Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Your Special Needs Child
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What Type of Resort Is Right For You?
Typically when choosing a Disney resort for your family vacation, many factors play into the choice such as budget, proximity to parks, amenities and even the aesthetics of the resort. But for a family of a child with special needs, the list gets longer and more complicated. Hopefully, the information in this post will help you as you decide.
So here we go with some questions that you may be asking as you decide on a resort for your special needs child.
- Does it have quiet spaces for zen time?
- Are there smaller pools away from noise and commotion?
- Will there be shady open spaces for playing on the grass?
- Are there rooms that are a shorter distance to the food courts, restaurants and buses?
In the future, I will be publishing posts for each Value, Moderate and Deluxe resort describing their particular features and some of their pros and cons for families visiting with special needs kids. I have looked at what they offer in the way of pools, quiet spaces, the location and size as well as food options. The Pop Century is a good one to start with due to its popularity with all families traveling with kids!
Pop Century Resort
The aesthetics of the Pop Century remind me of that fun auntie you can’t wait to see at family functions. She is loud, over the top and so much fun! They are bright and bold and BIG! All the Value resorts have four-story tall icons representing the theme for each designated era. Pop Century has icons representing the eras the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s. For example, the ‘50s building has giant bowling pin icons to match their giant bowling pin pool. In the ‘80s section, there is a giant Big Wheel and Foosball players in their courtyard!
Pop Century Map
Safety Tip!
Hourglass Lake runs along the back of the resort separating Pop Century from its fellow value resort, Art of Animation. Generation Gap Bridge connects the two properties. Also, there is no fence separating the lake from the grassy/marshy areas. If you have a child who is prone to wandering, keep the proximity of the lake in mind.
At the time of this writing, there is heavy construction along half of the Generation Gap bridge for the new Skyline Transportation System. There is a large scrim hiding the construction. The bridge is still passable and construction is set to continue into 2019.
Random Fact!
When looking across Hourglass Lake, from Pop Century you will be able to see another resort; Art of Animation. Guests of each resort, Pop Century and Art of Animation, can access the other resort’s property via the Generation Gap bridge. Art of Animation was originally slated to be a ‘twin’ to Pop Century. The resort was going to promote the decades of the 10’s, 20’s, 30’s, 40’s. This particular theme was canceled and re-imagined into the Art of Animation. So, if the name Generation Gap bridge doesn’t seem to make sense, this is why!
Size
All Disney resorts are big, especially Pop Century! There are 10 buildings with 2,880 rooms total. The resort’s size must be considered from the viewpoint of a special needs child. The sheer size means that it can take a long time to walk from the perimeter of the outer buildings and property to the main lobby, pool and food court. On the other hand, having a room in one of the outer buildings, away from all the hubbub and noise of the main building may be a better choice if you need a quieter room with less foot traffic and activity.
Rooms
The first consideration should be the comfort of the rooms. Pop Century rooms are approximately 260 square feet with two double beds. Currently, Pop Century rooms are undergoing extensive refurbishment. The new rooms now have laminate wood floors replacing the carpet. One of the two full-size beds will now double as a large Murphy bed. This Murphy bed can be easily pulled and attached to the wall. This will allow for a small desk to flip down for working, eating or, in my family’s case, gathering clutter. This new option with the second bed is great for kiddos’ naps during the day when taking a break from the park. Mom and dad have more leg room and table space for feeding kids snacks or setting up items for going back to the parks.
Pools
Every resort has a main pool. It is typically located nearest to the lobby. I call these the Party Pools! They support a schedule of fun activities, trivia, and music playing. If your child enjoys the sensory stimulation and doesn’t mind all the noise and activity, then they will enjoy EVERY Disney main pool. However, if your child has sensory challenges that make it difficult for them to tolerate noise, lots of people or if they are hesitant around water, then the quieter pools may be for you.
The quiet pools are also important to remember if you plan on taking mid-day breaks. If your child has difficulty with modulating incoming sensory input and the sensory stimulation from the parks is a concern, these pools will be a great option for a ‘brain break’. These quieter pools include the Bowling Pool located near the ‘50s section as well as the Computer pool located nearest to the ‘90s section.
These pools are the biggest in comparison to other quiet pools at Disney resorts and even all other Value resorts. The Value resorts have fewer pools with more people to accommodate. Please keep this in mind when making your plans.
Finally, there is the splash area located behind the Hippy Dippy Pool. This is a good option for any children who are uncomfortable in a pool but would like to play in the water and in a low-sensory area.
Safety Tip #3!
All three Pop Century pools do have lifeguards in attendance during posted pool hours with plenty of lifejackets available for use. If you would like to use your child’s preferred life jacket from home and are able to bring with you, you can. If not, don’t worry, there are always lifejackets in multiple sizes for you to use with your child. Please check the hours of the pools, as they fluctuate with the seasons.
Safety Tip #2!
All Disney Value resorts pools use multiple steps to descend into their pools. Only Moderate and Deluxe resorts have zero-entry pools. To conform to regulations, all pools have a handicapped accessible lift down into the water. Be aware that the lifeguards are not trained to use them, so you will be responsible for managing the unit and transporting your child down into the water.
Playgrounds and Green Spaces
Even though Pop Century is a large bustling resort, it does contain several areas with a bit more peace and quiet. So when looking for green spaces to run off your child’s energy or for relaxing in a quiet shaded space, the following places are fantastic for your child to take that brain break.
- Near the ‘80s section, you will find a GIANT replica of a foosball field with players
- Or hop on over to the ‘70s section and play some Twister!
- Head back to the Computer pool and sit in the grass under a grove of trees for shade and quiet time
Food Court
In the ‘Everything Pop’ food court, a few sections open early as early as 6:00 am while all other areas open at 7:00 am. There are many options for picky eaters such as the Mickey waffles, pizza or chicken nuggets. Here is a link to Pop Century’s menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For special dietary needs, Disney does a fantastic job of accommodating allergy and diet restrictions. For a comprehensive site dedicated to all things gluten free or dairy free at Disney resorts and parks, check out glutenfreedairyfreewdw.com. Pop’s food court offers items such as gluten-free pancakes for breakfast and rice crust pizza and chicken tenders for lunch and dinner. Please consult with the cast members about you or your child’s specific dietary needs.
Room Accommodations
Does your child have medications that need to be kept cold? Or maybe has a limited diet and those gummy flavored snacks need to stay in a ‘fridge? These room requirements can make planning a trip a bit more complicated. Fortunately, in 2012 Pop Century installed a mini-fridge in their rooms.
If you should also need or could use a microwave, only the resorts with suites have them. If you really need a microwave, you may request one at the time of the reservation. But keep in mind, there are typically only a few available per resort and they are available on a first come, first served basis. The other alternative is to utilize the self-use microwaves in the food court area. I have even heard of people bringing their own!
Buses
When waiting for your resort bus to transport your family to the Disney parks, look for the monitors that Disney installed in the covered bus depots to display wait times for buses to all the parks, including the water parks and Disney Springs. Utilize this information to help your child understand how long the wait may be for the bus. Fortunately, Pop Century has its own bus service. This means it doesn’t have to share with all the other Value resorts; the All-Star resorts or the Art of Animation. Resorts that share buses with other resorts (such as the All-Star Resorts), or that have several stops within its own property can increase your wait time drastically – coming and going.
To help with bus trip planning, the following is a list of the approximate BUS DRIVE times from Pop Century to the four main parks:
Pop Century to Magic Kingdom ~ 15-20 minutes
Pop Century to Epcot ~ 10-15 minutes
Pop Century to Hollywood Studios ~ 10-15 minutes
Pop Century to Animal Kingdom ~ 10-15 minutes
Note: These times can vary depending on traffic conditions and the current construction in and around Walt Disney World at the time of this writing.
Sensory Suggestion!
In order to start your day’s park touring plans outright, I suggest investing in an app called the Time Timer. Putting this $2.99 app on your phone can be an easy and smart investment in your day. The Time Timer works to help a child understand the concept of time, especially if they are preschool age or on the spectrum. It is especially helpful since the wait time for a bus at Disney can be up to 20 minutes!
Since children with special needs often process visual information better and faster than auditory information, the timer shows a red dial that reduces in size as the time counts down. I use this app every single day with my special needs kids I see in the clinic. They love it and it helps them to get through harder tasks, the transition between activities and understand how much longer they have until they are finished with something (like waiting on a bus) much more easily.
Time Timer has many customizations to help with easier implementation. If your child is too focused on electronics and using the phone or iPad would be too distracting, then purchasing a physical TimeTimer, such as with this Amazon link, to be very beneficial.
Location
When booking your trip, you have the option of a choosing a Disability Access, Preferred or Standard room. When deciding what room in Pop Century is best for your family, there are four options:
- Standard
- Standard Pool
- Preferred
- Preferred Pool
There are pros and cons to Preferred rooms.
Pros
- These rooms are a close walking distance to the amenities of your resort such as the main lobby and pool.
- They will have a nicer view
Cons
- These rooms could also be closer to the noise, activity and foot traffic. Dependent on your child’s sensory issues, this may not be what you need after a long day at the parks!
Which Building Should I Choose?
When deciding which area is best for your special needs child, I would recommend Building 10 in the ‘70s section. When looking at the pros and cons, the ‘70s section is closest to all your needs. It is closest to a quiet pool and doesn’t pass through a smoking section. You or your Disney Travel Agent will be able to call and request this building, but there are no guarantees.
Pros and Cons of Pop Century In Comparison to Other Resorts
Top 3 Pros
- Budget-Friendly – Typically Value resorts, including Pop Century are the cheapest on the property. At the time of this writing, Pop rooms are currently running $127 per night. This rate fluctuates seasonally and during different promotional sales. Please check with a cast member, go online to disneyworld.com/go or contact your Disney Travel Agent for a current rate for your trip date.
- Fun Atmosphere -With its four-story tall icons and life-size yard art, Pop Century is sure to put a smile on your child’s face.
- Added Bonus – With Pop Century connected to Art of Animation by the Generation Gap Bridge, it is an added bonus to have Art of Animation amenities such as the food court in close proximity.
Top 3 Considerations
- School Crowds – Keep in mind that Pop Century is a popular resort for large groups of middle and high school groups such as cheerleading and band. A few busloads of teenagers staying in the same building as you can make for an interesting stay, to say the least.
- Room Size – Aside from the suites at Art of Animation, standard rooms in the Value resorts are the smallest at only 260 square feet. In comparison, Disney’s Moderate resorts rooms run 314 square feet and Deluxe resorts 344 square feet. Believe me, those 54 and 84 extra square feet, respectively, of extra legroom does make a difference.
- Construction – Be aware that at the time of this post, Pop Century is undergoing renovations in several of their buildings.
I hope this helps with your planning a trip to Pop Century! If you have any other questions please leave a comment below.
