shburks
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
Having just returned from three nights at Pop Century, I thought I would write a quick review.
Let me preface this by saying that we stayed at Pop Century for 9 or 10 nights in December 2009 and found it to be perfectly fine. At that time of year, we did not utilize the pools (too cold) and spent most of our time in the parks but often came back for naps. Stayed in the 70s building last time and it was quiet. Buses were fine, food court was fine but loud. In general, we found it to be perfectly adequate and had no reason not to return.
Arrived on Saturday in the middle of a thunderstorm. I had requested 60s building, lake view. I had done on-line check in. The computer was extremely slow and Lydia from Erie, PA, was lovely making conversation. After a ridiculously long time of waiting for the computer, she rebooted or something and offered to upgrade us.
We ended up in 60 building next to Ballew in room 5408 (4th floor). Lake view from outside the door to our left, splash area straight down.
Outside of the lovely experience at check-in, we found nearly everything else to be lacking. The rooms are small (which we knew--we've stayed there before) but VERY small! There were bugs in our room...I know it's August in Florida, but mousekeeping didn't even bother cleaning the bugs from the windowsills or even our counters. Mousekeeping seemed lacking all around--washcloths not even picked up off the counters one day, odd things on the floor.
The towels are very thin. If they were that thin at my house, they would become rags in the garage! Also, I HATE that you have to take your bathroom towels to the pool and then call for more. Why not just have towels AT the pool? Seems like it would cause so much less work for mousekeeping.
Beds are full-sized beds. I knew that going in. We've stayed there before, but they seemed uncomfortable and the pillows were a bit flimsy. Neither dh nor I slept well.
Worst of all were the people staying below us. While I realize that's NOT the fault of the resort itself, the people were loud and rude very late at night. Had my dh and ds not actually slept through the noise, I would have called the front desk the first night. Comments about "Natty Light and Weed in our room..." set very badly with me at 10:30 pm. It just left a bad taste in my mouth, so to speak.
Food court was just as loud as I remembered, so we walked over to Art of Animation for one lunch and two breakfasts where it was much calmer and quieter and more options.
Then they play movies every night at 8:00. I realize not everyone goes to bed at 8:00, but to start a movie at 8:00 that plays at the pool in the middle of the resort made a very loud night. Kids screaming/squealing until at least 11 pm every night. At several other resorts, the outdoor movie is far away from the rooms...wish that was the case here. It made it very loud every night.
Everything Pop (shop) was fine...except that I asked about the 2013 Disney calendar which I wanted to purchase. I was told that it wasn't out yet...but I thought I had just seen it on the ship! I thought I was mistaken until I found it at the Boardwalk Inn/Villas gift shop the next day.
On the plus side, the grounds are well maintained and the areas around the lake were lovely. The girls at the pool who did the afternoon pool activities did a nice job of involving the children; I was impressed with them. Lydia at check in was lovely and kind.
We have also stayed at All Star Movies and found it to be fine although it has been a few years!
All in all, it's our last stay at Pop Century. We booked it because we wanted an inexpensive Disney resort (booked with military discount) to finish out our WDW trip after a Disney cruise. As much as I wanted to love it, I just didn't.
I strongly believe that different resorts are right for different people and I've always been an advocate for the Value Resorts. After this trip however, I think we'll be doing something different next visit.
Let me preface this by saying that we stayed at Pop Century for 9 or 10 nights in December 2009 and found it to be perfectly fine. At that time of year, we did not utilize the pools (too cold) and spent most of our time in the parks but often came back for naps. Stayed in the 70s building last time and it was quiet. Buses were fine, food court was fine but loud. In general, we found it to be perfectly adequate and had no reason not to return.
Arrived on Saturday in the middle of a thunderstorm. I had requested 60s building, lake view. I had done on-line check in. The computer was extremely slow and Lydia from Erie, PA, was lovely making conversation. After a ridiculously long time of waiting for the computer, she rebooted or something and offered to upgrade us.
We ended up in 60 building next to Ballew in room 5408 (4th floor). Lake view from outside the door to our left, splash area straight down.
Outside of the lovely experience at check-in, we found nearly everything else to be lacking. The rooms are small (which we knew--we've stayed there before) but VERY small! There were bugs in our room...I know it's August in Florida, but mousekeeping didn't even bother cleaning the bugs from the windowsills or even our counters. Mousekeeping seemed lacking all around--washcloths not even picked up off the counters one day, odd things on the floor.
The towels are very thin. If they were that thin at my house, they would become rags in the garage! Also, I HATE that you have to take your bathroom towels to the pool and then call for more. Why not just have towels AT the pool? Seems like it would cause so much less work for mousekeeping.
Beds are full-sized beds. I knew that going in. We've stayed there before, but they seemed uncomfortable and the pillows were a bit flimsy. Neither dh nor I slept well.
Worst of all were the people staying below us. While I realize that's NOT the fault of the resort itself, the people were loud and rude very late at night. Had my dh and ds not actually slept through the noise, I would have called the front desk the first night. Comments about "Natty Light and Weed in our room..." set very badly with me at 10:30 pm. It just left a bad taste in my mouth, so to speak.
Food court was just as loud as I remembered, so we walked over to Art of Animation for one lunch and two breakfasts where it was much calmer and quieter and more options.
Then they play movies every night at 8:00. I realize not everyone goes to bed at 8:00, but to start a movie at 8:00 that plays at the pool in the middle of the resort made a very loud night. Kids screaming/squealing until at least 11 pm every night. At several other resorts, the outdoor movie is far away from the rooms...wish that was the case here. It made it very loud every night.
Everything Pop (shop) was fine...except that I asked about the 2013 Disney calendar which I wanted to purchase. I was told that it wasn't out yet...but I thought I had just seen it on the ship! I thought I was mistaken until I found it at the Boardwalk Inn/Villas gift shop the next day.
On the plus side, the grounds are well maintained and the areas around the lake were lovely. The girls at the pool who did the afternoon pool activities did a nice job of involving the children; I was impressed with them. Lydia at check in was lovely and kind.
We have also stayed at All Star Movies and found it to be fine although it has been a few years!
All in all, it's our last stay at Pop Century. We booked it because we wanted an inexpensive Disney resort (booked with military discount) to finish out our WDW trip after a Disney cruise. As much as I wanted to love it, I just didn't.
I strongly believe that different resorts are right for different people and I've always been an advocate for the Value Resorts. After this trip however, I think we'll be doing something different next visit.
.
