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.
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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.
Construction
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.
Big River Grille Construction
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.
DVC building
The new villas are expected to open in late 2024.
Merchandise Updates — Boutiki
- Mickey Hand Peace Sign Pullover Jacket — $59.99
Fleece Pullover
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Construction Updates
We also took a look at some construction going on at the Grand Floridian.
Construction Walls
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
Lip Balm Advent Calendar
- Basin Bath Bomb Advent Calendar — $59.99
Bath Bomb Advent Calendar
October 23rd
Disney’s Fort Wilderness
Merchandise Updates — Settlement Trading Post
- Fort Wilderness Green canvas jacket — $79.99
Jacket
- Fort Wilderness shirt — $29.99
Resort shirt
- Fort Wilderness Chip n Dale shirt — $39.99
Chip and Dale!
- Fort Wilderness Sweatpants — $44.99
New sweatpants
- Fort Wilderness Canvas Loungefly bag — $88
Loungefly Backpack
- Fort Wilderness Chip n Dale Canoeing photo frame — $29.99
How cute!
October 21st
Disney’s Grand Floridian
Construction Update
- Lobby construction barriers are down
Lobby
- Entrance to the main building is surrounded by construction walls
More walls
Disney’s Polynesian Village
Merchandise Update — BouTiki
- Honolulu Cookie Company 25th Anniversary Fall Shortbread Cookies — $16
Cookies
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!
Windows, windows, and more windows!
Disney’s Contemporary
Merchandise Update — Fantasia
- Peas in a Pod Plushes from Toy Story 3 — $22.99
Peas in a Pod
Disney’s Grand Floridian
Construction Update
- Completed construction in front of Gasparilla Island Grill and all the tables are back outside
Gasparilla Island Grill
October 13th
Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
Food Updates — Java
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Frappe — $10
YUM
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort
Food Updates — Carousel Coffee
- New Halloween version of vintage sugar cookie — $4.29
How cute!
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.
Cake Bake update
Construction is still going strong for this building near the Luna Park Pool…
Room renovations
…and there’s also a new map of the hotel near the Luna Park Pool!
New map
We also have some merch updates!
Merchandise Updates — Thimbles & Threads
- Disney Word Search & Coloring Book — $8.99
A fun way to pass the time
October 12th
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Food Updates — Banana Cabana
We tried some NEW eats at Banana Cabana!
Banana Cabana
We got the Guava Buffalo Grilled Wings for $14…
Guava Buffalo Chicken Wings
…the Banana Cabana Burger for $19 (the app and menu said $17, but our server confirmed this is $19)…
Just the burger
…and Seafood Fritters for $14.
Fritters
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.
New building
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Merchandise Updates — Wilderness Lodge Mercantile
- Wilderness Lodge Loungefly Ears — $39.99
Wildernes Lodge Ears
- Wilderness Lodge Socks — $16.99
We love these!
- Wilderness Lodge Hat — $34.99
Hat
- Wilderness Lodge Robe — $99.99
Looks cozy!
Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Construction Updates
We’re starting to see the new Polynesian DVC tower really come together!
Progress
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.
Captain Hook Cookie
You can also get the Ursula Tart at this location.
Treats
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.
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.
Repainting!
The fresh coat of paint looks great!
Fresh coat of paint
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.
Mickey gift card bracelet
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.
Skyliner ornaments
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…
Caramel-Apple Sugar Cookie
…and the Haunted Mansion Eclair.
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…
Mike!
…and the Not-So-Poison Apple.
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 perk is back!
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.
To the Contemporary!
We attended a short ribbon cutting ceremony and then hopped on a blue route boat to test out this returning perk!
Ribbon-cutting Ceremony
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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