Disney's POP CENTURY RESORT Information & Questions

[jcarwash]

I'm really surprised to see recent positive reviews. We stayed at Pop for 2 days on our last trip and it was the absolute worst experience we've ever had at a Disney resort. (In fact, I'm only on the Dis now, looking for the guest services email). Rant following

I'd use the general manager email for Pop Century. This goes directly to the management of the resort: WDW.GM.PopCentury@disney.com

Hard to know if they would have helped you during your stay, but using this email during your visit can (in my experience) help fix things that aren't right. I've also emailed after a stay and gotten great apologies/responses.

 

[WEDWDW]

Hello everybody!

This May my family and I are going to Disney world for six days. We fly in on a Sunday and leave Saturday. However we're not all staying at Pop. My family will be at AoA while my boyfriend and I are staying at Pop.

Sunday is not a park day. Since we're flying in early we're planning to spend the day at Disney Springs or exploring the other resorts. For check in. I saw the time was at 3 p.m. However is it possible to get the room earlier than that? I guess it depends how many people check out on Sunday.

I haven't been to DW in 26 years. I was six years old! Lol So this whole process is new to me. I understand they will hold your luggage. Is that service free?

No fee to hold Luggage,but it is a "Tippable" position if you feel inclined.

(And this may just be us,but we tip when we leave our luggage and when we pick it up.)

 

[scrappinginontario]

I'm really surprised to see recent positive reviews. We stayed at Pop for 2 days on our last trip and it was the absolute worst experience we've ever had at a Disney resort. (In fact, I'm only on the Dis now, looking for the guest services email). Rant following

Our room was not ready until 8:30pm. None of our MB's unlocked the door (so I used the app) It was "upgraded" to a pool view. I booked standard intentionally in the hopes of being away from the noisier parts of the resort. Instead, there was cheerleading practice at the pool when we finally got to our room. I went to the front desk to request a different room, waited in the line for 30 minutes, and they couldn't find our reservation (well, we already have a room, so...?). Found the reservation, but had to call a manager to see if we could switch. No other rooms available, but we could ask again in the morning, if we still wanted to change. The CM at the desk said she'd at least fix the MBs while we were there. 2 hours later, I'm still at the front desk and the MBs still aren't fixed. I kept telling her, it didn't matter, but she wouldn't give them back! I kept trying to explain that the noise was an issue because we wanted to get to bed early and it was now after 11pm, so I'd really like to go back to my lousy room and get a little sleep.
She finally decides that she can just issue plastic key cards and then couldn't get them to code correctly- it took three people and another 40 minutes. Then she asked if I wanted teens to have charging privileges. They already did, so, yes, please keep them on (Guess who couldn't make any purchases the next day?!) By this time, the line of disgruntled quests is spilling out of the queue in the lobby (at midnight!). Now the CM really did try and I know she was trying to make it better, so I don't fault her for it. No managers ever materialized to deal with any of it.
I finally got back to the room. The pool was closed, so cheerleading practice had ended, but it was still not what I would call quiet. Then I realized there weren't enough towels or coffee and had to call housekeeping.
We had another Pop reservation from 3/25 to 3/30 and I cancelled. The whole family was in agreement that an offsite Motel 6 would have been better than staying at Pop again. If this had been our first Disney resort, it would have also been our last.

Sorry to hear you had so many bad experiences. It's not typical for Pop but unfortunately a lot of things happened to you.

I hope you give Pop another try but totally understand if you're ready to move on. Thankfully your situation is not the norm. We've stayed there more than 30 times and not experienced all the challenges you faced in only a few hours.

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm really surprised to see recent positive reviews. We stayed at Pop for 2 days on our last trip and it was the absolute worst experience we've ever had at a Disney resort. (In fact, I'm only on the Dis now, looking for the guest services email). Rant following

Our room was not ready until 8:30pm. None of our MB's unlocked the door (so I used the app) It was "upgraded" to a pool view. I booked standard intentionally in the hopes of being away from the noisier parts of the resort. Instead, there was cheerleading practice at the pool when we finally got to our room. I went to the front desk to request a different room, waited in the line for 30 minutes, and they couldn't find our reservation (well, we already have a room, so...?). Found the reservation, but had to call a manager to see if we could switch. No other rooms available, but we could ask again in the morning, if we still wanted to change. The CM at the desk said she'd at least fix the MBs while we were there. 2 hours later, I'm still at the front desk and the MBs still aren't fixed. I kept telling her, it didn't matter, but she wouldn't give them back! I kept trying to explain that the noise was an issue because we wanted to get to bed early and it was now after 11pm, so I'd really like to go back to my lousy room and get a little sleep.
She finally decides that she can just issue plastic key cards and then couldn't get them to code correctly- it took three people and another 40 minutes. Then she asked if I wanted teens to have charging privileges. They already did, so, yes, please keep them on (Guess who couldn't make any purchases the next day?!) By this time, the line of disgruntled quests is spilling out of the queue in the lobby (at midnight!). Now the CM really did try and I know she was trying to make it better, so I don't fault her for it. No managers ever materialized to deal with any of it.
I finally got back to the room. The pool was closed, so cheerleading practice had ended, but it was still not what I would call quiet. Then I realized there weren't enough towels or coffee and had to call housekeeping.
We had another Pop reservation from 3/25 to 3/30 and I cancelled. The whole family was in agreement that an offsite Motel 6 would have been better than staying at Pop again. If this had been our first Disney resort, it would have also been our last.

Definitely send an email. With all these problems they should have comped you a night. Unfortunately, many of the problems you experienced are not just Pop problems. But I understand how it would sour you on Pop. I’ve experienced similar issues as you at check in at Pop and other Disney resorts. Disney as a whole really needs to do better, especially when it comes to not being able to access your room.

 

[leeniewdw]

We were at POP first weekend in Dec and first weekend in Mar. Dec trip our room wasn't ready when we arrived (around 11:30am I think). We'd had a room request in, so we decided to stop at the desk and they did get us a room right away (since we had a room request in and thought maybe that's why it wasn't ready). In March, we didn't arrive until about 2:30pm and got our room assignment while in the Uber to POP. We were assigned the 90s (we also put in a room request for this trip and it couldn't have been further from our request lol). So we stopped at the front desk again and they moved us to the very bldg/floor we'd requested, go figure.

Anyway -- I think the point is that there is not a real rhyme/reason currently to when you get your room and where it is. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't. But normally the front desk can help.

 

[leeniewdw]

Definitely send an email. With all these problems they should have comped you a night.

I can't imagine no room until 8:30pm??? They should have automatically offered compensation. They literally paid for those hours of room access!!

 

[Turksmom]

Thank you for all of the replies. I'm glad other people are having better luck! Given the line at the front desk when I was there, Pop was definitely not having a good night.
I've had other "not so great" issues before, but that was the only time there was no effort made on behalf of management. Even when it was just a fastpass for the next day, I appreciated that they tried something to make it right.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I'm really surprised to see recent positive reviews. We stayed at Pop for 2 days on our last trip and it was the absolute worst experience we've ever had at a Disney resort. (In fact, I'm only on the Dis now, looking for the guest services email). Rant following

Our room was not ready until 8:30pm. None of our MB's unlocked the door (so I used the app) It was "upgraded" to a pool view. I booked standard intentionally in the hopes of being away from the noisier parts of the resort. Instead, there was cheerleading practice at the pool when we finally got to our room. I went to the front desk to request a different room, waited in the line for 30 minutes, and they couldn't find our reservation (well, we already have a room, so...?). Found the reservation, but had to call a manager to see if we could switch. No other rooms available, but we could ask again in the morning, if we still wanted to change. The CM at the desk said she'd at least fix the MBs while we were there. 2 hours later, I'm still at the front desk and the MBs still aren't fixed. I kept telling her, it didn't matter, but she wouldn't give them back! I kept trying to explain that the noise was an issue because we wanted to get to bed early and it was now after 11pm, so I'd really like to go back to my lousy room and get a little sleep.
She finally decides that she can just issue plastic key cards and then couldn't get them to code correctly- it took three people and another 40 minutes. Then she asked if I wanted teens to have charging privileges. They already did, so, yes, please keep them on (Guess who couldn't make any purchases the next day?!) By this time, the line of disgruntled quests is spilling out of the queue in the lobby (at midnight!). Now the CM really did try and I know she was trying to make it better, so I don't fault her for it. No managers ever materialized to deal with any of it.
I finally got back to the room. The pool was closed, so cheerleading practice had ended, but it was still not what I would call quiet. Then I realized there weren't enough towels or coffee and had to call housekeeping.
We had another Pop reservation from 3/25 to 3/30 and I cancelled. The whole family was in agreement that an offsite Motel 6 would have been better than staying at Pop again. If this had been our first Disney resort, it would have also been our last.

UGHHHHHHHH, sooooo frustrating. I am very sorry that happened. No wonder you are sour on Pop. I hope your next visit, wherever you stay, is seamless.

 

[LisaRay]

Just back from our stay at Pop. We were there March 2-10th. It’s taken me a week to post this because we came home SICK!

We’ve stayed at Pop every year since it opened until we took a break the last 3 years due to a kid in college and covid. But we’ve had MANY stays at Pop and my kids have sort of grown up there over the years so it’s special to us for that reason.
It was SOOOO nice to be back it felt like going home! I worried about many things with this trip and the lack of Disney magic was on of them but I just felt so at home being back at Pop. Yes, there are resorts that are nicer and fancier and we’ve had a few short trips to some of those but this place like I said has a special place from so many past trips. When we arrived via Tiffany Town car our room wasn’t ready but as we stored our luggage and grabbed a drink etc I just felt all the planning stress melt away and had this feeling of everything is going to good!!

I had requested 1st floor that was my one and only request. I use a scooter and find it convenient I don’t need a handicap room but do like 1st floor with the scooter. That didn’t happen we ended up with 2nd floor which wasn’t the end of the world and by the time we got back from the parks at 8pm our luggage had already been put in our room and we were too tired to go ask for anything else. The room was in the 70’s big wheel building at the farthest end. So, we ended up closest to the 90’s pool.

The room was nice and clean and we had no issues with it though we did notice that the murphy bed coming down was VERY noisy something we hadn’t had issue with on past trips.
The buses were good and came quickly when we used them. And we only ate at the food court twice once for breakfast and once for dinner and both were fine. My husband said the menu wasn’t as good as past trips but I didn’t notice it.

This was our 1st trip with the skyliner and we had the scooter too but we really liked it. the morning lines were long and we thought that we got lucky our 1st morning because the regular Skyliner line was huge but the scooter one was separate and much much shorter but it turned out that we waited longer because it was so much slower moving. We didn’t mind but it was just funny arriving and thinking we got lucky and then realizing nope! LOL
We did feel bad for the folks walking over for the skyliner from Art of Animation and seeing their faces as they saw where the line started! They had quite a hike just to get to the end of the Skyliner line over by the bowling pins at the 50’s section of Pop.

Also, we didn’t rope drop HS or Epcot so I can’t report on the timing of that. Sorry. (rope dropped MK twice) We ended up doing those parks in the afternoons/evenings. stacking LL’s etc. We did walk right on the skyliner leaving Epcot two different nights right at 9pm and watched the Fireworks from above which was cool. And I do like entering Epcot at the back of the park.

Also, skyliner related we were in Epcot the night of the major rain/flooding! WOW! And we were in the Creations gift shop waiting for family to meet up so we could all ride Test Track! Well, the rain hit and it was 8pm and we knew TT wasn’t going to open so we wanted to just head back to the hotel but we also knew the skyliner wasn’t going to be running. Unsure of if we should go to the front or back of park (Beach Club) for a bus we asked a store worker who grabbed a manager with an ipad and she looked at something and said front of park.
Our family members were at the back of the park and they exited to the Beach Club to see about either a bus or an uber. So basically, we tested out both exits! Lol DH and I got through the downpour and to the bus at the front and my son and his girlfriend went to the Beach Club where they wouldn’t let them into the hotel! CM’s at the doors to BC weren’t letting people enter. They didn’t know if they were guests of that hotel or not just looking at them but weren’t letting them in. I’m not sure how they finally got in but they did and turns out they had buses running from there also for the skyliner resorts so they ended up getting back to Pop before us! (we had lingered in gift shop hoping it would die down., it didn’t)
But I wanted to let people know about the buses at both the front and at the BC though I do not understand why CM’s weren’t letting people into the hotel there.

One last thing was that my son and his girlfriend were at Pop March 5-10 so a few nights less then us and she had never been to Disney before and she was impressed with the hotel and the rooms she commented that the rooms were in such good shape.

But they did have issues checking in. I had ordered them both magic bands for pick up at the resort and I had done it at different times trying to get the magic bands we wanted (cheap plain colored ones lol) and upon arrival they had hers but not his. After way too long of them checking in back and looking into it they said that the purchase never went through on my credit card and sent me to the gift shop where I had to spend $20 on a plain colored band.
Then off to the parks and they had recieved welcome texts and your room isn't ready texts a couple times that morning (very early flight) and that was fine we were in the parks and they were in no hurry for their room. However at 6-7pm when we got back to Pop still no room ready text so went to the lobby and waited in a long line and got the room number. Up to their room only to find out that their bands won't open the door! Back to the lobby and another long line only to be told that their bands weren't coded yet. ? This was all very frustrating at almost 8pm after being up and traveling since 3am!

With that said we still loved our stay at Pop and I think its going to be hard to stay at All Stars without the skyliner on a potential large family trip in the fall. So I'm working on switching it to Pop!

Sorry this was SO LONG! But I love reading peoples just back reports.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Just back from our stay at Pop. We were there March 2-10th. It’s taken me a week to post this because we came home SICK!

We’ve stayed at Pop every year since it opened until we took a break the last 3 years due to a kid in college and covid. But we’ve had MANY stays at Pop and my kids have sort of grown up there over the years so it’s special to us for that reason.
It was SOOOO nice to be back it felt like going home! I worried about many things with this trip and the lack of Disney magic was on of them but I just felt so at home being back at Pop. Yes, there are resorts that are nicer and fancier and we’ve had a few short trips to some of those but this place like I said has a special place from so many past trips. When we arrived via Tiffany Town car our room wasn’t ready but as we stored our luggage and grabbed a drink etc I just felt all the planning stress melt away and had this feeling of everything is going to good!!

I had requested 1st floor that was my one and only request. I use a scooter and find it convenient I don’t need a handicap room but do like 1st floor with the scooter. That didn’t happen we ended up with 2nd floor which wasn’t the end of the world and by the time we got back from the parks at 8pm our luggage had already been put in our room and we were too tired to go ask for anything else. The room was in the 70’s big wheel building at the farthest end. So, we ended up closest to the 90’s pool.

The room was nice and clean and we had no issues with it though we did notice that the murphy bed coming down was VERY noisy something we hadn’t had issue with on past trips.
The buses were good and came quickly when we used them. And we only ate at the food court twice once for breakfast and once for dinner and both were fine. My husband said the menu wasn’t as good as past trips but I didn’t notice it.

This was our 1st trip with the skyliner and we had the scooter too but we really liked it. the morning lines were long and we thought that we got lucky our 1st morning because the regular Skyliner line was huge but the scooter one was separate and much much shorter but it turned out that we waited longer because it was so much slower moving. We didn’t mind but it was just funny arriving and thinking we got lucky and then realizing nope! LOL
We did feel bad for the folks walking over for the skyliner from Art of Animation and seeing their faces as they saw where the line started! They had quite a hike just to get to the end of the Skyliner line over by the bowling pins at the 50’s section of Pop.

Also, we didn’t rope drop HS or Epcot so I can’t report on the timing of that. Sorry. (rope dropped MK twice) We ended up doing those parks in the afternoons/evenings. stacking LL’s etc. We did walk right on the skyliner leaving Epcot two different nights right at 9pm and watched the Fireworks from above which was cool. And I do like entering Epcot at the back of the park.

Also, skyliner related we were in Epcot the night of the major rain/flooding! WOW! And we were in the Creations gift shop waiting for family to meet up so we could all ride Test Track! Well, the rain hit and it was 8pm and we knew TT wasn’t going to open so we wanted to just head back to the hotel but we also knew the skyliner wasn’t going to be running. Unsure of if we should go to the front or back of park (Beach Club) for a bus we asked a store worker who grabbed a manager with an ipad and she looked at something and said front of park.
Our family members were at the back of the park and they exited to the Beach Club to see about either a bus or an uber. So basically, we tested out both exits! Lol DH and I got through the downpour and to the bus at the front and my son and his girlfriend went to the Beach Club where they wouldn’t let them into the hotel! CM’s at the doors to BC weren’t letting people enter. They didn’t know if they were guests of that hotel or not just looking at them but weren’t letting them in. I’m not sure how they finally got in but they did and turns out they had buses running from there also for the skyliner resorts so they ended up getting back to Pop before us! (we had lingered in gift shop hoping it would die down., it didn’t)
But I wanted to let people know about the buses at both the front and at the BC though I do not understand why CM’s weren’t letting people into the hotel there.

One last thing was that my son and his girlfriend were at Pop March 5-10 so a few nights less then us and she had never been to Disney before and she was impressed with the hotel and the rooms she commented that the rooms were in such good shape.

But they did have issues checking in. I had ordered them both magic bands for pick up at the resort and I had done it at different times trying to get the magic bands we wanted (cheap plain colored ones lol) and upon arrival they had hers but not his. After way too long of them checking in back and looking into it they said that the purchase never went through on my credit card and sent me to the gift shop where I had to spend $20 on a plain colored band.
Then off to the parks and they had recieved welcome texts and your room isn't ready texts a couple times that morning (very early flight) and that was fine we were in the parks and they were in no hurry for their room. However at 6-7pm when we got back to Pop still no room ready text so went to the lobby and waited in a long line and got the room number. Up to their room only to find out that their bands won't open the door! Back to the lobby and another long line only to be told that their bands weren't coded yet. ? This was all very frustrating at almost 8pm after being up and traveling since 3am!

With that said we still loved our stay at Pop and I think its going to be hard to stay at All Stars without the skyliner on a potential large family trip in the fall. So I'm working on switching it to Pop!

Sorry this was SO LONG! But I love reading peoples just back reports.

If in the future your family or others face challenges on arrival of bands not opening the door, the MDE app has an option on it to use your phone to open the door. Could save walking back and possibly go another time when already heading to Classic Hall or transportation.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

If in the future your family or others face challenges on arrival of bands not opening the door, the MDE app has an option on it to use your phone to open the door. Could save walking back and possibly go another time when already heading to Classic Hall or transportation.

This is great information. Thank you!

 

[cheshiregoofy22]

Wicked longshot - anyone at POP currently who might check to see if the green Winnie the Pooh magic band is available at Everything POP? I'm checking in on the 29th for a super quick two night surprise stay for a friend who hasn't been to the MK since we were both 12 (and the MK was the only park ) I'll order one from MDE to have waiting at the desk if need be but I know she's a Pooh nut and since my flight gets me there before her I thought maybe I could grab one and link it before she arrives. MANY THANKS!!!

 

[LisaRay]

In my long winded review earlier I can't believe I forgot to mention that my son and his girlfriend were napping in their room in the afternoon and had JUST laid down so weren't even asleep yet and a CM opened the door to their room for a security check without even knocking 1st! WOW they were very upset by that! She said they were so shocked by it they couldn't even nap at all after the lady left!

My husband and I were also in our room 3 different times during afternoon breaks when they came for security checks. They did knock at our room thankfully! But I feel like the need to do these things daily when they have already checked on us during our stay is unnecessary! They should be once or twice per stay not daily. If I had young kids in there napping that got woke up I would be so mad. Also if your going to do that could you please bring some clean towels! LOL

 

[summerlvr]

In my long winded review earlier I can't believe I forgot to mention that my son and his girlfriend were napping in their room in the afternoon and had JUST laid down so weren't even asleep yet and a CM opened the door to their room for a security check without even knocking 1st! WOW they were very upset by that! She said they were so shocked by it they couldn't even nap at all after the lady left!

My husband and I were also in our room 3 different times during afternoon breaks when they came for security checks. They did knock at our room thankfully! But I feel like the need to do these things daily when they have already checked on us during our stay is unnecessary! They should be once or twice per stay not daily. If I had young kids in there napping that got woke up I would be so mad. Also if your going to do that could you please bring some clean towels! LOL

Seems like the room checkers have some kind of radar for the worst time to do room checks! I have learned to always keep the latch on the door so no one can completely barge in on me.
ETA: I hope that lady at least apologized for barging in!

 

[Nana2Callie]

What is the best way to make a room request? I only have one - downstairs.

 

[scrappinginontario]

What is the best way to make a room request? I only have one - downstairs.

You can request ground floor online when you do your online checkin or, by calling.

 

[WEDWDW]

And if you arrive and find you have not been assigned Ground Floor,go to the Front Desk(or call the number on your Room Text) and very politely ask if they could check and see if a Ground Floor is now/would later be available.

"Shouldn't" be a problem finding you a Ground Floor if that is your only request.

 

[hotblooded]

If in the future your family or others face challenges on arrival of bands not opening the door, the MDE app has an option on it to use your phone to open the door. Could save walking back and possibly go another time when already heading to Classic Hall or transportation.

I just want to put it out there that it’s often not user error and Disney is having real issues with room access. I’m in the tech industry with plenty of experience trouble-shooting, and in the past three years, I’ve stayed at Pop or AoA 4 times. On two of those occasions, both our MBs and the app didn’t work to open the door. I had to call from outside my room for help, and thankfully someone came by quickly, but I miss the days when stopping at the front desk during check-in was the norm and the lobby had tons of staff.

 

[LisaRay]

And if you arrive and find you have not been assigned Ground Floor,go to the Front Desk(or call the number on your Room Text) and very politely ask if they could check and see if a Ground Floor is now/would later be available.

"Shouldn't" be a problem finding you a Ground Floor if that is your only request.

Our only request was ground floor when we arrived March 2nd and we did it online but didn't get it and yes we could have gone to the lobby and asked for something else but by the time we got to our rooms it was late evening and all of our luggage was already in our room and we decided not to bother switching but it was frustrating that it was our ONLY request.

 

[scrappinginontario]

As noted on page 1, Pop does not guarantee requests. They are noted on guest file and I believe they attempt to honour requests when they can but it is never guaranteed.

We get our requests on initial room assignment about 60-70% of the time. When we visit the front desk and request a room change it’s granted for that day about 98% of the time and 100% of the time when we are willing to move the following day.

Fulfilling requests at Pop is a huge chess game with many moving parts (location, length of stay, connecting rooms, non-connecting rooms, etc.). I think one of the biggest misconceptions guests have is that a request at Pop will always be granted. It’s just not the case.

Other resorts allow guests to choose things like a king room, etc when booking but Pop does not so it’s not guaranteed.

The day we checked out in early Feb there were 900 rooms changing over that day. (I asked as luggage services was well staffed but still crazy busy.) I can only imagine how they would begin to manage room assignments especially since many requests (location, floor) especially are requested by many guests.