My experience with Pop Century this weekend has turned me off from this resort. We stayed at Pop once before, just to experience the new resort, and were not overly thrilled then either. This weekend was even worse.
This weekend was for a business trip. We used WDW Travel to book a Magical Gathering as we were using 12 rooms. We got a great deal $59.00 a night. Our trouble started at check-in. It took 1 hour and 20 minutes, and that was once we got to the CM at the counter. First they couldn’t find my name or reservation #. The reservation had my name spelled wrong, but they still couldn’t find us.
The CM was very apologetic and even asked another CM. After the CM made several trips behind a closed door. She made a call to someone, and finally found us, the name in the system was way off the name on my confirmation (3 different letters!!). OK, so we supply a credit card and CM asks if we want all 4 keycards to have charging access. 4 cards, why 4 cards?? Because our room is linked to another in our party! Now we have to figure out how to separate the rooms because I do not want to be responsible for another person’s room (Our group is a state wide association and although I know these people, I don’t want to be responsible for their room). The CM leaves again to confer with some one else. Finally!! We have our own room, 1hour and 20 minutes later. And we were not the only ones in our group with trouble. While we were checking in, 2 in our group had rooms that were showing not paid and cancelled. One was missing totally, and they were spread out. The organizer of the Group was there first and was told all the rooms were in different areas. She told us she was very vocal about the mistake, and made quite a scene waving her confirmation with the specific info until they assured us the rooms were together.
The rooms were nice but small; you open the door and walk into a bed. The CMs in the food court were very Un-Disney. They were rude, and badly trained. We had trouble at check-out 3 times.
#1. We were stuck when the CM couldn’t change the tape in the register. She kept saying “just a few seconds more” and I was willing to wait rather then start over in another long line. Finally, after several minutes, she told us to go to another register.
#2. We were charged twice for a meal. I was filling drinks and DH checked out. He didn’t check the receipt, but told me the food seemed expensive. We were charged twice for a $8.99 Salmon Dinner. So I send DH to straighten it out. He comes back and says they can’t fix it because we left the check out counter. OK now I am mad. I leave DH at the table with the food and search for a supervisor. Finally, someone comes and tells me the same thing. I can’t believe it. I got the distinct impression he thought I was trying to get a free meal. I got very loud, and was drawing a lot of attention. The CM came to my table so I could show him our food, and prove we only had one fish dinner. He told me “it appeared we only had 1 fish dinner” OK so refund my money. Then he has the nerve to tell me “just because there is only 1 dinner now doesn’t mean there wasn’t 2” Now I feel I am being accused of lying. And my food is cold!! I wanted a refund for the entire meal. I was still loud, and demanded to speak to his Supervisor. I was sent to guest services. I must have made a sight, marching over to guest services with a tray full of cold food and steam coming from my ears.
A CM tried to stop me and told me I couldn’t take food in this area, I told him to try and stop me. Thankfully there was no one in line at guest services when I plopped my tray down and started my story. They were very apologetic and gracefully took a tongue lashing they didn’t deserve. They walked back to the food court with me so I could point out the offending CM. And I got fresh food and my refund.
#3 It was late Sat. and the food court was almost deserted. We stopped for a late night snack to take back to the room. There were 3 workers in the area and I guess because it was late and deserted they were straightening the area and talking to each other. Do you think any of them would stop their conversation to wait on us, nope. I asked if they were still serving, one said yes, and went back to the conversation. I spoke up again and said I was ready to order, and the look the young girl gave me was like I was bothering her. I got her name and the others also.
I don’t think I was asking for unreasonable service, just Disney Service.
The final AM we were expecting express checkout, and didn’t get it. So we had to walk down to checkout, I figured while I was there I would complain to guest services again about the rude CM. The CM in guest services was very good at making excuses. New resort, not all the kinks out, new staff, young staff, busy weekend. While she was making excuses, a very well dressed gentleman in a suit, introduced himself as Disney Quality control and listened to my entire story again. He took notes and told me it would be looked into. I will be following up with a letter, just to be sure.
Other than that it was a great weekend, hot, sunny, and crowded. It was the first Grad-night weekend, MK closed at 7 Fri and Sat and we were told there were 40,000 High school seniors coming in on each night. Yup. There were teenagers all over.
Bottom line – I won’t stay at Pop Century again. Even at the discount price, it wasn’t worth it.
Good times:
Ice cream at Beaches and Cream - Yummy
The food at Plaza Restaurant – very good
Bus wait was very short.
It’s always good to see Mickey again.
