799: Resort Wars: Pop Century vs. Art of Animation

Main Street Magic - A Walt Disney World Podcast

Jeremy Stein

Walt Disney World, Disney Springs, Society & Culture, Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney, Epcot, Citywalk, Wdw, Universal Dining, Disney World, Kids & Family, Universal Studios, Places & Travel, Hollywood Studios, Disney, Universal Orlando, Magic Kingdom, Disney Resorts, Disney Dining, Islands Of Adventure

4.6 • 690 Ratings

🗓️ 19 August 2025

⏱️ ? minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We’re kicking off a brand-new series: Resort Wars — where Walt Disney World resorts go head-to-head, and only one can walk away with the crown! First up, it’s a Value Resort throwdown between Disney’s Pop Century and Disney’s Art of Animation. Pop Century opened in 2003 and celebrates the nostalgia of the 1950s through the 1990s with larger-than-life icons and over 2,800 rooms. Meanwhile, Art of Animation debuted in 2012 with immersive theming from beloved Disney and Pixar films, offering standard Little Mermaid rooms and spacious family suites themed to Cars, The Lion King, and Finding Nemo. We pit these two fan favorites against each other across seven battle rounds — including theming & atmosphere, rooms & comfort, dining, transportation, recreation, overall value, and listener feedback. Who takes the win for pool bars and food courts? Which resort is more budget-friendly? And where will your family find the perfect blend of magic and convenience? Plus, we share results from our listener poll and highlight firsthand experiences and opinions from our amazing community to help settle the debate. Whether you’re planning your next Disney vacation or just love a good Disney debate, this episode is packed with insight, tips, and a few laughs along the way. So grab your tie-dye cheesecake or swing by the Big Blue Pool — it’s time to battle it out in Resort Wars: Pop Century vs. Art of Animation!

Transcript

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0:00.0	On this episode, we kick off a new series called Resort Wars, where Disney Resorts go head to head and only one walks away with the Crown.
0:06.8	Today's August 19th, 2025, and this episode 799 of the Main Street Magic podcast.
0:13.2	Jeremy and Rhonda are more than a little fond of Disney World, so they made this podcast to share it all with you.
0:24.7	Reports and resorts, top ten lists of all sorts main street magic's bringing it home for you hello and welcome to another episode of
0:32.5	main street magic i'm your host jeremy stein and as always i'm joined by my lovely wife ronda
0:36.7	hey guys make sure you check us out on the web at mainstimagic.com, as well as follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at Maine ST Magic, and on TikTok at MSM podcast. Planning a trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World can be overwhelming and at times just downright frustrating. But don't worry because mouse dining removes the frustration of booking Disney dining
0:56.0	reservations, alerting you when they spot availability for your desired restaurant,
1:00.0	date, meal, and time.
1:02.1	Visit MSMFriends.com to use this free service.
1:05.9	Are you ready for your bucket list trip?
1:07.7	Our trusted partner, MEI Travel, will handle the planning so you can focus on the
1:11.3	memories. They offer free vacation planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience
1:15.8	creating memorable vacations. Visit mainstmagic.com forward slash travel for a fee-free,
1:22.6	no obligation quote today. And don't forget to hit the subscribe button so you can get
1:26.9	brand new episodes every
1:28.0	Tuesday and Friday.
1:30.4	Wow, our next one is 800.
1:33.1	That's insane.
1:34.7	Yay.
1:35.2	Congratulations.
1:36.3	Yay.
1:37.0	Congratulations to you.
	...

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