food IS a theme park
Disney is refurbishing one of their most iconic hotels.
Construction in the Grand Floridian began in April 2025
The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been Disney World’s premier resort for over three decades. The hotel, which opened in 1988, is described by Disney as a “timeless Victorian-style marvel (that) evokes Palm Beach’s golden era,” and that theme has long extended to the hotel’s lobby. However, now that grand lobby is being refurbished.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is continuing with its multi-year refurbishment that has included updates for Victoria & Albert’s, Cítricos, Narcoossee’s, and 1900 Park Fare. Next up on the list is the LOBBY! That’s right, the Grand Floridian lobby is getting a makeover.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort lobby
Walking into the Grand Floridian’s lobby is a magical feeling. From the towering ceilings to the delicate accents throughout, and sometimes even some beautiful piano music, the lobby transports you with its Victorian charm. Disney Imagineers are approaching the updates carefully to maintain the “heart and story of the Grand Floridian, while adding fresh new life to the lobby for guests to enjoy,” and we just got a FIRST LOOK!
Disney World is busy making ALL kinds of changes. In Magic Kingdom, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is getting an update, while Disney also works on building a new Cars expansion and Villains land.
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
In Hollywood Studios, a new Monsters, INC. land will replace Muppets Courtyard, while the Muppets will move to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and a new Villains-themed show gets ready to debut. Even Animal Kingdom is getting a new show AND a new land. Well, Disney World hotels are also changing, including Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, which just got a lobby refresh with some brand new furniture.
Disney World’s newest hotel tower, Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, opens in just a few days, but we recently got a chance to see it EARLY.
Island Tower
We had the opportunity to step inside the hotel and check out its gorgeous lobby, as well as visit a variety of room types. We also spent some time chilling out in the Terrace Gardens, as well as check out some of the food from the tower’s new restaurant, Wailulu Bar & Grill. But there was one thing that struck us as odd when we first stepped inside the new expansion: something BIG is missing from this hotel.
Settle in y’all! It’s time for a LOT of UPDATES!!
Disney’s Polynesian Resort
It feels like every time we blink, there’s another new restaurant or ride popping up at the parks. And maybe you’re in the planning mood, so we wanted to let you know about the hotel changes that are happening soon! (And some that aren’t happening soon…blergh!)
If you’re coming to Disney World soon, there are some big changes you’ll need to know about!
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
We’ve got new rides and restaurants in the parks, but some of the biggest updates are coming to the resorts. And before you decide where to stay, you should know about these hotel changes coming soon!
Listen, the amount of holiday sweets we’ve eaten as a company in the past few weeks is enough to keep half the dentists in America in business…
So many sweet treats!
…but we’re not stopping now! We’ve tried sweets all around the Disney World parks and resorts as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Thanksgiving treats arrived, and now it’s time to hit up ANOTHER gingerbread display to see what they’ve got in store. Ho ho ho, let’s go!
There is a LOT going on at Disney’s Contemporary Resort… .
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
There’s been a lot of construction there recently as The Wave…of American Flavors becomes a new restaurant, Steakhouse 71. And the rooms are in the process of getting an Incredibles theme! As a result of all the construction, we’ve seen a lot of scrims and construction walls throughout the hotel!
It is a VERY exciting day at Disney World!
Can you guess where we’re going?
Since Disney World’s reopening last year, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Disney Vacation Club rooms have been open. But as of today, the resort is now fully open including Moana rooms! So, of course, we stopped by to check it out!
There is SO much construction going on at Disney World that it’s hard to keep track of it all!
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is getting a major overhaul (and Moana-inspired rooms), and Disney’s Contemporary Resort is getting an Incredibles-themed update, along with a reimagining of one of its restaurants, The Wave…of American Flavors.
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