Guests visiting Walt Disney World this fall will encounter another scheduled refurbishment—this time at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.
Starting September 29, 2025, through late November, the Miller’s Road leisure pool will be closed for routine maintenance. During this period, guests are welcome to enjoy the Sandcastle Pool—with its waterslide, sand accents, and hot tub—or the quieter pools located in the Old Turtle Pond and South Point sections. Disney has noted that some refurbishment work may be visible or audible in nearby areas.
Disney’s Old Key West Resort has long been known as the original Disney Vacation Club property. Opened in 1991 and later rebranded, it continues to provide a community atmosphere inspired by the Florida Keys. With pastel-toned buildings set among waterways and golf fairways, the resort offers a slower pace just minutes from Disney Springs.
Accommodations range from Deluxe Studios to three-bedroom Grand Villas, each including a kitchenette or full kitchen, spacious living areas, and the comforts of home. Guests can enjoy both privacy and togetherness, with leafy courtyards and scenic landscaping woven throughout the property.
Old Key West offers recreation to match its relaxed environment. Beyond the feature pool, guests can rent bicycles or surreys, jog along canals, and make use of basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts. In the evenings, the resort hosts campfires and “Movies Under the Stars.” Dining highlights include Olivia’s Café, a quick-service location, and a lounge offering light bites.
The resort’s charm lies in its laid-back atmosphere, but it comes with quirks. Transportation can be slow across the property’s wide grounds, and some corners feel more traditional than modern. Still, for many guests, this balance of space and serenity is part of Old Key West’s appeal.
The closure of Miller’s Road Pool is only one chapter in a much larger story of resort transformations unfolding across Walt Disney World.
At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, guests will notice sweeping changes. The famous aviary in the lobby has been removed to make way for a new “Birdcage Bar” with an Enchanted Gardens theme. Holiday visitors will also see a difference: the beloved gingerbread house will not return for Christmas 2025. Additional refurbishments continue in the resort’s meeting and convention spaces, while outside, the Floridian Way project is reworking major roadways and entry points.
Meanwhile, the Island Tower has opened at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, but construction remains active through 2026 as updates reshape its entrance and transportation flow. Nearby, the Contemporary Resort is undergoing its own extensive work, including inside Bay Lake Tower and the convention center, with pool areas affected by temporary closures.
Other resorts are also being refreshed. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is seeing updates both inside and outside, with work extending to the Copper Creek Villas. At Port Orleans Riverside, the beloved Royal Rooms are being revamped, though it’s unclear whether their current theme will remain. The Beach Club Resort is also receiving exterior maintenance and arrival-area enhancements.
Together, these resort-wide updates represent one of the most ambitious waves of change in Walt Disney World history. As Disney looks toward the future, the question remains: how will these transformations shape the experiences of returning guests who treasure the memories of these resorts?
