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

[aym4Him]

Loving Pop but not the cigarette smoke wafting by me while I sit by the pool. Had to move once because a group at one of the pool deck tables near the food court was puffing away. If you want to smoke, go for it but please do it in the designated area.

Ugh. That's so frustrating, especially when we are somewhere with DS4. He had 2 open heart surgeries as an infant and we try to keep him as healthy as possible. He's already predisposed to asthma thanks to both me & DH having it as children (DH has flare ups now & again). Anyway, when he was a baby we just had to move past as fast as we could. At least now, we can have him cover his face and walk briskly (plus, he is 4 so has no filter: "Yuck!!! I smell smoking (ha)! Who's smoking? Why are they smoking?"). My mom was a smoker so I grew up with the smell & got used to it. It wasn't until I left for college that I realized how far it permeated & how bad it smelled. So glad I never picked up the habit. (Mom died in '03 from lung cancer)

 

[Janet B]

I'm in the 60s Building 4, 4th floor and we have a new fridge. FYI, when we got here the fridge wasn't cool at all, my DH pulled it out of the cabinet and was able to adjust the temp in the back. We had to fix it this morning as my snack size carton of milk had iced up and so had a couple bottles of water.

We were in Bldg 5 (with a working fridge ) Love the 60's! Was upgraded to preferred. Enjoy your time in the world.

We are in single digits. This is going to be the Longest. Week. Ever.

Funny, I find the week leading to vacation to go super fast! Maybe 'cause I'm running around with last minute packing and finishing up stuff at work.

We are at 16 days but by a stroke of luck, the last week before our trip will be insanely busy (including homecoming the night before our 6am flight...and we live an hour away from the airport). So while we have 2 weeks left, it really only feels like 1 week because the last week we won't have time to think much about it. I can't wait!!

Yup, that was me. DD's HS hosted a marching band competition last Saturday, I was volunteering most of the day with an early AM flight the next morning. It was busy!

Do you have the new bedding?

We did.. The new bedding is soft, not like the old stiff bedspread. Although I miss the colors in the old one. My pix aren't the best but will upload one.

Loving Pop but not the cigarette smoke wafting by me while I sit by the pool. Had to move once because a group at one of the pool deck tables near the food court was puffing away. If you want to smoke, go for it but please do it in the designated area.

Absolutely. Did you ask them move to a DSA? Or better yet, ask a CM or alert a manager.

Just got back from Pop on Tuesday! I liked the hotel and the staff but I did not like being the bus stop furthest from the entrance/exit to pretty much every park. They need a people mover to get you out at the end of the day . Only one HUGE line (after the park closed one night). I enjoyed jumping into the computer pool (we were in the 90's and walked across the parking lot every night) after every day in the park! If we stay there again, I will spring for a preferred room cause getting back to the room every night was a chore though Mom wants to upgrade to POFQ. Still, we did enjoy Pop more than movies (Didn't have to share buses, could walk to AoA) No bugs other than the love bugs fornicating everywhere. LOTS of little lizards and a few snails! Our Mousekeeper for the first few nights played around with the stuffed characters I had though I think someone different did the last few days cause they just ended up in a chair and not in a cute little staged grouping though she/he did leave us an adorable towel toothbrush holder! It was a good experience (save for the walking) and I enjoyed our stay at POP!

Hey I like the people mover idea! Happy you had a great stay overall.

Ugh. That's so frustrating, especially when we are somewhere with DS4. He had 2 open heart surgeries as an infant and we try to keep him as healthy as possible. He's already predisposed to asthma thanks to both me & DH having it as children (DH has flare ups now & again). Anyway, when he was a baby we just had to move past as fast as we could. At least now, we can have him cover his face and walk briskly (plus, he is 4 so has no filter: "Yuck!!! I smell smoking (ha)! Who's smoking? Why are they smoking?"). My mom was a smoker so I grew up with the smell & got used to it. It wasn't until I left for college that I realized how far it permeated & how bad it smelled. So glad I never picked up the habit. (Mom died in '03 from lung cancer)

Hopefullly your DS will need no more surgeries (and never develop asthma). My dad had it as a child and unfornately picked up smoking at 17, so we grew up with it as well. Sorry about your Mom. A good friend of mine lost her battle with lung cancer at age 39...so sad. It's a terrible disease.

 

[Kat016]

Ugh. That's so frustrating, especially when we are somewhere with DS4. He had 2 open heart surgeries as an infant and we try to keep him as healthy as possible. He's already predisposed to asthma thanks to both me & DH having it as children (DH has flare ups now & again). Anyway, when he was a baby we just had to move past as fast as we could. At least now, we can have him cover his face and walk briskly (plus, he is 4 so has no filter: "Yuck!!! I smell smoking (ha)! Who's smoking? Why are they smoking?"). My mom was a smoker so I grew up with the smell & got used to it. It wasn't until I left for college that I realized how far it permeated & how bad it smelled. So glad I never picked up the habit. (Mom died in '03 from lung cancer)

My 10 yr old daughter has no filter either, she gets that from me. So she makes loud comments about people smoking and people who don't wear helmets while riding a motorcycle. Lol
I'm sooooo glad your babys doing good. 2 open heart surgeries so young...I couldn't imagine. Hugs to him... <3

 

[aym4Him]

Hopefullly your DS will need no more surgeries (and never develop asthma). My dad had it as a child and unfornately picked up smoking at 17, so we grew up with it as well. Sorry about your Mom. A good friend of mine lost her battle with lung cancer at age 39...so sad. It's a terrible disease.

Thank you. He was one of the "lucky" 5% to develop scar tissue after his 1st surgery so he had to have a 2nd at 4 mos old to work on his pulmonary artery and valve (Dr had to widen both). Due to that, he will likely need a valve replacement at some point b/c the patch on his valve won't grow with him. He sees his cardiologist 1x a year and this past May, the pressures on the right side (where the pulmonary valve originates) were twice as high as last year but we were assured that there's nothing to worry about at this time- it could be a growth spurt or the fact that he was less than calm (ha!) during his echocardiogram.

Believe it or not, one of my sisters is still smoking. It's such an addictive thing. She quit for a little bit after Mom died and then tried again after my DS was born (we live 12 hrs away but when she was here after his birth and diagnosis, she realized she needed to be smoke free for his best interests). Unfortunately, that didn't last and she's still smoking.

My 10 yr old daughter has no filter either, she gets that from me. So she makes loud comments about people smoking and people who don't wear helmets while riding a motorcycle. Lol
I'm sooooo glad your babys doing good. 2 open heart surgeries so young...I couldn't imagine. Hugs to him... <3

Oh yes! The absence of motorcycle helmets gets me too!!

Thank you! Our world has been opened wide to so many kiddos who have gone through so incredibly much in such a short time. Some have sadly lost their battle. I'm amazed, daily, by the strength of these children and their parents.

 

[SuperJess]

LONG time lurker and only 2nd post I'm sure this is answered before but what are the chances of getting a King bed at POP? This will be our first time there and I know that Kings are very limited. We've stayed at AKL and both PO before and got Kings every time. It really makes our vaca better. Room to sprawl Anybody had good luck with this?

 

[ZehnJahren]

I have a question about king beds too. I'm going back and forth about asking for one myself.

Would it be better to have the two beds (and therefore be able to pick the more comfortable one) or just the one king bed and have a little more room in the room? What's your opinion?

 

[SuperJess]

I have a question about king beds too. I'm going back and forth about asking for one myself.

Would it be better to have the two beds (and therefore be able to pick the more comfortable one) or just the one king bed and have a little more room in the room? What's your opinion?

I'm glad I'm not the only one I go back and forth between wanting some extra space on vaca but saving money by staying at a value. I do adore and love my DH, but after walking all day I love a sprawl.

 

[aym4Him]

Ha. Even if it were just DH and I on this trip, I'd still opt for 2 double beds. Sleeping with him is like sleeping with DS4- only worse because he's, well, adult-sized!

Anyway, there are 3 of us, so 2 beds it is. I'm hoping DS will opt to bunk with DH; however, sometimes I think DH's moving around bugs DS. With 8 days, I will put someone in the bathtub if I don't get my sleep!

 

[rileyroo120]

 

[Pikester]

I have a question about king beds too. I'm going back and forth about asking for one myself. Would it be better to have the two beds (and therefore be able to pick the more comfortable one) or just the one king bed and have a little more room in the room? What's your opinion?

DH and I are here right now and have two beds. We each get our own and are enjoying the chance to sprawl.

 

[babynala]

I think the King rooms are also handicapped accessible so guests that require a handicapped room would be assigned to those rooms first.

If we have a second bed in our room that is not being used I always end up using it as extra storage area.


So what's up with all the Love Bugs? We have been in October a few times and we've never had to deal with love bugs. They were plentiful on a visit to Orlando we took in April one year and they drove my DS crazy. Are they normally out this time of year? Hope they are gone in 8 days.

 

[sherpa88]

Can't wait to be checking in to pop oct 15 through the 21, hoping for a 60s room

 

[Pikester]

I think the King rooms are also handicapped accessible so guests that require a handicapped room would be assigned to those rooms first. If we have a second bed in our room that is not being used I always end up using it as extra storage area. So what's up with all the Love Bugs? We have been in October a few times and we've never had to deal with love bugs. They were plentiful on a visit to Orlando we took in April one year and they drove my DS crazy. Are they normally out this time of year? Hope they are gone in 8 days.

I've seen a couple love bugs and that was it. Been here since Tuesday the 1st and will be here until the 9th.

 

[shyjade]

So what's up with all the Love Bugs? We have been in October a few times and we've never had to deal with love bugs. They were plentiful on a visit to Orlando we took in April one year and they drove my DS crazy. Are they normally out this time of year? Hope they are gone in 8 days.

They are normally a May/September issue and only last a few weeks, so I would expect they should be gone soon. Like after we are there and head back home 10/25.

 

[bluezy]

I'm in the 60s Building 4, 4th floor and we have a new fridge. FYI, when we got here the fridge wasn't cool at all, my DH pulled it out of the cabinet and was able to adjust the temp in the back. We had to fix it this morning as my snack size carton of milk had iced up and so had a couple bottles of water.

Those small cooler/fridges don't feel cold inside unless they have food or drinks in them. The start-up instructions (which aren't left in the rooms) usually say to put a few bottles of room temperature water or other liquids in them for a few hours before making adjustments to the temperature because even though you don't feel cold/cool air in the fridge itself, it's still working properly and cooling at an appropriate level.

 

[Pikester]

Those small cooler/fridges don't feel cold inside unless they have food or drinks in them. The start-up instructions (which aren't left in the rooms) usually say to put a few bottles of room temperature water or other liquids in them for a few hours before making adjustments to the temperature because even though you don't feel cold/cool air in the fridge itself, it's still working properly and cooling at an appropriate level.

Information I could have used a couple days ago. My husband said it wasn't even turned on but since I didn't see the button I can't say if he was mistaken. A good heads up to anyone who sees this.

 

[dansdad]

Those small cooler/fridges don't feel cold inside unless they have food or drinks in them. The start-up instructions (which aren't left in the rooms) usually say to put a few bottles of room temperature water or other liquids in them for a few hours before making adjustments to the temperature because even though you don't feel cold/cool air in the fridge itself, it's still working properly and cooling at an appropriate level.

Information I could have used a couple days ago. My husband said it wasn't even turned on but since I didn't see the button I can't say if he was mistaken. A good heads up to anyone who sees this.

Since you're talking fridges, I wanted to pass along a tip that has helped us a bunch. It's a good idea to leave the door open on the cabinet that houses the fridge. By doing that, you are improving air flow which really helps the fridges get ice cold. We have never stayed at Pop so I'm not sure if the fridges are in a cabinet like they are at the other resorts we have stayed. Our last 2 trips I started doing that and the water bottles in the back actually started to freeze. When we would leave for the parks I would leave it wide open (after day 2 of coming back to the door being closed we started leaving a note for mousekeeping to leave it open and they would). When we were in the room, I would wedge a wash cloth in to prop it open. I used to think the fridges were just not that good. But not anymore.

 

[Kat016]

Thank you. He was one of the "lucky" 5% to develop scar tissue after his 1st surgery so he had to have a 2nd at 4 mos old to work on his pulmonary artery and valve (Dr had to widen both). Due to that, he will likely need a valve replacement at some point b/c the patch on his valve won't grow with him. He sees his cardiologist 1x a year and this past May, the pressures on the right side (where the pulmonary valve originates) were twice as high as last year but we were assured that there's nothing to worry about at this time- it could be a growth spurt or the fact that he was less than calm (ha!) during his echocardiogram.

Believe it or not, one of my sisters is still smoking. It's such an addictive thing. She quit for a little bit after Mom died and then tried again after my DS was born (we live 12 hrs away but when she was here after his birth and diagnosis, she realized she needed to be smoke free for his best interests). Unfortunately, that didn't last and she's still smoking.

Oh yes! The absence of motorcycle helmets gets me too!!

Thank you! Our world has been opened wide to so many kiddos who have gone through so incredibly much in such a short time. Some have sadly lost their battle. I'm amazed, daily, by the strength of these children and their parents.

My husband was in a motorcycle accident about 6 yrs ago and the only thing that saved him was his helmet. So she's pretty vocal about it. Lol
My niece was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 18 months old, she's 9 now. When I visited her at CHOP it was heart breaking. The parents of these kids along with the kids are my heroes. They, including you and your family, go through more than they deserve to.

 

[aym4Him]

My husband was in a motorcycle accident about 6 yrs ago and the only thing that saved him was his helmet. So she's pretty vocal about it. Lol
My niece was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 18 months old, she's 9 now. When I visited her at CHOP it was heart breaking. The parents of these kids along with the kids are my heroes. They, including you and your family, go through more than they deserve to.

WOW! I'm glad he's all right. Thank goodness he had a helmet on!! So scary. DH's uncle was in a slow-speed car vs motorcycle accident (he was on the motorcycle) w/o a helmet. He nearly died and has a TBI as a result. He is now estranged from his sons b/c of it. He literally lost his right mind.

I've heard of CHOP. It has a great heart hospital for kids. I'm sorry your niece had to battle that disease. So scary. I'm so glad she's all right!

 

[shyjade]

My husband was in a motorcycle accident about 6 yrs ago and the only thing that saved him was his helmet. So she's pretty vocal about it. Lol

Sorry, I know this is off topic, but I just had to share.

My daughter fell off her 3 year old mustang when she was 10 years old and he accidentally kicked her in the head as he was trying not to crush her. He punctured the helmet but thankfully it protected her head and she was uninjured.

There's no doubt in my mind that helmet saved her life, or at the very least from severe head trauma. We became a VERY pro helmet family after that!