Although the lobby remodel has been delayed to next year, crew members continue working in and around the main building of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Grand Floridian Construction
There has been no visible change to the area blocked off in front of the Monorail station.
White tarps cover some of the railings behind the planters.
Crews have been using lifts to work on the ceiling and railings overlooking the lobby.
We saw a few crew members on site during our most recent trip.
A sign that we had previously noticed was uncovered.
It turns out it’s an ad for the reimagined Victoria and Albert’s.
Similar signs featuring concept art are on the guest-facing sides of the construction walls.
There is also concept art of the reimagined guest rooms.
A crew member was in one lift working on the fourth-floor railings.
We’ve previously seen paneling around the columns removed and replaced, as well as repainted.
White walls are up around the top three floors during work.
It looked like this crew member was working on the white railings.
White scrim is still wrapped around the railings near the elevator.
These railings are more aesthetic than functional.
A ramp near the Grand Floridian Café entrance is closed due to exterior refurbishment.
There are construction walls lining some of the walkways.
We noticed more scaffolding in this section of grass near the ramp.
Outside, a sign points to a different ramp.
The ramp is blocked off and the new scaffolding is surrounded by white construction walls.
We noticed this broken curb, exposing steel beneath. Something — possibly a construction vehicle — must have ran into it.
At another curve of the sidewalk, a mirror was installed to help with visibility when construction vehicles are driving around.
Construction continues outside Gasparilla Island Grill.
Even more scaffolding has been erected above the restaurant, which remains open.
We could see a pully system at the top of the scaffolding.
Guests visiting Gasparilla Island Grill must walk through a tunnel of construction walls.
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.”
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