Pop Century: The Jewel of the Value Resorts
- Scott J. Kleper
- Jul 10
- 5 min read
Hey Now, You're Not Gonna Pick an All-Star
I could (and possibly should) write a book about all the ways to save money on a Walt Disney World vacation. For those looking to lodge within the "Disney Bubble" without spending a lot, the Value Resorts are often where their budget-minded eye looks.
Within the Value category, the most affordable options are almost always "The All-Stars" -- All-Star Sports Resort, All-Star Music Resort, and All-Star Movies Resort. Don't waste time trying to figure out which of the three to pick because you're generally only a small price delta away from Pop Century Resort, which has much more to offer.
I just got back from a delightful stay at Pop Century Resort and I feel more confident than ever in recommending it as the best Value Resort.
Generational Theming
Pop Century (actually it's a half century because reasons) organizes its many hotel buildings into themed decades. Each decade features a number of lovingly reconstructed giant icons of the era. The 70's has some of my favorites -- a giant Big Wheel, a Mickey Mouse Phone, and an impossibly large Foosball Set.
A mere walk from the lobby to your room provides an opportunity to lecture your children on how things used to be, making Pop Century's theming the best Disney resort theming for adults. It must be said that the nearby Art of Animation Resort has superior theming for kids, with its truly well crafted Cars, Finding Nemo, Lion King, and Little Mermaid areas. However, the room layout (see below) of Pop makes it often the better choice for families looking to save.
Skyliner Economics
Pop Century and Art of Animation are the only two Value Resorts with access to the Skyliner, Disney's fast aerial transportation. It's both faster and more comfortable than a bus, with a few notable caveats:
The Skyliner doesn't run when there's lightning nearby, which is especially common in the Summer. Temporary shutdowns of 20 minutes or longer are not uncommon.
The Skyliner only goes to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. For Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom, a bus will be your only option.
Riders from Pop Century and Art of Animation will need to transfer at the Caribbean Beach Resort station. It's generally no big deal and only adds a few minutes to the trip, but backups at Caribbean Beach do occur.
Despite the caveats above, the Skyliner can be an important part of a reduced-hassle Disney vacation. Not only is it more convenient, but when you take the Skyliner to Epcot, you can enter through the much faster World Showcase entrance.
Best Room Layout
Rooms at Pop Century are very intelligently constructed, and this is where it generally has an edge over its sister resort, Art of Animation. Pop Century rooms feature a bed that pulls down from the wall, converting the room's table to a Queen-size accommodation. The flexibility of the room makes it feel more spacious. There's a table when you want it and a bed can be tugged into place when you need it. It's perfect for a family of 3 and doable for a family of 4 that doesn't mind getting cozy.
The bathrooms are split, allowing one person to use the sink and mirror while another is... using the other part of the bathroom. Or showering. Maybe that other person is just showering. Oh, that reminds me -- bring that stuff you spray in the toilet to avoid... odors.
The rooms are why Pop Century beats Art of Animation for budget travelers. Art of Animation has awesome themed two-room six-person Family Suites, but you won't find those at Pop Century prices. The Family Suites are a fantastic option, especially when bedtimes differ among family members. However, they can easily run 2x or more the price of a Standard Room. A Standard Room at Art of Animation is going to be a Little Mermaid-themed King or 2-Queen room. It's usually more expensive than a room at Pop and it lacks the flexibility of the pull-down bed. If you are super into The Little Mermaid though, it's a slam dunk -- go with that one! For everybody else, look towards Pop Century.
What It Means to Step Up
Let's be honest about what you're not getting. Pop Century has basically one dining option - a food hall with basics like a grill, pizza, etc. They always have some unique specialties and a wide assortment of dessert options, but you won't find a table service option at Pop Century.
The next step up from Pop Century would put you into the Moderate Resorts. Of those, I like Port Orleans for the theming, atmosphere, and boat transportation option. Port Orleans feels more "resort-like" and has a ton of unique character and charm.
My favorite Moderate Resort in recent years is Caribbean Beach Resort. Unlike Port Orleans, it has a Skyliner station. It also has a fantastic pool themed like an old Spanish Fort with a water slide that starts inside the fort. Caribbean Beach Resort also has Sebastian's Bistro, one of the most popular Resort sit-down dining options.
Beyond the Moderates, you'd find Disney Resorts with spas, luxury dining, monorail access, and generally more activities and amenities. Did you hear about the one where you can see giraffes from your room?
While you can (and once in a while should) go huge with your choice of Disney accommodations, Pop Century really gets you a lot at a reasonable price.
What It Means to Step Down
There are generally two options for spending less than Pop Century, but you'd sacrifice quite a bit.
As mentioned above, the All-Stars are generally the least expensive Disney accommodations. They are still excellent hotels offering everything you'd expect from Disney -- they're clean, the staff is friendly, and there are amenities for families. It's just that it's hard to give up the Skyliner when the prices are often within $50/night.
The other option is to stay at a non-Disney hotel. There are hundreds of hotels in the Disney World area, including several that are actually on Disney property and still offer the early entry perk that Disney Resort guests are entitled to. It's worth looking at all options, but I've found that to really save a meaningful amount of money, you're usually not looking at one of those.
Off-property hotels almost always offer free transportation to Disney World, but it's less frequent and flexible than Disney transportation, not to mention the longer transit time. With limited vacation time, I'd rather be a Skyliner ride away at all times. When you stay on property, you can even split your day -- Do early entry at one park, come back to the room for a nap, then spend the evening at another park. It's harder to do that when your hotel is off property.
Still, I've found some fantastic deals at hotels that are very close to Walt Disney World. I had a great stay at the Wyndham Grand Bonnet Creek once, a beautiful property so close to Disney World you literally go through the Disney entrance to get there.
Making a Decision
There are so many ways to slice the Disney vacation pie, which is why it's always a good idea to use a travel advisor (hint, hint). You can save or spend in any area based on what flavor of vacation you want to have. For quick getaways, I tend to look for convenience. For longer stays, I want comfort, dining, and theming.
Budget is certainly a big factor in selecting a hotel. But even within a given price range, the ages and preferences of the guests, the duration of the stay, and the style of travel factor in. Pop Century tends to win out for most overall when it comes to Value Resorts, but drop me a line to talk about your specific vacation and what might be right for you.
