Credit: DisneyAn iconic location is set to shutter at Walt Disney World Resort in mid-July.
A lot has changed at Disney World since 1971, but some of its more classic elements still remain. Both of Disney World’s opening day hotels – Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – remain operational and open to guests, despite undergoing a few theming tweaks over the years. (The less you say to a diehard Disney fan about The Incredibles at the Contemporary, the better.)
Even the hotels that joined the Disney World lineup in subsequent years have, by and large, retained their original themes. That includes Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, a Victorian-themed hotel and spa located on the edge of Bay Lake that opened in 1988. Initially named Grand Floridian Beach Resort, it has long been inspired by the Victorian-era beach resorts dotted along Florida’s east coast in the late 19th century.
The hotel has received several upgrades in recent years, including the addition of the Beauty and the Beast-themed bar The Enchanted Rose Lounge in 2019, as well as phased refurbishment work across its lobby and arrival areas, with updates to the porte cochere set to continue through 2027.
Now, it’s set to undergo another big change – one that requires a lengthy closure.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Schedules Closure
Disney has confirmed a closure for the Grand Floridian Cafe later this year.
The “elegant yet unpretentious eatery” typically offers brunch and dinner on a daily basis. From mid-July, however, it will be closed to all guests for three months for a “refresh.”
Anyone missing its brunch offerings will be pleased to hear that Disney is temporarily relocating Grand Floridian Cafe’s brunch service – which includes dishes such as The Grand Breakfast, Buttermilk-fried Chicken and Waffle, Floridian-style Eggs Benedict, and the Grand Floridian Café Signature Burger – to Cítricos.
Other restaurants at the hotel remain unaffected, including Narcoossee’s, Enchanted Rose, Gasparilla Island Grill, 1900 Park Fare, and the Michelin-starred Victoria & Albert’s. This year will also mark the long-awaited return of Garden View Lounge, which offers afternoon tea experiences – including one aimed at younger guests – inspired by Alice in Wonderland (1951).
Disney’s full statement says:
“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.”
While Disney hasn’t released details of the planned “refresh,” it will presumably follow in the footsteps of other tweaks to the hotel. The lobby has seen some of the most prominent changes, debuting new botanical-themed carpeting, lighter, airy colors, and a new impressionist-style mural that imagines what the Grand Floridian may have appeared at the turn of the century.
Most notably, a new bar opened at the Grand Floridian in 2025. The Perch invites guests to sip on champagne, wine, or iconic cocktails – including the Floridian 75, made with Florida Citrus Cordial – in the hotel lobby.
Will you miss Grand Floridian Cafe during its closure?