Disney’s Most Expensive Resorts Will Be Unrecognizable After Major Changes Announced

Step into certain corners of Walt Disney World these days, and you might feel like you’ve entered a parallel version of the vacation kingdom. Sure, the castle is still there, fireworks light up the sky, and the monorail continues to hum along its route.

But if you’ve stayed at some of Disney’s most iconic and expensive resorts recently, you may have noticed that they don’t quite look, feel, or sound the same.

So, what’s happening?

People swim and play in a large outdoor resort pool surrounded by stone structures resembling ancient forts, with palm trees and a clear blue sky in the background. — Credit: Disney

A New Era for Disney’s Signature Stays

Construction walls, reimagined rooms, and entire design overhauls are turning familiar favorites into something unrecognizable, and the changes don’t stop at the resort gates. Across property, from grand lobbies to quiet pool decks, Disney is in the middle of a transformation redefining what a “luxury stay” even means at the Most Magical Place on Earth.

A New Face for the Grand Floridian

Few resorts carry the prestige of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, yet it’s undergoing a significant transformation. Through November 2025, the lobby and convention center are under refurbishment, with portions occasionally closed and the sound of construction in the air.

The most significant change is the removal of the iconic aviary to make way for the “Birdcage Bar,” part of the new “Enchanted Gardens” design. The Gingerbread House won’t return for Christmas 2025, and the Tea Room is expected to reopen with a fresh concept.

Outside, a multi-year Floridian Way project is widening roads, rerouting traffic, and adding roundabouts near the Grand Floridian and Polynesian. Construction vehicles line the approach, and some lanes at the Seven Seas Drive intersection lack stop signs—marking a visible change before you even step inside.

A white monorail glides past a large, elegant resort hotel with red roofs and white walls, surrounded by greenery and pathways under a sunny sky. — Credit: Disney

Polynesian Village Resort: One Big Project Down, Another Underway

The Polynesian recently marked a big milestone with the debut of its Island Tower, finally wrapping up the resort’s most significant and most disruptive project in years. That said, the construction chapter isn’t entirely closed. Work will continue through 2026 as crews overhaul the front entrance and bus area.

Part of the parking lot is already being cleared to make way for new roadways, with the updated entrance planned to connect to Floridian Way instead of Seven Seas Drive. Once complete, Seven Seas Drive will serve as the dedicated bus entrance.

While restaurants, pools, and amenities remain open, certain views may be altered, and daytime construction activity will still be part of the experience. Even with efforts to limit guest disruption, the project’s scope signals a significant evolution for the Polynesian—one that may surprise longtime fans.

A vibrant resort featuring lush palm trees, two brown wooden bungalows in the foreground, and a large building with a steep, triangular roof adorned with colorful geometric patterns in the background. — Credit: Disney

Contemporary Resort: A Long Road of Renovations

The Contemporary Resort’s updates were once scheduled to wrap in summer 2025, but now the timeline stretches into July 2026. Guests will see work in select areas, including Bay Lake Tower and the Convention Center, and construction noise may be a possibility during their stay.

Adding to the changes, the Bay Cove Pool, water play area, and whirlpool spa at Bay Lake Tower will close for maintenance from late January through early May 2026. While other pools remain open, the combined effect of these closures and construction zones may make the resort feel more like a work in progress than a polished luxury destination.

A monorail glides through a modern, A-frame resort hotel at dusk, surrounded by trees and greenery, set against a vibrant purple and blue sky. — Credit: Disney

Wilderness Lodge and the Shadow of Lakeshore Lodge

Wilderness Lodge is facing both interior and exterior refurbishment projects. The Copper Creek Villas are undergoing room updates through September 2025, while exterior work could last until 2027. On its own, the lodge’s natural setting and design help hide some of the disruption—but the nearby Disney Lakeshore Lodge project looms large, especially for guests staying on the Boulder Ridge side.

For now, Wilderness Lodge remains one of the more resilient luxury resorts in the face of construction, but the scale of the surrounding projects means the views and serenity it’s known for might feel altered.

Disney's Wilderness Lodge at night, a Disney World resort hotel. — Credit: Disney

Beach Club Resort: Routine Work, Subtle Shifts

Beach Club Resort is undergoing exterior maintenance through October 2025. The porte cochere is closed, and guests might notice daytime noise. A recently completed soft goods refurbishment brought new flooring, furniture, and Donald Duck wall art, but otherwise left the rooms’ style largely intact.

While the updates are minor compared to other resorts, the construction still changes the arrival experience. Long-time visitors may miss the unbroken first impression of pulling up to the grand entrance.

A large, elegant resort hotel with white trim is illuminated at night, reflecting in a spacious, inviting outdoor swimming pool surrounded by trees and lounge areas. — Credit: Disney

Port Orleans Riverside: Royal Rooms Reimagined

Through late February 2026, Port Orleans Riverside’s Magnolia Bend section—home to the Royal Rooms—is undergoing refurbishment. It’s unclear whether these highly themed rooms will return in the same style or be converted into standard accommodations.

If crews move on to Alligator Bayou next, as expected, the entire resort could see continuous updates for years. For guests who love Riverside’s current charm and theming, this is a period of uncertainty.

A waterfront resort view at dusk shows buildings with warm lights reflecting on the calm water, surrounded by trees. A water tower and a dock are visible on the left, with more illuminated buildings in the background. — Credit: Disney

The Bigger Picture Across Walt Disney World

These resort overhauls are happening alongside changes within the parks themselves, from ride refurbishments to reimagined lands. For guests returning after several years, the combined effect is striking: the Disney they knew is still here, but often behind scaffolding, dressed in a new style, or surrounded by the sounds of progress.

While some of these projects are necessary maintenance or thoughtful updates, others feel like a departure from the unique details and theming that set Disney apart in the first place. For many, the transformation raises the question—how much change is too much before a beloved resort or park becomes something entirely different?

disney vacation club members greeting grand floridian cast member — Credit: Disney

The Price of Progress

Disney’s most expensive resorts have long been more than just a place to sleep—they’re part of the magic. But with so many undergoing simultaneous renovations, it’s easy to feel that the luxury you’re paying for is temporarily under wraps.

Whether these changes will ultimately enhance or dilute the charm of these iconic properties remains to be seen. For now, guests booking a high-end stay should weigh the promise of modernized amenities against the reality of cranes, closures, and a landscape in flux.