Credit: Inside the MagicCentral Florida Disney Park guests are reporting that an extensive exterior construction project on one of two opening-day Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, has begun. Here’s everything families need to know before their next stay at the Magic Kingdom Resort Area hotel.
Demolition and Construction at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
On April 28, BlogMickey reported that scaffolding was visible on the exterior of the Main Tower building at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, which opened alongside Walt Disney World Resort on October 1, 1971. Guests can see the ongoing work from the Monorail loop and the walkway between the Deluxe Disney Resort hotel and Magic Kingdom Park.
In a photo the outlet shared on Facebook, crews appear to be refurbishing several balconies on the southwest side of the Main Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Sliding glass doors, windows, and existing balcony areas have been demolished, with tarps, plywood boards, and other construction equipment temporarily in place until refurbishment is complete.
No signs of construction are visible inside the Main Tower building at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Guests may hear minor construction sounds during the day, especially from outside, or see workers walking through the building. However, construction activity is typically reserved during the daytime hours, when most guests are at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and Disney Springs.
Operations at destinations within the Main Tower building, such as Chef Mickey’s, California Grill, and Contempo Café, are unaffected by the ongoing refurbishment project. The Monorail continues to stop at and travel through the Deluxe Disney Resort hotel.
What Disney World Has to Say
Walt Disney World Resort’s website warns guests before booking stays at Disney’s Contemporary Resort that construction work is expected to continue through “late 2027.” The notice reads:
“Refurbishment work will occur in phases throughout select areas of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, including the atrium, Bay Lake Tower and the Main Tower. The Main Tower will undergo exterior maintenance beginning March 23, 2026, which may impact views from various locations throughout the Resort hotel and, at times, require alternate paths of travel. Guests may see or hear construction during daytime hours.
The Bay Lake Pool, the feature pool, the water play area and the whirlpool spa at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will remain open for Guests to enjoy.”
When the project is complete, the entire exterior of the Main Tower building at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is expected to be refurbished and refreshed. However, the maintenance project shouldn’t significantly affect the iconic A-Frame design of the Walt Disney World Resort hotel.
As of now, about 20 guest rooms are out of service at the Deluxe Disney Resort. Work is expected to be done in phases so that as many Central Florida Disney Park guests as possible can stay at the Magic Kingdom Resort area hotel.
Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Contemporary Resort? Share your favorite memories with Inside the Magic in the comments!
