A Guide To Disney World’s Pop Century Resort

Choosing which Disney hotel to stay at can be a challenge there are so many fabulous options. I’m here with everything you need to know about the Pop Century resort to help with your decision. 

Theme 

One of Disney’s value category resorts Pop Century is a garden style hotel complex themed to pop culture from the decades of the 1950’s through the 1990’s.

Pop Century is located in the Wide World of Sports area of property, the closest park is Hollywood Studios. Pop Century is walking distance across hour-glass lake to the Art of Animation resort.

The resort is made up of a main building, Classic Hall, and five clusters of three story garden-style room buildings. These room clusters are each themed to a decade from the 1950’s to the 1990’s. Each area features huge pop icons from the assigned decade and decor to match, including Disney movies from those decades. The theming is great for little kids but unlike its neighbor Art of Animation or the comparable All Star Movies resort, the areas are not truly themed to a specific movie or franchise. For little ones who love one of the movies represented in those resorts I would suggest staying at those as a first choice. Pop Century’s theming can be great for teens who enjoy the colorful and bold esthetic but don’t want as much of the Disney based theming, while still staying at that value price point. This resort is also a fabulous place for social media worthy photos. For adults especially ones who grew up in some of these earlier decades this resort is a great place to travel back in time to your childhood. They will get a real kick out of the trivia on the walking paths, and the vintage memorabilia lining the walls of the main building. 

Transportation

If you are driving yourself you can park in the main buildings check-in lot, you can later move your car to the lot closer to your room building. There is a nightly charge to park at the resort of $15.

Once you have arrived you can go to the front desk in Classic Hall and get checked in and receive your room assignment. If your room is not yet ready you can leave your bags with bell services who have a service window on the outside the building by the main entrance. If you wish to skip check-in all together you can utilize online check-in prior to you trip. You will get a text message with your room number as soon as it is ready. If you arrive before your room is ready you can drop your bags at bell services and head right to the parks. 

Park transportation options from Pop Century includes both buses and the Skyliner.

Buses pick up from in front of Classic Hall. The buses will take you to all 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, and Disney Springs. They run frequently and their upcoming schedule is posted on screens at the bus stop. You can also use the My Disney Experience App to check their times. In the morning the buses start to run from the hotel about 45 minutes prior to park opening and will run until 1 hour prior to park closing. In the evening return service ends 2 hours after park closing. A perk of Pop Century is that the buses typically are not shared with another resort meaning only one stop and less demand for busses at busy times. Rides typically take about 15 – 20 minutes to get anywhere on property with a trip to Magic Kingdom taking closer to 25 – 30 minutes. 

The Skyliner is an airborne gondola system that connects Pop Century to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. Pop Century and Art of Animation share a Skyliner stop located on the lake between the two resorts. The Skyliner runs continuously and is open shortly before park opening and runs until after park closing. If you are planning to arrive at or before opening the Skyliner is not your best option to get to the park in the morning. You can also get to the Caribbean Beach Resort and Riviera Resort on the Skyliner. 

The availability of both buses and Skyliner is a selling point for me, but that convince is ones reason Pop Century is priced above the All Star Resorts.

Rooms

The interior decor of all of the rooms at Pop Century is the same, modern clean lines with lots of white and pop art style with Disney accents.

There are two layouts available at Pop Century. A room with 1 king bed or a room with 1 queen and 1 queen Murphy bed. Room views available are pool view and standard view. Standard view being anything but the pool so you may see the parking lot, resort grounds or hour-glass lake. You can also choose to book a preferred room which is located in the buildings closest to the main Classic Hall. 

The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and your in room TV not only has all your normal channels but lots of extra Disney content channels as well. Your TV will also provide you with park hours for the day and a channel with a guide to Disney World. 

I love the set-up of the rooms at Pop Century. You will find the same layout at the All Star Resorts as well. All of the storage areas are so helpful when unpacking. The beds are raised so you can slide your luggage underneath as well. The laminate floors feel much cleaner than a carpeted alternative. The Murphy bed allows you to have a lot move living space and table space during the day. The coffee and mini fridge station allows a great staging area for snacks or in-room breakfast. There are also lots of plugs including USB plugs. 

The rooms all include a hairdryer, coffee maker, mini-refrigerator, telephone (where you can request a wake up call from Mickey and friends), an iron & ironing board, and a safe. For the youngest guests Pack ’n Play cribs are available upon request. I suggest making this request before you arrive to get the best availability. All rooms are smoke-free and there are designated smoking areas at the hotel. Laundry facilities are available 24/7 and located near each of the pools at the resort. There is also an ATM and currency exchange services on site. 

Pools

There are three pools at Pop Century. Each have complementary towels pool side. Hours and lifeguard service vary by pool daily but are posted at the resort. 

• Hippy Dippy Pool 
  • This is the largest and the main pool located in the 60’s area.
  • The pool features flower shaped water jets
  • Right behind the pool is a kiddie pool for the little ones. 
• The Bowling Pool
  • Located in the 50’s section. 
  • The pool is shaped like a bowling pin, a really fun view from the rooms surrounding it. 
• The Computer Pool 
  • Located in the 90’s section 
  • A computer-shaped pool that includes a giant floppy disc and keypad

Fun! 

Pop Century offers several activities to keep you busy during your stay. 

• Arcade – Located in Classic Hall
• Movies Under The Stars – Watch complementary screenings of Disney films under the stars near the Hippy-Dippy Pool. Available on select nights.
• Jogging Trails  – There is one mile worth of trails around the resort, you can even hop the bridge over to Art of Animation to extend your distance. 
• Playground – Enjoy a traditional playground located in the 70’s section. 
• Tie Dye Shirts – Available on select days you can participate in a making a Mickey tie dye shirt. There is an extra cost for the activity. 

** Be sure to check your resort’s activity calendar when you arrive for additional events that may be going on. ** 

If you are celebrating a special occasion you can even have your room decorated or a special gift sent through Disney Floral and Gifts in-room celebrations.

Shopping

In Classic Hall you will find the gift shop, Everything POP. Here you will find lots of Disney merchandise, including Pop Century themed resort exclusive items. You will also find some last minute toiletry needs, and some pre-packaged snacks. 

I enjoy exploring the gift shop if I have a long wait for a park bus ahead of me. I always pick up a resort specific pin when I stay at a new one. 

Guests at all Disney Resorts have the option of merchandise delivery when shopping in the parks. That stuffed Mickey you bought at Animal Kingdom that you had delivered to your resort will be waiting for you here. 

They can also assist you with mailing home purchases. 

Food

The Everything Pop Food Court is the main location at Pop Century for dining. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner and open long hours that vary the food court has tons of options. The food court holds serval counters each serving a different selection. There is also a grab and go area. You pick up all your food and then pay at one counter. 

Check out the menu:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/pop-century-resort/everything-pop-dining/menus/

*** Read my dining at Disney World posts to learn all about the dining plan and eating at Disney with allergies. ***

https://4ears4eyesforthemagic.travel.blog/2020/02/17/the-basics-of-dinning-at-disney-world/

https://4ears4eyesforthemagic.travel.blog/2020/05/05/allergies-and-special-dietary-needs-at-disney-parks/

The food court also offers a re-usable plastic mug. You purchase the mug for one set price and then can use it for unlimited coffee and soda at your hotel throughout your stay. This is included in the dining plan. 

Petals Pool Bar located by the Hippy Dippy Pool offers a menu of various alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. 

From 5:00pm to Midnight you can also order Disney Pizza Delivery to your room. The menu includes not only pizza but salad, chicken strips and beer and wine. Use your in-room phone to place the order. 

Pop Century has a lot to offer for a value resort. The access to the Skyliner can be game changing depending on your park plans and not sharing a bus route with another resort is a big plus. While the theming is not a heavily Disney based as All Star Movies or Art of Animation it is still the vibrant larger than life style with Disney included. Which can be great for adults and teens. For those who fully unpack when they travel, or plan to have 4 adults in the room, the amount of storage in the rooms is perfect. I throughly enjoyed my stay at this hotel and recommend it as a great option for my clients. 

If you are interested in staying at Pop Century or any other Disney resort contact me today for a free quote at katiev@themagicsyours.com.

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