Disney's Pop Century Resort in Orlando, FL

Our three-night stay at Disney’s Pop Century Resort was not by choice, it was out of pure necessity. Aer Lingus cancelled our flight to Manchester, and the next available option wasn’t for another three days via Dublin. We were forced into booking emergency accommodation, and Pop Century was one of the only places with availability that could squeeze our family of five into a single room. That alone should have been a warning sign. To add context, this stay followed time at Loews Portofino Bay, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and a Disney Cruise aboard the Wish. Every one of those experiences was excellent. Disney has set very high standards elsewhere, so expectations were understandably high. Pop Century didn’t just miss those standards… it obliterated them. From arrival, the place felt grim. The best comparison I can make is a UK Pontins holiday park… on steroids. Loud, chaotic, cheap, and completely lacking any sense of quality or “magic.” The oversized theming doesn’t distract from the fact that this is a budget motel masquerading as a Disney resort. The other guests were genuinely unpleasant. Rude, noisy, and utterly classless behaviour everywhere you turned. This may not be Disney’s fault directly, but the atmosphere they cultivate (and the clientele they attract) makes the entire experience feel uncomfortable and borderline hostile. It certainly didn’t feel family-friendly in any positive sense. Cleanliness was another major issue. The room was not properly cleaned during our stay. No daily housekeeping. No refreshing of basics. While this might be tolerable at a £70-per-night Travelodge back home, it is completely unacceptable at a hotel charging around £450 per night. There is simply no excuse for that level of neglect at that price point. The room itself felt tired, cramped, and soulless. Everything screamed cost-cutting. Thin walls, worn furnishings, and zero comfort. This is not a “resort” by any reasonable definition, it’s a glorified dormitory with Disney branding slapped on it. Safe to say, we were massively underwhelmed. Rather than feeling thankful that our holiday had been extended due to circumstances beyond our control, we were counting down the hours until we could leave. We felt relief when we checked out… not gratitude. Unless you are on the tightest of budgets or completely out of options (as we were), I would strongly advise looking elsewhere. This resort damages the Disney brand more than it enhances it. We would never return, and we would absolutely not recommend it to anyone expecting even a basic level of quality. This resort has made us rethink future visits to Disney.

Clean family friendly rooms, easy access to the skyline. Food choices are decent but could use some changes (almost the same menu everyday). The pool layout is more for smaller kids. Being able to walk to AoA and see all the artwork was a highlight.

Made reservations almost a year ago and had trouble from the time we checked in. My wife needed a walk in shower because of mobility issues and we had to wait .. got there at 2 so ok no problem.. WRONG ! Around 5 PM we were still without a room , we had a dinner reservation at Magic Kingdom and had to cancel. Went to desk and talked to executive, response ..our room wasn't passed by engineering..whoops.. finally got downsized room away from rest of family ( grand babies) and $125 credit for Disney Junk Once in room we left for Magic Kingdom.. came back and inspected shower . Shower head was broke , curtain didn't fit .. room was tight for a scooter and didn't work . Asked for room change and got the "we don't have speech " They fixed shower head and that was it. Motel 6 has nicer larger rooms than this resort. This was our 38th trip to Disney and by far was the WORST . Breakdowns extended into the parks .. and employee moral and experience is awful

We stayed for 7 nights, checking out on 1st November. We were in the 50s section, building 2. Our location was a 10 minute stroll to the hippy dippy pool, classic hall & skyliner. The skyliner was a huge plus! You arrive at Caribbean Beach Resort in 5 minutes and from there it’s another 5 mins to Hollywood Studios, maybe 10 mins to Epcot. We used the Skyliner constantly and only ever had to queue once. The food hall & store (Everything Pop Dining & Shopping), laundry, arcade and 50s bowling pin pool were all great - very clean, fantastic cast members. Provided us with all we needed. Our room was perfect for 3 of us and spotlessly clean. House keeping came every other day. Our 12 year old son adored the pull down Murphy bed, his dad & I were very comfortable in the queen. Plenty of storage, a fridge, coffee maker and a separate vanity and bathroom. Spot on for our needs - we really did not want to leave this place. Would recommend to anyone wanting to stay on Disney property. The fact that this is a ‘value’ resort didn’t show one bit. Quality, convenience and comfort - what’s not to love?