'm not talking just 2 or 3) know they have problems with their menu. They are as frustrated with the menu as 'we' are... . So I would suspect if and when the higher up staff changes, we very well may see some positive changes to the menu at POP and hopefully, they will bring back some of the favorites that they are hearing guests say they miss so much!! I know one of the things I complain to my chef friend about them having taken off of the menu, well two of the chefs have repeatedly worked on trying to get it back on the menu because of guest 'complaints'. So they are listening at the lower level. Unfortunately, it's the boss who is being the PITA. She seems to think her menu needs to be like AoA's...sigh! But it's POP, not AoA!!

 

[KNovacovschi]

Well, this is just PURE speculation on my part, but I suspect if and/or when they get a new head chef in charge at POP, we will see some changes to the menu at POP again. The sous chefs who work under the head chef (well at least some of them and I'm not talking just 2 or 3) know they have problems with their menu. They are as frustrated with the menu as 'we' are... . So I would suspect if and when the higher up staff changes, we very well may see some positive changes to the menu at POP and hopefully, they will bring back some of the favorites that they are hearing guests say they miss so much!! I know one of the things I complain to my chef friend about them having taken off of the menu, well two of the chefs have repeatedly worked on trying to get it back on the menu because of guest 'complaints'. So they are listening at the lower level. Unfortunately, it's the boss who is being the PITA. She seems to think her menu needs to be like AoA's...sigh! But it's POP, not AoA!!

Hopefully they realize this & change it back by Nov 17th. Lol.

Maybe we should all stand outside POP with signs & protest. "We want fried chicken, Alfredo & shrimp lo mein back!!" :rofl;

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Cinderumbrella]

My MB is fine and working well. I'm able to switch times out very easily. The only one I had trouble switching was TSM we just kept it the same. My vacation is going good despite a few hiccups at pop. I did get suckered in to the sliders for my band. I actaully like having a slider on each side of my band it prevents it from rolling if you don't want it super tight. I sleep with mine, shower ,water parks and all is good. We have 4 days left so we are doing DTD with Disney quest, MK,Epcot and blizzard beach. We head home Monday. You are able to regular FP as well but we only did that maybe twice after our FP pluses were done. I really think they should give you 5 a day.

My issues isn't really the hotel it is more the food court. So we just decide to do the regular dining plan next year. Then the overall cost to stay at a moderate is pretty cheap.

Thanks for the review! ITA that 3-4 FP isn't enough (especially since we normally travel in peak season).

Enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

My DD is having the same issue with trying to see our upcoming stay on her MDE account. We are just leaving it alone and will mention it in the feedback survey. What is the point of inviting someone using MDE, if they can't partake in the planning or see the information.

 

[Jimmysmom0703]

Hello..I am at POP right now n my experience has not been that great! I asked for the building w Roger rabbit n the guy checking me in said no one ever requests that building its to far. I will put u in a closer one w a great view of him. Well I am right next to that building wo any view! Also half of these buildings are empty, idk y they didn't put everyone together? Also I have been waiting all week for the mousekeeping staff to do those little animals out of towels n I got nothing so far. I am just trying to figure out why everyone loves this place? Any advice??

 

[vleeth]

For those of you who have tried the new menu, What do you recommend for someone who has never been there? I'm sure I'll get my fill of hamburgers and chicken tenders at the parks and we plan to have dinner at Pop at least twice. So suggestions please.

Also is there anything for lunch that is pre packaged that we can take with us to the dark side?

 

[Simba77]

Hello..I am at POP right now n my experience has not been that great! I asked for the building w Roger rabbit n the guy checking me in said no one ever requests that building its to far. I will put u in a closer one w a great view of him. Well I am right next to that building wo any view! Also half of these buildings are empty, idk y they didn't put everyone together? Also I have been waiting all week for the mousekeeping staff to do those little animals out of towels n I got nothing so far. I am just trying to figure out why everyone loves this place? Any advice??

Are you leaving nightly tips (just a dollar or two) and/or a short "thank you" note for mousekeeping? I know you shouldn't have to do that to get the washcloth animals, but I think that probably helps.

As for the room location issue, sorry to hear that. It sounds like the CM was trying to help you out by not putting you so far away - they had the best intentions it seems, but perhaps just didn't realize the room was't facing Roger Rabbit.

As for not putting everyone together, not sure about that one. It's probably that a lot of people have been leaving (late August things start to wind down and lots of people are ending their vacations, and not as many people are coming in to fill those empty rooms), and most people tend to request the closest possible buildings to Classic Hall, so those fill up first.

I don't mean to sound like you don't deserve to have what you want, but these seem like somewhat mild complaints (I know people who would KILL to have a POP room with minimal people around haha). There's a lot of great things about POP - movie nights, great pools, better bus service than most other resorts... hopefully things get better for you!

 

[TrixyA]

Hello..I am at POP right now n my experience has not been that great! I asked for the building w Roger rabbit n the guy checking me in said no one ever requests that building its to far. I will put u in a closer one w a great view of him. Well I am right next to that building wo any view! Also half of these buildings are empty, idk y they didn't put everyone together? Also I have been waiting all week for the mousekeeping staff to do those little animals out of towels n I got nothing so far. I am just trying to figure out why everyone loves this place? Any advice??

This is my opinion-- for the price you pay at Pop you should expect a safe, clean, and reasonably quiet room. Anything else is a gift.

Housekeeping is one of the hardest jobs at WDW, and probably one of the lowest paying. Those ladies work their buns off! A towel-animal is a sweet gift when they have the time to do them. But, if my maid is busy, I personally would rather she use her time on the bathroom.

 

[Turbanator]

A towel-animal is a sweet gift when they have the time to do them.

yes it is really nice when you get one of those

 

[shyjade]

sigh.. fare well Mom's night out! FRIED chicken, turkey, meatloaf. farewell shrimp lo mein.( a favorite!!!) farewelll chicken alfredo! SIGH!!!

Sadly, we chose Pop over ASMu or ASMo this trip because when I looked at the Allears menu is showed the alfredo...my DD15's favorite! She literally ate it every day on our trip last year at ASMo. She was okay with trying out Pop this year as long as she could still eat all the alfredo she wanted...then I discovered the "new menu". Then to hear all the negative reviews about Pop's food court lately sure doesn't help.

 

[Simba77]

Sadly, we chose Pop over ASMu or ASMo this trip because when I looked at the Allears menu is showed the alfredo...my DD15's favorite! She literally ate it every day on our trip last year at ASMo. She was okay with trying out Pop this year as long as she could still eat all the alfredo she wanted...then I discovered the "new menu". Then to hear all the negative reviews about Pop's food court lately sure doesn't help.

If you don't mind a little walking, you can always cross the bridge to AoA, where they have a "design your own" pasta dish. You choose from the type of pasta, sauce, and some toppings (including chicken). Maybe you can do that a few times.

 

[TrixyA]

I am kind of curious, how often do folks actually eat at their resort? We have an occasional breakfast there, but eat almost all of our meals in the parks or DD.

It has never once occurred to me to choose my resort based on the dining options?

Heading down to Pop for the first time in 13 days! (Happy Dance!)

 

[vleeth]

We eat 2 or 3...arrival evening and the day we don't do the parks to relax and shop. Dd gets pool time in after we eat.

 

[makochibi]

I am kind of curious, how often do folks actually eat at their resort? We have an occasional breakfast there, but eat almost all of our meals in the parks or DD.

It has never once occurred to me to choose my resort based on the dining options?

Heading down to Pop for the first time in 13 days! (Happy Dance!)

We only plan to eat there one meal. Everything else will be in the parks, DTD or TS at other hotels.