Bad Pop Century Experience

Well just got back from Orlando today and wanted to relate a bad experience at the Pop Century. We arrived our first day and checked in and were assigned a room in one of the 70's buildings. When we checked in we were never informed that parking for people in the 70's building's is almost 3 blocks from your room. So needless to say it took me almost a half hour in 87 degree heat to lug our luggage to a 4th floor room.

Figuring I would learn from this experience on our checkout I walked the 2 blocks from our room to luggage assistance to get a baggage cart to take our bags to the car . When I get to the front of the line to get a cart I'm told that he can't give me a cart unless I have my room Key which of course I left in my room with my wife. Now I'm mad and try to explain to this idiot that the only way to get into the Resort is to either have a key or be checking in to a room as the guard stops you at the gate so I'm evidently a guest. Secondly why else would I want a luggage cart unless I needed one to move my luggage the 3 blocks to my car. No go won't let me have a cart now I'm Pi##ed. Walk back to my room carry my luggage back to my car 5 trips 3 blocks each way.

Disney needs to inform everyone who stays at Pop Century that it is blocks from the parking lot to your room and needs to have luggage service people stationed in the lots or carts stored in the lots.

Evidently whoever designed Pop Century didn't have to carry his own luggage.

I would not stay here again if Disney paid me to.

Dave

 

[DisneySaint]

I was just at the Pop Century two weeks ago. I had requested several rooms but when I arrived they still had no requests in their system for some odd reason. I was assigned the same place as you - 1970s on the 4th floor (room 6464), but I didn't find it immensely displeasing at all. It was just as far as any of the inner buildings from a parking lot. Admitedly it was no 30 second walk from the car to the room, but it never seemed to bother any of us.

I guess different people, from different cultures, from different places, with different blackgrounds all have different expectations.

...it could be worse though. Try staying in Basketball at the All Star Sports. That's about a 10-15 minute walk just to the food court/bus stops.

 

[TURKEY]

...it could be worse though. Try staying in Basketball at the All Star Sports. That's about a 10-15 minute walk just to the food court/bus stops.

It's more like 5-7 minutes, depending on your route. The only buildings that should take 10+ minutes are Country Fair at Music (bldg. 5-6).

 

[nickcarraway]

I don't think help with luggage is an outwardly promoted service when staying at a value resort. When I stayed at Pop, I was not asked if I needed assistance. However, when I stayed at the deluxe resort Animal Kingdom Lodge, I was asked three times if I needed any luggage assistance. Once when I arrived. Once when I checked in and then again just to make sure. However, I never require assistance. I prefer to travel as light as possible. On trips that last 10 days or less, I always take one suitcase on wheels that can fit into an overhead compartment (barely, but it does) and use mass transportation whenever possible. It’s good for the environment!

 

[EGNATZ1]

All I have to say nick is you can't be married, as when my wife packs for ten days its like we are going on african safari. LOL

 

[sabian]

I follow you EGNATZ1. I am married and yes, the wife packs like the house is going to explode.LOL. I have stayed at all all star resorts except Pop, and i must say that i walked less there than i did at Dixie Landings...hmm mmm.. cough..cough, excuse me, port orleans riverside. Anyway, I trade the amenities at a cheaper, better quality hotel outside of the world anyday. I choose Disney hotels for the park til you leave feature, the overall disney feel of the hotels, and most importantly, the safety. I love every disney hotel i have stayed at. None of them were perfect. But they all have that great Disney Smell, the wonderful atmosphere. And hey, nothing beats walking the hotel grounds with your lady late at night, under the stars without any fear of danger. Disney hotel atmospheres are the way our everyday lives should be.

 

[trackbarroness]

Egnatz1 back in 2000 when my Mom and I stayed at All star Music we had three suitcases each, and stayed in I believe it was the Jazz section. That was a walk It was a good thing that at least 4 of those bags had/have wheels on them. When we went down in July of 2000 we stayed at a Holiday inn on the second floor and had to carry our luggage (b/c Mom didn't want to leave the luggage in the van) up two flights of stairs.(Seemed more like 4 flights) And yes those cases were packed to the hilt.
Well anyway enough about a privous trip of mine, like others have posted read the message boards, for rate codes and other pertinent stuff. Or just post a question and someone will come along and answer your questions.

I did a little bit of exploring while at Pop Century and I loved it. Can't wait to go exploring at POR expectuly with the christmas decorations up. :xmas: :sohappy:

 

[nickcarraway]

All I have to say nick is you can't be married, as when my wife packs for ten days its like we are going on african safari. LOL

No, I'm certainly not married.

But I bet your wife has never had her luggage lost by an airline and never returned or she might be more careful in her packing selection. I've had my luggage lost several times. I've realized I should be responsible for everything I take with me. I'm capable. I don't need the airline or a valet to haul my personal belongings around for me. I can do it myself.

Perhaps your stay at the Pop would've been better had your wife not packed like she was going on an Africian safari. Or perhaps you should've just stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

 

[Disney Oracle]

I guess it's just a case of different stokes for different folks. I stayed at Pop Century a few weeks ago and loved it. Of course, I didn't have a car and only 1 suitcase (on wheels, thankfully). I was originally assigned to a room in the 80s (I had requested 70s), but the CM moved me to the 50s (without my having to ask her) when she found out I didn't have a car. I was in building 1 and it worked out great.

I do feel like I have to defend myself as a travel agent, though. I've been in the business for many years and the rates I've been able to offer compare quite favorably with Disney's. I will admit, though, that the abundance of discount codes do make doing it yourself increasingly financially favorable to assemble your WDW vacation yourself - if you want to do all the work yourself, that is.

 

[Main Street USA]

You can't complain about things when you didn't bother to ask questions. Most of the complaints I read around these parts are from people who are:

1. Generally, seem very short tempered.
2. Don't know how things work, AND WHY they work that way. (the "idiot" wouldn't let you have a cart for a reason.)
3. Don't ask questions, and instead assume everything, which is a recipe for disaster no matter what resort you stay at worldwide.

Calling POP a Motel 6 with neon lights is a clear overstatement based on nothing more than misguided anger.

Please don't take any of that personally, it's simply the same stuff I see in EVERY single person who complains about their trip. Heck, the other trip report in this forum is the same way. The poster complains and moans about how awful Wilderness Lodge is.......uh, ok. Is that why 99.9 percent of the people who stay there are overwhelmed with how amazing it is?

 

[Woody13]

It's more like 5-7 minutes, depending on your route. The only buildings that should take 10+ minutes are Country Fair at Music (bldg. 5-6).

Yes TURKEY, I've been stuck in "The Boot" on one trip!:wave:

 

[DDuckFan130]

Yes TURKEY, I've been stuck in "The Boot" on one trip!:wave:

I've been stuck there twice! :lol: That's our fault though because we didn't ask for a specific section. We didn't mind though, but I don't see how the walk to the food court can be up to 10 minutes. I've tried to time it the two times we've been there and it's taken us 5-7 minutes. I've been in AS Sports once, in the baseball section, and I believe the walk is a bit shorter if I'm not mistaken. When I called and made reservations for Veteran's Day weekend (at AS Sports again) the guy I spoke to asked if I had any requests and I asked for the baseball section again (my family's favorite sport ). He said there were no guarantees but at least he has it written down.

Anyway, sorry you had a bad experience, but my thoughts coincide with Main Street USA's. Trust me, I've learned my lesson before and it pays to do research. Deb Wills' site, MouseSavers, and of course this board can help you immensely in planning your WDW vacations :wave:.

 

[DisneySaint]

It's more like 5-7 minutes, depending on your route. The only buildings that should take 10+ minutes are Country Fair at Music (bldg. 5-6).

Sorry, you're wrong there. I know for a fact that it took as long as stated. We were in the 2nd to last room and, yes, it did take us that long.

 

[TURKEY]

Sorry, you're wrong there. I know for a fact that it took as long as stated. We were in the 2nd to last room and, yes, it did take us that long.

So you were in either room 2153, 2156, 2253, 2256, 2353, 2356, 3109, 3112, 3209, 3212, 3309, or 3312.

Unless you consider 2131, 2134, 2231, 2234, 2331, 2334, 3131, 3134, 3234, 3231, 3331, or 3334 to be on of the next to last room.

Or if I'm misreading you, you'd have been in room 52/57, 30/35 in building 2 or in 08/13, 30/35 in building 3.


I've walked all three themes enough to know how long it takes to get from place to place.

I can get from Building 2 at Sports to Celebrity Hall with lots and lots of cheerleader luggage in 10 minutes.

 

[MicBat]

I also had a bad experience at the Pop Century... Security wise. I would rather not talk about it, though... :lol:

 

[Woody13]

I can get from Building 2 at Sports to Celebrity Hall with lots and lots of cheerleader luggage in 10 minutes.

Yes, but when you are carrying cheerleader's luggage all that testosterone is helping you!:wave:

 

[David]

We just returned from our 4th All Stars stay, and we have never had a problem geting luggage to (carried by staff) or from (we carry) our room. However, this trip I was surprsed that when I went to get a cart to bring our luggage down, I was required to sign a slip that if I did not return the cart,I would be charged $250.00. Like I'm going to carry one of those things home on the plane as a souvenir. That was the first time that had happened, but I didn't let it bother me that much.

 

[TURKEY]

We just returned from our 4th All Stars stay, and we have never had a problem geting luggage to (carried by staff) or from (we carry) our room. However, this trip I was surprsed that when I went to get a cart to bring our luggage down, I was required to sign a slip that if I did not return the cart,I would be charged $250.00. Like I'm going to carry one of those things home on the plane as a souvenir. That was the first time that had happened, but I didn't let it bother me that much.

Depends on the cast member. Some do, so don't do it. That's what asking for the room key is for. Making sure you are a resort guest and to see if you have charging priviledges (or a CC) on your account to charge you if you decide to not bring it back.

 

[trackbarroness]

So you were in either room 2153, 2156, 2253, 2256, 2353, 2356, 3109, 3112, 3209, 3212, 3309, or 3312.

Unless you consider 2131, 2134, 2231, 2234, 2331, 2334, 3131, 3134, 3234, 3231, 3331, or 3334 to be on of the next to last room.

Or if I'm misreading you, you'd have been in room 52/57, 30/35 in building 2 or in 08/13, 30/35 in building 3.


I've walked all three themes enough to know how long it takes to get from place to place.

I can get from Building 2 at Sports to Celebrity Hall with lots and lots of cheerleader luggage in 10 minutes.

Your at All Stars aren't you? So how long have you been working for/at WDW?

 

[HauntedPirate]

Yes, but when you are carrying cheerleader's luggage all that testosterone is helping you!:wave:

ROFLMAO!!

 

[walts son 1971]

We stayed in the 70s building in june ,we would cut accrost the parking lot to the food court very quick.And first off you dont unload your luggage at check in lobby when you drive your self? Why would you do that? Anyway didnt you use your elevator in your building?This sounds like another person causing there own problems and blaiming Disney for it.Glad you wont be staying there again it will help me get a better parking spot with one less car.