Massive Bombshell Will Rock Disney’s Most Iconic Hotels in Future Years
Walt Disney World may still sparkle with fireworks, monorails, and castle views, but step inside some of its most celebrated resorts, and you’ll find a very different story. Major construction, refreshed rooms, and full design shifts reshape properties that guests once knew inside and out.
This transformation isn’t limited to one corner of the property—it stretches from iconic lobbies to tucked-away pool decks, redefining what “luxury” means in the heart of the Magic.
Polynesian Village Resort: Progress Continues
The Polynesian recently wrapped up its most significant project, which was the opening of the Island Tower, but the work isn’t over. Through 2026, crews are reconfiguring the entrance and bus area.
A section of the parking lot is being cleared to connect the main entrance to Floridian Way, while the Seven Seas Drive entrance will become the bus-only access point. Amenities are open, but guests should expect altered views and daytime work.
Grand Floridian: Tradition Meets Transformation
The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is synonymous with elegance, but is deep in a reimagining. Lobby and convention center work runs until November 2025, with occasional closures and the steady hum of construction during the day.
Disney is replacing the ornate aviary with the “Birdcage Bar” as part of a resort-wide “Enchanted Gardens” style. The resort will not bring back the famous Gingerbread House for Christmas 2025, and it plans to reopen the Tea Room with a new concept.
Outside, the multi-year Floridian Way project is shifting the approach to the resort with widened roads, new roundabouts, and traffic reroutes. Construction vehicles and missing stop signs at Seven Seas Drive mean the change is noticeable before you even arrive.
Wilderness Lodge: Holding Onto the Charm
Wilderness Lodge is balancing interior and exterior work. Copper Creek Villas will be refurbished until September 2025, and exterior projects may last into 2027.
The construction of the nearby Disney Lakeshore Lodge is visible from Boulder Ridge. However, the lodge’s setting still hides much of the disruption—for now.
Contemporary Resort: Extended Timeline
Once expected to finish in summer 2025, the Contemporary’s updates now stretch to July 2026. Work in the Bay Lake Tower and the Convention Center may bring noise and closed-off areas.
From late January to early May 2026, Bay Lake Tower’s Bay Cove Pool and water play area will close for maintenance. Other pools remain open, but the atmosphere may feel more like a work zone than a polished escape.
Beach Club Resort: Subtle Shifts
Beach Club’s exterior maintenance continues through October 2025, with its porte cochere closed. A soft goods refresh added new flooring, furniture, and Donald Duck art, but kept the overall style similar.
Port Orleans Riverside: Royal Room Uncertainty
Magnolia Bend’s Royal Rooms are being redone through February 2026, and it’s unclear if the themed design will return. Work may eventually extend to Alligator Bayou, keeping the resort in renovation mode for years.
Balancing Magic and Makeovers
Disney’s simultaneous projects put its luxury resorts in flux. The upgrades deliver modern amenities, but for now, guests must weigh the appeal of staying somewhere iconic against the reality of cranes, scaffolding, and temporary detours.
