Deluxe Resort Suddenly Blocks Guests Access, Refuses Paying Guests Entry

Less than a week ago, Walt Disney World Resort shared a first look at the upcoming reimagining of the lobby at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Among other modern enhancements, the new area will include the Deluxe Disney Resort hotel’s first-ever lobby bar. Now, according to a new report, construction has already begun.

The Grand Floridian lobby renovation promises to keep the Victorian charm Walt Disney World Resort guests have come to love over the Deluxe Resort hotel’s 36 years in operation, including its Victorian cage-style elevator. Inspired by the ornate gold bird cage in the lobby, the bar will include stained glass, brass accents, and intricate woodwork. Guests can spot birds in stained glass displays and murals throughout the entire atrium.

The architecture and feel of the atrium will remain mostly the same, but updated furnishings and custom carpeting will bring a more modern feel without sacrificing the Victorian theme. Of course, the grand piano will remain a centerpiece in the lobby.

Just days after Walt Disney World Resort shared concept art for the lobby reimagining, construction walls appeared at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Photos shared by BlogMickey show beige construction walls in the center of the atrium, blocking guest access to the golden bird cage and the surrounding area.

Photos taken from the second floor show that not much work has been done behind the construction walls. The same carpeting and flooring remain in place, with the only new additions being some wood and cement construction wall reinforcements and what appears to be some kind of paper roll. It remains unclear whether Disney will somehow block guests from viewing the construction site from upper floors once work begins.

Construction is expected to continue through November 2025. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has already canceled its annual Gingerbread House display, which is traditionally built sometime in November, for this year, expecting increased congestion in the atrium due to the reimagining project. The annual Easter Egg display will remain on view until at least April 20. Most other guest areas, including pools, dining locations, the Monorail station, and gift shops, remain unaffected by the construction.

Disney hasn’t announced an exact grand opening date for the bar and new lobby area at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Stay tuned to Disney Dining for updates on this and other construction projects around Walt Disney World Resort!

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