food IS a theme park
A lot of construction is happening in Disney World right now, not just in the parks, but also at some Disney World hotels.
Pop Century Resort
In fact, two hotels are currently getting brand-new lobbies. Now, we’ve seen big progress on the new lobby at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, but now we’re going to show you a look at how the lobby work is going at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and you’re either going to love it…or hate it!
Disney’s Pop Century Resort is one of the most popular value resorts at Disney World, and for good reason.
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Bright, larger-than-life icons from the ’50s through the ’90s make every corner feel fun, while its convenient Skyliner access puts you just a ride away from EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. I’ve stayed at this resort 5 times, and there are a few things I’ve learned from that! This resort is affordable, colorful, and packed with Disney charm, but like any resort stay, there are a few things I quickly realized would have made my trip even smoother.
When it comes to rope dropping at Walt Disney World, not every hotel is created equal.
Bright and early at Magic Kingdom
Rope dropping, the process of showing up to a theme park before it opens and then subsequently getting phased deeper and deeper into the park as it gradually becomes available to the public, has become popular among guests as it usually provides you with the shortest wait times of the day and a leg up on guests who show up later. With that said, it’s more like ripping off a Band-Aid rather than something you’ll love to do. Rope dropping at Disney World requires you to get up EARLY, and it could be even earlier than you think once you start factoring in transportation times. On top of that, Walt Disney World hotel guests receive Eary Entry benefits to the resort’s parks. We’ve rope dropped from many different hotels over the years, and if you want to quickly get to rope drop and make the most out of your day, avoid these hotels and opt for their substitutions for a shorter commute.
There have been a lot of changes already this year at Disney World, and there are still SO many to come. Construction is already in progress for new expansions like Pueblo Esperanza in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Piston Peak National Park, and the Villains Land in Magic Kingdom, and the new Monsters, Inc. Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s BoardWalk
There have also been a lot of changes at Disney World hotels, so we thought we would round up some of the biggest changes that have hit Disney World hotels in 2025!
Refurbishments are nothing new at Walt Disney World, as rides at all four theme parks are often under refurbishment. However, it’s not ONLY the parks that are having work done.
A new Bay Lake Tower room
There is A LOT of construction work going on at Disney World, and some of that construction work involves remodeling rooms across numerous Disney World hotels. If you hope to find yourself staying in a recently refurbished hotel room, then we are rounding up the Disney World hotels with brand-new rooms in 2025.
Now that we’ve kicked off the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival and seen the opening of The Beak and Barrel in Magic Kingdom, we can take a little bit of a breather…
Vegetable Wrap
Just kidding! We never take a break from Disney food (and why would we want to?). So this week, we took the opportunity to revisit one of our favorite underrated Disney World hotel restaurants, as well as checked out a new EPCOT Food and Wine Festival breakfast buffet offering. PLUS Disney World restaurants were busy getting changed this week, and we always have to keep you updated on that. So let’s get to those updates.
Change is the name of the game in Disney World because EVERYTHING seems to be changing all at once. Magic Kingdom recently closed Rivers of America to make way for a new Cars Expansion, while a new Villains Land is being built behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which is also being updated. Oh, and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is getting updated, too.
Pop Century Resort
Then there are new lands coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (which is also getting a new show in the Tree of Life). Y’all…it is a LOT. Even Test Track in EPCOT recently changed. Well, some big changes are also coming to Disney World hotels, including Disney’s Pop Century Resort. We got a firsthand look at the changes at Pop Century…and well…you’ll see.
Doing your homework before picking the perfect Disney World hotel for you and your family is important, and it never hurts to get some tips from Disney World hotel experts!
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
An incredibly popular value hotel option at Disney World, Disney’s Pop Century Resort is an affordably priced resort along the Disney Skyliner route that offers fun theming based on pop culture throughout the decades. Over the years, the DFB team and I have stayed here, learning all about the resort and coming up with tips that could help you during your next vacation. If you’re thinking about staying here, there are a few tips you should be aware of that aren’t always apparent — even in the fine print.
Happy Halloween! Yes, it’s officially Halloween in Disney World. The decorations are up and we’ve already been to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
Magic Potion Slushy
Now, we’ve already been trying out a lot of the new Halloween snacks arriving in the parks, but we’re still keeping an eye on restaurant menus, too. Yep, you know what time it is — it’s time to look at the restaurant menus that changed this week.
Okay, there is a LOT of construction happening in Disney World. In the parks, Magic Kingdom is getting a new expansion and a new land, plus two rides are getting updated. In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, an area is getting updated, and a new land is being constructed. In Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a new land is on the way. Yep, there are construction walls EVERYWHERE.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney World hotels are also undergoing quite a bit of construction right now. In fact, recently, a total of FOUR hotels have announced closures due to refurbishment and construction work.
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