Janet B
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2009
Welcome newcomers, regulars, and lurkers to the Pop Century FAQ Thread it is undeniably the grooviest & hippest, thread around! Minnie&Nana and Janet B are co-hosts of this thread that just happens to have terrific, informative followers (aka POPers) that come together to share a wealth of information, some of which is contained in this current version as well as past threads. Got questions? Pose them on the thread and we will do our best to answer them. Try us, youll like us!
To those of you not aware of what the Disneys Pop Century Resort is all about the resort is a celebration of the second half of the 20th century's American pop culture. The resort's larger-than-life figures preserve the toys, fads, dance crazes, and catch phrases from the 1950s through the 1990s and remind us how we lived, played, and communicated. It is a trip down memory lane figuratively and literally as one can take a stroll on Pops Memory Lane and read about highlights about fads and significant events that took place during these decades.
So, can you dig it? Weve come a looong way baby! Come on over ... it's Totally Awesome! ROCK ON!
Some Right-On POP Facts
Resort: Disneys Pop Century Resort
Address: 1050 Century Drive, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, 32830
Tel: 407.938.4000
Fax: 407.938.4039
Official Website: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/pop-century-resort/
Category: Value
Opening Date: December 14, 2003
Rooms: 2,880; 260 square feet
Check-in Time: 3:00 pm
Check-out Time: 11:00 am
Remember When??
The Pop Century Resort was originally planned to be two separate resort areas, featuring the Legendary Years (1910s-1940s) and the Classic Years (1950s-1990s), and would have been connected via the Generation Gap Bridge, over Hourglass Lake. However, in May 2010, it was decided that the future Legendary Years resort would become a new value resort named Disney's Art of Animation, set to open in June 2012, which will contain mostly family suites and some regular rooms. But dont worry, be happy! We are still, after all, POP halfcentury
An OVERVIEW
Classic Hall is the name of the main building and houses the front desk area, the Fast Forward arcade, and "Everything POP, which combines the dining and shopping areas.
The food court features a bakery/ice cream station, grill, pizza and pasta sections and a Grab-N-Go Market. There are three drink stations, plenty of tables and TVs to entertain the kids while dining.
The shopping (merchandising area) contains clothing, hats, stuffed toys, jewelry, etc. If you forgot or have a need for personal care and sundry items like Advil, Pepto Bismol, diapers, sunscreen, band-aids, deodorant, detergent, etc., Everything Pop has a selection available for purchase.
RESERVATIONS, Anyone??
To make room reservations: 407.934.7639 (407-WDISNEY), TTY Reservations at 407.939.7670, online at www.disneyworld.com or with your travel agent.
For any general room request (view, room location, connecting rooms, etc.) please add this when making your reservation. Remember to limit your room requests to 3, with the most important request listed first. (Disney no longer encourages room requests via fax.) However, there has been a fluctuation on this issue throughout the resorts. If you would like to send a fax, please keep in mind to do so no sooner than 10 days prior to arrival or later than 4 days prior to arrival.
Medical/Special Needs: If someone in your party has a medical or special need, please mention this to the cast member when making your reservation. For those guests with hearing impairments, Pop offers TTY phones, visual signals for fire alarms, phones, wake up alarms, and door knocks. There is also a bed shaker accessory. These items are available for use at no cost.
Classic Hall / Lobby
Check-in time is officially 3:00 pm; however, you can check in at any time to receive your packet and park tickets. If your room is not available, you can request a call to inform you when your room is ready.
ROOMS CLASSIC YEARS 1950s TO 1990s
All rooms were refurbished in 2010, with the same décor with the exception of the artwork which depicts the decade of the room.
Shown below is the renovated room, with a separate picture of the dresser/TV stand.
General Room Description: Rooms contain either a king bed (2 nightstands) or two double beds (1 nightstand); table & two chairs, entertainment dresser/center containing 6 drawers, flat screen TV, privacy curtain between the sink area/bedroom, one sink (outside the bathroom), luggage rack, iron, ironing board and hair dryer (which reportedly does not work well).
March 2012: Small refrigerators are being rolled out to all guest rooms. The entertainment unit is slightly modifed (removal of a shelf) to accomodate the refrigerator. Here are recent photos from guests.
The Buildings: 10 T-shaped themed lodges; 4 floors each
1950s: Buildings #1 (Lady), #2 (Jukebox), #3 (Tramp); Bowling Pin stairs
1960s: Buildings #4 (Play-Doh), #5 (Mowgli & Baloo); Duncan Yo-Yo stairs
1970s: Buildings #6 (Mickey Phone), #10 (Big Wheel); 8-track tape stairs
1980s: Buildings #7 (Roger Rabbit), #9 (Sony Walkman); Rubik's Cube stairs
1990s: Building #8 (Lap Top Computer); cell phone stairs
And grooving into the 1960's ...
King Bed Rooms accommodate up to 2 people, plus one portable crib for an infant (defined as a child under 3). This category has a total of 144 rooms; of which 63 are Handicap Accessible. All floors have regular and handicap accessible King rooms; however the 4th floor King rooms are only HC.
Double/Double Bed Rooms feature two double beds and accommodate up to 4 adults/children plus one portable crib for an infant. Note: there is an additional charge for a third and fourth adult (over 17) in the same room. This category has a total of 2,621 rooms; of which 115 are Handicap Accessible.
Fully Handicap Accessible Rooms have roll-in showers in the bathroom (no bathtub).
Although not always guaranteed, connecting rooms are available by request; please mention your needs when making your reservations.
This map shows the locations of connecting, handicap accessible and king bed rooms (thanks to DISer ChairborneRangr)
Best Hourglass Lake views: Buildings #3, #4, #5, #6
Quieter rooms: Generally, lakeside views and 3rd and 4th floors of any building are quieter
Illuminations Views: The very top of the Epcot Illumination fireworks can be seen from the lakeside upper floors, 50s buildings 2,3, and 60s building 4.
General Room Information:
- All rooms are non-smoking
- Beds are on permanent pedestals and are not moveable (handicap accessible rooms are the exception)
- A twin mattress can fit in the room (but not between the two double beds)
- Pack and Plays are available upon request
- Ice buckets and disposable plastic cups are provided in guest rooms
- No coffeemakers or countertop-like appliances are allowed in guest rooms as these are against hotel safety policies
- No ceiling fans in rooms
- H20 brand shampoo/conditioner combo as well as facial and bath soap bars are provided; there is no lotion or shower gel
- Bathtubs do not have non-slip appliqués on the bottom of the tub nor non-slip mats
- A small safe is located in the wall near the vanity and measures approximately 4" deep x 12" wide x 14" tall. If a larger space is required, Guest Services in the lobby of Classic Hall will be able to assist you.
- Wake up calls are available by pressing the wake-up call button on the room phone and following the directions.
- The alarm clock/radio has an MP3 player hookup (speaker use only; it does not charge up your MP3 player)
- Voicemail is available on the room phone; a blinking red light will indicate messages
- Internet access (wired Ethernet) is available in guest rooms for the fee of $10 for 24 hour period
- Wireless internet access is not available at Pop Century at this time, but is currently being tested at select WDW resorts.
- Small refrigerator for rent $10/night, plus tax; no charge for those with medical needs (if your refrigerator is not in the room, call Housekeeping, not the front desk)
ROOM CATEGORIES & RATES
Beginning in 2012, there are four room booking categories: Standard, Standard Pool View, Preferred, and Preferred Pool View. The Pool View categories are offered in: 50s, 80s, and 90s areas (Standard Pool View); and 60s (Preferred Pool View). Preferred will be available in selected areas in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, and Standard offered throughout the resort. The updated map shows the preferred; standard and preferred pool view categories based on past knowledge and approximation of the areas in which these categories will apply. Refer to Pop Century 2012 Map.
Standard can refer to a parking lot, lake view, courtyard and are typically a little further from Classic Hall. Preferred refers to the location of the room; they do not refer to views, size, or amenities. These rooms are in buildings closest to Classic Hall.
Using the Standard View rates as a measure, generally:
- Standard Pool View is approx $5 additional/night
- Preferred View is approx $15 additional/night
- Preferred Pool View is approx $20 additional/night
Rates: Mary from Mousesavers.com does a wonderful job of listing the rates by seasons and categories, click to see rates for 2012