Pop Century is my favorite of Disney’s Value Resorts. In fact, I probably book this resort more than any other. Now that the rooms have been recently refurbished, I like it even better.
Resort Layout
The resort is made up of 10 separate buildings surrounding Classic Hall, then main building that houses the front desk, gift shop and food court. The 10 buildings are grouped into sections organized by decade: 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. In each area, you’ll find the theme fits the decade (but the rooms are all the same inside).
Main Building – Classic Hall
Entering the lobby, you’ll find the pop culture references in the decor on the walls. Take some time to look at the displays – they’ll really take you back in time.
A long counter lines one side of the hall with typically at least 4 cast members (Disney speak for employees) ready to help guests get checked in. There will be a separate line for guests who have completed online check-in but still need help with something.
Regarding online check-in: If you are a repeat visitor and aren’t overly concerned with any room requests you might have made, then online check-in can save you some time since you don’t need to stop by the front desk. You’ll get a text with your room number when it is ready.
If you are a first time visitor, I suggest you stop by the front desk. They’ll be able to give you information about the resort including a map like the one I posted above. You can go to the online check-in line if you completed that on the My Disney Experience app.
If you have made a room request (either by noting it when you did your online check-in or by calling it in) and it is very important, then you’ll want to stop by the front desk as well. Even if your room isn’t ready, you can ask if they were able to honor your request. Remember, it’s not a guarantee. If they see that your request wasn’t honored, they may be able to switch the room you’re assigned to.
Food, Drink & Merchandise
The Everything Pop gift shop is stocked full of the same basic Disney souvenirs you’ll find everywhere, plus vacation essentials and some resort specific merchandise like mugs and magnets.
You walk through Everything Pop to get to the food court. Here you’ll find several windows featuring basics like burgers and pizza as well as daily specials. The food court is open from 6am to 12am.
If you are using a dining plan, you can use quick service credits for full meals here or snack credits for many individual items. In the case of our family, that means about 47 chocolate croissants. You can also pick up a refillable mug. These are included free on the dining plan or available for purchase for 18.99.
Pop’s Feature Pool: The Hippy Dippy Pool
Exit the food court onto a back patio area facing the Hippy Dippy Pool – the resort’s largest. The flower jets and bright colors create super fun vibe that sets the tone for the 60s section. The resort’s pool bar, Petals, is located here as well as public restrooms and a laundry room.
Guest Room Buildings
These buildings in the 60s that surround the Hippy Dippy pool are the closest to the main building and comprise the preferred section.
To the right of the 60s are the 3 buildings of the 50s as well as the Bowling Pin Pool.
To the left of the 60s are the 2 buildings of the 70s, and further on, the 3 buildings of the 80s / 90s section and it’s Computer Pool
Pop’s Guest Rooms
Pop Century’s rooms recently underwent a full refurbishment and are now pretty sleek and modern. When I initially viewed photos of the new room style, I wasn’t sure if I liked it. There’s a lot of white and it looked a little cold.
When I first got a chance to stay at Pop post-refurb I was very impressed. In person, they don’t seem cold at all. The new furniture set up is very functional from the table-bed to the etagere housing the fridge and coffee maker. There are lots of cubbies for storage and plenty of outlets and usb ports.
Both beds are “queen sized.” Well, one is a real queen size. The table bed is a few inches shorter and narrower but essentially queen sized as well. Surprisingly, the table bed is very comfortable. The only negative to this set-up is that with the bed down, you have no table.
The bathroom is small but efficient. A heavy sliding door separates the vanity area from the sleeping area (a big improvement over the curtain that served this function previously).
A door separates the toilet and shower from the vanity area. I really like the shower with it’s rain shower head and shampoo / conditioner / body wash dispenser.
Getting Around
To get anywhere from Pop Century, you’ll need to take a bus. Head back through the main building and exit through the doors near Everything Pop. To your right are several bus stops – one for each park and Disney Springs. Buses are supposed to come every 20 minutes, but in practice it’s more irregular. Usually 20 minutes would be the longest you would wait. There are screens at the bus stops that let you know when to expect the next bus (you can also see this on the My Disney Experience app). Expect about a 15 – 25 minute ride depending on where you are going. So it’s a good rule of them to give yourself an hour travel time just to be safe.
In Summary
Of the five Disney Value Resorts, Pop Century is the second newest. I always recommend this resort to families looking to save money on the hotel portion of their stay, and here’s why:
Built in 2003, it’s not exactly new – but Pop has aged well (especially with this most recent refurb) and is a lot fresher than the All-Star Resorts which are 9 years older. I do enjoy the atmosphere at All-Star Movies, but overall the All-Stars are a little tired.
Additionally, transportation is generally better at Pop Century than at the All-Stars. Sometimes the three All-Star Resorts share buses, which makes your wait longer.
Why don’t I recommend Art of Animation over Pop Century? Art is newer, and has a similar transportation system. Well, it boils down to price. Disney offers discounts throughout most of the year. You can almost always find rooms at Pop Century available at a discount whenever one is available. Conversely, you almost NEVER see standard (Little Mermaid) rooms at Art of Animation discounted. The family suites are often discounted, but they are more than double the cost of a standard room and may be more room than you need. So as much as I enjoy the theme of Art of Animation, I’ll continue to recommend Pop Century for families of four or less.
Have you stayed at Pop Century recently? What did you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Trying to decide which resort is right for you? Read my guide Choosing a Disney Resort. Just starting to plan your trip? Download my free printable planning timeline and learn how to Plan Your Trip in 10 Easy Steps. Want help planning? Fill out a free quote request on my CONTACT page or email me at rebecca@magicaltravel.com.
