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Disney’s Pop Century Resort The Legendary Years |
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At Walt Disney World, a year can last 27 months, but a century is only 50 years. The 20th century consisted of five decades: the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. At least that’s how it is at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. That wasn’t the original plan.
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009 |
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Things don’t always work out as planned. As the 20th century was coming to an end, Disney announced plans for a Value Resort celebrating the popular culture of that century. The still-unnamed resort would have 5,760 rooms—as many rooms as all three All Star Resorts combined—spread across 20 buildings to open in two phases. Borrowing the successful formula from Disney’s All Star Resorts, the theme would be conveyed through giant decorations rather than evocative architecture. According to the press release, the new hotel would “send guests on a trip through American popular culture with larger-than-life icons that recall the way we lived, played and communicated during each decade of the 20th century.” In January 2001, Disney released concept art showing that the resort would not only have giant decorations, such as a three-story-tall Big Wheels tricycle, but giant phrases extending above the roof level, such as “Platform Shoes.” The two phases of the Pop Century Resort essentially would be two hotels, each with its own registration desk and food court. The first phase, to be called Pop Century, The Classic Years, would feature the second half of the 20th century and would open before the end of 2001. The second phase, Pop Century, The Legendary Years, would add the first half of the century, probably in 2003. At least that was the plan. In June 2001, Disney postponed the opening until March 2002. Officially, the delay was because Disney had “concerns over the appearance of the partially completed property.” By waiting until March, the main pool and more of the resort would be complete. Some Disney observers suggested that Disney just didn’t need more hotel rooms in the slow economy of 2001. Then came the horrible events of September 11, 2001. Florida tourism plummeted. The following month, Disney announced that Pop Century’s March 2002 opening was canceled, and there was no new date. Guests with reservations would be assigned to other Disney resorts. The first phase of Disney’s Pop Century Resort, which was supposed to open in December 2001, finally opened two years later on December 14, 2003. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009 Do you remember the 1950s? |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009 Do you remember the 1960s? |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009 Do you remember the 1970s? |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009 Do you remember the 1980s? |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009 Do you remember the 1990s? |
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Guests seemed to like the new resort. It was cheap—initially as little as $77 per night. Sure, the rooms were small. But the grounds were spacious. The buildings were colorful. The oversized decorations were fun. The swimming pools were huge. There were plenty of fun details (such as giant 45 rpm records with fake song titles such as “Records Wrecked my Rec Room”). And it was on Walt Disney World property. Not everyone was impressed. Where was the tradition of design, imagination, and quality that Disney is known for? One critic wrote, “In my opinion a giant ‘Do the Funky Chicken’ sign stapled to the top of a four story cellblock just doesn’t fit with that tradition.” |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009 The abandoned Legendary Years site from a Classic Years outside hallway |
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“Would you like a pool view, parking lot view, or ghost resort view?” No, that’s not really a question that Pop Century front desk cast members asked guests. But it could have been. All work on the second phase, located across a narrow lake called Hourglass Lake, had stopped years earlier. From the buildings that faced Hourglass Lake and the walkway along the lake, the abandoned construction site was easy to see. There was no way to hide it. Chain link fences and warning signs kept guests out of the Legendary Years site. The Generation Gap Bridge, a pedestrian bridge across the lake, was open—but tall, dense plantings successfully blocked the view once pedestrians reached the other end. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009 Unfinished Legendary Hall, the registration desk, food court, and shop for the second phase. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009 Weeds growing around the utilities that were meant for future buildings |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009 The Generation Gap Bridge, built to connect the two phases, a bridge to nowhere |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009 Shells of two Legendary Years buildings with doors and windows. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009 Temporary wooden safety railings, making the incomplete buildings look worse than they were |
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The unfinished half of the Pop Century Resort became a popular subject on Disney-related discussion boards. The consensus could be summarized as, “Either finish Pop Century or demolish the eyesore that’s there now.” For years, Disney did neither of those things. Finally, on May 12, 2010, Disney announced plans. But Disney still did neither of those things. “23 SKIDOO” “BEE’S KNEES” “CAT’S PAJAMAS” “IT’S THE BERRIES” These phrases from the first half of the 20th century would never be emblazoned on buildings at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. The partially-built Legendary Years phase, representing the first five decades of the 20th century, would never open. Goodbye, Legendary Years. Hello, Art of Animation. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012 Disney’s Art of Animation Resort |
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Disney proceeded with a different theme and name. Instead of showcasing five decades, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort showcases four animated features: The Lion King, Cars, Finding Nemo, and The Little Mermaid. The first phase opened May 31, 2012—eight and half years after Disney’s Pop Century Resort. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2019 Little Mermaid section |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012 Ursula towering over the Little Mermaid section |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012 Cars section |
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The abandoned buildings with outside hallways became the Little Mermaid section. There are 864 themed rooms similar to other Value Resort rooms. New construction allowed Disney to switch to inside hallways and to build 1,120 family suites. Although Disney had tested family suites at other properties, this was the first time that Disney made a large commitment to families who are too large for conventional rooms or simply want more space. Disney’s announcement did not mention why the company chose not to complete the Pop Century Resort. The Legendary Years phase could have proceeded with inside hallways and family suites. Most likely, the decision makers at Disney felt that the animation theme is more attractive to guests, especially families with children. Also, the percentage of Walt Disney World guests who have personal memories from before 1950—who would be nostalgic for those decades or would even recognize the icons—is ever shrinking. With the opening of the Disney Skyliner on September 29, 2019, Disney’s Pop Century and Disney’s Art of Animation are now connected to two theme parks, the resorts of Crescent Lake, and two other resorts through a fast, fun, and free transportation system. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2019 Disney Skyliner station, attached to the former Generation Gap Bridge |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2019 Disney Skyliner above Hourglass Lake |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2019 Disney Skyliner, passing Disney’s Pop Century |
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Who cares that Disney’s Pop Century Resort is only a Half Century Resort when there’s such a great transportation option? |
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© 2010-2020 Werner Weiss — Disclaimers, Copyright, and Trademarks Updated April 28, 2020. |
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, Curator of Yesterland, November 22, 2019
