Disney’s Pop Century Resort, my top choice among the value resorts at Walt Disney World, marries delightful theming with a convenient location near Hollywood Studios. Unlike the other Value Resorts like the All Stars, Pop Century feels closer and more connected, partly due to its dedicated bus system—a significant plus compared to the shared bus services of the past.
Pop Century opened its doors in December 2003, originally envisioned as the “Classic Years” covering the 1950s to the 1990s. This was to be the first phase of a two-part plan, with the “Legendary Years” representing the 1900s to the 1940s to follow across the bridge. However, plans changed in 2011, transforming the “Legendary Years” into what is now known as Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
The resort features 2,280 rooms spread across five buildings, each representing a different decade from the 1950s through the 1990s. Each room, measuring 260 square feet, is efficiently laid out with either two double beds or one king-size bed, a small table with chairs, a dresser, and a bedside table. The vanity area includes a sink and space for hanging clothes, adjacent to a bathroom equipped with a tub/shower and toilet. Modern amenities such as a flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi, an in-room safe, an iron and ironing board, mini-fridge, and telephone ensure a comfortable stay. Accessible rooms and additional aids like bed rails and portable cribs are available to cater to all guests’ needs.
Each building at Pop Century is a tribute to its respective era:
- 1950s: Step back to the age of rock ‘n’ roll with jukeboxes and sock-hop dancers, not to mention a bowling pin-shaped pool and oversized figures of Lady and the Tramp.
- 1960s: Immerse yourself in psychedelic tie-dye, oversized yo-yos, and Play-Doh creations, with Baloo and Mowgli from The Jungle Book watching over the flower-shaped Hippy Dippy Pool.
- 1970s: Relive the days of the Big Wheel, Mickey Mouse rotary phones, eight-track tapes, and foosball players.
- 1980s: Experience the tech surge with 40-foot tall Rubik’s cubes, a walkman with headphones, and a computer-shaped pool.
- 1990s: Encounter a cell phone and a giant laptop computer, icons of the digital dawn.
Classic Hall serves as the hub for check-ins and houses a food court with diverse offerings, a gift shop, and the “Fast Forward” arcade. For those preferring to relax in their rooms, pizza delivery is an appealing option.
Pop Century Resort not only offers a playful peek into the past but also provides plenty of trivia and larger-than-life icons that evoke memories and smiles. Whether you lived through these decades or just love the vibrancy of 20th-century pop culture, Pop Century Resort promises a stay filled with fun, nostalgia, and the magic of Disney.
