I am often asked about the value resorts at Walt Disney World. They can be a great deal for families, because they offer the same on-property benefits as other Walt Disney World resorts, but are less expensive.
One of my favorite value resorts is Pop Century – I’ve stayed there three times now and have always enjoyed my stay. If you are considering a stay, read our Pop Century resort review.
This resort celebrating pop culture is fun and offers lots of great family amenities, so it’s a great option if you are visiting Walt Disney World on a budget. While it is less money than the moderate or deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World, you won’t sacrifice the fun.
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All opinions are my own. Although I’ve visited Walt Disney World in the past as part of the Moms Panel and for press trips, I’ve paid for my own stay at Pop Century Resort each visit.
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Disney’s Pop Century Resort Review
The Location of Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Pop Century is located across a small bridge from Disney’s Art of Animation, right on Walt Disney World property. Because the Art of Animation was originally supposed to be the Legendary Years section of Pop Century, the bridge connecting them is called the Generation Gap Bridge. The Legendary Years project was scrapped and that area eventually became the Art of Animation (an upgrade, in my opinion).
Like the other Disney value resort hotels, bus transportation is offered to the four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom), the two water parks, and Disney Springs.
There is one bus stop for the whole resort, and the buses typically only stop at Pop Century, making it a fairly easy bus ride to your destination. There’s also a monitor over by the bus stop so you can see when the next bus will be arriving. All of the different decade areas are just a short walk to the bus stop and the main building.
Disney’s Pop Century Resort also shares a Disney Skyliner Station with Disney’s Art of Animation. Guests can take the Skyliner to Caribbean Beach Resort, and then transfer to a line going to either Epcot’s International Gateway entrance or to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Access to the Skyliner makes a stay at Pop Century even more convenient than it was before.
It’s such a fun, lively resort, and one that kids will love. Pop Century is my favorite of the standard value resorts.
The Rooms at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
The rooms at Disney’s Pop Century Resort are located in buildings themed after specific decades. So for instance, you’ll find gigantic yo-yos at the edges of one of the 60s buildings.
There are also giant Play-Doh, Rubik Cube, and other sculptures reminiscent of the decades. Kids will love walking around the resort, just checking out the various designs.
The resort rooms at Disney’s Pop Century Resort have exterior entry doors, with walkways on the upper floors. These rooms don’t include balconies or patios. Elevators are available so you won’t have to walk up the stairs if you are on the upper floors although you can take the stairs if you want.
Rooms at Disney’s Pop Century have been recently renovated. They now offer either one king bed or one queen bed and a queen-size table bed. The table bed is a Murphy bed that can either be positioned up, as a table with two chairs or down, as a bed. Switching is very easy, so you can do it each day.
With the bed up, there’s so much more space in the rooms. The carpets have also been removed, so now there is flooring, which seems much easier to keep clean.
These Pop Century rooms also include flat-screen TVs, mini-refrigerators, irons/ironing boards, and a hairdryer. Unlike in the past, they now have a coffee maker so you won’t have to walk to the food court near the main lobby to get your coffee in the morning.
Refillable, large-sized H20+ toiletries are attached to the wall of the shower. The bathroom has a toilet and a shower, while a vanity area is outside the bathroom. That makes it much easier for a family to get ready in the morning. With the renovation, the showers now have a rain-head which makes for a luxurious shower experience.
The guest rooms are small but comfortable, and most families don’t spend too much time in the room. Although there are no balconies, there are plenty of places outside the resort to sit if you want to enjoy the sunshine.
When you book your room at Disney’s Pop Century, you’ll have several different options. There are standard rooms, standard pool view rooms, preferred rooms, and preferred pool view rooms.
The preferred rooms are generally in more central locations including Classic Hall. Rooms accommodate a maximum of 4 guests, so if you have a larger family, you’ll need more than one room. I do like the preferred rooms if room location matters, but I generally skip the pool views.
The Amenities at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Although you’ll likely spend much of your time at the parks, there are lots of things to do right at the resort. There are three pool areas on the property.
The main feature pool, the Hippy Dippy Pool, is in the center of the resort and offers a small pool bar along with numerous pool activities throughout the day (on select days – see the schedule in the resort lobby). This pool also has water jets. For younger kids, a small kiddie pool is located right behind the Hippy Dippy Pool.
There are also two smaller pools – the Bowling pool is bowling pin-shaped and is located in the 50s area. There’s also the computer pool, located in the 90s section.
If you’d like to save some money on your vacation, you may consider spending one day at the resort pools, rather than using a park ticket for that day.
In addition to the pools, Pop Century offers other amenities and activities, including a running trail, surrey bike rentals, and Movies Under the Stars (movies screened at the pool area).
Several pool activities are held throughout the day. When I was there, I saw some kids enjoying a poolside scavenger hunt.
Disney’s Pop Century Resort also hosts other activities. On select days, there’s a painting class that you can sign up for (an additional charge applies).
During our latest stay, I saw a group painting a Halloween-themed picture. There’s also the Groovy campfire that is held on the property. S’mores kits are available for purchase.
There’s one large food court in the Classic Hall offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a gift shop. All of this is right by the front desk. You’ll also find a game room off the front lobby which is open 24 hours a day. Guests also have access to free Wi-Fi.
Food Options at Disney’s Pop Century
Food options at Disney’s Pop Century include the Everything Pop food court, where you can get various foods, including burgers, chicken, and pizza. It’s a lively area, with lots of activity.
There’s also the Petals pool bar where you can get a beverage at the Hippy Dippy Pool. If you want to stay in your room, pizza delivery is available directly to your hotel room.
Disney’s Art of Animation is located right over the bridge, so if you’d like to try a different food court, you could also walk over there during your vacation. It’s an easy walk, especially when the weather is nice.
Check here for more reviews of Disney’s Pop Century.
