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Credit: DisneyNearly 40 years after it first opened, one of Walt Disney World Resort’s most iconic hotels has debuted a major change.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has long been known as the crown jewel of Walt Disney World — a Victorian-inspired hotel that leans heavily into charm, elegance, and the romanticized glamor of a bygone era. White facades, red rooftops, gilded chandeliers, and live lobby musicians defined its character for decades.
The resort is currently undergoing one of the most extensive refurbishments in its history. New furnishings, updated carpeting, and refreshed color palettes have already appeared throughout guest rooms and public areas. The updates aim to retain the hotel’s legacy, while offering what Disney has called a “lighter, more timeless” take on Victorian design.
Above the grand staircase, a new impressionist-style mural imagines what the Grand Floridian may have looked like at the turn of the century, surrounded by royal and sabal palms. The artwork softens the lobby’s towering scale with warmer tones and natural motifs.
Beneath guests’ feet, the new atrium carpet adds another layer of storytelling. Inspired by the Victorian “Language of Flowers,” its pattern reflects hospitality, joy, and grace through subtropical florals native to Florida — a subtle nod to the resort’s unique sense of place.
More updates are still to come. In early 2026, The Garden View Lounge – which has been closed since 2020 – will reopen with a refreshed design and a new tea service offering playful Disney touches. Meanwhile, the Grand Floridian Convention Center has already been re-imagined to match the resort’s updated aesthetic, continuing the refined look into one of its most photographed event spaces.
However, one of the hotel’s most anticipated (and controversial) additions has debuted earlier than expected.
Disney Soft Opens The Perch at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
The Perch, a brand-new lobby bar, has now opened inside the resort.
The Perch has soft opened at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa! The brand-new lobby bar officially opens on November 10.
The Perch has soft opened at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa! The brand-new lobby bar officially opens on November 10. pic.twitter.com/Ev7bz3u023
— Drew Smith (@DrewDisneyDude) November 8, 2025
The bar – which wasn’t supposed to officially launch until November 10 – offers champagne by the bottle or glass, wine, beer, and two signature cocktails: the Coffee Rum Sazerac ($17.50) and the Floridian 75 ($22). Guests can also try a non-alcoholic Blueberry and Basil Iced Tea, made with lemon, blueberry, and basil tea.
The Perch draws inspiration from Victorian architecture through detailed woodwork, herringbone tile flooring, and custom stained glass that shifts with the lobby’s natural light. The look is airy, polished, and distinctly modern — a clear departure from the Grand Floridian’s earlier, more elaborate theming.
FYI – the Perch [at] the Grand Floridian is soft opening today and is beautiful!
FYI – the Perch ant the Grand Floridian is soft opening today and is beautiful! pic.twitter.com/Sg1lQY1rXR
— TheDBCPod (@TheDBCPod) November 8, 2025
Not everyone is celebrating the change. Some longtime guests argue that the new bar disrupts the lobby’s original atmosphere, replacing ornate opulence with something sleeker and more contemporary. Others feel the updates move the resort further away from the richly themed Disney hotels of the past.
Guests have also shared their concerns about the availability of alcohol on Disney property in recent years, especially in light of several violent or rule-breaking incidents, such as guests physically assaulting cast members or trying to scale the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT.
What do you think of The Perch at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa?