Disney World is constantly a FLURRY of activity. That means that there is always some kind of construction going on, whether that be for new attractions, new restaurants, ride refurbishments, and more.

If you don’t know about these things in advance, it could catch you by surprise and affect your entire trip. Particularly, there are closures, construction, and other things that happen at Disney World hotels that could affect your stay, so we’re going to warn you about those in advance.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Some big changes are coming to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! Not only have new Moana rooms debuted, but 2023 is sure to be full of MORE construction updates from this resort.

In March of 2022, Disney revealed that the Polynesian is being EXPANDED with NEW Disney Vacation Club villas! They are set to be inspired by early concepts of the resort, and there will be new recreation and dining offerings in addition to the new rooms.

You can expect to see some construction happening on the exterior of the resort throughout the year.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

There are a few things going on at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa you’ll want to know about before you book a stay there. There is quite a bit of construction currently happening around the resort, most recently on the Conch Key building. Scaffolding surrounds the exterior right now and this construction could affect noise levels at the hotel (at least during the day) if you’re staying there.

In addition, the lobby at the Grand Floridian is about to get an update.

According to Disney, the new lobby refresh “will maintain the classic theming [guests] know and love with some fresh new enhancements.” While the lobby is under construction, guests will more than likely have to visit a different part of the hotel for any services they would find here like check-in, concierge, etc.

Tour the NEW Resort Studios at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort With Us!

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Disney is currently in the process of refurbishing some of the rooms at Beach Club Resort — construction is expected to last through late fall. 

All amenities will still be available at the resort, but guests may hear construction noise during the day.

Check out our Complete Guide to Eating at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

There is also a LOT of construction happening at Disney’s BoardWalk. Although two new dining locations have already opened here, a third, The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers, is still under construction and won’t open until later in 2023. 

But that’s not all. The lobby, lounge and guest rooms at the BoardWalk Inn are getting updated with “light and airy touches” that will “carry the seaside breeze right inside.”

There has also been mention of “newly refreshed” seating spaces inside and outside the hotel.

The Concierge Lounge closed for refurbishment on March 11th.

And please be aware that Trattoria al Forno will also undergo a temporary closure from June 11th – 17th for a brief refurbishment.

Here’s A Full Review of One of BoardWalk’s Newest Restaurants!

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

Trail’s End at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort has closed for a complete overhaul.

According to Disney, the restaurant will open later this year as as “a marketplace concept with expanded quick service options.” The table service option will no longer be available.

The cabins are also receiving a massive overhaul at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort! More than 350 refreshed cabins are expected to replace the existing cabins on property. 

Cabins will sleep up to six adults and feature a bedroom, bathroom, living room, full kitchen, and private patio. Disney also noted that a select number of cabins will be dog-friendly. Currently, Disney expects the new Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort to open in 2024. So, you may see some construction in the area throughout the year.

Here’s The Complete Guide to Eating at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

From February 1st, 2023 through September 2023, refurbishment work is scheduled for Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Kidani Village.

This is another situation where you may encounter some construction barriers, additional noises, and perhaps even some restricted amenities. You may want to consider moving your reservations over to the Jambo House if you are hoping to avoid any and all hotel construction during your stay.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Even MORE changes are happening at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. In 2022, Disney shared that the hotel’s pirate-themed rooms would NOT be available in 2023. We later learned that the rooms would be refurbished and decorated with characters from The Little Mermaid.

The updated rooms will have new artwork, brighter decor, pastel colors, and a 5th sleeper bed that will let each room fit more guests. The refurbishment is currently underway in the Trinidad section of the hotel. The rooms should become available in 2023.

Your stay shouldn’t be too impacted by the changes but you could have a more difficult time booking a room here since some of the rooms are under construction!

Click here for our full post on these room changes

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

In that same vein, room upgrades are also happening over at All-Star Sports. So far, a few sections of the resort have been completed, and the updated rooms look very similar to the new ones at All-Star Movies and All-Star Music, with two queen beds (one of which is a Murphy bed).

The rest of the rooms should be completed sometime this year.

So before you book that stay, be sure to double-check that you’ll be able to get all the amenities you want at the hotel you choose, as well as make sure that any features you’re interested in are open. We’ll keep you updated on any updates we find, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more.

We’ve got a great resource for you when you plan your NEXT Disney World trip – our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We wrote our ebook after decades of visiting Disney World, so that we could help you have a stress-free vacation! Click here and use code WDW2023 to get 25% off!

Have you ever had these kinds of surprises at a Disney World hotel after booking a stay there? Let us know in the comments!