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Credit: Inside the MagicWalt Disney World is in a season of quiet but meaningful change, and this time, the spotlight isn’t on a new ride or a new land. It’s on the places where guests end their day — the resorts themselves.
Disney has now confirmed that three popular hotels are in the middle of major room overhauls, and these aren’t small touch-ups. We’re talking full guest room refurbishments that will reshape what staying at these resorts feels like for years to come. For guests planning trips in 2026 and beyond, this is the kind of update that can genuinely change which hotel you choose.
The three resorts getting this treatment cover all three major resort categories: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. That alone tells you this is part of a much larger strategy.
Here’s a closer look at what’s changing — and why it matters.
Port Orleans Riverside Is Undergoing a Resort-Wide Transformation
Port Orleans Riverside has long been one of those dependable fan favorites. It’s not flashy, but it’s peaceful, scenic, and often considered one of the best values among Disney’s Moderate Resorts.
Now, it’s in the middle of a massive guest room refurbishment that spans the entire property.
Work began in May 2025 and isn’t expected to finish until August 2027. That timeline alone tells you how extensive this project is. Disney isn’t rushing through a quick update — they’re rebuilding rooms in stages, building by building, across the whole resort.
Guests who have already stayed in refreshed rooms describe a cleaner, brighter, more modern look while still keeping that Southern bayou charm intact. It’s the kind of update meant to quietly future-proof the resort for the next decade.
During construction, most amenities remain open, but daytime noise and visible work are part of the experience. If you’re booking Riverside during this period, it becomes a bit of a gamble: you might get a brand-new room, or you might end up in a building that hasn’t been touched yet.
Still, the fact that Disney is investing in Riverside at this scale suggests they see this resort as a long-term cornerstone of their Moderate lineup.
Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge Is Getting Long-Overdue Attention
Few resorts at Walt Disney World have the emotional pull of Animal Kingdom Lodge. Waking up to giraffes outside your balcony is something that sticks with people for life.
Now, Disney is giving Kidani Village a full guest room refresh — and this one is moving much faster.
Construction began in October 2025 and is scheduled to wrap up by May 2026. Once Kidani is complete, Disney plans to shift the same kind of work over to Jambo House, the main lodge building.
That’s an important detail. It signals that this isn’t just a one-off update. Disney appears to be committing to a full refresh of its flagship savanna-view resort.
Most amenities are expected to stay open during the work, but temporary closures are still possible depending on how construction progresses. For a resort this popular, timing matters. Many families plan Animal Kingdom Lodge trips years in advance, specifically for those views.
These updates suggest Disney wants to keep this resort competitive not just with other Disney hotels, but with high-end off-site luxury options as well.
Pop Century Is Finishing Its Multi-Year Makeover
Pop Century has quietly been transforming for a while now. First came the redesigned lobby. Then Everything Pop Shopping & Dining got a full refresh. Now, the guest rooms themselves are the final piece of that puzzle.
Room refurbishments here are expected to wrap up by February 2026. That puts Pop Century on track to become one of the most consistently modern Value Resorts on property.
For a hotel that often serves as the first on-site experience for budget-minded families, this matters more than it might seem. Updated rooms, brighter colors, and cleaner layouts go a long way when you’re spending a week in a Value category resort.
Construction is happening during daytime hours, so guests may notice noise or active work, but all amenities are expected to remain available.
By early 2026, Pop Century will effectively be a fully refreshed resort from top to bottom.
What This Means for Guests Booking 2026 Trips
Here’s the reality Disney doesn’t always spell out clearly. Booking one of these three resorts does not guarantee a refurbished room.
Until all projects are finished, room assignments are based on availability. You can request an updated room, but Disney can’t promise you’ll get one. It truly is luck of the draw unless you time your stay very carefully.
There’s also the construction factor. Daytime noise, closed walkways, and visible work zones are part of staying during an active refurbishment.
But there’s an upside.
If you do land in one of these updated rooms, you’re getting a space most guests won’t experience for years. Fresh design, new finishes, and that rare feeling of being among the first.
A Bigger Pattern Is Emerging
What makes this announcement interesting isn’t just the three resorts involved. It’s the pattern. Value. Moderate. Deluxe.
Disney is clearly modernizing its resort inventory across all price points at the same time. That suggests this is less about individual hotels and more about repositioning the entire on-site experience heading into the late 2020s.
As more off-site hotels compete for Disney guests, these refurbishments feel like a defensive move — making sure staying on property still feels worth the premium. And if these three resorts are any indication, this likely won’t be the last wave of hotel overhauls we see.
If you’re planning a 2026 trip, these three resorts just moved a lot higher on the list — even if you may have to take a small construction gamble along the way.