Work continues inside and outside at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, which has been undergoing a years-long refurbishment.

Grand Floridian Lobby

In the lobby, two lifts are parked behind construction walls for work on railings up above.

Though a remodel is planned for the lobby, this work is just for guest rooms.

Plants have been removed from the planters around the construction site.

Some kind of plaque or photo is covered by white paper.

Planters also block a balcony on the second floor in front of the Monorail station.

Crews have been replacing paneling and repainting columns between railings on the upper floors.

As such, white walls block the railings from guest access on the third, fouth, and fifth floors.

On the second floor, we noticed these white tarps over railings near the elevators.

These railings are just decorative, but likely also being repainted.

As we watched a crew member raised a lift to start working on the railings.

Another crew member was already on an upper floor.

While they are working, some of the white walls are moved aside to give them more space.

Grand Floridian Exterior Construction

Outside, we saw crew members working in the grass.

They had various construction materials staged in this space.

As we previously reported, work on guest room balconies means the main walkway to Gasparilla Island Grill is blocked off.

Potted plants are also on the walls around this permanent planter to block the area from view.

Scaffolding covers most of the exterior balconies above Gasparilla Island Grill. The green fence is in front of the crew member entrance to the construction site.

Gasparilla Island Grill remains open, but guests need to walk through a tunnel of construction walls and scrim.

During our last construction update, we noted red shingles had been removed from the Summerhouse building near Grand Floridian Café.

The shingles have now been replaced.

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

Crew members were touching up some of the white paint on the sides of the building.

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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