Disney World’s Pop Century Resort is one of its most popular, but it has made a CONTROVERSIAL change.
Disney’s Pop Century
Recently, the fan-favorite hotel got a major lobby makeover. The resulting refurbishment made everything brighter and more colorful, and admittedly, more eye-catching. However, the changes meant Pop Century lost something we used to LOVE.
Pop Century Resort is themed to the decades in the second half of the 20th century, with room sections for the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Outside of the hotel buildings, you’ll find gigantic artifacts from each decade — household items, toys, games, cultural icons, and more.
Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head!
When the lobby got its makeover, it got a fresh new mural featuring Mickey Mouse and friends. Of course, this adds a bit more Disney spirit into the space, and each of the characters is set amongst icons from a different decade that the resort represents, dressed in outfits to match. There’s Minnie in the 1950s…
Pop Century Resort
…Daisy in the 1960s with peace signs and flowers…
Daisy in the 60s
…Goofy in the 1970s with lava lamps and disco balls…
Goofy in the 70s
…Pluto in the 1980s with arcade games and 3D glasses…
Pluto in the 80s
…and Donald in the 90s with VHS tapes and cell phones. The artwork is certainly fitting for the theme, but it means that Disney ended up removing the beloved shadow boxes from the lobby!
Donald in the 90s
We’re honestly still not over it, because the former shadow boxes held some incredible historical artifacts and fun nods to decades past. The wall was labeled with a timeline, and underneath each year, you’d find old toys, clothes, and gadgets.
Shadow Boxes
Walking through the lobby and looking at pictures from the different decades, plus reminders of our childhood and the lives that our parents and grandparents lived, always made us feel so nostalgic. We would constantly see parents in the lobby explaining the memorabilia to their children as well — like a time capsule of pop culture.
Lobby Shadow Boxes
We get that the new lobby looks fresh and exciting, but there was just something comforting and unifying about the old shadow boxes. We’ll miss them every time we walk through the resort, but at least we can still enjoy the giant versions of some of these artifacts.
Lobby shadow boxes
We’ll make sure to keep you in the loop with any other hotel changes and refurbishments in Disney World.
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For years I’ve been wanting to nip over and see these shadow boxes and now I’m too late. Completely my own fault.
We stay at Pop Century frequently. The shadow boxes were nice and nostalgic, but I really like the new decor. It brightens the lobby. It is a modern version of the decades. I remember when it was being renovated I was taking it all in when a cast member came up to me and asked me what I thought. I told her I liked it and she seemed pleased.
Yes, the shadow boxes were great fun. It would be great if Disney used them elsewhere in the resort.
We agree!! We were also so disappointed last year when we saw the shadow boxes were gone. It was one of our favorite things about Pop Century.
I agree! The new murals are great, but couldn’t the shadow boxes have been re-homed? I get images in my head of these things just being tossed into a dumpster when Disney gets rid of whatever for something new. It dampens my affinity for Disney and my passion for visiting.
I was at Pop a few weeks ago. I was very sad and mad that they removed those shadow boxes! How could they! I’m hoping they will still show up somewhere in Disney Bad. Decision!!!
I cannot believe they removed the memorabilia! It was the best part of the lobby! Makes me so sad.