The Five Decade Sections
The 1950s is home to jukeboxes, poodle skirts, and Lady and the Tramp. The bowling-themed pool and staircases shaped like giant bowling pins make this section feel like a retro roadside attraction in the best way.
The 1960s features Baloo, Mowgli, and a whole lot of yo-yos and Play-Doh. The Hippy Dippy Pool sits right in the center, big, bright, and shaped like a flower. It kind of makes you want to throw on some bellbottoms and get groovy.
The 1970s goes funky with massive eight-track tapes, a giant Mickey Mouse rotary phone, and a playground styled like a foosball table. For those who remember rotary phones: yes, they really did make that ear-splitting noise when you messed up the number.
The 1980s is full of Rubik's cubes, boom boxes, and Roger Rabbit living his best life. If you ever waited for your favorite song to come on the radio just so you could record it with a cassette player, this section will hit you right in the nostalgia. This is my decade.
The 1990s brings all the tech vibes with a laptop-shaped pool deck and old-school cell phones the size of your head. The keyboard around the pool area immediately brought back flashbacks to early AIM chats and that one computer game that crashed right before you hit save.
The Room
I stayed in a preferred room in the 1960s section with a direct view of the Hippy Dippy Pool. The room has one regular queen bed and a Queen Murphy pull-down bed, which is more functional than it sounds, with clever storage and fun Disney details built in. Disney has been getting their value resort rooms right and this one delivered.
Classic Hall: The Main Building
Classic Hall has check-in, the gift shop, Everything Pop food court, and some genuinely fun extras you might miss if you don't wander around: shadow boxes filled with vintage pop culture from each decade, caricature drawings, and a large arcade for when the weather turns or the kids need a break from the parks. The food court is a colorful quick-service spot with all the theme park fuel essentials. The gift shop has snacks, resort merchandise, and Disney souvenirs.
The Pools
Pop Century has three pools: the Hippy Dippy Pool in the 60s section, the bowling pin pool in the 50s, and the computer pool between the 80s and 90s sections. They're fun, colorful, and great for cooling off. There are no hot tubs here. If you're someone who dreams of soaking your legs after 20,000 steps in EPCOT, you'll miss that particular luxury. Worth knowing before you book.
The Skyliner: Pop Century's Biggest Perk
For a value resort, the Skyliner access is genuinely significant. You can hop on a gondola and head directly to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios without waiting for a bus. It's quick, easy, and honestly kind of peaceful. Unless heights aren't your thing, in which case good luck and godspeed and maybe book a Minnie Van instead.
Check-in: Use the My Disney Experience app to check in before you arrive. If you do, you can skip the front desk line completely and go straight to your room once it's ready. Start your vacation instead of standing around watching everyone else start theirs.
Early arrival: If your room isn't ready when you arrive, don't sit in the lobby. Check your bags with Bell Services and go hit a park, head to the pool, or explore Disney Springs. Just be sure to tip your bellhop.
Checkout: The line for luggage carts can wrap around the building during peak checkout times, and Bell Services took about 25 minutes to arrive when we called. If you're on a schedule at checkout time, plan for this or head out earlier than you think you need to.
Bright, fun, full of personality, and a strong choice for budget-conscious trips. The Skyliner alone sets it apart from other value options.
- Families who want Disney theming without the deluxe price
- Anyone who wants Skyliner access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios
- Gen X travelers who will deeply appreciate the nostalgia sections
- Trips where the parks are the priority and the room is base camp
- Same-day or last-minute bookings when budget matters
- Hot tubs after long park days are important to you
- You want table service dining on-site
- Quiet and calm are priorities over energy and theming
- You're going to Magic Kingdom primarily and want closer proximity
Gran Destino Tower: Disney Luxury at a Moderate Price.
If Pop Century has you wondering what the next step up looks like, Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs is the moderate resort that feels like it shouldn't be classified as one.