Why Fans Are Suddenly Changing Their 2027 Disney World Hotel Plans

Since its 2012 opening, the Art of Animation Resort has become one of Walt Disney World’s most popular resorts.

Scar at Art of Animation

The Value Tier Resort combines similar aesthetics to its brethren – large icon statues connecting an interlocking series of themed buildings – while featuring a unique room layout. The hotel’s Little Mermaid buildings feature standard hotel rooms, while Art of Animation’s Cars, Finding Nemo, and Lion King areas, instead feature family suites. However, big changes are coming to those rooms in 2027, and in turn, some Disney World guests are rethinking their plans for the year.

Disney recently confirmed that a massive overhaul of the Art of Animation Resort’s rooms will begin next year. The resort will remain open and proceed through phases, with refurbishment of the guest rooms and family suites.

The current Little Mermaid Standard Room at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

During a preview, we got to see the Little Mermaid-themed rooms. While retaining the similar theme, the rooms will feature new under-the-sea prints and a Murphy bed – – similar to the current layout of the rooms at Pop Century – – along with a seashell bed and chairs.

A current Pop Century room ©Disney

Furthermore, the company said Imagineering and facilities are working together to maintain the feeling of stepping into a movie, which is obviously integral for rooms including Cars and Toy Story.

A current Finding Nemo Family Suite

The refurbishment isn’t the only work to hit Art of Animation next year, though the first will be much shorter in duration. The Walt Disney World Skyliner will be closed for its annual maintenance from January 24th through January 30th, 2027. Disney will be providing complimentary bus service between the four Skyliner resorts, including Art of Animation, and the theme parks during the closure.

Skyliner station at Art of Animation Resort

Beyond Art of Animation, there are other major hotel happenings scheduled for 2027. Next summer will see the opening of Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge, a long-in-development resort “inspired by the majesty of nature and its enduring influence on Disney artists.” The property is currently under construction on the former site of the River Country water park near the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

via @bioreconstruct on X/Twitter

In addition, several other Disney World hotels will have confirmed construction projects during 2027, including:

All-Star Movies Refurb: May 2026 to January 2027.
Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House Refurb: May 2026 to January 2027.
Grand Floridian Resort-Wide Refurbishment Including Porte-cochère: Through early 2027.
Port Orleans Room Refurbishment: Through August 2027.
Beach Club Exterior Refurbishment: Through Late 2027.
Contemporary Resort-Wide: Through Late 2027.

A major refurbishment project is coming to Disney World’s Art of Animation starting next summer, and it may lead to some guests sidestepping the popular hotel while it’s in progress. Stay tuned to DFB for more on this project.

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