Every day is nostalgia day at Disney’s iconic Pop Century Resort. Let’s give one of our all-time favorite resorts some extra “peace and love” this February as we celebrate National Retro Day. From the whimsical catchphrases emblazoned on buildings to the oversized toys and statues, Pop has a distinctive vibe like no other on Walt Disney World property. Be sure to browse the framed displays of iconic memorabilia from each decade inside Classic Hall’s lobby. Highlighting all things pop culture, let’s go on a quick journey of bygone days through our beloved Pop Century.
1950s
Nothing evokes 1950s aesthetics like sock hops and bowling. Sock hops take us back in time when high schoolers took off their shoes and danced in their sock feet so as not to leave scuff marks on the wooden gym floor. This decade was also known as the “golden age of bowling.” Automatic pin-setting machines led to more bowling alleys opening all across America. Pop Century highlights the sports craze with both the Bowling Pool (shaped like a bowling pin) and stairwells enclosed inside giant bowling pins.
The jukebox ruled the day, especially in diners and malt shops where teenagers tended to gather. The newest records made their way to jukeboxes and recorded the number of times each song played to track its popularity. Billboard Magazine even published weekly charts for the most played songs in jukeboxes during the 1950s. Some of those most popular included “Rock Around The Clock” by Bill Haley & His Comets, “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry, and “Peggy Sue” by Buddy Holly and The Crickets.
Two-toned black and white saddle shoes ruled the day in popular footwear. Letters earned for participation on sports teams, often sewn onto jackets, were a way for teens to show school spirit. Elvis was at his most popular during the 1950s when he took rock and roll to new heights and became a teen idol. The highly entertaining “I Love Lucy” dominated Monday night television from 1951 to 1957.
1960s
Colorful flowers and peace signs are symbols instantly synonymous with the era of the 60s. The Hippy Dippy Pool definitely pays homage to the aesthetic of this time period. Chubby Checker’s “The Twist,” released in 1960, was an immediate hit and started a dance craze that swept the nation. The British Invasion and Motown Records also took over the music scene.
The 1960s area is filled with wonderful toy statues, including a giant yo-yo and an enormous container of Play-Doh. There is a great story behind the invention of the special modeling compound for kids. It was created by a nursery school teacher who discovered that a non-toxic product originally used to clean soot buildup on wallpaper could be transformed into interesting shapes. This reinvention skyrocketed in popularity in the 1960s and was eventually one of the original inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Vibrant tie-dye clothing items defined the decade’s fashion. Pop Century commemorates this popular fashion trend with its unique and delicious tie-dye cheesecake found at Everything Pop Food Court. Beatlemania started in 1964 when the band arrived in New York City to begin their first tour in the United States. Sci-fi-inspired shows were prevalent on television, including “The Jetsons” and “My Favorite Martian.” The summer of 1969 proved to be legendary with two notable events – astronaut Neil Armstrong’s historic moonwalk and Woodstock’s musical festival.
1970s
Platform shoes, mood rings and boogieing down to groovy music were all the rage. The release of the blockbuster movie “Saturday Night Fever” celebrated and propelled the disco music frenzy. To this day, the movie’s soundtrack is one of the biggest selling of all time. Other musical highlights included Elton John’s many Top 10 singles and Sonny & Cher with two hit television shows. America celebrated its Bicentennial with a variety of celebrations and events during the mid-70s.
The popularity of the Big Wheel during this decade cannot be overstated. Families went all in for this ride-on toy that featured a low center of gravity as well as affordability. Driveways and sidewalks (and many basements) were filled with the red, yellow and blue wonders. The Big Wheel would years later be inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.
October 1, 1971 marked the opening day of Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. Mickey Mouse was everywhere, even as a rotary telephone. I fondly remember that my family had a Mickey phone on a side table in our wood-paneled den. Television showcased popular shows like “All in the Family” and its spin-off, “The Jeffersons.” Audiences were mesmerized when the first Star Wars movie was released in 1977. Although Tab was not the first diet soda, it certainly was the most popular during this decade.
1980s
The decade opened with the introduction of Pac-Man and subsequently arcades enjoyed their most popular time in history. A fashion trend that peaked in the 80s was the Preppy style, spotlighting plaid blazers, boat shoes, and flipped-up collars. Break dancing was popularized on the streets of New York City and gained traction across the nation. MTV boldly launched into our homes through television screens with the legendary words of “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.”
Though portable tape players existed, none were designed for use with a headset while walking until the Walkman came along in the 1980s. At this time in history, sales of cassette tapes eclipsed those of vinyl.
Music played a huge role in the culture of the 80s. Big-name artists like Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and Madonna ascended to the pinnacle of their careers. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was released and to this day remains the best-selling album of all time, with 70 million copies sold. Games were also popular during this era, including Trivial Pursuit and Simon. Cabbage Patch Kids, which caused chaos among shoppers when supplies ran low, has become one of the longest-running doll franchises in the United States.
1990s
Changes and innovations in technology highlighted this decade. Sales of compact discs surged and surpassed that of cassette tapes by 1992. Traditional brick-style cell phones would eventually be upended by the introduction of the first flip phone. Inline skating, aka rollerblading, had people outside swiftly gliding on any smooth surface they could find. The musical genres of Hip Hop and Grunge also gained in popularity.
Personal computers and accompanying floppy discs became commonplace in most offices across America. By the late 1990s, almost half of all households had a personal computer at home. During the infamous Y2K, we wondered if computers would successfully switch from the year 1999 to the new century. Thankfully, it didn’t pan out to be the disaster that many had feared. Pop Century Resort sports a Computer Pool dedicated to this time of surfing the net and the new widespread use of computers.
Skateboarding thrived during this time period as skateparks became prevalent in many cities. Similarly, snowboarding also took off in popularity and was added as an official Olympic sport in 1998. Musically, the Spice Girls and Boy Bands rose in prominence. The movie “Titanic” was released and became one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Popular television shows included “Friends,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “Seinfeld.” Toys of the time included Beanie Babies (filled with plastic pellet “beans” instead of soft stuffing) and the electronic robotic Furby.
Wrap Up
Pop Century is a wonderful reminder of what has come before, much like a living time capsule. Nothing beats a stay on property at this iconic resort. Our family’s goal is to stay in each decade section at least once. So far we have been assigned the 50s, 80s and 90s sections several times. We are still holding out for the elusive 60s and 70s one of these days. Have you stayed at Pop Century? If so, do you have a favorite section?
