Roll Call for Pop Century - October 2012

[Cinderella's slipper]

We are staying at Pop for the first time on October 6, 2012, checking out on October 17. Since this is our first stay at Pop, I thought it would be nice to meet other Poppers who are vacationing in October to discuss our plans, countdowns, and helpful hints.

Currently, there is a very detailed thread on the boards about Pop - that maybe able to answer any questions you have. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2793105.

Happy Planning Fellow Poppers

 

[dfaithberry]

We will be arriving October 14 & checking out on the 21st. This is our first visit to Disney as well and have decided to stay at the Pop. We thought about a moderate because we got a 30% off PIN, but decided to add an extra day instead. This relaxes our schedule to give the kids "pool" time and hopefully all of us nap time.

Staying in a preferred room based on the suggestion of our Travel Agent, but is it really worth it at Pop? I hear the longest walk is about 8 minutes to main building.

We plan to make sure to utilize the online check-in and will check-in 10 days before our arrival date. This allows for a quick check-in which will also us to AK sooner

 

[KNovacovschi]

We will be staying for our 3rd trip Oct 14-20. We love PoP and would not stay anywhere else. My DD14 says that the mods and deluxes look boring. How can anything at Disney look boring. I just don't know about her sometime. 184 days can't come quick enough. At least on Tuesday I get to make my ADR's, I've been waiting 3 long mths to at least do this much. While there we will be celebrating our wedding anniversary and DD's 15th birthday.

OCTOBER hurry up and come already!!!!

 

[Cinderella's slipper]

We will be arriving October 14 & checking out on the 21st. This is our first visit to Disney as well and have decided to stay at the Pop. We thought about a moderate because we got a 30% off PIN, but decided to add an extra day instead. This relaxes our schedule to give the kids "pool" time and hopefully all of us nap time.

A first time visit is so exciting! Congrats on getting a great Pin.

Staying in a preferred room based on the suggestion of our Travel Agent, but is it really worth it at Pop? I hear the longest walk is about 8 minutes to main building. The link in the first post takes you to a detailed thread about Pop, and some very knowledgeable people who can answer your question about the value of a preferred vs standard rooms. We booked a standard room.

We plan to make sure to utilize the online check-in and will check-in 10 days before our arrival date. This allows for a quick check-in which will also us to AK sooner

We do online check in, it makes me feel like time is passing quicker. I'm hopeful that it makes the actual check-in process quicker.

We will be staying for our 3rd trip Oct 14-20. We love PoP and would not stay anywhere else. My DD14 says that the mods and deluxes look boring. How can anything at Disney look boring. I just don't know about her sometime. 184 days can't come quick enough. At least on Tuesday I get to make my ADR's, I've been waiting 3 long mths to at least do this much. While there we will be celebrating our wedding anniversary and DD's 15th birthday.

OCTOBER hurry up and come already!!!!

Congrats on the celebration of both your DD's Birthday and your wedding anniversary! How long have you been married?

My DH and I are celebrating both our birthdays and our 35th wedding anniversary this trip. October can't some soon enough.
Happy Planning!

 

[dfaithberry]

Thanks for the info Cinderella's Slipper....very excited for this trip. Yesterday we made our dining reservations, now I just have to be patient for the next 179 days. Still keeping my finger's crossed that FD will become available or I get a 40% off PIN, but have budgeted as if no additional/better discount will be available.

 

[dfaithberry]

While there we will be celebrating our wedding anniversary and DD's 15th birthday.

Congrats, I bet it would be fun to go to Disney for a celebration!

 

[Cinderella's slipper]

Thanks for the info Cinderella's Slipper....very excited for this trip. Yesterday we made our dining reservations, now I just have to be patient for the next 179 days. Still keeping my finger's crossed that FD will become available or I get a 40% off PIN, but have budgeted as if no additional/better discount will be available.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and think good thoughts that you get either a great pin or free dining!! There are some Diser's who leave me in awe with the level of organizing and planning and that's not even taking into consideration the creativity that exists on the boards. Happy Planning and Congrats on getting your dining reservations made.

 

[Steph2527]

First Solo trip at POP, Oct 21st-26th A little nervous, but excited too! I just need the airfare $ to go down a little bit!!

 

[Cinderella's slipper]

First Solo trip at POP, Oct 21st-16th! A little nervous, but excited too! I just need the airfare $ to go down a little bit!!

Hi Steph, not quite sure about your travel dates. Have you read the solo travelers thread here on the boards. If not, that might be helpful and you may find others that are traveling solo around the same time as you.

As for airfare, you might want to check out an offer from Southwest. They were offering 50,000. bonus points, after applying for and using their credit card. This card carries a $99.00 annual fee; however, I know someone flying out of Manchester, NH that was able to book their airfare using these bonus points. There is a $pp additional FAA charge as well as a charge for early bird seating, if you want to elect that. Not sure if Southwest flies out of your area; however you might want to google Southwest Airlines and see what comes up.

 

[momof2buzzboys]

We are checking in on the 20th and leaving on the 28th - Lets just keep our fingers crossed for FD! First time to the world without extended family! Very excited!

 

[Steph2527]

Hi Steph, not quite sure about your travel dates. Have you read the solo travelers thread here on the boards. If not, that might be helpful and you may find others that are traveling solo around the same time as you.

As for airfare, you might want to check out an offer from Southwest. They were offering 50,000. bonus points, after applying for and using their credit card. This card carries a $99.00 annual fee; however, I know someone flying out of Manchester, NH that was able to book their airfare using these bonus points. There is a $pp additional FAA charge as well as a charge for early bird seating, if you want to elect that. Not sure if Southwest flies out of your area; however you might want to google Southwest Airlines and see what comes up.

Sry, that was a typo! I fixed it! Oct 21-26th are my dates. I appreciate the southwest suggestion, but I prefer JetBlue (I fly out of JFK, only 10 minutes from me), and I'm a nervous flyer, and familiarity helps! They also have the most flight times options! I have checked out the solo traveler threads, thank you!

 

[ausmum66]

We will be there from October 5 until the 16th. My birthday falls on the 12th, so am thrilled to be there to celebrate it

We are in a party of 5. Our son is 14. We will be joined by friends from Berlin and can't wait!

The boy from Berlin is now 23. He was an exchange student with us in Australia for a year when he was 16, and is now very much part of the family. We took him to WDW and stayed at Pop for his 21st, and now he wants to show it off to his mum. Hope she loves it as much as we do

 

[Cinderella's slipper]

Sry, that was a typo! I fixed it! Oct 21-26th are my dates. I appreciate the southwest suggestion, but I prefer JetBlue (I fly out of JFK, only 10 minutes from me), and I'm a nervous flyer, and familiarity helps! They also have the most flight times options! I have checked out the solo traveler threads, thank you!

Steph, sounds like you are all set. I can't remember if you have stayed at Pop before. This is our first time at Pop Century.

We will be there from October 5 until the 16th. My birthday falls on the 12th, so am thrilled to be there to celebrate it

Hi Ausmum, my birthday falls on October 15 and I agree, it's a great place to celebrate your Birthday.

We are in a party of 5. Our son is 14. We will be joined by friends from Berlin and can't wait!

The boy from Berlin is now 23. He was an exchange student with us in Australia for a year when he was 16, and is now very much part of the family. We took him to WDW and stayed at Pop for his 21st, and now he wants to show it off to his mum. Hope she loves it as much as we do

 

[ausmum66]

I am puzzled about these 'pins"..how do you get one of those? we booked through Dreams Unlimited...

 

[Cinderella's slipper]

I am puzzled about these 'pins"..how do you get one of those? we booked through Dreams Unlimited...

ausmum I wish I knew for sure how to get a pin. There are some theories, that if you go online to the official disney site http:\\disneyparks.disney.go.com\ and click on price your vacation, and then save the results that you may get a pin. Also, I've read rumors that if you also order a trip planning DVD as well this may help your chances. This trip, we didn't receive a pin, but I read here on the DIS that if you called Disney - that there might be a PIN associated with your name. So I called and there was a PIN for free dining associated with our name.

Ausmum, I understand from reading about Dreams Unlimited Services, that they will make your dining reservations and search for you if there are any discounts, or promotions offered. I would suggest you contact them to see if there are any discounts available, beyond what price they quoted you.



Good luck!!

 

[ausmum66]

I just called Disney and changed our contact details in their system...I hope that prompts "some sort of activity" lol

we are still hoping the free dining option is offered for October, like the last time we were there!

after paying $15 000 in airfares alone for this vacation, some discount would be nice

 

[dfaithberry]

good luck ausmum66..hope you get some kind of pin. I was told that if FD would become available we should hear something about it around May 19th, which is when the current FD deal expires.

Not sure if it will work, but when we ordered custom maps and had them snail mailed, we received a 30% off hotel.

 

[dfaithberry]

I am puzzled about these 'pins"..how do you get one of those? we booked through Dreams Unlimited...

I am pretty new to all this, but I have read the forum and talked with my travel agent. Appears no one knows exactly how one gets a PIN. It appears to be random.

PINS can only be used by the person it is addressed to (non-transferable) and can be received via snail mail or email (so read all Disney emails carefully). If you do a search for PIN on disboards.com there is a thread dedicated to PIN information that would provide you with more info.

While no one knows exactly who will get a pin, some have suggested taking steps to increase your chances. Just keep in mind that it has never been confirmed that these methods work, but it is worth a shot:
Create an account in disney online
create and save a few trip plans
order custom maps via snail mail
order the DVD

Hope that helps!

 

[dfaithberry]

We are checking in on the 20th and leaving on the 28th - Lets just keep our fingers crossed for FD! First time to the world without extended family! Very excited!

My travel agent mentioned that if FD would become available for October, Disney should announce it some time after May 18th (after the current promotion ends).

Starting May 19th I will be searching the internet to find out if Disney will offer free dining and if there will be blackout dates like last year (hope not).

Best Wishes!

 

[gonnago]

I just called Disney and changed our contact details in their system...I hope that prompts "some sort of activity" lol

we are still hoping the free dining option is offered for October, like the last time we were there!

after paying $15 000 in airfares alone for this vacation, some discount would be nice

15,000.00 or 1500.00 ?first number scared me almost to death.just curious where you are flying from