UPDATED December 17, 2024

We could stay an entire week at Disney World and only visit the resorts! But alas with the new year comes new updates and changes to our homes away from home.

If you’re visiting Disney World in 2024, you’re going to want to grab your pen to jot down these changes coming to Disney World hotels.

Want to know HOW Disney World Hotels are changing in 2025? Click HERE!

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

NEW Polynesian DVC Villas — which Disney calls Island Tower — have been built on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon, offering waterfront views. And, the Villas officially opened on December 17th, 2024! You can check out four unique features at the Tower here. 

As for dining options at Island Tower, the Wailulu Bar & Grill offers “breathtaking views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom Park.”

This is a casual walk-up pool bar and grill, and features an all-day menu for lunch and dinner. There are also specialty coffee and on-the-go morning pastries available for breakfast.

STEP INSIDE Polynesian Resort’s Island Tower HERE!

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

More than 350 refreshed cabins are replacing the existing cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground! Although the new cabins are part of the Disney Vacation Club resort lineup, the cabins are open for reservations to all guests, including those who are not Disney Vacation Club Members.

The cabins sleep up to six adults and feature a bedroom, bathroom, living room, full kitchen, and private patio. A select number of cabins are dog-friendly.

These refreshed cabins started to debut on July 1st! The opening is taking place in phases — the first loop opened on July 1st, and more will continue to open throughout the year.

Click HERE to take a PHOTO TOUR of the NEW Cabins at Fort Wilderness!

A new dining experience has already debuted at Trail’s End Restaurant, with Crockett’s Tavern having been refurbished, as well.

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

Let’s stroll on over to Disney’s Boardwalk Resort. Guest rooms here have received an fresh update with new decor and furniture!

These new rooms feature whimsical touches like charming artwork that contains images of Mickey, Minnie, and other Disney pals strolling through the BoardWalk, along with all the amenities you would expect.

Disney has also promised future updates to the lobby and common areas.

Take a PHOTO TOUR of the NEW guest rooms at BoardWalk Inn HERE!

Originally expected to open in late 2023, The Cake Bake Shop officially opened at long last on October 25th, 2024! The Cake Bake Shop is an elegant dining location open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but you can also grab delectable desserts here unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.

We’ve been able to check out the bakery case (which offers baked goodies to go) and experience both the full service Breakfast and Dinner. And we are thrilled to share our experiences with you!

Find our review of Breakfast at The Cake Bake Shop here, and our review of Dinner at The Cake Bake Shop here!

And, as of August 23rd, Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs is OPEN at long last!

Located on Disney World’s BoardWalk, it was initially slated to open in 2023 (“late 2023,” to be precise), but met with delays. So we’ve been looking forward to this for a LONG TIME.

Why? Because these are NOT you average Corn Dogs with options like Mexican Street Dogs, Pickle Dogs, and more. And let me tell you… the wait was WORTH IT!

Click HERE for our full review of Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs!

But the BoardWalk has lost a dining location, as well…

Big River Grille and Brewing Works permanently closed on January 22nd, 2024.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Heads up if you’re planning a stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort soon! Disney has announced a major refurbishment is taking place on the exterior of the hotel.

The Disney World website has a warning advising guests of the refurbishment, and as of August 5th, you may see and hear construction work at the Wilderness Lodge “during daytime hours.” Luckily, the construction won’t prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep in your cozy Disney World hotel bed.

Disney hasn’t shared what will be refurbished as part of this project, but we’ll be on the lookout for any potential changes we can spot on our next visit.

Find out more about the Wilderness Lodge refurb here.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Heads up if you’re planning a Disney World vacation for late 2024 or 2025 — Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is undergoing a lengthy refurbishment that will last for one whole year!

According to the Disney World website, the refurbishment is taking place from September 2024 to September 2025, but that is always subject to change. And, while the resort is still available to book during these times, rooms may be limited. Disney also warns that guests will see and hear construction work throughout Bay Lake Tower. You’ll also want to allow extra time for travel as the typical routes may not be open.

Disney hasn’t announced what this refurbishment entails or just how involved the renovations will be, but we’ll be keeping an eye out for any more details. Bay Lake Tower is the Disney Vacation Club tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort just outside Magic Kingdom. But, you don’t need to be a DVC Member to stay there!

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is getting a nice refresh in several areas around the stately resort.

The rooms will be getting updated furniture and color schemes. In fact, some rooms are already available to guests. If you plan on staying in 2024, you’ll get to see the new look! The Floridian is also getting an update in their grand lobby and three of their restaurants, including Narcoosee’s, Citricos, and Victoria & Albert’s Restaurant.

Speaking of the restaurants at the Grand Floridian… 1900 Park Fare reopened at long last on April 10th, 2024! This restaurant, which is located in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, is one of a few that had yet to reopen since the temporary closure of Walt Disney World Resort in 2020. But now, it’s back… with an entirely new Character Dining experience: Wish Makers Enchanted Dining!

During a buffet-style Breakfast or Dinner, guests enjoy tableside visits by characters including  Aladdin (in his Prince Ali look), Cinderella, Mirabel from Encanto, and Princess Tiana in her new look for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure “as they celebrate the power of a wish.”

Click HERE to step inside the reopened — and refreshed — 1900 Park Fare!

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Everything Pop Shopping and Dining is located inside of Disney’s Pop Century Resort. This area houses the hotel’s gift shop and food court. It has been undergoing renovations since July 19th, and in November 2024, portions of the newly refurbished food court have been unveiled!

Though a small portion of the food court is still undergoing refurbishment, you can take a look at the new reveals HERE!

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter

The Disney World website now has a statement on its Port Orleans — French Quarter page notifying guests of construction. From May 2024 through Spring 2025, some rooms at the resort are under refurbishment.

This means that those rooms will not be available to guests. It also means that guests may hear some construction noise during the day.

The cool thing is that we actually had a chance to stay in one of the recently refurbished rooms, as the guest rooms in Building 1 and 2 have been completed!

You can take a full photo tour of the NEW ROOMS here!

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

Another big change that will be different for 2024 visitors is the one less hotel offered at Disney World. The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has taken its final voyage.

The extravagant, fully immersive experience closed its doors, after 19 months in orbit, on September 30th, 2023. Back in May 2023, Disney announced the impending closure. Star Wars fans, near and far far away, were saddened to hear this news!

Wow! That’s a lot of change coming our way. We love our Disney World hotels, and we can’t wait to see what the new updates and changes bring to vacation goers in the years to come!

Want to know HOW Disney World Hotels are changing in 2025? Click HERE!

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Check out Disney World’s most misunderstood hotels!

Which resort are you planning to stay at on your next Disney World visit? Let us know in the comments!