Disney's Pop Century Review

Disney’s Pop Century Resort Review

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Our first stay at Disney’s Pop Century Resort was almost a decade ago, about a year before the idea of this website was born. At that time, we were hearing a lot of hype about the new rooms at Pop Century and how they were a game-changer. So we planned a split stay that started at Grand Floridian and ended at Pop Century. Little did we know how often we would return to Pop Century. I’ve stayed here more times than I can count.

Pop Century is a value resort that most consider an upgrade from the All-Star Resorts because of its Skyliner access. The Skyliner is probably the biggest deal-breaker or decision-maker for those considering this resort. If you or someone in your travel party has a fear of heights, you’ll probably want to avoid a resort on the Skyliner. It is the only form of transportation that’s offered from the resort to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, except for inclement weather and its annual refurbishment.

Now that we’ve gotten that big deal out of the way, I wanted to discuss what else you can expect out of this Pop Century Resort Review. Most importantly, we’ll share detailed accounts of our experiences at the resort from numerous stays. We’ll also take a look at the updated rooms, upgrade options, dining specifics, transportation, and other need-to-knows. You’ll soon find out why Pop Century ranks high on our list of the best resorts at Disney World.

Resorts Gal is unique from many Disney blogs because the resorts are our primary focus. We spend a significant amount of time staying at and exploring them. This review reflects that firsthand experience. As always, we paid out of pocket for this stay. We also use and recommend Firefly Travels, who is an authorized Disney vacation planner.

a giant sign with yellow letters that says POP for Pop Century

Check-in and Arrival at Pop Century

We arrived at Pop Century at approximately 10:00 a.m. Longtime readers know that I used to live about 15 minutes from Disney World, and during that time I made it a habit to check in earlier rather than later. Arriving early lets us see if the resort can accommodate early check-ins. I also have this theory that you have a better chance of getting a desired room location when you arrive earlier.

For this stay, we had booked a preferred room at Pop Century, and I wanted to request a room in the 60s section. It was the only section of the resort we hadn’t stayed in yet. Thankfully, our request was honored, and we were in our room within 30 minutes of our arrival. That said, we never expect our room to be ready before check-in. (But it always starts our experience off on the right foot.)

If you’ve had a long travel day, you understand the benefit of getting settled upon arrival. It’s nice to drop your luggage in the room, change, and freshen up before heading out for the day. If you decide to visit the parks on your first day, you also won’t have to locate your room and collect your luggage when you return. Early check-in can make those first few hours of a Disney vacation much simpler. For more tips, see 12 Tips for Your Arrival Day at Disney World.

Pop Century Rooms

Of course, the rooms at Disney’s Pop Century initially sold us on the resort. The rooms have since been updated, but the incredibly efficient layout remains one of the things I appreciate most about staying here. Given the popularity of this design, similar room layouts were later introduced at Disney’s All-Star Resorts when those rooms were refurbished. Even so, Pop Century has a few other amenities that give it an edge over the All-Star Resorts.

Standard rooms have two queen-size beds. One bed is a standard queen while the other is a Murphy bed that folds down from the wall. It has a regular queen mattress, so you won’t notice the difference in sleep quality that you might with a pull-out couch bed. During the day, you can fold the bed away, and the frame converts into a table with two chairs. This makes a noticeable difference in how much usable space you have in the room.

Other amenities include a dresser with several storage drawers, an in-room safe, and a flat-screen television. The dresser top doubles as counter space for items like MagicBands and electronic devices. You’ll find multiple USB ports and electrical outlets built into the back of the dresser.

A stand toward the front of the room holds the coffee maker, beverage cooler, and other accompaniments. A few shelves provide additional space for storing snacks and other small items. Here are a few photos of the updated rooms.

  • Disney's Pop Century Reviews updated rooms
  • opposite view of the room at Pop Century
  • shows how one of the bed folds down from the wall
  • a dresser with outlets and storage drawers
  • curtains in the rooms at Pop Century
  • a piece of artwork with three Mickey Mouse's and light fixtures on each end

Storage space continues in the bathroom area, with plenty of cubbies for personal items. You’ll also find a hairdryer, iron, and ironing board. We found the counter space sufficient for our needs, although it can get a little crowded once you have everyone’s toiletries out.

The water closet offers a bathtub with a shower combination and glass shower doors. This area has a pocket door that separates it from the vanity area. This layout allows one person to use the vanity while another is using the bathroom. Additionally, the vanity area has a pocket door that separates it from the rest of the room.

Theming at Pop Century

After taking photos of the room, we set out to explore the rest of Pop Century. The theming is one of the things that makes this resort so much fun. Pop Century celebrates pop culture from the 1950s through the 1990s, with each decade represented by oversized icons, bright colors, and nostalgic details.

The larger-than-life elements are impossible to miss. For instance, you’ll see anything from giant Rubik’s Cubes wrapped around staircases to enormous toys and familiar characters making appearances throughout the resort. You never have to look far to find something that brings back a memory (if you’re old enough), or at least gives you something fun to stop and look at.

For me, that’s part of the appeal of staying at Pop Century. The theming isn’t something you simply pass on your way to the room. It’s woven throughout the resort and gives you plenty to explore, especially if you enjoy the nostalgia of these decades. Every which way you turn, you’ll find conversational pieces that bring back fond memories (and a few sad ones) for the young and young at heart.

  • Rubik's Cube stair wrap at Pop Century
  • outside the front entrance of Pop Century each sign represents one of the decades at the resort

50s Section

We’ll start in the 1950s section. This area is toward one end of the resort and is filled with fun references to the decade, including records, bowling pins, and other larger-than-life details.

Behind the pool, a giant jukebox stands with song selections from the era. Do you remember the miniature jukeboxes like these that sat on the tables at Pizza Hut when you were a kid? If so, seeing this one might take you right back. That’s the feeling you get while exploring Pop Century. One memory after another surfaces as familiar throwbacks appear throughout the resort.

Lady from Lady and the Tramp watches over the 1950s section, with Tramp positioned across the courtyard. The animated classic was originally released in theaters in 1955, making the characters a fitting addition to this area.

The bowling pins are another fun feature, wrapping around the staircases of the buildings. Each building also has two elevators in the center, so you don’t have to rely on the stairs when coming and going from your room. But I always notice the staircases because they have these cool wraps that double as a safety feature.

  • giant numbers that say 50 and 60
  • wrappings on the balcony that say Classic Fifties at Pop Century
  • a giant Jukebox at the back of the fifties section of Pop Century
  • Lady from Lady and the Tramp at Pop Century
  • Tramp from Lady and the Tramp at Pop Century
  • bowling pin staircase wrap in the fifties of Pop Century

60s Section

For this stay, we were in the 60s section, which is the heart of the resort. This area is closest to Classic Hall and extends to the bridge where guests can access the Skyliner. All of the rooms in this area are preferred, and some are the resort’s most expensive category: a preferred pool view.

In the 60s, you’ll find a giant cup of faux Play-Doh sits in one courtyard overlooking the pool area. Mowgli and Baloo from The Jungle Book cheerfully represent the 60s on the opposite side. This animated film originally debuted in 1967.

Goofy sits on the outskirts of the 60s with a surfboard and a Corvette. Fun fact: this area used to have a water feature years ago, if that jogs a memory for anyone.

70s Section

The ’70s section is our next stop. Who hasn’t wanted to come home to a larger-than-life foosball court at the end of a busy Disney day? Then there’s Mickey Mouse, telephone in hand, waiting to greet you after a long day in the theme parks.

The front half of the ’70s section includes preferred rooms, putting them within a short walk of Classic Hall. The buildings are decorated with oversized 8-track tapes at the ends of the staircases. Look closely, and you might even see the magnetic tape sticking out from the top!

  • a giant sign that says 70 at Pop Century
  • the 70s section has balcony signage that says What's Your Handle?
  • a giant statue of Mickey Mouse as a rotary dial phone in the 70s section of Pop Century
  • a larger than life foosball court with a Big Wheel in the background.
  • A giant 8-track that says Bubble Gum Greats Seventies Pop

80s and 90s Section

The ’80s and ’90s are combined in the section farthest from Classic Hall. The colors here are vibrant…okay, maybe even a little loud. But that seems fitting when you’re surrounded by Pac-Man, Pop, and some of the biggest icons of the decades.

Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head greet you at the entrance, while a larger-than-life Sony Sports Walkman sits on one side of the courtyard. Seeing the Walkman brought back memories of learning to breakdance to Michael Jackson. Those are the kinds of unexpected memories that make walking around Pop Century so much fun. You’ll probably find a few of your own as you explore.

Across the way, Roger Rabbit looks thrilled to welcome guests to the area. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? debuted in 1988, making him a fitting addition to this section.

  • Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head welcome guests to the 90s
  • A giant Sony Sports Walkman next to computer keys printed on the concrete at Pop Century.
  • Roger Rabbit towers over the 80s section of Pop Century.
  • Pac Man staircase and balcony wraps

The ’90s bring back plenty of familiar references, from “Whatever” and “Surf the Net” to CDs and weekends at the roller-skating rink. By then, records and cassettes were already giving way to CDs, and computers were becoming a much bigger part of everyday life.

At the back of the section, you’ll find a giant laptop. It’s one of my favorite ’90s references at Pop Century because it captures how different technology feels today. Many of us remember when computers were becoming a new source of entertainment and information, never imagining that we’d eventually carry something far more powerful in our pockets.

Look closely at the windows on the computer screen. One announces the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Earth Day in 1998, along with other ’90s references. Details like these are easy to miss, so it’s worth taking some time to explore the resort rather than simply walking through it on your way to the room.

  • a giant sign that says 90
  • shows roller skates and cds in the 90s section of Pop Century
  • a giant laptop in the 90s section of Pop Century
  • The laptop screen reflects the day Disney's Animal Kingdom opened and other fun Disney references.

Classic Hall

After exploring the resort grounds, we headed to Classic Hall, the central hub of Pop Century. This is where you’ll find the lobby, gift shop, food court, arcade, and bus transportation. Since our last stay, the entirety of Classic Hall has been completely refurbished.

The changes are significant enough that much of what I photographed during previous stays is no longer representative of the resort today. I’ve included photos from our most recent stay so you can see what the area looks like now.

The updated lobby has a much different feel than it did during our earlier stays. This is still where you’ll find the front desk if you need assistance, although many guests can bypass traditional check-in when their room information is sent through the My Disney Experience app. You can also complete checkout through the app.

If you have some downtime, you might also enjoy browsing the resort’s gift shop. Or you might even find that you need something during your stay. The gift shop carries the usual assortment of Disney souvenirs, clothing, snacks, and vacation necessities. We have a separate guide with photos and details on what you’ll find at Pop Century’s gift shop.

  • the entrance to Classic Hall at Pop Century

The Food Court

Pop Century’s food court is large, with multiple stations offering everything from burgers and chicken nuggets to pizza and pasta. Mickey waffles are also available at breakfast. Rather than list everything here, we have a separate overview of the food court at Pop Century with photos and details from our stays.

During this stay, I had the sesame chicken with stir-fry vegetables for lunch and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It’s something I would order again on a future visit. We also had a few other standard food court meals, and overall, I thought the food was pretty decent.

One of the things I enjoy most about staying at Pop Century is having the option to take the Skyliner to nearby Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort or Disney’s Riviera Resort for a change of scenery and another meal. When we stay on this side of Disney World, we almost always find our way to Primo Piatto at Riviera for breakfast or lunch.

Last but not least, the Fast Forward Arcade is located across from Everything Pop. Here are a few photos of what you can expect.

the entrance to the Fast Forward arcade
the arcade at Pop Century

Pools

When you exit Classic Hall, you’ll run directly into the Hippy Dippy Pool, the resort’s feature pool in the 60s section. It’s shaped like a flower petal. Behind the feature pool, you’ll find a separately fenced splash pad for the little ones. This is as close as it gets to a kiddie pool at Pop Century. Here are a few photos of the feature pool area.

  • the outside area between the lobby and feature pool at Pop Century
  • the feature resort pool at Pop Century
  • the splash pad at Pop Century

Petals Pool Bar sits toward the front of the main pool area. A beverage refill station is on the side of the pool bar. If you decide to purchase a Rapid Fill mug during your stay, see our overview of Rapid Fill Mugs at Pop Century. It shares prices, beverage locations, and drink options.

A few tabletop games surround the pool. Movies Under the Stars are held each night at the Hippy Dippy Pool. A recreation schedule is posted in the lobby and near the pool. Laundromats are available at each of the three pools at Pop Century. We have a separate article that discusses the details of doing laundry at Pop Century.

  • Petals pool bar sits behind the resort's lobby
  • a beverage refill machine near the pool
  • pool games and recreation area
  • one of the three laundry facilities at Pop Century

The 50s section of the resort is home to the Bowling Pool. It’s shaped like a bowling pin. A laundry room with the same theming is available.

Bowling Pin shaped pool
changing area and restrooms near a pool at Pop Century

Lastly, the Computer Pool is in the 80s and 90s section of the resort. If you want to learn more, we have a separate article discussing the pools at Disney’s Pop Century. It details complimentary towels, pool hours, and everything you need to know about taking advantage of this resort amenity.

table game at the pool
The 90s pool at Pop Century
recreation area at the pool

It’s also worth noting that showers and changing areas are available at each pool.

Pop Century does not have a gym, but they do have an excellent jogging trail. The trail goes down Memory Lane on the Pop Century side. Then, it circles Hourglass Lake and continues to the Art of Animation Resort before returning full circle. This is one of my favorite places to walk at Disney World.

A playground is available between the 70s and 80s/90s section of the resort. If you’re looking for a resort with a playground, see our list of playgrounds at Disney World’s Resorts.

lockers and changing area at the Pop Century pool
running trail map at Pop Century
playground near the pool
a sign that reads the playground at Pop Century is for the enjoyment of children ages 5-12 years old.
playground equipment at Pop Century

Transportation

Pop Century offers two forms of complimentary transportation. The first form is the Disney bus system. Pop has one bus stop that takes guests to and from the following locations:

  • Magic Kingdom
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom
  • Epcot and Hollywood Studios (only when the Skyliner is not running)
  • Disney Springs
  • Disney’s Blizzard Beach
  • Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

Pop Century only has one bus stop in front of Classic Hall. Each destination has its own queue. There is signage that projects the wait times, but you can also use the My Disney Experience app to find the wait times for the next bus.

During our stay, we missed a bus pulling away to the Magic Kingdom one evening. It took approximately 20 minutes for the next bus to arrive, probably the longest I’ve ever waited for a bus at this resort. (That said, it was raining pretty heavily at the time.)

  • a map of the layout of Pop Century
  • walkway to the bus transportation area at Pop Century
  • loading area for the bus at Pop Century
  • a wait times signs for Pop Century

Additionally, Pop Century is home to a Disney Skyliner station that travels to Caribbean Beach. At Caribbean Beach, you will disembark and get in line to board a new gondola to one of the following locations:

  • Epcot
  • Hollywood Studios
  • Disney’s Riviera Resort

Pop Century shares the Skyliner station with Art of Animation. It is located on the bridge over Hourglass Lake. You can expect long lines for the Skyliner first thing in the morning. How long? Make sure to see our guide that discusses how early you need to get in line for the Skyliner at Pop Century at rope drop. (You might be surprised at just how long it takes.)

We also have a separate transportation guide for Disney’s Pop Century. It details how to get from the resort to the main destinations and popular locations like other resorts. If you have dining reservations or want to resort-hop, it will teach you the best ways to get around the property.

the Skyliner from the walkway around Hourglass Lake
a sign for the Disney Skyliner that tells it's going to Caribbean Beach with transfers
The Skyliner over the water at Pop Century

Pros and Cons of Pop Century

We keep coming back to Disney’s Pop Century because it offers a combination that is hard to beat. The rooms are thoughtfully designed, the resort is packed with nostalgic details, the Skyliner makes getting to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios convenient, and the price is generally reasonable for a Disney Resort with these perks.

Of course, Pop Century isn’t for everyone. The resort is bright, colorful, and unapologetically themed, which is part of its charm. That said, it may feel like a little much if you prefer a quieter or more understated resort. The food court can also get repetitive during a longer stay, although having the Skyliner nearby makes it easy to change things up.

For us, the biggest advantages of Pop Century are the rooms and the price. After staying here so many times, it continues to be a resort we’re happy to frequent.

If you’re considering another Value Resort, our comparisons of Disney’s Art of Animation vs. Pop Century and Disney’s All-Star Movies vs. Pop Century take a closer look at the differences between these resorts and may help you decide which one is the better fit for your trip.

Final Thoughts

After staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort more times than I can count, it remains a resort we love. The combination of fun theming, well-designed rooms, Skyliner access, and a reasonable price makes it an easy resort to recommend, especially if you plan to spend most of your time in the parks.

Of course, Pop Century won’t be the perfect fit for everyone. Hopefully, this review of Disney’s Pop Century Resort helped plan your upcoming stay. It’s a fun resort, and we’re always happy to stay here. This review is one of our many Disney World Hotel Reviews. Check back with Resorts Gal soon for more reviews and updates!

In the Comments

What do you think of Pop Century? Have you stayed here? Let us know your thoughts and experiences below in the comments.

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