- Mar 13, 2024
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Disney World is always changing…which means construction is inevitable during your next vacation.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
While ride refurbishments and theme park expansions dominate Disney World construction discourse, hotel projects hardly go unnoticed. Hotel construction affects where you’ll stay and what kind of lodging experience, after all. In fact, 13 hotels are already scheduled to undergo significant construction. Let’s go over which hotels will be affected and what kind of work will be done at each!
In 2026, at least 13 hotels will receive varying levels of construction and refurbishment. The ones listed below are the ones we know about so far, but it’s safe to assume more projects will be announced as the year progresses.
Construction will be ongoing at Disney’s Contemporary Resort from September 2024 through late 2027.
Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort
Refurbishments will occur in phases throughout select areas of the resort, including the atrium and Bay Lake Tower.
Cove Bar
Additionally, from January 26th, 2026, through early May 2026, the Bay Cove Pool, the Cove Bar, the water play area, and the whirlpool spa at Bay Lake Tower will be temporarily closed for maintenance. With that said, the Bay Lake Pool, the feature pool, the water play area, and the whirlpool spa at the regular Contemporary Resort will remain open for guests to enjoy.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and its Copper Creek Villas & Cabins are currently undergoing exterior refurbishment through late 2026. Most amenities will remain available to guests while the construction is happening, however.
Construction
It’s also important to note that from January 12th, 2026, through early April 2026, the boat dock at the resort will undergo routine maintenance.
From January 2026 until late April 2026, the Surfboard Bay Pool and the kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort will be closed for maintenance.
Surfboard Bay
However, the Grand Slam Leisure Pool will remain open, and guests are welcome to use the Calypso Pool, Piano Pool, and kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, as well as the Fantasia Pool, Duck Pond Pool, and kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort.
From October 2025 through May 2026, guest rooms at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge are being refurbished.
©Disney
Following that refurbishment’s completion, refurbishment work will begin at Jambo House and last from May 2026 through January 2027. Most amenities should remain available throughout both refurbishments, however.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort is going to undergo tons of exterior maintanence through out the year, expecting to wrap up in late 2026.
Disney’s Beach Club
Work will impact views from various locations and may require alternate paths of travel. Additionally, between mid-January 2026 and early May, the Tidal leisure pool will be closed for routine maintenance.
The neighboring Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is on a similar timeline with work lasting through late 2026 — also affecting views and travel paths.
Disney’s Yacht Club
Yachtsman Steakhouse is also set to close in May 2026 for a refurbishment, with a reopening date expected by August 2026.
Yachtsman Steakhouse
Crew’s Cup Lounge is another Yacht Club restaurant closing temporarily this year — closing on February 23rd, 2026, and reopening sometime in May 2026.
Refurbishment at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is continuing throughout 2026. Refurbishment will be ongoing in select areas of the hotel periodically.
Disney’s Boardwalk
Keep in mind that while you will probably see and hear construction during the day, most shopping, dining, and recreation options will remain open.
Construction at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is seemingly never-ending, and is currently scheduled to continue through early-2027.
Updated Grand Floridian lobby
Disney has promised that “efforts will be made to minimize disruptions—and most pools, dining and other amenities will remain available for Guests to enjoy.” This was originally supposed to end in mid-2026, but has been extended through 2027.
Refurbishment in some areas of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows will continue throughout 2026.
New entrance!
This refurbishment work includes “the reconfiguration of the front entrance roadway and bus area.” Dining, pools, and other amenities will remain open, but Disney warns that you should “allow for extra travel time when arriving at or leaving the Resort.”
‘Ohana
Since January 15th, 2026, portions of the resort have started exterior maintenance — and views of the Seven Seas Lagoon from ’Ohana may be partially or completely obstructed.
From March 2025 through February 2026, select areas of Disney’s Pop Century Resort will feature some refurbishment work.
Pop Century
Most amenities will still be available during this time.
Guest rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside will be undergoing a refurbishment through August 2027.
Port Orleans — Riverside
Work will be performed in select areas, and construction will be seen and heard during the daytime.
Construction will take place near Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds’ Meadow Swimmin’ Pool area through mid-2026.
Meadow Swimmin’ Pool
The Meadow Swimmin’ Pool and Wilderness Swimmin’ Pool will remain open during this time, though seating availability around the Meadow Swimmin’ Pool may be limited. Disney advises guests using complimentary bus transportation to follow posted signage to reach the pool area.
Disney’s Old Key West is having some work done in early 2026, with the Turtle Pond Pool, Turtle Pond Pool Spa, the BBQ area, and the playground closed for routine maintenance through early February 2026. During this time, guests can use the Sandcastle Pool, the South Point Pool, or Miller’s Road Pool.
Old Key West
And there you have it!
As we previously mentioned, more hotel closures and refurbishments are imminent, so keep it posted right here at Magical Guides to stay in the know!
How will these scheduled refurbishments and closures affect your next Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments!
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
While ride refurbishments and theme park expansions dominate Disney World construction discourse, hotel projects hardly go unnoticed. Hotel construction affects where you’ll stay and what kind of lodging experience, after all. In fact, 13 hotels are already scheduled to undergo significant construction. Let’s go over which hotels will be affected and what kind of work will be done at each!
In 2026, at least 13 hotels will receive varying levels of construction and refurbishment. The ones listed below are the ones we know about so far, but it’s safe to assume more projects will be announced as the year progresses.
Bay Lake Tower/ Contemporary
Construction will be ongoing at Disney’s Contemporary Resort from September 2024 through late 2027.
Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort
Refurbishments will occur in phases throughout select areas of the resort, including the atrium and Bay Lake Tower.
Cove Bar
Additionally, from January 26th, 2026, through early May 2026, the Bay Cove Pool, the Cove Bar, the water play area, and the whirlpool spa at Bay Lake Tower will be temporarily closed for maintenance. With that said, the Bay Lake Pool, the feature pool, the water play area, and the whirlpool spa at the regular Contemporary Resort will remain open for guests to enjoy.
Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and its Copper Creek Villas & Cabins are currently undergoing exterior refurbishment through late 2026. Most amenities will remain available to guests while the construction is happening, however.
Construction
It’s also important to note that from January 12th, 2026, through early April 2026, the boat dock at the resort will undergo routine maintenance.
All-Star Sports Resort
From January 2026 until late April 2026, the Surfboard Bay Pool and the kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort will be closed for maintenance.
Surfboard Bay
However, the Grand Slam Leisure Pool will remain open, and guests are welcome to use the Calypso Pool, Piano Pool, and kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, as well as the Fantasia Pool, Duck Pond Pool, and kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
From October 2025 through May 2026, guest rooms at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge are being refurbished.
©Disney
Following that refurbishment’s completion, refurbishment work will begin at Jambo House and last from May 2026 through January 2027. Most amenities should remain available throughout both refurbishments, however.
Beach Club
Disney’s Beach Club Resort is going to undergo tons of exterior maintanence through out the year, expecting to wrap up in late 2026.
Disney’s Beach Club
Work will impact views from various locations and may require alternate paths of travel. Additionally, between mid-January 2026 and early May, the Tidal leisure pool will be closed for routine maintenance.
Yacht Club
The neighboring Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is on a similar timeline with work lasting through late 2026 — also affecting views and travel paths.
Disney’s Yacht Club
Yachtsman Steakhouse is also set to close in May 2026 for a refurbishment, with a reopening date expected by August 2026.
Yachtsman Steakhouse
Crew’s Cup Lounge is another Yacht Club restaurant closing temporarily this year — closing on February 23rd, 2026, and reopening sometime in May 2026.
BoardWalk Inn
Refurbishment at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is continuing throughout 2026. Refurbishment will be ongoing in select areas of the hotel periodically.
Disney’s Boardwalk
Keep in mind that while you will probably see and hear construction during the day, most shopping, dining, and recreation options will remain open.
Grand Floridian
Construction at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is seemingly never-ending, and is currently scheduled to continue through early-2027.
Updated Grand Floridian lobby
Disney has promised that “efforts will be made to minimize disruptions—and most pools, dining and other amenities will remain available for Guests to enjoy.” This was originally supposed to end in mid-2026, but has been extended through 2027.
Polynesian
Refurbishment in some areas of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows will continue throughout 2026.
New entrance!
This refurbishment work includes “the reconfiguration of the front entrance roadway and bus area.” Dining, pools, and other amenities will remain open, but Disney warns that you should “allow for extra travel time when arriving at or leaving the Resort.”
‘Ohana
Since January 15th, 2026, portions of the resort have started exterior maintenance — and views of the Seven Seas Lagoon from ’Ohana may be partially or completely obstructed.
Pop Century
From March 2025 through February 2026, select areas of Disney’s Pop Century Resort will feature some refurbishment work.
Pop Century
Most amenities will still be available during this time.
Port Orleans Riverside
Guest rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside will be undergoing a refurbishment through August 2027.
Port Orleans — Riverside
Work will be performed in select areas, and construction will be seen and heard during the daytime.
Fort Wilderness
Construction will take place near Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds’ Meadow Swimmin’ Pool area through mid-2026.
Meadow Swimmin’ Pool
The Meadow Swimmin’ Pool and Wilderness Swimmin’ Pool will remain open during this time, though seating availability around the Meadow Swimmin’ Pool may be limited. Disney advises guests using complimentary bus transportation to follow posted signage to reach the pool area.
Old Key West
Disney’s Old Key West is having some work done in early 2026, with the Turtle Pond Pool, Turtle Pond Pool Spa, the BBQ area, and the playground closed for routine maintenance through early February 2026. During this time, guests can use the Sandcastle Pool, the South Point Pool, or Miller’s Road Pool.
Old Key West
And there you have it!
As we previously mentioned, more hotel closures and refurbishments are imminent, so keep it posted right here at Magical Guides to stay in the know!
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How will these scheduled refurbishments and closures affect your next Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments!
