After construction walls went up a few days ago, work is underway in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Though the lobby itself will eventually be remodeled, sources indicate this project has been delayed until 2024. The construction site inside the lobby right now is for the remodeling of guest rooms.
Grand Floridian Lobby Refurbishment
The construction walls are around a section of the lobby near the main entrance. Plywood on the ground within the walls protects the flooring.
Two lifts were parked on the plywood this morning, and crew members were on site.
When we first arrived, the lifts weren’t in use. But their arrival explains the lobby construction site — crews will be working on the balconies that overlook the lobby in the coming weeks.
From the third floor up, temporary white walls have been erected along the balconies.
Behind these construction walls are hallways and guest rooms.
We soon saw a crew member take one of the lifts up.
He ascended from the ground almost all the way to the high lobby ceiling.
We watched for a few minutes but didn’t see any work done before the crew member returned to the ground.
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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