Thinking about Pop for the first time...tell me your tips and pros/cons...

[acarsme123]

We have always stayed at PO Riverside for our trips, but this year I'm considering Pop. The new rooms look nice, and being able to ride the Skyliner would be cool. There is some decent savings to staying at Pop over Riverside, so I'm just curious to hear opinions. Tips as for specific rooms to get? Pros/cons? How is the noise level? My wife has always enjoyed Riverside because of how quiet it is...so she's a little concerned Pop would be more noisy. But the truth is we aren't in our rooms much on any given day, so that's why I'm considering something new this year, especially is there is decent cost savings. Thanks.

 

[notatallmagic]

Welcome to Pop! We are actually trying Port Orleans for the first time this winter!

My kids and I LOVE Pop. We have stayed at all the values, all the Moderates (except Port Orleans), Contemporary, and Animal Kingdom. My kids prefer Pop to ALL of those!

We love the energy and the theming; but I think our favorite perk is the Skyliner. You'll need to watch the weather, but love riding Skyliner and the access it provides to the Epcot/HS/Boardwalk area. We also enjoy riding Skyliner to the Quick Service at Riviera, as the Quick Service at Pop hasn't been great during the pandemic. We also enjoy walking around Art of Animation - such great theming!

As far as room requests, we do splurge for the Preferred Pool View - it puts you in a great location for the pool, Skyliner, buses, and main building. Hope you enjoy it!

 

[fabfemmeboy]

We always stayed at Pop (until the Skyliner went in because my partner is terrified of any kind of aerial gondola) and really loved it there. It's a bit more hopping than the moderates, more young families, but you mostly notice it when getting food/merch. In terms of the grounds/rooms, I haven't noticed a difference at all in terms of noise.

We always stayed on the back side of 60s overlooking the lake, and that location was fantastic. A quiet, peaceful location (though it may be a less-so now with the Skyliner leaving from the bridge). Nice, easy access to the quiet pool in 50s, not far from the main pool, reasonably close to the main hall/food but considered a "standard" room and therefore lower price.

One of my favourite things about Pop was the variety of quick-service food available, at least pre-pandemic. Chicken strips and hot dogs, sure, but also a pizza/pasta line and a salad line and a couple different homey dinners depending on what day it is...I actually miss that now at moderates, where my options are chicken and hot dogs or TS/lounges.

 

[fla4fun]

As someone who used to stay primarily deluxe and DVC, I started staying at Pop about five years ago while saving money for a new car. I liked it so much that even when I could go back to deluxe resorts, I stay at Pop. I have not found Pop to be more noisy in the rooms than any other Disney resort (my worst noise experiences have been at CR). Pop does have similar sounding toilets to the PO resorts, so if they do not bother you there, they shouldn’t bother you at Pop.

For the most central location you will want a room in the 60’s, and many of these are preferred rooms. I book standard and have never felt the walk from the room to amenities was horrible, but the preferred are the most centrally located rooms. I also prefer a non connecting room at any hotel, as that can be a big noise leak. Laying a towel down between the doors (if possible) or along the bottom of the door in your room helps. This issue is no worse at Pop than POR either.

I say give it a try. Worst case, you find it’s not the resort for you. Best case, you find a new favorite.

 

[unrequited23]

You will see more people and it will be more lively/active/loud at Pop than at POR. Just consider the main pool is the centerpiece of the resort and not tucked into an island surrounded by trees. We've stayed at both (plus POFQ). I would recommend a higher floor, white noise machine and the towel tucked between connecting rooms the the PP mentioned. The thoughtfulness of the storage available seems to make up for the smaller square footage vs a moderate. We also bring a pop up hamper and hanging shelves.

There is a trail along the lake that offers less people and a relaxing view. I understand your wife's perspective because I find it nice to be at a less busy resort after spending a day in the parks with all of those people.

 

[loves to dive]

You've had some good replies but I'll add a few more. Pop (and any of the value resorts) do not have hot tubs at the pools if that is an issue (it is for me because I'm old and hurt after a long day in the park). The lobby and common areas seem a little more hectic to me (I've stayed at all the All Stars and Pop, PORS, CB, CSR, YC, BC, BW, CR, Poly, GF, Shades of Green, The Fort in a camper, OKW, Swan/Dolphin) then the other resorts. There is no TS restaurant. The bus areas have actual lines but no shade in those lines as opposed to the shaded free for all bus stops at the moderate and deluxe. I seemed to be able to hear my neighbors and the people outside a little more in the values.

I don't like the rooms facing the pools, it gets loud at night. I've stayed in the 80s and 90s section, they are not preferred but close enough you can walk across the parking lot and get to the bus stop/main building pretty easily. The rooms are a tad smaller than moderate and more than a tad smaller than deluxe.

The big con for us is you have to use the sky liner to get to Epcot and HS, which are our favorite parks. If there is weather, it will go down then it gets ugly. My son is not a fan of heights and is claustrophobic, let that thing stop for more than 5 min. and it wouldn't be pretty. Not having any other option to get to those two parks puts it, AoA, CB and Riv. out of the question for us.

 

[TheDad00]

70s section is nice location. Skyliners and the main food court.