A familiar part of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is about to disappear — at least temporarily — as Walt Disney World continues reshaping one of its most recognisable hotels.
The Grand Floridian has long been positioned as the resort’s flagship property. Its Victorian design, lakeside setting on the Seven Seas Lagoon, and direct monorail access to Magic Kingdom have made it a defining part of the Disney World experience.
Dining sits at the centre of that identity. From quick-service staples to signature restaurants, the hotel has built a reputation for variety, with options spanning casual meals, character dining, and high-end experiences that draw guests from across property.
That lineup is about to shift.
Dining Changes Take Effect This Summer
Disney has confirmed a closure for the Grand Floridian Cafe later this year.
The “elegant yet unpretentious eatery” typically serves brunch and dinner daily, occupying a middle ground between the resort’s more formal and more casual dining locations.
From mid-July, however, it will close for approximately three months for a “refresh.”
The closure removes one of the Grand Floridian’s most accessible sit-down restaurants during a busy travel window, particularly for guests staying at nearby Magic Kingdom-area resorts.
Disney says brunch will not disappear entirely. Instead, the offering will temporarily move to Cítricos, shifting those menu items into a more upscale environment within the same hotel.
“From mid-July through October 2026, Grand Floridian Cafe will temporarily close for a refresh. During this time, brunch will continue to be offered but will temporarily move to Cítricos. All other dining locations at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will remain available for Guests to enjoy. Guests may see or hear refurbishment work during daytime hours and may need to take alternate paths of travel.”
Other venues remain unchanged. Narcoossee’s, 1900 Park Fare, Gasparilla Island Grill, Enchanted Rose, and Victoria & Albert’s will continue operating throughout the refurbishment period.
A Resort in Transition
The closure arrives as the Grand Floridian continues a broader wave of updates.
Originally opened in 1988 as the Grand Floridian Beach Resort, the hotel was designed to evoke Florida’s late-1800s coastal retreats. That identity has largely held, even as Disney has introduced modern touches.
Recent refurbishments have focused heavily on interiors. Guest rooms have been updated, while the lobby has seen new carpeting, lighter colours, and an impressionist-style mural reimagining the resort at the turn of the century.
New concepts have also been layered into the property. Enchanted Rose Lounge brought a Beauty and the Beast-inspired overlay in 2019, blending character IP with the hotel’s existing aesthetic.
In 2025, Disney added The Perch, a lobby bar offering champagne, wine, and cocktails such as the Floridian 75, giving the space a more contemporary social focus.
Work is ongoing elsewhere. Updates to arrival areas, including the porte cochere, are expected to continue through 2027, signalling that the resort’s transformation is far from complete.
At the same time, some returning experiences are set to reappear. Garden View Lounge is expected to resume afternoon tea service soon, including themed offerings inspired by Alice in Wonderland (1951), restoring a long-missed element of the hotel’s lineup.
Disney has not detailed what changes are planned for the Grand Floridian Cafe. The project will likely align with the resort’s recent direction — subtle updates that modernise the space without fully departing from its Victorian roots.
What do you think of the ongoing changes to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa?
I love this restaurant for breakfast when I stay at the grand Floridian. Where will I eat if this place is closed?