We just came home from a whirlwind winter adventure that included five nights at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. It was our first time staying at Pop Century and my 11-year-old has declared that it’s her favorite place we have ever stayed!
The resort celebrates pop culture in all its forms. It is divided into five distinctly themed areas, each featuring a decade from the 1950s to the 1990s.
- Choosing the Resort
- Check-In
- Our Room
- Theming
- Everything Pop: Restaurant & Gift Shop
- Pools
- Other Amenities
- Disney Skyliner
- Art of Animation
Choosing Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Most rooms at Walt Disney World can accommodate families of four. Families of five can also stay if one is under 3 years of age and sleeps in a crib. Our family doesn’t typically fit this profile because our kids are too old. On this particular trip, though, it was just me and the kids, so for the first time in forever we could all fit in one standard room!
With this in mind, we started our search.
Only a few resorts were open because of COVID-19, but of those that were open, we quickly determined Pop would be the best fit. It was a new resort for us, it was close to the parks, the price was right, and, most importantly, it had Skyliner access.
The Skyliner was so important to us because we saw it being built when we stayed at Art of Animation a couple years ago. Pylons were in place across Hourglass Lake and construction was underway on the Skyliner station. We were all disappointed we wouldn’t get to see the finished product, let alone ride it. I knew that access to the finished Skyliner would be a highlight of this trip!
Check-In
The check-in process was completely contactless. I was able to check in on my phone using the My Disney Experience app. In the app, I indicated my estimated time of arrival, which was a few hours before the stated check-in time of 3:00PM. I was also able to make a few choices, like our housekeeping preferences. Almost immediately, I received a text message indicating that my room was not ready and to expect a push notification from the app when it was.
We didn’t really know how we were going to fill those hours, so we stopped to get drinks and snacks for our room while we planned our next steps. Within an hour and a half, the app notified me that our room was ready! A text also arrived, detailing the check-in process and our room details.
The text included our theme, building number, room number, and floor. There was also a link to a map of the resort in the text, which was easy to read and follow. We checked in at the main gate and made our way directly to our building. The building and room numbers were clearly marked; we had not trouble finding our room. Once we made it to the room, we were able to unlock it with our MagicBands. (You can also unlock it using the app on your phone if you do not have a MagicBand.)
The whole process was a smooth one and we were grateful for early room access after a day of traveling.
The Room
The first thing we noticed when we entered the room was how cool it was and how clean it smelled! The thermostat had been turned way down. We really appreciated that touch as we lugged in our suitcases.
The room had two beds, both queen-sized.
One was a murphy bed that converts from the table. We found the murphy bed very easy to use; it did not require much strength to pull it down or push it back up.
The kids all wanted to sleep in it, too! We ended up taking turns each night to ensure that everyone thought it was fair.
The other bed is a traditional bed, though its legs are high enough to allow you to store a suitcase underneath. We stashed ours there. It gave us a lot more room and kept the room tidy.
There are also three cubbies — one on the far side of each bed and one between them — that serve as bedside tables. Each had enough space for two standard items to be plugged in plus two USB connections.
A large TV was mounted centrally on the opposite wall. Beneath it was a large dresser with four outlets and four more USB connections. Inside the dresser, we found a safe and additional pillows and linens.
The room also has a small beverage area that includes a two-cup coffee maker, coffee, tea, creamers, sweeteners, and cups. We found it also had an insulated ice bucket and ample shelving for drinks or snacks.
A small refrigerator rounded out the beverage area. While it didn’t have freezing capabilities, it was large enough for our sodas, iced coffee, iced tea, and some grocery store sushi (don’t judge).
The bathroom area was separated into two spaces. One featured an open closet, several shelves and cabinets, and a large sink. It could be closed off from the rest of the room with a sliding door.
Here we also found an ironing board and iron, backup linens, and backup paper products.
The other area featured the toilet and shower. It could be closed off with a locking sliding door.
The room had limited space, but used it incredibly well. Every space had a purpose. That, plus the clean lines, bright colors, and updated designs, gave it a very modern feel. Even with the contents of our four suitcases, a cooler, and a beach bag spread across the room, we were able to keep the space neat by using the storage spaces.
The Theming
After checking out our room, we explored the rest of the resort. We were eager to see how the other areas stacked up!
Pop Century Resort has five distinct sections themed after different decades. Each section has one, two, or three T-shaped buildings. The buildings have a central elevator and four stairwells, one central and one on each T tip.
The 1950s
We stayed in the 1950s section, which is comprised of three buildings that surrounded one of the three pools at the resort. Transistor radios and records decorated the buildings. Our building also featured a large jukebox at the center!
Giant bowling pins surrounded the stairwells of all of the 1950s-themed buildings. At night they were lit up and we could see them from the Skyliner long before we could tell what they were. They almost looked like Christmas lights!
The pool on this side of the resort, the laundry, and the surrounding recreational areas are also bowling themed.
Larger-than-life statues of Lady and Tramp flanked the other two buildings. I didn’t expect any nostalgia for a decade I didn’t live in, but the statues made me vividly remember watching this film over and over at my aunt’s house. She was the first person I knew with a VCR!
The 1960s
The 1960s section of Pop Century Resort is located just behind the main building of the resort, Classic Hall. Its two buildings flank the largest pool. Petals, the only pool bar, can also be found here.
Giant yoyos adorn the stairwells. It took my kids a minute to figure out what they were because they were so large! The string on top gave it away.
A huge, smiling Mowgli and his bud, Baloo, round out the theming with a a canister of Play-Doh. The classic modeling compound is still a favorite in our house, as is The Jungle Book.
The 1970s
The 1970s section of Pop Century Resort features the man himself, Mickey Mouse!
Classic play is also celebrated here. A Big Wheel and a foosball table fit for a giant are in the recreation area between the buildings!
The 1970s must have been a lot of fun because we also found two built-in Twister boards!
These two buildings have stairwells framed by 8-track tapes. They’re a touch before my time, but I remember finding old ones in our cabinet at home and we still had an old player. My kids had no idea what they were, though, and when I tried to explain that they pre-dated cassette tapes, they didn’t know what those were, either!
The 1980s
I started really feeling the nostalgia when we hit the 1980s section of Pop Century Resort.
Roger Rabbit and Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head welcomed us. The kids were thrilled to see them! I’m glad that Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head have withstood the test of time.
Rubik’s Cubes in various levels of completion surround the stairwells of the two 1980s buildings. My 11-year-old was particularly excited about this. A couple years ago she had a teacher who could solve Rubik’s cubes and was obsessed with them for a bit as a result.
The 1990s
The 1990s section is the smallest one at Pop Century Resort. It only has one building and it shares much of its space with the 1980s section. The two buildings from the 1980s and the one building in the 1990s frame a shared pool.
The stairwells of the 1990s are old school mobile phones. Remember when phones weren’t smart? In addition to the keypad, there are three buttons and an extendable antenna. This one is primed to call Walt Disney World!
My kids thought they were walkie-talkies. Sheesh.
Huge CDs, computers, floppy discs, and a Walkman surround the 1990s Computer Pool, showing us just how far technology has come.
Everything Pop: Restaurant & Gift Shop
Classic Hall is the main building of Pop Century Resort. Pre-COVID, it welcomed visitors to the resort. It is home to the check-in desk (when in use), Everything Pop Shopping & Dining, and The Fast Forward Arcade. (During our trip, the Fast Forward Arcade was closed.)
Everything Pop Shopping & Dining is Pop Century’s food court-gift shop combo. Pre-COVID, I would probably be much less critical of any potential spots of congestion in the flow of human traffic. They managed it well with cast members who directed shoppers and diners at potential chokepoints.
The shop had lots of traditional Disney gift shop staples, but they were in decades-specific areas.
For dining, we were able (and strongly encouraged) to order our meals ahead for grab-and-go service. We often ordered from our room and arrived just in time to pick up our freshly-prepared food. The process was a bit tricky the first time around because we didn’t know what to expect. It was harder to tell what we’d like without seeing (and smelling) the food!
The app alerted us when our food was ready and we entered to pick it up. This helped prevent any congestion. There was still a line at the beverage station because it is no longer self-serve. The line moved very quickly and during peak times, popular beverages like coffee were pre-poured for us to grab before moving outside to our table.
I took advantage of the refillable mug option, purchasing one for $20.00 on the first day of our stay. I added it to our first mobile food order and was even able to select the color! Beverages like soda and tea are over $4.00 at Pop Century Resort (and all other resorts), so this was a practical souvenir. Due to COVID, the refills were provided in disposable cups, making the “refill” process even faster.
We often ate at Pop for the convenience, but I was also pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and the value. I expected higher prices or smaller portions… or both! The prices were competitive and the portions were generous. My kids often couldn’t finish their meals, even after a day of parks or swimming. Occasionally they split an adult meal, which was nearly always too much food.
We tried several of the dishes during our 5-night stay. My favorite was the pot roast. It as so good I ordered it more than once! It was served with garlic green beans and mashed potatoes topped with brown gravy.
My kids loved the pasta dishes, including the chicken and pasta with marinara.
The standout dessert was the tie-die cheesecake: bold, Instagrammable, and delicious. In case you haven’t heard, tie-dye is back in!
The bottom layer was more red velvet than traditional graham cracker. I dig it!
The Pools
Pop Century Resort has three pools and we swam in all of them! During our stay, pools were open from 10:00AM to 10:00PM. All pools are staffed by lifeguards. Towels and life vests are also provided.
The Hippy Dippy Pool is the central pool, located just behind Classic Hall. It’s also the largest. It is flanked by 1960s-themed buildings and matches their decor as it is shaped like a flower with 6 petals. There are flowers that spray water into the pool spread evenly around the edge. Nearby there is a small zero-entry water play area, perfect for babies and toddlers.
The aforementioned pool bar, Petals, is located by the Hippy Dippy Pool.
The Bowling Pool was closest to our building in the 1950s area. It was the first one we explored. The pool is shaped like a bowling pin and the pool area features other bowling-themed items, like a bowling shoe rack restroom building.
The Computer Pool is located in the 1990s section of Pop Century and is shaped like a computer screen. Up close it looks like a rectangle with rounded corners, but if you take a few steps back (or up), you’ll notice the edge of the “monitor,” the keyboard, and the floppy disc, all of which make the design obvious.
Just outside the 1960s area, a Surfer Goofy welcomes children to a spongy rubber splash pad. In non-COVID times, there are also short bubbling fountains of water for toddlers and babies to enjoy, but when we visited, it was dry.
Other Amenities
We found a small playground by the 1970s section of the resort.
We also took advantage of the jogging trail around the perimeter of Hourglass Lake when we visited Art of Animation resort. This path gave us a look at most of the decades at Pop Century Resort and all four character-themed sections of Art of Animation Resort! This loop is just over 1 1/4 miles, but we cut it short by using the path across the center of the lake.
The Skyliner
The Skyliner uses a central station on Hourglass Lake to connect Pop Century Resort and Art of Animation Resort to Hollywood Studios and Epcot, plus two other resorts along the way.
We had a great view of the Skyliner from our room!
We ended up spending an entire day exploring the resorts along the Skyliner’s route, sampling their food and soaking in the theming.
Art of Animation
Being able to visit Art of Animation again was a plus, too. If you have a free afternoon, walk over and explore the theming! You’ll find characters from Cars, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Finding Nemo.
While you’re there, grab a cupcake at Landscape of Flavors. You won’t be disappointed!
Be sure to check out our visits to these other Disney resorts:
Art of Animation | Coronado Springs | Yacht Club
Plan Your Visit
Pop Century Resort
1050 Century Drive
Orlando, Florida 32830
407-938-4000
