Disney's Pop Century Resort

I was meeting my family here who were driving from a different location. I live a lot closer and my sister asked me to bring a small box fan to the room since there are no ceiling fans in them. My sister checked in online so I already had a room # and room key (your phone is supposed to unlock the door) upon arrival. I get to the room and the door will not unlock. So I have to walk to the lobby to simply get a key. When I get there I see a super long line because it is peak check in time. I hang back just waiting for a concierge or manager who can just scan me a room key so I can get in our room. Well I get told that I have to wait in the regular check in line. Keep in mind this will probably take 30+ minutes. I say I just need a key and do not need to wait in that line since I am already checked in. We go back and forth until they send over a supervisor who I can barely understand since she is still wearing a cloth facemask in 2025. She tells me the same thing. I say I simply need a key and I know for a fact that only takes less than a minute. After a whole lot of back and forth, she finally goes behind the desk and has SOMEONE ELSE stop what they are doing and assign a room key, all while telling me that I am basically in the wrong and inconveniencing other guests who have not even checked in yet. I am an annual passholder and we paid for an upgraded room. Not sure why this wasn't an easy in and out solution and took so much effort. Oh and my mother and sister had to do the exact same thing around midnight when they finally arrived later that evening. Then the next day, I had to leave in the morning for work and come back around lunch. I go to the middle lane at the guard shack and my magic band will not work. I am trying to make the bus to Magic Kingdom and meet my family. I am in a hurry and tell the lady as much. After what felt like showing everything but my medical history, the lady finally said okay but wanted to tell me how to fix my magic band later. I said "ma'am I am in a hurry! Can you please just open the gate?" She literally says A THANK YOU WOULD BE NICE! I said I do not need to say thank you, I just need the gate open! She chuckles and says WELL YOU ARE GONNA BE WAITING A WHILE THEN and walks away. Gate closed and I am just sitting there. I blow the horn a few times and nothing. Finally, frustrated beyond belief and not knowing what else to do, I pull in to the bus lane, thinking she'll have to let me in now since there are going to be buses behind me needing to get in. Oh and also because I am a hotel guest and she knows this. She still doesn't let me or the buses full of people in and eventually two separate security vehicles show up. I don't know what kind of lies this lady told them on the radio but once I explained myself and showed them that I was a guest and she wouldn't let in bc I did not say thank you, they were in shock as well and told her to open the gate and let me go, which she did although arguing with them both in front of guests. I have been coming to Disney my whole life and never experienced anything like that from a cast member. I blame leadership, hiring practices and lack of training. That evening at Hollywood Studios my mother fell and I just wanted a bag of ice so she could put on her hand and keep the swelling down. I asked three separate cast members and not a single one was able to help me nor willing to say "hold on, I do not have any here but I will call someone that can get you some." I have another stay booked at another resort very soon and will probably cancel because I highly doubt I will even get a response to this review. The Disney I grew up with isn't there anymore. Read less

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5) Date of stay: [Insert month/year] If you’re looking for Disney magic on a budget — without sacrificing convenience or fun — Pop Century is your resort. With larger-than-life theming, newly renovated rooms, and Skyliner access to two major parks, it’s the underrated gem of the Value category. 📺 A Blast from the Past (In a Good Way) Pop Century celebrates the decades from the 1950s to the 1990s — and does it with giant flair. Where else can you take a morning stroll past a 40-foot tall Roger Rabbit or dance by a larger-than-life jukebox? It’s campy in the best way. 🛌 Renovated Rooms = Big Win The rooms are simple but modern, clean, and surprisingly efficient. I loved the hardwood floors, Murphy bed design, and extra storage space under the beds. As someone who’s stayed in both deluxe and value resorts, I was impressed by how practical the space felt — perfect for a couple or small family. 🚠 Skyliner Access = Game-Changer This is the #1 reason to book Pop. You can glide to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios without touching a bus. It’s fast, scenic, and fun — and makes rope-dropping those parks way easier. If you’re traveling with a stroller or little ones, it’s a lifesaver. 🍳 Everything POP Food Court The food court is exactly what you’d expect at a value resort: quick, convenient, and varied. Try the Tie-Dye Cheesecake if you’re feeling adventurous — it’s iconic. We also mobile ordered breakfast sandwiches one morning and had them ready in under 10 minutes. 🏊‍♀️ Pool Time & Peaceful Walks The Hippy Dippy Pool is lively and fun, but if you want quiet, head to the 1950s Bowling Pool or take a walk around Hourglass Lake, where you can even cross over to check out Art of Animation. (Two resorts for the price of one, in a way.) 💡 Cast Member Insight: • Request a 1960s or 1970s room to be closest to the Skyliner and Classic Hall. • The laundry rooms have mobile pay — super convenient after a long park day. • Bring a refillable mug to maximize value on drinks, especially if you’re a coffee-lover like me. ⸻ Would I stay again? Absolutely. Pop Century delivers major Disney vibes, transportation perks, and comfort without breaking the bank. It’s not a luxury resort, but it nails exactly what it’s supposed to be — fun, nostalgic, efficient, and convenient. For families, solo travelers, or couples who plan to spend most of their time in the parks, Pop is the poppin’ place to be. 🎯 Read less

The rooms at Pop are an ok size if there is only two of you but anymore and I think it would be a tight squeeze. The walls are paper thin to the point I can hear people actually using the toilet and then the flushing. People walk past the windows at all times of morning and night and don’t seem to care how loud they are or how loudly their kids are screaming etc. make sure to bring ear plugs. I also think the ‘pixie dust’ on doors is really not adding to the overall ‘value’ feel of the resort: I think it cheapens the overall look and wish pixie dust had been left to cast members. On the plus side, having the skyliner made things so accessible and easy for Epcot and Hollywood studios and saved us so much time. The staff were all friendly and lovely and the grounds were always kept immaculate. The 70s building near the skyliner was a good location for us. On the whole I think you can feel the value aspects of Pop and the motel feel is not worth what we paid for it. It’s so expensive from the UK and to be honest we wouldn’t pay for this standard elsewhere so next time we’ll save and stay deluxe I think. Read less