FINALLY!  I've been waiting for Disney to theme a resort around movie characters...

I just can't help but feel that maybe the resort would be making better numbers if it, oh I don't know, HAD BEEN FINISHED IN THE FIRST PLACE!

Count me disappointed and saddened.  Also how about some building up of the parks before we completely remodel a resort that would be doing better with a little marketing.  What a terrible waste of time, money, and good work.

I've maintained for a while that a Toontown Resort of some sort would probably do really well.  With a character-based theme for the rooms and pool as well as character appearances at the hotel (have a few lesser-seen characters occasionally appearing in the lobby, plus character dining experiences), it seems like it would be the type of resort families would actively flock to.  Of course, once you add in all of the extra touches, such a resort would probably find itself in the Deluxe Resort bracket fairly quickly, but it seemed sensible to me.

I think that the lack of appeal for the resort comes not so much from the periods they choose to represent, but from the way those periods are represented.  It would be one thing if there was a section of the resort with 50s style nuclear age design and architecture, its another when you have that section represented with large flat signs and sculptures of memorabilia from the era.  Not quite as unique or appealing.

Then again, if they designed a resort around 1970s/80s style architecture, that would probably be one of the most unappealing resorts on property.  I think the proposed re-theming is the best way to go.

Great article Jim, really interesting.  I hadn't seen any of this concept art before.

So, would they 'finish' the half built concrete shells that are already there?

I always thought this theme was a mistake.  Until I stayed there.  I love the resort the way it is. My daughter loves it too. It has plenty of Disney Characters already.  Granted the giant computer and walkman do nothing for me, but most of it is really cool. I suppose it's a decent enough idea to retheme it to basically be ALL STAR MOVIES.  And I'd love to see the LEGENDARY YEARS be completed.  But, what I notice mostly is that it would become INNS AND SUITES, which sounds like we would be losing a VALUE resort.  It's tough to get a value room reservation during many seasons, and converting this one to a moderate would be bad for those travelers who can't AFFORD anything other than a value.  Now, if they plan to make the LEGENDARY YEARS suites and leave what's currently built as regular value rooms, I'm for it.  But,  will miss the POP theming.  It is my favorite value resort, and I really get a kick out of it.

lostincrowds,

The Fab Rocks! article that Jim links to says that the Legendary Years will be demolished and rebuilt from the ground up.

Pop Century is my favorite Value resort, but I agree that it needs a major makeover. As we travel further into the 21st Century, there will be fewer people who will want to stay in a resort celebrating the 20th. Switching the theme to honoring the "timeless" animated characters that made the Walt Disney Company great would be a very smart move. I hope that, if this rumor is indeed true, it gets greenlit sooner rather than later.

Just out of curiosity: where, on property, are the model rooms located?

I enjoyed my September '07 stay at the Pop Century, though I really won't be heartbroken to see it rethemed.  However, I hope it stays a VALUE resort - my family is of very limited means, and even when I'm simply vacation shopping, available Value rooms are hard to find.

I'd also like to know more about the model hotel rooms.

I knew I had read about the model rooms before, and wouldn't you know it, it was on JHM. This article had more pictures and anecdotes about them: http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2007/03/30/a-special-behind-the-scenes-version-of-why-for.aspx

As it says in that article, the model room site is gone; replaced by a CM services/laundry facility. If I'm not mistaken, it is the are marked on this map: http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=28.35534~-81.541622&style=h&lvl=16&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=8180566&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&sp=Point.nqs3mg864bh6_Former%20model%20room%20site____&encType=1

I've stayed at the Pop Century. And...while it's not bad...it is extremely tacky. Garish and neon, and not in a fun way. In that regard it outdoes the Nickelodeon Suites (and heck, maybe it was meant to). I hope it does get a major retheming. It could sure use it. Bleah.

Does anyone know if the suites will be similar to the All Star suites or more like the Nickelodeon suites, with a small themed room with bunk beds?

I think this is a great idea. I've never stayed there, but I enjoyed the All Star Movies, which this sounds like, only better. My kids would have a blast, and I can really see this resort being completely booked. It's a marketer's dream. "Come to Disney and stay in a Disney character themed hotel." Guests will really feel like they are getting the whole "Disney" experience.

While I'll agree with mickeysgal in that Pop Century rethemed to Disney characters would be a marketer's dream, it seems to me that it also reveals a stunning lack of creativity, or at least a desire to take the easy way out. The Company's fallback solution to just about any attendance slowdown they have at the theme parks or lack of bookings in the resorts these days seems to be "stick in a few more characters and it'll be OK" - Nemo and Friends at the Living Seas, Monsters Inc and Stitch at the MK, the re-do of Carribbean Beach to include the Nemo and Pirates theming, etc.  

How about opening uniquely themed resort instead of stealing a few pages from the Nickolodeon Suites playbook? It's crazy, but it just might work... ;)      

Jim Hill returns with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, he talks about DCA's lack of advance planning, what Dick Nunis once called Walt and why it's important to take a two-tiered approach when discussing Disney World