Credit: DisneyWalt Disney World is temporarily closing one of its longest-running golf courses.
Golf has been part of the Central Florida resort since its earliest years. When Walt Disney World Resort opened in 1971, two courses debuted alongside it: the Palm and Magnolia courses, both designed to position Disney as a full-scale vacation destination rather than just a theme park.
Even as the resort grew into a sprawling complex with four major theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom — Disney continued investing in recreational offerings beyond rides and attractions.
The resort expanded its golf offerings soon after. Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course opened in 1972, winding through the resort’s lush landscaping and nearby hotels. The course quickly became a favorite thanks to its scenic layout and relative accessibility compared to championship-level courses.
Across the decades, Disney has continued to evolve its golf program. Today, the resort operates four courses, including Magnolia, Palm, Lake Buena Vista, and Oak Trail, each maintained by Disney Golf and regularly updated to keep pace with modern course design and turf standards.
Disney Closing Lake Buena Vista Golf Course for Renovation
Now, Disney has confirmed that the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course will temporarily shut down for a major refurbishment project later this year.
The closure is expected to last through much of summer 2026 as crews carry out a comprehensive upgrade across several parts of the course.
The work focuses primarily on the greens, which will be rebuilt with new shaping, contours, and elevation adjustments designed to improve both drainage and playability. These changes are expected to subtly alter how the course plays while keeping the spirit of the original layout intact.
Areas surrounding the greens will also see updates. Bunkers and nearby chipping zones are being redesigned to create smoother transitions and more consistent playing conditions for golfers approaching the putting surfaces.
Disney is also installing new irrigation infrastructure around the greens to help maintain turf quality in high-traffic areas. Updated bunker drainage systems will be added across much of the course to reduce water buildup and allow the course to recover more quickly after storms.
Several tee boxes will receive upgrades as well, with improvements designed to enhance durability and maintain better turf conditions during peak seasons. The project follows similar work recently completed at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course.
Last summer, Disney also shuttered its Palm Golf Course for nearly two weeks for similar, albeit less extensive, work.
Guests who already have tee times booked for the summer are encouraged to check with Disney Golf about their reservations.
During the closure, the Magnolia, Palm, and Oak Trail courses at Walt Disney World will continue operating as normal until Lake Buena Vista reopens, which is currently expected in early fall.
The changes come during a period of major change for Disney World. Across the resort, multiple expansion projects are underway, including a new Tropical Americas land replacing DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a Cars-themed expansion at Magic Kingdom, and a Monsters, Inc.-inspired area coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.