[MerlinMatt]

Based on all of the DC press that PC has been getting over the last couple of weeks, I seriously wonder if there isn't actually a problem.

Someone asked this question in another thread, but I'll ask it again here: Did the All-Stars have these quality problems when they first opened?

Here's my assessment of what might be happening:

1.) Disney has seen attendance & revenue drop over the past 10 years and the "value" resorts were an idea that caught on quickly. As with anything "new", there was probably an extreme effort to ensure the success of the All-Stars. Perhaps that same "extreme" effort isn't being made with PC?

2.) Value resorts do "tend" to attract visitors who are, perhaps, not truly appreciative of Disney Magic... OR... who expect things to be the same as the other resorts. Therefore, the CM's might actually be emotionally drained some days from dealing with people who are, well, mean. By the time they get to you, they could be in a bad place.

Does everyone remember the thread from last week about the guy over at MGM who was cursing out the CM about his PS and demanded to get seated immediately because he had kids? Imagine this guy at a Value resort who thinks that the food is overpriced. His wife buys two dinners and takes it over to his table where he wolfs one down. Then he goes back and claims that he's been charged twice and demands a refund.

THEN, a new CM messes up the bill on another order an hour later. This time, the complaint is legit, but after seeing what happened an hour earlier, the CM and even the manager might be suspicious. I can't blame them.

As I said in another thread: people stink.

3.) Has anyone here ever owned a business that required the employment of younger folks? My experience is that it's a total crap-shoot. While I must fault Disney for perhaps expanding the value concept too quickly, to some degree, there is an element of this that is VERY difficult to manage. Some kids appear to be terrific until your back is turned.

4.) For anyone who has trouble at Disney, particularly at the Values, trust me that you can catch more flies with honey than with, well, then stuff that dogs leave behind. Despite how angry you might be, smile all the way through your complaint. Differentiate yourself from the people who are the whiners and complainers. CM's are only human. Treat them with dignity and respect and I promise you, you'll have a much better time.

5.) As far as trip planning... document everything! If WDW sends you a confirmation letter, or two, or three.. TAKE THEM WITH YOU! I carry a manila envelope with ALL my documentation with me. If they lose a reservation, it's always on their heads to fix it. Also, confirm everything before you leave, more than once. Confirm 30 days out, 14 days out and 5 days out. Then, 2 days before checkin, call the resort. Everything gets moved from the vacation planners to the resorts about 4 days before checkin. At this point, the resort owns the reservation. If there's a screw-up, it's much easier to give them the time to fix it if you're not checking in for another 48 hours.

PC is probably not as consistently bad as some of these threads might suggest, but clearly, there is evidence that some planning and politics on your part might go a long way to ensure a magical Disney vacation.

I'd love to hear someone else's impressions.

[Dana]

I honestly think this new resort needs some tweeking with it's staff. It's still young and it was maybe thrown together to quickly. I know what you mean about young kids on your staff, it is a crap shoot. My employees range from 16- 22 and 80% of the people who work for me are kids. Who else are you going to get at $6.50 a hour part time? Bringing docuamentation with you and calling ahead are a given, but I can honeslty see where one wouldn't think it was necessary with such a large group. How can they lose that reservation? would be in the minds of the guests. Lessoned learned for all. I had some UnDisney customer service while staying at the AKL. It upset me, but hardly turned me off from the resort. However, I can see where someone would be "put off" by the latest report of PC. I would not appreciate being accused of stealing food. How sick is that? I can understand why the CM mights have questioned it a bit, but to have to take him over and prove how many dinners you had? Cmon that's insane. As a manager, I can tell you that I'd rather just make the person happy and have the situation defused before it's gets to an ugly situation. There in lies the problem at PC it seems. It seems that their staff is not up to snuff in the customer service department in it's food court. I have heard most of the complaints about that and check-in. Our Tinkerbell just stayed there and is going back, so the resort must have some finer points too. She wouldn't stay there AGAIN in June if they treated you poorly all the time. Maybe they just need to learn how to handle certain situations better. While staying at AKL, I had a very embarrasing situation occur over some drinks at the food court. The woman didn't know how to handle the situation properly and said the wrong things...making me upset and her look like bad. Perhaps they didn't have enough training in handling these crowds? I don't know what their problem is exactly. I am just guessing, but I have heard more bad than good. I hope the staff gets it's together over there and someone takes notice and retrains this staff or does whatever it takes to get this resort the way it's supose to be. Again, our tinkerbell had a blast there, so at least we know the staff is having "good days" too..

[tiggerlover1971]

I personally have stayed at POP twice now and have not had bad experiences there but I have had a bad experience at All star Music and Like I have said in the past anything can happen and anyone can have a bad day one time but if you try it again it might not be a bad time after all

[goofygal1975]

I have only stayed at Pop once (in Feb not very long after they first opened) and I had a wonderful time. No real complaints. Check in was the best i have ever seen. NO WAIT at all!!

I have a DIsney Dining Experience Card (for FLorida Residents) and this did cause problems with 2-3 of the new CM's at check out in the food court, but that was understandable (not to say that at the time i felt a little impatient waiting to find a CM who DID know how to check me out)

I'm very sorry for the people who have had such bad experiences. I have stayed in every building at All Star Sports and love it there, but I did think POP was new and nicer!!

I only need the room for my ds and I so having a big expensive room is not neccesary for us. He enjoys the theming much better at the value resorts, too.

[mickaholic4077]

I have stayed at PC three times since it opened(New Year's Eve,Jan 24th,and Mar 30-Apr 1),and each time I have had no problems whatsoever. Each time,my room has been ready and I had no problems at all with it (the room). The last time I stayed I used the bus transportation exclusively,and it was marvelous!! I can't recommend highly enough this wonderful resort.

[tinkerbell]

We truely loved the PC and had the best experience there.. what I have read lately reminds me more of what we went through at the CBR last August. My DH is not a Value resort fan ..but even he was impressed with the PC. We liked it enough we are going back in June and maybe staying there again in August. We have stayed at AS Movies and Music and it was just a Disney and service was just as good as when we stayed at the Poly and AKL

[ajbdk5]

I LOVED Pop Century when we stayed there in Feb. I would stay there again in a heartbeat!

[disneyguy]

OK since I am one of the ones that had problems at PC, I thought I will post. I had problems across the board. I just thought I would recap my problems at PC. They started at check-in: The person was very nice but just didn't know what to do with selling a Play 4 Days pass so they sent me down to the other end and they didn't want to do it either. This wasn't a big deal we liked our room. Next: We tried to send a fax, because at the time we were buying a new house. The fax didn't go through! We asked them to send it again in the morning because it was like 8 PM. So the CM instead tries sending it later, and then had the nerve to call us at 10 PM!!!! I was outraged!! It really bothered me because we were already asleep. Then when I went back in the morning to pick it up the CM resent the fax, and took back the fax charges!!! That is the kind of CM we need more! Then at the food court I went to buy a slurpee and they didn't have a lid. And instead of trying a different cup or something they just say we don't have lids. While these problems may seem minor they are not when you had had similar expieriences in the parks. I am not just PC bashing, I am just looking for some kind of pattern, because it seems like there is one. I loved the resort!!! I love the Values!! I think the CM's need to be reviewed, trained better, and watched more closely.ALSO, can I get an anwser to my question. Did the AS's have so many problems and complaints when they started??

[tinkerbell]

Originally Posted by disneyluva

ALSO, can I get an anwser to my question. Did the AS's have so many problems and complaints when they started??

we stayed at the All Stars when they first opened and I dont remember any difference at all in Service. the year before we stayed at the ALL Stars we stayed at the Poly and we thought it was pretty good that the service was just as good at the All Stars as it was at the Poly.

[disneyguy]

Hmmmmmmmm... very interesting.

[BusyMom5x]

I'm taking my two teenage sons (16 and 14) for a surprise stay at at Pop Century.....for those of you that have stayed there......should I request a certain building or just leave it to chance?

[disneyguy]

I would definetly request 70's building. I cannot imagine being anywhere else.

[BusyMom5x]

Originally Posted by disneyluva

I would definetly request 70's building. I cannot imagine being anywhere else.

Could you tell me why?
Thanks in advance!

[disneyguy]

It is very close to the bus stops. If you are anywhere else you have to walk through the lobby, which can get very packed, and seems small to me. It is also very close to Classic Hall, and the pool. Plus the food court is on that end of Classic Hall.

[BDavis932]

I had no problems with the CM's...everyone there was wonderful. The 2 things I had problems with is 1) the sticky~gross stuff on our floor (no big deal...just didn't expect it in a Brand new resort) and 2). Mr. Roach. I HATE roaches...they scare me to death. It may have been living in my room or may have walked in the door when we were bringing in our suitcases...Disney is meticulous about fumigation, so I assume it snuck in while bell services was bringing up our bags. I just didn't sleep well knowing there was a roach walking around IN OUR ROOM (EWWW!) I have a thing about bugs...sorry!

We stayed at All Stars Sports in 10/94, not too long after it opened. I don't remember having any problems there what-so-ever. We also stayed in ASMusic in 12/97...No Problems (right after they opened) and then we stayed at ASMovies in 4/99 (right after they opened, too!) and still again..no problems.

Honestly, for my money, if I'm going to stay in a value resort, My first choice will be All Stars Movies. It is themed in Disney ONLY and it just feels more magical to me. If Pop Century had more of the character statues (ie: Lady, Tramp, Mogli, Baloo, Mickey, etc) It may appeal to me more.