Just Back from POP...NEVER AGAIN

[pampam]

The Hustle is primarily at the 70s buildings.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

No, I think it's in the food court and lobby at about 5:00 p.m.

 

[Chuck S]

We occasionally spend a night or two at POP before/after our DVC stays. I've never had any housekeepinmg or maintenance issues, but I've had key issues this week at OKW. Asfar as the POP food court, it is what it is...a very busy food court, but the best of the value resorts, IMO. I agree the burgers aren't the best, but the other foods we've gotten there have been very good. In fact, we drove to POP to use the food court a couple of times during our current trip to OKW. The Chicken dinners on Sat, Sun and Mon are good...in fact we had it packaged to go and heated it the next day at OKW (since we had a real oven). Disney is one of the few places I can eat Fried Chicken, because so many other places use red/cayenne pepper in the breading...it makes me ill.

Sorry POP wasn't to the OPs taste, but we never had problems there.

 

[justakrazymom]

And now that I've been on both ends of the stroller war, I can tell you that more often that not, people who cut me off as I walk and then stop short in a crowd are hitting my stroller, not the other way around. And also - if I say excuse me SEVEN times and you continue to stand there without allowing me to get by, I might just run over your foot. I don't have a stroller because I want to. I have a little human who has the same right to mobility that you do. People who walk, people who stroller and people who scooter should just take care and respect each other. Stay out of each others way. Be considerate. It's not a race. It's a vacation.



Deb

AMEN..sorry but having 4 kids I've dealt with strollers for a long time. I will not say I've never accidently hit someone but I will say that my kids have been smashed into, stepped on, bumped and had cigarette ashes dropped on them..kids are humans too and deserve some respect, which they rarely get it seems.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I just have to ask. I push a huge SN stroller for DS. It is the Liberty by Advance mobility. He has to have this model because he is older and bigger now. I stand 5'4" and can see over the top ok but not great. I am also new to this stroller with just a few days on it. I am very aware it is long and big. I try very hard to notice where people are. We stay late in the parks until the crowds leave so I won't hit anyone.

But sometimes, I do hit by accident the back of someones leg. I am so mortified. I tell them how sorry I am, that I am having a few problems, I ask if they are ok? We are never going fast or hard but it happen last time.

What can I do or say to make it better short of keeping up the efforts to watch others especially on the quick stops others make?

 

[RJO]

I want to say THANK-YOU to all who replied....yes rudeness is everywhere....Happy Holidays to all..

 

[Chuck S]

AMEN..sorry but having 4 kids I've dealt with strollers for a long time. I will not say I've never accidently hit someone but I will say that my kids have been smashed into, stepped on, bumped and had cigarette ashes dropped on them..kids are humans too and deserve some respect, which they rarely get it seems.

The same for people in wheelchairs. People have walked directly into the side of Mom's chair, while she was at a full stop. Then they'd complain about wheelchairs. People are so busy looking at the sights, they don't watch where they're going.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I want to say THANK-YOU to all who replied....yes rudeness is everywhere....Happy Holidays to all..

And a Merry Christmas to you. Thanks for the follow-up post.

 

[snykymom]

I just have to ask. I push a huge SN stroller for DS. It is the Liberty by Advance mobility. He has to have this model because he is older and bigger now. I stand 5'4" and can see over the top ok but not great. I am also new to this stroller with just a few days on it. I am very aware it is long and big. I try very hard to notice where people are. We stay late in the parks until the crowds leave so I won't hit anyone.

But sometimes, I do hit by accident the back of someones leg. I am so mortified. I tell them how sorry I am, that I am having a few problems, I ask if they are ok? We are never going fast or hard but it happen last time.

What can I do or say to make it better short of keeping up the efforts to watch others especially on the quick stops others make?

You don't have to do anything else. Most people understand accidents, and all they're really looking for is an apology or an "Excuse me." It's the ones who act as if they haven't done anything or that no one is in their way who are the source of the aggravation.

 

[jakeybake]

Wife and I usually stay at CSR but wanted to try others and chose POP...our reservation was for a room in the closest 50's building to lobby and a bottom floor due to hip problem...ended up with 50's building 2 rm 2309...a long walk with bad hip...3rd floor...so much for requests...day 1 wife went to use snack credit did not work...got new keys...then would not work in door..,.went back a 2nd time...told all was ok...my key worked hers did not...another long walk...we had to walk 4 times to lobby...to get keys straightened out...day 2...took shower...tub did not drain...another waqlk but this time we were going to a park...asked to be compensated...got flowers in room...somethying more substantial was expected....1 good thing house keeping was excellent....
on to the food court...hello....anyone ever hear of manners...guests there were the most impolite rude people...kids running...screaming....kids pushing me a 56 yo man out of way to get to soda...got a bacon cheeseburger....tasted like vomit.....only halfway decent food was pizza ...but not that good....and another thing was the piggyness of families....throwing things on floor....saw one family get up and leave and floor looked like it blew up...WE ARE A SPOILED SOCIETY....I could go on and on but will not....all I can say is Never again at POP...now on to MVMCP....again does anyone have manners...strollers must have hit my feet 100 times...note to DISNEY....YOU ARE SELLING WAY TO MANY TICKETS TO THESE EVENTS....
One more general comment...we were in the happiest place on earth and NO ONE WAS HAPPY....just my 2 cents....want to flame me...BRING IT ON!!!!!

I couldn't agree with you more. I just got back from Pop yesterday and I HATED the resort. I was in the 50's building, room 3438. It was a hike to my car in the lot, was a long walk to the room and I had a view of one of the big yo-yo's in the 60's area.

The food court was a madhouse, filled with people with no manner what so ever. Every single time I walked out of the back doors of the food court I had to encounter hords of people smoking cigarettes. It was awful.

I called to see if I could move to another resort on my first day there but everything was booked up solid. I asked to be moved to the 90's building for closer proximity to parking (I had a rental) and the main lobby area. I was moved and though the location was much better, the resort never improved.

Each and every day I couldn't leave the resort early enough, nor get back late enough, to avoid being there as much as possible. I spent my free, non park time walking around the Epcot resort area as well as the Magic Kingdon resorts.

NEVER, EVER will I stay at a value resort again. Horrendous experience.

Jay

 

[hedgehog2owl]

...day 2...took shower...tub did not drain.......

eww!

kids pushing me a 56 yo man out of way to get to soda...

Yes that is very rude

 

[chascath]

I thoroughly sympathize with your experience. On the very first night of our first trip to WDW (1988) I had an experience with a runaway stroller that ran right into the back of my right ankle. Arrived at 2:30 pm after a 9 hour drive and headed into MK to watch the fireworks. Five minutes later after staking our spot.......I was down on my right knee with excruciating pain on the back of my ankle. Turned around to see an empty stroller and a woman with large round eyes and white as a ghost running towards me apologizing and then grabbing her stroller she ran off into the crowd without checking to see if I was alright. Nice start to our honeymoon.

Rudeness levels has definitely been on the upswing through the years but we managed to avoid it by going during the slow periods. But few years and several trips later all went well until Dec 07 which may be our last trip. Several years of marketing, discount deals, etc. turned what used to be the optimum period of going (week after thanksgiving to week prior to Christmas) into a less desirable period due to increase crowd levels and what comes with it.

All the hotels have shortcomings. Wilderness Lodge - Fantastic themed hotel but with many late night returnees (screaming kids and drunk adults) at 1:00 or 2:00 am. WDW hotel construction is not conducive to noise suppression. Those rooms are not quiet!

MVMCP - Day guests refusing to leave and cast members not checking bands in parks or rides, too many event tickets sold results in overcrowded chaos laced with increasing rudeness levels. Could not hardly move. An elderly couple in wheelchairs blocked in by teenagers and twenty-somethings rushing by and running into them. I acted as a people pusher so these two individuals could get off the main aisle and out of harms way.

Buffet Restaurants - More and more stuff your face, overpriced obesity factories where farm pigs would be grossed out by some of the table manners I've seen. Nothing like having your appetite disappear while spending mega-bucks.

Strollers - With the one exception at the start of my note I do find that most with strollers are very conscious of others around them. I actually sympathize with their situation. I don't have kids but if I did, I observed enough parents at WDW that I would take my kids at the slowest times of the year or wait until they can walk on their own all day.

BUT HEY! IT'S DISNEY WORLD! THE MOST MAGICAL PLACE IN THE WORLD. SHRUG IT OFF AND ENJOY!

 

[ice cube]

Sorry for the bad trip but next time when you want to try a new resort go up not down....Did POP once because we didn't have a choice and only lasted 3 nights before being able to change to the BC.When Disney says "value" they mean "value".....not for us either...

 

[cm8]

Wife and I usually stay at CSR but wanted to try others and chose POP...our reservation was for a room in the closest 50's building to lobby and a bottom floor due to hip problem...ended up with 50's building 2 rm 2309...a long walk with bad hip...3rd floor...so much for requests...day 1 wife went to use snack credit did not work...got new keys...then would not work in door..,.went back a 2nd time...told all was ok...my key worked hers did not...another long walk...we had to walk 4 times to lobby...to get keys straightened out...day 2...took shower...tub did not drain...another waqlk but this time we were going to a park...asked to be compensated...got flowers in room...somethying more substantial was expected....1 good thing house keeping was excellent....
on to the food court...hello....anyone ever hear of manners...guests there were the most impolite rude people...kids running...screaming....kids pushing me a 56 yo man out of way to get to soda...got a bacon cheeseburger....tasted like vomit.....only halfway decent food was pizza ...but not that good....and another thing was the piggyness of families....throwing things on floor....saw one family get up and leave and floor looked like it blew up...WE ARE A SPOILED SOCIETY....I could go on and on but will not....all I can say is Never again at POP...now on to MVMCP....again does anyone have manners...strollers must have hit my feet 100 times...note to DISNEY....YOU ARE SELLING WAY TO MANY TICKETS TO THESE EVENTS....
One more general comment...we were in the happiest place on earth and NO ONE WAS HAPPY....just my 2 cents....want to flame me...BRING IT ON!!!!!

I feel you on some of what you had to say. We had some eventful times too, Made me not ever want to go back either

 

[willowsnn3]

Wow, sorry you had a bad experience at POP. 7 out of our 10 visits have been at POP & it is my all time favorite. Even over the 2 mods & 1 deluxe we stayed at. Liked them two but I just love POP!! And I'm a 60year old woman We've never made a room request & have always gotten 1st floor rooms. I have arthritis in both hips but have found walking is great exercise to keep from "stiffening up". If I wasn't able to do much walking I don't think I would choose WDW as a vacation spot, lol.

 

[seashoreCM]

....day 1 wife went to use snack credit did not work...got new keys...then would not work in door..,.went back a 2nd time...told all was ok...my key worked hers did not...another long walk...we had to walk 4 times to lobby...to get keys straightened out!!!!!

Is there someone who can open the door so you can stuff your bags inside rather than relug them to the front desk to get your key fixed?

(copied from another post) If your dining plan key card doesn't work at the park restaurat, would it be fair to have the maitre'd call the resort and get it fixed while you go off and enjoy the park? No debit card involved.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Ah, the POP food court. I remember it well and hated it. I stayed at POP in 2008 with my DD.
That food court drove me crazy. Kids running wild, parents cutting us off in line, food horrible once you finally get it (I was getting a regular hamburger and you'd have thought I was forcing them to do something horrible removing the cheese and it took them over 20 minutes to do it!).

POP is definitely not in my top 3 fav. resorts.

I got back on Dec. 5th and noticed alot of unhappy looking people and stroller pushers ramming people. I now have a purple big toenail because someone ran over my right foot with their stroller trying to cut me off to get a spot at the MVMCP parade. (They didn't get the spot either.)

I hope your next trip is better.

 

[Minnie Lor]

I just want to comment on the stroller thing. We were there last year at the off season and the crowds were low. We had a great time. One incident that really ticked me off was with a lady and a stroller.

I'm in line to get a snack from one of the carts and I am the last person in the line. There is like two people ahead of me. I'm waiting patiently and this woman rams me from the side with a stroller. Hits my right ankle. It startles me and I kind of jump to the side. I look her right in the eye and she doesn't say a thing. She just moves on by.

I think it's just a rude woman and decide to leave it alone. About a minute later she comes back. I'm just approaching the window and she rams into me from the other side trying to get in front of me and she interrupts me as I am trying to tell the CM what I want. She starts asking him a question.

This time her husband is behind her. Instead of talking to the woman I looked at her husband and said "Man, if this is what you have to live with the rest of your life, you have my pity." The woman gets mad and starts yelling like a freak from the circus. I told her she was the rudest person I have seen at Disney and since there are thousands of people here, that makes you pretty special.

I told her that if she ran her stroller into my leg one more time I would have her arrested for assault and she would probably be banned from Disney World. (I wouldn't have done that but it sounded threatening as heck at the time).

The whole time her husband doesn't say a word. She gets all in a huff because I dared to talk to her that way and leave.

Then the husband comes close to me and says, "I'm sorry. She's been that way her whole life."

I can understand a mistake and I can overlook stuff when it happens but at least have the courtesy to apologize and everything is good.

Ok, sorry about the rant.

That's hysterical!

Back to the OP, sorry you had a bad experience. I love, LOVE Pop but I've never been when it's crazy busy. The first few weeks of December isn't usually crazy busy, so I'd advice staying away during Spring Break and the month of July.

Some of it is attitude. My husband wouldn't find Pop cute or charming. He would see it the way you do. He wants relaxing pace after crazy day in the park. I like the crazy around the clock. I overlook alot. When DH and I go together, we stay at Shades of Green. It's a military owned hotel on Disney property. It's quite lovely and everyone is so polite. It is totally a different feel. I'm always amazed at the difference in manners.

Good luck finding something on the more peaceful side.

 

[mommycrawford]

I'm sorry your vacation lacked magic!...I stayed at Pop a few times, then one year it was sold out, so we stayed at All Star Music by default.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN BACK TO POP SINCE!

I am disabled so, for financial reasons, we stay in values if we do Disney!

The staff at ASM are really nice. They cannot always accomodate requests, and things are not always perfect, but they try really hard to help which, for me, counts a lot!

It is a smaller resort than Pop, so maybe that helps, but it has a much cozier feel even when the food court is crazy....You might consider trying it. (I also hated crossing in the parking lot to get back to the room at Pop.) I have never had trouble with card keys made here, and one year they even comped us an extra room which was a surprise at check in.

One big difference I noticed is that I always see some staff personnel around, so if there is an issue they could radio for help...probably get housekeeping to open your door before you had to get new keys.

...I am not trying to sell you on returning, but thought I'd mention my experiences.

 

[Chuck S]

I'm sorry your vacation lacked magic!...I stayed at Pop a few times, then one year it was sold out, so we stayed at All Star Music by default.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN BACK TO POP SINCE!

I am disabled so, for financial reasons, we stay in values if we do Disney!

The staff at ASM are really nice. They cannot always accomodate requests, and things are not always perfect, but they try really hard to help which, for me, counts a lot!

It is a smaller resort than Pop, so maybe that helps, but it has a much cozier feel even when the food court is crazy....You might consider trying it. (I also hated crossing in the parking lot to get back to the room at Pop.) I have never had trouble with card keys made here, and one year they even comped us an extra room which was a surprise at check in.

One big difference I noticed is that I always see some staff personnel around, so if there is an issue they could radio for help...probably get housekeeping to open your door before you had to get new keys.

...I am not trying to sell you on returning, but thought I'd mention my experiences.

I've had the opposite experience at All-Stars. I will stay off-site rather than stay at All-Stars. I will NOT stay at All-Stars again. And always had a pretty good stay at Pop.

 

[iloman]

And now that I've been on both ends of the stroller war, I can tell you that more often that not, people who cut me off as I walk and then stop short in a crowd are hitting my stroller, not the other way around. And also - if I say excuse me SEVEN times and you continue to stand there without allowing me to get by, I might just run over your foot. I don't have a stroller because I want to. I have a little human who has the same right to mobility that you do. People who walk, people who stroller and people who scooter should just take care and respect each other. Stay out of each others way. Be considerate. It's not a race. It's a vacation.

Deb

I could not believe how HARD it was to push a stroller around the parks last month!!!! I got cut off more times than I could count, forcing me to stop short or risk ramming someone. I am proud to say I didn't hit a single person

The "excuse me" ignorers were also a surprise. I'm generally a very well mannered and polite person; raised to say please, thank you, pardon me, and to hold doors open for people. I am not, however, shy about getting loud on the fourth EXCUSE ME!