Walt Disney Global is in the course of a couple of tasks at Pop Century Hotel, together with a year-long room overhaul that’ll be finished in 2026. That’s simply one in every of 4 enhancement tasks on the Worth Hotel this yr and subsequent, a couple of of that have already completed. This stocks new mid-November building footage, dates & main points, plus our remark in regards to the scope, scale & visitor affects of the paintings.
The refreshes and reimaginings at Disney’s Pop Century Hotel are one in every of a couple of resort tasks between now and 2027, with a number of different well-liked motels beneath refurbishment now or within the coming months. Keep watch over our Walt Disney Global Lodge Development Tracker for additional updates. (That’s if truth be told due for an replace in the following few days in accordance with our check-ins with a couple of tasks round Walt Disney Global. Keep tuned.)
Let’s get started with the authentic ‘caution’ bulletin from Walt Disney Global in regards to the Pop Century room redo: “From March 2025 via mid-February 2026, refurbishment paintings will happen in choose spaces of Disney’s Pop Century Hotel. Whilst Visitors would possibly see or listen paintings within the space all the way through daylight hours hours, maximum Hotel facilities—together with eating, game, and products places—will stay to be had.”
It’s simple to pass over, however Walt Disney Global quietly modified the of completion timeline for those rooms from mid-February 2026 to simply February 2026. In truth, I’m now not even positive when this language tweak was once made–I simply stuck it for the primary time when sitting down to jot down this newsletter. (Therefore it being simple to pass over!)
This might be since the venture is predicted to be completed previous within the month, so mid-February 2026 is not apt. I’m skeptical of that. When Walt Disney Global needs to provide itself extra wiggle room on a venture, they’ll frequently scale back specificity. So my perfect bet is that the expectancy is now overdue February 2026.
The brand new rooms function extra pops of colour, a patterned ground inlay, new furnishings, curtains, and different furnishing refreshes. Those rooms are an incremental improve, and the fan comments has been most commonly certain. I haven’t heard anything else damaging in regards to the earlier than vs. after, which is smart for the reason that the adjustments are minor. The reaction has been impartial to certain.
You’ll be able to see those for your self in First Glance Picture Excursion of New Rooms at Disney’s Pop Century Hotel. We’re fanatics of the refreshed rooms at Pop Century, however however, we liked the unique era of “new” rooms that debuted again in 2017. From a purposeful standpoint, the Worth Accommodations are in truth a few of our favourite usual lodging at Walt Disney Global at the moment.
I used to be simply at Pop Century this week and looked at development on all the tasks. Listed below are new building footage of the room redo:
At the moment, Development 9 is in development. Structures 7 and eight but now not but begun. This segment across the Laptop Pool is the rest cluster of structures to be finished.
Out of interest, I requested a couple of Solid Participants on the entrance table after they anticipated the venture to be finished. They stated the cadence has been about one construction per thirty days, suggesting it’s conceivable for the overhaul to wrap up in early 2026. Perhaps even January versus February.
I’d take this with a grain of salt. For the reason that those tasks frequently pause (or reduce) for top vacation dates in November and December, it wouldn’t be in the slightest degree sudden for Development 9 to complete this month or in early December with out Structures 7-8 beginning at the moment.
That leaves the door open for Walt Disney Global to have complete room stock on the highly-popular Pop Century all the way through the guts of the vacation season. Most likely now not, however that’s one thing that’s been going down with room refurbishments in the previous couple of years.
As for the visitor have an effect on of the room renovations at Disney’s Pop Century Hotel, it’s minimum.
I used to be to start with prone to mention “just about nonexistent” in accordance with our revel in, however reminded myself that my anecdotal snapshot-in-time revel in isn’t consultant of everybody else’s. There were occasions prior to now when, as an alternative of reopening or remaining a whole construction all the way through top season dates, Disney splits the construction in part to extend room availability.
Which is to mention that when you discovered your self staying in Structures 7-9 within the subsequent month or two all the way through their building, it’s worthwhile to really feel a vital have an effect on. However that’s purely theoretical–now not what’s going down now. Simply in strolling across the 80s and 90s segment, the paintings was once slightly noticeable. I wouldn’t be shocked if some visitors staying on this segment are utterly oblivious to the continued paintings.
For everybody else, the have an effect on is just about nonexistent. It’s tough to even inform which construction is beneath refurbishment until you stroll proper as much as it. Despite the fact that it’s a year-long venture, this can be a cushy items refurbishment, and isn’t developing visible blight across the exteriors of structures. We stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter round the similar level closing yr in its year-long overhaul, and that was once a lot extra impactful. That is not anything by means of comparability.
The opposite giant ongoing venture is the Pop Century foyer overhaul. Right here’s the authentic bulletin from Walt Disney Global about this venture:
From July 28 via
early Octobera minimum of early Novembermid-November 2025, the foyer at Disney’s Pop Century Hotel can be getting a retro-inspired refresh. The foyer will stay open all the way through building and all facilities can be to be had. Visitors would possibly listen or see repairs within the space till paintings is entire.
As you’ll be able to see from the strikethroughs, this was once going to be completed early closing month earlier than being prolonged via a minimum of early November. It’s since been prolonged to mid-November, even supposing “a minimum of” early November technically supplies limitless wiggle room.
Regardless, right here’s a take a look at development as of mid-November:
It’s tough to gauge development on a venture like this. The paintings is going on solely in the back of scrims, and the ones can come down in a single day.
In truth, it’s solely conceivable that those footage are already out of date, and paintings is now completed. It’s additionally conceivable that it seems to be precisely the similar as of these days, and can the following day, and subsequent week, and into December.
The excellent news is that this isn’t be a “generification” that makes the foyer bland and dull. Previous to this foyer renovation, the foyer was once appearing its age with muted colours and pale surfaces. What we’ve noticed emerge from in the back of the partitions so far is colourful, that includes Disney characters and pa artwork.
On the subject of substantive adjustments, there at the moment are check-in kiosks versus a unified entrance table; that’s the route Walt Disney Global has long past with each and every unmarried foyer refurbishment in the previous couple of years. I don’t truly have a powerful opinion on those.
The concept is that they’re extra free-flowing and make allowance iPad sporting Solid Participants to means visitors, as an alternative of conserving them caught in the back of a counter. It’s not going that Walt Disney Global is spending such a lot cash ‘modernizing’ check-in counters for no reason why, so visitor reaction is probably certain.
The largest problem of this foyer replace is that the memorabilia-filled shadow containers that had been at the partitions at the moment are long past. No less than, within the preliminary sections that experience emerged. The ones had been chock-full of dad artwork, and are one of the vital on-theme sides of the hotel. They’ve been changed with personality artwork that’s “extra Disney,” and does appearance great. My hope is that there’s nonetheless a shadow field or two within the middle segment as a compromise and nod to the previous of the hotel, however I’m now not keeping out a lot hope.
All in all, I do suppose this new foyer seems to be great. And it most definitely does make sense to weave extra Disney references into Pop Century, as I’m guessing that comports with visitor expectancies. Every yr got rid of from the many years represented at Pop Century arguably makes the hotel resonate much less with more youthful generations.
Those aren’t the one contemporary primary adjustments at Pop Century. The hotel has wrapped up a long refurbishment of The whole thing POP Buying groceries & Eating that has been prolonged a couple of occasions, however is now completed.
This new seating space is sweet, with mid-century stylization and way more vibrance and visible passion than the outdated seating space had. The colours, patterns, and textures all paintings neatly. It seems to be blank and has a pop aptitude due to the upholstery, ground, and lighting fixtures. There’s additionally a greater diversity to the seating, with cubicles, tables, and chairs including a extra laid again living room form of vibe.
As a part of this venture, Walt Disney Global additionally added a New Espresso Store to Pop Century Hotel. That provides forte drinks to sit up visitors all through the day, and is the entire reason Disney switched up the manner of seating round The whole thing Pop.
Right here’s a ton of footage from The whole thing Pop, that includes the whole lot from resort-specific products to forte entrees, the recent seating spaces, and extra:
Additionally at the horizon this wintry weather, all routes of the Disney Skyliner gondolas can be closed for refurbishment from January 25, 2026 via January 31, 2026. Complimentary bus provider can be to be had as a substitute.
This affects Pop Century and Artwork of Animation headed to Caribbean Seashore, in addition to the hub station to each Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT’s Global Gateway. (And all different Skyliner motels and stations, for that topic.)
We strongly suggest keeping off Skyliner motels all the way through this time, which does now not come with the Crescent Lake inns. See Disney Skyliner Gondolas Ultimate for Fast Refurbishment in 2026 for more information and detailed recommendation.
Every other contemporary alternate that affects Pop Century–in an effective way–is Walt Disney Global rolling out Airport Baggage Switch on the Worth Accommodations. Visitors staying at those Walt Disney Global Hotel inns can drop checked luggage off with Baggage Help to be delivered immediately on your flight.
A brand new third-party provider, referred to as BagCheck, will take your baggage immediately to the airport to your Southwest Airways flight. These days, this pilot provider is to be had at Worth Hotel inns for Visitors with Southwest Airways flights departing from Orlando Global Airport (MCO).
This began again within the spring, and briefly expanded from Pop Century to the All Stars and Artwork of Animation. The dangerous information is that it hasn’t began at any of the Reasonable or Deluxe Accommodations. The excellent news is that Airport Baggage Switch at Worth Accommodations is To be had for Arrivals Beginning Later in November 2025!
As for whether or not you will have to keep away from Pop Century within the near-term because of every other building venture, the solution is a straightforward no. There are simultaneous tasks (for now), however the visitor have an effect on of every is minimum. Pop Century having clusters of outlying structures makes this kind of venture much less intrusive than it’d be at lots of the different motels.
We wouldn’t hesitate to stick at Pop Century between now and Spring 2026; we’d merely make a room request for one of the most completed structures within the 50s, or for any place however the 80s and 90s.
Realistically, although, the chances are for your want to get a brand new room even with out creating a request. The one to be had structures that haven’t been redone and feature doable building affects are 7 and eight. And shortly, a type of can be down, too.
Structures 1-6 and 10 are achieved, and that’s ~70% of room stock at Pop Century. Simplest ~20% of the rooms are nonetheless the 2017 antique at this level. (The remainder ~10% are beneath the knife, and unavailable.)
In the end, we’re proud of Disney’s Pop Century Hotel getting such a lot consideration. We had been fanatics of the hotel earlier than, and all of those tasks and improvements handiest makes it higher. The cushy items room refurbishment, particularly, has been a good fortune at addressing lawsuits in regards to the rooms being bland and dull.
From our standpoint, the whole lot at the above listing qualifies as “handiest” incremental enhancements–however they’re however noteworthy. The aesthetics are getting higher, giving the hotel extra of a mid-century taste with extra persona and pops of colour. If the new-look foyer is anything else just like the The whole thing POP refresh, it will have to be every other win.
Pop Century does now not “want” enhancements to just about the similar level as different motels, but it surely’s nonetheless great to look it receiving TLC. There’s a reason Pop Century is so prime up our Ratings of All Walt Disney Global Accommodations from Very best to Worst!
Making plans a Walt Disney Global travel? Find out about inns on our Walt Disney Global Motels Evaluations web page. For the place to devour, learn our Walt Disney Global Eating place Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to shop for, learn our Guidelines for Saving Cash on Walt Disney Global Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take a look at artful pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney Global Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most efficient position to begin is our Walt Disney Global Commute Making plans Information for the whole lot you want to grasp!
Your Ideas
Are you partial to Disney’s Pop Century Hotel? Serious about the hotel overhaul or involved Pop will lose its persona? Happy by means of the The whole thing POP refresh and new espresso store? What in regards to the extra colourful rooms? Have you ever stayed at Pop Century all the way through the cushy items refurbishment? Care to percentage your revel in–excellent or dangerous? Any questions we will be able to allow you to resolution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas under within the feedback!
