News Disney’s Pop Century Resort Lobby to Undergo Retro-Inspired Refresh

[JohnD]

It was a dated lobby. I am excited for the refresh with maintaining the time capsules hung on the walls.

How does a lobby look dated in a resort which purposely has a theme that is, well, dated?

 

[castlecake2.0]

I agree.

But after what they did at OKW I don’t trust them. Someone will decide what POP needs is “more Disney”.

I think they heard the feedback after that (and Saratoga) fiasco. I think they’ve done beach club and boardwalk since and they scaled back on the cover everything in paint and wayfair furniture approach.

 

[Comped]

I'm such a sucker for those shadowboxes on display...I was happy to find the life magazine of WDW grand Opening at a antique store...

But, there was one that always stuck out with me since it just looked it was just to tie in with the live action My Favorite Martian movie from Disney bit seeing this is one of the more memorable items I have seen there displayed.

Fun fact - many items have name tags on them somewhere with particular CM names. That's because when the place opened, Disney borrowed many items from CMs with historical significance, with the intent of perhaps giving them back if the lobby was ever renovated and them removed. Others were bought outright at garage sales around Central Florida, as far away as Titusville (which may or may not have supplied the Apollo items, I was never able to get a firm answer on that). No idea if Disney does kntend on returning items if those displays get removed, or if it's all getting archived (or more likely CC or a licensed reseller or auctioned, or perhaps even just straight up trashed). There is some really weird stuff in there that Disney would never approve today, including references to multiple competing studios and theme parks. Last time I checked there were also more Disneyland related items (and pictures throughout the lobby) than WDW ones.

I would put good money on the desks being minimized or removed entirely as well, since Disney seems to love having their concierges do everything on iPads (except dining reservation related things because it seems like the program doesn't work on them). And you really don't need desks if they can just stand around a small table or something and maybe have one or two computers if absolutely required. Of course I have really disagreed with removing the desks (I don't believe Disney should be forcing the iPads at the very least because of technological issues, never mind how weird it looks to have those computers basically be unused despite it being easier for them to use the computers vs the iPads to do their work) and every concierge I talked at the resort definitely used the desks (and the computers) to some level. The one thing I am not as sure about is if they are also going to refresh the lobby music to be much more Disney focused (there are barely any beyond I believe four of them, referencing Robin Hood, Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, and TLK, in that order). Dolly might be a survivor of that purge because Disney now owns the rights to 9 to 5 (the film). The song does not ever play at 9:00 a.m. or 5:00 p.m., but that's besides the point...

 

[jmuboy]

I am indifferent if the lobby updates gets a look and feel similar to the recent Everything POP food court updates. BUT - these retro displays of artifacts HAVE to stay as part of the new design. They - ARE - such a cool and integral part of how the lobby conveys the hotel's theme. I am keeping my fingers crossed for the displays to survive.

 

[nickys]

I have heard bad news…..

The displays are being removed. And according to CMs they are being replaced by painted walls.

Now technically, I guess, that doesn’t necessarily mean the displays won’t return. Or maybe there will be decades-themed murals.

But it doesn’t sound hopeful.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Haha, point taken! But I do think that it can be redesigned in a way that pays homage to the decades without looking like it hasn't been touched since those decades.

They should add a second 50’s Primetime restaurant at POP…an actual TS at POP & accessible for the guests at AoA…if not 50’s, make a section of the restaurant for each decade…THAT would be awesome!

 

[Comped]

I have heard bad news…..

The displays are being removed. And according to CMs they are being replaced by painted walls.

Now technically, I guess, that doesn’t necessarily mean the displays won’t return. Or maybe there will be decades-themed murals.

But it doesn’t sound hopeful.

Shame. Was always a fun part of my time at Pop to go through them with guests. Made the evenings (especially) go by a little quicker!