Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Refurbishment Updates [2025]

There are a variety of different reasons why a Disney World hotel goes under refurbishment. Whether it is to re-theme the hotel (like what Disneyland did with Pixar Place Hotel), or if it is to update old furniture, etc. Refurbishments are a crucial part of keeping things up to date.

As important as they are, dealing with hotel refurbishments is never fun. When trying to plan a vacation, avoiding hotel refurbishments is always ideal, but sometimes they are inevitable.

Disney does a really good job at trying to minimize the amount of refurbishment that takes place at a single resort. Additionally, Disney does its best to ensure that during refurbishment time, most to all hotel amenities are still offered to hotel guests.

The extra Disney magic comes with Disney announcing and posting what will be down and for how long, as well as notifying guests of any alternative amenities that are offered to replace what’s getting refurbished. This makes it a lot easier to plan around any construction zone.

What To Expect During Disney World Hotel Refurbishments

Hotel refurbishments and construction is a blanket term that can cover one or many different things happening at a specific hotel. If you don’t know what to expect, staying at a hotel during the refurbishment process can be a little intimidating.

Firstly, I cannot emphasize enough that Disney does everything in its power to minimize and prevent any construction around the hotel from disturbing the overall guest experience.

With that being said, let’s break down what is meant when we say ‘hotel refurbishment’ when at a Disney Property,

Types of Disney World Hotel Construction

As stated above, Disney Property has different hotel construction or refurbishment types. Some are minor and go almost unnoticeable if you stay there during that time, while others can affect where you soak up the sun, hanging out poolside.

Planned Maintenance:
This is construction that is regular, typically the shortest type of construction/refurbishments at the resort. The planned maintenance usually happens annually at the same time.

For example, during winter months, only one of the Disney World Water Parks will be open, while the other is down for planned maintenance. Then, the water parks switch. This allows both parks to receive the necessary regular maintenance while also giving guests an opportunity to enjoy and experience one of the Walt Disney World Water Parks.

Unavailable:
When an area is unavailable, like a store or an attraction, there will be nothing about that area that is open to the public. This type of refurbishment usually has a general idea of how long it will be unavailable, but sometimes there is not.

Room Refurbishments:
If a hotel is going to have room refurbishment, typically, Disney will close down a section of the hotel that is being redone. This allows the least disturbance to guests while also completing much-needed work.

If you are staying at a hotel that is having room refurbishments done, know that during the daytime hours, there might be workers and construction sounds that can be heard.

Helpful Links:
Disney World Height Requirements
Disney World Genie+ Guide

Current Disney World Resort Hotel Refurbishments:

The following are Disney World Hotel Refurbishments scheduled for next year, 2025. Some of the construction started in 2024, but for the most part, they are all starting next year.

These resort refurbishments can include: rooms, pool areas, restaurants, and shops.

Each location down for refurbishments has all the known information listed. Note that any of these can change at any time. I will do my best to keep this post as up-to-date as possible.

Disney’s Riviera Resort

Topolino’s Terrace will be unavailable for planned maintenance from Jan. 12 – 25.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

The Barbados leisure pool will be closed from July 29, 2025, through September 2025. The other four leisure pools, as well as The Fuentes del Morro Pool, will still be available for hotel resort guests to enjoy during that time.

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

From January 2025 until April 2025, Fantasia Pool will be closed for routine maintenance. During daytime hours, guests may see or hear construction work. The Duck Pond Pool will remain open at the resort for guests to enjoy during the maintenance.

From mid-August 2025 through the end of November, Rialto in the World Premiere Food Court will be closed for refurbishment.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

From September 29 to November 30, 2024, the Everything POP Food Court will undergo refurbishment. This means that you will have to use alternate entrances to get to the food court, will have limited seating during that time.

Beginning September 30, 2024, Everything POP Shopping & Dining will undergo refurbishment. The store will be partially open for guests to shop, but be weary of pixie dust, and less room to open. There currently is no date set for refurbishment ending.

From late March 2025 to mid-February 2026, some guest rooms at the resort will undergo refurbishment. During this time, all amenities will remain available to guests.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

From January 2025 through June 2025, Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts will be closed for routine maintenance. Tidal, Admiral, and Dunes Cove leisure pools will be available at the resort for guests to enjoy while these pools are under routine maintenance.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Some guest rooms will be refurbished from January 2025 through May 2025. However, most Resort amenities will still be available for guests to enjoy. You may also hear some construction work during the day during this time.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Room refurbishment will occur in Bay Lake Tower from September 2024 until September 2025. This refurbishment will also affect Skybridge, which will have temporary intermittent closures. It is best to try and find an alternate route to and from Bay Lake Tower, however detours will be available on some days.

Additionally, don’t be surprised if you can hear construction throughout Bay Lake Tower.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

A lot of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is currently under refurbishment. Unfortunately, this means that during the day, guests will be able to hear construction throughout the resort (including the lobby and other popular areas).

Most of the amenities will be available for hotel guests at this time. However, due to routes and areas with limited access, it is important to allow some extra time to get to and from the resort.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort: Villas & Bungalows

Nearly the whole Resort is undergoing refurbishments and enhancements. The refurbishments started in 2024, and will continue through sometime in 2026.

To help make the vacation magical, limiting disruptions, Disney is going to limit noisy construction activities to start after 9 am.

Refurbishment work is subject to change due to operational needs or weather conditions.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter

Port Orleans – French Quarter is going under some big refurbishments. Many guest rooms at the resort are going to be under refurbishments from May 2024 until Spring 2025.

Construction sounds will be heard through out the day, but most hotel amenities will still remain available for guests to enjoy.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

Magnolia Bend at Port Orleans—Riverside will undergo refurbishment from April 2025 until January 2026, which will lead to construction sounds during daytime hours.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: Boulder Ridge Villas, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins

Copper Creek Villas and Cabins will be under refurbishment from May 2025 until September 2025. Most refurbishment work will take place during daytime hours, but resort amenities will remain available to hotel guests.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

Horseback Riding will be unavailable from July 13, 2024, until further notice. This resort activity is closed only Monday through Friday, but it will be available on the weekend for guests to enjoy.

The course is closed due to construction that will be during the week to try and limit the disruptions it has upon guests.

Disney World Golf Courses

Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course has been under construction for some time now. Recently, their 14-hole course opened. The hope is that by the end of 2024, the 18-hole course will be ready for guests to enjoy.

Disney’s Palm Golf Course, and Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course remain open.

The Final Pixie Dust: Disney World Hotel Refurbishment

Knowing the hotel refurbishment schedule before staying at a Disney World Resort can help you understand what you’re walking into for your vacation. Thankfully, Disney understands that no one wants to deal with refurbishment and tries to give plenty of advance notice for closures.

Additionally, Disney does everything possible to minimize the disruptions that the construction causes, limiting work to day time hours when most guests are at the parks.

I personally have stayed at a few Disney resorts when construction has been taking place, and other then having to take an alternate route, it was almost unnoticeable! The Disney magic is still alive and well even with the ‘pixie dust’ that takes place.