My experience with POP

[DisneyEnthusiastic]

Okay, Okay...before I get POP lovers upset...please understand that I was SO excited to be going to POP...I feel like a kid myself when there...and had such a wonderful experience at ASMovies...that I just knew this would be great!

Here goes....

I check in last Thursday evening (downpouring ) and there is no line...great...and I wait to be called to the counter and of course I get a very non-enthusiastic CM....ask for 50's and they are able to work it out...terrific! I have a few hoppers with days left on them that I want verified since my last trip in August and the CM looks at me like I'm crazy. I only asked them to check the tickets because there was nobody in there. Doesn't know if she can do them, etc. I tell her I've always been told they can check them and had it done last year, but would check back another day if there was a problem...this CM keeps disappearing, I guess getting stuff together for me then comes back and asks if my name is on the tickets...I tell her no, they are old park hoppers of mine from previous trips..in the meantime I am enjoying the company of another CM who is showing me how she can solve the Rubix Cube...next thing I know my CM who was checking me in shows up with her manager...and the manager proceeds to grill me about my tickets (I am still in possession of my tickets and they have never once looked at them) wants to know if the tickets belong to me, where did I get them, when did I get them, why I didn't use them on my last trip...I told her that I had hoppers from the disney store that I used first last trip...what did they look like, etc...the questions kept coming...never once did she explain to me why all the questions or what seemed like accusations...for what? I have no idea. Anyway she finally checks my tickets. And that was it. But she remained very expressionless and very much made me feel like a little kid who did something bad. I thought about it after the fact, but I also received a package from Ticketmania upon check in from the CM...so right there you can see that I purchased my tickets...but I was kinda in shock. But I made it through that, got checked into my room...which was great.

Now, two nights later, I get back to my room and hear this constant beeping sound. I check all over the room, check the kids gameboys, cell phone, just all over the room till I realized it was coming from next door. I wait about 30 minutes, knock on the door, no answer. Call down to the front desk and who should answer....my favorite manager from the first night. I tell her about the constant beeping from next door and I could tell she didn't believe me, but said they would send someone. Well, 1 hour goes by and still noone shows. I call back down and get a very nice CM who says she will have someone there right away. I wait outside and yes someone shows right away. Opens the door and the smoke alarm is going off. No fire, but just malfunctioning. He said that this was the first call they got (since I told him that I had called an hour before) and then he said that at least if there were a fire I should feel good that I could hear the alarm next door and I told him , yeah, but that does no good when nobody comes when you call....he actually chuckled at that.

I had a few CM's that I encountered that were just not very friendly. I realize that we all have bad days, I guess I just picked their bad day.

Other than that everyone else that I came in contact with was very nice. I didn't let my check in experience ruin my vacation, but as I'm sure I'm not the only one that after you have a bad experience (one bad apple spoils the bunch) that it is almost like I was looking to justify reasons not to stay here anymore. I just felt like their wasn't much magic at POP...not what I was expecting anyway. And I was really excited about going there.

I can say that I never had a problem with hearing my neighbors, and we were also pool side, 4th floor and never had a problem with the noise from the pool. The room did get very warm while we were sleeping. I told the kids that if they woke up to get out of bed so the sensor on the thermostat would kick in and we would get some air.

 

[Liz]

That's really strange how you were grilled about your passes upon check in. The smoke alarm thing was an odd occurrence too that would probably never happen again but not a good feeling that it took them so long to come when you called.

I hope your trip had lots of magical memories otherwise! We've never stayed at POP but might some day.

 

[ADisneygirl]

Hi DisneyEnthusiastic,

So sorry to hear that your stay was less than magical. It is a shame that some CM's don't have the personality for working with the vacationing public. (I just don't believe that all the rude CM's I read about are all having "bad days") Maybe Disney just isn't screening them well enough in the hiring process, or isn't paying them enough to be friendly.

We have not stayed at the POP, only once at AS Sports when my daughter had a cheerleading competition. This was a few years ago, and I don't recall this problem with the A/C I have been reading about. They must have added this energy - saving feature that raises the temp. if it thinks you are not in the room to many of the resorts. I personally would hate this feature. I don't think they really thought this through in regards to guests being in the room asleep. Not really moving, but THERE.

I am glad my favorite resort (BWI) has not done this yet. On another thread a poster said they complained at GF and someone came and adjusted the default temp to a lower setting, but that it had to be done every three days. I say bring those CM's on up and adjust it every three days then. Afterall, we are on vacation -- who wants to be hot??

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

What's the deal with the air? Do you mean there is some kind of sensor so the air goes off if you are still because you are sleeping? Please let me know- because if so... we'll NEVER stay there. That's awful to get all hot while sleeping!

 

[DisneyEnthusiastic]

Yes, there is a sensor on the front of the thermostat and if there isn't any activity in the room, then it cuts off...and it can get very warm in there in the evening. It was cooler during the day...when it was 90 plus degrees than 4 a.m. And the thermostat only goes down to 68 degrees...which would be fine as long as it was running. We were so grateful when someone woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

This is just unacceptable in my opinion!

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by BibbidyBobbidyBoo
What's the deal with the air? Do you mean there is some kind of sensor so the air goes off if you are still because you are sleeping? Please let me know- because if so... we'll NEVER stay there. That's awful to get all hot while sleeping!

Many of the Disney resorts have this type of sensor.

 

[PrincessofQuiteAlot]

We just returned from Pop as well and had several issues with check in. I was somewhat disappointed as we went with friends that had never stayed on site before and couldn't understand why I made such a big deal and I told them "just wait, the Disney magic starts now"......well, pretty soon they were laughing at me cause the Disney magic obviously wasn't at the front desk!!

The hotel was great however, we stayed in the 70's, food court was outstanding and the kids had a blast.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Originally posted by Sammie
Many of the Disney resorts have this type of sensor.

If your post was supposed to somehow make things better- it didn't. That's worse......

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by BibbidyBobbidyBoo
If your post was supposed to somehow make things better- it didn't. That's worse......

It was to inform you that if you want to avoid the sensor you will have to avoid more than just Pop Century.

 

[ballroombelle]

I guess they thought you had illegally purchased them on ebay or something? The third degree you received is unacceptable; whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Disney made it impossible to know how many days are left on a park hopper, I guess in part to deter folks from being able to re-sell them, so they shouldn't be surprised when their guests with leftover days from a trip years ago wonder how many days are left. You're not a magnetic strip reader; how would you know?

Annoying. Unprofessional. (I'm not sure why I feel so annoyed on your behalf ...guess bc it's something Disney had implemented to protect themselves and yet guests are still geting the shaft.)

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Originally posted by Sammie
It was to inform you that if you want to avoid the sensor you will have to avoid more than just Pop Century.

Uh thanks- but I already figured that out.. we weren't planning on staying PC so my concern wasn't only about that one resort.

 

[Tinkbell]

Originally posted by ballroombelle
I guess they thought you had illegally purchased them on ebay or something? The third degree you received is unacceptable; whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

I totally agree! I would have felt strange under that third degree you were given. They were definitely suspicious of you. Totally unacceptable on their part.

 

[Spectro is #1]

The system dose not shut off When no one is in the room... the thermo. goes to 73 until the motion sensor is trigered. the ac will kick on at 73... with that being said it is hard to belive that the temp went up to 80 or 90

We stayed at BCV when it first opened and were not pleased with the sensor thing at all...We had someone come up and try to override the system but they could not get it to work...It was late so we sent them away so we could sleep...The men that came up did tell us that they had gotten a lot of complaints...

Now when we stayed in June of last year we had no problem...the system seemed to work OK...a little warm when you first entered but cooled down right away and we slept fine...

 

[maggiew]

Originally posted by DisneyEnthusiastic
next thing I know my CM who was checking me in shows up with her manager...and the manager proceeds to grill me about my tickets (I am still in possession of my tickets and they have never once looked at them) wants to know if the tickets belong to me, where did I get them, when did I get them, why I didn't use them on my last trip...I told her that I had hoppers from the disney store that I used first last trip...what did they look like, etc...the questions kept coming...never once did she explain to me why all the questions or what seemed like accusations...for what? I have no idea. Anyway she finally checks my tickets. And that was it. But she remained very expressionless and very much made me feel like a little kid who did something bad. I thought about it after the fact, but I also received a package from Ticketmania upon check in from the CM...so right there you can see that I purchased my tickets...but I was kinda in shock. But I made it through that, got checked into my room...which was great.

I am in shock by this and can't believe it!!

We are scheduled to stay at Pop August 7 -16. After reading this and all the other posts about noise and waiting for the bus, etc. I am getting really nervous. I have to pay the balance of my package off by June 24. I am so unsure what to do. I am really thinking to upgrade to either POFQ or CBR (we've done POR and CSR.) I just thought it would be fun to try the new resort and thought we'd enjoy the walk down memory lane.

Maggie

 

[Cris]

Originally posted by BibbidyBobbidyBoo
What's the deal with the air? Do you mean there is some kind of sensor so the air goes off if you are still because you are sleeping? Please let me know- because if so... we'll NEVER stay there. That's awful to get all hot while sleeping!

soon you will have to start staying offsite because all the resorts will have the sensors.

 

[Mouse Man]

I really wouldn't go changing resorts over a few negative reports. I've been reading these boards long enough to know that every few months, one of the resorts will get bashed here. It kind of comes in waves. When I first joined, every other post was about how bad the Poly smelled. Next, the Grand Floridian was too uptight and stuffy and every room had stained carpeting and torn comforters. I remember booking reservations for CSR when everyone posted that it was too big , too "convention" friendly and they rip you off at the food court. I didn't let a few naysayers change my mind. I'm glad too. I've since stayed at every one of those resorts and enjoyed them immensely. Now, it's Pop's turn to get bashed. Just watch. In a couple of months, you will only read glowing reviews.

If it is too loud or you find a little too much "Hustling" going on, speak up to a manager or call guest services and complain. Don't spend the next few months worrying about it.

 

[mic_key_mouse]

Hi Mouse Man.

You could be right about glowing reviews about POP- but I doubt it. By the way, when did you stay at POP- didn't catch that part...

A few naysayers?? I would suggest you count them- as there are more than 'a few' in just the two new threads. I hope you are recommending that people keep their ressies at POP from experience during your stay, but it doesn't look that way to me...

From my experience, people should be seriously thinking about what to do. Each will make up their own mind, but I hope they make it up based on comments (both positive and negative) from people that have actually stayed there- and not advice based on 'waves' of complaints about other resorts. I was around during those time periods, and don't recall 'every other post' being a complaint about the way the Poly smelled. There were a bunch, and guess what- the Poly underwent an extensive renovation. A lot of the rooms at GF have been renovated as well. Hmmmm, maybe those folks experienced a legitimate problem... Or maybe, it was just a 'wave' of DISers experiencing delusions

You haven't read the earlier POP threads, or you would know that people do complain and usually the things aren't dealt with. They did try their best to fix the problem in my case, but a CM can't fix the lack of insulation. The folks considering a stay there can read the good and the bad and make up their own minds- but I disagree that they should dismiss reports from people that have stayed there because of some imaginary bandwagon we have decided to jump on. Make you own decision, but make an informed decision.

Blessings.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Originally posted by BibbidyBobbidyBoo
If your post was supposed to somehow make things better- it didn't. That's worse......

Sammie wasn't trying anything. Her post wasn't suppose to do anything. She was just stating the fact.

Uh thanks- but I already figured that out.. we weren't planning on staying PC so my concern wasn't only about that one resort.

As for the OP, sorry that the CMs that you have encountered weren't very Disney-like. Hope that the rest of your trip was wonderful.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Originally posted by Cris
soon you will have to start staying offsite because all the resorts will have the sensors.

I don't know why everyone keeps feeling the need to quote me and tell me this... I have already read that on another thread AND EVEN on this thread.... so I think I got it now that it's at all resorts- thanks. LOL