Jun
20

Disney’s Pop Century, The Legendary Years

Photo(Nomeus, 2007 – Flurbex.com): The Legendary Years section was to be themed around the 1900-1940s decades

Disney’s Pop Century Resort is one of four hotels that cost less but still retain the Disney quality you expect. Originally planned to open in 2001, the opening was delayed due to a sharp drop in tourism following the September 11 attacks. The resort finally opened on December 13, 2003.

The hotel is unique as it is themed around American culture icons from different decades. The icons are then super-sized and placed throughout the building of the decade they pertain to, for example, the 1980s themed buildings have super-sized versions of Pac-Man and Mr.Potato Head.

Part of two phases, the first phase was named “The Classic Years” and includes 1950-1990s themed areas. This section of the resort consists of 2880 rooms, three pools shaped like a flower, a laptop, and bowling pin, and a central area called the “Classic Hall”.

Photo(Nomeus, 2007 – Flurbex.com): The Classic Years section was themed around the 1950-1990s decades and located just across the lake from the Legendary Years section

The second phase was to be called the “Legendary Years”, which was to include 1900-1940s themed areas. The section was to be located across a lake from the “Classic Years” resort and connected by a bridge. Though construction on both resorts were started at the same time, Disney scaled back the project after the drop in tourism, opening the “Classic Years” section and abandoning the “Legendary Years” section that had already been partially constructed.

On May 12, 2010, Disney announced plans to complete the buildings as part of an all-new resort known as Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. As with Pop Century, it will be value-priced and will be themed around four of Disney’s popular films; The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Finding Nemo and Cars. Construction began in mid-2010 and is planned to open in mid-2012.

Photo(Nomeus, 2007 – Flurbex.com): The project was abandoned mid-construction