Guests at one of Walt Disney World’s most luxurious Resort hotels have found themselves temporarily blocked from entering an iconic area of the lobby due to ongoing construction work. The changes are part of the major renovation at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, which began earlier this year.
The lobby renovation project, which was first revealed in April, promises to blend the resort’s signature Victorian elegance with new, customized touches like luxe furniture and customized carpeting. While Walt Disney World Resort has ensured that the iconic features, such as the historic cage-style elevator and grand piano, will remain, some lobby areas are being significantly altered.
One notable change is the removal of the golden birdcage, which once housed live birds and served as a centerpiece of the lobby for nearly four decades. In its place, Walt Disney World Resort will add a new lobby bar designed to echo the bird motif, featuring polished brass and stained-glass murals. The lobby bar will be the first of its kind at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Construction walls have already been set up around the birdcage, blocking access to the area where the iconic structure once stood. Guests can view the work from the second floor, where crews have been disassembling the birdcage and laying the foundation for the new bar. Meanwhile, other areas of the lobby are also being updated, with crews working on new flooring, wallpaper, and other details.. These ongoing updates have led to certain pathways being blocked off to guests.
As of August 6, Disney’s construction efforts have intensified. On Wednesday, WDWNT spotted crews working behind the plywood walls. The bar has not yet been built, but the foundation is complete. Construction walls and curtains also block off other lobby areas, including the PhotoPass studio and the grand staircase.
Crews were also spotted on the roof of the Convention Center at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. While Walt Disney World Resort has not publicly shared specifics about these updates, the Convention Center is expected to be upgraded alongside the lobby.
Disney has yet to release a timeline for when the new lobby bar will be finished. Work on the lobby is expected to continue through 2025. Due to the construction, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa’s annual life-sized gingerbread house display has been canceled.
Grand Floridian’s elegant Christmas tree and gingerbread house! 🎄📯🎁
WaltDisneyWorld 🤍🤍🤍
Do you agree with Walt Disney World Resort’s decision to build a bar in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa? Let Disney Dining know in the comments!
Bad idea Bobbby Iger! Ever heard of the expression “ if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”
Disney has been going down a slippery slope of bad decisions. Once a cherished place of magic and dreams come true now a sad theme park money grab. Shame on you. All the wonder and magic that Mr Disney imagined shot down by corporate greed. Such a sad ending to Mr Disney’s wonderful story, life and legacy.
Shame on Mr. Disney, bring one of the greedy ones. Yes, greedy. Brought fireworks to Disneyland because guests were leaving early. Fireworks kept them in the parks later, buying souvenirs and things to eat and drink. His fare today’s management follow his lead.
What’s the big deal? There are construction walls up – which, by the way, is usually to protect the public and keep people from trespassing. Walt Disney believed in constantly changing things. Let things change so people don’t get bored seeing the same thing for decades.
He did not believe in booze there.
If the current people in charge had to have the ever self medicating liquor why not put it in the Tea Room which has not bern used for that lovely High tea anymore….
Why all of a sudden do we need a bar in the lobby?! The birdcage was lovely and fit in with the decor! They are just screwing everything up at Disney!! The Polynesian looks over done and is far too big now! Who’s making these awful decisions?! I could’ve told them years ago the Star Wars hotel was a bad idea too!! Just wasting money, meanwhile they are raising prices on everything to pay for their mistakes….just stop!!!
Iger is a disaster! He has destroyed Walt Disney World! It is now just throw whatever wherever! Like cars in Frontierland and Colonial America Liberty Square? Destroying an iconic and ONLY Muppets attraction for Monsters when placing I next to another Pixar property like Toy Story Land would have made so much more sense. Now it’s all about the booze money as if Disney Parks don’t already have a large enough options for alcohol sales (not to mention a growing problem with intoxicated guests all over property). Where will the gorgeous tree go in the future? It will be smaller in the future for sure. Revenue has gone up as it’s all about the total money grab with this fee and that fee and booze all over the Non-Magic Kingdom, but attendance is dropping. The all money grab process has ruined Las Vegas and it’s in the process of destroying our beloved Walt Disney World as well. I guess all of the already existing bars at the Grand Floridian just weren’t enough for Iger!
I agree with you 150%.
I’m actually beginning to think there is a hidden agenda to shut down an American icon.
Their actions are so wrird and thoughtless..oy. 🙁
I absolutely hate this idea. I’m sure it’s going to be beautiful, but it’s going to create a loud and crowded lobby. If you really wanna do something, spectacular, bring the gland form back to its original grandeur: the live birds, the tea room, and the band! If you really need to include alcohol, then bring back the servers that used to bring you drinks as you relaxed on the couch.
Sorry for the typos. Eye surgery and I’m talk texting. Ha ha.
When will this construction be completed