Everything You Need to Know: Disney’s Pop Century Resort

If you’ve been reading with us for a while, you’ll know that we love Pop Century Resort at Walt Disney World! Disney has many resorts on property, so when you find one that fits both your budget and the way your family loves to travel, it’s easy to fall head over heels. 

Here’s a breakdown of all the ins and outs of Disney’s Pop Century Resort and why this value resort might be a great fit for your family as well!

Here’s an overview of all budget-friendly Value Resorts at Walt Disney World!

Before we begin, if any of this sounds overwhelming, you should know that as an authorized Disney Vacation Planner, I am happy to help you book your next trip! There’s never an added cost or hidden fee to book with me- just the right amount of hand-holding and pixie dust!

I can work with ALL budgets, including payment plans! You can connect with me here, and I’ll get back with you ASAP to plan the best trip ever! Now, BACK to Pop Century!

Theming of Pop Century

Built in 2003, Disney’s Pop Century Resort is themed around decades from the twenty- and twenty-first century with larger-than-life characters, props, and overall theming across the buildings. 

We especially love the enormous characters for photo-ops on a stroll around the resort. They also make it easier to locate your building and navigate Pop Century when other resorts at Disney tend to feature nearly identical buildings.

Rooms Categories and Pricing at Pop Century

While all rooms at Pop Century are identical on the inside with lock-off doors that connect rooms side-by-side, Pop has room categories that are differentiated by their proximity to amenities like the pool or main building, where you’ll find easier access to bus transportation. Rooms have a capacity of four adults with the option of an infant to sleeping in an added crib.

Standard rooms

Standard rooms are the cheapest, with rates between $150 and $180 depending on the day and season. You’ll find these rooms at the edges of the property with views that may be of a parking lot or facing another building.

Ironically, one of our favorite rooms was booked as a standard, which was overlooking the Skyliner. While it was a bit far from the main building, we are huge Skyliner fans and enjoyed quick access to it. On the other hand, we’ve also had a standard that was a long trek from anything, which is the reason we now watch for great rates and promotions on a preferred room.

Preferred rooms

Preferred rooms generally range between $165 and $200 according to the season and day of the week. Disney’s website says that they are close to Classic Hall, dining, shopping, and transportation. They are generally located in the centrally-located 60’s and 70’s decade buildings.

Spoiler alert: Classic Hall is the main building that houses one gift shop, a quick serve cafeteria, front desk, and the bus stop on the front side of the building. I don’t think they mean to be misleading by presenting all of these places individually, but the fact that they are all in one place does make these rooms more valuable. 

Preferred pool view rooms

Preferred pool view rooms are valuable real estate at Pop Century because the main focal point of the resort is its centrally-located Hippy Dippy Pool in the 70’s decade buildings. Ranging between $180 and $220, these rooms are only a quick walk away from the main building and almost equidistant between bus or Skyliner transportation.

Our only deterrent from requesting a preferred pool view room (other than a price bump) is the noise from the pool and its subsequent foot traffic. 

Standard pool view rooms

Standard pool view rooms may be farther away from the main building like other standard rooms; however, as the resort branches out in two directions from Classic Hall, you’ll have a view of one of two, smaller swimming pools in either the 50’s or 80’s decade areas. That is to say, standard view rooms may face outward from the building and pool view rooms face inward toward the pool and courtyard areas. 

A Note on Pop Century Room Categories

We like to note that when staying on an upper floor at Pop Century both pool- and non-pool views use the same elevators or staircases, so you’re unlikely to experience much of a time advantage if a pool view is not important to you. 

Additionally, because the doors to the rooms open onto a generous walkway (wide enough to comfortably navigate with a double stroller) with dense safety railings, you’re also unlikely to see the pool area clearly from your room anyway. 

Regardless of which room category you choose, Pop Century is a great value for its amenities and transportation options if you’re looking to save money on your trip. 

Room Amenities at Pop Century Resort

As we mentioned, all Pop Century rooms are identical inside. It completed a room renovation in 2018, which brought clean lines and color blocked art to the rooms. They have vinyl plank floors, which is far preferable to carpet that we used to see across Disney resorts. Walls are a clean white with ashy brown “wood” surfaces and other hard laminate counters and doors. 

Both beds are queen sized, which you should look out for when shopping for a hotel. Several resorts, even into deluxe resorts, provide full-sized beds. One bed is mounted as a murphy bed, which folds down over a collapsible dining table. That said, both beds are a bit high off the ground, so don’t hesitate to request a bed safety rail to keep small children from taking a spill off the side during the night. 

We actually loved the mattresses and pillows so much that we ordered our own for the house. They are more of a plush mattress, but my husband swears that the murphy bed mattress is more firm and prefers to sleep there. I don’t have the heart to tell him they’re the same, but since he tends to be a blanket hog, I don’t mind the extra blanket- and extra space- by sleeping next to one of the kids.

The table seats two when not folded away at night. It helps keep crumbs at a minimum in bed and is a nice desk for anyone attempting to work during a Disney vacation.

You’ll find plenty of storage for each member of the family in both the bedroom and the bathroom vanity area. There are thoughtful details like a retractable drying line for swimsuits in the shower and an extendable arm for hanging clothes. 

Additionally, you’ll find a safe and a mini cooler in the room. We found the mini cooler to keep perishable items at safe temperatures at its lowest setting. 

If you’re curious about what we put in our mini cooler, check out our post about how we save a ton with grocery delivery!

You’ll be provided with extras like an ice bucket, iron, ironing board, hair dryer, cold- and hot-to-go cups, a small coffee maker, and accompanying coffee/tea service items. 

It’s worth noting that at the time of this article in 2021, the coffee makers still use a specially-designed coffee pod and not K-cups like some other resorts. The coffee provided is Joffrey’s brand, and extra coffee pods can be requested at no additional charge for those of us that need an extra cup most mornings. We still bring Starbucks Via packets for a quick fix.

The shower has a mounted dispenser for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash that you’ll see across most Disney resorts these days. In the vanity area, you’ll find a bar of “facial soap,” but no soap designated as “hand soap.” If you are in the “soap-is-soap” camp, you’re set. Otherwise, you may want to add a bottle of hand soap to your grocery delivery order.

Transportation: Getting to and from the Parks

Having used all types of resort transportation, I have to say that access to transportation plays a huge role in our Disney experience. Pop Century has two, free modes of transportation: the internal bus system and the Skyliner.

Disney’s internal bus system provides transportation to the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and the water parks (Blizzard Beach/Typhoon Lagoon). Unless the Skyliner is not running due to maintenance, you are unable to find a bus to either Hollywood Studios or Epcot.

Disney’s Skyliner system will take you to both Hollywood Studios and Epcot with a short stop in between at the Caribbean Beach Resort to change lines. The stopover is very quick, well-staffed, and easy to navigate across a small walkway before hopping onto your next gondola. 

We like to say that the Skyliner is one of our favorite rides. The kids insist on riding backwards, which makes my head hurt just thinking about it. We also love that the Skyliner disembarks at the International Gateway entrance of Epcot. It feels like a VIP experience. You can also walk the opposite way for access to Disney’s Boardwalk for more shopping and dining experiences!

Note: If cruising in the air is not for you, you can find a free, longer route to either Hollywood Studios or Epcot by taking a bus to the Magic Kingdom. You then walk to the Contemporary Resort and board a Hollywood/Epcot bus from there. It’s a lot of doubling back, so you may want to invest in an Uber for quicker access.

Dining

As a value resort, you are provided with what we’d consider quick service dining. Pop Century has one, large, cafeteria-type restaurant. You’ll find several stations for hot dishes like hamburgers, pizza, and pastas, as well as reach-in coolers with takeaway options like cut or whole fruit, beverages, yogurt parfait, sliced veggies, and other snacks. There is also a bakery case with items like donuts and croissants to beat off the morning hangries. Of course you’ll also have access to grab and go items like individual cups of cereal, bags of chips, or Mickey ice cream bars that you missed at the parks. 

Adults can also grab an alcoholic beverage at Petals Pool Bar, located outside the back door of the main building beside the Hippy Dippy Pool. (We recommend the Long Island Iced Tea and skip the Frose!)

If you’re up for a little more of a walk, you’ll have access to Landscape of Flavor at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, just across the footbridge of the Skyliner station in the middle of Hourglass Lake. 

By way of the Skyliner, you’ll have access to all dining options at Caribbean Beach Resort and Riviera Resort, including one of our favorites- Toppolino’s Terrace. And again, you can get access to restaurants and nightlife at Disney’s Boardwalk Villas just outside the Epcot Skyliner station. 

As we all know, Disney dining comes with a premium price tag, so you can do what we do and offset your expenses with grocery delivery! We get every ounce of use out of that mini fridge!

Other Amenities: Swimming, Laundry, Shopping, and More!

Let’s Go Swimming at Pop Century

The centrally located Hippy Dippy Pool is one of the largest on Disney property. While it can get crowded, we like that it’s large enough to not feel like another family is on top of you most of the time. There is also a very shallow kids’ pool just beyond Hippy Dippy that is around a foot deep with water features for smaller children.

The Hippy Dippy Pool typically services the 60’s and 70’s “preferred” set of buildings, but the outlying buildings of the 50’s and 80’s have their own, smaller pools, the Bowling Pin Pool and Computer Pool, respectively. 

As a family-centric destination, we love that each pool has a lifeguard on duty. Each pool also has a supply of live vests for kids and adults. While you can bring your own pool toys, we found that on crowded days, it appeared that larger pool toys seem too large to be effectively enjoyed. Additionally, you’re also expected to take it back to your room unless you “gift” it to another family or deflate and dispose of it. It seems like the smaller, outlying pools may provide a different experience as they are usually less crowded. 

Laundry

As we perfect the science of packing for Disney, we’ve started running a load of laundry during our trip to avoid checking luggage and generally travel lighter. I wheel a laundry bag in our stroller to the laundry facility, which is attached to the back of Petals Pool Bar. Bring your room key or magic band to scan at the door to enter. 

Additionally, the machines are only available using credit/debit cards (not magic band compatible). You can bring soap, although laundry detergent and dryer sheets are available from a vending machine, also using a credit/debit card.

Shopping at All Things Pop!

Pop Century has one of the best hotel gift shops, All Things Pop! with many options for different age ranges, including some items that you “forgot” to circle back to at the parks. One side seems to be devoted to clothing and toys with the other containing stationery items and homewares. They also have a small collection of liquor and wine available for purchase.

Movies Under the Stars

Most resorts, Pop included, have some iteration of “Movies Under the Stars,” where a Disney movie is projected on an outdoor screen. They also provide blankets for family to lounge on the grass. This is on my Disney bucket list, weather permitting. 

Playground

Although it sounds counterintuitive, we spend a considerable amount of time at the playground. It’s no bigger than the playground in our neighborhood, but after a day of overstimulation, we let off some extra steam by letting the kids wild in the fenced area and make some new friends with others looking to do the same. Full disclosure: if it’s after 7pm at the playground, that’s probably not coffee in my coffee cup. 

There you have it! Disney’s Pop Century is an affordable and convenient option for families on a budget! There’s so much to love about the resort, from the theming to transportation options. We’re sure it should be a strong contender when planning your next Disney vacation!

Let us know in the comments- have you stayed at Pop Century? What did you love about it?

*The WDW Lists is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with The Walt Disney Company.

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If you’ve been reading with us for a while, you’ll know that we love Pop Century Resort at Walt Disney World! Disney has many resorts on property, so when you find one that fits both your budget and the way your family loves to travel, it’s easy to fall head over heels.  Here’s a breakdown…