One of my favorite value resorts at Walt Disney World just got a major change. There was a big focus on the interior design. These changes have been a bit controversial, with many Disney adults pushing back on the removal of some nostalgic touches.
Let’s get into the details of these new changes at our favorite value resort, with before-and-after comparisons of the upgrades and design refreshes across the resort. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including a new Disneyland ride refurbishment and a change to a top favorite menu item.
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Pop Century Resort’s Controversial Lobby Changes
Disney just finished its design refresh at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, which is our favorite value resort at Walt Disney World. These design refreshes focused on the lobby, Petals Pool Bar, and room updates to brighten up these spaces.
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The most controversial design update amongst these changes is the removal of the popular artifacts in shadow boxes in the Pop Century lobby space. This large collection of memorabilia has now all been replaced with vinyl wall wraps featuring brighter colors and characters.
You can see the before and after of this change above. The shadow boxes filled with collectible items from the 1970s through the 1990s have all been removed and replaced with these new wall graphics. The seating has also been updated with new cushions that match the Pop Century aesthetic with a more modern flair.
With a closer look, you can see that the timeline marking the decades has also been removed and covered up with the new graphics.
These are the shadow boxes of collectible items that have been removed from the lobby, which has upset guests. These shadow boxes featured such a great collection of nostalgic items. I always especially loved the Disney items from the 1990s that were right out of my childhood.
The area with cushions and seating has also been updated. The framed artwork has been removed from the walls and replaced with more of these wrapped graphic designs. The space does look much brighter, and that is a notable improvement despite the removal of the previous artwork.
Overall, it is disappointing to see these shadow boxes and framed artwork removed. The color refresh and seating updates were needed, but I can’t help but wonder if Disney could have kept the memorabilia while also incorporating these bolder, brighter designs.
Do you like the changes? Please let me know in the comments which way you go on these?
Pop Century Rooms Received New Updates
The rooms at Pop Century Resort also got a refresh with a focus on the addition of new flooring that includes a geometric inset area with pops of blue, gray, green, and orange. The curtains and patterned upholstery were also updated, as you can see above in the chair design. The new chair upholstery also has some hidden Mickeys!
Soft sky-blue accents were also added near the bed wall and bathroom. You can see the change in the wall color in the photo above. The rooms at Pop Century Resort underwent a major overhaul in 2018, which added the Murphy bed design, and it’s nice to see Disney ensuring these rooms remain up to date.
Petals Bar Gets Upgrades and New Backsplash
Petals Bar also received refreshed finishes (most notable is the new orange backsplash behind the bar), along with thoughtful updates that make ordering easier. This isn’t the only update to the dining spaces at Pop Century Resort. Updates from last March included a refreshed dining and shopping space, as well as the addition of a new coffee shop.
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I love this value resort, and I’m always happy to see Disney dedicate their time to keeping these resorts up to date. But I will miss the memorabilia and nostalgia in the lobby. This will still remain one of our favorites due to the theming and easy access to the Skyliner.
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