What’s Disney’s Pop Century Resort?

Impressed by widespread cultural references from iconic a long time, the Pop Century Resort options decade-themed buildings and decor to move company to a different time. While you stroll previous the enormous POP entrance signal and into the foyer of this resort, you will discover period-specific photographs, resembling black-and-white prints from the Fifties, in addition to trendy cultural artifacts, like a Energy Ranger figurine and a Nintendo Recreation Boy from the Nineties, in show circumstances alongside the partitions.

The Pop Century Resort isn’t meant to be a refined nod to the previous however quite leans right into a playful and caricature-esque look. Whereas strolling the property, you will see sock-hop dancers because the backdrop for the Fifties-themed buildings.

For the ’60s- and ’70s-themed buildings, you will see colourful flowers and large Duncan Imperial yo-yos. As for the ’80s and ’90s, Sony’s Walkman and the pc take heart stage as the skin decor.

With visible references to the previous at each flip — and enjoyable popular culture details adorning the walkways — the Pop Century Resort is a time capsule for households and company of any age to uncover throughout their keep.

The best way to e book Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Simple check-in and checkout course of

As with every Disney lodge, you may verify in and take a look at utilizing the My Disney Expertise app. When pulling as much as the resort, I checked in on my cell system and was informed that I might obtain a notification when my room was prepared. If you wish to head to the parks, you may drop your baggage off on the baggage desk at Basic Corridor (freed from cost).

Although my room was not alleged to be prepared till 3 p.m., I used to be notified through textual content at 1:30 p.m. that I may entry it. The app will inform you your room quantity in addition to give you a digital key. Sure, you now not have to fret about carrying round a room key. Nevertheless, when my telephone battery was virtually lifeless, I opted to go to the entrance desk to get a key. Word that you could have to face in line on the foyer counter, and it may be a protracted line. I waited in line for about 10 minutes and was requested to offer my identify and ID earlier than being given my room key.

When leaving the resort, you will mechanically be checked out at 11 a.m.; you may also check in to the app and manually verify your self out. I actually like the benefit of the check-in and checkout course of that Disney gives; nevertheless, for those who do want to speak to somebody on the entrance desk, it might take a bit if the road is lengthy.

Resort rooms emphasize performance

Although the communal areas on the Pop Century Resort characteristic a heavy dose of nostalgia, the rooms are something however dated. In 2018, Disney’s Pop Century underwent a large renovation of its rooms, including a queen-size Murphy mattress, hardwood flooring and tons of space for storing.

Throughout my keep at Pop Century, I used to be pleasantly stunned by the performance and effectivity of the room design. I booked a room that had two queen beds; I may have opted for a room with one king mattress.

While you stroll in, you will instantly discover a extra glossy and minimalist model — a departure from the flashy decor simply outdoors — with wooden flooring, a small wood desk and two chairs, and a espresso bar space, which options an in-room fridge and Cuisinart. Different notable in-room facilities embody an Amazon Echo system, a secure, an iron and ironing board, an open closet with hangers, and Disney toiletries (shampoo, conditioner and physique wash).

Whereas the rooms could also be on the smaller aspect at lower than 300 sq. ft, the addition of a Murphy mattress is a superb choice for these with a number of folks of their get together, particularly households with children. Not do company must eat breakfast or late-night snacks in mattress or fear about cleansing up unintended spills; the Murphy mattress simply collapses down right into a mattress, or you may push it as much as be a desk. It is light-weight and tremendous straightforward to make use of; due to this fact, you do not have to fret about younger children grabbing on the bars and getting damage when the mattress folds down.

Other than the 2 queen beds, the room options 16 electrical retailers and 10 USB retailers, plus two electrical plugs within the rest room, which is, once more, particularly good for these touring in teams (simply word that there’s a most of 4 folks allowed per room), as there are greater than sufficient retailers to plug in everybody’s units.

The toilet options a big self-importance shelf and quite a few storage cubbies for company to simply preserve monitor of their toiletries. I additionally appreciated that there was a door that separated the bathroom and bathe from the self-importance space. Once more, this creates a extra practical area for a number of folks occupying the small room.

Nevertheless, one area that did appear a bit of cramped was the bathe. For these on the taller aspect, it’s possible you’ll really feel just like the bathe nozzle is true at your face. For instance, I am 5-foot-3 and even I felt just like the bathe may have been a bit wider and taller to comfortably accommodate company of all sizes.

The practical design of Pop Century’s room made it straightforward to retailer my private gadgets, making the room really feel larger. I believe it is a stable choice for these eager to spend much less on a Disney lodge room and extra on their park expertise.

Take the bus or Skyliner to Disney parks

As with planning any Disney trip, probably the most necessary issues to think about is how effectively I can get to the parks. When you keep at a Disney resort, the properties supply a bus transportation system, which may take you to all 4 parks, the water parks and Disney Springs. Whereas Epcot and Hollywood Studios are lower than 5 miles from the Pop Century Resort, Magic Kingdom is the furthest park from the lodge. Fortunately, when taking the bus, every bus took lower than 10 minutes to reach on the lodge, and it solely took 17 minutes to get to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Due to this fact, for those who’re anxious about staying at a resort that is not inside strolling distance of Magic Kingdom, I would not be.

Household-friendly actions

When staying on Disney property, there isn’t any scarcity of every day actions which are nice for company of all ages. Like different Disney resorts, Pop Century options leisure actions resembling a nightly campfire to construct s’mores (kits can be found to buy at about $6) and “Films Underneath the Stars,” which reveals a basic Disney film each evening at 8:30 p.m. by the primary pool space.

And that is not all — listed below are another notable leisure highlights whereas staying on the Pop Century Resort.

Get pleasure from 3 swimming pools (plus a kiddie pool) and poolside actions

Whether or not you select to slide again into the Sixties on the groovy Hippy Dippy Pool (the primary pool on the resort), hearken to widespread songs from the ’90s on the Pc Pool or strike a pose in entrance of the ’50s-inspired Bowling Pool (formed like a bowling pin), the Pop Century has three glimmering swimming pools which are open to its company — regardless of which decade you’ve got checked in to.

Throughout my keep, my room was within the ’90s constructing, so I spent my time on the Pc Pool, which I most well-liked over the opposite two. The Pc Pool was much less crowded in comparison with the Hippy Dippy Pool, which is in entrance of Basic Corridor, the primary constructing on the Pop Century Resort that has the check-in desk, arcade and eating and procuring areas. Since Disney loves to remain on theme, the Pc Pool performed basic songs from the ’90s, which created enjoyable throwback moments to take pleasure in whereas poolside.

Nevertheless, if you wish to take part in poolside actions, you will have to go to the Hippy Dippy Pool. Beginning at 12:30 p.m., a forged member orchestrates video games, resembling a hula hoop competitors, bingo and extra. It is a notable perk as a result of for those who resolve to skip the park and spend the day on the pool, your children can nonetheless expertise a little bit of Disney magic and be entertained with poolside video games.

Throughout my keep, the swimming pools had been open from 10 a.m. till 11 p.m. every day, although needless to say pool hours can range relying on the season.

Arcade and decade-themed video games

Talking of video games, contained in the Basic Corridor, you will discover the Quick Ahead Arcade, which, after all, options video video games from totally different eras. To play the video games, you could buy an arcade card and factors; nevertheless, the price of the factors was affordable: $1 will purchase you 50 factors. This arcade is a superb choice as a post-park exercise or if there’s inclement climate stopping you from having fun with the pool.

Whereas of us can benefit from the arcade, there are additionally decade-themed video games you may play within the courtyards and by the swimming pools of every constructing. While you stroll previous the ’70s constructing, you will see Tornado, whereas the ’50s pool space has life-size checkers.

Good meals for an honest worth

Not like at Average or Deluxe Disney properties, you will not discover table-service eating places on the Pop Century. Worth motels have a meals court-style eating space that primarily seems to be and seems like a cafeteria, and tray tables are included. At Every thing Pop Eating, you will discover seven service stations with meals gadgets starting from pizza and burgers to salmon on a mattress of orzo. Plus, there’s a grab-and-go part that features gadgets like salads, sandwiches, fruit, pretzels with hummus, ice cream bars, wine and extra.

Whereas there are positively some hit-or-miss meals gadgets, for essentially the most half, the meals was fairly good, particularly for the costs and parts. My favourite menu merchandise was a candy and tangy barbecue pork sandwich with a aspect of fries ($10.79 earlier than tax). Although you’ll discover comparable menu gadgets at different Worth motels (i.e., All-Star resorts and Artwork of Animation), the Pop Century has a couple of notable desserts that may solely be discovered at this resort.

Social media appears to rave concerning the Tie-Dye Cheesecake. Sadly, for those who’re envisioning a New York Metropolis-style cheesecake, it’s possible you’ll want to regulate your expectations. This dessert was positively colourful, nevertheless it was a bit dense and lacked a creamy and flavorful consistency. At finest, it was a mean dessert; due to this fact, I would not attain for it once more. For me, the Flashback Oatmeal Creme Pie took heart stage because the must-get dessert at Pop Century.

Although I appreciated the comfort of getting a plethora of meals and snack gadgets to select from, lunch and dinner menu gadgets didn’t change day-to-day, and the specials didn’t rotate every day both. Throughout my subsequent keep on the Pop Century, I might skip breakfast and as a substitute go for a fast grab-and-go yogurt and fruit or simply eat on the parks. The hefty breakfast platters, which characteristic a restricted menu of things like Mickey-shaped waffles or pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and tater tots, had been a bit bland and expensive (round $13 earlier than tax). I might a lot quite seize a cinnamon roll at Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom.

The eating space is open from 7 a.m. till 11 p.m. every day, so even for those who return from the parks hungry, you may all the time choose to seize a late-night snack or ice cream sundae. Due to this fact, the cafeteria-style eating space is all about comfort; it isn’t an elevated eating expertise by any means, nevertheless it will get the job performed.

Accessibility

As with all Disney resorts, Pop Century has accessible rooms that company can request when reserving; make sure you click on on “Accessible Rooms” when reserving your lodge keep on Disney’s web site.

Accessible rooms characteristic seize bars at the bathroom, an open mattress body, decrease bathroom peak and an out there moveable raised bathroom seat. A wheelchair-accessible room additionally comes with seize bars within the bathe. All accessible rooms have non-compulsory communication options for company with listening to disabilities, together with a visible alarm, visible door knock/doorbell alert and phone with quantity management.

Other than the rooms, Pop Century’s strolling paths and public areas are wheelchair-accessible, and wheelchair-friendly elevators can be found across the property. There are additionally self-service lifts at every of the three swimming pools.

Why Disney’s Pop Century Resort is probably not for you

Whereas Disney’s Pop Century Resort might emphasize performance, the resort is very large, which suggests it might require you to do a little bit of strolling to get out of your room to the eating space and different services. Since I paid for the standard room, my room within the ’90s-themed constructing ignored the parking space. I used to be at one of many furthest factors from Basic Corridor; it was a couple of 10- to 12-minute stroll from my room to the eating space and Hippy Dippy Pool.

If you wish to be near Skyliner or amenity areas, as I discussed, you are going to must pay more cash for a “most well-liked” room. When reserving your lodge keep, do not forget that the prime decade — on the heart of the motion — is the ’60s-themed buildings.

The Pop Century Resort positively appears to prioritize enjoyable and kid-friendly actions; due to this fact, numerous households and children keep at this lodge. When you’re in search of a extra stress-free and quiet Disney expertise, a spot to flee the crowded parks, staying at this resort is probably not for you. Plus, this resort (in addition to the All-Star resorts) is a well-liked lodge choice for highschool area journeys and sports activities competitions (because of its proximity to ESPN’s Large World of Sports activities).

If you need extra facilities and greater rooms, in addition to table-service eating places and lounges — and do not thoughts spending about $40 additional per evening — Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is a superb Average various.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort vs. All-Star Resorts

After Pop Century underwent its 2018 renovation, this Worth resort was favored closely over the All-Star resorts (i.e., Sports activities, Music and Films). Nevertheless, the All-Star resorts went via a refurbishment previously couple of years and have the same in-room design model. When evaluating the costs of the All-Star resorts with Pop Century, the latter is about $50 costlier per evening for the standard room. If you wish to get monetary savings in your Disney lodge room, it’s possible you’ll desire the All-Star resorts.

I desire the Pop Century over the All-Star resorts due to the a number of modes of transportation (bus and Disney Skyliner) to the parks, in addition to the truth that I haven’t got to share a bus and make stops in any respect three All-Star properties. Total, I proceed to worth the effectivity of Pop Century greater than the All-Star resorts.

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