
Walt Disney World Resort guests recently noticed something unusual at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, sparking curiosity and debate among fans. A beloved Disney character statue appeared visibly damaged, leading to questions about its condition and Disney’s plans for repair.
Disney Character in Distress
Disney’s Pop Century Resort is known for its massive character statues, each representing a different decade in popular culture. From Mickey Mouse to Roger Rabbit, these towering icons bring the Disney magic to life and create Instagram-worthy photo opportunities for visitors. However, Walt Disney World Resort guests were recently surprised to find one character looking far from magical during their stay.
Baloo, the lovable bear from The Jungle Book (1967), stands proudly alongside his friend Mowgli in the resort’s 1960s section. While Mowgli appeared untouched, Baloo was spotted in an incomplete state, with visible patches and missing paint. The sight left guests wondering whether the bear was simply neglected or undergoing a transformation.
Fans React to Baloo’s Condition
The discussion began when Redditor u/sandy_shark903 shared photos of Baloo’s current state, drawing attention to what they called a desperate need for a new coat of paint. The images showed areas where Baloo’s surface had been patched with spackle, giving him a visibly “distressed” appearance.
Baloo At Pop Century REALLY needs a new coat of paint.
Baloo At Pop Century REALLY needs a new coat of paint
byu/sandy_shark903 inWaltDisneyWorld
What’s Happening Behind the Scenes?
Despite initial concerns about neglect, it seems Walt Disney World Resort is already addressing the issue. According to recent guest reports, Baloo is in the middle of a repair process. Crews are using a portable lift, or cherry-picker, to smooth out the surface and prepare him for a fresh coat of paint. This approach allows Disney cast members to maintain the resort’s magic with minimal disruption to guests.
“They were repairing them the week of Christmas, haven’t painted yet,” said Redditor u/caracs, who noticed the ongoing work during their recent stay.
Another guest, u/MetalAlbatross, confirmed: “I stayed in that building over New Year’s and they were working on him.”
Have you stayed at Disney’s Pop Century Resort? Share your memories with Disney Dining in the comments.
This is NOT typical Disney protocol. The statue should be taken away to be worked on. Disney is not what it used to be.
Not always , having worked and stayed at the sister resort for many years, usually the item is Corrales off and work on unless there’s some major event on site.
Not everything gets taken off site.
Every statue icon at Pop Century gets repainted about every other year, once the character’s original coat of paint is stripped off, they then need to be sanded, this is a process that requires a week or two to set and settle before final painting can be done. It is all apart of the process.
They can not really be quartered off or taken away and replaced due to their size, they are all 4 stories tall, which likely means their foundations are well rooted into the ground, so they are “Hurricane safe”