Had A Magical Vacation, But........

[stinkerbell]

My family just got back from a ten day (May 2 - 11) Disney Vacation and we had a great time! But we had some major issues with the Pop Century Resort.

Starting with the bus service. There were times that it took nearly two hours to get from Magic Kingdom back to Pop and almost as long to get from any other place back to our hotel. The most irritating part about our wait was that people in wheelchairs could just wheel up to the front of the line and get on first even though there were families waiting longer, holding sleeping children and standing in line forever. It would take the bus driver about five minutes per wheelchair to get them loaded, strapped in and then we would watch in disbelief at these wheelchair bound people stand up and take a bus seat leaving their wheelchair empty and taking up a bus seat. This kind of situation happened numerous times. It was really frustrating and a bummer of a way to end our day in the parks.

The Pop Century was cutely decorated but we were greatly disappointed overall. It is very noisy! You can hear people running and walking in the rooms above you, people peeing in the bathroom next door, not to mention the toilets flushing and the shower running at all hours. And the teenagers partying out in the walkway at 3 or 4am! We will not be staying here on our next trip.

We did have a great time in the parks. My "just under" 40 inch tall niece got on all the rides she wanted to, thanks to the shoes she wearing (they had thick soles on the bottom). She LOVED Splash Mountain, Soarin, Big Thunder, and Test Track!

Mission Space scared me because of all I read on this site about it making people sick. But I went on it anyway, and it was definately not as bad as everyone said. A cast member did tell me that mothers usually are the ones who get sick because they tend to look to the side to check on their children. THAT will cause you to become dizzy. If you keep your eyes on the screen you will probably be ok. I took that advise and I enjoyed the ride and did not feel sick at all.

Overall our vacation was a great experience! Can't wait to go back (we just won't stay at Pop Century).

 

[joshsmom]

Sorry you weren't impressed with POP. We really like ASMo and haven't experienced the issues you had.

 

[elliemae1192]

We usually stay at Fort Wilderness in our travel trailer but in February we took a quick three day trip and didn't want to bother with towing the camper down for such a short stay. We decided to stay at POP and will NEVER do it again. They have some serious issues with the busses there. It also took us at least 1-2 hours to get back from any of the parks even if we left before closing. And you're right about the noise. We could hear EVERYTHING. Had the same experience years ago at the All Star Sports. We will only stay in our camper from now on unless we can afford a good deluxe.

Glad the rest of your trip was good.

 

[Mykelogan]

It would take the bus driver about five minutes per wheelchair to get them loaded, strapped in and then we would watch in disbelief at these wheelchair bound people stand up and take a bus seat leaving their wheelchair empty and taking up a bus seat. This kind of situation happened numerous times. It was really frustrating and a bummer of a way to end our day in the parks.

I am sorry to hear about your poor experiences at Pop Century but I have to take issue with what you wrote here. I am trying to type what i am feeling about what you wrote but I have to be honest, these statements, in my opinion are ignorant and hurtful. Complaining about an extra 5min wait that gives someone with a disability access to the great place that is WDW to me is too much to me. You are not that person and you do not know what challenges they face. And as far as getting up and taking a seat, many times it is not safe for an individual to remain in their mobility device on a moving bus. I know that several of the ECV providers require the users to not sit in the ECV when on a bus. I would also say that not all disabilities are something you may be able to "see" easily.

And as far as it being "frustrating and a bummer "? Imagine how frustrating and hurtful it is to be the person who uses the wheelchair/ECV so that they can experience their vacations and day to day life and then has to hear people making ignorant comments about them and glaring at them because of the 5min it takes to get the wheelchair/ECV onto the bus. I say all these things as someone who has had to use a wheelchair/ECV and is "glad" to know that there are such "understanding" people out there.

I'll end this here and I am sorry if it comes off as a rant. I do not devalue your frustration and I know a long day in the parks is tiring to everyone. I just think that a little more acceptance and understanding on the part of many people in this world would go a long way.

Mike

 

[3lilprincesses]

I do not devalue your frustration and I know a long day in the parks is tiring to everyone. I just think that a little more acceptance and understanding on the part of many people in this world would go a long way.

Mike

amen to that.

i totally agree with your noise issues at POP. we stayed there for one night and we couldn't believe that we could actually hear what was going on in the bathroom next to us!! the noise from the open walkway was awful as well. i was suprised that a CM couldn't see what was going on and ask people to keep it down a bit so late at night.

glad overall your trip was good anyway!

 

[lsteadman]

I am sorry you had a bad time. I was at the Pop May 3 - 10. I didn't experience any of the issues you describe. We we in the 80 building, 4th floom, with the Rubix Cube with a Computer pool view and I found it to be very quite.

I could hear the toliets flushing but not to the point were it bothered me. I notice what you talked about with the buses. However, I was just thankful I was able to experience Disney by the grace of God and my own two legs without any assistance of wheel chairs. Yes, I had to wait longer to get on the buses but I am blessed to be able to do this on my own without any assistance from the bus drivers. Consider yourself bless and very fortunate.

If you have to stay at the Pop again for any reason (but I am sure you won't) try the 80's building, 4th floor its was very, very quite and I am a very light sleeper.

Hope the rest of your trip was enjoyable!

 

[SoxFan]

The most irritating part about our wait was that people in wheelchairs could just wheel up to the front of the line and get on first even though there were families waiting longer, holding sleeping children and standing in line forever. It would take the bus driver about five minutes per wheelchair to get them loaded, strapped in and then we would watch in disbelief at these wheelchair bound people stand up and take a bus seat leaving their wheelchair empty and taking up a bus seat. This kind of situation happened numerous times. It was really frustrating and a bummer of a way to end our day in the parks.

This is pretty ignorant. Last time I was there I was in a wheel chair due to a severe injury. I felt bad that it took so long for the driver to secure my chair. Sorry you found this "irritating" , I would have glady traded places with you.

 

[Donnask8pro]

I tried very hard not to put in my 2 cents but..... Here I go. I have a son who is 10 in a wheelchair. I do have to say I think that she is warranted slightly in what Mykelogan said. People do abuse the policy. If this case they did not than I apologize. But.. Why could that person not stay in their w/c so a seat was available for another person. I know how well they strap down those w/c because my sons has to be strapped down. I also help with the process to make it faster. Late at night people are tired and get frustrated and yes we all have to be forgiving but I see people abusing this policy all the time. And being the mother of a severely handicapped child It pisses me off.

 

[fireman17]

Stinkerbell,
My family stayed at Pop the same time you were there (2-11) and we never experienced the delays in buses you speak of. We never had longer than a half hour trip from MK and back to Pop or from any of the parks. As for the noise level by the pool yes it was loud until late at night with small children there with parents, we had a fourth floor room and still heard the kids but not to the point it disturbed our sleep.
We also heard the toilets as well but, again did not disturb our sleep. Now as far as the wheelchair bound persons, I work in emergency services and would give my seat up in a heartbeat to anyone of them due to the fact my mother is wheelchair bound from a stroke. As far as them getting off the chair in the bus many drivers would rather have then in a regular bus seat than their own chair in case anything was to go wrong with the strapping device.
My wife and I traveled with three children two were in a double stroller and there were times that I knew we were not going to be able to find a seat with our stroller and would let others ahead of us so that I would be able to have a seat for my wife and kids and also would not have our stroller in someones face.
I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad experience at Pop but don't take out your fustration on persons who are wheelchair bound. Remember they never asked to be put in that chair.
We had a great stay and due to our children ages on our next trip we will not be able to stay at Pop.

 

[fanofdisney]

We just got back from POP- we didn't have the bus issues. The w/c guests didn't bother me at all- I'm just glad I can stand and walk. We waited 15 minutes tops for a bus, usually had a shorter wait. We stayed in the 50s building on the 3rd floor. The only noise we heard was an occasional child running down the hall outside. We loved the hotel! Our only complaint was the food that was so-so, yet overpriced. But we weren't expecting gourmet service at the value resort, and the pricing is just Disney's way about everything.

 

[domestic goddess]

I got the impression that Stinkerbell was more irritated that the people in wheelchairs(and I'm assuming the party of people with them), would just go to the front of the line without waiting in line like everyone else. I have seen this happen before. I have been with people in wheelchairs before and they would just go to the area by the front and wait(because they could not get their wheelchair through the "maze of bars") and the remaining people in the group would go through the line like everyone else. Then when it was our turn, they would get on the bus with us. Same thing with the rides.

 

[lfama]

I think what Stinkerbell meant about the wheelchairs was not to be ignorant or to insult anyone in a wheelchair, but to say that she saw people who were in wheelchairs actually get up once on the bus and take a seat. I saw many, many people using wheelchairs and the motorized ones (I forget what they are called) when they did not need to be during my last stay at WDW. There were many instances where I saw merely lazy children riding around, or elder people using them because of all the walking required, not necessarily because they were not capable of walking. In those instances, I agree it could be frustrating, especially if you are waiting so long, if the person in the wheelchair is capable of walking. That is simply wrong to me.

 

[Amy&Dan]

This wheelchair issue has been debated a whole lot lately. In fact the last nasty thread got so heated and long it was eventually closed. As someone who has a father in law who is elderly, looks perfectly healthy but due to lifelong heart problems uses an ECCV, let me assure you that you need to be careful before you judge that person to be unworthy of their chair or scooter! You might be in the position to be in one yourself someday. Don't give people dirty looks if they have the nerve to rise from their chair to go get a drink of water or sit on a bus seat. Look back through some of the threads on this issue and you will see the testimonies of many disabled, healthy LOOKING people who need their chairs and cannot do Disney without them. It is one thing to walk a few feet from the ECCV to the bus seat, quite another to walk the many miles (we have clocked 11 on our pedometer while at WDW) during a day at the parks. Yes, there may possibly be nasty people who rent these when they don't need them. I still find it hard to believe anyone would spend $30 to do that if they didn't need it but whatever. You might see grandkids sitting or even riding in one while Grandpa is in the restroom or on a ride. For those folks who read threads like these and think "I can't go to Disney because I need a wheelchair/ECCV but don't want people judging me", PLEASE disregard the ignorance and do what you have to do to enjoy a wonderful vacation! As one person on the now closed thread said, they would glady give up being in that ECCV that boards the bus first to not be disabled/ill. Remember also, some people, like my mother have used wheelchairs while they are on chemotherapy. With a wig and make up she didn't look disabled but she was in pain, tired, ill and wanted to see her grandkids go to Disneyland before it was too late. Sorry to be so long winded but PLEASE think before you judge and please if you need assistance to get around the parks by all means do it!

 

[sydprincess]

Best advice I can give is rent a car next time. Everyone thinks it's so great to have the free bus service while staying at the Disney hotels. Well, I'd rather pay $200 for a rental car for the week just to have the peace of mind knowing that one, I will not be chained to a bus schedule that takes hours away from time I could use enjoying the parks, and two, I won't be dealing with anyone other than my own family. On our last trip, we had to take the bus back to the hotel once because the boat wasn't running due to lightning, and that was the one and only time I will ever get on one of them. The wait was so frustrating. I don't save $7,000 for a vacation to Disney to waste hours waiting for their transportation. From what is said on this board, people seem to forget their manners on them as well, which is definitely the last thing I want to deal with while on vacation. Live and learn, Amy&Dan!

 

[tiggger1]

I have no problem with waiting with behind wheelchairs to load for long as it takes as long as they were ahead of me to begin with but I do think it is wrong for them to go straight to the front of the line, just because. Why should they not have to wait? That would seriously bug me. If it was because of a serious medical issue then by all means, go ahead, but if it was because they thought it was their right because they where in a wheelchair then "No Way" ( this isnt just about people in wc either, I 've had it happen with people not in chairs also!)

 

[Brer_roadrunner]

First off if I come off as being ignorant I don't mean too... But what I think what Stinkerbell was getting too is when did being handicapped give you the right to get to the front of the line? I know they need to be put in first because of the work it takes to get a chair or scooter on to a bus... That's not the point, the point is if you have people standing there for whatever time I think it's frustrating to know you've been in line for x amount of time just to see someone go to the front of the line without waiting... I know handicapped people strive to be treated equally, and no one should treat them as if they're not, but is it fair to cut just because your handicapped?

 

[palmtreegirl]

I got the impression that Stinkerbell was more irritated that the people in wheelchairs(and I'm assuming the party of people with them), would just go to the front of the line without waiting in line like everyone else. I have seen this happen before. I have been with people in wheelchairs before and they would just go to the area by the front and wait(because they could not get their wheelchair through the "maze of bars") and the remaining people in the group would go through the line like everyone else. Then when it was our turn, they would get on the bus with us. Same thing with the rides.

There was a young man down on our last trip that did this, we saw them on multiple rides and his friends(also young men) would wait in line and then he'd meet them up by the ride entrance. It was refreshing to see.

 

[twinz]

We stayed at ASMo a few years ago, and every day we went into the parks we drove...it worked out VERY good for the two of us. The parking was free for onsite Disney guests and we thought it would be much better, and faster at the end of the night to just hop in our car rather then waiting for a bus. If we were to ever stay onproperty again I would certainly drive tot he parks.

 

[heart4pooh]

Two years ago my husband went to WDW with us. He is an above knee amputee that is a plumber. He works 50+ hrs a week and doesn't own a wheelchair. I had one sent to the hotel for our trip. He HATED it. He went just to see our son have a great time (our son is a disney freak like me!). I don't remember purposely cutting anyone. I do know that if we were waiting for a bus, as the bus came up if it was able to load a wheelchair (some can't) then the driver stopped, got off and helped load him on. And yes he was told by every driver to transfer to a seat if he was able to. We were never asked if we were next in line. I didn't think to tell the driver, since I didn't know if everyone in line was able to get on or not...This July my son and I are staying at AKL concierge to celebrate my 40th birthday and my husband has no interest in going back. It breaks my heart to spend that kind of money and not have him come with us. It's just not worth the hassle. I won't even talk about the rude comments people made to him or about him in hearing distance.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

I wish people would quit judging people with disabilities. Just be glad you are healthy. I have a son with a somewhat invisible disability and it ruins our trips when people make rude comments about things they know nothing about. We have to live with inconveiniences for a lifetime, while others only have to be inconvieninced for a few minutes. People should show a little more compassion, who knows when you might be forced to deal with a life altering disability, then you will know how it feels.