The GROOVIER New Pop Century FAQ Thread Chapter 4! ~ Posts #1, #2 & #3 are MUST sees!

[mousiemom]

try calling or faxing your room request. i've also had a lot of luck when i check in and they give me my location and if i don't like it, i ask for our favorites and most of the time our wish is granted!!! good luck and have fun, i'm jealous!

 

[joy13]

On line check-in rooms are now assigned by computer, so if you have specific requests, might be worth checking in the regular line.

That's good to know, online check in was brand new in 2009.

 

[englishrose47]

Rosie, if you have any room location requests, it is best NOT to do online check-in. Especially since you will be arriving early, go directly to the regular check-in counter and ask if they can meet your requests. Think Judy wanted to be near the pool, yes?

I am glad to have my thoughts confirmed , as I have not exactly been thrilled with on line check in the last 2 times !! As we have preferred rooms and this time I did not ask for connecting as that was what got us way back in the 50's which Judy hated and had us moved 2 days later . I hope we don't get poolside .I just requested adjoining 60's preferred !!

 

[Goofy22]

Hi everyone. Only 4 days to go now! Should I call and reconfirm my room requests today? I would suggest faxing .

I would suggest the fax method I have always faxed at five days out and been very happy with thew outcome! Even though you dont have 5 days I'd still try the fax and see what happens worse case scenerio when you check in you asked to be moved closer to where you want to be if you dont like the location. We were in 80's last year and loved it but this year we decided to do preferred for a change.

That's good to know, online check in was brand new in 2009.

Wow! That is good to know that it is all done by computer now that may make me change my mind from doing online check in

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I am glad to have my thoughts confirmed , as I have not exactly been thrilled with on line check in the last 2 times !! As we have preferred rooms and this time I did not ask for connecting as that was what got us way back in the 50's which Judy hated and had us moved 2 days later . I hope we don't get poolside .I just requested adjoining 60's preferred !!

Adjoining could get you close or on different floors -since you booked preferred, I would call now and change the request to connecting, make sure the reservations are linked, then ask at check-in if they can find connecting rooms in the 70's or 60's. The 70's would be super close to the food court and bus and no chance of being poolside. And of course, the non poolside of the 60's. Fingers crossed!

 

[kstgelais4]

Hi All.
We have never stayed at Pop before, so I have no idea what the layout is like.
We have 2 (hopefully) connecting standard rooms. I would like to request the best location we can.
I would (hypothetically) like to be near the bus stops and food court. Do I need to upgrade our ressie to prefered?
TIA!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Hi All.
We have never stayed at Pop before, so I have no idea what the layout is like.
We have 2 (hopefully) connecting standard rooms. I would like to request the best location we can.
I would (hypothetically) like to be near the bus stops and food court. Do I need to upgrade our ressie to prefered?
TIA!

If you go to the first page of this thread, all your questions will be answered and you will find maps of the resort as well as each section (50's, 60's 70's etc). This will make it easier for you to see what the resort looks like and find an area that appeals most to your family.

Make sure your reservations are linked as that will be the most help in getting assigned connecting rooms.

Preferred room locations are generally closer to the bus and food court (some more than others), but you could still request the 60's and still be very close as many of the non-pref rooms in the 60's used to be part of the preferred group so are still great location wise. 70's are good too. Hope that makes sense!
In a nutshell, no need to upgrade, request 60's or 70's, then ask again at check-in. Or you could make
1.connecting rooms your first request &
2.close to food court you second request
If you make your requests in that order, the room assigner will understand what you are requesting for in room location.

Do not do on line check-in, but wait to speak with the CM at the front desk and ask them to check if you have connecting rooms already assigned and if so where - if you are not happy with the location or if connecting room request was not met, ask if they might find you connecting rooms in an area close to the food court (which also puts you close to the bus).

Hope this helps and have a great trip!!

 

[jcarwash]

On line check-in rooms are now assigned by computer, so if you have specific requests, might be worth checking in the regular line.

Does the computer assignment ignore any requests noted on the reservation? In other words, if I call to add a building request (I have), I'm negating my request by doing online check-in?

I'm not seeing any overt advice to do online check-in coupled with specific requests (ones added to a ressie before arrival) so this time I'm leaning toward not doing online check-in.

The difference between the lines at Pop the past two times has not been any difference at all. Last year it seemed like I waited longer in the online line.

 

[Luvmepluto]

On line check-in rooms are now assigned by computer, so if you have specific requests, might be worth checking in the regular line.

That sounds like a plan.......Are the parks pretty packed in the morning and the evenings? Just curious!

I responded to the wrong person. :-(

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Does the computer assignment ignore any requests noted on the reservation? In other words, if I call to add a building request (I have), I'm negating my request by doing online check-in?

I'm not seeing any overt advice to do online check-in coupled with specific requests (ones added to a ressie before arrival) so this time I'm leaning toward not doing online check-in.

The difference between the lines at Pop the past two times has not been any difference at all. Last year it seemed like I waited longer in the online line.

I'm sorry, cannot answer your question about the computer ignoring requests - someone else might be able to answer though. I've noticed the same about on line and regular check-in at all the resorts we've stayed since it began - so many do on line check-in that the regular line is often shorter - which makes it great for those of us who prefer regular check-in!

That sounds like a plan.......Are the parks pretty packed in the morning and the evenings? Just curious!

I responded to the wrong person. :-(

I know how that goes!!

As for the parks - we've been going for 30 years, over 50 visits, and I can honestly say the parks get busier as the day goes on. Rope drop mornings we've been able to go on just about everything, then watch the herds of guests arriving from 10 to 11...by noon it is mobbed. I never understand it, because it also gets hotter as the day goes on. Some families are just not morning folks and it works better for them to begin later - but they do face huge crowds levels. Of course, this is during busy seasons - mid Jan to mid Feb the parks can be almost empty!

We do avoid any park that has evening extra hours and will visit that park the day after. We will do early morning extra hours, but then leave that park by noon. Yes, generally, parks do get busier as the day goes on.

Hope this helps!

 

[Kerpgh]

This may have been asked before..but does anyone know what buildings have connecting rooms?? I stayed last time in the jungle book building..I think it was building 5 and absolutely fell in love with it.. planning a May 2011 trip and was hoping that someone could help me with this..as I want to definately stay at pop again!!! and we have a few more people joining us this time!!
Thanks bunches

 

[Minnie&Nana]

This may have been asked before..but does anyone know what buildings have connecting rooms?? I stayed last time in the jungle book building..I think it was building 5 and absolutely fell in love with it.. planning a May 2011 trip and was hoping that someone could help me with this..as I want to definately stay at pop again!!! and we have a few more people joining us this time!!
Thanks bunches

All POP bldgs have connecting rooms on every floor.

 

[Kerpgh]

Thank you so much for the reply!!! it is actualy May 2012
I adore pop and cant wait to go back!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Thank you so much for the reply!!! it is actualy May 2012
I adore pop and cant wait to go back!

You're welcome, Keri! Lots of time for fun planning!!

 

[joy13]

Hi All.
We have never stayed at Pop before, so I have no idea what the layout is like.
We have 2 (hopefully) connecting standard rooms. I would like to request the best location we can.
I would (hypothetically) like to be near the bus stops and food court. Do I need to upgrade our ressie to prefered?
TIA!

Our last trip we stayed in building 4 lake side and it was a really nice walk to the buses and food court.

 

[chunc]

that's alot of info. staying here in Dec. - happy dance

 

[DizFan13]

I am positive that I already asked this question, and I am pretty sure it was on this thread, but I can't find it. Please excuse my redundancy.

I am trying to make sure that we catch the bus each morning on time for rope drop. My question is, for each of the four parks, how far in advance of opening time do I need to get to the bus stop? I would like to be at the park and in line at least twenty minutes before opening, and thirty minutes is even better.

 

[bluezy]

I am positive that I already asked this question, and I am pretty sure it was on this thread, but I can't find it. Please excuse my redundancy.

I am trying to make sure that we catch the bus each morning on time for rope drop. My question is, for each of the four parks, how far in advance of opening time do I need to get to the bus stop? I would like to be at the park and in line at least twenty minutes before opening, and thirty minutes is even better.

When we stay at Pop, our "rule" is to always be at the bus stop 1 hour before the park opens. This gives us a little wiggle room in case we have to wait for a bus (we've usually been able to get on a bus within 5 minutes of arriving at the bus stop). We've always been at the parks about 30 minutes prior to opening using this plan. It gives us plenty of time to get through the bag check and turnstiles. We're almost always just a few people back from the actual rope. Since MK is the longest ride from Pop, we sometimes try to be at the bus stop a little more than an hour before park opening.

 

[*~PrincessBelle~*]

hi everyone...just getting caught up on the thread...im staying at POP for the first time aug 12-16th

quick question though...since I booked two seperate ressies for my stay at POP (one package, one room only) would it be better to do regular check-in instead of online check-in? just to make sure my ressie's are linked and to reduce the chance of having to switch rooms at the same resort? Or do you think I would still be safe with online check-in?

 

[Minnie&Nana]

hi everyone...just getting caught up on the thread...im staying at POP for the first time aug 12-16th

quick question though...since I booked two seperate ressies for my stay at POP (one package, one room only) would it be better to do regular check-in instead of online check-in? just to make sure my ressie's are linked and to reduce the chance of having to switch rooms at the same resort? Or do you think I would still be safe with online check-in?

I would definitely check-in at the front desk - better to have a real person handle it rather than a computer.

Have a GREAT trip!!!