Walt Disney World has confirmed the completion of a year-long overhaul of Disney's Pop Century Resort, enhancing this budget-friendly hotel to feel more luxurious. The project, delayed a few times, was finished in time for the busy Spring Break season, providing a cost-effective option for families seeking Disney accommodations without high prices.
The revamped lobby features vibrant, floor-to-ceiling pop culture artwork from the 1950s to the 1990s, alongside larger-than-life illustrations of Disney's Fab Five. New communal tables and increased seating help guests recharge or work during check-in and check-out.
The Disney Lobby Looks Way Better
Project manager Luis Sanchez on the Facility Asset Management team stated that one of the biggest goals was making the lobby feel brighter, more vibrant, and more functional for guests, explaining that they looked at everything from the lighting to the seating layout. The good news is that this is not a “generification” that makes the lobby bland and boring because prior to this lobby renovation the lobby was showing its age with muted colors and faded surfaces, while what has emerged is vibrant featuring Disney characters and pop art.
There are now check-in kiosks as opposed to a unified front desk which is the direction Walt Disney World has gone with every single lobby refurbishment in the last few years, with the thought being these are more free-flowing and allow iPad-carrying Cast Members to approach guests instead of keeping them stuck behind a counter. The biggest downside is that the memorabilia-filled shadow boxes that were on the walls are now gone, having been replaced with character art that is “more Disney” and does look nice even though it loses some of the resort's unique on-theme elements.
The Disney Rooms Got a Refresh Too
The new rooms feature more pops of blue, gray, green, and orange, with soft sky-blue accents near the bed wall and in the bathroom to help address the “sterile and antiseptic” criticism that plagued previous room designs. There's warmer wood-toned flooring and a geometric inlay, new furniture, curtains, and other furnishing refreshes, including little touches like Hidden Mickeys that create visual interest.
These rooms are an incremental upgrade, and the fan feedback has been mostly positive with no significant negative commentary, which makes sense given that the changes are minor but effective at making the rooms feel fresh and clean. From a functional perspective, the Value Resorts are honestly some of the favorite standard accommodations at Walt Disney World right now for budget-conscious travelers who want clean, comfortable rooms with Disney touches.
Everything POP Got an Upgrade
The resort wrapped up a lengthy refurbishment of Everything POP Shopping & Dining, which was extended a few times but is now finished. The new seating area features mid-century stylization and far more vibrance and visual interest than the old seating area did. There's also a greater variety of seating with booths, tables, and chairs, adding a more laid-back lounge type of vibe, and as part of this project, Walt Disney World also added a new coffee shop to Pop Century Resort that offers specialty beverages.
Disney Airport Luggage Transfer Is Available Now
Another recent change is Walt Disney World rolling out Airport Luggage Transfer at the Value Resorts, allowing guests to drop off checked baggage with Luggage Assistance for delivery directly to their flights. A new third-party service, BagCheck, takes luggage directly to the airport for Southwest Airlines flights, with the pilot service currently available at Value Resort hotels for guests with Southwest Airlines flights departing from Orlando International Airport.
This started roughly one year ago and quickly expanded from Pop Century to the All Stars and Art of Animation, though it hasn't yet started at any Moderate or Deluxe Resorts or any other airlines. The good news is that Airport Luggage Transfer is now available for arrivals, which began last holiday season.
Pop Century has long been considered the number one value resort, and the recent overhaul makes it feel more luxurious, even though it remains one of the cheapest hotels with standard rooms often available for under $200 per night during value seasons compared to $400 to $1,000 or more at deluxe resorts.
