Construction at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has moved to the balconies above Gasparilla Island Grill.

Gasparilla Island Grill Construction

The sidewalk running along the side of the resort’s main building is closed between Grand Floridian Cafe and Gasparilla Island Grill.

White construction walls line the walkway.

Guests can walk a few yards down the sidewalk before hitting a green construction fence.

Out from under the resort’s awnings, potted plants sit on the edge of stone planters around the construction site.

More green fencing is behind the planters.

This entire area is blocked by white construction walls and plants.

This is across from the Courtyard Pool.

A-frame signs direct guests to Gasparilla Island Grill, which is a quick-service restaurant.

The construction walls pick up closer to Gasparilla Island Grill.

Scaffolding is up across the balconies above the restaurant.

Crew members in this area were helping direct traffic.

There’s a fenced-off entrance through the construction walls for crew members.

As part of the ongoing refurbishment of the resort, crews have been working on guest room balconies.

At the corner is the entrance to Gasparilla Island Grill, which does remain open during construction.

There’s a tunnel through the construction walls for guests.

The tunnel leads straight to doors to the restaurant’s seating area.

You can enter through those doors or cut left here and walk through a tunnel of white scrim.

This tunnel leads to the main entrance.

Guests can exit through the same doors.

Summerhouse

Back near Grand Floridian Café, crews have removed shingles from the roof of the Summerhouse building.

This building near the pool is usually used for wedding receptions.

Shingles have been completely removed from several sides of the main roof and some of the smaller roof.

Scaffolding stairs are behind construction walls at one side of the building, for crew members to reach the roof.

We’ve seen the roofing redone on many Grand Floridian Resort buildings.

Though the iconic red shingles are being removed, they will be returned/replaced. The general look of Grand Floridian Resort is staying the same.

Work also continues inside the Grand Floridian Resort lobby on the guest room balconies.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Refurbishment

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, so put in motion a major overhaul of the resort.

This began with the “Beauty and the Beast”-themed Enchanted Rose Lounge, which replaced Mizner’s Lounge. 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.

In December 2022, Disney confirmed that the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa would be refurbished but “will maintain the classic theming you know and love with some fresh new enhancements.”

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

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