Photos & Video: New Rooms at Pop Century
We’ve stayed in a newly-refurbished room at Pop Century Resort, and wanted to share some photos and video from these redone hotel rooms at Walt Disney World. In addition to that, we’ll cover our experience staying in these redesigned rooms, offer thoughts on what the refurbishment means for the future of Pop Century, and why you might or might not want to request a new room on your WDW vacation.
The Pop Century refurbishment was completed in phases, building by building, and is now finished. Currently (as of Summer 2019), the only construction project at Pop Century is the Disney Skyliner gondola station being “built” in the middle of Hourglass Lake between Art of Animation and Pop Century. However, that’s been finished and testing for months now, and should debut in the very near future.
Suffice to say, there’s no reason not to stay at Pop Century right now. In fact, Disney’s Pop Century Resort is one of our top picks for places to stay at Walt Disney World in Fall 2019 and beyond. It’s an excellent option on the Value Resort end of the spectrum, with amenities and accommodations far superior to the All Star Resorts…
It’s no secret that we were excited about the Pop Century room refurbishment. Back in the spring, we shared that we specifically booked Pop Century for our fall trip in the hopes of being able to stay in one of these rooms. We absolutely loved the look of the preview photos, and were excited that this would be an upscale Value Resort room. So…did the refurbished rooms live up to our hype?
Yes. Absolutely. We were 100% satisfied with the new room, and think it’s an unequivocal upgrade from the old rooms at Pop Century. Thanks to our experience in this new room, Pop Century will once again be in our regular Walt Disney World hotel rotation, particularly during long weekend ‘rope drop until park close’ trips.
Before we get going with our thoughts on this experience, here’s a video tour of the new room we stayed in at Pop Century to provide some context for what we’re describing:
The biggest change you can expect to see is a new configuration with a regular bed flanked by nightstands, and Murphy bed that doubles as a table. Both of these beds are queen-sized, versus the double beds previously in these rooms.
There’s a lighter color scheme, dominated by white with hints of orange and lime, Mickey Mouse pop art above the queen bed, and Pluto pop art above the Murphy bed. There’s also a ton more storage space, including a dresser under the television, room for luggage under the bed, and a variety of random cubbies around the room.
You might say this is a nice space-saving solution, but we cannot be too positive here (it’s the internet, after all). So, let’s call this what it is: Disney’s clandestine attempt at tricking you into leaving behind your valuable Duffy plush collection so that Walt Disney World can increase revenue at Property Control.
There are also a boat-load of USB-charging ports and outlets around the room. Again, clearly a way for Disney to acquire and resell my iPhone charging cable. Those wily minxes!
In the corner, there’s a kiosk with drawers, a mini-fridge, and a coffee maker! This is somehow a Walt Disney World Value Resort first, which is astonishing. All 41 of the hotels we’ve stayed at near Disneyland have had coffee makers, including the worst one, which I wrote should be condemned by the City of Anaheim.
In the bathroom, you have a vessel sink, illuminated bathroom mirror, and make-up mirror. There’s also an actual sliding door separating the bathroom area from the main room (instead of a thin curtain), glass door in the shower, and rainfall shower fixture in addition to the standard one.
All of these things, to us, are upgrades to the room with zero downside. Each individually might be a minor thing, but collectively, they make for a room that is significantly “plussed” over the Value Resort defaults.
One of the biggest complaints that we’ve heard about the rooms is that they are “un-Disney” and thematically lacking. We’ve heard this criticism a few times, and frankly, it’s perplexing.
To be sure, there is valid criticism that some could levy at these rooms…but them being less themed than their predecessors is not such a critique.
Here’s a picture of a Pop Century room from our last stay there, a few years ago (from our old Pop Century Review, which will be updated very soon):
Note that this was shortly before the removal of the comforter, which was replaced by a similar runner at the bottom of the bed. Aside from that, the only thematic touch is the painting on the far wall.
Aside from that the room is devoid of Disney decor and is completely un-themed, unless you count a random collection of three circles in the carpet. As you can see, Pop Century’s old rooms were not exactly the pinnacle of themed design. We suspect a lot of the complaints about the new design are rooted in nostalgia more than anything else.
Here’s a similar view of the new room:
This room has Mickey Mouse pop art above the bed, which alone gives it as much in the way of Disney decor as the previous room. It also has Pluto art above the pull-down bed, so it should get the edge in terms of “Disney-ness.”
Beyond that, the style here actually goes further than before thematically. The room uses bold colors, minimalist design, sharp lines, and the contrast of wood against white. To me, these rooms feel very much like a Mid-Century design with flourishes of Disney-inspired pop art. Certainly not as good as the Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal Orlando, but a step in the right direction.
Part of what surprises me is the complaint that there is not enough Disney in the room. (Between the Mickey and the Pluto, there’s more.) The thing is, the amount of overt Disney IP is not what defines “theme.” Disney characters are not a theme. To the contrary, they are usually a crutch, acting as a veiled substitute for theme.
In the case of these new Pop Century rooms, you have the best of both worlds. The Disney decor is in the pop art style, meaning it satisfies both the thematic requirements and those who expect a dose of Disney in their room. Should there be more? Arguably. Is it less themed than before? Inarguably no.
With that said, I can understand the complaint that the room feels sterile due to the abundance of white. Although I don’t agree with this critique, I can at least respect the logic behind it. Having a blue wall (like the old Pop Century room, current Cabana Bay rooms, or even the bathroom of this room) might’ve made the space a bit more inviting.
Personally, I feel Value Resort rooms have always been too dark and drab, and this brightens them up. Perhaps it was an over-correction to the old style, but I’ll take a hotel room that looks crisp and clean over one that’s dark and drab any day. Still, I can appreciate the desire for something of a happy medium.
Likewise, I think adding a bed runner into the mix would help. I was mostly on board when the hotel industry moved from comforters to bed runners, but I cannot support this new trend of eliminating the bed runner completely.
Walt Disney World has followed this trend at some resorts, and I think it really think that’s a mistake. The bed runner is a quick and easy way to reinforce theme, and the missing runner makes the bed look ‘naked’ and plain. I know it’s a little thing, but it’s these details that really count at Walt Disney World.
Another complaint is that the removal of carpet and addition of laminate flooring makes the room louder. The obvious solution here is to request the top floor and reenact the hit film Stomp the Yard with nary a care in the world. That’s what we did, and noise was never an issue…for us.
If you end up on a lower floor with a herd of children (or us) above you, perhaps you won’t be as forgiving of this change. Noise aside, we prefer the new floors. They are easier to clean and keep clean; in a budget-rate motel, we’re down with as little bodily fluid-retaining surfaces as possible.
The space that the pull-down Murphy Bed opened up for us was huge. It made the small room feel less claustrophobic, and that plus the color choices made it easier for us to spend time in the room without going stir-crazy. We think this change makes the new rooms at Pop Century a significantly better option for couples and solo travelers.
It may come as a surprise, but most visitors to Walt Disney World are not couples or solo travelers. (I know, right?!) For families, the layout with the Murphy bed not be ideal, especially since it means not having any table in the room when the kids are sleeping.
That’s really the only downside for families that immediately jumps to my mind. There’s always concern that Murphy beds will be less comfortable, but we did not find that to be the case. I’m sure there are other changes that could be legitimate negatives for some parties, but I suspect that’ll largely be on a circumstantial basis.
Overall, we view the new rooms at Pop Century as significant upgrades. Recent Walt Disney World room changes have been hit or miss, but to us, this is an absolute home run–the best room refurbishment to date. These are improvements to the point that we once again look forward to staying at Pop Century, and now (also once again) view this as the #1 Value Resort at Walt Disney World. The rooms certainly are not perfect, but in our estimation, this is the single-greatest improvement to a guest room we have seen since we’ve been visiting Walt Disney World. Unfortunately, it’s not all upside. Between this room enhancement and the upcoming Skyliner, we have little doubt that Disney has plans to position Pop Century into a higher ‘tier’ in the next couple of years. (So in other words: enjoy these upgrades to Pop Century at the current rates while you can!)
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Your Thoughts
What do you think of these new rooms at Pop Century? Excited for the room redesign, or are you not a fan of the Murphy bed style? Do you agree or disagree with our take on the changes being appealing to couples or solo travelers? Any thoughts of your own to add? Have you stayed in one of the new rooms? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
About the only thing I like about Pop is the new room design. It’s a stretch calling Pop a “Resort” particularly when you look at what Universal offers at a lower price.
Ugly rooms! The newly renovated Pop Century is so ugly. Why stay somewhere when there is no Disney theme. Hideous decorating. Sorry, not a fan!
We have stayed at new pop and old pop … family of 4 .. not feeling it ! Looks and feels fresher but Disney ambiance missing. This accommodation could be anywhere ! We felt the pull down took away the needed table at night..and floors although a cleaner option were very slippery ! Old pop needed updating but thus isn’t great ..
Disney fans for 20 years .. 3-4 times a year. Will never stop loving this darn place !
FYI you can also just request a 60’s room and there is a good chance you will get that area at a standard price. I have always used a travel agent though. That might make a difference . Love POP
Hello! we are new to your newsletterand we think it’s great.
We are booked into
Pop Century in Feb and March.
How do we make sure we get a king size bed and one of the refurbished rooms?
(We are from Canada)
All of the rooms are refurbished at Pop Century. For the king size bed, you should be able to request one when making your reservation. I would email or call them before your trip to make sure you have the right sized bed.
Wow. I have to play devil’s advocate here, but I just walked into one of the refurbished rooms (having not known that these changes had taken place), and compared to my recent stays 3 and 4 years ago, I am SO disappointed. The room feels very cramped with the Murphy bed down, our table is now gone, and the Murphy bed sticks out into the minimal walkway making shin bruises a guarantee. We also had to call for extra bedding right away as the sheet and light blanket were not going to cut it. This has been my favorite Disney hotel for a while, but I’m not impressed now. It may be fine for one person or a couple, but it’s not one I’ll recommend to families anymore.
Wondering if you have any information about the closing of the Hippy Dippy pool? I know the website says winter of 2020, wondering how long this will be closed for?
They have little coffee pods. The coffee is free and delicious!!
Thanks so much!
Is the coffee maker a Kuerig or a filtered coffee maker?
It’s a filtered coffee maker. A Cuisinart pod machine.
Thanks so much
If you pay for a preffered room and request ground floor 60’s location with Hippy Dippy pool view it’s a perfect location only steps to the food area and transportation, shopping, arcade. Very accessible for your food restrictions.
FYI you can also just request a 60’s room and there is a good chance you will get that area at a standard price. I have always used a travel agent though. That might make a difference . Love POP
While I agree the Pop rooms are vastly improved in the end it’s still a value resort and small room size without the amenities of a moderate. If they’re going to charge similar prices to a moderate I’d pick moderate over Pop.
My last stay at Pop was when only the 80s & 90s were done and we did get new room on bottom floor. Lucky for us our neighbors above and beside were all very considerate and I never had any noise or stomping feet.
Does anyone know if you can request a microwave in your room? We have dietary restrictions that having a microwave (and fridge which I know is in the room) makes much easier for us.
My nephew is special needs and has to eat all pureed food that my sister warms up for him. I spoke with someone from the resort along with someone from the actual Disney World customer service hotline and was told that this was not possible. There are microwaves available for use in the resort dining area which worked fine enough, although it was a hike to get there from our rooms!
I know that this is several weeks old so it may be too late for your needs, but my son and I stayed at Pop last week and had no trouble getting a microwave delivered to our room. Be aware that they are first come, first served though.
We visited Disney in June to kick of the start of the summer. We made the rounds of places to stay this trip as plans had been changed so many times with my sister and her family being DVC members and changing hotels. My daughter and I stayed our last night at Pop and WOW!!!! We will stay again for sure! Rooms were clean, Murphy bed was fantastically comfortable – I slept there and had NO issues at all. The bathroom is great as is everything else in the new rooms! Tons of storage, tons of places to charge devices – overall – it was simply fantastic. I was excited to see the coffee makers and we used them for dual purpose!!! We do not do the dining plan so instead pack oatmeal packets and cranberries/almonds, etc. I ran hot water through the coffee maker and we both were able to have a filling oatmeal breakfast in the morning before we decided to hit the parks! I of course made coffee as well, but with no microwave, you can actually do quite a bit with just hot water! (think instant mac and cheese, ramen noodles – add in some tuna and some may packets and you have yourself a little tuna salad!) Anyhoo – overall- LOVED the new designs and will for sure stay here again!!!
Sadly we leave Pop Century today after our 8 night stay. First let me say how much we LOVE Pop! I only get a preffered location, ground floor, pool view. It’s a few dollars more but the convience cannot be beat. We have stayed at many of the deluxe and moderate resorts but Pop is only second to our first choice Polynesian and one of the biggest reasons we love Pop is the transportation. We hardly ever wait for a bus. We walk just a few steps from our beautifully refurbished room, fill our mug at the quick service location and a few more steps to the bus which is either there waiting or pulling in moments later. The transportation at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian can be awful! Long lines for the boat or monorail is very frustrating for the price of our stay. The other wonderful touch we love at Pop are all the fun activities for my 9 year old daughter. Poolside activities, tye die shirt making, slime, movie under the stars. When we stay at Pop we tend to spend less time at the parks not more. The theaming is beautiful and wonderfully Disney. I also believe the pool although no slide is one of the best pools compared to the over crowded Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian. Yes they have great splash areas but only for children under 48 inches. If you are considering Pop Century you should definitely book here. We love it!
What building were you in that put you close to disney transportation?
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Why haven’t I seen any photos of the new handicapped rooms at the All-Stars or Pop? We have an electric scooter we travel with and have yet to see any rooms with a roll-in shower. I have been looking at all the blogs and there hasn’t been a single one posted yet. Please, please, please, Tom can you post a few pictures of the roll-in shower rooms. We’re coming down in Nov. and have already booked our rooms and really need to see how they’re configured. I’d really appreciate it. Seems as though no one cares about the handicapped people out here.
Unfortunately, unless we are assigned to a handicapped room by chance, we don’t see them. We’d love to share photos, but I don’t think it’d be right to request something that we don’t need, potentially taking it from someone who does. Sorry! 🙁
Thanks for getting back to me in such a timely manner, Tom. I can see why you and Sarah weren’t able to physically stay in the handicapped rooms. I just thought you were able to shoot pictures of them for Disney and would be able to post some for your blog. Maybe I can get other guests like my husband and I that have stayed in the newly refurbished ones to post some pictures for me.
We stayed at Pop two years ago and I had the ACV.no problem whatsoever.
We’ve stayed at POP at least 2 years ago also, but I need to see pictures of the newly upgraded POP rooms for the handicapped. I need to see the roll-in showers specifically for my husband and how large the bathrooms are.
Yes they provide both caffeinated and decaf.
Can someone take a picture of the coffee pods they have in the rooms? We leave for Pop Wednesday.