Walt Disney World Resort is continuing its efforts to modernize two The Jungle Book (1967) character statues at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. The refurbishment comes amid other updates to the Value Resort hotel, including the renovation of the Everything Pop Shopping & Dining area.
Disney’s Pop Century Resort has undergone a makeover in recent years. Before the food court and gift shop renovation, the Value Resort hotel modernized its rooms in preparation for increased demand due to the Disney Skyliner.
In the late 2010s, Disney’s Pop Century Resort ditched carpeted, outdated rooms for contemporary designs with pull-down Murphy beds that convert into tables and chairs to give guests more space.

Despite all these changes, Disney’s Pop Century Resort has retained its oversized, nostalgic theming. Each section is themed after a different decade, from the 1950s to the 1990s, with oversized statues of Disney characters and other icons from their respective eras.
Last month, Inside the Magic covered guests’ concerns about the Jungle Book statues at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Baloo and Mowgli have long defined the 1960s section, overlooking the Hippy Dippy pool.

In December, guests first noticed holes in Baloo’s paint job. Later, patchy coats of a spackle-like material appeared on the beloved Disney character. At the end of January, Inside the Magic visited Disney’s Pop Century Resort to check up on the refurbishment.
As of January 29, Baloo’s entire surface appeared to have been sanded down and primed for a final paint job.

Although it’s not visible in these photos, Disney cast members also patched part of Mowgli’s head with the white spackle-like material.

It’s unclear if crews will refurbish any other statues around Disney’s Pop Century Resort or the other Value Resort hotels: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, and Disney’s All-Star Music Resort—all feature oversized outdoor statues like Baloo and Mowgli.
Have you spotted any maintenance work at Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments.