POP = Walmart?

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

Hi And look what thread we meet up on?!

Forgot to add, WalMart's Photo Center did a great job with all my photos from POP

Am sorry, not Resort Related

LOL! I know! I'm hardly on the resort boards anymore, I just scroll through the thread titles from time to time and this one caught my eye!
oops, not thread related.

We LOVED Pop last summer! (whew, got something ON-TOPIC in here!)

Hope all is well w/you!! PS--So, Jack is NOT back...at least not til '09! Darn!

Did I mention that we loved Pop??

 

[mickaholic4077]

LOL! I know! I'm hardly on the resort boards anymore, I just scroll through the thread titles from time to time and this one caught my eye!
oops, not thread related.

We LOVED Pop last summer! (whew, got something O-T in here!)

Hope all is well w/you!! PS--So, Jack is NOT back...at least not til '09! Darn!

Did I mention that we loved Pop??

So,did you like Pop????

What gets me about the OP is she still doesn't acknowledge that her equating Pop with Wal-Mart makes her seem like she thinks that people who go to Pop are second-class.(And don't get me started on her ignorant thoughts about scooters and ECV's!!)

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

So,did you like Pop????

LOL! Yep! We did a split stay with WL, which I also love love love! But Pop was a blast and I would go there again in a second!

ahem, OT again, sorry!

 

[SAKPEG99OKW]

I have already left a post here, but I have to say, we have stayed at POP several times, we are also DVC members since '99, and when we need a much needed Mickey fix, and want a last minute trip, we go atleast 3 times a year, thank to DVC, we choose POP. We have 2 children ages 2 & 6 and they love it. We have stayed at several resorts, BWV,OKW,SS,WL, but POP has a kid friendly enviornment. No matter where you stay, you are going to have smokers, wheelchairs and such. Are'nt we supposed to go to disney for fun, relaxation and to get away from the real world for a week or so? Just go and enjoy yourself, don't catagorize people for what they look like or for their needs. Sometimes poeple have more than you think and are not flaunting it all over the place. I shop at walmart for cards and such, and target, I also go to Neiman,Macy's,Ann Taylor and such, and I accept people for who they are not for what they have or where they shop. We should all just get along, not point fingers and just enjoy what you came and paid for, and that is a great vacation.....just my 2 cents...

 

[chimmie219]

So,did you like Pop????

What gets me about the OP is she still doesn't acknowledge that her equating Pop with Wal-Mart makes her seem like she thinks that people who go to Pop are second-class.(And don't get me started on her ignorant thoughts about scooters and ECV's!!)

exactly.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

I have already left a post here, but I have to say, we have stayed at POP several times, we are also DVC members since '99, and when we need a much needed Mickey fix, and want a last minute trip, we go atleast 3 times a year, thank to DVC, we choose POP. We have 2 children ages 2 & 6 and they love it. We have stayed at several resorts, BWV,OKW,SS,WL, but POP has a kid friendly enviornment. No matter where you stay, you are going to have smokers, wheelchairs and such. Are'nt we supposed to go to disney for fun, relaxation and to get away from the real world for a week or so? Just go and enjoy yourself, don't catagorize people for what they look like or for their needs. Sometimes poeple have more than you think and are not flaunting it all over the place. I shop at walmart for cards and such, and target, I also go to Neiman,Macy's,Ann Taylor and such, and I accept people for who they are not for what they have or where they shop. We should all just get along, not point fingers and just enjoy what you came and paid for, and that is a great vacation.....just my 2 cents...

I liked your 2 cents!

And Mom2DK.......no Jack....the horror!

 

[SnowWhite1937]

Maybe the OP (which was the husband, not the wife, if I recall) was a little harsh, but some of these posts are just as harsh if not so- calling the OP's thoughts ignorant is a little overzealous and offensive. No one was called a second class citizen. The OP never said all ECV users were lazy, just the ones who abuse the system. Many have pointed out that it is difficult to tell who is an abuser, but we all know they are out there.

ECV abuse and poorly chosen smoking areas are a problem. The OP is not the first person to mention that, nor will she be the last. People who (like me) LOVE Disney and go back again and again, can still recognize some problems in the system.

The Walmart comment struck some people as offensive, but it was an analogy, not saying only Walmart shoppers go to Pop or vice versa.

I just hope that everyone will be able to listen to positive and negative reviews with a grain of salt and not immediately run with the "ignorant" and "classist" associations everytime someone isn't happy with something.

Would I stay at Pop again? YES. Is it my first choice? NO. That doesn't mean others won't love it. Yet, positive and negative reviews, when kept objective, are important to have around.

I do agree that the OP used some loaded words and some strong rhetoric, which probably didn't belong, but his and her (couple) view points are still important and valid.

 

[SAKPEG99OKW]

Thanks DisneyBride03, I appreciate you appreciating my 2 cents

 

[Goofey Drool]

Come on more lectures please...... I like the Karma when that ends with Id get ready if I were you. All I could picture was a voodoo doll.

 

[minnie61650]

Why do WC and ECV wait in a HA for buses instead of the regular queue?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why do WCs and EVCs wait in a HA for buses instead of the regular queue with other guests?

This is quote and explanation that SueM in MN (she is a moderator of the disABILITIES board ) has posted in the past.

I am going to repost it since it explains why Disney does not have WC/EVC users wait in the regular bus queue with able bodied guests.


Quote:

Some information for people who don't use wheelchairs or ECV's about why wheelchairs are loaded first:

It takes at least a 5 foot square area to turn a wheelchair or ECV. So, any lines that are wheelchair accessible have to be that wide thru the line and especially thru the turns. People who are not experienced take more room. The bus lines are not accessible.

Sometimes, depending on the bus stop, the driver does need to know that someone will be loading a wheelchair before pulling the bus into the stop so that he/she can line up the back door with the correct place for loading. That's why the bus drivers tell people using ECV's/wheelchairs not to be 'hidden" in the line.

And, if people using wheelchairs or ECV's were required to wait in the line until it was obvious they would get on, I'm very certain people would not let the wheelchair user advance or get out of the line at that point. That would be seen as line cutting.

We have gotten on the bus when the bus was quite full already in the past. The more people, the more difficult it is to maneuver. It's already intimidating for a lot of people to parallel park an ECV or wheelchair in the space provided for the wheelchair to park. When you throw in a bunch of people whose feet you might get too close to, or children who might move suddenly, it gets even more intimidating (and leaves less space for maneuvering). That makes it take longer to load the wheelchair or ECV, which makes more complaints.

The seats directly across from the back seat of the bus are the ones that can be lifted up for a wheelchair or ECV to be loaded. If the wheelchairs/ECV's were not loaded first and someone is sitting there, they would need to move. We have had that happen to us. It can be nice or it can be really ugly. I would like to avoid it as much as possible.

The only way I can see them changing the waiting system would be if they changed to buses that load wheelchairs in the front as Bill mentioned.

We try to be considerate of all of this and don't ride when we know the bus will be busy. Waiting a while and letting the crowd clear makes a big difference. 10 minutes can make a big difference.
As I already mentioned, a maximum of 5 people plus the person with a disability is considered a party by WDW. If someone is traveling with a group of 17 or 20, they should be dividing up and not expecting to get on the same bus.
__________________
SueM in MN

 

[sunnydoozer]

Maybe the OP (which was the husband, not the wife, if I recall) was a little harsh, but some of these posts are just as harsh if not so- calling the OP's thoughts ignorant is a little overzealous and offensive. No one was called a second class citizen. The OP never said all ECV users were lazy, just the ones who abuse the system. Many have pointed out that it is difficult to tell who is an abuser, but we all know they are out there.

ECV abuse and poorly chosen smoking areas are a problem. The OP is not the first person to mention that, nor will she be the last. People who (like me) LOVE Disney and go back again and again, can still recognize some problems in the system.

The Walmart comment struck some people as offensive, but it was an analogy, not saying only Walmart shoppers go to Pop or vice versa.

I just hope that everyone will be able to listen to positive and negative reviews with a grain of salt and not immediately run with the "ignorant" and "classist" associations everytime someone isn't happy with something.

Would I stay at Pop again? YES. Is it my first choice? NO. That doesn't mean others won't love it. Yet, positive and negative reviews, when kept objective, are important to have around.

I do agree that the OP used some loaded words and some strong rhetoric, which probably didn't belong, but his and her (couple) view points are still important and valid.

The problem is he insinuated he could tell which ones were "lazy" and which ones were in need. The truth is even an ER nurse wouldn't beable to and the OP needed a reality check. My dad will be in a wheel-chair for six months after a sky diving accident, and so many people come up to us and assume something with regards to his wheel-chair use. Would you bet not a one of them has guessed a sky diving accident? The OP wouldn't have either. My Dad doesn't look "sick" (whatever that means) so he would have assumed he was lazy.

The OP also made a big deal about having to wait for chairs and ECV's to load. Big deal! As another poster said the chair/ECV users wait while everyone else unloads... how is this unfair?

As for the other posters being harsh and calling the OP ignorant, he called my Dad lazy, what does he expect?

 

[DisneyBride'03]

My heart always go out to these folks, the look on their faces, knowing that so many are looking at them, like hurry up?....It is sad, and no one knows what ailments they have....I just am thankful I am not in one

 

[annie1995]

with a handicapped person Disney has always included their entire group.

Mother would scream loud enough to be heard at the MK from Pop - if she had ever been separated from me. think about it. you are handicapped (and some of them have handicapped that don't show) and suddenly some of your party is not there. no - that doesn't work.

disney decided long ago if you ask for a wheelchair or paid for scooter you needed it.

I see the OP's issue with allowing everyone with a wheel chair to go ahead of everyone else. If its a child yes, the whole family goes. No questions asked. But if my mother who is in an ECV were to get on, my dad would go with her, the rest of us would wait our turn and meet up with them. I don't see the fairness with allowing an entire group to have to stay with the person in the scooter.

 

[sunnydoozer]

I see the OP's issue with allowing everyone with a wheel chair to go ahead of everyone else. If its a child yes, the whole family goes. No questions asked. But if my mother who is in an ECV were to get on, my dad would go with her, the rest of us would wait our turn and meet up with them. I don't see the fairness with allowing an entire group to have to stay with the person in the scooter.

As has been addressed numerous times in the post Disney's policy is 5 family members. In the situation you metioned it would be fine, but how about if Mom was in a wheel-chair, with Dad pushing, should they really leave three young children in line by themselves? How about their legally blind aunt?

Five is a fine number and allows a reasonable amount of the family to stay together.

After all the noise I read about large groups boarding with wheel-chair families I expected to see it all the time. Never happened. One time a young couple tried to board with my Dad, the driver asked if they were with us and we told the truth. They errupted in a stream of expletives and comments about special treatment. Well? What special treatment? We didn't get to get off the bus first, we waited our turn as everyone else got off the bus. Only we didn't swear, or stare and make rude comments when the able bodied families were exiting the bus. We just sat quietly

 

[Lilysmom]

As has been addressed numerous times in the post Disney's policy is 5 family members. In the situation you metioned it would be fine, but how about if Mom was in a wheel-chair, with Dad pushing, should they really leave three young children in line by themselves? How about their legally blind aunt?

Obviously nobody expects that they leave behind minor children, nor their legally blind aunt but I'd be willing to bet a stay at a deluxe resort for a week that there aren't many wheelchair bound people lugging around their legally blind aunt. I get what you are saying and I'm sure you intended to exaggerate the same way that I'm sure a party of 12 and a wheelchair is an exaggeration. It doesn't happen often but in 35 trips I have seen it happen where a large party of adults (those over 18) go along with the wheelchair when they could have easily split up. Just like there are times that I will split up with my husband and we'll split the children if need be.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It is going to the front of the line in front of people who have been waiting, standing, for over 30 minutes with their whole party. This process alone takes 10-15 min. This happened time and again and that is what is frustrating, everyone should have to wait their turn. This process did not happen at the other resorts because they did not have the amout of people staying there. Having a scooter should not allow you to go to the front of the line in front of hundreds of people, the system is being abused.
Also, at POP we were told if you left housekeeping good tips, you would get towel animals and they would decorate your room with them and all your disney characters. This didn't happen and we were leaving $5.00 a day. I think because it is so busy. So, if you expect that you should leave a note.

One more point, the checkout to magical express to check our luggage took over 90 minutes in the morning. We thought we would have all day to spend our final day at the parks, but with that, and then you have to be back at POP 3 hours before your flight we ended up only having 3 hours. You just need to be prepared for those things.

Guests in wheelchairs/ECVs need to board the bus first, plain and simple. Try parallel parking an ECV around the tie-down hardware AND twenty-five pairs of feet.

The entire party (usually) 'gets' to board together because, as I have explained above, if there's not enough room for a party of ten Guests, all on foot, to board the bus, that group has the CHOICE of splitting up or of all waiting for the next bus.

Once an ECV or wheelchair Guest is aboard the bus, their party no longer has a CHOICE of whether to wait together for another bus or to split up... unless the Guests already on the bus are willing to wait another ten to fifteen minutes for the mobility device to be released and deboarded.

Tipping is no guarantee of getting towel animals; not tipping doesn't mean you won't get them. It depends ENTIRELY on the Mousekeeper's ability and spare time. No Guest should ever 'expect' towel animals or other decorating.

With 2,880 rooms, an average of four hundred Guests will be checking in or out on any given day. Since checkout time is 11 AM, peak Magical Express/Resort Airline Checkin time is generally 9 to 11.

You like long lines, outdoor entry rooms, so-so beds, lots of noise, food courts, and dodging smokers at every door? Then POP will be your kind of place!

Smokers at every door? Really? Yes, there's a DESIGNATED smoking area outside the pool-facing door of Classic Hall. Guests wishing to avoid the smoke DO have alternatives - exit to the left; use the front door. MOST of the designated smoking areas are well-removed from busy areas of the resort.

Well, like I said, I can totally see the ride lines because they are not conducive to the size of a wheelchair or ECV. But the bus lines are. And the fact that there are only two wheelchair spots still doesn't make me understand why they are able to go in front of other guests already waiting for the bus.

Okay, let's say a bus can hold forty passengers, including two with ECVs.
When the ECV Guests board first, they can maneuver into the wheelchair spots. Liken it to parallel parking a car - when the road is clear, no cars approaching, it's just easier to park.
On the other hand, when you let twenty people on the bus THEN board the ECV and the wheelchair - well, how do you think that works? Are all the Guests already on the bus going to crowd to the back or front and leave enough room for the ECV Guest to maneuver? Cheerfully? And what about the Guests already sitting in the seats that now have to be vacated and folded, to accommodate and tie down the wheelchair?

GREAT!!! that is the hotel i planned on staying at. w/ my 3 DD AND 9 DS! we have never been to DW! and im staying the first week in dec2008! i dont know if i should change resort!!!! if so which resort??????

If you have such doubts based on a few message board posts then, yes, you should change resorts.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Obviously nobody expects that they leave behind minor children, nor their legally blind aunt but I'd be willing to bet a stay at a deluxe resort for a week that there aren't many wheelchair bound people lugging around their legally blind aunt.

A legally blind - or any otherly-abled - person does not need to be "lugged around" by other family members. And legally blind people can and do stay at Deluxe resorts. So do Guests in wheelchairs or ECVs; so do Guests with children. Some parties at Deluxe resorts even embody two of these three 'features'. Surprise - some include all three!

 

[drnlhome]

We stayed at POP last Easter break. It was quite busy. By my siggy, you can see that we have stayed at the Deluxes in the past. My hubby came home one day last year and told me to see how cheap we can do Disney (money wise, not tacky). I found POP. We had a good time. The whole bus thing that seemed 20 miles away got old but oh well. My dh and I slept terrible on the beds primarily since we are used to a king. I will be the first to admit that I am "spoiled" by the ammenities at the deluxes. We plan on spending more time at the resort this time so we are staying at YC.

As far as the ESV, I have no problem with them at all. There was one family at our POP though that we seemed to be on the same schedule with. There were 8-10 people with the gentleman using the ESV and every time we were in the bus line, no matter how long (and some were LONG), the whole party boarded. Again NO problem with the ESV but I guess my view is this - (and please bear with my non-experience with this) If the line is so long and it was me on the ESV with my party, I would have them wait in the line until it is legitimately my turn and then board. I promise I am not being insensitive, just this seems curteous.

 

[Lilysmom]

A legally blind - or any otherly-abled - person does not need to be "lugged around" by other family members. And legally blind people can and do stay at Deluxe resorts. So do Guests in wheelchairs or ECVs; so do Guests with children. Some parties at Deluxe resorts even embody two of these three 'features'. Surprise - some include all three!

Sensitive much? I didn't say legally blind people, guests in wheelchairs/ECVs or guests with children don't stay at deluxes so I'm not sure where you got that from. But thanks for taking what I said completely out of context.

The person I was replying to asked if the wheelchair bound person should leave behind their children (to which I said NO) or their legally blind aunt (to which I passed my comment.) I would think that I would have a better chance of being struck by lightening than to come across a blind person pushing a wheelchair bound person in WDW. If you had been kind enough to quote my entire post you would have seen that I was being exaggerative much in the way the poster I responded to was being exaggerative.

Lighten up.

 

[G8r4evr]

Maybe the OP (which was the husband, not the wife, if I recall) was a little harsh, but some of these posts are just as harsh if not so- calling the OP's thoughts ignorant is a little overzealous and offensive. No one was called a second class citizen. The OP never said all ECV users were lazy, just the ones who abuse the system. Many have pointed out that it is difficult to tell who is an abuser, but we all know they are out there.

So very true. The oversensitivity on this board is blinding.