2022 Disney World Hotel Reopening Dates
Walt Disney World continues to update the resort reopening timeline for 2022, with revised dates for hotels that were TBD. This looks at the schedule, how refurbishments and construction are delaying opening dates, and offers predictions for what’s next. (Updated December 22, 2021.)
As a quick recap, all Disney Vacation Club resorts welcomed guests back during the summer, before the parks even reopened. This included the DVC units in hotels that were–and still are–otherwise closed. The most extreme example of this is at Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is operating at about ~10% occupancy because the hotel rooms are not in use.
In the months since the parks reopened, Walt Disney World has resumed operations at numerous hotels, starting with those on the Skyliner gondola and monorail routes, and also opening some other properties that are only connected to the parks via bus transportation.
Let’s start with a look at the resorts that are currently operating at Walt Disney World, followed by the hotel reopening timeline for 2022…
Walt Disney World Resorts – Now Open
Here are the Disney Vacation Club & Deluxe Villa resorts that are currently open at Walt Disney World:
- Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
- Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary Resort
- Beach Club Villas
- BoardWalk Villas
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Wilderness Lodge
- Old Key West Resort
- Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Riviera Resort
- Saratoga Springs Resort
- Villas at Grand Floridian Resort
Here are the hotels open at Walt Disney World:
- All Star Movies Resort
- Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House
- Art of Animation Resort
- Beach Club Resort
- BoardWalk Inn
- Caribbean Beach Resort
- Contemporary Resort
- Coronado Springs Resort & Gran Destino Tower
- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Polynesian Village Resort
- Pop Century Resort
- Wilderness Lodge
- Yacht Club Resort
Note that it might appear some hotels are listed on the ‘currently open’ list above and the ‘reopening timeline’ below. However, that’s because some resorts have both standard hotel room wings and Disney Vacation Club villa wings. In many cases, only the DVC wings of the properties are open, with the hotel side yet to open.
2022 Walt Disney World Resort Reopening Timeline
Since our last update, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside, and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter all reopened as scheduled. These were 3 of 4 major hotels scheduled to reopen in the last quarter of 2021.
The only hotel left to reopen at Walt Disney World is now All Star Sports Resort, which was pushed back from its original return date. However, during the week of Christmas, Walt Disney World announced that All Star Sports Resort will reopen on March 31, 2022.
Note that if you have a stay booked at All Star Sports prior to then, Walt Disney World will relocate you. Usually that means to another Value Resort, but it depends upon where there’s availability.
Back when All Star Movies reopened, there was a lengthy stretch when that hotel was overbooked and Disney was regularly moving Movies guests to Grand Floridian as that was the resort with the best availability. Don’t count on that happening again, but the point is that upgrades are possible!
The likely reason that All Star Sports is reopening so much later than the other hotels is to accommodate its room reimagining. As noted above, this was scheduled but had not yet started when the closure occurred.
Undertaking this overhaul while the resort is not operating would expedite the project and mean that it doesn’t negatively impact guests. No one likes active construction at a hotel where they’re staying. So, bad news that All Star Sports won’t be back until 2022, but good news that it’ll be freshly-refurbished upon returning.
Additionally, Walt Disney World has announced revealed what offerings and experiences will be available when Disney’s All Star Sports Resort reopens:
Dining
- End Zone Food Court
- Grandstand Spirits
Shops
- Sport Goofy Gifts and Sundries
Activities
- Pools
- Poolside Activities
- Movies Under the Stars
- Playground
Transportation
- Bus transportation is available from this Disney Resort hotel to the Disney theme parks, Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park and the Disney Springs area
To our knowledge, that’s pretty much everything!
Prior to this, All Star Music Resort reopened as scheduled.
During the closure, All Star Music’s renovations project was finished. (See our Photos & Video: Newly Reimagined Rooms at the All Star Resorts post for more on the room overhaul.) In addition to the guest room overhaul, All Star Music also received a lobby refresh.
Additionally, the sister Port Orleans Resorts–Riverside and French Quarter both reopened.
Walt Disney World has expedited the return of the College Program and has gone on a hiring blitz, which facilitated the return of both hotels shortly after Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration kicked off.
Before that, Animal Kingdom Lodge returned. This might seem insignificant since the Disney Vacation Club villas in Jambo House have been open for over a year. However, the vast majority of Jambo House is hotel rooms (~1,200 hotel rooms v. ~200 villas), so this is a lot of inventory for Walt Disney World to bring back online.
Along with the hotel rooms reopening, Boma – Flavors of Africa and Victoria Falls Lounge have both reopened, while Jiko – The Cooking Place remains closed. See our Boma Review: Walt Disney World’s Best Buffet is BACK! for more on our recent experience eating there.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort returned in late July. We stayed in the new rooms at the Poly following its reopening, and share our thoughts, photos & video in Review: New Moana Rooms at Polynesian Village Resort.
Note that the porte-cochere, entrance, and monorail station are all finished, as well. Moreover, monorail service is now operating at the Poly!
Ultimately, it’s great to see almost all hotels at Walt Disney World now have returned. With the Port Orleans and All Star Resorts now back, that means another ~10,000 hotel rooms can come back online if those hotels book to capacity.
Obviously, this is a very significant number of rooms, and Walt Disney World does not have the staff to fill all of them. Hopefully, that will change in 2022 if the company is able to hire more housekeepers, food court workers, and other Cast Members.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about these reopening dates for Walt Disney World hotels? Any surprises on this list for you? Excited that Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter now have dates? Happy more Value Resorts are returning with the remaining All Stars set to reopen? Will you be attempting to visit Walt Disney World this year, or are you waiting until 2022? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
We have a reservation right now for the first week of November but have to try to change to the second week. Right now that seems like it’s goin to be impossible everything says unavailable.
Have a reservation for 5 nights in mid October in a family suite at All Star Music. I haven’t heard anything about moving to another resort. Hopefully, it’s a good upgrade if they do move us.
We have reservations at the All Star Music for mid October. The Disney CSR just told me they haven’t heard about a reopening delay but if there is one, they will contact me.
My family has All Star Music booked for end of October start. of November. As of today we have heard nothing from Disney saying we would be moved. Ugh.
Hi! I’m from Uruguay, I have a reservation for a family suite (5pax) at all star music for November; in case of moving, which resort you think they will offer me?
Art of Animation is the most likely candidate (pending availability), followed by Fort Wilderness or a Deluxe Villa.
I have a suite at All Star Music for Sept 18th to Sept 25th. Heard nothing about moving us to another place. Dont understand why they didn’t contact me but they did upgrade someone with reservations for Oct.
We have a reservation at all star music for Oct 23-26 and still haven’t gotten a call or email from Disney.
I have Music booked Sept 30-Oct 5 and October 29-Nov 1. I called to ask and they just said it’s opening on September 16. I can see that no rooms are available so I don’t believe them. I also have Caribbean Beach booked Sept 30-Oct 5 but wonder when they’ll tell me the Music room has been moved? I have to cancel one of the reservations soon. I only have 2 reservations because I changed the dates, and was finally able to add all of the days I needed at CB.
We had reservations for Allstar Music 10/2/21 – 10/9/21. Disney called last wk and left vm asking me to call back. When I did, they said they would like to offer me complimentary upgrade to the cars family suite at Art of Animation (for no add’l charge). I obviously said yes. Asked them why and she said she didn’t know. I thought maybe they weren’t done w room renovations but, you’re speculation on lots of cancellations makes total sense, too. Makes sense to delay Music reopening if they can move everyone and save money. Time will tell. I was a little surprised it was during the kickoff of the 50th anniversary. But, maybe with exploding rates of covid, esp in FL, these cancellations r starting to effect even the 50th??
From what we’ve heard, the cancellations are significantly impacting travel dates through December. We’re still expecting the first three months of the 50th to be busy, but not “busiest quarter at WDW ever” anymore.
We had a reservation at All Star Music 10/15 to 10/19. We were moved to Caribbean Beach.
Thanks for sharing!
We also have a family suite booked at ASMusic over Columbus Day weekend. Nothing is presently available at AOA or even Fort Wilderness cabins for those dates. Will be interesting to see what they do.
They should have space in some of the Deluxe Villas–meaning you might get a pretty nice upgrade out of it. That, or there’s room inventory held back at AoA or FW.
Booked mid November at All star music in a standard room. A week long stay and haven’t heard anything yet. I saw people saying that they were booked the month of October and moved to pop century, Caribbean Beach and Art of Animation. So I’m not sure how this will work out with September and November bookings.
That’s interesting–it would make sense that they would cancel in waves, and also try to have it open by mid-November. Thanks for sharing!
We have a family suite booked at Music for Mid November. It’s just a long weekend I am not a huge fan of all stars , but it was the only thing I could find when I booked a couple of weeks ago. I continually check for DVC Boardwalk studio as that is what we really want. It will be interesting to see if we are moved and to where though.
Linda – Both the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Poly are great options. They’re actually my two favorite resorts at Disney. AKL gets a bad rap because of its distance to the parks and bus transportation being the only mode of transportation available. But it’s got such a peaceful vibe. The African artifacts are mesmerizing to look at & you can’t beat seeing zebras and other wild animals whenever you look out the windows. And it’s got a great pool. And you can’t forget the zebra domes!
The Poly has the Hawaiian/Pacific Islands theme which also makes for a peaceful atmosphere. The pool is awesome as well. Where the Poly outshines AKL is in its location – near Magic Kingdom and on the monorail.
Tom – Any chance the Covid-caused cancellations and potentially not the sold out hotels Disney was expecting for October – December with the 50th anniversary + Christmas will cause Disney more generous discounts for the remainder of 2021?
I’m assuming we haven’t see any discounts for Oct-Dec so far is Disney figured the 50th + Christmas will provide enough demand for people paying full-boat, but with many readers here and other blogs saying they are cancelling or pushing out upcoming trips due to Covid, I wonder if it will cause Disney to pivot and provide enticing discounts. Rain or shine, I’ll be there in December and hop this is the case!
It’s really hard to say. The rising cancellations are definitely reflected in greater availability.
However, the question is whether it’s too late for discounts to incentivize people to book new trips at this point given the limited advance notice. Walt Disney World might be hesitant to release more discounts if they are less likely to draw new guests–and instead result in those with existing bookings simply rebooking for a lower rate.
General public discounts are still possible, but I could also see Disney just offering deals to APs and Florida residents, or unloading unsold rooms on Priceline and Hotwire. Who knows, though. It’s been a weird year-plus.
We have postponed twice since last year our trip to Port Orleans Riverside. This is followed by a Disney cruise. However U S regulations will not allow us to visit, so we have to rebook flights and looks like cancel both hotel and cruise!
Really sad.
I always considered myself the early bird, looked today for moderate hotel – let’s just say there will be no worm!
We have reservations for October 2021 at Movies but need to add one more adult. Our room is already at max capacity so we need a 2nd room. I called today and there is no availability anywhere now. Our other option is canceling then rebooting with an offsite resort ☹
I am really hoping that they bring back the character meet and greets, the parades, and reopen the four hotels that you’ve mentioned that do not have any reopening dates in time for the 50th anniversary because it will be busy. I am planning on going in early November, but it is not booked yet. I am still waiting on these things that I’ve mentioned to happen and I would like to walk around the All Star Resorts, not just Movies, but also Music and Sports.
Bonnie: They are doing soft renovations at the Polynesian villas. So some rooms may be shut down for a few days while they paint, change out bedding, other minor things. But not a full renovation. I know Boulder Ridge is due for a full renovation that was postponed from 2020.