Disney's Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts are deep into multi-year exterior refurbishments, and as of mid-August 2026 the work is moving faster than you might expect. Walt Disney World has deployed a noticeably large construction crew on the project, and significant sections of Yacht Club's facade are already finished and looking sharp — particularly the stretch closest to the Swan & Dolphin. The tradeoff is that active scaffolding is hard to miss as you walk around Crescent Lake.
According to Disney's official construction bulletin, Yacht Club's exterior work is expected to wrap by late 2026, while Beach Club's facade project runs through late 2027. Guests at Beach Club Villas will also see phased lobby maintenance through mid-September 2026, with some areas temporarily rerouted during daytime hours. If you're planning a stay in 2027 — or even around Christmas 2026 — it may be worth factoring Beach Club's longer timeline into your resort choice.
Yachtsman Steakhouse, which closed for refurbishment on May 11, 2026, appears on track to reopen August 28, 2026. While Disney hasn't issued a formal announcement, dining reservations for that date have opened on DisneyWorld.com with listed dinner hours of 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM — a pretty reliable signal. The FriendShip Boat dock serving both resorts has also been closed for maintenance, though direct bus service to Hollywood Studios and the walkable EPCOT International Gateway have been available as alternatives. Both the dock closure and the restaurant closure are expected to resolve within weeks.
For guests already booked in the near term, the disruption is real but manageable. The completed exterior sections look noticeably refreshed, interior guest rooms at Yacht Club were already updated last year with strong results, and Stormalong Bay remains a draw. That said, anyone sensitive to construction noise and sightlines may want to weigh whether premium resort rates feel right given the current site activity. Separately, the Disney Skyliner is scheduled for a full closure January 24–30, 2027, with complimentary bus service planned during that window.
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This update and construction photos were reported by Disney Tourist Blog.
