Pop Century Legendary Years - 03/2007 & Updated 06/2008!

[ThornXBL]

For those interested (may be a repost), but Bing.com's (formerly Live Search) maps have Bird's Eye View which I use to ogle WDW. This view also shows some nice angles of Legendary Years:

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.as...&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=17486142&encType=1

 

[suzimar57]

awesome aerials - thanks!

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

"Well, to be blunt, in the nearly five years that the Classic Years portion of Disney's Pop Century has been open, this Value Resort has never been able to maintain the same sort of steady high occupancy rate that Disney's All-Stars typically enjoy (Those three Value Resorts regularly experience occupancy rates of 95% and higher. Whereas Pop Century's occupancy rate is typically stuck in the 80s). Which WDW management blames -- in large part -- on Pop Century's unappealing theme.

Baby boomers may think that it's cool to see a huge can of Play-Doh or a giant Big Wheel. But these oversized icons had zero appeal for their parents or their children."

No offense, but I don't buy this. Pop always books up before the other resorts.
I'm a "last minute booker". I usually book my trips days, weeks or at most a couple months before my next trip (with the exception of the Sept DDP deal.) and I notice on a constant, without exception rate that the Pop is already sold out long before the AS movies. I go about 3-4 times a year, for a week each, and I can't count the number of times I've heard "Sorry, no POP, but we DO have POP preferred or an All Stars (insert which one) resort available".
My family want's POP. I have to (and I've done this more than I can remember) book an All Stars resort, then call over and over daily till I luck up and get a POP room.
As for the themeing... I think it's PERFECT! I wouldn't change a single thing!
It's Disney. They don't need another colorful Holiday Inn. The resort SCREAMS Disney, and that's EXACTLY why we book it over and over year after year.
On our last trip we toured the Grand Floridian. It was sooooo BORING!
That may interest some people, but it did nothing for me.
I like the giant play-dough, and the giant big wheels, and I have never heard Disney insinuate anything about them being ashamed of the theming. In fact on the planning DVDs they seem quite proud of the over-sized icons.

My only theme complaint about the POP is not Disney related actually... When I see the shadowboxes on the walls I'm reminded not of days gone by and memories, but rather of a sad and depressing ebay (where most of those items in those boxes came from I may add) that has ruined itself. Ebay was an awesome site where people like myself who like unusual items could buy anything they wanted. New, used, vintage, and antique... it was all there. Now it's another Amazon, and I'm NOT an Amazon fan. It sadens me to see all those vintage items hanging there, because as a former ebay powerseller who got rich off those exact same vintage items... I miss it. I miss the money, I miss the unusual items, I miss the sales and the purchases. Now I have to hit yard sales to find old stuff that's just plain cool.

Baby boomers may think that it's cool to see a huge can of Play-Doh or a giant Big Wheel. But these oversized icons had zero appeal for their parents or their children."

I'm not a baby boomer (I'm in my 30s) but I LOVE those over sized icons. If Disney ever starts softening things for the appeasement of people who don't like anything bold and exciting, then I'll lose interest in Disney.

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

For those interested (may be a repost), but Bing.com's (formerly Live Search) maps have Bird's Eye View which I use to ogle WDW. This view also shows some nice angles of Legendary Years:

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.as...&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=17486142&encType=1

That is amazing. It really gives you a good perspective on that section of the resort.

There is something really mysterious about the situation over there. I just don't understand why they don't finish things up over there?

It looks like there are a lot of concrete slabs on the ground for quite a lot of buildings that weren't completed.
Thanks for posting that link.

 

[DISKATER69]

The Legendary Years are scheduled to be finished in a few years and it is likely to be a different hotel than Pop Century. I cant be completely sure this is the right name but I think they are calling it Animation Studios or Animation Inn. Ill look into it and post my details.

 

[doconeill]

The Legendary Years are scheduled to be finished in a few years and it is likely to be a different hotel than Pop Century. I cant be completely sure this is the right name but I think they are calling it Animation Studios or Animation Inn. Ill look into it and post my details.

If you cite Jim Hill, I'm gonna scream...

 

[jenseib]

The Legendary Years are scheduled to be finished in a few years and it is likely to be a different hotel than Pop Century. I cant be completely sure this is the right name but I think they are calling it Animation Studios or Animation Inn. Ill look into it and post my details.

Where did you hjear that, because for the most part it's all rumor or not true...and if you got it from Jim Hill, it's most likely for sure not true.
There really is nothing saying when the legendary years will be finished, only speculation.
As for the Animation Inn, that is a rumor that Jim Hill put out and it is for all of Pop. I really don't think it will happen though. It is said the Pop will be totoally redone and MAYBE finish the legendary years in that them as well. Agian, I doubt this will ever happen.

 

[DISKATER69]

its not from Jim Hill dont worry. Im still not completely sure its true either, but thats the most believable thing ive heard so far. ITS NOT JIM HILL. Jim Hill should never have been given a computer.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

Who is Jim Hill? I did a Google search and it brought up a lot of info, but I didn't know what part of it was relevant to this thread.

 

[EpcotBill]

Jim Hill is a blogger who writes about inside information about Disney that is usually wrong. He's the one who broke the "news" about Pop being rebranded as Disney's Animation Inn & Suites.

 

[Sabi]

I agree. When I stayed at POP a while back, the legendary years buildings were overgrown heaps of brown ugliness (yes. that's right.). It really put a damper on the view across the lake.

I'm looking forward to anything bright and fun--no matter how many people each room sleeps!

Last Year I just saw an Abandoned lot, What A Downer.

PLEASE START REBUILDING NOW!!!

What can we do it for WDW start legendary years pop rebuild??

 

[CanadianGuy]

(in hushed tones)

For this morning's posting, the part of Jim Hill will be played by CanadianGuy.. Enjoy the performance.

"The latest news to leak from WDI regarding what's going on at Pop Century is good.

First of all, the recession isn't hurting Disney as bad as everyone thinks. Case in the point, the THOUSANDS of guests upgraded from values to DVC resorts because of the severe overcrowding expected at all resorts this fall. People are going on vacation anyway, despite the economy. The bean counters at Disney are pleased. One resorts source tells me, "We're looking at pre 2001 booking levels from Aug 31 to Dec 17th."

So they have decided to finish Pop Century's 'other side'. Since there have been a number of concerns about the icons used in the 1900's to 1940's on the Legendary Years, imagineers have scrapped that plan in favor of another.

All sources indicate the new resort will be "Goofy, Donald and Pluto's Vacationland", playing on the many Disney shorts featuring those characters and a vacation theme."
---------------------

Giggle all you want. What I wrote above has every bit as much chance at being true as whatever Jim writes on this topic... Why not? We both just made it up. (giggle)

With my tongue firmly planted in cheek all in the name of a good smile on a rainy Thursday, and with apologies to Jim's track record on this topic...

Knox

 

[Sabi]

The theme is not important... that really important it's change the image... the poor image actually from Pop Century...

 

[karibritt01]

All sources indicate the new resort will be "Goofy, Donald and Pluto's Vacationland", playing on the many Disney shorts featuring those characters and a vacation theme."

Too fun! I wish it were true. I did not really enjoy Pop, even though it was nice enough... just not a value kinda girl! But a theme like this, and I would have to try it out at least once!

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I agree. When I stayed at POP a while back, the legendary years buildings were overgrown heaps of brown ugliness (yes. that's right.)

.

The theme is not important... that really important it's change the image... the poor image actually from Pop Century...

Once again, that's just your opinion. Stating it twice don't make it any more true. Many of us here have stated that they look cool and we like the view. Kinda mysterious. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While I'd love to see a brightly colored building set over there, I actually like the view of the deserted buildings just as much.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

No offense, but I don't buy this. Pop always books up before the other resorts.
I'm a "last minute booker". I usually book my trips days, weeks or at most a couple months before my next trip (with the exception of the Sept DDP deal.) and I notice on a constant, without exception rate that the Pop is already sold out long before the AS movies. I go about 3-4 times a year, for a week each, and I can't count the number of times I've heard "Sorry, no POP, but we DO have POP preferred or an All Stars (insert which one) resort available".
My family want's POP. I have to (and I've done this more than I can remember) book an All Stars resort, then call over and over daily till I luck up and get a POP room.
As for the themeing... I think it's PERFECT! I wouldn't change a single thing!
It's Disney. They don't need another colorful Holiday Inn. The resort SCREAMS Disney, and that's EXACTLY why we book it over and over year after year.
On our last trip we toured the Grand Floridian. It was sooooo BORING!
That may interest some people, but it did nothing for me.
I like the giant play-dough, and the giant big wheels, and I have never heard Disney insinuate anything about them being ashamed of the theming. In fact on the planning DVDs they seem quite proud of the over-sized icons.

My only theme complaint about the POP is not Disney related actually... When I see the shadowboxes on the walls I'm reminded not of days gone by and memories, but rather of a sad and depressing ebay (where most of those items in those boxes came from I may add) that has ruined itself. Ebay was an awesome site where people like myself who like unusual items could buy anything they wanted. New, used, vintage, and antique... it was all there. Now it's another Amazon, and I'm NOT an Amazon fan. It sadens me to see all those vintage items hanging there, because as a former ebay powerseller who got rich off those exact same vintage items... I miss it. I miss the money, I miss the unusual items, I miss the sales and the purchases. Now I have to hit yard sales to find old stuff that's just plain cool.


I'm not a baby boomer (I'm in my 30s) but I LOVE those over sized icons. If Disney ever starts softening things for the appeasement of people who don't like anything bold and exciting, then I'll lose interest in Disney.

I second SelfEmployedDebtFree!!! I love Pop it fills up first i always check the disney site and availabilty etc. Im 21 and I love the theme and most of it has no sentimental value but I am a fan of nostalgia i love 50's diners, i watch old cartoons (way better than new ones)... I loved play dough (who didnt!?!) and the foozeball and big wheels still have impacts today...

I hope they do something soon with legendary years we had a view of them last year at Pop they look sad.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I hope they do something soon with legendary years we had a view of them last year at Pop they look sad.

While I do enjoy the ghost town look across the water, I imagine that they won't sit there like that forever.
#1 They are in direct view. People ask. I'm sure the CMs are tired of answering questions about them.
#2 The vacant buildings implies that the recession is still here or that Disney isn't doing as well as we had thought. That's a message they don't want people thinking.
#3 While I can stare at vacant buildings in awe for an hour or so over a picnic lunch, (takes me back to the vacant Cancun days) I'm sure I'm the exception, and it's not "Magical" to many people. It's not sending the right vibes.
#4 WDW property is EXPENSIVE. It's money tied up and stagnant. Think of all the money they are losing on bookings, food, souvies, etc. They know they cant make the $ till the build (and complete) the rooms. As it sits now the old Disney adage "If you build it they will come" only implies to those who sneak over for pictures.
Personally, I'd like to see them scrap the whole Legendary years idea and make it themed after A Bug's Life, or Monsters Inc. Something really off the wall for families. Another value resort with giant icons. Let's face it... Monsters Inc or A Bugs life are already future Disney classics, just like Toy Story already is.
OR.... How about this... leave it desolate... and theme it after Disney Villains!!! Maybe "The Nightmare Across from Pop".

 

[Bell30012]

I'd love to see a MODERATE resort with the value type theming.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I'd love to see a MODERATE resort with the value type theming.

no way.... i'd hate to see it. the values are known for their crazy theming. the mod's are a little classier...and the deluxes are the classiest. I enjoy pop's theming but if that's what I want, then I'll stay at a value.

 

[mom2val]

What if they did it Princess themed? Each building could be a different Princess movie theme... Snow White, Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, Jasmine .. who am I missing??? I know my dd would demand we stay there.