POP or POFQ---help me decide!

[GCM]

My family has always stayed value when visiting DW as it fits better in our budget and basically all we do is sleep and shower in the room. Over our last many trips, we have found we prefer POP over the other value resorts. However, for our next trip we are considering POFQ, mostly just to make the trip different, new things to look at, different scenery on our way to the restaurant/buses/etc... However, we are also going to do a couple of days at Universal and now the cost of the overall trip is making us question if we should just stay at POP or splurge. We do have the money, but is it worth it to pay the additional cost to stay at POFQ vs POP. Over the next several years we have other vacation ideas, so this will more than likely be our last DW trip for several years.

Help me decide..... Are we crazy for spending unnecessarily or should we just go for it?????

 

[Ladyfish77]

Do you like to spend time at Disney Springs? The boat is a fun way to get there from POFQ. I love the quiet at POFQ and the small footprint so any room is in a good location. That said, we are staying at Pop in December due to cost and free dining. If you are going to be mostly at the parks, I'd say stick with Pop. If you plan to spend time at the resort and DS, then maybe you should splurge for POFQ. We like to walk to POR also for the pool and a change of venue for the QS.

 

[GCM]

Do you like to spend time at Disney Springs? The boat is a fun way to get there from POFQ. I love the quiet at POFQ and the small footprint so any room is in a good location. That said, we are staying at Pop in December due to cost and free dining. If you are going to be mostly at the parks, I'd say stick with Pop. If you plan to spend time at the resort and DS, then maybe you should splurge for POFQ. We like to walk to POR also for the pool and a change of venue for the QS.

We plan to spend one day off from the parks and go to DS and maybe some putt-putt, but the rest of our days will be park days. Maybe, maybe, maybe we should go to POFQ on our free day to check out the resort and take the boat to DS. That might be the route we go....

Decisions, decisions... My husband says I'm over thinking it, but I just don't want to regret not staying there.

 

[Mome Rath]

You're trying to decide between my 2 favs... Pop always feels more upbeat, it is busier and louder. FQ is much more sedate, and much smaller. I'd look at menus and see if that makes a difference. If you are at Pop you can stroll to AoA. If you are at FQ you can stroll to Riverside, and of course there are the boats at FQ... So, in short, if I have the money for either it just depends on what type of vacation I'm shooting for. If I want to relax more and take things slower, I do FQ. If I just want parks all day, and more excitement, I'll do Pop. As an aside, I do think bus service is pretty comparable, but there seems to be slightly faster bus service at Pop, IMO.

 

[Hopefully]

I certainly wouldn’t go to POP on an off day to “ check it out”.
I would definitely plan to stay there

 

[Babsy]

Only you know your comfort zone for spending. Personally, it isn't a vacation for me if I am uncomfortable with the money that is being spent. Perhaps the USF is the 'new' splurge for this trip? (We like to add in something different each time we go on vacation.)

That said, it is also really nice to check out different resorts and levels at WDW. The experience is very different at a moderate than at a value, IMO. I do think that it is worth the extra $$$, but that is JMHO. We have stayed at all the WDW resorts and have enjoyed them all in different ways, so my automatic opinion is to try POFQ and experience something new. This is especially true, again IMO, if you don't plan on returning for a few years.

Sorry, I'm not sure that this was all that helpful. But I am sure that you will have a great time at either POFQ or POP. SO you can't go wrong!

Enjoy!

 

[shifteru]

We made this same decision earlier this year for our November trip. We’ve stayed at both (among most of the other values and moderates) and POFQ is our favorite for many of the reasons mentioned above, but also with it being so small we’ve had better luck with the bus service. Our trip happened to fall outside of free dining, which FQ never gets anymore anyway, but would have probably swayed us to Pop if it was an option there. Since our dates weren’t included at all, it was a no brainer to go with FQ even for the price difference.

 

[GCM]

Only you know your comfort zone for spending. Personally, it isn't a vacation for me if I am uncomfortable with the money that is being spent. Perhaps the USF is the 'new' splurge for this trip? (We like to add in something different each time we go on vacation.)

That said, it is also really nice to check out different resorts and levels at WDW. The experience is very different at a moderate than at a value, IMO. I do think that it is worth the extra $$$, but that is JMHO. We have stayed at all the WDW resorts and have enjoyed them all in different ways, so my automatic opinion is to try POFQ and experience something new. This is especially true, again IMO, if you don't plan on returning for a few years.

Sorry, I'm not sure that this was all that helpful. But I am sure that you will have a great time at either POFQ or POP. SO you can't go wrong!

Enjoy!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I believe Universal may have to be our "new and different" for this trip and save POFQ for another time. The money we can save will buy several nice meals and I believe that, in the long run, will provide more memories.

 

[Babsy]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I believe Universal may have to be our "new and different" for this trip and save POFQ for another time. The money we can save will buy several nice meals and I believe that, in the long run, will provide more memories.

You are welcome!

It sounds like a wise decision. As you tend to spend little time at the resort, I agree with you that the extra spending money will serve your vacation style well.

Enjoy!!!!

 

[Mousemommy1]

We have stayed at both and like both, but I say you should try something new. Stay at POFQ!!

 

[GCM]

We have stayed at both and like both, but I say you should try something new. Stay at POFQ!!

I believe we have decided to let visiting Universal Orlando for the first time be our 'new and different' this trip and stay at Pop to save money. We can use the money we save to do a few nice table service meals. We are going to go visit POFQ on our off day, maybe eat lunch there and take the boat to DS. That will give us a feel for the resort and maybe on our next trip in a few years stay at POFQ.

I really hope I don't regret our decision.....

Thanks for your advice!

 

[Mome Rath]

I believe we have decided to let visiting Universal Orlando for the first time be our 'new and different' this trip and stay at Pop to save money. We can use the money we save to do a few nice table service meals. We are going to go visit POFQ on our off day, maybe eat lunch there and take the boat to DS. That will give us a feel for the resort and maybe on our next trip in a few years stay at POFQ.

I really hope I don't regret our decision.....

Thanks for your advice!

Have fun! Sounds like a good plan, you won't regret it, after all, it's Disney (and Universal)!

 

[revdon64]

We love both too, but if you're concerned about money stay at POP. The amenities and slightly larger room size aren't (IMHO) worth the extra $. Yes, the pool has a water slide (really small), and everything is a lot closer to the main building, but that's it. No TS restaurant on site like every other moderate resort. You'll wait likely as long for a boat to DS that will drop you off at the bridge across to SSR as opposed to a bus that goes to the middle of DS. If you're interested in the ambience or beignets, then POFQ for sure. If it's money you worry about, save it and get a preferred rom at POP.

 

[disneyseniors]

We have stayed at both, but personally we like POR a little better. Love the tropical feel of alligator bayou with it's winding pathways, little bridges, and quiet pools. The Mill QS restaurant is our favorite, both for the choices and atmosphere. We usually get a window seat looking out at the big water wheel and bridge which is so peaceful. The Mansion grounds are really beautiful too. You can catch the carriage ride at POR too. Each resort is close enough so you can walk to the other one. Don't eliminate POR yet; you might like it better. We have found that it is a little cheaper than POFQ too. Either one would be great!