What should we expect from Pop vs AKL?

[brandont]

We are making our first Holiday time trip to the world. Our last two trips we stayed Savanna view at AKL (both in late Oct). This year, to allow us to come without dropping a whole lot of cash, We decided to stay at Pop Century on the silver plan.

Will we be dissappointed with our decision? We are so used to everything at AKL ( bus schedule ).

Just some pre-trip worries.

 

[gigi1313]

personally, i do not think you will be disappointed... as long as you don't expect deluxe amenities at a value resort... pop has a great bus system, quick and close and does not share w/any other resort... it also has some nice pools, but no slides or anything fancy, basically just various shaped holes in the ground filled with chlorinated water! (nicely shaped and themed, but no "extras")... it has a food court (that our family enjoyed, but we're more food court people than sit-down people... we reserve our sit-downs for character meals at the parks) with some great offerings, but it *is* a foodcourt! there is pizza delivery but no "room service," refillable mugs, but no coffee makers (in the room), clean comfortable small rooms/beds (doubles), but no balconies... outside hallways... i think that about sums it up... again, if you don't have grand expectations, you will enjoy it!

 

[brandont]

No real grand expections. Just feel like we are wondering away from what we are use to. Truthfully we spend 99% of our time in the parks. We PS almost every meal. One of our favorite parts of the trip are the great sit down meals.

Thanks for the info.

 

[NCRedding]

We stayed at POP for one night prior to our cruise, and at AKL savannah view for two nights after our cruise in Sept/Oct of this year. This is ouc experience:

CHECK-IN: Checked in POP at 10:30 on the Friday night before Hurricane Jeanne's arrival. There were a ton of people in line, so check-in took 45 minutes. Check in at AKL at 11 am the next Saturday: 10 minutes.

ROOM: The room will seem very small to you after AKL. This was the only hotel I've stayed in where I could open the front door while lying flat on my back in the bed. There is an open rod for clothing at POP, no closet like in AKL. The room at POP was comfortable and clean, just small.

NOISE: Compared to AKL, this resort seemed very loud--the lobby (although AKL's lobby was also loud); the rooms, the pool, the food court. AKL seems very serene to me.

PARKING: Unless you get prime spaces, parking may be at a premium for POP. We had to park a long way from the building.

In spite of my negative comparisons, we liked parts of POP--it is colorful, and pure Disney. The CMs we met were very nice. I think the important thing to remember is this is a value, not a deluxe, and they are very different in theming.

 

[mjatgoofy]

I think you will be very pleased with POP. We stayed there and are heading back in February. Our kids loved it. the bus service was very good. Rarely waited more than 5 minutes.

 

[gigi1313]

re: pop's bus service... the one morning we had a few minute wait (day before hurricane frances blew in, lots of cm's took the day off) for a bus to AK, the dispatcher that was there every morning was chatting w/us as we waited, and he gave ds the walkie talkie and had him "call" the bus... ds was sooo excited and cute as he spoke into the wt saying "pop the animal, pop the animal" and the cm that responded knew it was a guest and made it even funner for ds... just a little pixie dust moment! LOL!