Disney World Reveals Turf Club Lounge Reopening Date, New Dishes & Drinks
Following a multi-month and twice-delayed refurbishment, Walt Disney World has announced the reopening date of Turf Club Lounge at Saratoga Springs Resort along with new menu items and drinks. Along with this, we now have a closing date for the ‘Bar & Grill’ side of the restaurant. Here’s the latest, plus our commentary.
As basic background, Turf Club Bar & Grill is probably the Walt Disney World resort restaurant that even diehard fans are least-likely to have dined at. Unless you’re a DVC Member who owns at Saratoga Springs (or a golfer), there’s a highly likelihood you’ve never eaten here. Or perhaps even heard of Turf Club!
Suffice to say, there’s a reason why Turf Club is one of the top picks on our list of Underrated Table Service Restaurants at Walt Disney World for 2026, and our Saratoga Springs vs. Old Key West comparison called it criminally underrated.
Even Disney agrees with our assessment! Walt Disney World’s website also calls Turf Club a “hidden gem,” one of only three restaurants to earn that distinction. Alongside Olivia’s Cafe and Grand Floridian Cafe; I’d agree with all three, although I personally prefer underrated for Grand Floridian Cafe, since it’s not-so-hidden.
According to Walt Disney World, Turf Club is an “intimate venue [that] recalls a romantic and bygone era.” Disney invites guests to “head on through to the restaurant, where dim lighting and wood-paneled walls create a sophisticated, gentlemanly ambience.” “Be transported to turn-of-the-century Upstate New York as you browse vintage equestrian memorabilia: photos of jockeys and their horses, antique riding gear and racing articles of yesteryear.”
That’s presumably about to change, as this multi-month refurbishment marks the most significant attention Turf Club has received in years. Perhaps ever? And it’s likely to be a top to bottom project resulting in a significant restaurant reimagining.
Turf Club Transformation Timeline
The phased refurbishment of Turf Club was originally slated to start in mid-March. It was then pushed back to late April, and then finally to early May, which is when work actually started. Here’s how the phased closure breaks down:
- The Turf Club Lounge: Closed from early May through late August 2026 (The Turf Club Bar & Grill will remain open during this time with a pop-up bar serving a modified menu.)
- The Turf Club Bar & Grill: Closed from late August through late September 2026 (The Turf Club Lounge will remain open during this time.)
We now have two updates to this. The first is that Walt Disney World has announced that the Turf Club Lounge will officially reopened on August 31, 2026. Upon reopening, Turf Club Lounge will operate from 4 pm to 11 pm nightly.
Along with this, Walt Disney World has released a sneak peek at the refreshed menu. Let’s dig in:
Turf Club Lounge New Menu
Here’s a rundown of the dishes served up at Turf Club Lounge, via the updated menu that’s been posted on the Walt Disney World website:
- Turf Club Burger ($25) – Signature-blend Patty, Applewood-smoked Bacon, New York White Cheddar, Saratoga Sauce, Seasoned French Fries
- Buffalo Chicken Dip ($14) – Slow-cooked Chicken, Seasoned Potato Chips, Pimento Cheese
- Crispy Chicken Wings ($16) – Choice of Buffalo or Garlic-Parmesan Sauce, Blue Cheese, Celery
- Giant Pretzel ($12) – Mustard and Cheese Dipping Sauce
- Sweet-and-Spicy Brussels Sprouts ($13) – Piquant-Agave Glaze, Crispy Vidalia Onions
- Onion Ring Tower ($12) – Beer-battered Onion Rings, Saratoga Sauce, Horseradish Sauce
This is not a brand-new or overhauled menu. It’s a light refresh, at best. Prices changed (can you guess in which direction?!) as did some of the descriptions of each dish, and a couple of items were added or altered.
You can see the full menu, including nonalcoholic and booze, here.
All in all, not overly exciting. A fairly limited menu with bar basics. I will admit to being intrigued by the Turf Club Burger, as I savor any excuse to conduct more Very Important Research on the critical subject of the Best Burgers at Walt Disney World. I also think that the recent burger additions have been largely great, so I’m optimistic this will continue that trend.
At the exact opposite end of the spectrum, and sweet-and-spicy brussels sprouts sound surprisingly good. I’m sure Sarah will be pleased with these. The photo of the giant pretzel is also interesting, as it looks more like charcuterie than a simple pretzel…despite being priced like the latter. I guess we shall see.
It’s a big weekend for restaurant reopenings at Walt Disney World, with the main one being Yachtsman Steakhouse, the Signature Dining Experience over at Yacht Club that returns tonight (August 28, 2026) after its own multi-month refurbishment that probably refreshed the interior and maybe resulted in its own menu refresh. Still no updates on that project from Walt Disney World, which is a bit curious.
Turf Club Restaurant Closing & Reopening Dates
With Turf Club Lounge reopening on August 31, 2026, we also now have an official closing date for the restaurant itself. Anyone want to take any wild guesses?!
Turf Club Bar & Grill will close on August 31, 2026.
At present, an official reopening date has not yet been announced for the restaurant side of the venue. However, the official calendar has hours posted starting September 30, 2026 and it’s accepting Advance Dining Reservations for that date and all thereafter, minus Mondays and Tuesdays, when it’s closed.
What follows is our original spring speculation about what the overhaul of the restaurant could entail…
Turf Club Changes?
As is typical with this type of project, Walt Disney World hasn’t actually announced what the refurbishment involves. No details about menu changes, decor updates, or concept adjustments. Just the above refurbishment schedule.
It might be routine maintenance, such as fixing HVAC systems, updating kitchen equipment, or that sort of behind-the-scenes work that guests don’t necessarily see but that keeps a restaurant running smoothly. The restaurant could reopen with the only changes being invisible to guests.
We highly doubt that’ll be the case. For one thing, the phased approach to taking the various dining rooms offline suggests they’re going to be impacted. For another thing, the Turf Club dining room makes Yachtsman Steakhouse like a fresh and modern concept.
When we last reviewed Turf Club Bar & Grill, I described it as transporting guests to a mid-1980s country club, complete with rich woods, green-and-blue plaid carpet with gold swirls, and stained glass panels. The words “retro” and “old school” were used to describe the interior design.
They were not, however, used disparagingly or even in a backhanded way. I love the look of the Turf Club Bar & Grill much in the same way that I love the Pizza Hut or Taco Bell styles of my youth. I mean that with the utmost sincerity and without even a tinge of sarcasm.
There is something intimate and cozy and calming about the aesthetic that you just don’t get in a lot of modern Walt Disney World designs (I don’t want to use the word “soulless” to describe those, but you’re welcome to do so). It’s not the pinnacle of themed design, but it’s inviting and comfortable–that can count for a lot.
There’s also no denying that Turf Club is stuck in a very specific, bygone era. And not a timeless one. The restaurant dates back to 2004, when Saratoga Springs Resort opened, and as far as I know, it’s never had a significant refurbishment.
Twenty-two years is a long time. If Disney were going to give any resort restaurant a makeover, Turf Club would be near the top of the list based purely on age. And although I find the current interior charming, there’s little denying that an update here is needed.
The question is whether they’ll maintain the equestrian theme or pivot to something else entirely. Saratoga Springs as a whole is horse racing-themed, meant to evoke turn-of-the-century upstate New York. Whereas Disney has removed a lot of themed design from elsewhere around property, they’ve gone in the exact opposite direction at SSR.
Accordingly, I’m actually pretty bullish on a refurbishment of Turf Club Bar & Grill. This one should be a net positive.
As for what’s likely to change, look no further than SSR as a whole. Expect Disney to retain the equestrian theme but give it a modern, elevated take. Less “1980s country club” and more contemporary, with nods to horse racing history, along with a few overt and obscure Disney character references. Updates the color palette, refreshes the finishes, modernizations the lighting, etc.
Walt Disney World typically uses multi-month refurbishment as an opportunity to reinvent menus, and I’d expect the same with the Turf Club Bar & Grill to some extent. At the same time, this is a DVC resort and I would hazard a guess that a high percentage of Turf Club guests are repeat visitors or even regulars.
The guest profile is what it is, and there’s no transforming Turf Club into destination dining with a haute cuisine menu or whatever. Changing things too much may just alienate the bread & butter demo, and realizing this, Walt Disney World might opt for a “don’t fix what isn’t broken” mentality with the menu. Or perhaps even the dining room? Again, time will tell.
This refurbishment won’t impact the overwhelmingly majority of Walt Disney World guests for the exact reason mentioned above. Turf Club has never been a must-do dining destination. It’s not within walking distance of a park, it’s not on the monorail or Skyliner, and it’s not in a “destination” resort.
Unless you’re staying at Saratoga Springs or deliberately seeking out a quiet, off-the-beaten-path dinner option, you’ve probably never considered eating here. As we’ve written before, Turf Club is most likely to be one of the restaurants that even Walt Disney World diehards have never even heard of.
For DVC members who stay at Saratoga Springs regularly, this refurbishment is worth noting. Or for anyone who savors not-quite-old-school early aughts Walt Disney World and wants to experience the original interior before what’s likely to be transformative changes. The good news is that SSR is a short walk from Disney Springs, and that unlocks a world of options; maybe give STK a try for the exact opposite experience of Turf Club while still enjoying a steakhouse.
Ultimately, I’m optimistic despite my nostalgia and sentimentality for the charmingly old school dining room. This refurbishment to Turf Club is welcome and arguably overdue. Even with old school Pizza Huts making a comeback, there’s something to be said for updating the interior to make it feel fresh and modern while enhancing the equestrian theme and “Disneyfying” the space just a bit.
It’ll also be interesting to see what’s done with the menu to cater to both longtime, old school patrons and newer generations of guests. Hopefully, the project team manages to thread the needle on both the design and the cuisine. At worst, we lose a dated-but-charming restaurant and get back something generic. At best, we get a refreshed Turf Club that introduces a new generation of guests to one of Walt Disney World’s better-kept secrets.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of Turf Club? Did you like the old school vibe of the interior, or do you think it was too dated? Optimistic or upset about this refurbishment? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? 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!
