If you’re planning a Disney World vacation for 2026, we hope you have a great time!

2026 will bring us the reopening of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in the spring and lots of construction as new updates begin around the parks. Next year will also bring a few changes to several Disney World Resort hotels. If you’re planning to stay at one of the many Disney hotels, be aware of the following changes happening and consider them as you begin planning your vacation.

Room Categories

Room categories will be changing at Disney’s Moderate Resorts. This change is coming with the hope of helping to make your planning experience easier. The resorts that will see these changes are:

• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside

You’ll see new categories on the Disney World website when booking your room. These new categories will be Standard Room, Preferred Room, or a room with a king bed. This simplifies the options available, making reservations easier. You will also note that some of the Moderate hotels will continue to offer additional categories, such as Disney’s Port Orleans — Riverside offering “Royal Guest Room.”

Free Water Park Day Benefit

In 2025, Disney introduced a new FREE water park perk for hotel guests, which gave each member of their party admission to one of Walt Disney World’s water parks — Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon — on their check-in day.

This perk is continuing in 2026 — but this year, it is only applicable for select dates. In 2026, guests can utilize this perk ON THEIR ARRIVAL DAY from May 26th through September 8th, 2026.

General Construction

Grand Floridian

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been undergoing a multi-phase refurbishment, but in 2026 it will officially come to an end. The resort’s lobby, has recently been updated to include a brand new lobby bar inspired by the lobby’s giant birdcage, The Perch!

As part of the refresh of the Resort’s main area, Disney has revealed that the Garden View Lounge will be reopening at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, as part of the ongoing refurbishment and lobby updates the hotel is currently undergoing! The Garden View Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdown of Disney World, but Disney has revealed that it will finally be reopening! When Garden View Lounge reopens on March 19th, 2026, the spot will debut new touches from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Alice in Wonderland. 

The Tea Experience will present a British-style Afternoon Tea package, complete with “whimsical touches.” Customed teas will be paired with the Afternoon Tea Tower featuring savory and sweet delights. Advance Dining Reservations will open for dates 60 days out on February 19th, 2026. 

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

General refurbishment work will continue on at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, including Disney Vacation Club’s Bay Lake Tower. The project is lengthy, having begun in September 2024 and announced to last through late 2027. This resort is within walking distance to Magic Kingdom, which makes it a favorite for many people.

Additionally, the Bay Cove Pool, the Cove Bar, the water play area, and the whirlpool spa will be temporarily closed for maintenance. This maintenance is ongoing from January 26th, 2026 through early May 2026. While these areas are closed, Disney assures guests that the two pools, water play area, and the whirlpool spa at the Contemporary Resort will be open for you to enjoy.

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

The Meadow Swimmin’ Pool at Fort Wilderness Resort is currently under refurbishment, and the plan is the DOUBLE the size of the pool area!

Construction on this project began in May 2025, and it’s set to be completed in mid-2026. While Disney works on expanding the area, the pool itself remains OPEN for guests throughout this project.

Guest Room Renovations

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside

The guest rooms in the Magnolia Bend at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside have been getting refurbished since May 2025, and this will continue through August 2027.

If you’re planning to stay here, be aware of the potential construction noise.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Guest rooms at Disney’s Pop Century Resort have also been getting a facelift.

These refurbishments started in late March 2025 and will also last into February 2026.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

As of October 2025, the rooms at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge are being refurbished until May 2026.

After Kidani Village’s refurbishments are complete, Jambo House will be next. Starting May 2026 through January 2027, be aware that construction may be seen and/or heard here.

Copper Creek Villas & Cabins

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Copper Creek Villas are currently undergoing exterior refurbishment work. This began on August 5th, 2024 with no end date listed by Disney.

However, luckily, the Copper Creek Villas & Cabins room refurbishments should be done getting refurbished by the end of September 2025. We’re including them in this list of changes because, if you’re staying here in 2026, you’ll be some of the FIRST to experience the renovated rooms!

Coper Creek is a DVC resort, but anyone is able to stay here! DVC members are able to use their points while all others pay a cash price.

Lots of changes are coming to Disney World in the next few years, and you can expect these hotels to be changing sooner rather than later!

For more Disney news, keep following DFB!

Two Warnings for Your 2026 Disney World Hotel Stay

Which hotel do you plan to stay at in 2026? Let us know in the comments!