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

[Minnie&Nana]

Originally Posted by dee1988
Stayed at Pop in May of this year, first time and loved it. We were there for 12 nights. We were facing the lake. The only thing i did not like was the weather. It was 95 to 97 almost everyday. I knew it would be hot but not that hot. I have been to disney different times in March and April and it was not to bad then. I am now planning a special trip with my best friend. We have known each other for more than 40 years. We are thinking of going the first or second week in Dec. Want to see the decorations. She has been to disney once, about 15 years ago. I am wondering how the weather will be around this time and if all the decorations will be up. if someone can give me a heads up on this, it would be appreciated.

Sounds like a fabulous trip!!

We went the first week of December for several years, but beginning in 2006 the crowds started getting thicker - in 2009 the MK was mobbed, long lines like other busy times of the year. The secret of low crowds for early December was out.

Last yr we went the weekend before Thanksgiving and it was great (decorations in the MK and MK resorts go up the end of the week prior to Thanksgiving, but not all parks/resorts will be in full holiday decor until Thanksgiving) - not as low crowds as years ago, but much better than the 1st week of December. Nowadays, crowds lesson after the second weekend, especially after around the 9th to 11th of December, up until around the 19th when Christmas crowds begin to arrive.

Weather can be anywhere from quite chilly to 85 in early Dec. Nights and mornings can be very cold - we've had to wear hats, scarves and warm coats on December mornings & especially nights (we were from Boston so used to the cold!). Be prepared - it is a hard time to pack for, but worth it!

You will love it at that time of year - it is extra magical! Enjoy!!

(p.s. the first week has POP Warner sports visiting for competitions and they have been at the POP when we've been there. Also, the Christmas Parade is taped on the first weekend and that brings extra crowds).

 

[hill6]

Will be there next weekeend and I can do online checking. We have preferred room. Any suggestions for a room request?

thanks

 

[englishrose47]

Just noticed this detailed review of Pop Century on easywdw.com. Loads of photos, especially of the food court menus and items:

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorized/pop-century-resort-disney-world-review/#more-4895

Thanks I checked it out !!First I totally agree with the on line check in!! I had the same thing happen the last time I used it !!Hence I will take my chances in the regular line !!I waited almost 30 mins. while regular line was moving fast!!Plus we usually end up switching the rooms they have assigned anyway!!
Also I was intrigued by the sign of the "special" breakfasts . That is new to me !!

 

[jenseib]

Will be there next weekeend and I can do online checking. We have preferred room. Any suggestions for a room request?

thanks

You can't make room request with online check in

 

[jcarwash]

Thanks I checked it out !!First I totally agree with the on line check in!! I had the same thing happen the last time I used it !!Hence I will take my chances in the regular line !!I waited almost 30 mins. while regular line was moving fast!!Plus we usually end up switching the rooms they have assigned anyway!!
Also I was intrigued by the sign of the "special" breakfasts . That is new to me !!

Yeah, I did the online check-in anyway for next week's trip, but last year I also remember sort of waiting a little longer than I would have liked. It wasn't as long as the easywdw report, but still...

I'll see how it is next week.

 

[lauralong81]

You can't make room request with online check in

This is Not true (entirely). You can't per se, put a room request on the online check in form, but you can still make a room request outside of that.

You just have to CALL in to place it on your reservation, then do online check in later. I always call back in once or twice to make sure my "request" is on the reservation. I have done it this way the past three years and it always works, I always get my request (not a promise, of course) and I always do online check-in. We haven't waited more than 5 minutes at check-in. Granted, it's a 3-time experience, not 10 or 20, so take it for what it's worth. Will be doing it again this way in March.

 

[jcarwash]

Will be there next weekeend and I can do online checking. We have preferred room. Any suggestions for a room request?

You can't make room request with online check in

jenseib is correct, you can't make specific room requests, like building choice, when checking in online. The requests you can add online are:

1. ground floor room
2. near transportation
3. refrigerator (there is a charge for this)
4. pack 'n play (crib)

 

[janabananas]

I have to express my joy with my fellow POPers!! Dbf and I discussed and decided for sure we will be going to F&W at the beginning of Nov. either Nov 1or Nov 8!! Not quite sure yet, but I am super dooper happy about another trip to POP, coming up very, very soon!! We are already going Sept 8th-11th my bday!!

 

[kaj1436]

Yay...made final payment yesterday so it feels so much more real now! Getting very excited for our first trip to WDW. I have one question to ask. I know it can probably be found somewhere within this thread but I just woudln't know where to look.
I would like to know what is the best room request to be close to our parking lot (renting a car) and close to the food court. I would prefer it to be a more quiet location too becasue my children are light sleepers.
Thanks for your help!

 

[jcarwash]

I would like to know what is the best room request to be close to our parking lot (renting a car) and close to the food court. I would prefer it to be a more quiet location too becasue my children are light sleepers.
Thanks for your help!

Building 1 / 50's facing away from the pool would probably be a good combination for you. This building is close to parking and to Classic Hall for the food court. Facing the pool in building 1 may be louder for you though.

 

[Deb123]

We checked out on Sunday after 5 nights. Our trip originialy started with me, DH, DS (17) DS(9) staying at the Beach Club for 3 nights. Hubby had to then go home to work , so me and just the kids checked into Pop for 5 nights. After that we checkied into Wyndham Bonnet Creek with DH rejoining us for a 7 nite stay. POP IS GREAT! Being alone without my husband for those 5 nites is something that I do not do. You feel so safe at Pop1 The food court is great and I have now found what I believe to be one of the best locations at the resort. Just ask to be facing the playground. Very close to the foodcourt and extremely close to transportation. The Goofy jets were not on last week. The bus service was also excellent the whole time.(better than the Beach Club) They also let us check in at 9:30 our room was ready. And they gave us a late check out with no charge for 1:00. Our family loves the Pop!

 

[pamelaz]

This is Not true (entirely). You can't per se, put a room request on the online check in form, but you can still make a room request outside of that.

You just have to CALL in to place it on your reservation, then do online check in later. I always call back in once or twice to make sure my "request" is on the reservation. I have done it this way the past three years and it always works, I always get my request (not a promise, of course) and I always do online check-in. We haven't waited more than 5 minutes at check-in. Granted, it's a 3-time experience, not 10 or 20, so take it for what it's worth. Will be doing it again this way in March.

Exactly. I did my online check in today, but called in a few minutes later to add the request of a king bed since I couldn't do that online.

 

[ciera321]

POP IS GREAT! Being alone without my husband for those 5 nites is something that I do not do. You feel so safe at Pop1 The food court is great and I have now found what I believe to be one of the best locations at the resort. Just ask to be facing the playground. Very close to the foodcourt and extremely close to transportation. The bus service was also excellent the whole time.(better than the Beach Club) They also let us check in at 9:30 our room was ready. And they gave us a late check out with no charge for 1:00. Our family loves the Pop!

This is great to hear! We have our first value resort stay at Pop coming up in December. We've stayed at all the moderates, and most of the deluxe. We've been wanting to try a value for a while and thought for a quick 6 night visit it would be an great time to check it out. Thanks for sharing!

 

[michellelovesthemous]

Trying to order water from costco and it tells me "were sorry there is no match found for this address" How do I fix and make this work? how i am typing it is: POP Century Resort
c/o my name 8/20/11
1050 Century Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Thank you for any help/suggestions we leave in 4 days.

 

[mnmhouston]

Being alone without my husband for those 5 nites is something that I do not do. You feel so safe at Pop1 The food court is great and I have now found what I believe to be one of the best locations at the resort.

We leave in 9 days and my DH was just offered a job starting the day before we leave. He's been out of work for 2 yrs so he HAS to start on that day, can't give them any reason to rescind the offer. I'm trying to get my girlfriend to replace him which would be totally awesome, but she's trying to figure out how to pull it off on such sort notice.

If she can't go, I'll be going it alone with DD3 and DD8. Have never traveled alone with them and am a little nervous about that option. They tend to be better when they are with just one of us, so not too concerned about behavior. I'm very comfortable moving around the World, so not worried about safety since I know my way around, etc. What I am concerned about are those stupid little things like, what happens if we are in a line and DD3 has to go to the bathroom? She can't hold it and DD8 can't really stay by herself while I ran to the bathroom and came back, not to mention the attitudes I would get trying to get back into the line if she could stay by herself. Any advice out there?

I hope to know today or tomorrow which was it will go.

 

[mnmhouston]

Trying to order water from costco and it tells me "were sorry there is no match found for this address" How do I fix and make this work? how i am typing it is: POP Century Resort
c/o my name 8/20/11
1050 Century Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Thank you for any help/suggestions we leave in 4 days.

Sorry, can't help you with COSTCO. We always order from garden grocer, use that address, and have no problem. You may want to try them if there are other things you could use.

Good luck

 

[homeschoolmomof4]

We leave in 9 days and my DH was just offered a job starting the day before we leave. He's been out of work for 2 yrs so he HAS to start on that day, can't give them any reason to rescind the offer. I'm trying to get my girlfriend to replace him which would be totally awesome, but she's trying to figure out how to pull it off on such sort notice.

If she can't go, I'll be going it alone with DD3 and DD8. Have never traveled alone with them and am a little nervous about that option. They tend to be better when they are with just one of us, so not too concerned about behavior. I'm very comfortable moving around the World, so not worried about safety since I know my way around, etc. What I am concerned about are those stupid little things like, what happens if we are in a line and DD3 has to go to the bathroom? She can't hold it and DD8 can't really stay by herself while I ran to the bathroom and came back, not to mention the attitudes I would get trying to get back into the line if she could stay by herself. Any advice out there?

I hope to know today or tomorrow which was it will go.

Congratulations on your hubby's new job!!

The bathroom/line issue is one of those "delicate" topics around here. The only advice I can offer is to make sure you try to hit the potty often in between the rides. We're a family of 6, and when the youngest ones were still potty training or just potty trained, we managed to prevent having to leave lines most of the time just by making sure we were taking lots of bathroom breaks in between rides. Oh and carry extra clothes and ziploc baggies for your youngest just in case! Sometimes the little ones get so excited to be in WDW that they're totally not paying attention to their body's signals, and then, well, accidents happen.

 

[mnmhouston]

Yes, def planning on frequent potty breaks like everytime we pass a bathroom and extra clothes too. I'm sure I'll be fine by myself if need be. 8 days alone with kids in disney has got to be better than 8 days at home alone with kids

 

[Tinkermom76]

I have been to WDW with my 2 DD's by myself and this was the same concern I had as well. I just made sure we made a pit stop before any shows or long lines and we never had a problem.

Enjoy the time with your daughters!

 

[Daisy-J&D]

Advice please? I wouldn't normally request a room, we always just "go with the flow" but we've been assigned the 70's the last two trips and I really don't want to be in those buildings again.
On our first trip the CM asked and we said 80's but this time I'm thinking I'd like to try 50's since we've never even seen the bowling pin pool in person. If we liked the 80's are the 50's comparable?
BTW, we are in a standard room because the 2/3 rooms we've had were standard and we liked them
best. (;