Disney has a lot going on behind the scenes at its Walt Disney World hotels this fall, and if you’ve got a trip booked between now and early November, you’re going to want to read this before you show up. We’re talking a dozen confirmed refurbishment projects stretched across every single resort tier, Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Disney Vacation Club. Every hotel is technically still open for business, but “open” doesn’t mean “untouched.” Some guests are looking at closed pools, shut down restaurants, and construction noise right outside their door. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s happening and where, starting with the biggest project on the list.
The Headliner: Kidani Village’s Entire Lobby Is Getting Reworked
If one project stands above the rest this fall, it’s happening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, Kidani Village. Starting August 17, 2026, the resort’s main lobby is undergoing a serious refurbishment rolled out in phases, with everything wrapping up by early November. This is a significantly bigger deal than the previously confirmed closure of the resort’s Johari Treasures gift shop, and it hits multiple parts of the lobby on a rolling schedule.
The main lobby and primary entrance close completely from August 17 through October 9, with check-in shifting over to the Palace Library for the duration. Johari Treasures closes on its own shorter timeline, August 17 through August 28, before reopening for regular hours on August 29.
Things ramp up again when the north side lobby corridor closes September 28 through October 9, taking the north side lobby elevators on the second floor and the outdoor terrace observation deck offline with it. Then, from October 26 through November 6, the south side lobby corridor closes, and this one hits the hardest. Community Hall, the Safari So Good Arcade, the laundry room, the Palace Library, the lobby restrooms, and the outdoor terrace observation deck are all affected at the same time.
Disney’s own guidance is blunt about it too, warning guests they may see or hear construction in the lobby area throughout the day, including stretches of noticeable noise, all the way until the project wraps in early November.
Value Resort Guests Mostly Dodge This One
If you’re staying at a Value Resort this fall, you’re mostly in the clear, with one notable exception. Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is deep into a phased guest room refurbishment that runs through late January 2027. Since Disney is rotating construction across different lodging buildings, some sections may show visible work while others operate business as usual. Amenities like pools, dining, transportation, and recreation should stay open the entire time, though daytime noise near active zones is still possible.
Two Moderate Resorts Are Also On the List
Over at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Convention Center renovations kick off August 10, 2026. Since this work is centered on meeting and event space rather than guest facing amenities, standard vacationers likely won’t notice much, though convention travelers definitely will.
Then there’s Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, Riverside, where the Magnolia Bend guest rooms remain under renovation through August 2027. The buildings are being tackled in phases, meaning part of that section stays boxed off by construction walls at any given time. If you’re booking Riverside and want to avoid the noise, it’s worth requesting a building away from the current work zone.
Deluxe Resorts Have the Most Going On, By Far
The Deluxe tier is carrying the heaviest construction load this fall. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House, is in the middle of a rotating room refurbishment through January 2027, with different sections cycling in and out of availability.
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn has select area work happening throughout 2026 as well, though the majority of the resort stays open and accessible. At Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the biggest hit is at Bay Lake Tower, where the Bay Cove Pool, whirlpool, splash area, and surrounding recreation space are shut down for refurbishment through late 2027. Anyone staying there needs to plan on backup pool options for a while.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort also has select area refurbishment happening during 2026, though the resort’s larger expansion project already wrapped. Most guests should have a fairly typical stay, with only scattered construction zones visible around the property.
The Grand Floridian Is Dealing With the Most All At Once
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is juggling more than one project at the same time this fall. The resort’s covered entrance is under construction, with an expected finish sometime in early 2027, meaning guests should brace for temporary walkways and a modified arrival experience.
Add to that the Grand Floridian Café, which has been closed since mid-July and stays shut through October 2026 for its own refurbishment. Brunch has temporarily relocated to Citricos in the meantime. If you booked a Grand Floridian stay specifically for the dining, double check the schedule before you lock anything in.
Disney Vacation Club Properties Aren’t Skipping This Either
DVC guests have their own construction to work around. Disney’s Old Key West Resort is going through an extensive room refurbishment throughout 2026, with rotating building closures as the project moves along.
At Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, the Turf Club Bar and Grill is under refurbishment through mid-September 2026, staying open with some temporary adjustments in the meantime. Nearby, the Treehouse Villas are getting exterior upgrades through September 2026, which means a chunk of those units are off the table while crews finish up. These DVC projects are generally milder than something like the Kidani Village situation, but they’re still worth factoring into your plans.
If You Want Zero Construction, Book One of These Instead
Not every resort has something going on right now. Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort all currently have no major guest facing projects on the books. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge does have exterior work in progress, but it’s considered low impact, with the resort’s core amenities staying fully open.
Small scale maintenance can technically happen anywhere at any time, but none of these resorts currently have large scale work expected to disrupt most guests this fall.
Bottom Line for Anyone Booking Right Now
Refurbishments are a normal part of keeping a resort empire the size of Walt Disney World running smoothly, and the end goal is usually a better guest experience down the line. That doesn’t make it any less annoying if you happen to land in the middle of an active phase without realizing it. If having full, unrestricted access to every pool, restaurant, and walkway matters to you, steering toward one of the untouched resorts is probably the smarter move. If a little noise or a closed amenity here and there isn’t a dealbreaker, most of these projects shouldn’t derail your trip much at all, aside from the bigger ones happening at Kidani Village and the Grand Floridian.
Before finalizing anything, it’s worth taking a few minutes to check your resort’s current refurbishment status straight from Disney. A quick look now could save you a frustrating surprise the second you check in.
Got a fall trip booked at one of these resorts? Let us know in the comments if the construction is changing your plans or if you’re just rolling with it.
