If you have a Disney World hotel stay on the calendar this winter, a little advance planning goes a long way. Several resorts are mid-renovation, a beloved holiday tradition is changing form, and one key transportation link will go dark for a full week in January. Here's what to expect.
The most sentimental shift involves the Grand Floridian's life-size gingerbread house, a tradition dating to 1999. Disney has confirmed it won't return in its iconic full-scale form this year; instead, smaller gingerbread displays crafted by Disney's culinary team will appear throughout the resort. Separately, ongoing renovations at the Grand Floridian are expected to continue through early 2027, affecting the covered entrance and some walkways during daytime hours.
Transportation riders should mark their calendars: the Disney Skyliner will be offline January 24–30 for its annual maintenance window. Guests at Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, and Riviera resorts will be served by buses to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT during that stretch. Meanwhile, guest room refurbishments are underway at both All-Star Movies Resort (through January 2027) and Animal Kingdom Lodge's Jambo House (also through January 2027), with Kidani Village already having wrapped its work in May 2026.
Several other resorts are seeing construction activity guests should know about. BoardWalk Inn's Luna Park Pool, its Crazy Play Area, and Leaping Horse Libations will be closed January 11 through April 2027, though the Villas Pool and Inn Pool remain open. Beach Club Resort is in the middle of exterior maintenance expected to last through late 2027. The Contemporary Resort — both Bay Lake Tower and the Main Tower atrium — is being refurbished in phases through late 2027, and Port Orleans Resort – Riverside's guest room renovations are slated to continue through August 2027. Coronado Springs' Convention Center refurbishment, including the El Centro Corridor, is expected to wrap by late September 2027, with most work scheduled overnight to limit daytime disruption.
Planning Your Trip
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If you're weighing a Walt Disney World hotel stay, comparing Disney World resort packages early can help you pick a property least affected by active construction. This roundup was originally reported by the Disney Food Blog.
