Please tell me about the Pop Century

[Travelgirl]

My husband and I are going for a 12 night stay at the Pop Century in Jan 2006.

Can anyone give me any reasons as to why I would NOT want to stay there? I am really nervous about staying there the whole time! But the price is really good, we could afford much more, but why should we spend it on the room, when we could use it for our entertainment or shopping.

But of course, if this is not anywhere that I would enjoy staying, then I could try to switch soon. We have the passholder best rates.

We are two adults in our early 30's who travel a lot. This is our first Disney trip in many years. DH did stay at All-Star Sports in 1996, I think and he did not like it that much. If the bed is comfortable, I can manage. And do the baths have tubs? I had heard they just had showers? And can I get laundry service?

Thanks for any info you can provide...:)

[Joy]

I stayed there in May 2005 and loved it. The only thing I wasn't too thrilled about was probably the food selection in the food court.....

The room I stayed in had a bathtub. :)

[wdwgrandma]

We've stayed at Pop twice - and had tubs with showers in them both times.

If you are the sort who spends most of his/her time in the parks and only visits the room to sleep, clean up, and change clothes - why spend more when you can save and use that money on meals or souvenirs?

Have you considered spending the first 1/2 of the time at Pop and then splurging on a moderate or deluxe for the second half?

[Keith]

We stayed at pop a couple of weeks ago.

First comment, if he didn't like all stars, he won't like pop. It's the same basic design, rooms etc. Basic, not many frills, you can hear next door/outside/upstairs etc.

Having said that, we LIKED the food court! there was a decent amount of choice and queues weren't bad. It has a classic concoctions bar inside as well as pool bars. The theming was good and the shop reasonably stocked. Our room had a tub as well as a shower but we've stayed in all stars rooms which just had showers so I know what you mean there.

You can get laundry service.

It's a very basic room for a basic price I guess... I travel a lot and it's at the low end of what I'd prefer to stay at (I wouldn't be staying at a similar place for business stays) but as you say, the money saved can go elsewhere!

[uscwest]

While you can certainly get laundry service, you may be shocked at the prices.

[Keith]

While you can certainly get laundry service, you may be shocked at the prices.

agreed!:eek:

[SorcererMickey]

Here are some pics...

Disney's Pop Century Resort (http://www.disneyguest.com/images/pop/pop-0001.html)

[Travelgirl]

Thanks Everyone, I appreciate the info! I have considered staying in the Pop the 1st half and at a deluxe the secong half. I am looking into this now. Checking prices tonight. I might just do this, how's the Beach Club or Yacht Club? I have heard they are great! I saw them on The Travel Channel also.

I think DH had a room at All-Star with shower only and he also had 4 in the room, where we will just have 2, so I think we can manage, as far as the size.

But what about the noise? You say you can hear what's going on around you? Does it disrupt sleeping, or can you just hear it during the day?

We are most certainly the type who only spend time in the room to bathe, and sleep. We are early risers, normally and then stay out pretty late too. We are on vacation and want to see it all! And in Jan, I don't think we'll be spending time at the pool, but are there hot tubs? We might need a soak?

Wonder where I can find the out about the laundry prices? The reason I am concerned is b/c we are flying and the airline only alllows 2 bags per guest, and we are each taking golf clubs, so that only leaves us one suitcase each for clothes, shoes, etc...for 13 days!! We will have to wash!

[JuniorMickey]

no hot tubs at the values

[Keith]

Thanks Everyone, I appreciate the info! I have considered staying in the Pop the 1st half and at a deluxe the secong half. I am looking into this now. Checking prices tonight. I might just do this, how's the Beach Club or Yacht Club? I have heard they are great! I saw them on The Travel Channel also.

BC and YC are both *excellent* and a HUGE contrast from pop century luxury wise


But what about the noise? You say you can hear what's going on around you? Does it disrupt sleeping, or can you just hear it during the day?


You can hear noise whenever people are making noise :/ so if you're by the pool you can hear it late into the evening at least... if someone gets in late and gets to their room above/or to the side of you you'll hear that.

I didn't find it objectionable but it was certainly very noticeable


We are most certainly the type who only spend time in the room to bathe, and sleep. We are early risers, normally and then stay out pretty late too. We are on vacation and want to see it all! And in Jan, I don't think we'll be spending time at the pool, but are there hot tubs? We might need a soak?


Hot tobs at bc/yc but don't think so at Pop


Wonder where I can find the out about the laundry prices? The reason I am concerned is b/c we are flying and the airline only alllows 2 bags per guest, and we are each taking golf clubs, so that only leaves us one suitcase each for clothes, shoes, etc...for 13 days!! We will have to wash!

Can't say I've checked the website to see if the prices are there... we generally take 1 suitcase each and wash the clothes half way through at the laundry. Cheap, fast.... more hassle than we'd like on holiday :lol: but we weren't paying the laundry prices so... :)

[wdwgrandma]

The only time we've ever really had problems with noise was our very first visit to WDW where we stayed on site at Sports. The resort was packed with football kids and cheerleaders. Other than that, the noise level was no different at either the value, moderate, or deluxe resorts. If some noisy person goes past your door late at night, you hear it the same at GF as you do at Pop.

Funny... I've stayed at each of the All Star resorts - Sports twice - and we've never had a room with just a shower. I didn't know there were rooms like that!!!

[SorcererMickey]

We love Beach Club...

Disney's Beach Club Resort (http://disneyguest.com/images/beach_club/beach_club-0001.html)

[Keith]

The only time we've ever really had problems with noise was our very first visit to WDW where we stayed on site at Sports. The resort was packed with football kids and cheerleaders. Other than that, the noise level was no different at either the value, moderate, or deluxe resorts. If some noisy person goes past your door late at night, you hear it the same at GF as you do at Pop.


I think there's a difference when all the doors open out right onto the outside unlike gf/poly/wl etc when they open to the inside.. if that makes sense.


Funny... I've stayed at each of the All Star resorts - Sports twice - and we've never had a room with just a shower. I didn't know there were rooms like that!!!

yeah :( very tacky they are too.

Our last stay at ASM we had a room like that and best way to describe it is that the bathroom is one huge shower. The floor is kinda tiled accordingly with a drain in the middle.

During our stay, we woke up to an awful smell and found that sewage from the building was backing up and emerging through that floor drain all over the floor in the bathroom. I phoned housekeeping to be told "I could either wipe it up or someone would be with me whenever they were free". I went to the front desk and had a seriously loud :tantrum: . Then the lady on duty had the unbelievably crass idea of asking me did I *REALLY* need a new room even if the mess had been cleaned up? :thunder: :club: :tut:

Surfice to say after dealing with the ensuing army of disney managers who eventually came to suck up (or to stop me explaining to new guests how they should check for sewage in their bathroom each morning), I finally got it sorted out and was well compensated.

I was told though that this is a common occurrance with the "shower and no tub" rooms and if they have plumbing problems, one of those rooms is going to likely be the place that suffers

[wdwgrandma]

Yacht Club is really nice! And so is the Polynesian!

[JuniorMickey]

I think the shower no tub rooms are handicapped rooms

[wdwgrandma]

During our stay, we woke up to an awful smell and found that sewage from the building was backing up and emerging through that floor drain all over the floor in the bathroom.
ewwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Johnie]

The rooms with no tubs are the handicap accessible rooms.

[Travelgirl]

You are probably right about the shower only rooms being the handicap rooms. I haven't discussed it with DH yet, but I would bet that there room in 1996 was handicap b/c his son went with him and when he goes they have to request a room with a refrigerator for medical purposes, he has Cystic Fibrosis and medicine that needs to be kept cold. For some reason they always get that disease confused with the ones that cause physical handicaps and he doesn't really have a physical handicap, other than getting out of breath faster than most.

I loved looking at the pictures! Thanks for those!!!

[Keith]

The rooms with no tubs are the handicap accessible rooms.

It would make sense although none of our party was disabled so curious that we were put there :(

[Johnie]

It would make sense although none of our party was disabled so curious that we were put there :(


When we went to AKL, we had requested a king room. Apparently the king rooms are handicapped accessible b/c we got the same kind of tub.

[Keith]

When we went to AKL, we had requested a king room. Apparently the king rooms are handicapped accessible b/c we got the same kind of tub.

It would make sense, there's certainly more room to get around in a king bed room. Although must say we've had king beds at other resorts and not had that type of tub

[Johnie]

I called the front desk b/c I didn't want a handicapped accessible room if someone else needed it. AKL told me that all their king rooms were handicapped accessible. No idea if that is true or not but that's what the CM said. I always wanted to know what they were supposed to do if they had children with them?

[Keith]

I called the front desk b/c I didn't want a handicapped accessible room if someone else needed it. AKL told me that all their king rooms were handicapped accessible. No idea if that is true or not but that's what the CM said. I always wanted to know what they were supposed to do if they had children with them?

yeah know what you mean :/

Kinda sure the king bed room we had with a tub *was* akl too but I'm not certain enough to say definitely

[Johnie]

:lol: well it wouldn't surprise me if I was given the wrong info from a CM!

[Travelgirl]

Oh and by the way, is there a thread on here about the menus w/ prices at various restaurants around the parks?

[Keith]

Oh and by the way, is there a thread on here about the menus w/ prices at various restaurants around the parks?

Loads of threads about restaurants in the dining forum but also have a look at http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/menus.html

[Travelgirl]

Thanks for the menu link. That's really nice, now I can plan how much our meals would be. I have been told by friends that the meal prices at WDW are outrageous, but I read some of the menus and it didn't look much different to me than any other vacation we've been on lately, or the even in our hometown.

I was thinking that dinner for two was around $150 at the nice places. I guess it could be that much at a few of them by the time you have app, salad, entree, dessert, drinks and the tip, but it would be rare that you'd eat all that or even go to that type place everynight.

So, I could probably subtract a good bit from my food budget now! I was budgeting around $200/day for two adults, but that was solely based on what I had heard from friends and co-workers whoi said the prices were overwhelming.

I think they are ok prices...not too bad!!

[Keith]

I think they are ok prices...not too bad!!

I think what tends to happen is it all adds up.

I don't think the meals are horrendously priced, they're on the upper side of pricing for the quality of the meal often but then it's Disney ;-) but then you'll get a "cheapy" counter meal of a couple of burgers and chips, drinks, and you'll find yourself paying $25.... then maybe a couple of bottles of water $5, $140 for a nice evening meal and all of a sudden if you do that every day it all adds up and you get back and think WOW we spent loads on food :)

[allowman]

Well travelgirl, my DHTB and myself stayed there last week. Overall we loved Pop century. Now we have never stayed onsite before so I dont have any other on site resorts to compare it to but it was nice. The food court was huge. We really liked the food, we had 2 of our quick lunches there. They do have a bar there to relax at night. Our room did have a shower and tub. The room was an average room but we dont spend too much time there so it worked for us. The whole resort was very clean. The only complaint that we had was that the walls seem to be extremely thin. You can pretty much hear everything, people talking, toilets flushing etc. Now we stayed in the 50;s section on the bottom floor right by the bowling pin shaped pool. The pools stay open to midnight every night so if we were trying to go to bed early we could hear everyone outside. But overall we would stay there again. You cant beat the price and the staff was very helpful if you needed them.

Hope this helps!

April

[tajainaz]

If you want to minimize your exposure to noise at PC, request a room on the top floor, away from the pools. I was on the Hourglass Lake side of 50s Bldg. C on the top floor and rarely had problems with noise. It's about mid-way between the parking lot and Centennial Hall. I also requested a room about mid-point between the elevator and the end of the corridor (stairs, in the case of PC). That minimizes the number of people walking past your door! :)

You can hear the WDW turbo-flush toilets in the room next door at YC, as well as PC! That $200+ per night price difference makes no difference there! :lol: And a noisy child is just as noisy at YC as at PC. I think I saw fewer meltdowns at PC than YC, possibly because the children were allowed to run and play and burn off excess energy more than those staying at YC.

I definitely would stay at any of the three resorts (Club Lake Villas is no longer in service)--PC, CSR or YC again. There is a different level of service, but most of the CMs were friendly and outgoing regardless of the price point.

By the way, there is a laundry room near all of the quiet pools at the WDW resorts. Pop a load in the washer, enjoy some pool time, and repeat with the dryer! :thumbs:

[diamondprincess]

We had one of the rooms with no tub at POP. I think the man at check in gave it to me because he hated us. We were needing a king size bed. Also, H2B and I were arguing about the need of a smoking room in front of him. The cast member flat out told me we had issues. That was our first vacation together and we drove down during an ice storm so it was an extra long car ride. We were both so tired I think our brains were not functioning.

H2B hated POP. I thought it was worth the money. I didn't like the shower/toliet room. I am glad it didn't back up on us. It was very noisy, but I think all resorts can be noisy. H2B witnessed another person's medical emergency there and that kind of stuck with his memory of the POP too.

Now, we try to stay in a hotel with a balcony so he can smoke outside in privacy. Also, I always request I do not want a handicap accessible room. Next time I am also going to request the quiet section.

H2B's favorite is AKL and mine is WL.

[Travelgirl]

Do you think I can change my reservations? I looked last night and they have a good price for a Standard View room at WL? I am thinking this may be a better choice?

[tajainaz]

Call and ask! You won't know until you try!

Seriously, PC is fine, but basic. If your other half wants luxury, this isn't the place to be. It's neat and clean with OTT theming. The rooms are much calmer than the exterior, so don't expect oversized icons in there! :)

If you can't change, he'll have to grin and bear it. You can enjoy the cost savings! :D

[Vikki]

Do king rooms with baths exist at the values then?

[diamondprincess]

I have never had a problem with upgrading to a better room. I don't know about another resort though. I love the WL. You can't go wrong there. I just watched Great Hotels this morning and they featured WL. Samantha recommended to not spend extra money on a courtyard view room and insead spend it on a deluxe room. They have a seperate sitting area and a balcony overlooking woods.

BTW- H2B calls the PC the Poop Century. Now I see there is more truth to the nickname.

[Travelgirl]

Well I did call, and they said "No Problem!!!" I could change resorts. All I had to do was pay whatever the first nights deposits were for the new rooms that I switched to that was over what I had originally paid for deps at POP.

So, I did change resorts. The first half of the trip, 6 nights, we are staying at the Beach Club and the second half, 6 more nights, at the Wilderness Lodge. The rooms are the Standards at both. I hope the prices that I got were good ($78/night off from reg rates for all 12 nights), b/c the lady told me that there would probably not be an additional discount for my dates. But, overall, I am satisfied. The annual pass I just bought turned out to be more than worth it for me. I saved $936 by having the pass at these deluxe resorts and I was only saving $336 by staying at the POP, b/c it was only a $28/night savings. At least I feel better about that, even though, I am out of pocket a lot more than I was staying at the POP.

I hope the locations of the resorts are good. I think we will be happier at these resorts. At least they both have boat transportation, right?

[Keith]

Thats interesting! so you had an AP best rate on pop century with a non-refundable deposit but they let you use it towards a new reservation rather than lose it?

[Travelgirl]

Yes, that's what I did.

I have read several posts on here and other websites that indicated that this was not possible, but they acted like it was no big deal. I guess it's b/c I am not in the 60 day window. I do not think you can do it, if you are within 60 days to check-in. That's all I can figure.

I am glad they let me though!

[Keith]

Yes, that's what I did.

I have read several posts on here and other websites that indicated that this was not possible, but they acted like it was no big deal. I guess it's b/c I am not in the 60 day window. I do not think you can do it, if you are within 60 days to check-in. That's all I can figure.

I am glad they let me though!

YEAH! I'm glad too! ok that's interesting hmmmmm :) I have some thinking to do.

[Travelgirl]

You're probably going to laugh and think that I am the most wishy-washy person, but I changed my mind again! I am not going to stay at the Beach Club for the first half, I am going to stay at the Wilderness Lodge in a courtyard view roon for the entire 12 nights. That way, I do not have to move and all...in the middle of the trip. I absolutely hate to pack, and if I switch resorts, then I'd have to pack on vacation to move!! This way I can stay in the same room. I think this will better.

I called WDW back tonight and changed my 1st part from the Beach Club std room to the WL courtyard, and then the 2nd part from the WL std to a WL courtyard. They probably hate me by now!! But, the lady tonight was super nice and even gave me some pointers for my trip and told me that WL was her favorite.

Can you believe that?

Keith- I see under your name it says Administrator...What does that mean? Do you work for the website, or just have a lot of posts?

[Keith]

The Wilderness lodge is my absolute favourite so I think you've made a brilliant choice :))

The administrator title means I do work for the website yep. There are moderators/super moderators/administrators who all look after the forums, make sure posts comply to our guidelines, remove unwanted spam posts etc.

[Travelgirl]

So, the Wilderness Lodge is great? I sure hope so, since I am spending 13 days there in Jan.

Do they have internet service? I read in a book that they do not have high speed, is it just dial up?

Will I need a car? Will it be easier to go where I want to go and when I want to go? I'd like to do some shopping while there at the outlets and malls, then we are going to Seaworld and then to play golf. Will I need a car to get to these? Or will WDW have transportation?

[JuniorMickey]

Disney only provides transport to Disney attractions. You can get a Lynx bus from the TTC (#50) that will bring you to Seaworld. As far as malls, you'd be looking at taxis or something along those lines.

Disney has multiple golf courses. uscwest will be able to point you in the right direction there as well as Kiltedwarrior.

All of the hotels are in the process of getting high speed. It will be $9.95/day if the WL is hooked up already.

[Johnie]

It would much easier to get a car to go to the places you want to go.

[Travelgirl]

I guess I'd better keep the car that I have reserved then, so I can go where I want & when. I have read on these forums that it's easier to get around in your own car anyway, rather tha taking the buses to the parks. That it's faster. Is this true?

[Johnie]

I certainly think so.

[dseth]

You sound like me before we left :lol: We just came back from a stay at POP about a week ago. We loved it! Very clean, grounds are bright, service is great and we too liked the food court! You can't beat it for the price. The bus transportation is really good too, we never waited over 10 minutes. Since it is just you and your husband request a room with the King bed. It will give you more space. That is the ONE down side of Pop to me, the size of the room. Three adults and one child in a room at Pop is snug. Don't be nervous you will have a great stay!
Dawn

[Keith]

So, the Wilderness Lodge is great? I sure hope so, since I am spending 13 days there in Jan.


absolutely brilliant :)))


Do they have internet service? I read in a book that they do not have high speed, is it just dial up?


high speed broadband available for $9.95 for 24hrs

[Punksmom]

Glad to hear this. My daughter and I are staying at POP too.

[Vikki]

So, the Wilderness Lodge is great? I sure hope so, since I am spending 13 days there in Jan.

Hope so, Keith has convinced me to stay there too :)

[jetboy]

I'm glad you chose to not stay at the Pop. I only stayed there one night. I got in late from a flight and didn't want to pay the deluxe resort rate for just 6 hours in the room. From my experience, the other Value resorts were fine, but the Pop didn't do it for me for a couple of reasons. My first problem was the parking. We spent 10 minutes trying to find a spot, and I'm not talking about being picky. We actually couldn't find a spot, and when we finally did, in came our second problem, we had to walk 10 minutes to our room. Other than that, it is no different from the other Value resorts.

My two cents... I am considering a stay at Wilderness Lodge in December, but am having a hard time since my favorite resort is a split between Beach Club just to relax and eat, the clam bake is to die for, and the other resort is Grand Floridian for the Main Building Concierge. I will update as to what I choose.

Have fun at WL, I look forward to reading about your trip.

[Travelgirl]

I would have loved to stay at the Grand Floridian, but I couldn't justify spending the money to stay there when we are staying for 12 nights!! I'd hate to see that bill!!! I am still watching the prices though, for another stay in the spring, since we purchased the annual pass, we night just go back for a long weekend to stay there.

I think we will love the WL, we love National Parks, so it seems right for us.

I am looking so forward to the trip and it'll be here before we know it.

[muppet1508]

hi
off there on december 22 for two weeks.... if your e not away by the time i get home 6 january i ll let you know what i think!

[LindaN]

I've had three stays at PC since it first opened, with the last one being three weeks ago. Never had a problem there, but we also request being in the back of the resort. Each time we've been in the 50's building (bowling pin) with a view of Epcot (you can actually see the fireworks at Epcot and the MK on the back side of the building)We were in room 3434 last time, which is on the 4th floor. Even being "all the way in the back" it took us less than 4 minutes to leave our room and walk to the busses. PC is not like All Stars in the layout. All Stars are laid out like a big rectangle, and it can take 10-15 minutes to get from the very back to the bus stop. DH and I walked around PC just to time the walking distance to the busses. Longest walk for us was five minutes from back of the computer building to the bus stop. I like the busses at PC as they are dedicated to the resort; no sharing like at All Stars. But PC has a lot of rooms! If you're there during high park attendance it will be crowded and bus waits might be long. PC does have the farthest stop out at Epcot and the MK, which you will notice if you've been in a park for 14 hours and are dragging around tired kids.

It is a "value" resort, and you won't find the amenities that you will in a Moderate or Deluxe. Like no water slide at the pool; towels at the pool need to be brought from your room, and no spa/hot tub. The beds are doubles (not queen) and the rooms are small but the same size as the other Value resorts. I wouldn't want to put four people in there, with luggage, for a week or more.

For the money, its a decent place to stay. But if you want a more leisurely stay at Disney but don't want to pay for a Deluxe consider one of the Moderates, especially if the pricing is relatively close to a Value. My favorite moderate is Port Orleans French Quarter as it is very pretty, on the small side (even when we were on the back of building 7 it was 5 minutes to the bus stop), and I really liked the beignets at the food court. (Our family of four did 10 days at POFQ last July). The Port Orleans resorts do share busses, which is a good/bad thing. You might be standing on your way to a park in the morning... or you might not. We were at the Carribean Beach Resort last year just before Christmas and this is my least favorite resort. Just too big for my taste, but lots of folks love it. Our family liked Coronado Springs... which lots of folks hate as it is just so big. But we tend not to go to the food court so the distance wasn't a huge deal to us. Riverside is also nice, but I got lost the first two days following the concrete sidewalks! :hehe: LOL... its just too big and sprawling.

No matter where you go you'll probably have a great trip!

[tnpoohbear]

We stayed there in February and I have to tell you we did not like it! Our room was so so so far away from the main building - also we just did not like the rooms so much. We love All Star Movies much better!