We’ve decided to do a series on the unofficial Disney resort fan sites that have been popping up around the web. They are invaluable resources, and the series will also give us a chance to talk about the various resorts a bit — some of our favorite topics!

Pop Century is one of Disney’s “Value” resorts, which are the lowest priced resorts. What’s great about value resorts is that you get the chance to stay on property for a low price, and you also get access to all of the Disney Resort Guest benefits, like extra magic hours, Disney’s Magical Express airport transportation, charging merchandise items and meals to your room key, and Disney transportation.

The Pop Century Resort Site can be found at http://www.popcenturysite.com, and has great information if you’re trying to decide if this might be the best resort for you.

Hundreds of recent photographs are available to show you what the Pop Century guest rooms look like, what the 3 pools are like, and even pictures of the bus stop and transportation options. This site is very useful when comparing Pop Century to other Disney resorts.

Personally, Pop Century is one of my favorite Disney resorts, and I feel it offers a fantastic value for the money. There are advantages to staying in every resort and we don’t always stay in Pop Century, but it’s always a great value when we do.

Yes--you CAN relax in Disney World...

Accommodations in Orlando run from small hotel rooms to giant, multi-bedroom mansions for rent. Disney World runs over 20 resort hotels on their property; rooms range from standard, 4-person hotel rooms to 3-bedroom grand villas. There are also hundreds of hotels, villas, vacation homes, and condos for rent outside of Disney World proper.

Before you panic, take a moment to think about:

• Who you’re traveling with: Does anyone have special transportation, emotional, or physical needs?
• What you’ll be doing on your vacation: Are you visiting only Disney parks, or will you be hitting other attractions in Orlando?
• How important it is for you to be “at Disney:” Some folks don’t mind at all whether they’re staying at a Disney hotel or not. Others consider it a wasted trip if they can’t stay in Disney World.
• How much you’re willing to spend and what level of comfort you need for your group size: The closer you stay to Disney World property, the more it will cost you to stay in a nice hotel or villa/vacation home.

To Help You Decide

For those considering staying on site, there are some great resources for selecting your Disney resort. These Unofficial fan pages for these resorts can be a huge benefit for those trying to make a decisions and get an idea of what staying on property might be like. Here are some favorites:

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Caribbean Beach

Contemporary Resort

Pop Century

Wilderness Lodge

Now that you’ve given those things some thought, here are some major decisions to make regarding your vacation accommodations.

1. DO I WANT TO STAY ON PROPERTY OR OFF PROPERTY?:Should you stay on-property at a Disney Resort, or off-property at a (likely cheaper) hotel? Guests who stay on-property have access to Disney World’s resort benefits, like free transportation from the airport and throughout the Disney World property, package delivery from any store on property directly to your resort, Extra Magic Hours, and Disney Dining Plans. Guests who stay off-property can save hundreds of dollars, and likely still stay in a luxurious hotel or multi-bedroom villa, which provides free park transportation, near Disney World.
2. CAN I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY DISCOUNTS: Disney World often offers discounts and savings plans for its hotels and restaurants. Some of these are well-publicized. Some require you to be a bit more “in the know.” My favorite site to learn about discounts is Mousesavers.com. Here are a few of the more common discounts for which to stay on the look out:
   • Room Only Discounts: If you choose to stay in one of Disney World’s “on-property” hotels, there are often “room only” discounts, meaning that you’re getting a discount on a room booked separately from other trip components as opposed to booking a room as part of a larger package. “Room only” discounts can include:
     • AAA, which are between 10%-15% off and available to all AAA members (you may have to show your card when you check in to verify the discount)
     • Room Only discount codes for the general public (that means everyone!)
     • Annual and Seasonal Passholder room only discounts, which are reserved for those with an Annual or Seasonal pass to Disney World

     .

   • Vacation Package Discounts: Vacation package discounts are a percentage off of a Disney World Vacation package, which includes hotel, theme park tickets, and possibly transportation and airfare. Some great places to find good vacation package deals are through a Disney-certified travel agent, websites offering updated information on vacation package discounts, and the official Disney World special offers page.

Once you answer those two questions, you should have more of an idea of what you need in your vacation accommodations. At this point, you can either delve right into the process of choosing an Orlando hotel/vacation home, or contact a travel agent to help you identify the correct fit.