POP or SoG?

[amador]

Partner and I have rooms booked at both Pop Century and Shades of Green for 11/2-11/7. We will be doing a split stay with a BWV 11/7-11/9.

The cost for POP and SoG is virtually the same when taking airport transportation into account. I’ve stayed at SoG half a dozen times and am very familiar with it, but have never stayed in a Value Resort. It’s just the two of us and we’re going for our anniversary. Partner likes that Pop has vinyl floors and no carpet in rooms, and a quick service option. We’ve never been on the skyliner either.

Help!

 

[Leigh L]

SOG! But my vote would depend on the type of trip you're planning. Will you be mostly in the parks or doing a lot of resort time?

Pop is great if you're looking for a place to sleep and is a nice resort (but busier, noisier, and feels far more crowded than SOG. However, despite how busy Pop is, the organization of those buses blew me away with how efficient and orderly the CMs were with huge crowds (with social distancing in effect at that time). In that respect, since Pop's buses start earlier (we're rope droppers) and come frequently, that has the edge over Shades since transportation to parks is limited. Skyliner is also pretty awesome! (I've never used it in the morning though). If doing primarily parks and didn't have a car, I'd likely do this.

Shades is definitely better for space and brightness. Pop rooms are much smaller and, to me, felt darker since it's only one small window, unlike the big windows/balconies at Shades. If I was spending lots of time at the resort, I'd go with Shades. I've only stayed at Pop once though and that was for 3 days, only one of which was a park day before we moved offsite (the other two days were virtual school for DD and work for me days, so LOTS of time spent in that room - it wasn't ideal for resort stays IMO and walls were paper thin - DD was not happy with the screaming going on in the next room while she was taking a test).

Shades definetly has some rooms with vinyl floors, but I can't recall where we stayed. Magnolia on the main level has been carpet my last two stays. I believe the vinyl was in the Palm wing. I'm imagining that's a request you could make in the requests box if you go that route?

 

[olwyngdh]

Personally my husband and I prefer Pop. SoG always gives me the feeling that I need to tiptoe around and speak in whispers and it just doesn't have the Disney feel that we love. Don't get me wrong SoG is beautiful with nice pools, gorgeous scenery, and Evergreens, but it loses a lot of points from us on theming and transportation. Pop gives you the Skyliner and more frequent busses. With the Poly stop shut down for the monorail you are stuck with the every half hour on the half hour for as many people as can get on the bus at Shades.

Yes, the rooms are MUCH smaller at Pop. Yes, there is only a food court. It doesn't matter for us. Pop wins every time.

 

[amador]

SOG! But my vote would depend on the type of trip you're planning. Will you be mostly in the parks or doing a lot of resort time?

Pop is great if you're looking for a place to sleep and is a nice resort (but busier, noisier, and feels far more crowded than SOG. However, despite how busy Pop is, the organization of those buses blew me away with how efficient and orderly the CMs were with huge crowds (with social distancing in effect at that time). In that respect, since Pop's buses start earlier (we're rope droppers) and come frequently, that has the edge over Shades since transportation to parks is limited. Skyliner is also pretty awesome! (I've never used it in the morning though). If doing primarily parks and didn't have a car, I'd likely do this.

Shades is definitely better for space and brightness. Pop rooms are much smaller and, to me, felt darker since it's only one small window, unlike the big windows/balconies at Shades. If I was spending lots of time at the resort, I'd go with Shades. I've only stayed at Pop once though and that was for 3 days, only one of which was a park day before we moved offsite (the other two days were virtual school for DD and work for me days, so LOTS of time spent in that room - it wasn't ideal for resort stays IMO and walls were paper thin - DD was not happy with the screaming going on in the next room while she was taking a test).

Shades definetly has some rooms with vinyl floors, but I can't recall where we stayed. Magnolia on the main level has been carpet my last two stays. I believe the vinyl was in the Palm wing. I'm imagining that's a request you could make in the requests box if you go that route?

We will be in the parks most days, and are definitely rope droppers. While inconvenient, I usually will just walk to the Poly to use the monorail (not sure if this is running right now). We’re also likely to come back to the room for an afternoon nap some days, and might hop to a couple other resorts for meals. So while transportation isn’t a dealbreaker, Pop definitely has an advantage over SoG in that aspect.

 

[Leigh L]

We will be in the parks most days, and are definitely rope droppers. While inconvenient, I usually will just walk to the Poly to use the monorail (not sure if this is running right now). We’re also likely to come back to the room for an afternoon nap some days, and might hop to a couple other resorts for meals. So while transportation isn’t a dealbreaker, Pop definitely has an advantage over SoG in that aspect.

We almost always spend as much time at Poly at Shades, lol. We do catch the monorail (morning) or boat (evening) often. We were at SOG for 4 nights at the end of June, and it was a bummer without the monorail. But it should most definitely be open by November. It's opening either August or September I think?

Also, the path between Poly and GF that leads to MK is now reopened too. That walk is on my bucket list

Whichever you go with, it'll be a great time!