Photo by Mike Parry
As a child, I visited Walt Disney World several times and I always imagined staying at one of the “Monorail Resorts.” My family usually stayed at hotels in the Orlando area, but never at a Walt Disney World Resort. In fact, it wasn’t until I was an adult that I learned that Walt Disney World offered different categories of Resorts for Guests. Some friends and I decided we wanted to take a trip to Walt Disney World, so we booked a short trip to Disney’s Pop Century Resort in 2005 and had a great time!
Fast forward to 2010 for my family’s first trip. Through my research I found that Walt Disney World really packs a lot into the Value Resorts to make them a good value – but you already know how I feel about that (“Finding the Value in Disney Resorts“). So, looking over all my Value Resort options, Pop Century Resort came out on top!
Our first family stay at Disney’s Pop Century Resort!
One thing I LOVE about this resort is all the oversized toys and games that are EVERYWHERE. I just knew my 3 year old daughter would enjoy seeing some of her favorite characters and toys bigger than life! Pop Century Resort is a celebration of Pop Culture from the 50s to the 90s! It is like an oversized scrapbook of the best those decades have to offer! Each section of rooms is dedicated to a different decade.
- 1950s – Rock-and-roll was king and everyone loved a good tune from a jukebox! “Lady and the Tramp” is a Disney Classic from 1955 and the main characters overlook the courtyard.
- 1960s – Everything is GROOVY MAN, with tie-dye and psychedelic colors taking people back in time. The characters Mowgli and Baloo, from Disney’s “The Jungle Book,” appear to be dancing through the courtyard.
- 1970s – Mickey himself takes centerstage in this section while a larger-than-life Foosball game stands in the courtyard. The 8-track tapes are a gentle reminder of how far technology has come!
- 1980s – A towering Rubik’s Cube reminds us how we used to spend our downtime along with a replica of the Sony Walkman.
- 1990s – Technology boomed in the 90s and is celebrated with laptops and cell phones in this section celebrating the end of the century.
When it comes to picking a section to request – my family is a little different. We actually do not like being close to the pools when we are at a resort. Why? Because if my kids SEE a pool, they won’t want to do anything else but swim! There are 3 pools at Pop Century Resort and they are all great. But, whenever I book my room I always request the 70s section! I personally feel that the 70s section is much quieter (thanks to NO pool in the area), there are lots of trees close to the buildings and I like being close to the playground.
Playground
We also enjoy the Everything Pop food court area. We often split a breakfast platter from Everything Pop in the morning before we head to the parks. And in the afternoon or evening, you can’t skip the Tie-Dye Cheesecake. It’s delicious!
Tie-dyed cheesecake at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Photo Courtesy of Disney
My girls LOVE staying at Pop Century Resort and I know we will return to this resort many times in the future. While I love the occasional stay at a Deluxe Resort, I think the Value Resorts still have so much to offer and are a great way for families to experience staying on property. Have you stayed at Disney’s Pop Century Resort? Share your experiences here and your pictures on our Facebook page!
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