Disney’s Pop Century Resort has been a staple of Walt Disney World Resort for years, welcoming guests with its bright, retro-inspired decor and value-friendly rates. But in 2025, the hotel has been undergoing one of the most extensive overhauls in its history, and guests are seeing major changes that signal the end of the resort as many longtime visitors remember it.
In late 2024, Walt Disney World Resort began a partial closure of the Everything POP Shopping & Dining area at Pop Century. The food court and gift shop were refurbished in phases, with modernized seating and refreshed artwork that maintained the resort’s nostalgic charm. This portion of the project wrapped up in January 2025, leaving guests with a brighter and more functional dining space.
Shortly after completing the dining area updates, Disney announced that room renovations would begin at Pop Century from March 2025 through mid-February 2026. While all amenities remain available, guests may experience some daytime noise or construction activity in their hallways.
July 28 marked the beginning of an extensive lobby renovation at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Walt Disney World Resort shared on its website that the space “will be getting a retro-inspired refresh.” Guests can still access the lobby and other resort amenities during construction, though they might hear or see minor maintenance. The lobby project is scheduled to finish in early October.
Pop Century has a fun self-service welcome center while the lobby is being renovated!
Beyond major construction projects, Disney has quietly implemented smaller updates throughout Pop Century Resort. For example, the large Baloo and Mowgli Jungle Book (1967) statues near the Hippy Dippy Pool were repainted in January 2025. Many of these changes are completed overnight or during hours when most guests visit the Disney parks.
Looking ahead to early 2026, Walt Disney World Resort guests will face another temporary change. The Disney Skyliner will close for annual maintenance from January 25 through January 31, 2026. During this time, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort guests will rely on bus transportation to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This annual shutdown is not unusual, although it was skipped in 2025.
Has the lobby renovation impacted your stay at Disney’s Pop Century Resort? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments!
