It’s not uncommon for Disney World hotels to get some work done!

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

A little nip here, a tuck there, an entire resort-wide hotel room makeover…sometimes it’s casual and sometimes it’s major. Currently, one of the resorts that’s getting a big overhaul is the Grand Floridian. The lobby here is getting some big changes, and we’re here to share the progress!

Disney World announced a while back that the lobby at the Grand Floridian Resort would be getting a refurbishment. For many months, we wondered about this project and if it had been forgotten altogether. But then, in April 2025, Disney dropped the concept art for the makeover.

©Disney

The concept art includes an update to the lobby furniture, carpet, and layout, but the main addition to note is the Lobby Bar. The space will feature “hand-drawn florals inspired by turn-of-the-century botanical studies.”

©Disney

Within a few days of releasing the concept art, Disney began working on the refurbishment. They started by putting up construction walls around the space where the bar will be located. Even though the construction is underway, it isn’t set to be complete until November 2025.

The first construction walls

But since that visit, many things have changed. The iconic birdcage has been removed, and the flooring updates have begun with the area around the cage.

What things look like now.

There’s still a decent amount of seating available in the lobby, but things are feeling a little bit cramped. The seating areas have been moved closer together since the construction walls are taking up nearly half of the main floor.

Lobby changes

Outside of the main space, there are walls around the check-in area. If you’re checking into the resort, you’ll find the Cast Members near the front entrance, along with concierge services. It means that people are tending to gather near the entrance, so the lobby feels crowded overall at the moment.

Walls in the front

Bell Services has moved to a podium by the elevators, so those needing to store their luggage will find them over here. You may have to go on a bit of a scavenger hunt around the lobby to find the service you need, but any Cast Member who you ask should be able to point you in the right direction.

The view from the ground

Ultimately, it’s fairly busy here right now, so if you’re a Grand Floridian fan due to the vibes of the lobby and the main building, you may want to stay elsewhere for your trip. However, if you’re not one to spend much time in the lobby on vacation, then this may not be a problem for you!

Construction

We’ll keep you updated as more changes hit this resort. To see which hotel is right for your Disney World trip, check out the video below.

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