Upon a recent visit to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, I stumbled upon a charming piece of Disney nostalgia tucked away in the 90s section of the resort. As someone who grew up in South Florida, Pop Century was a resort my family often checked into for impromptu weekend getaways. (Once upon a time, FL residents could snag a room for just $79 a night!)
We’d often request one of two themed areas at the resort: the 60s, so we could be close to Everything Pop (the resort’s dedicated food court and shop), or the 90s buildings — simply for the theming my sister and I would appreciate a little extra, being 90s kids and all.
I have vivid memories of swimming in the Hippy Dippy pool, complete with oversized “Crazy Daisy” sprinkler toys we had normal versions of back home, as well as the quieter Computer pool near the 90s buildings, surrounded by floppy discs and a keyboard.
But on this recent visit, I realized I had never taken a close look at the nearby oversized laptop display. Curious, I wandered over… and was instantly transported back to a different Disney era.
This towering laptop isn’t just a playful nod to 90s tech — it’s a full-on Walt Disney World time capsule, curated with iconic images and references that will tug at the heartstrings of any 90s Disney kid. Among the details on screen:
A digital newspaper article heralding the opening day of Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 1998 — a major milestone for the resort and a defining moment for the decade.
A photo of Test Track 1.0, with its industrial crash test dummy theming. A perfect reminder of when EPCOT leaned heavily into thrilling “edutainment.”
And of course, the unforgettable Cake Castle. Cinderella Castle transformed into a giant pink birthday cake to celebrate Walt Disney World’s 25th Anniversary in 1996. Love it or hate it, you can’t deny it left an impression.
Perhaps most remarkably, one of the icons on the screen still bears the name “Disney’s MGM Studios” — likely one of the last places on Disney property where the original name of what’s now Hollywood Studios still exists in plain sight.
It’s such a clever detail and it speaks to what makes Pop Century so special, making this Value Resort a living tribute to the cultural moments that defined entire generations; from yo-yos and Rubik’s Cubes to dial-up computers and… Cake Castles!
If you’re wandering through the resort, especially the ’90s section, take a moment to check out the laptop. Do you have a favorite area or oversized relic at Disney’s Pop Century Resort?
