Disney World Reveals Big BoardWalk Mystery Construction Project in 2026
Walt Disney World has announced a mystery refurbishment starting this month and continuing throughout 2026 at the BoardWalk. Here’s the latest on the construction warning, plus what we expect the project to encompass.
For starters, this is interesting because Disney’s BoardWalk Inn recently “finished” (air quotes) a major, multi-year refurbishment project. Back in 2022, Walt Disney World announced they’d be reimagining elements of the beloved turn-of-the-century promenade and inside the Deluxe Resort, with a charming new lobby design, delectable new dining options, and other ‘light and airy’ touches.
The biggest changes that actually materialized were new guest rooms on both the hotel side of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and the DVC Villas, Carousel Coffee (lobby coffee bar), Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers (replacement for ESPN Club), BoardWalk Ice Cream (replacement for Ample Hills), BoardWalk Deli (replacement for BoardWalk Bakery), and the new Blue Ribbon Corn Dog kiosk. All of that was completed a year or more ago, with Cake Bake Shop being the last to debut.
Fast-forward around 13 months, and Walt Disney World has announced another year-long project for the BoardWalk. Here’s the construction bulletin that appears on the official website:
Beginning late November 2025 and continuing 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.
The Disney Skyliner will be closed for routine refurbishment January 25–31, 2026, and January 24–30, 2027. During these times, complimentary bus transportation will be available.
From January 11, 2027, through April 2027, the Luna Park Pool, the Luna Park Crazy Play Area and Leaping Horse Libations at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Disney’s BoardWalk Villas will be closed for routine maintenance. Guests may see and hear work taking place during daytime hours. However, the Villas Pool and the Inn Pool will remain open for Guests to enjoy.
Only the first paragraph is pertinent to this post. The Skyliner and Luna Park Pool closures were previously announced.
The most notable details are that it’ll take place throughout 2026, as opposed to having a specified end month. That suggests it’s expected to last the duration of 2026, or at least, most of the year. It’s also taking place in select areas, plural, of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. Taking these two pieces of info together suggests it’s a fairly major project.
There are a number of possibilities as to what this could be. The first is the least exciting–that it’s just facade work. This has been happening over at Yacht and Beach Club, and it’s entirely possible Walt Disney World will use the same resources to replace and refresh the exteriors of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn while the construction crews are already at Crescent Lake.
Notably, the refurbishment bulletins for Yacht and Beach Club indicate that those resorts are “undergoing routine exterior maintenance” and that the “work may impact views from various locations throughout the resort, and at times, alternate paths of travel may be in place.”
BoardWalk not having these details does not definitively rule out exterior work, just makes it less likely. Walt Disney World is known to post vague bulletins from time to time. It just seems like they would’ve copied and pasted over the Yacht & Beach Club bulletins were this essentially an ‘extension’ of that work.
Another possibility is that Walt Disney World is finishing what it started with the 2022 reimagining. It was never clear to us whether the BoardWalk lobby was actually completed, or if Disney decided to do a light refresh and move on.
Aside from the check-in desks being replaced by kiosks, not a whole lot changed. You may not even notice the lobby received a refresh, and we’d stop well short of calling it a redesign. It might seem odd to revisit this ~2 years after it was previously “completed,” but that’s precisely what happened with the Grand Floridian.
In fact, this whole announcement reminds us a lot of that lobby overhaul, from the long pause right down to the vague bulletin that ended up coming into clearer focus a week or so later when Walt Disney World issued a press release and concept art for the Birdcage Bar. I don’t think BoardWalk will get another lobby bar, but stranger things have happened!
Then there are all of the vacancies out along the actual BoardWalk. Walt Disney World previously teased something new for the first of these, but that was well over a year ago and it seemed more like something to placate fans than it did that they had an actual plan.
In case you missed it, Big River Grille & Brewing Works permanently closed in early last year. And it was easy to miss, as the time from when the news broke to when the restaurant closed was literally only a few days. It was abrupt, and even the employees who worked there didn’t know until the last minute.
A little over one year later, Jellyrolls Dueling Piano Bar closed in April 2025 after nearly 30 years on the BoardWalk. According to Jellyrolls management, the decision was made to move to a new location in Orlando. This didn’t come as a huge surprise, as Jellyrolls had been struggling for a while and Walt Disney World rent is expensive.
Yet another closure recently hit this same side of the BoardWalk, as the Promenade Fine Art Gallery closed permanently last month. No word yet on a replacement for that, either. But it’s very telling that Walt Disney World has had 3 businesses go bust at BoardWalk in the last 2 years, and several more before that.
Both Big River and Jellyrolls were Walt Disney World institutions of sorts, opening in 1996 along with the rest of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. These vacancies are somewhat concerning for the ‘health’ of that end of the promenade, where Atlantic Dance Hall is pretty much the lone survivor, and seems to itself be hanging on by only a thread.
To avoid BoardWalk having dead mall vibes, Walt Disney World really needs fill the void and reinvigorate the promenade. This area was once positioned as a secondary ‘destination’ entertainment district to Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs) but has been allowed to languish over the years.
Ultimately, our hope is that this mystery project involves filling one of the aforementioned vacancies. If so, the vague bulletin would make sense; Walt Disney World may not be ready to announce the project (especially if it involves a third party) but they need to alert paying guests to the potential disturbance.
On the other hand, I doubt they’re revisiting the lobby. It looks fantastic as-is, both from a thematic and freshness perspective. This is one case where it seems like a light touch with the refurbishment there was purposeful, as Walt Disney World (smartly) took a don’t fix what isn’t broken perspective. At least, that is also my hope.
This is actually one scenario where the most exciting possibility strikes me as the most plausible–new restaurant(s) and/or retail. This bulletin is being posted not just the same month–but the same week–that work is slated to start.
That usually only happens with urgent unscheduled maintenance, and it’s hard to imagine that there are previously-unknown, urgent repairs that are going to take a year or more. Rather, this seems like Disney finally just struck a deal with a third party for one of the vacancies, and they want to get moving on filling it ASAP. But once again, this is my hope.
Walt Disney World really needs to fill multiple of those vacancies, and has needed to do so for a while. So this being the mystery project would be an overdue win. The losses of ESPN Club and Ample Hills Creamery on the other end of the promenade were huge blows, but at least that side has been reinvigorated.
This culminated with the opening of the Cake Bake Shop Restaurant by Gwendolyn Rogers, which was controversial among diehard Walt Disney World fans for its pricing, but has been a huge hit with regular guests. That side of the BoardWalk feels alive again.
Walk a little farther, and the opposite end is dead. It’s time to begin the turnaround of Disney’s BoardWalk, breathing new life into the promenade with brand-new dining concepts and more. Even with minimal parking, the BoardWalk is within walking or boat distance of both EPCOT’s International Gateway and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is also connected to thousands of hotel rooms via the Skyliner gondolas, and there are another few thousand rooms that are walkable in the Crescent Lake Resort Area–many of which house high-spending convention guests. The district could certainly suspect a new tenant or two, they just need to be concepts that guests actually want.
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Your Thoughts
Hope this construction project is to fill one of the vacancies along the BoardWalk, or for something else? What is most needed in the Crescent Lake Resort Area? Think something more adult would help revive the BoardWalk, or should Disney focus more on family-friendly options for BoardWalk? 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!
Disney is transforming to the stockholders resort. Their new mission is more dollars per guest footprint. This is leading to higher costs per person while lowering return. Experiences and quality has declined. The loyal, true blue quests are not welcome anymore. they want the young adults and families that have only been to the stock holders resort. unlike us that live here since the opening of Walt Disney World, supported it and Walt’s Dream. Now it is a nightmare. I for one, refuse to be drive like cattle into the crowds that the Reservation System was going to fix. They lied after covid. Did we realize more lies would come?
I was an annual pass holder, so we’re my children. We are not wanted now. we do not bring them the $ amount per foot print to meet there quota. We are a negative on their spread sheet.
All they want is hotel guests, a captive audience, fooled by being nickel and dimed on the bottom of their bill.
It breaks my heart. Walt is gone, and the board runs BEHIND THE SCENES Like OZ, THOSE BEHIND THE CURTAIN CAN NOT BE TRUSTED.
My family and I used to go there often when we could park at the Swan Hotel and walk over. We would patronize all those shops and restaurants on the Boardwalk as well as the Swan and Dolphin. But now, it costs $38 just to park at the Swan. All these businesses have chased the Orlando local business away. A refurbishment and new tenants won’t fix that.
how about restoring the rooms to the theme of the hotel?
The way Disney are going it will be more DVC rooms in some ” could be any hotel architecture style ” .. BTW the Art Gallery hasnt gone bust just moved out of Boardwalk. There’s only the general merchandise store that end of Boardwalk that’s open in daytime. It needs more not DVC stuff. DVC is spoiling a lot of WDW experiences
Transportation is what’s always been missing. There should be a shuttle bus to take guests back to their hotel if they want more than BW guests to spend money. And definitely a good quick service. Y&B need better QS too.
DVC…after lakeshore lodge the next DVC will be in the boardwalk area. It is no coincidence that there is so much dead space. This is where the new DVC resort will go. The 26 work is prep for this next phase.
I wouldn’t mind it they had work done on Jellyrolls or Big River Grille. Redoing the facade now seems like an odd choice but hey – I heard weirder.
I am visiting in April – I hope it won’t be too much of an annoyance.
While I usually lean towards the more restaurants side of the discussion at Crescent Lake, particularly after the fall of the burgers over at the Dolphin’s Fountain, it’s really interesting that these closures are all next to each other which allows for more possibilities.
That being said, I’m thinking “per guest spending” is why some bigger ideas won’t fly.
Since this article is about The Boardwalk, I’ll take a moment to thank you Tom ,for all the wonderful information you provide. We are headed back home right now from a stay at The Boardwalk (our first) we did club level, Nov 16 thru Nov 21. This as based on your 10 best weeks list. Our first trip this time of year and it was amazing. The crowds were great and the weather was lovely , not one drop of rain fell on us . We usually go in Sept. The Boardwalk was beautiful, it had the beauty of The Grand Floridian but was so much more charming. We love both resorts but I think we will stick with Boardwalk for our next few visits. Already have our daughter’s high school graduation trip booked thru a bounce back offer we got on this trip. So thank you for all the wonderful information you provide it makes me feel well prepared when scheduling these trips. Happy Thanksgiving to you, your family and all your readers.
I have a suggestion. Since Disney/ESPN has acquired the NFL Channel and other properties… why not use one of the vacant properties to open an NFL-themed sports bar! I know their NBA Experience @ Disney Springs didn’t go well but for those of you who remember the ESPN bar… the place was busy Mon, Thur, Fri, Sat and Sun from August – the Super Bowl!
Please, for the love of God, a good quick service location! Boardwalk Deli, Hurricane Hannah’s and the “food court” inside the shops in Y+BC are not sufficient. We need seating and a full menu!
they need to have some bar with sports available. im fine with replacing what was espn. but seems an easy fix given brand. lots of convention people huitbthe boardwalk. it would be good where jelly rolls or big river was
..
As someone who stayed there last year and will again this year, my number one hope is a proper quick service with a more expansive menu. Boardwalk Deli’s menu is so tiny and boring for real meals that it doesn’t even warrant consideration from us. Or as other people keep mentioning, a more casual place with decent American/brew pub food would be nice. Don’t get me wrong, it would be great if they brought something highly themed and imaginative to the boardwalk, but a really solid QS a la Contempo or Gasparilla is so badly needed in that area!
Would be nice if it were easier for locals to visit Boardwalk/Beach Club without a reservation, you used to be able to go to Beaches n Cream and grab some ice cream and walk around and check out the ambiance and buy stuff from the other businesses, but now you’ll get turned away at the gate (by a very rude security guard as well). No wonder this has languished so long, they are just missing free money left and right. Locals aren’t going to go park at Disney Springs and take a bus over, sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle to park at DHS and I do enjoy myself an impromptu Skyliner ride every now and then so that’s saying something.
Agree 100%, I was staying at another DW hotel and decided to drive over to go to Abracadabar, I was denied entry in to parking lot.
After removing ESPN, big river and jellyrolls, the boardwalk needs something to fill the 3 voids. A brewery or taphouse themed as a speakeasy with a sports section would keep the vibe and give the adults something to do after the parks close. There’s room for an attached restaurant.
I would personally be so into a speakeasy-themed place that’s also a family-friendly restaurant and lounge! We have a spy-themed place like that in our city, and while the food is pretty meh, all ages really get a kick out of it and it’s a go-to for tourists. I wouldn’t be opposed to a situation like Trader Sam’s, where it’s adults-only after a certain time.
YES! That article has a ton of great ideas. Some kind of Adventurer’s Club is going to always be at the top of my wish list because every trip lately reminds me just how much I miss Pleasure Island in general but The Adventurer’s Club specifically. With the club’s timeframe matching the Boardwalk and the surplus of empty real estate it just seems like such a perfect storm to finally make it happen.
Such a photogenic resort! The Crest o’ the Wave may be my favorite bit of architecture, even over Gaudi’s masterpieces in Barcelona, which is a bucket list city for me.
Is it too much to ask to have at least part of that space be replaced by a new iteration of the Pleasure Island Jazz Company (RIP)?
Additionally, a top notch Caribbean restaurant would be extremely welcome. It’s completely ludicrous based on the location of Walt Disney World property along with the percentage of cast members— not to mention local residents— with Puerto Rican or Cuban descent that there isn’t anything resembling average or above average Caribbean food on property.
Removing ESPN Club was a mistake. Needed an upgrade not a replacement. SO….bring it back! With, as you said, the number of conventioneers at Swan/Dolphin alone should fill a sports bar, especially given the typical person who attends conventions.
A decent quick service is also needed….think more like Geyer Springs Var and Grill at Fort Wilderness lodge. Open air seating looking out over Crescent Lake.
While it probably is some trendy third-party nonsense coming, I really, really do hope they have a more timeless and uniquely Disney plan to fill all of the empty spaces. Wishful thinking, but it’s the perfect time and the perfect place to revive the Adventurer’s Club, perhaps as a dinner theater to monetize it properly this time.
You might enjoy this: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/top-10-restaurant-replacements-for-disney-worlds-boardwalk-resort/
I totally agree and am on board with the idea of a dinner show. Just look at the long-lasting popularity of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue… clearly people love this kind of experience. Disney could easily dream up something that fits that turn-of-the-century Atlantic City vibe, maybe with a fun vaudeville twist. I think it would be a huge hit!
Do they still have carnival games at the Boardwalk?