Was NOT happy with Pop Century

[Kaler131]

I have stayed at two of the Deluxe resorts....and I actually prefer Pop to them! I did really enjoy the Poly, but for the price difference, it just wasn't worth it for us.

 

[TreslovesWDW]

Sorry to hear , we always have a great time at POP.

 

[mickey2000]

I have stayed at two of the Deluxe resorts....and I actually prefer Pop to them! I did really enjoy the Poly, but for the price difference, it just wasn't worth it for us.

 

[DisneyPirateMom]

OP, so sorry for your experience. And I am sorry for all the negative posts. I think it is great you voiced your opinion. I have stayed at POP before and loved it. But I do agree that I do not feel I have a magical experience when I check in. The CM's just want to get rid of you as soon as possible. Don't even bother asking questions, because they are not friendly at all. We stayed in the 60s on the third floor facing the hippie dippie pool. I really didn't notice any noise, but I also have small, very loud children. Most of the time, I can barely hear myself think straight. But I do think disney should have accomodated you a little better with the connecting rooms. That's horrible that you were not even in the same building or floor. My sister has always stayed at a moderate until her last trip. Her last trip she stayed at POP and she hated it. She said she would never step down from a moderate again. I have never stayed at a moderate, so guess I do not know what I am missing. But I definately can see where you are coming from.

Hope your next stay is better. Here is some pixy dust.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Was just at POP in June. This was the second time staying there. It confirmed my original thought. It sucked! Hated it!

Will not go back to Disney if this is where I have to stay.

Ugly - beyond ugly. Giant icons that hide staircases, and colored paint are not my idea of theming. Dirty food court - no matter what time we went there. Rude guests. Horrible children. Noisy guests - without a doubt those are the noisiest pools on property. Rough towels. Can hear everything next door.

We are non commandos, part of our vacation is to relax, take naps, etc. POP is the antithesis of my kind of trip.

Give me my October trip and the Yacht Club.

 

[pooch]

stayed at Moderates twice (CBR & DL) and last year in a Deluxe (WL). This year it's just DD & me and I felt too guilty about leaving DH & DS home (their choice not mine) to spend the money so we're at POP. Not interested in the resort really, just want a clean place to lay my tired head. Keeping my fingers crossed!!

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm so glad you brought this up! We had rooms that were 'linked' together, rather than just one reservation. We'd booked 2 rooms, my mother booked AND paid for both and wanted both in her name. (It was sketchy until the last minute if we were going to have any tag alongs.) She NEVER gave them any name other than her own, but a day or so later, she got 2 different confirmations for 2 different reservations--one in her name, one in my husbands. She called back several times and they outright refused to change it and took it upon themselves to 'assign' us to rooms. When we checked in, they wouldn't let her check in for both rooms...they made someone 'assigned' to each room check in. It really kind of ticked her off that they were HER reservations, being paid for by HER with HER money, yet they put someone else's name on them.
For what it was worth, we DID get connecting rooms after asking again at the front desk, but the resort was not packed and busy. It makes me wonder if it would have been a problem had their been more of a crowd.

They did this to me too at the ASMu. I had booked both rooms, but when I went to check in, they wouldn't tell me what room my sister was in. Only that they were near each other. What did they expect me to do, bang on the doors until I found her? The kicker is that when I called her, they had told her what room I was going to be in. The only thing I could think of is the different CMs who checked us didn't agree on protocal.

 

[luckytobeme88]

I wish that all POP haters to stay away. The negatives vibes are way too strong here.
Unsubscripted.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Heck, I would pay extra for a room that doesn't have the connecting door in it. We only need one room and I detest connecting doors....regardless of the level of the resort.

Noise? Or security? For noise, roll up a towel or two (or, even better, the bedspread ), open your side of the connecting door, and place the fabric in there as a noise buffer. Security – this won’t help when you’re not in the room, but pick up an inexpensive door alarm (Sharper Image, probably baby supply places, etc) and hang it on the doorknob – at least you’ll know if somebody’s trying to get in through that door. Or, um, from mail order catalogs like Harriet Carter or Miles Kimball, you can get a sort of door version of The Club. Or, just put one of the room chairs under the door knob at an angle to prevent someone from getting in that way.

But I do think disney should have accomodated you a little better with the connecting rooms. That's horrible that you were not even in the same building or floor.

While you’re right, it’s too bad the two parties couldn’t have been assigned to rooms closer to each other than they were, look at the connecting issue this way.
Say Pop Century is almost full.
They have four rooms left.
Two connect on the third floor of building 1, one is in building 5, and one is in building 8.
Two parties check in.
Party A is two adult couples, for example the OP & her husband, and her parents.
Party B is one couple with four children.
Which party would you put in the connecting rooms?

Rude guests. Horrible children. Noisy guests - without a doubt those are the noisiest pools on property. Rough towels. Can hear everything next door.

Devil’s advocate: How do you know those Guests didn’t have the same impression about you?

 

[Gabe]

I have one thing to say.
DISNEY VACATION CLUB.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Connecting rooms are never guaranteed except when children will be occupying the room next to the parents. If the resort was full, it was full. Did you expect them to relocate people for your convenience?

Value resorts have full beds. Not sure where you got the idea they would be queens.

Preferred means closer to the lobby and bus stop. not sure where you got the idea you would get a fridge.

In all honesty it sounds to me like you simply didn't do your homework and are now angry with the resort as a result. It's unfortunate that you were disappointed, hopefully next time you'll do a little more research before you book to ensure a resort that's closer to your wants and needs.

Anne

I agree, I don't think OP did homework. End of July, first of August was busy? Had to wait for check-in? How strange. lol

 

[BamaFan121s]

They did this to me too at the ASMu. I had booked both rooms, but when I went to check in, they wouldn't tell me what room my sister was in. Only that they were near each other. What did they expect me to do, bang on the doors until I found her? The kicker is that when I called her, they had told her what room I was going to be in. The only thing I could think of is the different CMs who checked us didn't agree on protocal.

I know just what you mean. We checked in before check-in time and had to call later to find out what rooms we had. I called (pretending to by my mom, who was in the seat beside me driving) and they would only tell me one of the rooms! She booked and paid for both of them!!! Why shouldn't she be able to get ALL of the info for both rooms!?

<And I don't hate the Pop ...I'm actually fond of it.>

 

[Renee1061]

First problem - check-in
You have to stand in a line in front of a long counter, okay no big deal there, but there are at eight cast members doing check-in and they simply want to move you along. I did not get a "magical" feeling like at the other resorts we have stayed at.

The poor CMs can't win for losing in this situation. Would you rather they "move you along" or spend 15 minutes with each guest, making your wait in line that much longer?

 

[Simba22]

I'm sorry you didn't like it we have never been to POP but have stayed at ASMo twice before. I was wondering if you asked anyone before you booked what "preferred" meant and if you were maybe given wrong info? I don't know about the Deluxe resorts, but even at the Moderates, "preferred" only refers to the rooms location. Like at the ASMo for example, a preferred room would be close to the main pool, close to the main building (ie front desk and cafeteria) or in one of the preferred buildings like Toy Story building. Refridgerators and microwaves are always extra.

And also, I would have rather than been rushed along at check-in than wait 45 minutes in line! That's what happened to us both times at the Movies, and check-out was just as long.

Again, sorry you didn't like it!

 

[jcpuppy.com]

Never stayed at the values...we have seen the bus lines of folks waiting to go back to their resorts(values) from the parks and that is enough to tell us we do not want to stay there.

I think the OP was simply warning folks about the possible noise, small beds, no fridge etc... things that you may not think about when you book at one of the cheaper resorts.
Why that is considered resort bashing is beyond me. I suspect i would stay at a value if a free trip there was offered to me or if it was all I could afford. But for us part of the enjoyment of Disney is the resort, the quietness, and ammenities.
I don't think you should bash someone just because they found these resorts lacking of things they enjoy

 

[fishy_mouse]

Just back from a week at POP. It was my first stay there, but I have stayed at the All Stars and have also stayed at moderates and deluxe hotels in WDW.

POP met my expectations. I requested a room in a quieter spot (facing the lake), so noise was not an issue in the room. The food court was a bit noisy, but it does emit a certain energy that the mods and deluxes do not have. It's no more noisy than eating at Chef Mickey's. FYI: We did get towel animals here 3x, but never at the All Stars. However, towel animals are a pleasant surprise, not an expectation. The room is a bit smallish, but it was clean, functional, and comfortable. All of the CMs were fine. My only concern is that the elevators have no AC. They were brutally hot last week. If one broke down, it could cause a heat stroke concern for some people.

My personal feeling is that the differences between the values and deluxes does not justify the 3 to 5x price difference when we're spending most of our time away from the hotel. Others may fell differently and that is fine, as long as they are not snobbish about it.

 

[Nancyg56]

I like hearing all of the comments people have on the resorts. I have not had the opportunity to stay in many of them so when I am planning a trip it helps to get both positive and negative feedback so that I can use it to determine which would not work for me and my family. If the only people who posted here had rosy reviews it would be a shock if the resort did not live up to expectations.

OP sorry that your stay was not as magical as you wanted and thank you for posting why.

 

[lustergirl]

Was just at POP in June. This was the second time staying there. It confirmed my original thought. It sucked! Hated it!

Will not go back to Disney if this is where I have to stay.

Ugly - beyond ugly. Giant icons that hide staircases, and colored paint are not my idea of theming. Dirty food court - no matter what time we went there. Rude guests. Horrible children. Noisy guests - without a doubt those are the noisiest pools on property. Rough towels. Can hear everything next door.

We are non commandos, part of our vacation is to relax, take naps, etc. POP is the antithesis of my kind of trip.

Also if it was your 2nd time staying at POP why did you go back after the 1st time if you hated it so much- perhaps the lower price of your vacation lured you in??
Give me my October trip and the Yacht Club.

If you are non- commando then why would you choose to stay at POP?? We usually stay at AS Sports because we don't spend much time in the room anyways.

Regardless of the price that anyone pays for their vacation they are still entitled to the same service that everyone else has. The value resorts just offer less amenities than mods or deluxes and are more geared towards families with children who may enjoy those huge icons. It is unfortunate that you didn't enjoy your stay at POP but it wasn't what you was looking for and you had a miserable time there.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

We Love the Pop!! Absolutely the best bang per buck, IMO...to be honest, I would love to stay at WL again, but we are on a budget. Would love to try the Poly or BW, but we are on a budget. Next year with the new pricing strategies, I have no idea where we will want to stay. We may have to avoid weekends and holidays, so Deluxes in Value Season weekdays may actually fall into our budget!

Whe first time we stayed at the Pop, we were not disappointed, in fact we loved it...it has not let us down since.

The one and only thing I wish (not even a complaint) for is a slide in the pool. But the squirting fountains make up for it a bit.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

The poor CMs can't win for losing in this situation. Would you rather they "move you along" or spend 15 minutes with each guest, making your wait in line that much longer?

That was my first thought, too. I would rather the lose the magic at checkin if it meant that they could get me through the line faster..I'll get my magic later.