A location at Walt Disney World is preparing for a months-long refurbishment, prompting guests to rethink their 2026 vacation plans.
Located at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa in the Disney Springs resort area, The Turf Club Bar and Grill will temporarily close beginning in 2026. The table-service restaurant is not expected to reopen until mid-September 2026. The adjacent Turf Club Lounge will also be impacted, leaving the resort without one of its signature sit-down dining and cocktail venues for a significant stretch of the year.
Disney has confirmed the general timeframe for the refurbishment but has not disclosed details about the scope of the project. It remains unclear whether the work will focus on interior updates, infrastructure improvements, or a larger thematic reimagining. In recent years, Disney has taken steps to refresh resort dining spaces while keeping their original storytelling intact, so guests may see improvements that refine the restaurant’s equestrian-inspired atmosphere without abandoning its established identity.
Importantly, the closure will not happen all at once. Instead, Disney is implementing a phased approach designed to preserve some level of dining access at the resort throughout the refurbishment period. As WDWMagic explains:
“Early April through early August: The Turf Club Lounge closes. The Turf Club Bar & Grill stays open with a pop-up bar and modified menu.
Early to mid-August: The Turf Club patio closes.
Mid-August through mid-September: The Turf Club Bar & Grill closes. The Turf Club Lounge reopens and remains open.”
Additional reports have likewise confirmed that the shutdown will follow this staggered schedule.
For longtime visitors, The Turf Club has served as Saratoga Springs’ primary table-service restaurant since the resort’s debut. Overlooking the golf course and waterways of Lake Buena Vista, the venue offers a setting that blends casual comfort with polished details. Its menu centers on elevated American cuisine, from grilled steaks and sustainable seafood to pasta dishes and hearty comfort classics.
Fan-favorite selections have included filet mignon, prime rib, crab cakes, and rich desserts, while the Lounge has earned a following for its craft cocktails, curated wines, and accessible bar bites. For Disney Vacation Club members and repeat Saratoga Springs guests, The Turf Club often provides a quieter alternative to the more crowded restaurants across Walt Disney World.
The temporary closure is likely to have an impact on guests staying at Saratoga Springs during the refurbishment window. As one of the largest resorts on Walt Disney World property, the sprawling hotel is divided into multiple sections inspired by a late-1800s New York horse-racing retreat. Victorian architecture, landscaped pathways, and convenient access to Disney Springs via walking trail and boat transportation give the property its distinct character.
While quick-service dining at The Artist’s Palette will remain available, and Disney Springs offers an expansive array of restaurants just steps away, the absence of the resort’s main table-service location reduces on-site dining flexibility for several months.
Saratoga Springs opened in 2004 as a Disney Vacation Club resort and has since undergone multiple room refurbishments aimed at modernizing interiors while preserving subtle nods to its racing heritage. The Turf Club’s upcoming renovation fits within Disney’s broader pattern of refreshing resort amenities to meet changing guest expectations in a competitive hospitality landscape.
For now, Disney indicates that both The Turf Club Bar and Grill and the Turf Club Lounge are expected to return between August and September 2026. Until further details are shared, the full extent of the changes remains speculative. However, the length and phased structure of the closure point to a meaningful investment in keeping Saratoga Springs’ signature dining experience aligned with the evolving standards of the Walt Disney World resort.
How will this affect your spring and summer at Disney World? Let us know in the comments down below!
