Disney’s Pop Century Resort Photo Walk 2012 in 200 Photos

It’s time to start updating all of my old Walt Disney World photo walks that I created in 2007 for what was then my new website (Mousesteps is now 5 years old!) When Mousesteps started, that was really my only goal – to showcase photo walks and include dining reviews. I started getting asked for construction photos while out and about, and I got sidetracked! Today I’m revisiting Disney’s Pop Century Resort for a new photo walk.

I am starting in the same location as I did in 2007. While I am local to Walt Disney World, I was staying for a free dining trip in the 90’s section back then when I was a travel agent – I’ve stayed at Disney’s Pop Century more than nearly any other resort except for Disney’s Polynesian Resort, with an estimated 60-70 room nights over the years. When Disney’s Pop Century Resort opened, it was an upgraded value resort experience in many tangible ways from Disney’s All Star Resorts, and it is my favorite value resort. Disney’s Art of Animation will be a completely new value resort experience, and I’m looking forward to it when opens this year. We’ve been following the construction of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort since the beginning!

I am starting the walk at building 8. First I photograph the walk, then I time it – in case you want to try it yourself and need an estimate (or to approximate walk times between different areas of the resort). My pace is around 3mph.

I’m starting the walk at 10:43am.

While the 90’s area feels far from the main building (Classic Hall), guests take a shortcut to the bus transportation and food court by heading the opposite way around the parking lot. This area is actually my least favorite in the resort, I prefer the 50’s buildings around the bowling pin pool when I stay onsite.

 

We are walking alongside building 8 on the left, and there is a Rubik’s Cube on the right. These enormous icons cover the stairwells to hide them.

 

 

The computer pool is now to my right:

 

There is a computer icon up above (to my left), with the date hearkening back to the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. I remember the opening of the park, I actually went to a pre-opening day and the park was packed like I’ve never seen it since (until mid-afternoon, anyway).

 

Walking straight past the 90’s buildings:

 

 

 

The computer pool is on the right:

 

 

I was going to continue on along the sidewalk past the 80’s buildings, but I needed to cut across the pool area due to some work on the Rubik’s Cube ahead that closed the sidewalk:

 

 

I walk into the pool area:

 

 

And past the bathrooms (on the left) to get to the sidewalk that is on the left side of the pool, then veering to the right:

 

 

The buildings across the pool from me say “Yuppies” and “Breakdance”:

 

 

I’m on the sidewalk now, and across the courtyard is “Fer Shure”. I remember that from the 80’s, but I wish I didn’t!

 

 

 

We are passing building 7 and heading towards Roger Rabbit, which was also undergoing some work.

 

 

Roger Rabbit is being sanded and repainted:

 

 

We are walking forward, past building 7 at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. To the right is a computer keyboard, which makes the pool look like a computer when seen from above:

We now head towards the Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head figures, and I arrive to them at 10:46am:

 

 

To the left, there is another walkway if you’d like to add a segment to the walk. It doesn’t go very far. We are taking a right to walk most of the length of Hourglass Lake.

 

 

Turning right, we are passing Hourglass Lake on the left hand side. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will be opening across the lake in phases, starting in May 2012.

 

 

Various signs line the walkway with notable dates in history, starting with the 1950’s:

 

 

 

I was young when 8-track tapes went out of fashion:

 

 

 

Passing Building 6 on the right:

 

 

 

One of my favorite items I owned in the 1970’s, a mood ring (I have one now too):

 

Walking straight, with Hourglass Lake to the left:

 

 

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort being built across Hourglass Lake:

 

 

 

Walking forward, we are heading towards the bridge that is coming into view. I always have liked the bridge, and it photographs very well in the morning.

 

 

Another peek at the Art of Animation construction:

 

 

 

A Duncan Yo-Yo is on our right hand side, as we pass building 5 in the 60’s section:

 

 

 

The bridge is ahead with Disney’s Art of Animation construction behind it:

 

 

Heading forward on the path, with a green Duncan Yo-Yo coming up on the right:

 

 

We are turning left at the Generation Gap Bridge, which I arrive to at 10:51am – 8 minutes after starting. The years that were going to be part of the Legendary Years portion of the Pop Century Resort (now Disney’s Art of Animation) are not yet gone from the bridge.

 

I walked to the end of the bridge to the wall that separates Disney’s Pop Century from the upcoming Art of Animation Resort, then started heading back. I can’t wait until the bridge actually goes somewhere! The bowling pins from the 50’s buildings always create a pretty reflection on the lake:

 

 

 

This year marker should be gone soon:

 

 

We are turning left towards the 60’s and 50’s buildings at the end of the bridge:

 

 

Once we are walking again with the lake to our left, you can see the Little Mermaid area of Disney’s Art of Animation across the water, which is the last area to be finished in late 2012:

 

 

Our walk is taking us now from the 60’s to the 50’s straight ahead:

 

 

 

We are passing building 3, I arrive here at 10:56am. This has been my favorite building to stay in at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, on the first floor near the bowling pin pool. It’s convenient to the main building and the feature Hippy Dippy Pool as well. The rooms  have great soundproofing, I never heard much even with the pool right ouside the room.