Pop Century Resort: Refurbished Rooms Add Deluxe-Feel to Value Accomodations
If there’s a Disney resort hotel that leads the way in cult followings, it’s the Pop Century Resort. Fan sites, forums, Instagram accounts, there are a ton of ways fans can express their appetite for the nostalgic theme of the resort.
And I must say, the pop culture theming of the Pop Century Resort at Walt Disney World has always been one of my favorites. But the overall design for the accommodations has definitely started to show it’s age. The drab interiors featured blue and beige walls and brown carpet, which were no match for the colorful sentimentality the lobby area showcases.
Well, the resort has turned a new leaf and sped right into a modern new decade. Nestled on hourglass lake (appropriately), the rooms are being renovated building by building from the 1990s back.
We were able to snag a renovated room in the 1980s building (the building with the awesome giant Rubik’s cube staircase) on a recent trip and were really impressed.
Walking into the room, you’ll quickly notice the carpet that typically graces value resort rooms (and most other resorts) at Walt Disney World has been switched out to a hardwood laminate.
You’ll also notice that one bed is missing. Turns out, Disney converted one of the double beds into a Murphy bed that folds up into the wall and out of the way when not in use. The underside of the bed also is a foldout table to act as a landing pad for all your souvenirs when you get back from the parks.
There is a mini-bar area that houses a coffee machine, small coffee selection, refrigerator, and ice bucket.
It seems that one of the goals Disney had when redesigning these rooms was to increase floor space. The television unit is mounted to the wall above a floating dresser. The nightstands are also mounted to the wall, leaving open floor space underneath. And something really unique among motel-style accommodations is the space underneath the bed is completely free. Perfect for tucking away suitcases or large items not in use.
Disney has really thought about what types of things the modern travelling family will need during their stay, and throughout the room you’ll notice a lot of USB ports. They are located conveniently around the whole room, most notably in each of the night stands. Which, if you’re anything like me, is a huge relief because the outlet situation in the old rooms left me reaching what felt like a million feet over the edge of the bed to grab my charging phone.
The bathroom area of the room is my favorite part of the rennovation. From the impecable lighting around the mirror to the ample shelving for storing all kinds of travel-size goodies, Disney really outdid themselves here. The room we stayed in had a shower stall, which, for us at least, was a nice departure from the bathtub/shower combo.
The vibe of these renovated rooms is crisp, clean, and modern. However, travelers who may need a bathtub will want to request this ahead of time or you might end up with a shower stall.
Vacation planning tip: Request a refurbished room and Disney does their best to make your wishes come true!
Hope this brings some magic to your day!
— Laurie
