2024-2025 Hotel Construction & Refurbishments at Disney World
Hotel refurbishments, resort construction, and character-inspired makeovers continue at Walt Disney World through 2024 & 2025. 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. (Updated November 26, 2023.)
Walt Disney World continues to undertake refurbishments as staffing shortages preclude full occupancy of the resorts. Consequently, there are a 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 2024 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…
Ongoing or Upcoming Hotel Refurbishments
All Star Movies – While the room renovations at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort are now finished, more updates are expected in the next couple of years.
Looking way down the road to early 2025, the Fantasia Pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort will be closed for routine maintenance from January 2025 through April 2025. Guests may see or hear construction work during daytime hours. During this time, hotel guests are welcome to swim in the Duck Pond Pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort.
NOTE: This refurbishment was previously scheduled for Winter 2024, but bumped to 2025. Just drawing your attention to that, as literally the only thing about the bulletin that has changed is the year, the months and all other details are the same. Just one full year later, which is a pretty big difference, but an easy one to miss!
Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach & Riviera Resorts – Bad news, as the Disney Skyliner Gondolas Close for Routine Refurbishment in Early 2024. Closures will occur in phases from January 16-27, 2024.
This routine downtime of the “Most Magical Flight on Earth” affects all of the Skyliner routes and resorts. These gondolas service two Walt Disney World theme parks (Hollywood Studios and Epcot) plus four resorts (Art of Animation & Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, plus Riviera Resort & Caribbean Beach again) via 5 stations.
We strongly recommend switching resorts if you’re staying at a Skyliner hotel during those dates. As discussed in that article (link above), the Skyliner is the selling point of those resorts, and why they charge premium prices. We’d also recommend not booking any of those resorts in mid to late January 2025, as another Skyliner refurbishment is likely at that time.
All Star Sports – The room refurbishment at All Star Sports is now almost totally finished.
This wrapped up at most buildings by early this year, but they still haven’t started on Building 1 for some reason. No clue why–it would’ve been done by now if they stuck to the schedule.
Beach Club Resort & Villas – The soft goods refurbishment and lobby refresh of Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Villas is now finished. Not much changed–there’s new carpet in the hallways, and inside the room the carpet has been replaced by a laminate flooring.
There’s also new furniture–chairs and couch–as well as new curtains, Donald Duck wall art, and other refreshed surfaces. That’s all I noticed. These rooms were bland before, and they’re still pretty bland now–but minus carpet and plus better on-theme artwork.
With that said, a huge closure is on the horizon: Stormalong Bay Pool is Closing in 2025 for Refurbishment. From January 2025 through May 2025, Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts will be closed for routine maintenance. Guests may see or hear construction work during daytime hours. During this time, Guests are welcome to swim at the Tidal, Admiral and Dunes Cove leisure pools.
BoardWalk Inn – This resort is current in the midst of a multi-year reimagining. No timeline has been given for when the work will end, but our expectation is mid-2024. The room renovations are now finished (see our Review, Photos & Videos of the New Rooms at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn) and work is occurring along the BoardWalk itself.
Walt Disney World is also adding and changing elements of the beloved turn-of-the-century promenade and inside the Deluxe Resort, including a new lobby design, nearby coffee bar, delectable dining options, refreshed guest rooms, and more.
Inside Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, it’s difficult to discern whether work on the lobby is finished. Carousel Coffee has opened and Belle Vue Lounge has been refreshed, with both being done in half-measure. It seems that the same has also happened with the lobby, but it’s truly tough to tell. Very little changed.
The biggest project at the BoardWalk is the new Cake Bake Shop Restaurant will replace ESPN Club, and is slated to open in early 2024. (Judging by the actual pace of progress, it may slip into spring or even summer.) This isn’t the only new “restaurant” coming to this area: pickle-stuffed corn dogs (you read that correctly) will soon be coming to the BoardWalk courtesy of Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs.
Caribbean Beach – The Pirate Rooms at Caribbean Beach Resort have been retired and have been all replaced by ‘Under the Sea’ Inspired Little Mermaid Rooms. Crews have since moved on to other buildings around Caribbean Beach and are doing soft goods refurbishments to those. We’re pretty sure this is also finished–we didn’t see any construction here in November 2023.
From January 2024 through April 2024, the Fuentes del Morro Pool at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will be closed for routine maintenance. Guests may see or hear construction work during daytime hours. During this time, hotel guests are welcome to swim in any of the 5 leisure pools at Caribbean Beach Resort.
Fort Wilderness Campground – Walt Disney World announced New DVC Cabins Coming to Fort Wilderness Campground. The proposed plans call for more than 350 new cabins to replace the existing cabins at the resort, turning the resort side of the campground into a Disney Vacation Club property. In so doing, a “collection of improvement projects” are underway at Fort Wilderness aimed at enhancing the guest experience, including proposed pool and walking trail improvements.
Work on the Disney Vacation Club cabins has not yet started, and the current cabins are still available to reserve through late 2024. This makes sense, as the current cabins were pre-fabricated off-site and installed unit-by-unit, not built on location. The same will almost certainly be true of the new cabins–it’ll be a matter of swapping out the old cabins for the new ones, which will likely occur in phases next year.
To prepare for the influx of DVC guest$, Walt Disney World reimagined the restaurants in Pioneer Hall. That work is now finished, and both Crockett’s Tavern and Trail’s End have reopened. The latter is now quick-service and a grab-and-go marketplace instead of sit-down restaurant.
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. Crews have now moved into the main lobby, which is being done in phases. Crews paused their work for the Christmas 2023 season, and we’re anticipating that they’ll resume in January 2024. How long it’ll take is anyone’s guess–it really depends upon how involved the project is. We’re guessing it’ll last for at least the first half of 2024.
We’re also guessing that 1900 Park Fare and the Grand Floridian Tea Room will not return until after the reimagining is finished. In a logical and ideal world, those venues would be reimagined alongside the lobby, and open in time for Spring Break 2024. At present, there’s no indication that’s the intent–no construction activity has been observed in or around either.
Grand Floridian will receive a substantial overhaul with “Enchanted Gardens” as the unifying visual style. The scope and scale are not yet known, but the most likely scenario is the main lobby receiving an aesthetic and new carpet comparable to the smaller outlying buildings. See our Grand Floridian Resort Reimagining Report for more details.
Polynesian Village Resort – Walt Disney World is building a new DVC tower at Polynesian Village Resort between the existing Polynesian longhouses and Wedding Pavilion, near the Grand Floridian.
In light of this, Walt Disney World’s official site has this message: “As we prepare for the proposed expansion at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, you will see and hear construction at certain times of day. To minimize disruptions during your stay, activities that may create noise will not start earlier than 9 a.m.”
If you’re staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort anytime in the next 2 years, we’d recommend requesting a room that is not in the Aotearoa, Fiji, or Tuvalu longhouses. Those buildings are adjacent to the construction site, and the only ones that should be impacted in any material way. The DVC tower construction is visible from other locations in the resort, but the impact is otherwise minor.
Actually, we recommend avoiding the Polynesian completely for the next year. As explained in Worst Hotels at Walt Disney World for 2024, the construction impact will be ongoing and it’s likely that smaller projects will be undertaken in addition to what’s already been announced to prepare the resort infrastructure for the tower and its added DVC guests.
Prior to this tower, work wrapped up on the Great Ceremonial House, porte-cochère, new monorail station, and gardens. Room refurbishments were also part of the Poly’s overhaul and those are now finished. See our Review, Photos & Video: New Moana Rooms at Polynesian Village Resort for a tour and thoughts on the changes from our most recent hotel stay.
Port Orleans French Quarter – From January 2024 through April 2024, the Doubloon Lagoon pool at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter will be closed for routine maintenance.
Guests may see or hear construction work during day time hours. During this time, hotel patrons are welcome to swim in the Ol’ Man Island pool at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. (That’s about a 10-15 minute walk from Port Orleans French Quarter.)
Yacht Club Resort – No room refurbishments or common area construction scheduled in 2024.
However, the same Stormalong Bay Pool closure that’ll impact Beach Club will impact Yacht Club in 2025. We’d avoid staying at both resorts during that project unless significant discounts are offered. That’s one of the main selling points of these hotels, and its ‘value’ is built into room rates.
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 in 2024 or 2025? 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!
Animal Kingdom Villas is due for their hard refurb in 2023. Has anyone heard any word on potential dates?
We have a standard view studio reserved at the Grand Floridian the end of October (2022). We’ve already been told we’re going to be in the Big Pine Key building in a room with two beds instead of a bed and sleeper sofa.
Exciting! Those new rooms look fantastic in finished form!
Does anyone know when they may do some upgrades to the DVC property at Beach Club? When we stayed there last year, the rooms looked to be in need of some work.
Hi. I just saw a posting regarding a new construction permit that was issued for beach club resort in 2022/23. The person who shared it did not have any information on dates or what part of beach club will be addressed. I will search for the reply and post it here if I find it.
https://insidethemagic.net/2022/06/disney-construction-permit-beach-club-resort-rwb1/
It’s just posted for “general construction” so imagine it’s not an overhaul
Any info on an update at Bay Lake? When I search for DVC rooms the notes under Bay Lake appear to indicate work being done in the resort besides the pool areas, but I’m unsure if they’re referring to the Contemporary? Bay Lake could use a refurb/refresh!!
I wonder why the garden rooms still exist at the Contemporary? Why hasn’t Disney built a second/matching DVC tower on that side of the property? Certainly a better choice than the planned ugly Polynesian DVC building.
Thanks for the recurring updates – you guys are the best source of everything Disney!!!
I’m planning a trip during August, from the 14th to the 28th. My reservation is for the All Stars Sports. Do you believe the renovations will be done by then? Should I change my reservation to another All Star Resort?
Thanks!
I doubt the room refurbishments will be done by then, but they’ve typically done them building by building, so usually there isn’t much of an impact to other guests. With that said, “usually” in this case is a couple of years ago, so who knows.
Personally, I’d move to Music or Movies just because I’d rather be guaranteed a new room.
Anyone know anything about the status of Garden Wing renovations?
Just got back from the Garden Wing garden view room. A+ trip. Room was Incredibles theme with carpet. They were still working on some rooms with the pool view, and possibly with the parking lot view. Didn’t really go on the parking lot side so not much to say about that. The refurbishment work did not interfere with the stay at all. I hope you have as good a time as we did!
Has a one recently stayed in Bay Lake Tower Deluxe Studio? I’m staying there in August (4 adults) using a friends DVC points and I’m concerned about it being too small and the pull-out couch uncomfortable! Any info to ease my worries??
I believe the studios at BLT are some of the smallest of the legacy resorts. 4 adults might be a squeeze if you plan to be in the room a lot.
They are the smallest studios on property. It will be a squeeze with four adults in a Bay Lake studio, unfortunately.
Any update on the Garden Wing?
Does anyone know the status of the remodeled villas at VGF? We are staying in a 1 bedroom villa in June and was curious if the rooms have been updated yet .
Julia
I have the same question
We are staying in a one bedroom VGF beginning of August . hoping refurb is done
Anyone have any info or strong feeling about this ?
So Allstar Sports opened but no rooms were refurbished?? So far not one person has reported being a new room. Seems odd to be closed this long with nothing being done to theses old, tired rooms.
This appears correct; if folks choose the All Star resorts, choose wisely – Movies or Music. Personally, I’d stay at Pop Century for the Skyliner, but I do understand the appeal of the lower rates at All Star or the family Suites at Music.
Note, I do think part of the non-renovation is due to prioritization of labor – Disney has done LOTS of renos during the past two years (Wilderness Lodge, AS Movies, Music, Poly, Contemporary, Saratoga, etc.) in a very tight labor market. I imagine a renovation is coming to Sports soon.
When will Caribbean beach resort get renovated?
Wish I knew this too. Location, atmosphere, and surprisingly the spread out buildings is our favorite. The rooms though are looking a bit rough.
Hi all, for those with reservation in the garden wing at the contemporary – were you moved?
Yes, we didn’t find out until we actually got to the hotel though even though we did online check in. They moved us to the main tower of the Contemporary. I have seen others were moved to other resorts on Bay Lake (Polynesian or Grand Floridian). Not sure why they wait to tell you when they know the Garden Wing is closed.
Thanks Jp – Did you just complete you stay there? – I am booked for mis April – and now feeling a bit stressed if I should change my reservation to avoid any construction situation – or just assume a) they will move us .. or b) it won’t be an issue. Looks like you can still book rooms for the garden wing – which is just stranger. Thanks to this forum fn advance!
Jon – We just got done at the end of January and they were just getting started on the refurbishment of the Garden Wing. I’m not sure how intensive it will be so not sure of the timeline, but it is the entire Garden Wing. So if it is still going on when your trip arrives, you wont get put near any of the construction because it’s the entire wing. With that being said they will relocate you to a better or comparable room either in the Contemporary tower or one of the other Bay Lake resorts. We didn’t find out until we actually got to the front desk to ask about our room since we hadn’t gotten a phone notification that our room was ready. I would call about a week prior to check if you have a concern or preference because I know we prefer the Contemporary because we like to walk into Magic Kingdom sometimes rather than wait on transportation. Otherwise they will let you know where you’re staying once you get there.
Jp – thanks so much – we chose contemporary as you said for convenience – we have small children. I noticed today they are no longer offering rooms in the garden wing – which I find interesting … guess we will find out! Thanks so much for charging your experience!
Tom (or anyone)-
We just returned home after a 4 night stay at Coronado Springs. We stayed in the Tower for a couple of nights and then the Casitas area for a couple of nights. I noticed when walking by some of the rooms in the Casitas there was furniture and countertops outside of the rooms (I’m pretty sure it was building 3). Are they doing refurbishments on these rooms or possibly just repairing some damaged rooms due to a water leak or some other maintenance issue?
Strange Disney is refurbishing the garden wing at the Contemporary. Wouldn’t it make more sense to build a second, matching DVC tower?
Is it just me or does the new Polynesian DVC building look terribly out of place? Certainly, it’s not consistent with the resort’s theming.
I do not think it possible to build a second DVC tower given the location next to the canal. Additionally, without the garden wing, they wouldn’t have enough rooms in their inventory to handle conventions and tourists at the Contemporary.
Any news on Boardwalk Inns construction timing?
Very interested in this as well! The Boardwalk Inn was increasingly looking like “grandma’s stay at the seashore” and I’m excited for what this overall renovation – including the new offerings ON the Boardwalk – will hold!
We have DVC points but sometimes like to start with a one- or two- night stay somewhere else.
This past time we did one night at the Marriott Orlando World Center. While absolutely a convention type hotel, we enjoyed the well kept, and massive, resort pool with slides and the overall modern feel of the resort. Magical, no, but special, yea, I’d say so.
Does anyone know if there are plans to add the murphy bed style to the DVC studios at AKL or if they’re planning to include those in the reno’d Boulder Ridge studios at WL?
Has anyone had any experience trying to reach out to customer service ahead of time to see if a reservation is going to be moved? We’re staying at the Contemporary Garden Wing in late-Arpil/early-May, but customer service so far has said they don’t have any record of refurbishments taking place.
I was told it’s closed till mid summer people are being moved. I will tell u for sure I have garden wing room saturday. The people who have repy to my post said upgraded to Grand Floridian. One got main tower in contemporary. But I still don’t have any notice to what my new room is.
My clients (18 people total in 5 rooms) were all moved to Grand Floridian for this week. I was notified about a month out about the move, they were also given a $200 Disney Gift Card per room as a make right. If you haven’t received an email, reach out to your travel advisor, they might have the direct line to this department to see if you are on the list.
Do you know what returns are being done at yacht club and when they will be finished ? There’s no info online.
Sorry, typo ! I meant refurbs.
Just returned home from Saratoga Springs, Grandstand section…pool there being refurbished from early last week until the end of February. Disappointed with that, as the other pools were busy and seemed so very far away after 20,000 steps in the parks each day. Can confirm that the Murphy bed is awesome, so just say “NO” to sofa beds!