Walt Disney World is within the midst of a number of tasks at Pop Century Resort, together with a year-long room overhaul that’ll be accomplished in 2026. That’s simply one in every of 4 enhancement tasks on the Worth Resort this 12 months and subsequent, just a few of which have already completed. This shares new mid-November building photographs, dates & particulars, plus our commentary in regards to the scope, scale & visitor impacts of the work.
The refreshes and reimaginings at Disney’s Pop Century Resort are one of some resort tasks between now and 2027, with a number of different standard resorts beneath refurbishment now or within the coming months. Regulate our Walt Disney World Resort Development Tracker for additional updates. (That’s truly due for an replace within the subsequent few days primarily based on our check-ins with a number of tasks round Walt Disney World. Keep tuned.)
Let’s begin with the official ‘warning’ bulletin from Walt Disney World in regards to the Pop Century room redo: “From March 2025 by mid-February 2026, refurbishment work will happen in choose areas of Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Whereas Friends might even see or hear work within the space throughout daytime hours, most Resort facilities—together with eating, recreation, and merchandise areas—will stay out there.”
It’s straightforward to overlook, however Walt Disney World quietly modified the completion timeline for these rooms from mid-February 2026 to simply February 2026. Actually, I’m not even positive when this language tweak was made–I simply caught it for the primary time when sitting down to put in writing this text. (Therefore it being straightforward to overlook!)
This may very well be as a result of the undertaking is anticipated to be completed earlier within the month, so mid-February 2026 is now not apt. I’m skeptical of that. When Walt Disney World desires to offer itself extra wiggle room on a undertaking, they’ll usually scale back specificity. So my finest guess is that the expectation is now late February 2026.
The brand new rooms characteristic extra pops of shade, a patterned flooring inlay, new furnishings, curtains, and different furnishing refreshes. These rooms are an incremental improve, and the fan suggestions has been principally optimistic. I haven’t heard something unfavorable in regards to the earlier than vs. after, which is smart provided that the modifications are minor. The response has been impartial to optimistic.
You may see these for your self in First Look Picture Tour of New Rooms at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. We’re followers of the refreshed rooms at Pop Century, however then once more, we liked the unique technology of “new” rooms that debuted again in 2017. From a practical perspective, the Worth Resorts are truthfully a few of our favourite commonplace lodging at Walt Disney World proper now.
I used to be simply at Pop Century this week and checked out progress on all the tasks. Listed below are new building photographs of the room redo:
Presently, Constructing 9 is in progress. Buildings 7 and eight but not but begun. This part across the Laptop Pool is the remaining cluster of buildings to be accomplished.
Out of curiosity, I requested just a few Forged Members on the entrance desk once they anticipated the undertaking to be accomplished. They mentioned the cadence has been about one constructing per 30 days, suggesting it’s attainable for the overhaul to wrap up in early 2026. Possibly even January versus February.
I’d take this with a grain of salt. Provided that these tasks usually pause (or reduce) for peak vacation dates in November and December, it wouldn’t be in the least stunning for Constructing 9 to complete this month or in early December with out Buildings 7-8 beginning at the moment.
That leaves the door open for Walt Disney World to have full room stock on the highly-popular Pop Century in the course of the coronary heart of the vacation season. Maybe not, however that’s one thing that’s been occurring with room refurbishments in the previous few years.
As for the visitor impression of the room renovations at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, it’s minimal.
I used to be initially inclined to say “nearly nonexistent” primarily based on our expertise, however reminded myself that my anecdotal snapshot-in-time expertise isn’t consultant of everybody else’s. There have been instances previously when, as a substitute of reopening or closing a whole constructing throughout peak season dates, Disney splits the constructing in half to extend room availability.
Which is to say that in the event you discovered your self staying in Buildings 7-9 within the subsequent month or two throughout their building, you would really feel a big impression. However that’s purely theoretical–not what’s occurring now. Simply in strolling across the 80s and 90s part, the work was barely noticeable. I wouldn’t be stunned if some company staying on this part are completely oblivious to the continued work.
For everybody else, the impression is nearly nonexistent. It’s troublesome to even inform which constructing is beneath refurbishment except you stroll proper as much as it. Though it’s a year-long undertaking, this can be a smooth items refurbishment, and isn’t creating visible blight across the exteriors of buildings. We stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter across the similar level final 12 months in its year-long overhaul, and that was a lot extra impactful. That is nothing by comparability.
The opposite massive ongoing undertaking is the Pop Century foyer overhaul. Right here’s the official bulletin from Walt Disney World about this undertaking:
From July 28 by
early Octoberat the least early Novembermid-November 2025, the foyer at Disney’s Pop Century Resort will likely be getting a retro-inspired refresh. The foyer will stay open throughout building and all facilities will likely be out there. Friends could hear or see upkeep within the space till work is full.
As you’ll be able to see from the strikethroughs, this was going to be completed early final month earlier than being prolonged by at the least early November. It’s since been prolonged to mid-November, though “at the least” early November technically gives limitless wiggle room.
Regardless, right here’s a take a look at progress as of mid-November:
It’s troublesome to gauge progress on a undertaking like this. The work is occurring totally behind scrims, and people can come down in a single day.
In truth, it’s totally attainable that these photographs are already out of date, and work is now completed. It’s additionally attainable that it seems precisely the identical as of right now, and can tomorrow, and subsequent week, and into December.
The excellent news is that this isn’t be a “generification” that makes the foyer bland and boring. Previous to this foyer renovation, the foyer was exhibiting its age with muted colours and pale surfaces. What we’ve seen emerge from behind the partitions to date is vibrant, that includes Disney characters and pop artwork.
By way of substantive modifications, there at the moment are check-in kiosks versus a unified entrance desk; that’s the route Walt Disney World has gone with each single foyer refurbishment in the previous few years. I don’t actually have a robust opinion on these.
The thought is that they’re extra free-flowing and permit iPad carrying Forged Members to method company, as a substitute of preserving them caught behind a counter. It’s unlikely that Walt Disney World is spending a lot cash ‘modernizing’ check-in counters for no motive, so visitor response is presumably optimistic.
The most important draw back of this foyer replace is that the memorabilia-filled shadow bins that had been on the partitions at the moment are gone. No less than, within the preliminary sections which have emerged. These had been chock-full of pop artwork, and are one of the on-theme facets of the resort. They’ve been changed with character artwork that’s “extra Disney,” and does look good. My hope is that there’s nonetheless a shadow field or two within the heart part as a compromise and nod to the previous of the resort, however I’m not holding out a lot hope.
All in all, I do assume this new foyer seems good. And it most likely does make sense to weave extra Disney references into Pop Century, as I’m guessing that comports with visitor expectations. Every year faraway from the a long time represented at Pop Century arguably makes the resort resonate much less with youthful generations.
These aren’t the one current main modifications at Pop Century. The resort has wrapped up a prolonged refurbishment of Every thing POP Procuring & Eating that has been prolonged just a few instances, however is now completed.
This new seating space is sweet, with mid-century stylization and much more vibrance and visible curiosity than the previous seating space had. The colours, patterns, and textures all work effectively. It seems clear and has a pop aptitude due to the upholstery, flooring, and lighting fixtures. There’s additionally a higher selection to the seating, with cubicles, tables, and chairs including a extra laid again lounge kind of vibe.
As a part of this undertaking, Walt Disney World additionally added a New Espresso Store to Pop Century Resort. That gives specialty drinks to perk up company all through the day, and is the entire motive why Disney switched up the type of seating round Every thing Pop.
Right here’s a ton of photographs from Every thing Pop, that includes every part from resort-specific merchandise to specialty entrees, the brand new seating areas, and extra:
Additionally on the horizon this winter, all routes of the Disney Skyliner gondolas will likely be closed for refurbishment from January 25, 2026 by January 31, 2026. Complimentary bus service will likely be out there instead.
This impacts 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 Worldwide Gateway. (And all different Skyliner resorts and stations, for that matter.)
We strongly advocate avoiding Skyliner resorts throughout this time, which does not embrace the Crescent Lake resorts. See Disney Skyliner Gondolas Closing for Fast Refurbishment in 2026 for more information and detailed recommendation.
One other current change that impacts Pop Century–in a great way–is Walt Disney World rolling out Airport Baggage Switch on the Worth Resorts. Friends staying at these Walt Disney World Resort resorts can drop checked baggage off with Baggage Help to be delivered on to your flight.
A brand new third-party service, referred to as BagCheck, will take your baggage on to the airport to your Southwest Airways flight. Presently, this pilot service is offered at Worth Resort resorts for Friends with Southwest Airways flights departing from Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO).
This began again within the spring, and shortly 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 Average or Deluxe Resorts. The excellent news is that Airport Baggage Switch at Worth Resorts is Accessible for Arrivals Beginning Later in November 2025!
As for whether or not it is best to keep away from Pop Century within the near-term attributable to one other building undertaking, the reply is a simple no. There are simultaneous tasks (for now), however the visitor impression of every is minimal. Pop Century having clusters of outlying buildings makes this kind of undertaking much less intrusive than it’d be at lots of the different resorts.
We wouldn’t hesitate to remain at Pop Century between now and Spring 2026; we’d merely make a room request for one of many completed buildings within the 50s, or for wherever however the 80s and 90s.
Realistically, although, the chances are in your favor to get a brand new room even with out making a request. The one out there buildings that haven’t been redone and have potential building impacts are 7 and eight. And shortly, a type of will likely be down, too.
Buildings 1-6 and 10 are completed, and that’s ~70% of room stock at Pop Century. Solely ~20% of the rooms are nonetheless the 2017 classic at this level. (The remaining ~10% are beneath the knife, and unavailable.)
Finally, we’re happy with Disney’s Pop Century Resort getting a lot consideration. We had been followers of the resort earlier than, and all of those tasks and enhancements solely makes it higher. The smooth items room refurbishment, specifically, has been successful at addressing complaints in regards to the rooms being bland and boring.
From our perspective, every part on the above listing qualifies as “solely” incremental enhancements–however they’re however noteworthy. The aesthetics are getting higher, giving the resort extra of a mid-century type with extra character and pops of shade. If the new-look foyer is something just like the Every thing POP refresh, it ought to be one other win.
Pop Century doesn’t “want” enhancements to almost the identical diploma as different resorts, however it’s nonetheless good to see it receiving TLC. There’s a motive why Pop Century is so excessive up our Rankings of All Walt Disney World Resorts from Finest to Worst!
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Your Ideas
Are you a fan of Disney’s Pop Century Resort? Excited in regards to the resort overhaul or involved Pop will lose its character? Happy by the Every thing POP refresh and new espresso store? What in regards to the extra colourful rooms? Have you ever stayed at Pop Century in the course of the smooth items refurbishment? Care to share your expertise–good or dangerous? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
