We keep track of ALL the updates and changes at the Disney World theme parks and hotels. If you’re looking for the most recent updates from Disney World’s hotels, check out our “What’s New at Disney World Hotels” page, which we update every single day! For all the updates from October 2023, keep reading.

Before we get to our complete list of changes, we want to make sure you know about our FREE DFB list of the BEST Disney World hotels (and where to avoid). Just enter your email, and we’ll send the list to your inbox!

Now, let’s dive into the updates.

October 25th

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn

Construction Updates — Screen Door General Store

At the Screen Door General Store, there are construction hedges up all around the store.

The store is still open, even while refurbishments are being made!

Construction Updates — Big River Grille and Brewing Works

Some construction is also happening over by the Big River Grille and Brewing Works restaurant.

This restaurant is still open, but some of the patio area is blocked off.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Construction Updates

We checked out the new DVC villas building that’s going up at this hotel! It looks like Disney is starting to work on the lobby area of the building.

The new villas are expected to open in late 2024.

Merchandise Updates — Boutiki

• Mickey Hand Peace Sign Pullover Jacket — $59.99

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Construction Updates

We also took a look at some construction going on at the Grand Floridian.

There are new construction walls up around the main building, and there’s still some scaffolding as well.

Merchandise Updates — Basin White

• Basin Lip Balm Advent Calendar — $39.99

• Basin Bath Bomb Advent Calendar — $59.99

October 23rd

Disney’s Fort Wilderness

Merchandise Updates — Settlement Trading Post

• Fort Wilderness Green canvas jacket — $79.99

• Fort Wilderness shirt — $29.99

• Fort Wilderness Chip n Dale shirt — $39.99

• Fort Wilderness Sweatpants — $44.99

• Fort Wilderness Canvas Loungefly bag — $88

• Fort Wilderness Chip n Dale Canoeing photo frame — $29.99

October 21st

Disney’s Grand Floridian

Construction Update

• Lobby construction barriers are down

• Entrance to the main building is surrounded by construction walls

Disney’s Polynesian Village

Merchandise Update — BouTiki

• Honolulu Cookie Company 25th Anniversary Fall Shortbread Cookies — $16

October 19th

Disney’s Polynesian Village

Construction Update

• Windows have been installed throughout the new buildings, and it’s beginning to look more like a hotel!

Disney’s Contemporary

Merchandise Update — Fantasia

• Peas in a Pod Plushes from Toy Story 3 — $22.99

Disney’s Grand Floridian

Construction Update

• Completed construction in front of Gasparilla Island Grill and all the tables are back outside

October 13th

Walt Disney World Swan Hotel

Food Updates — Java

• Pumpkin Cheesecake Frappe — $10

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort

Food Updates — Carousel Coffee

• New Halloween version of vintage sugar cookie — $4.29

Construction Updates

We can’t wait for the Cake Bake Shop to open in 2024, and we’ve been keeping an eye on all the construction updates! This time around, we spotted some more work being done on the roof of this upcoming restaurant and it’s got us even more excited.

Construction is still going strong for this building near the Luna Park Pool…

…and there’s also a new map of the hotel near the Luna Park Pool!

We also have some merch updates!

Merchandise Updates — Thimbles & Threads

• Disney Word Search & Coloring Book — $8.99

October 12th

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Food Updates — Banana Cabana

We tried some NEW eats at Banana Cabana!

We got the Guava Buffalo Grilled Wings for $14…

…the Banana Cabana Burger for $19 (the app and menu said $17, but our server confirmed this is $19)…

…and Seafood Fritters for $14.

We have a full review coming soon!

October 6th

Disney’s Fort Wilderness

Construction — Pioneer Hall

• A new structure being built, which a Cast Member had previously mentioned would serve as office space for leaders and chefs at the resort, has made progress.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Merchandise Updates — Wilderness Lodge Mercantile

• Wilderness Lodge Loungefly Ears — $39.99

• Wilderness Lodge Socks — $16.99

• Wilderness Lodge Hat — $34.99

• Wilderness Lodge Robe — $99.99

Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Construction Updates

We’re starting to see the new Polynesian DVC tower really come together!

Disney’s Grand Floridian

Construction Updates

And of course, there’s also lots of scaffolding around the Grand Floridian right now… still.

October 3rd

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Food Updates — Beach Club Marketplace

We tried a new treat here — the Captain Hook Cookie for $6.29.

You can also get the Ursula Tart at this location.

The Ursula Tart costs $6.49.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Food Updates — The Mara

Over at The Mara, we tried the Black Cat Tart.

This new treat costs $5.99.

Read our reviews of these new treats here!

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Construction Updates

Some Cast Members were repainting a few of the set pieces in the Finding Nemo section of this resort.

The fresh coat of paint looks great!

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Merchandise Update — Everything Pop Ink and Paint Shop

We spotted Mickey gift card bracelets at this store! We typically see these being used for EPCOT festivals (it’s a great way to budget for the festival and keep your payment method handy), but now they’re available in non-festival designs as well.

The gift cards require a minimum of $15 to activate.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Merchandise Update — Calypso Trading Post

The Skyliner ornaments are back now that the holidays are on the way! You can’t get them everywhere in Disney World, but we did spot them at both Calypso Trading Post and at La Boutique at Disney’s Riviera Resort.

There are a few different design options, and each one costs $29.99.

October 2nd, 2023

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Food Updates — Contempo Cafe

We tried a couple of new treats here — the Caramel Apple Sugar Cookie…

…and the Haunted Mansion Eclair.

The cookie was $3.99, and the eclair was $6.49.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Food Updates — Gasparilla Island Grill

At Gasparilla Island Grill, we got the new Mike Wazowski Pop…

…and the Not-So-Poison Apple.

The pop was $8.99, and the apple was $7.99.

Read our reviews of these new treats here!

October 1st, 2023

Disney’s Contemporary Resort & Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Did you hear about the Disney World hotel perk that FINALLY returned?

We recently reminded y’all that boat service between Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has not been available for a while. However, the service finally returned on October 1st!

The “blue route” takes guests across Bay Lake between Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Note that this service does not begin until 3PM each day.

We attended a short ribbon cutting ceremony and then hopped on a blue route boat to test out this returning perk!

If you want to get between the resorts earlier in the day (before 3PM), you’ll need to either take the bus (if you’re traveling between Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge) or take a boat or bus to Magic Kingdom and then transfer to a different one to go to your destination.

Looking for more Disney World hotel updates? Check out these pages:

• Disney World Hotel Updates September 2023
• Disney World Hotel Updates August 2023
• Disney World Hotel Updates July 2023
• Disney World Hotel Updates June 2023
• Disney World Hotel Updates May 2023

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