Credit: Chad Sparkes, FlickrWalt Disney World has officially completed another replacement at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, and guests are getting their first look at the finished project.
Disney has been working its way through a lengthy refurbishment of the popular EPCOT-area resort, with changes affecting several areas around Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Villas. One of the latest projects focused on the Village Green, a large outdoor space sitting between the resort and the BoardWalk promenade.
The area closed earlier this month, temporarily forcing several resort activities to move elsewhere. Now, Disney has reopened the Village Green with a noticeable replacement under guests’ feet.
Disney Replaces BoardWalk Inn’s Village Green Turf
The Village Green officially closed on August 10 as Disney began its latest refurbishment project. At the time, the courtyard wasn’t expected to reopen until September 4.
Instead, Disney finished the work early.
The Village Green is already open again, putting the courtyard back into operation more than a week ahead of its previously scheduled return.
While the overall appearance of the space remains familiar, Disney replaced the worn artificial grass covering the Village Green.
In its place is a new bright green synthetic turf surface. The replacement gives the courtyard a much cleaner and fresher appearance, particularly noticeable across the large open lawn.
It’s not the kind of massive resort project that completely transforms the BoardWalk, but it’s an important update considering how frequently Disney uses this area.
Popular BoardWalk Activities Can Return
The Village Green isn’t simply decorative.
Disney regularly uses the lawn for recreational activities offered to resort guests. When construction began, Movie Under the Stars, outdoor yoga, and crafts had to temporarily move to other areas around the property.
With the new turf installed and the courtyard reopened, those activities can return to their normal location.
The timing also works out particularly well for guests visiting around Labor Day weekend. Instead of the courtyard remaining behind construction walls through September 4, Disney managed to get the space ready ahead of schedule.
For guests staying at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Villas, that means one less construction area to navigate during their vacation.
More Changes Are Coming to Disney’s BoardWalk
The Village Green replacement doesn’t mean Disney has finished working on the resort.
Disney’s larger refurbishment at BoardWalk Inn and Villas is expected to continue through late 2026. Another significant phase is already scheduled to begin early next year.
Beginning January 11 and continuing through April 2027, Disney plans to close the Luna Park Pool, Luna Park Crazy Play Area, and Leaping Horse Libations for routine maintenance.
Guests won’t completely lose access to resort pools during that period. Both the Villas Pool and Inn Pool are expected to remain available while the Luna Park area is unavailable.
That makes the newly completed Village Green one piece of a much larger effort taking place around the property.
Disney’s BoardWalk remains one of Walt Disney World’s most distinctive resort areas, particularly because guests can walk to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. With the Village Green now sporting its replacement turf, another portion of the ongoing resort refurbishment is officially complete.
The Bigger Replacements Happening at Walt Disney World
Of course, the Village Green is just one of many smaller refurbishment projects happening around Walt Disney World Resort. The biggest replacements, however, are unfolding inside the theme parks, where several familiar areas are being transformed into entirely new experiences.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is in the middle of one of its largest periods of change in years. Work continues on Monstropolis, the new Monsters, Inc.-themed land taking shape inside the park. Disney is also preparing to open The Magic of Disney Animation next month, adding another new experience for guests as Hollywood Studios continues to evolve.
Magic Kingdom is undergoing an even larger transformation. Piston Peak National Park is currently being constructed in Frontierland, replacing the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island area. The project will dramatically reshape a massive portion of Magic Kingdom once construction is complete.
And Disney isn’t stopping there. Disney Villains Land is also set to eventually rise in this area of the park, bringing another major expansion to Magic Kingdom. Together, these projects represent some of the biggest physical changes the park has experienced in its history.
Meanwhile, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is undergoing a major overhaul of its own. The former DinoLand U.S.A. is making way for Tropical Americas, a completely new land that will bring fresh attractions and experiences to that side of the park.
These projects won’t all arrive at the same time, but they show just how much of Walt Disney World is currently changing.
So while a new stretch of turf at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn may seem relatively minor by comparison, it comes during a period when replacement projects are happening throughout the resort. From hotel courtyards to entire sections of theme parks, Walt Disney World could look considerably different over the next several years.
