Construction at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has moved to the balconies above Gasparilla Island Grill.
Gasparilla Island Grill Construction
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 1 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0469](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0469.jpg)
The sidewalk running along the side of the resort’s main building is closed between Grand Floridian Cafe and Gasparilla Island Grill.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 2 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0470](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0470.jpg)
White construction walls line the walkway.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 3 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0471](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0471.jpg)
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 4 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0472](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0472.jpg)
Guests can walk a few yards down the sidewalk before hitting a green construction fence.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 5 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0473](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0473.jpg)
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 6 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0474](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0474.jpg)
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 7 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0475](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0475.jpg)
Out from under the resort’s awnings, potted plants sit on the edge of stone planters around the construction site.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 8 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0476](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0476.jpg)
More green fencing is behind the planters.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 9 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0479](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0479.jpg)
This entire area is blocked by white construction walls and plants.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 10 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0478](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0478.jpg)
This is across from the Courtyard Pool.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 11 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0477](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0477.jpg)
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 12 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0480](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0480.jpg)
A-frame signs direct guests to Gasparilla Island Grill, which is a quick-service restaurant.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 13 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0481](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0481.jpg)
The construction walls pick up closer to Gasparilla Island Grill.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 14 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0482](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0482.jpg)
Scaffolding is up across the balconies above the restaurant.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 15 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0483](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0483.jpg)
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 16 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0484](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0484.jpg)
Crew members in this area were helping direct traffic.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 17 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0485](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0485.jpg)
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 18 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0486](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0486.jpg)
There’s a fenced-off entrance through the construction walls for crew members.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 19 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0487](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0487.jpg)
As part of the ongoing refurbishment of the resort, crews have been working on guest room balconies.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 20 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0489](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0489.jpg)
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 21 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0490](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0490.jpg)
At the corner is the entrance to Gasparilla Island Grill, which does remain open during construction.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 22 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0492](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0492.jpg)
There’s a tunnel through the construction walls for guests.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 23 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0493](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0493.jpg)
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 24 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0495](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0495.jpg)
The tunnel leads straight to doors to the restaurant’s seating area.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 25 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0496](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0496.jpg)
You can enter through those doors or cut left here and walk through a tunnel of white scrim.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 26 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0497](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0497.jpg)
This tunnel leads to the main entrance.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 27 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0498](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0498.jpg)
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 28 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0499](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0499.jpg)
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 29 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0500](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0500.jpg)
Guests can exit through the same doors.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 30 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0501](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0501.jpg)
Summerhouse
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 31 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0503](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0503.jpg)
Back near Grand Floridian Café, crews have removed shingles from the roof of the Summerhouse building.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 32 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0504](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0504.jpg)
This building near the pool is usually used for wedding receptions.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 33 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0505](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0505.jpg)
Shingles have been completely removed from several sides of the main roof and some of the smaller roof.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 34 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0506](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0506.jpg)
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 35 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0507](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0507.jpg)
Scaffolding stairs are behind construction walls at one side of the building, for crew members to reach the roof.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 36 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0508](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0508.jpg)
We’ve seen the roofing redone on many Grand Floridian Resort buildings.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 37 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0509](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0509.jpg)
Though the iconic red shingles are being removed, they will be returned/replaced. The general look of Grand Floridian Resort is staying the same.
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 38 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0510](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0510.jpg)
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 39 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0511](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0511.jpg)
![Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 40 grand floridian gasparilla construction 0512](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/06/grand-floridian-gasparilla-construction-0512.jpg)
Work also continues inside the Grand Floridian Resort lobby on the guest room balconies.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Refurbishment
![Refurbishment of Sago Cay Exterior Nears Completion at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort 11 Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa lobby](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/06/Grand-Floridian-Lobby-Featured-Image-6-28-20-1200x900.jpg)
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.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.