On the fence about Pop Century? So are we, so we’re breaking down the biggest pros and cons of this Disney World hotel.

Stay at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and you’ll have the chance to take a trip back in time. This larger-than-life Disney World hotel celebrates the last half of the 20th century, with buildings and spaces themed around different decades from the 1950s to the 1990s. And, as a Value Resort, it’s always a popular pick with guests who are looking for fun paired with affordable room rates.

But staying at Pop Century can be a bit of a mixed bag. As experts who’ve stayed at every one of Disney World’s hotels, we’re divided ourselves on whether or not it’s worth booking. We love a good Value Resort – but there are drawbacks to this particular hotel. 

So, we’re covering the pros and cons of Disney’s Pop Century Resort so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort: Pros

Photo by Laurie Sapp

Disney’s Pop Century Resort is Budget-Friendly

The biggest perk of staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort is undeniably its affordable pricing. As one of the most budget-friendly options in all of Disney World, this is a resort that’s as fun as it is reasonable in room rates.

During certain times of the year, room rates sit between $100 and $150 per night, making Pop Century a great alternative to the pricier Moderate and Deluxe Resorts on property. Plus, you’ll enjoy exclusive Disney World Resort hotel perks at that rate, like Early Theme Park Entry and priority access to book Lightning Lanes and dining reservations. 

So, if you’re hoping to experience that iconic Disney theming, a conveniently-located resort, and all of the perks that come with a Disney World hotel without paying thousands, Pop Century is a perfect value-rich choice.

Pop Century Offers Multiple Modes of Transportation

If you want to get around Disney World with ease, Pop Century is one of the best places to stay. Here, you’ll be able to hop aboard a bus and travel anywhere resort-wide, from the theme parks to Disney Springs and everywhere in between. Since it’s such a popular resort, it’s easy to pick up a bus here – and they return often to ferry guests, making it super convenient for those who want to resort hop or park hop.

Prefer to fly over Disney World to get to your destination? There’s also a Skyliner station at Pop Century (well, technically, it’s not just for Pop Century guests). You can easily board this free form of Disney World transportation to get to other resorts on the Skyliner’s route or two of the four theme parks.

Just keep in mind: Both the bus stop and the Skyliner station located near Pop Century do also serve Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. They aren’t exclusive to Pop Century… but we’ll get into that in a minute.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort: Cons

Photo by Judd Helms

Bus and Skyliner Wait Times Can Get Long

While it’s super convenient that Pop Century shares a bus stop and a Skyliner station with Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, it can also be a serious con. These two Value Resort are very popular – which means you’ll be waiting to grab a bus with hundreds of guests from not only one, but two resorts on property.

Since both of these resorts funnel into the same bus and Skyliner stations, your crowds will be double those of a single resort while waiting for any type of transportation. The crowds can be particularly bad during peak seasons or the busiest days of the year, like Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend or the days between Christmas and New Year’s.

This can result in long lines and unexpected delays as you’re trying to get to and from the hotel… which isn’t ideal when you’re in a hurry to rope drop a theme park or get to a Lightning Lane on time.

Room Types and Sizes Are Limited at Pop Century

While we love the styling and the recent upgrades to the hotel rooms at Pop Century, we don’t love how limited guests are in options. When you stay at this Disney World resort, you’ll have just a couple of choices in room type: You can opt for a standard room or a preferred room, with or without a pool view.

All of the rooms at Pop Century are essentially the same. They sleep up to four adult guests, meaning there’s no extra room if you’re visiting with a larger family or extra friends. And if you want to add a little bit of upgraded luxury, even if you’re on a budget, there are really no extra-special rooms (or even Club-Level rooms) available here.

It really all comes down to location at Pop Century. Guests who want to be close to key locations at the resort, like dining, shopping, and transportation, will want to choose a preferred room. Otherwise, you’ll have a bit of a walk to your building and room.

Rooms Can Be Noisy (Especially Near the Pools)

Speaking of rooms, we’ve found that if you choose to stay near one of Pop Century’s pools, you’ll discover another con: You’ll hear everything.

In our experience, if you wind up with a room near the pools – particularly the large and popular Hippy Dippy pool – your in-room experience will be noisy. The pools obviously draw crowds and, since all of the hotel rooms at Disney’s Pop Century Resort open out to the larger grounds, all that noise winds up funneled your way.

If you’re hoping for a quiet, noise-free experience, you’ll want to request a room away from the pools. Or, you may want to opt for a Moderate or Deluxe Resort, where you’ll see traditional hallways versus rooms that open outdoors (which can noticeably increase the noise level, pool or no pool).

Pop Century Has Just Two Restaurants

If you’re a foodie, you may want to skip Disney’s Pop Century Resort. While the hotel is home to two quick-service restaurants – Everything POP and Petals Pool Bar – there are no other options onsite.

If you’re not interested in food court-style quick-service, you’ll need to head off resort property and to another location within Disney World (or outside, if you prefer). As is typical of Value Resorts, there are no table service options at the hotel, and you won’t find much in the way of variety. 

You are, thanks to the convenient bus transportation and Skyliner station onsite, just a short trip away from other Disney World resorts, theme parks, and destinations like Disney Springs. So, while you can easily head elsewhere to grab a meal, it does limit some of the all-in-one-place convenience of Moderate and Deluxe Resorts that offer more restaurant choices.

Should You Stay at Disney’s Pop Century Resort?

Disney’s Pop Century Resort is a favorite among Disney World’s Value Resorts for a reason. Countless guests love its retro (well, retro now that we’re in the 21st century!) theming, and the larger-than-life decade-inspired details offer plenty of fun across the resort.

We think Disney’s Pop Century Resort is an especially great choice for guests who:

• Are looking for comfortable, well-themed, and affordable rooms
• Love being centrally located and just a short bus or Skyliner ride away from the parks
• Prefer resorts with plenty of pools
• Don’t mind limited dining options

Wondering if Pop Century is the perfect Value Resort for your next Disney vacation? If you’re still planning – and looking for just the right resort – let the experts at The Vacationeer help! As the preferred travel agent partner of WDW Magazine, the pro trip planners at The Vacationeer will offer expert insight, tips, and advice as they help you craft your dream Disney trip. Best of all, it’s free! Fill out this form to get started.