I stayed at Disney's Pop Century for $286 a night, and the budget-friendly resort is only worth it when the prices drop

The day before I arrived, I completed the online check-in for the hotel, which allowed me to choose my preferred room location and select what time I'd be arriving. I picked a ground-floor room and said I'd be there around 1 p.m.

Once I actually got to the resort, I received a text message, with my room and building numbers, letting me know that my room was ready.

All of the buildings are themed after certain decades, but the building numbers don't match those decade numbers.

For example, I was assigned to stay in the '70s-themed building, but the building number was 10.

After I parked and found my room, I was able to use my phone to unlock the door using the My Disney Experience app.

The room was bright and clean, with all of the necessities I needed for my short stay.

There was a small coffee machine and a mini-fridge along with a mounted flat-screen TV and a set of drawers.

There were two beds: a traditional queen and a Murphy bed that doubled as a table when it wasn't folded down.

I liked that the queen-sized bed was high enough off of the ground that I could roll my luggage under — it's a nice storage option if I was staying for a longer period of time.

The Murphy bed was easy to pull down from the wall after moving the two chairs away from the table. The bed was fully made and there was even an adorable piece of artwork showing Pluto sleeping over the headboard.

Pillows for the Murphy bed were stacked on the queen bed and could be easily transferred if needed.

I was really surprised by how much I loved the layout of the bathroom.

There was ample counter space around the single sink. And all around the counter, there were cubbies that could be used for storage.

Behind the bathroom door was a toilet and a shower with a tub. The water pressure in the shower was great, and the water got hot quickly.

I was lucky to get a preferred room, which means it was one of the closest to the lobby, the bus loop, and the pool at Pop Century.

Inside the lobby, known as Classic Hall, there's a traditional check-in desk and concierge service where employees can answer questions or help with vacation planning.

Along the back wall of the lobby were shadow boxes filled with relics of the past. My favorite ones included "Star Wars" toys and posters from the 1970s and a box filled with keepsakes from the opening of Disney World in 1971.

Just off of the lobby is a room with a TV and plenty of chairs where kids can watch Disney movies, old-school cartoons, and Disney music videos. It's a great spot for youngsters to hang out while someone else in the party is checking in.

There's also a good amount of room in the back of the space for parents to watch their kids.

Inside the main lobby building is Everything Pop Shopping and Dining, which is the main location for merchandise and food at the hotel.

The large open area has a half wall dividing the food-court-style eatery from the merchandise location.

The merchandise area has selections of MagicBands, resort-themed headbands, ornaments, pins, and more. If you can't find what you're looking for, you can ask an employee to look up where to get the item at other hotels, theme parks, or Disney Springs.

Inside the food court, there are stations that serve everything from comfort food to hearty salads.

There are also some grab-and-go areas if you need a quick bite or drink before heading to the parks.

The main pool, known as the Hippy Dippy Pool, is near the lobby. This is the biggest pool area with lounge seats, a kiddie pool, and a pool bar where you can order snacks and drinks.

Families can also take part in themed pool parties, games, trivia, or Disney movies under the stars at Hippy Dippy Pool.

The second pool is the Bowling Pool (shaped like a bowling pin), which is located near the 1950s-themed area of the hotel.

Near the '90s-themed section of the hotel is the Computer Pool, which looks like a giant square. This is a quieter area if you're looking for a spot to relax and read a book.

One of my favorite things to do at the hotel is to walk around the grounds to find larger-than-life photo opportunities.

There are plenty of nostalgic larger-than-life decor items shaped like yo-yos, Big Wheels, Walkmans, and more.

A few of my favorite spots were the Mickey Mouse telephone statue and a life-sized statue of Goofy holding a surfboard.

The best times to snag photos with these are first thing in the morning or just before sunset. Walkways around the resort aren't as crowded then, so you won't have people walking into your shot or the blazing Florida sun beating down during your retro photo shoot.

Pop Century has direct access to the Disney Skyliner, which is a gondola transportation system that can take you to multiple resorts, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios.

The walk to the closest Skyliner station, which is also used by those staying at Disney's Art of Animation Resort, only takes about 10 minutes.

If you're scared of heights or the Skyliner isn't operating due to bad weather, there's also a bus loop at the front of Classic Hall that can take you to all four theme parks and Disney Springs.

During my stay at the resort, I used the Skyliner to do a little bar crawl at Disney's BoardWalk, Yacht Club Resort, and Riviera Resort.

I enjoyed my short 24 hours at Disney's Pop Century Resort. The overall vibe and ample amenities made it a great spot for park-hopping, checking out other resorts, and just enjoying some downtime by the pool.

I plan on staying here again, especially because of the access to the Disney Skyliner, but the price was a bit high for one night. I'd prefer to come back when Disney is offering better discounts or when the standard rate is lower during off-peak-season times.

Room rates at the resort tend to dip under $200 in quieter times like mid-January and early September.