The GROOVIER New Pop Century FAQ Thread Chapter 2! ~ Post #1 is a must see!

[cepmom]

Which DSA is right outside the Dining area ??I am a smoker and the one I used was way to the right of the lobby entrance in thr back, not at all in the main drag !Are you sure it was a DSA or just smokers making it one . They had tables by the Bar that were smoking areas and along the lake path1 If there was a DSA by the Foodcourt it should be at the other end not near the entrances !!

it's on the back side, near the doors out of the Classic Hall to the Hippy Dippy Pool. If you are exiting Classic Hall, going to the pool, just to the right is the smoking area. There were some benches and ashtray type receptacles. We walked by it several times this past trip and really only noticed it because DH quit smoking a few months ago and he mentioned the smell.

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Sorry...this is briefly .

Did you ever make a cruise thread like the first post with cruising info? if so I want to read that too!....

Well, it wasn't anything like Post #1 of this thread. It was specific to our Meets thread. It just kept us all organized and gave us a single point of reference to any news that we needed to stay on top of. Nonetheless, since you're planning a cruise, maybe you'll find some ideas for your group there! I know there have been several other Meets Groups who have adopted a very similiar "Go-To" post after seeing this one.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1942249

For more generic cruise info, there is a Sticky on the DCL board that is somewhat helpful. Otherwise, I HIGHLY recommend getting the "Passporter" book! That is a great compulation of info that you read on the DCL boards. (I first went to the library to check it out before making a purchase to make sure I liked it as others said. I couldn't put it down! So I ordered the current year's book for my cruise.) Otherwise, as I hope you've noticed, the people on DCL Forums are AMAZING and EXTREMELY friendly and always willing to help. I've found that Forum the best on the DIS!

Okay...back to your regularly scheduled thread!

 

[jenseib]

Thanks. I'll check it out!

 

[englishrose47]

I gues it is the same DSA I used I just didn't seeitas being on a main path I thought it sorts secluded ! I agree the one by Petals pool is on the main drag.!

 

[Suellen]

So DH and I have this ongoing debate. We NEVER get the towel animals. He says it is because we don't tip until the last day.

Do you all tip your housekeeper everyday? Only at the end? Not at all?

 

[Buckeye Gal]

So DH and I have this ongoing debate. We NEVER get the towel animals. He says it is because we don't tip until the last day.

Do you all tip your housekeeper everyday? Only at the end? Not at all?

Indeed I tip every day. You very likely may not have the same mousekeeper each day you are there. So if you tip only the last day, perhaps that is the day off of the person who had been cleaning your room all the other days. That person then never gets rewarded for the work they do for you, yet the person cleaning your room after you check out will get that lump sum you leave behind and they only cleaned your room one day.

With that said, IMO, I don't think that's the reason. They could be super busy or just don't have the talent yet. It's a nice thing for them to do, but not a priority or requirement. I know I didn't get one every day I was there last Sept. Some days the animal I did have just moved around the room.

 

[jenseib]

I gues it is the same DSA I used I just didn't seeitas being on a main path I thought it sorts secluded ! I agree the one by Petals pool is on the main drag.!

I don;t think you are thinking of the right one. It is right after you walk out the doors to the immediate right. Peopel are acutally standing by the door sometimes. It is only benches and deadends. You can't walk "thru" there, but it is right next to the doorway. The polite people usually go to the far end.
I usually wnet to the petals one. Thats where most of them went that I saw, and I tried to stay in the "group" of smkers, and not by tables that didn't smoke.
I was also told by the CM's at Pop that the whol back path along the lake is for free smoking, but the map actually shows you a few designated spots. I would just keep moving while smoking and if I saw someone walking I walked as far from them as possible.

 

[englishrose47]

I tip everyday too ! If I have a really good housekeeper I makesure I leavea bigger tipfor her before I leave . The first timewe stayed at Pop Sue was our Mousekeeper andshe was great!! Had Towel Animals everyday she worked and often severalof them. This year I barely saw the housekeeper , I still tipped each day and had nocomplaints but only one animal !!

 

[derrickmom]

Thank you so much for the GREAT info!

 

[derrickmom]

Yes Free dining is offered specific times and has been for the past 4 or 5 yrs I believe. It is always offered to Disney Visa Card Holders first then to the general public. This past year it was opened to Disney visa holders apprx the 9th and the general public was apprx the 12th or 13th of April. For stays from August 23 thru September 20th I think.
It always comes out in the begining of April. This yr I believe there was a week in Oct or Nov it was offered also and I know it was definitely offered the wk of the 15th of Dec I'm not sure if those dates were offered to General Public or just Disney Visa holders. The bounceback is offered during your stay and must be booked before you depart as you need to use your active reservation number there is usually a card in your room but if you are aware of it and don't have a card and know it is being offered during your stay don't be afraid to inquire not everyone always gets a card but IDK why that is. Maybe just overlooked if the guest before take it or throw it out not sure on that as we didnt get one on our stay in august i was aware it was being offered but got to busy and forgot to ask so when I came I found the number and called and explained and they were nice enough to let me book a bounceback offer for this august I really liked in august much to my surprose we will be back for 10days from August 23rd thru Sept 3rd this yr! Hope I helped! If you have questions and I can answer I will feel free to ask heres a pic of the card from the room for the Bounceback offer this past August /September:

Thank you for the GREAT information!! Helped a tun!!

 

[Goofy22]

Thanks for posting this! I just convinced DH to go and take our 2 and his 2 kids for free dining SEPT 10! I know it is a way off; we need to save for awhile to be able take all 4 kids with 2 rooms @ the POP! I just hope they still have free dining for SEPT 2010!

It's been going on for apprx 4 or 5 yrs now and with the economy the way it is this year . I think Disney will still have it in 2010 that's my opinion. I think it's a way to pull ppl in and make more money even though they are giving you free dining they must be doing good or they wouldn't keep doing so once again just an opinion from me. If they offer us bounceback in August / Sept this yr then more than likely it will be offered to the General Public it will be a good sign for you for 2010.

 

[Goofy22]

So DH and I have this ongoing debate. We NEVER get the towel animals. He says it is because we don't tip until the last day.

Do you all tip your housekeeper everyday? Only at the end? Not at all?

I also do tip every day for the same reason the other poster stated and we did recieve lots of towel animals( although i don't think that has anything to do with it but I could be wrong) and seen lots in windows also. What you could do when you leave your tip for the day you could write for housekeeper and then say that our children love towel animals. I have heard some ppl did this if they didnt get any and did indeed recieve some it may work for you.

 

[Goofy22]

Thank you for the GREAT information!! Helped a tun!!

Glad I could help!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Hi All! New poster making my second trip to Pop in March. Just curious if anyone else has noticed how ill placed the smoking section is and if anyone that has been there recently can tell me if it is moved. It drove me nutso that every time I would come out of the Lobby and take a right I would be smack dab in the middle of the smoking section with my two small kids.

Other than that ~ Pop is my new absolute FAVORITE Disney Resort value or moderate (never stayed at deluxe so I am just guessing I would like those better!)

Loved the first post ~ thank you so much for the time and effort!

The smoking is in a terrible location and I honestly do not understand how a non-smoking guest would not notice. We either go through the lobby to totally avoid the smoke or I hold my breath when walking through - of course, a small child could not do that, so I'd suggest just going through the lobby, right through the gift shop into the Food Court. It's really not any longer and usually less crowded too.

Have a wonderful trip!!
(p.s we enjoy the deluxes the best, but with cost an important factor, POP is a such a fun resort that we've stayed there a few times)

 

[englishrose47]

I used that DSA in Feb a lot and I honestly thought it was out of the way, they had a litle area with seats and it was surrounded on 3 sides by flower beds ,it was open at one end close to the lobby doors but I always was in that little secluded area , possibly it has changed ! I do believe ther was one near the foodcourt which I as a smoker think is not right , people were eating out there and didn.tneed us smokers puffing away. I sa a few smokers take their food to the one near Petals Bar !! I really think we smokers need to be mindfulof the non smokers and not puff towards them or a public thruway!!Even when smokin was allowedin the rooms I didn't !!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

You are very considerate!

I want to apologize if my previous post sounded unkind toward smokers. Truly, that's not what I intended, but rather that Disney did not seem to choose the best location outside the food court.

I know the area you mentioned, but folks have expanded the area on their own and tend to smoke all along that outdoor seating area - at least they were during our August stay.

Smokers certainly deserve a comfortable place to relax and enjoy!

 

[xcell]

anyone know the longest time it would take to get to one of the resorts from POP? im travelling with 2 kids DD2, DD5 and some people have told me to rent car because the bus service wouldnt be great for them. i'd rather spend the extra $$ on something else...but need to convince the wife that transportation at WDW isnt as bad as what my cousins told us.

 

[englishrose47]

You are very considerate!

I want to apologize if my previous post sounded unkind toward smokers. Truly, that's not what I intended, but rather that Disney did not seem to choose the best location outside the food court.

I know the area you mentioned, but folks have expanded the area on their own and tend to smoke all along that outdoor seating area - at least they were during our August stay.

Smokers certainly deserve a comfortable place to relax and enjoy!

Well Thankyou I do try to be considerate ! I am not a drinker and smoking is my only vice , my life has not been easy and my ciggie are my relaxation, but I do try to not let my bad habit infringe on others !!I reallylike the secluded DSAs as I feelso much more comfortable there !! The pathway around the Lake was great too !!

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

I was @ POP on 12/6 for the week-end and we had no issues with the buses. They were pretty quick to all the parks, but also pretty full. Depends alot on the type of stroller you have too. I've seen parents really struggling with the huge strollers on the buses as they take up alot of room & alot of times the buses may be standing room only.

 

[princess&her4princes]

anyone know the longest time it would take to get to one of the resorts from POP? im travelling with 2 kids DD2, DD5 and some people have told me to rent car because the bus service wouldnt be great for them. i'd rather spend the extra $$ on something else...but need to convince the wife that transportation at WDW isnt as bad as what my cousins told us.

From Pop to a resort? Or the parks? We took the bus from Pop to all the parks and DTD, never had to wait for them and they are direct unlike the All Stars to and from. They were great!! We would definately do it again and we have three little ones, strollers, etal. Good luck!