Just back from POP!

[kristinemomof3]

Not sure if this is where I post this....but I wanted to write a little review & tell a story about something that happened there.

DH, myself & then 5 yo son arrived at POP 10 am Wednesday morning where they gave my son a Happy Birthday pin. His birthday was Friday. We were more than pleased to hear our room was ready! After getting up at 4 & flying for 2 1/2 hours it was great that we were able to have our room to change & unwind in for a little bit before starting our day. I didn't request a particular room...I only asked that we be close to transportation & near the computer pool (we chose the computer pool because it is the quieter pool. My son doesn't like loud noises & commotion so that suited us perfectly). We got room 9412 which was a perfect location for us. It was on the 4th floor at the end overlooking the pool. Perfect!

When we got to our room I was thrilled to see that we had a refrigerator. I didn't request it & I wasn't charged for it. I am not sure if all rooms have them now but I was happy. I only wish that I knew beforehand. I would have ordered a few more items from the garden grocer. Big plus!

The room was small, but going in there, we already knew that. We were only going for 4 1/2 days & knew we wouldn't be there much. We decided to have a quick lunch before heading out to HS. We had the chicken nuggets & bacon cheesburger & fries for lunch. Everything was good.

Day 2 we decided to stay at the hotel & enjoy the sun & the pool. We had breakfast there. It was just ok...the pancakes were bland & cold. Nothing I'd eat again. We got to the pool a little after 9. About 10:10 my DH & son were in the pool & I was on the lounge chair when I heard screaming...HELP!! HELP!! CALL 911!! I look up & I see a little boy out of the water on the pool deck with people all around him. I quickly run to my DH who is a former EMT & said hurry go help that boy!! He runs over there & the child was completely blue & his lips were double the size. The parents were there along with an nurse....but nobody knew what to do. When my husband got there, the Mom was trying to give mouth to mouth but the boys head wasn't tilted so the air wasn't getting through. The maintnance guy went over to my husband & said back up, paramedics are on their way. My husband said to him if we wait for paramedics, this child isn't going to make it! So my husband turns him to his side & gives him a whack on his back...water comes out & he starts screaming & crying. At this point, lifeguards, management & paramedics showed up. The Mom picked him up afterwards & he continued to throw up a lot of water. They took him to the hospital afterwards.

Take note that there was NO lifeguard on duty. The sign said lifeguard on duty at 10am. This happened at 10:08 & there was no lifeguard anywhere. I wonder if this would have happened had they been there?? We never got the full story of what happened but I will tell you that it was a scary few moments for everyone, especially his parents. Apparently the Mom had asked someone to watch him. We don't know if he is ok. Nobody seemed to know a thing.

Other than that...we tried numerous things at the food court. The tomato basil soup was delicious. I had it 2 times because I enjoyed it so much. Also the grilled chicken ceasar salad was great. Yesterday we had bacon, egg & cheese on a croissant. That was just awful. Very disappointed.

Cons:
1) Pool towels (bothered me to have to use my shower/bath towels for the pool then wait to get new ones)
2) Size of the room
3) Lifeguard not on duty when supposed to be
4) A/C! It was so hot all day & the thermostat is set to not go below 68. Way too warm at night for us.
5) We think the food selection at the food court could be a little better. Or maybe change the lunch & dinner so they are not the same

Pros:
1) Refrigerator
2) Location of our room (5 minute walk to buses & food court)
3) Own buses...HUGE plus to us & they were very efficient!
4) Game room

We really did enjoy POP but next time we decided we would stay somewhere else. Probably a moderate. I really didn't like the fact that I couldn't have my tea in the morning & DH have his coffee without having to get dressed & take the walk to get it.

Hope my review helps others.

 

[jba2]

Thank God your husband was able to save that little boy. How scary.

 

[carrie1626]

Very happy there is a positive outcome to your story

BUT, under no circumstance would I think anyone is respondsible for watching my child, other than ME. I believe if my child is in distress, I have lifeguards there to assist me in life-saving techniques.

I believe 10:00 am means the lifeguards should be at their posts at 10:00 am BUT regardless, I would never lay blame if there was a time discrepancy.

 

[madolyn]

Thanks for the report. I'm traveling with my DH and DD (12yo) for a quick one-day park trip in a few weeks, and we'll be staying at POP for two nights (so we can take advantage of rope drop in the am and stay at the parks till they close). Then we head to St. Pete Beach for five nights1

I'm so glad your husband was around to help the little boy. I got a little choked up reading the story!

 

[Partyof8]

Poor little guy! It's a good thing your husband knew how to help.

I love Pop, but I agree that room size could definitely be an issue for a family spending the day at the resort rather than a park.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Why didn't that nurse know what to do? That surprises me. Was she just a guest staying there?

That is scary that the lifeguards weren't there at 10. I can just see a parent sending older children without an adult to a pool at 10 and assuming a lifeguard is there. I wouldn't do that, but I've seen plenty of kids at our local pool w/o an adult.

 

[Boo Bear]

poor little boy Thank God for your husband... why would anyone say step back to a blue unconscious little boy by a pool?