Not every major change at Walt Disney World comes with fireworks and fanfare.
Sometimes, the biggest shifts happen quietly — inside the places where guests spend the most time outside the parks.
Disney has now confirmed that three of its most popular on-site hotels are undergoing major room overhauls, with projects stretching into 2026 and beyond. These updates will impact thousands of guests and could influence where many families choose to stay in the coming years.
And notably, these changes span every major resort category.
Port Orleans Riverside Enters a Multi-Year Transformation
Port Orleans Riverside is in the middle of one of the largest room refurbishment projects Disney has launched in years.
The update touches buildings across the entire resort and will continue through 2027. Rather than closing large sections at once, Disney is renovating in phases, keeping most of the resort operating while work continues.
For guests, that creates two very different experiences.
Some will walk into freshly updated rooms with modern finishes and redesigned layouts. Others may find themselves in older spaces while construction remains visible nearby.
It’s not ideal — but it’s temporary. And when finished, Riverside will effectively be a new resort hiding inside an old one.
Kidani Village Receives Long-Awaited Upgrades
At Animal Kingdom Lodge, the focus is on Kidani Village.
This refurbishment is moving on a much faster timeline, with completion expected in 2026. Once finished, Disney plans to shift attention to Jambo House, extending the modernization across the entire resort.
For a hotel known for its unique savanna views, keeping rooms current is critical. Families often choose this resort specifically for the experience, and outdated interiors can quickly undermine that appeal.
These updates signal that Disney intends to protect Animal Kingdom Lodge’s status as one of its premier destinations.
Pop Century Nears the Finish Line
Pop Century has quietly been reinventing itself for years.
With its rooms now being refreshed, the resort is nearing the end of a full-property makeover. By early 2026, Pop Century will be one of the most modern Value Resorts on property.
That matters more than it sounds.
For many families, Pop is their first on-site Disney hotel. Updated rooms, brighter spaces, and improved layouts shape their entire impression of staying at Disney.
What Guests Should Expect
One important reality remains.
Booking these resorts does not guarantee a refurbished room until all projects are complete. Guests can request updated spaces, but availability will depend on timing and progress.
There will also be construction noise, work crews, and temporary inconveniences.
But there’s a tradeoff.
Those who time their stay just right may get to experience these resorts in their newest form — years before most guests ever will.
A Quiet Shift in Disney’s Priorities
What stands out most is the pattern.
Disney is modernizing a Value resort, a Moderate resort, and a Deluxe resort all at once. That’s not accidental.
It points to a larger strategy: protecting the value of staying on property in an increasingly competitive market.
The changes may be happening quietly.
But by the time 2026 arrives, many guests may realize that Disney’s hotels have changed just as much as its parks — even if no one made a big announcement about it.
