Disney’s Pop Century Resort Yo-Yo Theming
LOCATION ◦ LAKE BUENA VISTA FL
Project Overview
For Disney’s Pop Century Resort, our studio supported the creation of several oversized faux “Duncan Imperial Yo-Yo Tops” that wrap exterior stairwells as architectural icon elements. These object-scale facades are part of the resort’s decade-themed “Pop Art” language—turning utilitarian stair towers into bold, highly legible landmarks.
Our contribution was a combination of design-assist translation and execution—converting established design intent into shop-ready fabrication drawings, then fabricating and installing the large-scale yo-yo enclosures.
Design Assist & Fabrication Approach
The Pop Century yo-yo stairwell facades were driven by two core goals: create instantly recognizable, playful icons at monumental scale, and visually conceal exterior stair structures behind themed spectacle. Published descriptions note these yo-yos as exceptionally large (often cited around 37’ tall x 27’ wide with a ~1’ diameter “string”) and describe an enlargement process based on digitizing manufacturer reference and producing a foam / fiberglass / steel assembly.
Our studio’s role was fabrication-driven design-assist: translating the established design intent into shop drawings and buildable detailing, developing practical segmentation/seam and access logic for a spherical perforated shell, and integrating large-format raised branding so it reads cleanly at distance. The photos show the resulting as-built signatures—uniform perforated curved skins, bold “Duncan Imperial Yo-Yo Tops” lettering, multiple colorways, a clear vertical seam/opening aligned to the stair enclosure geometry, and strong nighttime presence supported by intentional exterior lighting. Installation required the same rigor as architectural cladding and themed signage, balancing large-component handling, precise interface coordination to existing stair structures, and careful finish protection across guest-facing resort circulation areas.
Results
The completed yo-yo stairwell facades deliver a high-impact blend of function and storytelling. They transform exterior stair towers into memorable, decade-coded icons that strengthen wayfinding, reinforce Pop Century’s “larger-than-life” identity, and elevate the everyday experience of moving through the resort.
Notably, public resort coverage indicates these yo-yo icons have remained core visual assets over the long term—receiving periodic refresh attention (such as repainting) consistent with Disney’s ongoing upkeep of signature themed elements.
