Disney's Contemporary Resort has announced ongoing refurbishments that will continue through late 2027. This means the Disney hotel will be under construction for almost three years. The Main Tower will undergo exterior maintenance starting March 23, 2026, which will make construction more visible and could affect views from rooms and dining areas. Guests may also face longer routes due to scaffolding blocking normal paths. If you were considering booking, you might want to reconsider.
The Skyway Bridge Is Closing for Over a Month at Disney
Starting March 30 and continuing through May 1, 2026, the Skyway Bridge connecting Bay Lake Tower and the Contemporary Main Tower will be closed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., which is honestly a huge inconvenience for Bay Lake Tower guests who rely on that indoor connection to access dining, pools, and other amenities without going outside. The bridge will reopen daily after 5 p.m. and remain available evenings and weekends, but if you need to move between buildings during weekday daytime hours, you're going to have to exit one building, walk outside around the resort, and enter the other building instead of using the climate-controlled enclosed bridge.
Guests may need to use alternate paths of travel at times and will definitely see or hear construction activity while work is underway, which is the kind of thing that pulls you out of that “this was worth it” mindset when you're paying premium prices for what should be a polished deluxe resort experience.
Bay Lake Tower Pools Are Closed Through May
The Bay Cove Pool, Cove Bar, water play area, and whirlpool spa at Bay Lake Tower are closed for maintenance until early May, impacting guests during a busy spring travel season. Although the Main Pool at Disney's Contemporary Resort remains open, Bay Lake Tower guests must walk to access it, which feels unfair given the high nightly rates for the villas.
Why Disney Guests Are Quietly Skipping This Hotel
A noticeable shift has happened in how Disney fans talk about the Contemporary, with enthusiastic recommendations replaced by caution, and many frequent visitors quietly advising friends to wait until the refurbishment is fully finished before booking. Instead of excitement turning into immediate reservations, potential guests find themselves hesitating when they land on the Contemporary during hotel research because something feels unfinished, and that uncertainty gives even experienced Disney travelers pause.
The refurbishment didn't arrive with full clarity about how long it would take, with work beginning in September 2024, primarily focused on Bay Lake Tower and shared resort areas, with early expectations that the project would wrap up fairly quickly. Then timelines changed, and then they changed again, with the most recent estimate pushing completion into late 2027.
The Price Makes This Even Harder
Staying at the Contemporary is expensive, with standard rooms often in the high hundreds per night and Bay Lake Tower villas costing even more. Guests expect a seamless experience for that price, but ongoing refurbishments can disrupt their stay. This raises questions about whether it's worth paying full price when other monorail resorts like the Grand Floridian and Polynesian Village offer less disruption. Waiting until late 2027 will provide a complete experience without construction noise or closures. While the resort will feel refreshed post-refurbishment, the current state may lead even loyal fans to reconsider their bookings.
