Staying at pop in two weeks any advice?

[cassie714]

We just booked a short trip to disney in two weeks. This was an unplanned trip so I decided to go as cheap as possible. I have never stayed at any of the All stars so I was wondering what they were like. Is the food court any good? and how big are the rooms? Also how is the bus service? We are driving so if it is bad driving is an option.

 

[sters]

Are you asking about POP or All STars? We've stayed at the All Stars Movies and Sports, and I think the layout of the Movies food court provided better traffic control. Each All STar had its own bus to the Magic Kingdom but shared busses for the other theme parks. Which picked up and dropped off first seemed to be random. The busses were plentiful and I dont' recall having poor service (unlike POR which had very spotty bus service). I know you didn't ask, but there's a grocery store down the road, very convenient to the All Stars. The rooms were small, especially the bathrooms, but we were hardly in the room so it was not an issue for me.

 

[cassie714]

I was asking about POP. I had thought it was considered one of the all stars. Sorry for my confusion!

 

[CheezDoodle]

The food court is one of the best. The rooms are very small, but the bus service is great.

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

CheezeDoodle- I LOVE your avatar!!! (sorry for jumping in on the discussion)

 

[Minnie&Nana]

The food court is one of the best. The rooms are very small, but the bus service is great.

The size of the rooms at POP are the same as All Stars (260 sq ft), but the decor is MUCH better ~ understated ~ find photos at (click on photos)

www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/resorts/popcentury.htm

Bathroom small but nice decor (ALLStars has black shower curtian with white stars - very tacky). POP is newer (one yr old) has a lake which makes it very nice, bus service for just POP, large food court, Lounge and outside Pool Bar. People seem to like the Food court (www.allearsnet.com has menu's, click on dining, then resorts, then scroll down to POP).

I stayed at POP last Feb and will again next week. I was VERY hesitant, as I am a resort snob (not joking) and very picky. POP was a mind adjustment for sure (plastic cups in rooms drove me nuts), but it is a fun resort.

Be sure to request an area - check out the map and see what you might like..50's and 70's seem to be most popular because it is a close walk (as good as the preferred room location), but people seem to like other locations too. We had a room with a view of IllumiNations!

Have a great time!!

 

[TaurusSES_Sport]

Heres some advice, pay the extra $30/night and upgrade to a moderate. The "unvalues" are NOT worth it!

 

[#1hockeymom]

Have a great time, Cassie! We went to Pop last October for a very quickly planned fifth trip in one year to Disney! My son and I had a great time and thought the resort was very cute! No, it wasn't AKL concierge, but we knew that when we paid A LOT less! Be sure to stroll around the resort and see all of the icons. We were in the fifties, pool side, not too far from the stairwell. We had a quick walk to both the bus stop and the food court. The food court had a much better selection than I am used to having at Mara. Lack of a sit down didn't bother us since we'd eat in the parks for our sit down meals. Have a great time, you'll be glad you squeezed this trip in!

Debbie

 

[summerrluvv]

The "unvalues" are NOT worth it!

To you perhaps. Have you ever stayed at a value? Looking at your siggie line, I would have to guess that you haven't.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Heres some advice, pay the extra $30/night and upgrade to a moderate. The "unvalues" are NOT worth it!

Aw,come on! Don't knock it if you haven't tried it!!

Besides, not every one has an extra $30 a night ...sensitivity goes a long way

 

[Jockaroo]

BaciBecky,

I want to thank you for your link to the room pictures. I too am looking forward to a quick trip to POP in the next week. (YIKES--SO SOON! I'm not ready yet!) We walked around the resort last May so I could see the Lady icon, but didn't know the room decor. Seems nice. I'm a social history geek so the theming seems really cool to me.

 

[floridagirrl2]

We stayed at the POP for 3 nights in October, and we loved it. Everything is cheerful, fresh, new, and clean, and the theming is a blast. We thought the food court was awesome for breakfast and late-night snacks (the only meals we were there for). We were very happy with the bus transportation.

There is also a gift shop, arcade, bar, and pool bar. Plus you can request a view that faces Epcot if you think you'll be at the resort during Illuminations!

We felt very safe with the level of security at POP and with the fact that there are always people around. It felt much safer than any of the off-site hotels we've stayed at for similar prices.

Our only complaint was the noise--next time we will bring a fan or white-noise machine and request a room at the end of a corridor away from elevators and stairwells.

For the price, POP is a GREAT deal. We are going back to WDW in a week and a half and will stay at the Dolphin, which we prefer for the location, the Heavenly Beds, and the quiet, but it is TRIPLE the price of POP. I doubt we will ever stay offsite on a budget trip again if we can get a discount code for POP!

 

[floridagirrl2]

P.S., I keep reading on the DISboards that the rooms are small, but they were just fine for us (2 adults), and I don't think they were any smaller than the Wyndham Palace room we stayed in last year.

 

[Fridye]

We just returned and were very pleased with Pop. When we checked in, three CM's -- Robert, EJ, and Dave worked very hard to switch us to the 50's building that I'd requested. I'm so glad they did because we had a view of the EPCOT ball and Illuminations. It was incredible! We were in room 2356 and I highly recommend any room on that side of the building. We also had a view of the lake. It didn't seem like a "Value" resort. I've been a "Deluxe" person in the past, but I would definitely stay at Pop again.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

We just returned and were very pleased with Pop. When we checked in, three CM's -- Robert, EJ, and Dave worked very hard to switch us to the 50's building that I'd requested. I'm so glad they did because we had a view of the EPCOT ball and Illuminations. It was incredible! We were in room 2356 and I highly recommend any room on that side of the building. We also had a view of the lake. It didn't seem like a "Value" resort. I've been a "Deluxe" person in the past, but I would definitely stay at Pop again.

We were in room 2456!!!! Great view,indeed!!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

BaciBecky,
I want to thank you for your link to the room pictures. I too am looking forward to a quick trip to POP in the next week. (YIKES--SO SOON! I'm not ready yet!) We walked around the resort last May so I could see the Lady icon, but didn't know the room decor. Seems nice. I'm a social history geek so the theming seems really cool to me.

You're welcome and glad it helped! I know it helped me to se the rooms before our fist visit because I was realy worried they might look like Allstars photos - which would have been awful for me!

We'll be there 12/9-15 - will you overlap? Be sure to say

 

[cassie714]

Thank you for everyone's helpful comments. It sounds like I will enjoy the POP just fine. To whomever said spend the extra 30 bucks, like I said this was an unplanned trip right before christmas. I need that extra for food!

 

[#1hockeymom]

GO! Like I said, my son and I had a blast there! I think you will, too!

 

[Lewski709]

The food court is one of the best. The rooms are very small, but the bus service is great.

I totally disagree. We've stayed 2 times (jan and oct) and the second time I knew NOT to eat at the Food Court.
Breakfast was "ok".

It's a value resort, same as the all stars. That's where the confusion came in. I did it too.

Rooms are cute decor and the resort is fine. Save your extra 30.00 and enjoy some food off property, that's my suggestion.

 

[Focusdude]

We stayed at POP last March and loved it! The rooms were a little small - but like mentioned in an earlier posting - you don't spend much time in your room. The only downfall was the parking - we were in the 1950's - and the parking we could find was always far away. The only time it was really a problem was during check in/check out, though!

Have a great time!