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

[DreaGirl]

I just wanted to thank everyone for commenting on the blow up toddler bed. It sounds like there may be more room between the bed and the bathroom than in-between the 2 beds. But either way we are packing our toddler bed for one of the kids!

For about a week I was booted from POP and thought we were going to stay at ASSp (due to changing dates for a flight). But today I called to make a payment and they had POP open for our new dates.... So we're back!!!

Oh, I'm almost positive the answer is no, but are there elevators? Are they accomidating to families with small children and strollers if we ask for a ground or 2nd floor room?

I think those toddler blow-ups are the same size as a pack'n'play. We fit a pack'n'play between the tv and the half-wall of the closet. HTH!

 

[brokenlola]

All the Value Resort buildings have elevators.

Woo Hoo!!! Now I am super excited!

So if I don't need to request a certain floor... which building should I request? Anything besides '80's and '90's?

 

[angwill]

No, I haven't seen the 2009 rates..now I'm scared to look ....how much is a pref room now??

Hey M&N This year the weekends are more expensive than during the week and preferred rooms went from $10 or $11 more last year to $15 more per night this year. I think lots of people really like being closer to the main building because every year the cost seems to go up and they add more rooms to the prefered section. It used to be only the 60's building was prefered now it is part of 50's 60's and 70's. I figure next year it may be all rooms in those three buildings will be prefered, who knows.

Ang

 

[GorshGoofy]

Woo Hoo!!! Now I am super excited!

So if I don't need to request a certain floor... which building should I request? Anything besides '80's and '90's?

Depends. Do you want preferred or standard? The preferred section is mostly poolside and closer to Classic Hall. Do you want 4th floor quiet or poolside convenience? The first time I went to Pop I was on the 4th floor lakeside in building #6 (Mickey Phone). The next time I was on the ground floor garden side in building #10 (Big Wheel). My room had a wonderful forest/lawn view facing the 90's parking lot. The room was quiet and was more convenient than the 4th floor. Since then I've been on the 2nd and 3rd floor lakeside of building #3 (Tramp).

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Ang, I saw the rates for the CBR Pirate rooms and nearly choked!! $274 per ngt before tx for a moderate!!! Holy cow!!!

 

[Goofy22]

Woo Hoo!!! Now I am super excited!

So if I don't need to request a certain floor... which building should I request? Anything besides '80's and '90's?

If your not booked preferred I would request 50's if you want to have a pool not fat you will have the bowling oin pool and the hippity dippity pool wont be far! And the Lake is right there also! Or 70's is a nice section but no pool if that doesn't matter but it's w/i apprx 2 min of the hippity dippity pool maybe 5 min if your a lil further back but not a far walk for a pool! PS. I was there in august booked 2 standard rooms durind the free dining promo and requested 50's ground floor poolview and all were accomdated! We were very happy!

 

[dtr_angel]

I am getting really excited for our March 14th arrival - still have to somehow find a good deal on airfare though

Last June we didn't book preferred or request a location and got a decent one in the 60s (I think, my memory is failing - bowling pin/tramp building) and it was close to the food court and busses. We're doing the same this time - since it's just us two adults, we don't need to be super close and have no problems walking... I am really excited NOT knowing where we are going to end up!

 

[Nik's Mom]

I am getting really excited for our March 14th arrival - still have to somehow find a good deal on airfare though

Last June we didn't book preferred or request a location and got a decent one in the 60s (I think, my memory is failing - bowling pin/tramp building) and it was close to the food court and busses. We're doing the same this time - since it's just us two adults, we don't need to be super close and have no problems walking... I am really excited NOT knowing where we are going to end up!

We will be staying at Pop during the same time (checking in on the 13th). We have not found good airfare at all. We decided to make an adventure out of it and drive. It will be a long trip, but it should be fun.

 

[dtr_angel]

We will be staying at Pop during the same time (checking in on the 13th). We have not found good airfare at all. We decided to make an adventure out of it and drive. It will be a long trip, but it should be fun.

for us we're looking at a 16-20 hour drive and it would waste most of our week vacation. Neither one of us are willing to driver further than Myrtle Beach, lol.

I JUST thought to check to other airports and found decent airfare from Reagan in DC and it looks like its the same distances from us as Pittsburgh or BWI (2.5 hours to an airport for us unfortunately) not as good as a deal of last June (we both flew roundtrip for $250) but its doable (about $385) which is better than the $550+ I've been getting since we booked our trip. Just have to check with hubby - I've never flown out of DC airports so I don't know but seems like a good deal to me.

For anyone who has a Discover card, this quarter is 5% cash back on travel so I'm taking advantage of that on our airfare!

 

[angwill]

Ang, I saw the rates for the CBR Pirate rooms and nearly choked!! $274 per ngt before tx for a moderate!!! Holy cow!!!

Never pay rack rate if you can avoid it. Prices did seem to go up pretty good this year. We are happy with the value resorts and going for a longer stay than paying for a mod or deluxe for a shorter time. I just priced Pop for 1 night at the end of May because we are driving and I think we may end up getting there a day earlier than our reservation. I was shocked to see it was $17 more for a prefered that one night.

Ang

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Never pay rack rate if you can avoid it. Prices did seem to go up pretty good this year. We are happy with the value resorts and going for a longer stay than paying for a mod or deluxe for a shorter time. I just priced Pop for 1 night at the end of May because we are driving and I think we may end up getting there a day earlier than our reservation. I was shocked to see it was $17 more for a prefered that one night.

Ang

Not to worry..I haven't paid rack rate since 1988.... Oops, I lied! Made a spur of the moment long weekend trip with a friend and pd rack rate for POP 3 mos after it opened in Feb 2004....but that was not terrible...think it was maybe $74 a ngt, so did not feel the pinch.

 

[MiaSRN62]

. I guess everyone is different and if you are handicap or holding a little one it can make it seem worse. With how much walking is done in the parks and to and from the bus stops especially at MK and Epcot the walk at Pop is a breeze IMHO.

I did walk the entire resort a few times and (personally) did not find any of the rooms to be a long walk to the main building or bus stop. But I'm sure that might not seem so for someone who is handicapped, elderly or has small children.

I can totally respect how some would not consider the 90's section a long walk----not everyone has the same perspective or preferences when vacationing.
well I'm not handicapped or anything, but I think there could be other reasons to not like the 80's or 90's. During one trip I was alone.....and I can honestly say I PREFER to be closer to everything when traveling as a female alone. It was sort of dark and spooky back there in the far 80's and 90's section late at night. I requested "close to food court" one visit alone to the AS SPorts as well. They put me in Surf's Up---which was great because some of the sections are a bit further out there too, and once again I was alone and meeting up with friends at another resort.

And I feel I do plenty of walking around the parks to get my excercise and then some. I like the resort for relaxing. So it is a personal preference. It was long enough one trip that my dd's joked we should leave a trail of bread crumbs to find our way back.....we were laughing and all....but I'm just saying, when I'm at POP, I MUCH prefer to be more in the center of things---not out in the back parking lot. Personally, it adds to my enjoyment of the resort. When the kids were younger, dh and I were always ok with them being able to go to the food court alone and fill their own mugs. This was maybe when they were around 10+ ? But the distance of the 90's was one where we would prefer them not go alone. Just a preference.

And honestly, can't say how long the walk was for sure. I'll be there the first week of Feb. I'll time it. But a couple days it was POURING rain and the walk seemed twice as long. I just posted my experience for those who might never have been to POP and not realize that there can be a big difference in the location of standard rooms. Just an FYI. POP didn't start out as preferred or standard views. But they, along with several other resorts, turned out this way. And most likely because there is good reason. I would hazard a guess alot of people preferred to be closer to the food court/bus stop and this must have prompted alot of requests/complaints or whatever. So I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way. I know CBR did a similar thing with preferred and standard views. Some rooms are just noticeably further out. Friends of mine just stayed at CBR (Trinidad South) furthest bldg and were not as pleased as they were with their last trip due to location.

From this google earth photo of POP, you can see how the pathways wind all around POP. I think this makes it seem longer too. You can compare the straight line paths from the standard 50's and 70's with that of the winding 80's and 90's. If there was a straight through path, getting to the bus stop and food court would be quicker (but it is definitely a bit more isolated back in the 90's section and this is just an FYI for those who might care):

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...-81.546965&spn=0.00863,0.014462&t=h&z=16&om=1

 

[jenseib]

Expensive......Like all fruit at WDW. Best bet would be to grab a small one at Publix/Wal Mart/Winn Dixie and use a ziploc and a cooler.

not alwyas possbile to do. If you are flying in and using ME, you don;t have any way to get to those places, and then you need a knife too. LOL!

OK, here's a question for the Pop Veterans!

We stayed at the All-Star Music last September. We got really luck and were put in an 'unofficial' suite. Basically it was a test suite that they built when they were trying out different formats/floor plans. It only had 1 bathroom, so it wasn't one of the 'official' suites.

So here is my question: Are there any special rooms like this at the Pop?

Can't wait for our trip. I am SO excited!!!

I don;t beleive so, but then I never heard of these anywhere, so maybe? Was the room bigger? Was it connected to all of the resort or it's own building?

Hey M&N This year the weekends are more expensive than during the week and preferred rooms went from $10 or $11 more last year to $15 more per night this year. I think lots of people really like being closer to the main building because every year the cost seems to go up and they add more rooms to the prefered section. It used to be only the 60's building was prefered now it is part of 50's 60's and 70's. I figure next year it may be all rooms in those three buildings will be prefered, who knows.

Ang

I think a prefered was $12 more last year.

 

[2tinks2pirates]

So what would you recommend for a quiet preferred room? Do they pay attention to the faxed requests? I would like a woods view if we can get it so it at least seems a little quiet come bedtime. I sort of wish I hadn't requested preferred now, but since we're leaving in 9 days I think we'll just enjoy it and know better next time. TIA

 

[MiaSRN62]

So what would you recommend for a quiet preferred room? Do they pay attention to the faxed requests? I would like a woods view if we can get it so it at least seems a little quiet come bedtime. I sort of wish I hadn't requested preferred now, but since we're leaving in 9 days I think we'll just enjoy it and know better next time. TIA

2Tinks2Pirates :
I'm guessing you are disappointed you have a preferred room because of the quiet factor ? I've had noisey standard rooms if that makes you rethink things at all ? Maybe request a preferred room , "non pool" view. Ask for a courtyard view top floor ? We had a nice quiet preferred room in the 70's that did not face any pool. We've had courtyard or walkway rooms that were on the quiet side if that sounds like something you'd like.

We've had a VERY noisy standard room in the 80's in 2006. Faced the pool there. People were literally screaming and by the pool area (in the pool---not sure) around 3 am !!! So that was a standard room. I think you have just as much chance of getting a noisy area in either preferred or standard. Or is the price the reason you wished you hadn't booked preferred ???



This link originally posted by Canadian Guy and reposted by Alesia (thank u) is very good showing locations of room categories. I'd go with non-pool facing room. I've stayed at POP maybe 7-8 times so far and never had a woods view either preferred or standard. Maybe someone else can suggested a wooded area of the resort for you that I'm not familiar with. Have a great stay http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=17643531&postcount=2

 

[lexmelinda]

So what would you recommend for a quiet preferred room? Do they pay attention to the faxed requests? I would like a woods view if we can get it so it at least seems a little quiet come bedtime. I sort of wish I hadn't requested preferred now, but since we're leaving in 9 days I think we'll just enjoy it and know better next time. TIA

We had a lake view room on the fourth floor and it was very quiet.

But.

I don't think you'll have to worry about noise from the pool in the early morning or late night this time of year. It's just too darn cold to swim if the sun's not out.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We had a lake view room on the fourth floor and it was very quiet.

But are the lake view rooms "preferred" lexmelinda ? I didn't think so from the link Alesia posted ? Maybe I'm wrong ?
And I agree about the pool noise. There will be people swimming, but most likely not too late or too early when it is chilliest. But no matter how cool I think it is and not fit for swimming, there is always some family there from Canada who considers 60 degrees downright balmy

 

[Boncho]

But no matter how cool I think it is and not fit for swimming, there is always some family there from Canada who considers 60 degrees downright balmy

No, they are probably from Montana, North Dakota or Minnesota maybe.

 

[MiaSRN62]

edit

 

[MiaSRN62]

No, they are probably from Montana, North Dakota or Minnesota maybe.

You didn't take offense to my reference to Canada, did you Boncho ? I just noticed you are from Canada.

Not sure what your "confused" icon was in reference to ??? I meant nothing by it. We were there around Valentines Day one year (2006, I believe ?) and there was a family with 4 kids swimming when it was like low 50's. I was dipping my foot in the pool to feel how warm the water was and got to talking to the parents of the kids. They were from Canada and told me they felt this was warm. So not sure if you took my comment offensively by your icon ? It was not meant like that. Rather....it's true for many from cold areas----60 degrees would feel toasty if they're used to 20 degrees or below. I have relatives who live in FL and they were coats and hats when it's 60 !