New Paneling Installed on Sago Cay Stairwell at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Shannen Ace

New Paneling Installed on Sago Cay Stairwell at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

The refurbishment of the Sago Cay building at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is wrapping up, as we can see by the building’s reconstructed stairwell.

Sago Cay Building Construction

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Like with other buildings during the extended Grand Floridian refurbishment, Sago Cay had its exterior stairwell completely demolished.

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New stairs have been installed, and now new paneling wraps around the corners of the stairwell.

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The new paneling has yet to be completely painted white.

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Scaffolding remains along the wide sides of the building.

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There are some materials left on the roof not far from the chimney, where we previously saw crew members working.

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Crews have been refurbishing the iconic red roofing.

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The landscaping around the building will need fixing as construction has destroyed much of the grass.

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Crew members were focused on the lagoon end of the building during our most recent visits.

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Scaffolding and most construction materials have been removed from this end.

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From the ground, we took a look at the other side of the building, where a lot of the red shingles are missing from the roof.

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Black weather-proof sheathing is beneath the red shingles.

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Crew members are removing and replacing the shingles on several buildings as part of the ongoing refurbishment.

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Scaffolding goes all the way up to this tower.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Refurbishment

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa lobby

Reportedly, when now-former CEO Bob Chapek took over the Parks & Resorts division in 2015, he felt that the Grand Floridian was not up to standards. The comparisons to a Four Seasons didn’t befit the current state of Walt Disney World, and so it was no longer suitable as the flagship resort. But rather than shift focus to another resort hotel, the company decided to make changes.

The major overhaul of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort began with the Enchanted Rose Lounge, which replaced Mizner’s Lounge. It was given a “Beauty and the Beast” theme. Cítricos followed with a new “Mary Poppins”-inspired design. When the Grand Floridian Spa reopened in January 2022, it was revealed that it, too, had been remodeled. All the rooms of the resort are still being updated and some “Mary Poppins” theming has been added throughout guest buildings.

Narcoossee’s was closed from June 2022 to April 2023, and reopened with a revamped interior and “land and sea” menu. Read our Narcoossee’s review.

1900 Park Fare, the character dining buffet location at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is still closed for refurbishment. The restaurant has not reopened since it closed in March 2020 with the rest of Walt Disney World Resort due to COVID-19. When physical distancing measures were still in place, 1900 Park Fare was used as overflow seating for Grand Floridian Café for a short period of time.

The Grand Floridian Resort’s lobby will also be updated in the near future.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will celebrate its 35th anniversary on July 1, 2023.

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