PHOTOS: Construction Walls Go Up as Work Begins on Disney’s Grand Floridian Lobby Overhaul

Lauren Shahan

Hotel lobby under renovation with a grand piano, colorful rug, and wooden construction barriers. Guests walk and sit in the seating area.

PHOTOS: Construction Walls Go Up as Work Begins on Disney’s Grand Floridian Lobby Overhaul

Construction walls have been set up in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa as renovation work begins.

Grand Floridian Lobby Construction

Hotel lobby under renovation with a grand piano, colorful rug, and wooden construction barriers. Guests walk and sit in the seating area.

Last week, Disney released concept art for the renovation of the Grand Floridian lobby with a previous announcement stating that work is set to begin this month and last through November 2025.

Construction walls are now up as work begins to transform the resort’s lobby.

People sitting and standing in a spacious lobby with high ceilings, large windows, and ornate chandeliers. The area has elegant furniture and decorations.

The white construction walls extend out into the center of the lobby over areas of the carpet — which will also eventually be replaced.

Grand piano on a patterned rug in a large hotel lobby, with people seated nearby.

Couches, chairs, and tables have been moved in front of the walls, and the piano is still in place at the center of the lobby. Furnishings in the lobby will also eventually get a refresh with “rich finishes and brass accents” alongside “cozy” fabrics.

A grand hotel lobby with a large temporary wall enclosure around a structure. People and furniture are visible in the foreground.

The large decorative birdcage is still in place behind the construction walls.

A spacious hotel lobby with marble floors and patterned carpets features a large, temporary white wall. A child peeks around the corner of the wall while people walk in the distance.

The walls also extend out into the tiled walkway behind the center of the lobby. Guests can still travel behind the walls, but it does block part of the path.

Spacious hotel lobby with high ceilings and a grand chandelier. Guests gather near a piano. Various seating areas fill the space, and a large birdcage-like structure is visible on the left.

From the second floor of the lobby, you can see the work taking place behind the white walls. It also gives a better view of how much of the first-floor area is now inaccessible to guests. A large section of the center lobby on the ground floor is now behind the walls.

Hotel lobby under renovation with sections boarded off. Features a partially obscured gazebo, guests seated in the lobby area, and a grand chandelier overhead.

At the end of the walls, the Grand Cottage is still open and serving Easter and spring-themed treats. The Grand Cottage opened for the 2025 season on March 18. In a recent announcement, Disney shared that the annual gingerbread display will not return to the resort for the 2025 season due to the lobby refurbishment.

A large, ornate wooden gazebo structure under construction indoors, surrounded by barriers and tools, with people in the background.

Cinder blocks are set up behind the construction walls to help hold them in place.

Construction area inside a building with decorative flooring, wooden barriers, white railings, and two large white decorative spheres.

The planters on either side of the birdcage are devoid of any flowers or plants.

Elegant hotel lobby with high ceiling, large chandelier, grand piano, and people lounging and chatting. Lush plants and ornate decor add to the sophisticated ambiance.

As shown in the concept art above, this area will be transformed into a new lobby bar that will take inspiration from the iconic birdcage that is now behind construction walls. The lobby bar will feature intricate woodwork, stained glass, and brass accents, paying tribute to the resort’s Victorian roots.

The Victorian cage-style elevator is also included in the concept art, which will remain intact following the lobby overhaul.

Work on the lobby began this morning, Monday, April 14, and will continue throughout 2025.

What do you think about Disney’s plans to update the Grand Floridian lobby? Do you like the proposed new look in the concept art? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

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