The All New Pop Century FAR OUT FAQ Thread!

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by bobcat
Tyler I have a room charging question for you. I have seen many different answers on this and since I know you are trained front desk (even though it sounds like you are so good in luggage they don't want to give you up) and I'm hoping you can answer these questions.

When you have a room charge how often is your credit card charged? Is it when you reach the $500 limit that is at the value resorts?

When you give a credit card (or debit card which is where this can be a problem) do they put a hold for the entire amount $500 on your card or do they just do an authorization for say $1 to make sure the card will work? The reason this is so important to know is because some debit cards have a daily limit, sometimes much lower than the $500 allowed at the value resorts.

Can you pay off your balance at check out if you haven't reached that $500 mark? Can you pay by check? Is it an electronic check that is debited right away?

When you place a credit card on file for charging privledges, Disney will put a 'hold' on either $1 or 1 cent... just to verify that the card is valid. Value resorts have a $500 resort credit limit, Moderates are $1,000, and Deluxes are $1,500.

Once a guest reaches that limit, thier card will be automatically charged that night, and they will recieve a new $500 (or whatever) limit. There are some times when a guest will be over thier credit limit, and get denied. This can happen if they charge more than thier limit, and the computer has not yet taken payment. A quick call to the resort from the restaurant or merchandise location to activate that charge can solve this issue.

When you place a CC on file, you also get Express Checkout. XCO is when your card will automatically get billed for all charges, and the charge will go through at around 2am the day of check out. This also means that you do NOT need to stop down to the Front Desk to check out... you can bypass that long line.
If you wish to pay for any charges before it gets charged to the credit card, you will want to stop down to the Front Desk/Guest Services on the day before checkout to settle the bill with an alternate method of payment.


As for bank limits... I had a similar situation awhile ago with my bank. It is true, for Debit cards, you do have a daily limit, but as far as I am to know, it is for using the card as a Debit card (ie: entering in PIN). When using the card as a VISA or MasterCard, you should not have those limits. Double check with your bank to make sure, though.

In regards to checks... I'm not sure how Currency Control processes them, but on the Desk, we have to call TeleCheck to gain authorization. The whole process can take up to 5-10 minutes. (Kinda like those Visa Check Card commercials!)

 

[bobcat]

Tyler I know it has been said before but you are awesome!!!!!!!!Thanks for the answers. You can tell it's time for my vacation because I start obsessing over the littlest details.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Basically, I'm looking for a non-smoking, 2/dbl, non-connecting room, preferably on the 4th floor by the steps. So is there a recurring room pattern on how the buildings are laid out?

Tyler - My DD really wants to be able to see Lady when we walk out our door. (We got her a Cocker Spaniel for her 7th birthday that we pick up when we get back and she's already named her Lady.) Do rooms 1401-12 or 3461-72 meet these criteria? If not what about 1301-12 or 3361-72? I'd prefer these rooms since they are not directly over the pool area.

See you in less than 2 weeks.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by cruise-o-matic
Basically, I'm looking for a non-smoking, 2/dbl, non-connecting room, preferably on the 4th floor by the steps. So is there a recurring room pattern on how the buildings are laid out?

Tyler - My DD really wants to be able to see Lady when we walk out our door. (We got her a Cocker Spaniel for her 7th birthday that we pick up when we get back and she's already named her Lady.) Do rooms 1401-12 or 3461-72 meet these criteria? If not what about 1301-12 or 3361-72? I'd prefer these rooms since they are not directly over the pool area.

See you in less than 2 weeks.

If you want to be able to look at Lady, then you're going to want building 3, the Tramp building, which is across from Lady. If you're in building 1, you will be IN the Lady building, but won't be able to see it.

Connecting rooms will be towards the center of the wing, non-connects will be towards the ends of the wing.


By the way, requesting specific room numbers isn't a good idea. There's a very good chance that you will not be able to get that room. It's much better to request an area, and/or view.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Tyler - thanks for the quick reply. Should I go ahead and contact CRO or wait until the end of next week? Also, I'm checking in on Monday, so will all the popular rooms be taken?

Do they pre-assign rooms or just wait until you get to the counter and give you what's available?

 

[mike2u]

We originally booked a 5 day vacation at the Dolphin with a discounted rate for Nurses back in March and that did not include tickets. When we heard about the 5 + 2 offer from Disney we just had to change our plans and get 2 more days in Disney + tickets for a cheaper rate. We will be arriving at Pop on August 15th and can't wait. It will be the first trip for my DD 11, DD 7, DS 2 1/2. Second for my DW and 6th for me. After finding this board and reading as much as possible I can't wait to get down there. I think making the switch was the best move we made Thanks to Tyler and all his great Info. I have already set up PS's at Whispering Canyon, Chef Mickey's breakfast, Fantasmic dinner package, 50's Primetime, and Sci-Fi. I'm looking to make this the best vacation for my kids they have ever had. I've bought them Lanyards and pin's and plan on getting them autograph books. Since I've been on this board I must admit that I'm so impressed with Tyler with the time he spends on here helping people out that I plan on giving him a gift. It's something i found on another website that recoginzes CM's when they do something special for you. I think with all the effort and time that Tyler puts into this website to help people out he deserves this. I hate giving away surprises, but I want everyone to know that I'm going to try to meet Tyler at POP during the week of the 15th of August and present him with a PIN called ' What Would Walt Do '. This PIN recognizes outstanding cast members that try to make your Disney stay as magical as possible. Thank You Tyler and can't wait to meet you in person and present you with this PIN...

 

[bairdbeth]

Hi again Tyler! I was excited that Pop has ropes up to line up for the busses. I was hoping it would make it more organized than ASMo. However, now that I will be in an ECV for my back, I don't know what to do. Do I line up in the rope area with everyone else (which is fine by me!) or do I need to be at the curb. I had heard that the drivers need to see you and know that you need to be on that bus? I just don't want to mess everyone up! Thanks!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by bairdbeth
Hi again Tyler! I was excited that Pop has ropes up to line up for the busses. I was hoping it would make it more organized than ASMo. However, now that I will be in an ECV for my back, I don't know what to do. Do I line up in the rope area with everyone else (which is fine by me!) or do I need to be at the curb. I had heard that the drivers need to see you and know that you need to be on that bus? I just don't want to mess everyone up! Thanks!

At Pop Century, there is a special marked area for those guests using wheelchairs or scooters. Magic Kingdom has the special queue sections as well. Epcot, Animal Kingdom and the Studios do not have a special queue line, so I'd recommend just going to the area on the curb where the back door of the bus would be,

At other locations, such as Downtown Disney, where there are no queue lines, you are correct, you will want to make sure the driver knows you want to board his or her bus.

 

[marymrg]

mike2u............too bad I won't be there until 9/3. Enjoy your vacation! If we have a Tyler sighting, we'll have to think of something similar

 

[MILEMRKR63]

Hey Tyler~

Hope you can assist with my questions.

I will be arriving on 8/10 for 3 nights. Just a mid week getaway for me which primarilly will be spent at Blizzard Beach and Pleasure Island. Am traveling solo down there but my younger brother and his family will be staying at the resort also. They are arriving a few days before me. Won't they be suprised running into me. They have no clue I am coming down to suprise them and most importantly, suprise my little nephew who means more to me than I can ever put in words.

Now I have a reservation booked at a great rate (CM rate, due to my intern for the summer being a CM and working under me at my Resort.) What section of this resort would you suggest I request to be close to bus area.

Next question is can I purchase my 3 days of Blizzard Beach passes at the resort or would you suggest I just by a yearly pass for 100.00 and be able to water park hop. I have no intentions of going to the MK, AK , MGM or EPCOT because I was just there in June for Gay Day 2004 and stayed that trip at Wilderness Lodge(what a blast). 3 days of lazy rivers and 3 nights of Pleasure Island is my game plan along with character dinners with my nephew.

Last question is do they sell the 5 day add on to the Pleasure Island tickets for 5.00 still?

Thank you kindly in advance for your help. First time for me at a value resort but from whatI have read, the POP won't let me down.

Don

 

[Leah's Dad]

Tyler,

I want to thank you for this thread. I am so glad we decided to stay at POP. This information has been so helpful and I check this thread on a daily basis to be on top of any new info. for our trip Sept 28 - Oct. 5. Hope to see you there and thank you personally. God bless!!!

Leah's Dad

 

[fruitcake]

Tyler...thank you for all your wonderful help and information with this thread. I can hardly wait till September!!

I was reading a post a couple pages ago regarding charging to your room. Can you put cash down on the room account so that you can charge to your room or does it have to be a credit or debit card? My hotel stay is already paid in full, but it would be great to do room charges. I don't want to use my debit card and I have been changing all the money I have for the trip into Disney Dollars so I don't spend the money in advance. So instead of carrying all those "dollars" around, it would be great to put them onto my room for charging.

Thanks for your help....and hope to see you in a couple of months!!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by MILEMRKR63
What section of this resort would you suggest I request to be close to bus area.

The 70's might be a good section.

Originally posted by MILEMRKR63
Next question is can I purchase my 3 days of Blizzard Beach passes at the resort or would you suggest I just by a yearly pass for 100.00 and be able to water park hop.

With tax, they should work out to be about the same price, give or take... but the annual pass would give you the benefit of water park hopping. Plus, if you happen to find yourself down here in the next year, it would come in handy then, too. The resort can sell you the standard 1 day tickets, but not the annual pass.

Originally posted by MILEMRKR63
Last question is do they sell the 5 day add on to the Pleasure Island tickets for 5.00 still?

I don't know... I think so, but not 100% sure. The resort can sell the standard PI ticket, but I believe that special upgrade ticket would need to be purchased at the PI ticket booths.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by fruitcake
I was reading a post a couple pages ago regarding charging to your room. Can you put cash down on the room account so that you can charge to your room or does it have to be a credit or debit card?

Yes, you can do that.

 

[Ursula]

I'm considering Pop Century for our next stay. Does anyone know where the smoking rooms are located? I've looked at several maps but cannot find one that has the smoking rooms listed. I'm trying to figure out which area to request. I'm looking for a smoking room close to the main building.

TIA!

 

[CaribbeanGal]

This will be my last visit to the boards before my WDW trip on Saturday.

Although I've been lurking without posting, all the information shared here has been priceless in the planning of my trip. So I wanted to stop by and say a quick good bye and thank you all for sharing your tips and experiences.

I hope I'll see some of you this next week, especially Tyler, who seems to have become an international celebrity these past few weeks :thewave:

Time to go pack!

 

[chewooki]

Hey Tyler,

Coming back at Ya!

See you tomorrow~

 

[DISUNC]

Tyler,

Myself & 10 yr old nephew will be staying at PC the end of this month. I chose this resort based on your wonderful thread here!

THANKS for all the "inside" info!!!

My nephew wants to know how deep are the pools @ PC?

Thanks for all your Help.

Andy

 

[kazza25]

Yeah, that's a good Q, My daughter is 7 and quite small for her age. Which would be the best pool for her as a non-swimmer?

 

[DonDuck Fan]

Room Keys

Hi there I read somewhere that, if you ask, at the end of your stay can you get room keys with your kids name on them, not just the person who booked the ressis, is this true?


DDF