Credit: Martin Lewison, FlickrMore changes have been made to how guests experience the resort.
The story at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts is a long one. The multi-year refurbishment effort, currently underway in phases across both properties, will affect almost every part of the Deluxe hotel destination, and guests booking rooms through next year should be aware of the scale of the work.
Walt Disney World has crews working the exteriors of these two connected EPCOT area resorts right now, and the calendar on this project runs all the way to 2027. Rather than scaffold the entire perimeter at once, Disney is moving section by section — which means some parts of the resort already look brand new while others are still buried behind equipment and tarps.
Disney’s own construction bulletin doesn’t sugarcoat it: guests may see and hear construction in progress during the day. The refurbishment will be completed in different phases, with Disney claiming work at the Yacht Club will end by late 2026, while the Beach Club will be under construction until late 2027.
“Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is undergoing visible exterior maintenance through late 2026, which will impact views from various locations throughout the Resort hotel and, at times, require alternate paths of travel,” the wording on the official Disney World website reads. “Guests may see or hear work in the area during daytime hours until the refurbishment is complete.”
While work on the Yacht Club is expected to finish by late 2026, guests at this resort will once again lose amenities in January 2027, when the Disney Skyliner goes dark for a short period of time due to annual maintenance.
Before work completes at the Yacht Club, guests are now facing another hurdle at the resort.
Construction has now reached the central building, and the main lobby entrance that guests have used for years is sealed off behind scaffolding and plywood walls. Reports show a Yacht & Beach Club sandwich board sits right in front of the blocked entrance, carrying the resort’s familiar “Pardon Our Pixie Dust” message and an arrow pointing everyone toward a walkway on the right.
That path runs along the side of the building, past Ale & Compass Restaurant (which recently made a controversial dining decision), and directs arrivals to the lobby via this alternate entrance.
If you’re staying at the Yacht Club now or in the near future, skip the instinct to head for the main doors — go straight to the sidewalk near Ale & Compass instead. It adds a short detour to your arrival and departure, but Disney has it clearly marked the whole way. Guests using a wheelchair should note that the ramp exit is at the same side entrance, not the main lobby doors, so plan your route accordingly if mobility access is a factor in your stay.
For guests booking through late 2026 or into 2027, expectations should be tempered as the resort continues to be refurbished behind walls and under scaffolding and scrim.
How do you feel about Disney doing such large-scale work while guests are visiting? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!
