Walt Disney World Resort has officially kicked off a major renovation project at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, with construction walls now surrounding parts of the luxury hotel. After 36 years of operation, the Deluxe Disney Resort hotel is undergoing an overdue update, which includes a complete reimagining of the lobby area.
The most exciting change coming to the Grand Floridian is the addition of the resort’s first-ever lobby bar. Inspired by the hotel’s historic golden birdcage, the bar will feature stained glass, brass accents, and intricate woodwork, with bird-themed displays in stained glass and murals across the atrium. While the atrium’s architecture will remain largely the same, updated furnishings and custom carpeting will give the space a modern vibe, complementing the Victorian theme. The grand piano and cage-style elevators, long-time fixtures in the lobby, will also remain in place.
This major renovation has led to construction walls appearing in the Grand Floridian’s lobby, blocking access to some of the resort’s most popular areas. According to BlogMickey, beige construction walls recently appeared in the atrium, blocking the golden birdcage and surrounding spaces. Despite the walls going up, not much visible progress has been made in the area behind them, with only wood and cement reinforcements and some construction materials visible at this early stage. It remains unclear if Disney will further restrict guests’ access to upper floors to prevent them from seeing the work in progress.
The renovation project is expected to continue through November 2025, with some impacts on seasonal offerings. For example, Disney has canceled the annual Gingerbread House display, which traditionally arrives in November, due to expected congestion in the lobby area.
The annual chocolate Easter Egg display will remain on view until at least April 20, 2025. Other resort areas, including pools, dining locations, gift shops, and the Monorail station, remain unaffected by the construction.
Walt Disney World Resort has not yet announced a grand opening date for the new lobby bar or the completed renovations. Follow Disney Fanatic for updates on this and other projects around Walt Disney World Resort!
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