Navigating Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa looks a little different this week, as construction reshapes a key walkway at one of Walt Disney World Resort‘s most storied hotels.
A Walkway Closes for Refurbishment
WDWNT reported on September 10 that Walt Disney World Resort had set up rolling planters and tarps along a walkway situated in front of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, sharing an image of the newly closed section on social media.
Guests navigating the area will find signage directing them to an alternate walkway, along with guidance toward the bus stop serving Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney Springs, and Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park. The Monorail walkway upstairs, which connects guests to Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT, remains unaffected by this particular closure.
Disney cast members were also spotted working directly on the hotel's signature white railings lining the walkway and the surrounding landscaping. The scope of the project appears limited to refurbishing those railings, likely amounting to fresh paint and structural upkeep rather than a significant visual redesign.
Walt Disney World Resort hasn't issued a public statement addressing this specific project. However, it's just the latest addition to a long list of construction efforts currently underway throughout the resort.
Part of a Larger Resort-Wide Transformation
This walkway closure follows a series of major updates already completed or underway at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Late 2025 brought a full lobby reimagining, along with the debut of The Perch, a first-of-its-kind birdcage-shaped lobby bar. Elsewhere, the Grand Floridian Café remains closed for refurbishment through November 2, and larger renovation efforts, including changes to the Deluxe Disney Resort hotel‘s porte cochere, are expected to continue through 2027.
Walt Disney World Resort's official website cautions guests that they “may see or hear work during daytime hours and may need to take alternative routes.” Additionally, the hotel's iconic life-sized gingerbread house won't appear in the lobby for the 2026 holiday season, a change Disney says is intended to “help keep the lobby flowing smoothly” for guests staying overnight.
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