POP = Walmart?

[chickenskin]

We shop Wal Mart all the time, we stay at the Poly, WL, POR, CBR. Hmmm, maybe it's because we shop at Wal Mart we can afford to stay at deluxe and mods.

 

[sixisenough]

After reading how far of track this has gotten and how far out of context it is....... I must now say my true impression is: POP = BIG LOTS LOL

 

[Lovin' Lorne]

After reading this thread, it seems Disney has almost created their own class system. It's ironic considering none of us has any idea "where or what" the next person comes from.

I guess that's true in a way, but to be honest it wasn't Disney that did the creating; it was the people who, for whatever reason, "look down" on the value resorts and the folks who stay there. It's too bad that some people seem to have decided that those who do are somehow unworthy of being at WDW in the first place.

I mean really, Disney is Disney is Disney. It's the same MK, it's the same AK, it's the same DHS, and it's the same EPCOT, whether you spend $100 a night to sleep there or $439.

But I guess the POPer's should take some small comfort in knowing that they at least, are marginally more accepted than those who stay off-site. As we all know by now, they are "Teh One True Evol"!!11@!@11!!!!

 

[sunlover13]

I didn't read this whole thread, but wanted to comment on the buses. I've been to Disneyworld twice and stayed at POR, then POP. I enjoyed POP a lot more and found the bus system way better than POR.

Just my two cents...........

 

[labgeek]

I usually don't post to threads that end up being "contraversial." I agree that everyone is entitled to their opinion. And I agree, that yes, people do take advantage of certain things that are there to assist those who need them.


But, you have to be a strong person to take the high road. Sometimes to fight our inner nature, especially the one that comes out when we are at the end of a long day with tired kids. I think it's our survival instinct. In 2006 when my family and I were preparing to take our 1st trip to WDW, a friend of mine in cub scouts made the comment to me "You really need to rent a wheelchair or scooter...It gets you to the front of the line..." Her DH had a broken ankle when they went one year and used a wheelchair (pre scooter days LOL). While he actually needed it then, they were very free with the advice to do it just to get to the front of the line. And they were very serious about this, telling me more than one time.

We have a family here where we live who were the recipient of an "Extreme Home Makeover." The little girl got a Libby Lu room. My daughter was jealous saying she wants a room like that. Could we get them to come and do our house? And I explained to her that her friends (they go to our church and DD and her went to preschool together) family had really went through some hard things. That the house would help them be a family. And I told her that the people who get those homes really need them because they have had some really bad things happen or really sick people in their family. I told her that if we never have anything in our life happen that would qualify us to have something like that then we need to count ourselves as some of the luckiest people in the world. My DS has had 10 surgies in his 11 years. But every time we go to a Children's hospital I think my lucky stars that his condition is treatable. While we were waiting the in the waiting room during his surgery last March, we waited with friends whose son was having a new porticath inserted at the same time. He had leukemia. My son is here now. Theirs is not.

We didn't stay at POP but, ASMo. We had a great time. Was there over July 4th week. I consider WDW to be "controlled chaos." I love it. I expected it. All Value hotels are in my opinion for those who want to stay onsite and can't afford mods or deluxes, those who don't want to spend the money on mod's or deluxes, or those who just happen to be nuts about Toy Story, or maybe just like a really cool pool with MM Fantasia as a fountain. We are staying at a value this summer. Could we afford a Mod? Probably. But, being that the purpose for that hotel is to sleep and take a shower, it suits my purposes just fine. When my kids are grown, or at least teenagers, maybe I'll consider a more upgraded resort, but for now, my kids think the values are cool. Right now, cool to my kids is more important than pretty and comfy to me. This trip is all about my kids. We struggle just like most people. We live on one salary and have our own business, which isn't a year old yet. But, this trip is important to us. We didn't do a vacation last year, in hopes of doing WDW this year.

As far as the Walmart deal. I shop Walmart. I shop Big Lots (esp right after Christmas ). I also shop Macys. My financial situation has nothing to do with my ultimate decision where to stay at WDW. I think values are geared towards kids. I think they are cool. Where else are 2-3 story Buzz Lightyear, Football Helmets, and Cokes? And if you play as hard as you are supposed to through the day, you should be dead enough to sleep through anything at night . I know I am at least.

Ya know, someone telling me POP = Walmart, offends me. I don't think the OP meant to do it, but it did. Yes, I do think that she has the right to her opinion, as people on DIS have the right to respond with their opinion.

In closing...All I remember about my last trip to WDW was how much fun we had. I don't remember long lines...Wait, yes I do. It was because of a long line that we had to wait for another bus...and you know what? I have the cutest pics of my kids with a duck and her ducklings that were eating the kids left over popcorn that my DD dropped. It was so cute. They followed her around like she was their mother. But, I can say this, on the way home we were already planning our next trip. SO, bring on the crowds, the lines, and the food court, becuase WDW, here we come!!

 

[sixisenough]

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??????

Be specific in what you are asking for and what your expectations will be. You might get an honest answer that way. I have tried to be honest with my post and have gotten bashed. I will reply honestly

 

[minnie61650]

.....But WHY does using some sort of device to aid you in your mobility mean that you get to go to the front of the line? ..........

FYI:
With the exception of the Make a Wish children Disney does not give out front of the line passes


Disney started mainstreaming most of their lines in the late 1990's. Those in WC/ECV will usually enter in the regular line. They will be able to stay in EVC with their party until just before boarding most of the time.
Sometimes the WC/EVC may be pulled from the mainstream line part way down so they can board the ride in an
Accessible area. * Note they are not being taken to the front of line just an area that is accessible for them. EVC's can't climb steps so sometimes they need to take an elevator. Or they may need to board a ride where the riders usually exit in case
they need an accessible vehicle or need the moving sidewalk slowed or stopped so they can board.

Have you ever been on IASW, HM, Buzz Lighter, or SE when the ride slowed momentarily slowed down or stopped for minute or two?

Most likely that was because the ride had to slowed or stopped so a disabled person could board or disembark from the ride.

When that happens just relax, sit back and enjoy the scenery. After all you are at Disney!
---------------------------------------------------------



Another quote from SueM in MN who is a moderator on the disABILITIES board.

I know this was already answered, but here's a bit more clarification.
That is a common misconception that people with wheelchairs and ECVs get moved to the front, but it's not true.
People using wheelchairs or ECVs don't get out of waiting in line.
Most of the lines at WDW are wheelchair accessible, so there are very few situations where someone actually goes thru a wheelchair entrance. In most cases, they wait in the same line with everyone else. For a very few attractions, there is an alternate entrace because the regular one isn't accessible and was not able to be made accessible (most in MK or Epcot since they were built before accessibility was thought of). There are some others, where the boarding area is not accessible and wheelchair/ECV users wait in the regular or Fastpass line and then are pulled into a different area for loading (Buzz Lightyear, Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain are examples).

One of the other things that people who don't use wheelchairs don't know is where people with wheelchairs go when they are taken out of the line. They assume those people who 'disappear' from the line are boarding right away, but that is not usually the case.
If they can't board at the regular boarding spot, they are pulled out of the line - usually just before the regular line gets to the boarding area (so they have already waited as long as everyone that got in the line the same time as they did).
For example, at Buzz Lightyear, the 'pull off point' is after you have gone thru the room with the large Buzz Lightyear, near the point where regular line is beginning to enter the actual boarding area. Guests with wheelchairs/ ECVs are pulled out of line at that point and sent to the exit - not to board right away, but to wait. If there are too many people with disabilities already on the attraction, you have to wait for some to get off (for fire safetly and evacuation reasons). Because our DD can't get out of her wheelchair easily, we have to wait extra for a special car that the wheelchair can be loaded on. We usually see the people who were right ahead of us in line getting off after riding while we are still waiting to board. In some rides, boarding at the accessible area means you miss part of the attraction; for example, at Haunted Mansion, you miss the entire 'stretching room' part of the attraction.

The Safari at AK is notorious for extra waits for people with disabilities. Our longest wait there was an EXTRA 40 minutes at a time when the regular line was walk on and Safari Trams were pulling out partially loaded because people were not walking up fast enough to fill them.

Spaceship Earth is a ride with a handicapped entrance, but during times when other passengers are able to walk right on, our wait is usually 20-30 minutes.

AK and the Studio were built with what are called 'Mainstream Lines'. These are lines where the regular line is wheelchair/ECV accessible and a person using a wheelchair or ECV waits in the same line with everyone else.

Here's what it says in the official WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities about Mainstream Lines and the list of attractions with Mainstream Queues:
As you can see, most of the lines are Mainstream Queues:

Magic Kingdom® Park
Ariel's Grotto
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Donald's Boat
Judge's Tent
Mickey's Country House
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Mike Fink Keelboats (seasonal)
Minnie's Country House
Pirates of the Caribbean
Space Mountain®
Splash Mountain®
Stitch's Great Escape!™
The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacres Farm
"The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management"
The Hall of Presidents
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The Timekeeper (seasonal)
Tomorrowland® Indy Speedway
Toontown Hall of Fame
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress (seasonal)

Epcot®
FUTURE WORLD
Imagination!: All Attractions
Innoventions East
Innoventions West
Mission: SPACE
Test Track
The Living Seas: All Attractions
The Land: All Attractions
Universe of Energy: "Ellen's Energy Adventure"
Wonders of Life: All Attractions (seasonal)

WORLD SHOWCASE
China: "Reflections of China"
France: "Impressions de France"
FriendShip Boats
Norway: Maelstrom
The American Adventure: "The American Adventure"

Disney-MGM Studios
Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour
Fantasmic!
Lights, Motors, Action!™ Extreme Stunt Show
Muppet*Vision 3D
Playhouse Disney - Live On Stage!
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
Sounds Dangerous - Starring Drew Carey
Star Tours
The Great Movie Ride
The Magic of Disney Animation
"The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™"
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Walt Disney: One Man's Dream
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - Play It!

Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
Caravan Stage: "Flights of Wonder"
DINOSAUR
Grandmother Willow's Grove: "Pocahontas and Her forest friends"
It's Tough To Be A Bug
Kali River Rapids
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Lion King Theater: "Festival of the Lion King"
Maharajah Jungle Trek
Primeval Whirl
Theater in the Wild: "Tarzan Rocks!"
The Boneyard
TriceraTop Spin

I wanted to add that Soarin' and EE are missing from the list. They are both Mainstream Access.
And, some attractions have limited number of spots for wheelchairs. We have already shown up for shows where there was still room for ambulatory people, but the wheelchair spots were already filled for that show and we had to wait for the next one (Voyage of the Little Mermaid, where we had Fastpasses; and ITTBAB, where the CMs were practically begging people to come into the queue because there was no wait in the standby line.

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

.....Could they ask them for a Dr's note to stop the few people who might want to get drunk and play ECV tag? Or else could Disney ask people who are actinglike that (playing ECV tag) to leave the park?

Disney can't require proof . The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), does say the person with a disability can't be required to provide proof that they have a disability in order to get accommodation for needs related to their disability.

It is ILLEGAL to ask for proof of disability to receive help that will mitigate a disability and therefore grant equal access. No Ifs Ands or Buts. (Proof may be asked of parking permits because HA parking does provide more than equal access).


Rest assured WDW CM's can and have taken the EVC (if rented from WDW) or keys (if rented from offsite) from guests who are not in control of the EVC.

 

[fortheloveofamouse]

After reading how far of track this has gotten and how far out of context it is....... I must now say my true impression is: POP = BIG LOTS LOL

I could not agree more! I know myself, and I know I would rather camp at Ft. Wilderness, or even stay offsite before I would step foot in a value. I am glad that they are there for those who enjoy them, but I am a deluxe girl all the way.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

I wouldnt say "bashed"...maybe bashing ala lite?
I really think most took offense to the name of the thread.....and the scooter thing...

 

[safetymom]

I would get your last comments in. This thread is not about resort planning anymore.

 

[marivaid]

You get what you pay for... and you reap what you sow.

When you insult people, call them "lazy" or "vultures", and strongly imply that the only persons who could like a resort are the ones who like cheap, then you're going to get some not-so-nice comments back. Don't tell me you didn't expect it when you chose the title of your thread.

There are negative threads about POP every week. Most of them don't turn into a bash fest. The reason this one did is because of your choice of words and metaphor.

 

[minnie61650]

Sue M has a good explination about how wide a queue has to be in order for a ECV scooter to be able to make the turns. The bus queues just are not wide enough.

The lifts on Disney buses are in back.
Some city buses have the lifts in the front and are able to load from the front.
Once a Disney bus pulls up to the bus stop an EVC could not make it's way to the back door and have enough room to back the EVC onto the lift at most of the WDW bus stops.

If anyone has a workable solution please let WDW know.

 

[minnie61650]

Walt Disney World Guest Relations
P.O. Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

This is the universal address! For example, if you want to write to the General Manager of All Star Music, or any other resort, address the envelope to the person and use the P.O. Box 10000 address.
Walt Disney World Guest Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

I wouldnt say "bashed"...maybe bashing ala lite?
I really think most took offense to the name of the thread.....and the scooter thing...

Ohmygosh, DB'03! Hi! long time no see!!

 

[MTstitch]

We absolutely love Pop Century and have had no problems there at all. Yes the lines are long at the end of the night but I don't mind it that much. I never had a problem with lines in the morning because we are always up and at em early in the morning, we get to the food court early and get in line for the bus early. No problems at all. Plus for us, we just mostly sleep there so for me I just can't justify spending a bunch of money on the higher priced resorts.

 

[ntsammy5]

We've actually come from another resort to eat at the POP food court.

 

[Starr W.]

WOW, I have to respond on how this thread has taken a spin. My husband was the one who posted the original post, and the main message he was trying to convey was the reality of staying at the POP. I did warn him that if you have a negative view, you can get bashed and things get spun into something else, which is what has happened. Before, our trip we read all of the positive raves about this hotel, and that is why we decided to go. We DID only want a place to sleep, since the majority of our time was going to be at the parks. WE LOVE DISNEY and had a fabulous time, but staying here changed how we felt about "sleeping only". The inconviences are worth it to us and maybe to others like us to spend a little more money next time. We were at Disney a week in Feb (which is not a peak time) and the lines were the longest and the farthest away, people need to know especially if they are traveling with small children or disabilties. I do take offense that people think my husband is bashing people with disabilties. I am a medical office manager,and we have a twin niece and nephew who have disabilites from birth, who should get special treatment and have been to disney. 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. When I got back I saw that the POP is the 10th biggest hotel in the world and you defintely can tell that. It is a value, but we joined the Disney Vacation Club when we got home and are happy to say that we will be spending our time in a 2BR villa next time and hopefully a more relaxing vacation. It is just our opinion and forewarning to others. Lastly, I shop at Walmart all the time, I just don't want to vacation there!!

Congrats on your DVC purchase! You'll love it.

 

[dizneyluv]

who happens to be coming with us to Disney this summer I am deeply offended.

My mil is not lazy. She can walk but only short distances. She can park her scooter and go through a queu or eat but that's it.

She's disabled because fo 46 years she SERVED THE PUBLIC. She was a public health nurse to the disadvantaged. She deserves her scooter and respect.

She has severe arthritis in her spine and two knee and one hip replacement from all the years on her feet. You can't SEE her disability. And we WILL go through with her and not separate in lines. I am very experienced traveling with her and her wheelchair and scooter as she vacations with us on our "big" vacations and our small ones. I have pushed a wheelchair many a place and dealt with MANY people like you.

She's far from lazy, she's vivacious and loving. She's not OBVIOUSLY disabled but she desperately will need her scooter at Disney.

I hope you did not mean what you said and I fervently hope you never find yourself LAZY in a scooter or wheelchair.

As far as expecting towel animals and dealing with the crowds at Pop, you did not do your research.

I'm glad you joined DVC but expect scooters there as well. That's where we are staying this summer, scooter and all.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Ohmygosh, DB'03! Hi! long time no see!!

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
I think MODS have done a great job monitoring these threads....allowing everyone to voice their opinion, even though this thread's subject has been like a ride at Disney...up and down and all around!

 

[seobaina]

value hotel - surely the clue is in the name? Personally I LOVED Pop. It was better than we expected and we all really liked the theming. The buses were handy and, when we were there, only too crowded once. Mind you, we didn't have kids with us so that might change things. Sorry you didn't like it and you are of course entitled to your opinion but I do think people are too harsh on the value resorts. We're normally only there to sleep anyway