2026-2027 Hotel Construction & Refurbishments at Disney World
Hotel refurbishments, resort construction, and character-inspired makeovers continue at Walt Disney World from now through 2027. This resource provides info on room renovations, what to avoid, where to book, and what to expect in terms of hotel work at Walt Disney World.
Walt Disney World continues to undertake refurbishments in an effort to modernize or refresh several of its resorts, as well as finish deferred maintenance that was postponed during the phased reopening. Consequently, there’s a growing number of smaller-scale projects that take certain buildings or a portion of rooms out of commission as part of more-targeted, rolling refurbishments.
We do Walt Disney World monthly hotel stays, usually emphasizing resorts where there are new things, changes, or ongoing construction to see how that harms, improves, or otherwise impacts the guest experience. If you’ve yet to book a hotel for your upcoming Walt Disney World vacation and want to be notified about all of the latest resort changes, sign up here for our FREE Disney newsletter here.
When booking a Walt Disney World vacation, we highly recommend taking into account recently-completed and ongoing construction projects at the various resorts, as these absolutely can impact the quality of your trip. Booking a hotel with a closed pool or construction noise and cranes right outside your window is obviously going to be a worse experience than a resort that just finished its big refurbishment and still has that fresh feeling and ‘new hotel’ smell.
Note that this does not include DVC villas if they do not impact the hotel side of a resort. For those projects, see our Disney Vacation Club Resort Refurbishments & Construction Timeline. That covers all of the room reimaginings at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and beyond that we just announced at the condo association meeting. Those projects also impact Boulder Ridge, Bay Lake Tower, and both Crescent Lake DVC resorts.
Suffice to say, a lot is happening on the hotel front at Walt Disney World. Let’s take a look at all of the current and upcoming major hotel projects that have the potential to impact guests, starting with the latest updates…
Ongoing or Upcoming Hotel Refurbishments
Disney Skyliner – From January 24, 2027, through January 30, 2027, Disney Skyliner will be closed for refurbishment. Complimentary bus service will be available.
Impacted Resorts:
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
We strongly recommend avoiding Skyliner resorts during this time, which does not include the Crescent Lake hotels. See Disney Skyliner Gondolas Closing for Quick Refurbishment in 2027 for more info and detailed advice.
All Star Movies Resort – Beginning in late May 2026, the rooms at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort will undergo planned refurbishment through the end of January 2027. During this time, Guests may see or hear construction work in the area, and alternate paths of travel may be in place.
This will almost assuredly by a soft goods refurbishment similar to the one recently completed at Pop Century. That  means updating furnishings, including but not limited to wall coverings, flooring, linens, decor, and some furniture. The redone rooms at Pop Century look great: First Look Photo Tour of New Rooms at Disney’s Pop Century Resort.
This is also almost assuredly the start of a phased multi-year soft goods refurbishment to all of the All Stars. See Walt Disney World Gearing Up for Years-Long Value Resorts Room Refurbishment, Likely Lasting to 2028 or 2029 for more.
All Star Sports Resort – From now through late April 2026, the Surfboard Bay Pool and the kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort will be closed for maintenance.
During this time, the Grand Slam Leisure Pool (pictured above) at Disney’s All-Star Sports will continue to be available. Additionally, Guests are welcome to use the other pools throughout Disney’s All-Star Resorts, including the Calypso Pool, Piano Pool and kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort; and the Fantasia Pool, Duck Pond Pool and kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort.
We’re big fans of the Grand Slam Leisure Pool, but it’ll probably be busy as a result. Accordingly, our second-favorite All Star pool is Calypso Pool at Music. Duck Pond at Movies is also a winner.
Animal Kingdom Lodge – From now through May 2026, guest rooms at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will undergo refurbishment, followed by refurbishment work at Jambo House from May 2026 through January 2027. During these times, guests may see or hear construction work in the area. All amenities will remain available throughout the refurbishment.
We covered what to expect from this construction at length in Room Reimagining at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge through 2027. What’s still unclear about this project involves the hotel side of Animal Kingdom Lodge, or just the Animal Kingdom Villas. The latter is the DVC side of the resort, and what is overdue for a refurbishment. Even so, by the time the DVC work is done in 2027, the hotel rooms might be due for another refresh.
Beach Club Resort – This hotel is undergoing visible exterior maintenance through late 2026, which will impact views from various locations throughout the resort, and at times, require alternate paths of travel.
As part of this work, the Tidal leisure pool will be closed for routine maintenance through early May 2026. Guests may see or hear refurbishment work in the area until the work is complete.
BoardWalk Inn – Throughout 2026, refurbishment work will take place in select areas of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. While Guests may see or hear work during daytime hours, most Resort amenities—including dining, recreation, and merchandise locations—will remain available.
Walt Disney World still has not revealed what, exactly, this project entails. Based on what BoardWalk needs done, there’s a wide range of possibilities. At minimum, we know it’s a major project by virtue of it lasting throughout 2026. As for possibilities, see our comprehensive discussion in Big BoardWalk Mystery Construction Project in 2026.
From January 11, 2027 to April 2027, the Luna Park Pool, the Luna Park Crazy Play Area, and Leaping Horse Libations at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas will be closed for routine maintenance. Guests may see and hear construction until the work is complete. However, the Villas Pool and the Inn Pool will remain open for Guests to enjoy.
Luna Park Pool is the feature pool at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, and it was last redone back in late 2020 to remove the “creepy clown” from the water slide. Hopefully this project is to reinstall that beloved, dead-eyed, spaghettios-haired clown!
Contemporary Resort – From now through late 2027, refurbishments will occur in select areas of Disney’s Contemporary Resort—including Bay Lake Tower and the main A-frame atrium. Please allow for extra travel time. Guests may also see and hear construction during their stay.
This multi-phased project has been underway for over a year already, and previously revolved around BLT. That’s finished now, and the description has been updated to drop the Convention Center and add the atrium. No visible work has begun in the A-frame, but is expected to start soon.
Additionally, from now through early May 2026, the Bay Cove Pool, the water play area and the whirlpool spa at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will temporarily be closed for maintenance. The Bay Lake Pool, the Cove Bar, the feature pool, the water play area and the whirlpool spa at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will remain open for Guests to enjoy.
From now through Late May 2026, there will also be exterior elevator landing repairs taking place at Bay Lake Tower. Consequently, the Skyway Bridge connecting Bay Lake Tower and the Contemporary Main Tower will be closed Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., reopening daily after 5 p.m. and remaining available evenings and weekends through May 1, 2026. Guests may need to use alternate paths of travel at times and may see or hear construction activity while work is underway.
Fort Wilderness Campground – Walt Disney World has introduced New DVC Cabins to Fort Wilderness Campground. More than 350 new cabins have replaced the old cabins, turning the resort side of the campground into a Disney Vacation Club property. This occurred loop by loop over the last two years and is now finished.
From now through mid-2026, construction will take place near the Meadow Swimmin’ Pool area. The Meadow Swimmin’ Pool and Wilderness Swimmin’ Pool will remain open for Guests to enjoy. During this time, seating availability around the Meadow Swimmin’ Pool may be limited and Guests may see or hear construction in the area. The nearby tennis courts, volleyball court and the Meadow Playground may be closed temporarily. Please note that Guests may see and hear construction in the area until the work is complete.
Right next door to Fort Wilderness is the construction of Disney Lakeshore Lodge (formerly Reflections), which has now reached its top height of 10 stories tall! This quite literally towers over the Settlement area, and construction has an outsized impact on Fort Wilderness guests, as cranes build that massive new resort about 100 yards from Fort Wilderness.
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – Disney Vacation Club overhauled the Big Pine Key building of hotel rooms at Walt Disney World’s flagship resort. This building has since reopened and the new rooms have debuted–see Grand New Rooms at Walt Disney World’s Flagship Resort for a look inside. These reimagined rooms have since debuted on the regular resort side of the Grand Floridian, and all of the outlying buildings are now finished.
As part of the ongoing enhancements at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, refurbishment work will continue in select areas, including the porte cochere, through early 2027. Guests may see or hear refurbishment work during daytime hours or need to take alternate paths of travel. This project was recently extended from mid-2026 to early 2027 with the “including the porte cochere” line.
As part of this work, from mid-July through October 2026, Grand Floridian Cafe will temporarily close for a refresh. During this time, brunch will continue to be offered but will temporarily move to CÃtricos. All other dining locations at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will remain available for Guests to enjoy. Guests may see or hear refurbishment work during daytime hours and may need to take alternate paths of travel.
The main fruit of this project is the lobby overhaul, which is now completed. This includes “The Perch,” or the Birdcage Bar that replaced the iconic aviary in the lobby.
Old Key West Resort – Now through late April 2026, the South Point Pool and Spa, BBQ area and playground at Disney’s Old Key West Resort will be closed for routine maintenance.
During this time, Guests may see or hear maintenance activity during daytime hours and are encouraged to use the Sandcastle Pool or one of the resort’s other two leisure pools – the Turtle Pond Pool and Miller’s Road Pool.
Speaking of which, this follows the completion of the Turtle Pond Pool, Turtle Pond Pool Spa, the BBQ area refurbishment. It seems that Old Key West might be doing a phased refurbishment to its leisure pools.
Polynesian Village Resort – The good news is that the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows between the existing Polynesian longhouses and Wedding Pavilion, near the Grand Floridian, is now open. The bad news is that work at the Polynesian isn’t finished.
Through 2026, some areas of the Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows are being refurbished. This work includes the reconfiguration of the front entrance roadway and bus area. While construction activity will be noticeable during daytime hours, efforts will be made to minimize disruptions.
Walt Disney World filed permits for a new entrance to the Polynesian (which would also impact the parking lot and bus loop), and there’s major work being done to re-route and expand Floridian Way, so that’s probably what’s referenced for the construction and refurbishments through 2026. This will be a lengthy project that is very minimally impactful to both the Poly and Grand Floridian.
Additionally, some views of the theme parks and other surrounding areas may be impacted. This is now noticeable around the Great Ceremonial House, to the point that Walt Disney World is warning guests who book ‘Ohana about impaired views of Magic Kingdom. Although this impacts ‘Ohana, we recently dined at the adjacent Tambu Lounge and enjoyed unblemished views.
Finally, there’s a new construction notice that was just added: from May 11, 2026 through late June 2026, the boat dock at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will undergo routine maintenance. The dock will be closed and boat transportation to suspended from May 11-June 5, 2026. Please allow for extra travel time when arriving at or leaving the Poly.
We’d recommend heeding this ‘allow extra travel time’ warning, especially when leaving the Poly during peak periods. We already encountered long lines more than once for the monorail at times in April 2026, and that was before the boat dock refurbishment started. Without that to help absorb some of the crowd, the monorail station will be even busier.
Pop Century – From now through late April 2026, the kiddie pool deck at Disney’s Pop Century Resort will be closed for routine maintenance. During this time, the Hippy Dippy Pool and all other amenities will remain available. Guests may see or hear maintenance activity in the area during daytime hours.
The good news is that Pop Century is otherwise in tip-top shape, with the year-long resort refurbishment having wrapped up. We stayed at Pop Century this month (April 2026) prior to the pool deck closure, and the resort is looking fantastic!
Port Orleans Riverside – Walt Disney World has started its next slate of room reimaginings at Port Orleans Riverside, from now through August 2027.
The first phase of this project, impacts the Magnolia Bend rooms, which are mostly the Royal Rooms. When Magnolia Bend is done (which should be really soon), it’ll be time for Alligator Bayou to receive its next round of room redos and crews will move to that side of the resort. Accordingly, making a room request for Magnolia Bend in Spring 2026 and beyond will mitigate exposure to the second phase of this project.
Although not officially confirmed, it’s a near-certainty that the normal rooms in Alligator Bayou receiving a hard goods refurbishment is the second phase of this project. See Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort Room Reimagining Extended by Year-Plus to 2027 for more.
Saratoga Springs – Through mid-September 2026, The Turf Club Bar & Grill and The Turf Club Lounge at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will be under refurbishment. During portions of the refurbishment, some areas will be temporarily closed, including:
- Through early August 2026:Â The Turf Club Lounge (The Turf Club Bar & Grill will remain open with a pop-up bar serving a modified Lounge food & beverage menu)
- Early to mid-August 2026: The Turf Club patio
- Mid-August – mid-September, 2026: The Turf Club Bar & Grill (The Turf Club Lounge will remain open)
Turf Club Bar & Grill is the restaurant itself, so the notable portion of this refurbishment doesn’t start until August 2026 and should wrap up in the span of a month. Fortunately, there’s ample options a short walk away at Disney Springs.
The tennis courts at Saratoga Springs are now closed for refurbishment and are expected to reopen in June 2026. During this time, the basketball court will also be closed.
Wilderness Lodge – Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge are undergoing exterior refurbishment work expected to continue through late 2026. These enhancements may impact views from various locations throughout the Resort. While most resort amenities will remain available, Guests may see and hear construction work during daytime hours.
The exterior work could actually impact Wilderness Lodge until 2027 if permits are accurate. As we discuss in greater detail in this post about Wilderness Lodge construction, that doesn’t really give us pause about staying there. With room requests, you may not notice any of the work at all.
In addition to this, there’s the above-mentioned resumption of work on Disney Lakeshore Lodge on the former River Country water park site. That will be less impactful to guests staying at Wilderness Lodge than Fort Wilderness, but there will be audible and visible construction from the Boulder Ridge side of the resort, especially.
From now through late July 2026, the boat dock at Wilderness Lodge will undergo routine maintenance. The dock will be closed and boat transportation temporarily suspended through May 1, 2026. This is the second phased closure of the boat dock this year, and bus transportation was available as an alternative during the first. We’d expect the same this go-round.
Yacht Club – Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is undergoing visible exterior maintenance through late 2026, which will impact views from various locations throughout the resort, and at times, require alternate paths of travel.
As part of this work, from now through early May 2026, the Admiral leisure pool will be closed for routine maintenance. Guests may see or hear work in the area during daytime hours until the refurbishment is complete.
In addition, Crew’s Cup Lounge is now closed, and is expected to reopen in May 2026. Following that, Yachtsman Steakhouse will temporarily close for a refresh in May 2026 and is expected to reopen by August 2026.
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
Have any recent observations or experiences with hotel construction at Walt Disney World you’d be willing to share? Where at Walt Disney World are you staying this year or in 2027? Any resorts you’re intentionally avoiding? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments of these resort refurbishment or reimagining projects? 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!
When referring to the pop century buildings. Can you refer to them as 50s, 60s, etc. I have no idea what building 4 and 5 are. Thanks so much
Hi. I have been trying for weeks to book at Saratoga from late dec into jan 2019. It keeps coming up as sold out…is there any type of refurb going on? Would rooms really be sold out this far in advance? I always stay in disney the same time every year and usually have been able to book at saratoga already at this time
Hi we are staying at all stars movies resort in November 2018 and been told that room renovations are taking place from now until winter, do you know which blocks they are doing first, we have prefered room so hoping that these will be renovated by the time we get there
Do you have any idea if “ALL” the rooms are getting done at Pop Century or just some. I have been told both ways. Hoping for a trip in November!
I guess we’re in the minority, but I absolutely HATE the new hard wood floors. I understand it’s easier to clean, but my feet are tired when I’m at Disney and the hard wood is uncomfortable, making me feel like I need to leave shoes on and not at all a “homey comfort” feel I like in a hotel. Furthermore, the wood smell was overwhelmingly stinky (we had first received a renovated room at Pop Century at Christmas and had to ask for an older non-remodeled room due to the smell of the new wood). While hopefully the smell will diminish with time, I can’t see being as comfortable or happy in a hardwood floor/laminate floor room as I was with carpet. Just a word of caution for those with asthma/allergies and my 2cents otherwise.
We have always been able to find Deluxe Resort rooms in as little as a month out from visits, but no longer. I’ve read through all the construction updates, but it still doesn’t make sense. It’s hard to understand why every resort except a few budget type can be completely booked for mid-week, mid-March dates.
We are going in August to POFQ. I know the rooms refurbishment will be finished by then. Do you know if the curtain in the bathroom is being replaced by a sliding hardwood door like they added to the Caribbean Beach? We love the Caribbean Beach, but due to the construction, will stay at POFQ. The sliding door at the CB is a great feature and I am hoping the POFQ has added them also.
From the photos on PortOrleans.org, it looks like they have shower curtains. On their “Photos and Media” page, they have a gallery from user MardiGroggy that has many photos of their room from Feb 2018.
We are going the last week in May and our aaa agent booked us into All Star Music family suite, fun and sun offer, 5 day 4 nite stay and after reading a lot of reviews I’m worried the rooms are old and carpets are dirty, have any of these been updated. We purchased the fast pass hopper tickets and dining option, we want this be memorable do I upgrade to moderate resort as still a ways off? We are taking a total of 3 families plus us total of 17 family members.
We booked POR for Our June trip, still fun and sun package to avoid the chance of getting one of the older rooms at POP. But I think POR is the only moderate resort that doesn’t have refurbishment happening in 2018.
Any plans to update the all star rooms and give them the more updated appearance of the new pop century rooms? It seems with hotel volume being considered it would be a smart move
We are trying to plan a Disney vacation for mid October 2018. Do you think most of the construction will be done at Caribbean Beach resort by then?
We’re staying at Pop Century The first week of March in the 60’s building. Do you think the rooms will be finished by then?
I’m wondering the same? 60’s for 7-12 of March?
Any idea on when room refurbishments will be completed at POFQ? My husband and I will be going in May and we are hoping to get a refurbished room!
Becca
Portorleans.org is a great website that has the schedule posted for the French Quarter refurbishment. They list it by building, so you could put a request in for a building that will be finished. Hope this helps!
Terri, This helps so much! Thank you!
What is the “construction” going on at the east side of the back entrance to Fort Wilderness? They were removing many trees on the east side of golf view drive, just across the back entrance where the buses enter. The now have FW style fencing on that side of the street.
Impeccable timing. We’re in the process of deciding which Moderate to book for a Christmas trip in 2018. Coronado Springs is in the running, but I fear the construction there may get bigger before it gets better. Thanks for the update–more to consider for sure…
Do you know when there will be pet friendly resorts i didnt know they were offering that. I ask every year.
We just returned from Port Orleans and they seem to be allowing pets in that resort. Unfortunately I heard a constant barking from building 24. I could hear it from the paths and any part of that building. I’m glad I wasn’t in that building.
https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-world-hotels-pet-friendly/
Has anybody stayed at Coronado Springs recently? Specifically, does anyone know if the room refurbishments have been completed in the Ranchos?
We have reservations for April, and I am mildly concerned about the refurbishments, but the room was so much cheaper than the alternatives, I probably would have booked it anyway.
We stayed there 2 weeks ago. We were in the Casitas section. I was surprised at the amount of construction going on. We were not in a refurbished room. There were several walkways blocked off with fencing for construction. They also had several mechanical lifts in the Casitas section. Workers were painting and caulking etc. The pool is great and the resort was quiet so my kids didn’t seem to mind. The closing off of walkways was annoying though. We did get the “Pardon our Construction” pins in our room.
I was there November 11th-15th. Our room in building 7A (Ranchos) was renovated. The only construction I personally saw was where they’re building the tower, which we passed on our walk to and from the main building.
Staying at Carribean Beach next April/May for 2 weeks! It’ll be my girlfriend’s first ever trip, and my first in about 15 years since I was 10 years old. We chose Carribean Beach because the prices were reduced due to construction, and with the free quick service dining plan thrown in for all moderates (for us UK’ers anyway) it actually worked out as the cheapest resort option. As long as construction doesn’t bother us whilst we sleep we don’t care, as we’re unlikely to spend much time at the resort at all I think. It’s a shame it won’t be at its best, but that’s why we got the cheaper rate!
That’s exactly the point. Constructions will be a hassle for people who stay in their hotel room during the day. If your hotel is more of a “bed and breakfast” because you’re hitting the parks earlier and coming back late, therewould be no issue at all
Hey! For an excellent rate I’d even sleep in the room they are doing the refurbishment on!
We just got back from a stay at Caribbean Beach resort. Mainly just slept there but did enjoy running in early morning. No complaints from us. We spent days in the parks and ate in Parks or Disney Springs.
Just got an email today from Disney about upcoming work on the pools at Saratoga Springs:
“We are delighted you have chosen the Walt Disney World® Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa as your vacation destination. We look forward to sharing our signature equestrian elegance and world-class hospitality with you!
In an effort to continually enhance the Guest experience, it is necessary for us to refresh our offerings from time to time. In preparation for your upcoming visit, we would like to inform you that High Rock Spring Pool and On the Rocks pool bar will be unavailable due to routine maintenance. During this time, we invite you to make a splash at The Paddock Pool or our leisure pools located at The Grandstand, Congress Park and the Treehouse Villas.
While we work our magic, it is possible that you may see or hear construction, but noise should not be heard from your Guest room between dusk and 9:00am. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and appreciate your patience and understanding. Please know that we are making every effort to ensure your comfort and enjoyment.”
This is unfortunately an annual tradition in many of the Disney Resort hotels in January and February and sometimes March! Last year we stayed at Old Key West and the main pool was closed for renovations up until the last day of our stay. This year, the large main pool at Grand Floridian is shut down for most of February! It really is a huge inconvenience for families that like to take a day or two and relax and stay at the resort instead of the parks. Disney just says…”oh the smaller pools are still open for your enjoyment”…
We will be staying at the Poly in a studio in Apr of 18. We are DVC members and it is our home resort. We bought there as my husband loves the whole tropical thing. He was in the Peace Corps in Samoa (a hundred years ago) and it apparently brings back some memories for him. I personally remain frustrated that there are no 1 or 2 bedroom choices there and that is why when we have all of our family show up we have to stay elsewhere. (We did stay in the Poly bungalows for 4 nights the year we bought as they matched points when we bought). That will never happen again, unless I win some lottery!
In June of 17 we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, Boulder Ridge in a 2 bedroom that faced the lake and the new cabins. Even with the new vegetation as Tom describes we thought it was insanely beautiful and restful. And that was with them working on the cabins putting on the finishing touches prior to their opening.
Do you know what buildings are being refurbished first in Pop? Going in early April and definitely want an upgraded room.
I’m pretty sure they started with 90’s and working their way back. Last I heard they were on the 70’s.