A 2021 Guide to Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Choosing a Disney Resort for your next vacation can be a fun but challenging task. There are so many to choose from and they vary in theme and price. If you are considering staying with kids at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, read this first to find out if it is the right fit for you!
What is Disney’s Pop Century Resort?
Disney’s Pop Century Resort is an official Disney on site hotel located on property at Walt Disney World. It is themed to decades of the second half of the 20th century- so the 50’s, 60’s 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s.
It is classified as a “value” resort, which means that it is in the lowest cost bracket of Disney Hotels. Don’t let this terminology mistake this as a your traditional budget motel. It provides excellent Disney theming, transportation, and service that guests have come to expect from on site property.
What do Kids think of Pop Century Resort?
So the next questions you will probably ask are “Ok, the 50’s-90’s- will kids get this theming? Will it seem Disney enough?”
To find the answer to this I’m going to take you through a review of each part of the resort during our most recent stay with my kids ages 4, 8, and 9. You’ll find out what they thought about this resort, it’s rooms, pools, and transportation.
The Rooms at Pop Century Resort
While the exterior of the resort is themed to decades, the rooms themselves are themed to Mickey Mouse, which is really fun for young kids. They are not going to be as highly themed as some other hotels such as Art of Animation, but still have enough Disney touches to make kids happy.
The rooms themselves were small and accommodate only four people, so that is something to think about if you will be there with a family of 5 or more. The room is quite small so be prepared, but they do make the most of the space provided. This worked well for us since this was a quick mom and kids getaway, but if were were going to be staying with the entire family 2 rooms would be necessary. If you are looking for rooms that sleep 5 check out My Top 5 Disney Hotels for a Family of 5.
All rooms were renovated in 2018, and are made up of a queen bed with a dining table for 2 that folds away to reveal a queen size murphy bed. My kids really got a kick out of this bed and alternated who got to sleep on it each night. You will also find a small kitchenette with a mini fridge, coffee maker, and ample storage for any snacks you want to keep in the room.
The bathroom, while small, was more functional than most other on Disney property, including Deluxe resorts. The layout contained so many shelves and storage areas. This made it easy to keep everything put away which is so important in a small room. One thing that could be a downside is that most rooms, including ours, have walk in showers and no tub. While my 4 year old would have preferred a tub, the shower was large enough that we were easily able to make it work for a kid who is not a fan of showers spraying them in the face.
The Pools at Pop Century Resort
Like all other Disney resorts, there was one feature pool with outlying “quiet” pools. The feature pool is located in the center of the resort in the 60’s section and theming consists of bright colors, flowers, and larger than life Jungle Book characters. This is where we spent most of our time, and all 3 kids had a great time. It was large enough that it didn’t feel to crowded, at least when we visited in late morning and early afternoon. There was also a splash pad nearby which would be great for toddlers.
If my kids had any complaint, it was that the pool bar, which we used to get lemonades and smoothies, was outside the gate- so they all had to get out and go as a group. Also, they only serve beverages, so I would just be prepared and maybe stop by the food court on the way in if you think your kids will want a treat poolside.
The other 2 pools are located on each end of the resort in the 50’s section and the 90’s section, so that wherever your room is located you will be close to a pool.
The Grounds
So I will admit this is what I was most anxious about with my kids. Previous stays at Art of Animation have set a high expectation of value resorts. I am pleased to say that they really enjoyed the theming which was a surprise and a relief. Many of the larger than life items were toys from each decade that all kids are familiar with such as yo-yos, Mr. Potato Head, and a Foosball court. The items they weren’t familiar with seemed equally as fascinating to them, with my daughter even asking to have her picture made with a giant Walkman.
Where it really shined is in the Disney Characters. It was fun to see characters that are often overlooked in the parks such as Lady and the Tramp, Mowgli and Baloo, and even Rodger Rabbit!
Another perk that does not exist at all Disney hotels is a playground. This is an amazing added feature if you have little ones who just need to get some energy out in a safe contained area. Also it’s location is not far from the bus stops so it is a great way to get some wiggles out before standing in line and riding on the bus.
I was so relieved that I was anxious for nothing. The kids really enjoyed the theming and had fun exploring the resort!
Transportation
I will be the first to admit that I love to stay at hotels directly connected to resorts. The price, however, doesn’t always make sense for our family if we are just going down for a short trip. I truly believe that if you aren’t going to stay on the monorail loop or in the Epcot resort area, the transportation at Pop Century cannot be beat! And just as important, the kids agreed!
Bus transportation is available to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs. This is standard for all on site hotels and provides busses that travel back and forth throughout the day free of charge for all onsite guests.
When traveling to Epcot or Hollywood studios the Skyliner gondolas are available. I am not kidding when I say that one of my kids favorite things do in all of Disney is just riding on the Skyliner! Sailing over Disney property is just magical, and an amazing perk of staying at Pop Century Resort. We actually spent the morning of our resort day just riding it back and forth to Hollywood studios and the kids couldn’t have been happier!
Overall Thoughts
It is easy for kids to love everything in the moment while they are at Disney, so I like to wait a couple of weeks and ask them what they think to find out their true opinions.
After talking about our resort stay these were their thoughts:
- They absolutely love staying on the Skyliner route and it is still their favorite part of the resort.
- The rooms were small but they loved the murphy bed and thought the theming was cool.
- Even though the pool didn’t have a slide, they thought that it was huge and so much fun.
- Overall, they had an amazing time and have already asked when we are going back!
Are you planning a stay at Pop Century Resort with kids? Let me know below if you have any additional questions!
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