Tell me something I don't know about POP!

[masonsmousermom]

I wouldn't pay for preferred. Some rooms are closer, but nothing is really that far.

hmmmm.... I disagree. Preferred rooms are about convenience. I've stayed in both regular and preferred rooms, and found that the preferred were quite a bit more convenient. So, if you don't mind the inconvenience of walking longer distances back and forth to the main pool, lobby, food court, arcade, etc. then preferred status isn't really worth it for you. But, if you appreciate the shorter walk, than it's worth it.

 

[darlak]

I've also stayed in both preferred and non-preferred. The convenience of the preferred location is worth it to me. I want to be close enough to just run down and refill my mug and I like being close to the Hippy Dippy Pool. The one other big convenience for me is that I like being close to the laundromat. My DH thinks I'm a nut to do laundry on vacation, but I always do, no matter where we're vacationing. Laundromats are located near all 3 pools, but if you're in the 70's buildings, you could be quite some distance from one. The 80's and 90's buildings are just too far from the food court for me. I'm old and I need to save my energy for the parks!

I love this thread. I'm learning some things I didn't know even though I've stayed there many times.

 

[kindakrazy2]

I do laundry too. Not tonnes but some so we have some choice about what to wear towards the end of the trip. Plus coming home with full suitcases of dirty clothes seems icky to me!

 

[disnut8]

hmmmm.... I disagree. Preferred rooms are about convenience.

That's quite true and everyone has a different opinion on what they consider convenience. We were once put into a preferred room at Pop Century because our standard room we were assigned had one major thing that we absoultely could not handle in a room. We didn't like it at all because it was quite a hike from the room to the nearest parking lot. Not the official lot for that decade but the closest lot. We drive everywhere at Disney World so for us, a preferred located was not convenient. We also don't typically use the pool or have to be right at the food court. To us, a preferred room would be one way out away from eveything.

 

[beaniejawa]

My husband and I and our 5-year-old will be staying at the Pop June 4 - 10. We'll have a car, but I was wondering: is it faster to go to some parks by bus? And what it is like driving to the parks? Do you have to take a tram to get to the gate or can you just walk it? I've been to Disney twice before, but I've always used the bus system.

Any thoughts? I'm super excited to be staying at the Pop!

 

[beanjean]

I keep reading that it is faster to get to MK by bus than by your own car as they let you out at the park versus having to go to the TTC and transfer there. This is my first trip so really not sure, though.

 

[jenseib]

I keep reading that it is faster to get to MK by bus than by your own car as they let you out at the park versus having to go to the TTC and transfer there. This is my first trip so really not sure, though.

That is true. If you drove to MK you park at the TTC and then you have another 15 minutes or so before you get to the park.

 

[keliblue]

Thanks everyone!

I have to admit that I am afraid of the bad coffee. I need a cup to get me going in the morning. Adding the hot chocolate is a good idea - thanks for that tip!

The coffee is bad so we bring the Folgers single packs and get hot water from the counter service

 

[keliblue]

My husband and I and our 5-year-old will be staying at the Pop June 4 - 10. We'll have a car, but I was wondering: is it faster to go to some parks by bus? And what it is like driving to the parks? Do you have to take a tram to get to the gate or can you just walk it? I've been to Disney twice before, but I've always used the bus system.

Any thoughts? I'm super excited to be staying at the Pop!

The only times that we thought the car was much faster then the bus was when going to the water parks and MK during MNSSHP The lines for the bus to get back to POP were horrible It took 5 busses before we got on... wished we had a car that night

 

[kindakrazy2]

So the coffee really is as bad as they say, eh?

I can kind of remember bad coffee at POR but we did 2/3 coffee and 1/3 hot water and it was drinkable. Took the bitterness down. Anyone tried this?

 

[binkyj826]

So the coffee really is as bad as they say, eh?

I can kind of remember bad coffee at POR but we did 2/3 coffee and 1/3 hot water and it was drinkable. Took the bitterness down. Anyone tried this?

Thats pretty much my coffee "recipe" at Disney. Except that I add LOTS of cream and Splenda cause I'm that type of gal

 

[Willow16]

In Classic Hall, across from the inside entrance to Everything Pop, you can get a charicature drawn. We would pass them every day and finally, on the last day, we got them done for the kids.

Definitely tip a few dollars every day. We brought envelopes with us and my son decorated one every day and wrote "mousekeeping" on them. We didn't meet our "mousekeeper" until the day we left (we were really on the go every day) and she was so grateful. Through the week, she left us washcloth animals and she posed the hats and stuffed animals on the bed. I know some people leave a tip on the last day but you never know if you will be leaving it to the person who cleaned all week or someone who was just cleaning that day.

I love the fact that they have fresh brewed iced tea that is unsweetened in the food court and you can fill up in your mug.

 

[happybratpack]

The meatball sub and the shrimp lo-mein are yummy too! We've stayed three times and everytime have been in the 50's so maybe we'll get to try something new this year.

 

[Bev J]

Can anyone tell me how much a taxi is to or from POP and Epcot and MK?
My DH had knee surgery and by the end of the day he might just prefer a taxi back to the resort rather than waiting for the bus.

Thanks for the info!

Bev

 

[Tara8595]

Preferred vs Standard: 60s, 70s, and 50s all have standard rooms on the back sides of the buildings, and are equidistant from the elevators as the preferred, so unless you're taking the stairs or have a first floor room, you don't gain any savings in distance by staying in preferred. The standard rooms that face the lake are nice and quiet.

Taxi to MK: $20+tip in 2005.

Bus vs Car: Car is faster (and less annoying at night) if you're staying until after Wishes, otherwise bus is faster.

Something you might not know: - There are alligators in the lake. Walk the path in the morning and look for the eyes...

Budget tip: Bring your own bagels and toast them in the toaster at the food court. We did this for a super-cheap trip in March and it was great to still feel like a part of the action even though we didn't eat the breakfast food - good for avoiding the lines too if you buy a mug and drink apple juice all week.

 

[Willow16]

"Can anyone tell me how much a taxi is to or from POP and Epcot and MK?
My DH had knee surgery and by the end of the day he might just prefer a taxi back to the resort rather than waiting for the bus.

Thanks for the info!

Bev"

What you might want to do is get in line for the bus and have your husband sit down on the bench that is near the bus stop. Tell the person who lines up behind you that he is sitting down and will join you when you get on the bus. If it looks like you'll be standing, you can wait for the next bus while he continues to sit.

 

[jenseib]

Preferred vs Standard: 60s, 70s, and 50s all have standard rooms on the back sides of the buildings, and are equidistant from the elevators as the preferred, so unless you're taking the stairs or have a first floor room, you don't gain any savings in distance by staying in preferred. The standard rooms that face the lake are nice and quiet.

Taxi to MK: $20+tip in 2005.

Bus vs Car: Car is faster (and less annoying at night) if you're staying until after Wishes, otherwise bus is faster.

Something you might not know: - There are alligators in the lake. Walk the path in the morning and look for the eyes...

Budget tip: Bring your own bagels and toast them in the toaster at the food court. We did this for a super-cheap trip in March and it was great to still feel like a part of the action even though we didn't eat the breakfast food - good for avoiding the lines too if you buy a mug and drink apple juice all week.

OMG!! Their is alligators at the POP pond? ICK. Dont' alligators need t ocome on land? So why don't they attack people, or more people see them? I would thin kthey would have a pest control there to keep them away from the resort. I have heard that Bay lake has them too though. ICK!!!

 

[kindakrazy2]

So cool on the alligators! Can't wait to go looking for them! The kids will love that!

 

[gottalluvmickey]

So excited to stay at PC! What snacks are offered at the food court that are on the DDP for snack?

 

[minnie61650]

Disney started building Pop in 1999 and the Classic Years of Pop was not opened until late 2003.


The other half of Pop known as the Ledgendary Years remains unfinished to this day.

if you go to the back of the resort by the lake there is a bridge, go to the end of the bridge look across the lake you will see the bigest eyesore and waste of money in disney it is rest of pop the" legend years " its a legend alright.

This was published in June 2006 from this website:
http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=eo060630bb
After the strong success of the All Star Resorts, it became clear to Disney management that more "value level" resort capacity at Walt Disney World would be a good investment. Having more inexpensive rooms on-site would bring more customers through the gates to stay for longer duration visits, rather than staying off site at the chain motels on the 192 and International Drive strips.
Construction for the new Pop Century Resort, began in late 1999 and continued at a steady, if not breakneck, pace for almost two years.
Located just South of Caribbean Beach Resort off of Victory Way, the new resort was expected to be the perfect place for sports teams to stay while competing at various tournaments at the nearby Wide World of Sports. The influx of amateur softball and baseball teams, cheerleading and dance squads, and fans of the Atlanta Braves (who make Wide World of Sports their Spring training home base) would certainly fill this new resort's rooms as soon as it was built.
Then came the tragedy of 9/11. As our nation mourned the loss of heros and innocent civilians to the dastardly attacks on New York and Washington (not forgetting the patriots on the flight that "failed" it's mission when it crashed in Pennsylvania), going on vacation to visit Mickey Mouse became much less important. More families stayed home or took shorter, local trips for vacation in the two years or so that followed.
Without the need for the extra capacity, construction on the Pop Century Resort buildings was put on hold and the buildings were mothballed. It wasn't until late 2003, just in time for the Christmas holiday week in fact, that the Classic Years (depicting the 1950s, '60s, '70s, '80s, and '90s) half of the resort opened. The Legendary Years (depicting the decades from 1900 through 1940) remains incomplete and unopened with no published plans for completion.
-----------------------------------------

Here's a link to an article that talks about the unfinished section of Pop becoming suites:
It has photos of how the unfinished section of Pop looks today.