Disappointed in Pop/Value Level

[ktate82]

We stayed at Pop twice. First time housekeeping was horrible and food court staff was down right rude. We stayed again May 2013 on a comped room, and it wasn't any better. We ended up joining DVC because we said never again. To me, it felt like a cheap hotel with unresponsive staff with some Disney decor. All of the rooms could use a good deep clean and the staff a refresher course on "the Disney way" .

 

[campbell95]

We prefer to stay at the deluxe resorts when we visit WDW. The balcony and the proximity to the parks are important to us. That said, we almost always take evening flights, and usually start our trip with a stay at All Star Music, transferring to our deluxe of choice the next morning. Why pay those deluxe prices when we don't even get there until 10pm??? They're not bad! We've stayed there a couple of times, and we have no complaints. The rooms are clean, the food courts are convenient, and the bus lines are FAR better than anything at the deluxe resorts we have stayed at, where it's basically just a free-for-all. Bell services, mousekeeping, and check in are not lacking in any way.

For what it's worth, we've had bad housekeeping at the deluxe resorts, too. And at non-disney resorts. It's just part of staying at a hotel.

 

[JMNE]

We haven't stayed at the POP, and have only stayed in a value once (ASMu). Ironically that was the trip we bought a DVC membership so the plan was to not stay in a value again. It wasn't that the value resort was bad, it just wasn't what we had come to expect at Disney (we typically stayed in mods). You certainly get what you pay for when staying value. That said though, when needing a good budget friendly place to stay they are a nice option. We are out of DVC points for the next couple years due to a big family reunion trip but I really wanted to squeeze in a trip with just the kids and me (DH has to work) so we will stay at ASSP and we will be glad we were able to squeeze in another trip, because being at one of the more budget friendly hotels at Disney is better than not being at Disney at all.

 

[WDW in Pearls]

I'm 99% sure I will get flamed for this, but as bad as the CS was at Pop, it was MUCH better than the much higher priced Dolphin.

 

[Minniesgal]

I love the moderates and the deluxes but really Sony like the feel of the values. If I wanted to do a budget trip I would stay offsite before picking a value.

 

[dawnhaze]

I always laugh when I see people compare WDW value resorts to Motel 6, because I've stayed at Motel 6 locations with bloodstains on the carpet and "working girls" in the parking lot. There's a particular one in south NJ that looks deserted if you drive up at night; staying there was rather like being in a horror movie.

Days Inn/Holiday Inn is a better comparison. It's not for everybody, but you're probably not going to hear police sirens outside your room several times a night. And even then, I've stayed in some locations of these chains that made WDW values look like the Ritz.

But really, if you don't usually like cheap hotels, why would you like Disney's "cheap" hotels?

 

[Dsnyfireman]

PP I agree totally ! People talk about how they can't stand value resorts and they are dirty and the food sucks , service was bad, ect. . Then you look at their list of stays at the bottom of there post and its all deluxe and mod resorts!! Of coarse values aren't as nice as GF or POLY! The cost about a 1/4 the price so some things need to be cut. I have never had a dirty room at a disney value!! Food is good for what it is, cheap food ( cheap for disney!) . The feel of a value always seems more disney to me! I go to disney to feel like a kid again and I can at POP! Can't see me running around acting like Goofy with my kids and being totally silly in the boardwalk inn!!!!

 

[WDW in Pearls]

I always laugh when I see people compare WDW value resorts to Motel 6, because I've stayed at Motel 6 locations with bloodstains on the carpet and "working girls" in the parking lot. There's a particular one in south NJ that looks deserted if you drive up at night; staying there was rather like being in a horror movie.

Days Inn/Holiday Inn is a better comparison. It's not for everybody, but you're probably not going to hear police sirens outside your room several times a night. And even then, I've stayed in some locations of these chains that made WDW values look like the Ritz.

But really, if you don't usually like cheap hotels, why would you like Disney's "cheap" hotels?

Great point! I usually avoid outdoor entry hotels for the safety factor (most are like what you described; I'm originally from NY and currently live in PA so I've traveled in NJ many times) but I never once felt unsafe at any Disney hotel, even the values. That's worth the price in itself!

 

[michellelovesthemous]

We have stayed at Pop since they opened....every year. It is home to us we love the vibe. Yes it is a small room, yes the decor is crazy...beautiful,yes the foodcourt is wild....ly fabulous, yes the CMs are incredibly....awesome. We have also stayed at AKL savannah but it was just for one night and we moved back to our home at Pop for our trip. It was wonderful but it was soooooo quiet. I guess we are just used to the loud,fun vibe of Pop and will continue to go back to it each year! No matter where you stay I feel it is what you make of it everything else is the cherry on the sundae. No matter where you stay have a magical time!

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I've had great stays every time I stayed at a value resort. My family has outgrown them but they were perfect when we stayed at them.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Pooh2]

I agree. We spent one night at the POP in May 2012. We were not impressed and ended up switching to CBR. My Mom's room had red stains In the carpet, cobwebs, the air didn't work properly, and she discovered rat trap boxes right outside her door. (She is terrified of mice/rats). Needless to say, we had to change resorts bc she wouldn't hear of staying another night. Not knocking anyone who stays in a value resort. We just had a bad room/experience but we fell in love with CBR and will always stay there for all future trips. Our next one being May 2014

Now that adds a whole new meaning to "mousekeeping"!

 

[Pats Dragon]

Pop is our favorite because : we can afford 2 rooms, the transportation is superior, mousekeeping has always done a terrific job and I personally like the memorabilia. I wish the food court was cleaned more often especially the floor but everything else is just fine.

 

[hakepb]

Great point! I usually avoid outdoor entry hotels for the safety factor (most are like what you described; I'm originally from NY and currently live in PA so I've traveled in NJ many times) but I never once felt unsafe at any Disney hotel, even the values. That's worth the price in itself!

Great point!

My last off-site stay was at a cheap outside entry hotel. The police patty-wagon showed up at the hotel next door... Sure, the room was bigger than a value, but my next stay was at AS Sp and having Disney Security, Disney landscaping, Disney themeing made for a hugely better stay.

 

[JessicaKnits]

Pop is our favorite because : we can afford 2 rooms, the transportation is superior, mousekeeping has always done a terrific job and I personally like the memorabilia. I wish the food court was cleaned more often especially the floor but everything else is just fine.

Ditto on the TRANSPORTATION!! My first trip I stayed at Pop. It was 2010 and our room had been renovated just before we stayed. The carpet was so new it was still "gooshy" under your feet. We were on the Deluxe Dining Plan and either had a 7:30 AM reservation for breakfast at a resort or an 8 AM reservation in a park every morning, and we were never late once.

Last year I stayed at Coronado, and while the resort itself was beautiful, by the second day I was wishing we were back at Pop because the bus situation there was a NIGHTMARE! The only way I would stay at a moderate again is if we rented a car.

 

[5boyz]

It's nice that WDW offers lots of options, isn't it? In over 30 visits over the last 10 year I have stayed deluxe only 4 times, moderates ~10 times and values the remainder. I have 3 more trips this year and they will also be to value resorts.

I don't spend a lot of time in the room and they suit my needs nicely.

Im with you...we are at the parks and POP does its job for me...never had any problems there!

 

[Pixiedust2758]

Interesting article here regarding room sizes:
http://blog.touringplans.com/2012/0...world-number-crunching-part-3-square-footage/

As for the original discussion - I've only ever stayed at values & moderates (unless you count Swan/Dolphin; which I would say is "deluxe" based on location; but a different entity because they are owned by someone else); and have never had a problem. As PPs have mentioned, it's a place to stay! And I enjoy the huge Disney theme at the values vs. other resorts (no giant Mr. Potato Head on other Disney resort property). I do have Poly booked this year; because I've always loved visiting it and will like the proximity to MK. You get what you pay for. I'm not sure *who* would go into a Disney Value and expect to be treated like they're at the Ritz; but if that's what you're doing, your expectations need lowered. As for the horrible room experiences; that shouldn't be tolerable; but honestly could be found at any resort. If you have a (reasonable) problem with your room then tell a cast member & attempt to remedy.

 

[Don Disney]

We have stayed at Pop 4 times for a total of 38 nights,and have never had an issue with anything....other than the bus being crowded at the end of the night.We really enjoyed the "larger than life"icons,and the overall vibe of the place..saved some $$$$ to boot!!! As an aside,had several meals at a few of the deluxe resorts,and noticed that a lot of their ceilings were in need of repair...they were all "scraped up"....probably from some of the folks having their noses stuck a little bit too high in the air. Nothing wrong with ANY level of the resorts as far as I can tell,but some of the people at ANY of them....

 

[Princess Katherine]

Don't mean to offend anyone but what can you expect from a value?

Katie

 

[maxiesmom]

Don't mean to offend anyone but what can you expect from a value?

Katie

What do I expect from a value? Clean rooms. Nice grounds. Friendly staff. And that is usually what I get. They are meant to be basic rooms at a basic resort. And that is what they are.

 

[CampbellScot]

My family has stayed at Pop several times. It's pretty basic and bare bones. It's basically a Disney Motel. We get a preferred room so we are close to the food court and bus stops. It's fine. The food court is large and the variety is decent. We are "out at the parks all day" people so the resort isn't a huge deal to us. Especially when we are trying to save money where we can. When we have the kids with us we get adjoining rooms b/c the rooms are VERY small for four people over the age of 10. With two rooms we are quite happy and comfortable. Now if it were up to me all the time, I prefer to stay at Beach Club when I am looking for convenience of location and a little bit of cushy luxury stay. We are staying there in November for Wine and Dine half marathon! But we really don't mind the values at all. Even All Star Sports...the red headed step child of the values!

all in all though we have always enjoyed our stays at Pop. We accept it for what it is. The rooms are clean, the mousekeepers are very nice and very thorough. We don't find the resort overly loud. We think the theme is fun and my step kids love pools.

We have fun because we are Disney. Value or Deluxe, it's all pretty magical to my family!