Staying at Pop when prior stays have been Deluxe - bad idea?

[jerseyjersey]

We were able to finagle our schedule to fit in another trip, only to find super limited availability during our dates. We've stayed at (and loved) YC, BC, BW, WL, GF and Poly in the past, but this time around, none of those are available to us. However, there are rooms available at Pop. I know the room will be smaller and less "fancy" (though renovated?), but that's ok, since there will only be 2 of us on this trip, and we're not super picky about the room being lavish, as long as it's clean.

If you normally stay Deluxe, but then stayed at Pop, were you disappointed and/or did you regret it? I can always stalk cancellations, but maybe Pop would be fun and different?

 

[rwdavis2]

Not Pop but didn't like a value. The last time we took the kids (2013) they were in their teens and we normally stayed deluxe or at the Hard Rock at Universal. I picked All Star Movies to save a some $$ and nobody liked it. It was like staying at a motel. Thin walls, outside entrance, long walks to the lobby.

But your mileage may vary.

 

[NJlauren]

We are similar always have stayed deluxe. Back in December of 2015 I really wanted to go see the Osborne lights one more time. My DH was on board but not at the cost of a deluxe we had just been in May.

I did a ton of research and picked the Pop, the room was small but clean, buses were actually really good overall and we loved the trip. It was only 4 nights (I think maybe 3?). And I’m not sure we could do a week in that room with more then 2 people but we did a few nights us and DD and it was great.

Last trip in March of this year we needed to add a night due to bad weather at home we added a night at the Pop, It was only a night but I loved the renovated rooms look. Furniture is not top of the line or anything but it looks nice and is comfortable. I would say the hardwood floors make every spec of dust/dirt visible but it was still pretty clean.

Hope that helps!

 

[Friend of MM]

We have done this a few times in the past. It was when we knew we wouldn't be in the room very much. The plus, besides lower cost, there was good parking for our rental close to room area (there now is a fee to have car) and the Food Court, while crazy busy, was better than most. After our first stay we, learned to ask for a top floor room the next time so it would be a bit quieter. Would we do it again? For us, first choice remains Deluxe, Moderate (when not under construction) is second, but if it were POP or no trip, POP it would be.

 

[Sue M]

I can’t get too excited for a value stay, but sometimes it suits the trip. Our last trip in Nov/Dec was 10 days and we were going specifically to see all the Christmas decorations and weren’t looking for resort time. We stayed at Pop. New rooms were great. Didn’t bother with the pool even though we had some pretty warm days. If I were at a moderate I would have gone to pool or hot tub. But just to have a couple of pool days vs cost......
I love both the moderates and deluxe, but if I’m not planning Resort time Pop fits the bill. And since this is an extra trip for you and you just look at it as a bonus trip I think it will be fine.

 

[Anthony1971]

First none of Disney rooms are Lavish unless you pony up the big $$ for a true suite.... At Disney you are more paying for the grounds and the size of the rooms... If you are people who use what the deluxe resorts offer as far as pools, dining, walking paths, balconies and availability of rentals at the resort you will be disappointed... If you spend all your time in the parks the rooms will be smaller and you will have uncovered bus lines otherwise it is a basic place to sleep has a basic pool and basic lobby... To answer if you will hate it????? some are fine some will dislike it... If you post the dates you are looking for people will be able to help as sometimes Disney will not show availability and other sites will.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I love Disney no matter where I stay. Hubby on the other hand informed me a few trips back, I have spoiled him with the deluxes and he no longer wants to stay value and likely not moderate either. Wish I would have stuck to values from the beginning. LOL

 

[BLLB]

We have stayed DVC for the last 10+ years and stayed at POP over Christmas/NY. First time ever at a Value (we were with DH's basketball team). I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. We had a blast. We usually spend a lot more time in the room because we go more often. Since we were with the team and they were all first-timers, we spent a lot more time at the parks, we were not at the rooms that much. I will say I really enjoyed the theming and the food court.

 

[CGB]

We've stayed at the Poly, Contemporary, and Wilderness Lodge (some club level) over the last 11 years. We booked Pop for a weekend trip two years ago and loved it. It's different from a deluxe, but Pop has its own special charm and we had a blast! First, the rooms and linens are just as clean and nice as a deluxe. Pop's food court is awesome; so much larger with a more diverse menu than the deluxes. Our room area was quiet (even saw the Star Wars fireworks from our room). The bus service was better than we'd ever experienced. Plus, Art of Animation is just next door for extra exploring. While we could have booked a deluxe this summer, my family chose to go back to Pop. I think you'll be surprised at what you've been missing.

 

[HopperFan]

First none of Disney rooms are Lavish unless you pony up the big $$ for a true suite.... At Disney you are more paying for the grounds and the size of the rooms... If you are people who use what the deluxe resorts offer as far as pools, dining, walking paths, balconies and availability of rentals at the resort you will be disappointed... If you spend all your time in the parks the rooms will be smaller and you will have uncovered bus lines otherwise it is a basic place to sleep has a basic pool and basic lobby... To answer if you will hate it????? some are fine some will dislike it... If you post the dates you are looking for people will be able to help as sometimes Disney will not show availability and other sites will.

THIS^ No Disney room is worth it's price but ............... you will now get NONE of the amenities, traditional theme, aura of more than a motel or customer service you get at deluxe. You will be surrounded by 6 ... 8 .... 10 thousand other guests. Have stayed at POP over 30, maybe 35 times and we enjoy it for what it is. It doesn't hold a candle to AKL, WL or other deluxes. We rarely eat there, tend to avoid food court and we rarely use the pools. If you are park-centric and just need a room with beds and bath, it will be fine especially with the new rooms and new beds. All about expectations.

 

[gharter]

If you go in with the proper expectations, it will be fine. You will have a clean room, smaller than the deluxe. You will not have the same level of traditional theme or all of the amenities that the deluxe have. You will not have the level of restaurants. If you spend little time in the room or resort, it not bad. If you tend to pend more time hanging around the resort, enjoying their activities, you may be disappointed.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

If you go in thinking you will hate it, you will live out the self fulfilling prophecy.

If you go in grateful to be at WDW at all, Pop may just surprise you. I’m a Deluxe girl all the way (and have stayed CL many times) but adore Pop for a “bonus” trip.

 

[Mousemommy1]

DH and I snuck in a 2nd trip this year for the 2 of us and we saved money by staying at AKL. DH is adamant against staying at values for now.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Are you a parks from open to close person? If so, then go for it. We've become lounge around the resort people now, and I would not stay at a value because it just doesn't meet the requirements of what we want in a vacation right now. But we have stayed value and not felt like we were missing anything when we were going park-commando.

Shorter version--depends on what kind of trip you're planning.

 

[KenHutch]

Just remember this rule a vacation at Disney even if your not staying deluxe is better than no trip at all. I feel some of your pain I finally upgraded the girls to a deluxe (AKL) and they have informed me they can never go back to being moderate girls.

 

[jerseyjersey]

Thank you all for your input. It's interesting to see the varying opinions, which also make me feel a bit better about being on the fence about this!

We've done both rope drop to close trips, and hang around the resort trips--I'm guessing this would be more of a park-intensive trip. We are staying at the Poly for our summer trip (with resort time planned), and have been toying with the idea of buying APs anyway since we have a 2019 trip planned, as well. Our other option would be to do a non-Disney trip this time around, but staying at Pop with our APs, would make for an inexpensive getaway, which is a bonus.

We do enjoy the pool and hot tub at the resorts we've stayed in the past, and having a balcony has been nice, but I don't think those things will make or break our trip. We'd also be leaving the pickiest member of our group behind for this trip, which would help.

Thank you for the offers to help us find availability! Unfortunately, this trip would be over Jersey Week, and we've checked out Disney's site, magical deals, AAA, Costco, some of the other deal sites, as well as the usual travel sites, and unless we want to spend over $1000 per night (which we don't for this trip), Pop looks like our best reasonable option.

 

[Mome Rath]

I've stayed, and can stay, at all levels of hotels (including CL), and Pop is still on my list that I choose from for each trip. Pop is busy, fun, and yes, different from a deluxe, but that's a great thing in my book. I like the food court, and Hourglass Lake, and the walk to AoA. My attitude is you won't know what you think of a place til you give it a go, and form your own opinion, and some here will agree with you and some will disagree, and that's ok.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[DLgal]

I can't stay in Values anymore for the simple reason they are just WAY too loud in the rooms. The walls are paper thin and I can't sleep with all the noise. Even if I am only in the room to sleep, does no good if it's too loud to actually sleep.

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

Set your expectations accordingly, and you'll have a great time! Some of the advantages of a deluxe that are often cited aren't even available at all Deluxes. You have to walk outside from the lobby to get to your room at GF and Poly. You have to take the bus everywhere if you're at AKL. I've never stayed value, but the new rooms at POP look amazing, and I think we'll have to check them out sometime.

If I'm getting ultra picky, I will admit I think the linens were nicer at any of the deluxes we've stayed than at CSR/moderate. For us, though, the main factor is the bus situation. So, I'd be willing to stay CBR or POP once the gondolas are up and running while not staying still at AKL and possibly WL. Have a great time at POP!

 

[peteykirch]

I can tell you that we were always a deluxe hotel staying family, last year we stayed at the Pop Century for a couple nights before a 5 night stay at the Poly. We much preferred the renovated room at the Pop. The room we got at the Poly was a run down disaster and took in a great deal of water from the patio door.