Walt Disney Global has over a dozen lodge refurbishments and room reimaginings that both completed this yr or will conclude in early 2026. Along side this, there are a number of extra initiatives underway from now via 2027. Opting for the place to stick may also be tough given the sheer choice of WDW resorts, however one simple rule of thumb is warding off ongoing development and opting for recently-renovated lodging.
New rooms and refreshed motels are great, and Walt Disney Global has truly hit its stride in balancing modernized facilities and lodging with themed design. In contrast to a decade or so in the past when enthusiasts continuously have shyed away from redone rooms and motels as a result of they had been bland and uninteresting, probably the most recently-redone rooms truly thread the needle on shape and serve as.
New rooms in recent times have noticed extra pops of colour and thematic thrives that give them persona (whilst no longer crossing the road into garishness), which issues so much to Walt Disney Global diehards. Extra importantly for the informal visitor, there have if truth be told been a lot of inventions in lodge room design and Disney has presented space-saving options and different considerate touches that beef up and carry the visitor enjoy. Because of this, more moderen visitor rooms continuously really feel extra sumptuous, immersive, and practical than older ones.
Then there’s the most obvious: more moderen rooms are more energizing. This is applicable to each present design traits but additionally put on and tear. You’re going to completely understand a distinction between a room that’s ~8 years outdated and slated for an upcoming overhaul versus person who used to be these days redone. The previous will feel and appear dated within the furniture and fixtures, while the latter will really feel contemporary.
With all of this in thoughts, we’ve put in combination an inventory of lodge resorts which have been these days redone or have ongoing initiatives that may wrap up, in complete or partly, through 2026. Notice that a few of these refurbishments are accompanied through asterisks as a result of they’re multi-phase, that means development will probably be ongoing in different spaces (or adjoining to) the respective motels.
With regards to ongoing development, it’s simple to make room requests to keep away from it at the entire motels in this checklist. Creating a room request on the tail finish of a refurbishment challenge is a good way to get a contemporary room whilst no longer being impacted through ongoing paintings. Keep watch over our 2026-2027 Walt Disney Global Lodge Building Tracker for updates, together with last-minute additions to this checklist.
For those who’re no longer anxious about new rooms or reimagined motels, and are merely on the lookout for how we rank the motels at Walt Disney Global as a complete, take a look at our Scores of ALL Walt Disney Global Accommodations from Worst to Best possible. Truthfully, that’s a greater beginning position than this checklist because it covers a greater variety of execs & cons and is solely, typically, extra complete…
With that stated, let’s dig into this checklist of the highest motels at Walt Disney Global for 2026…
Pop Century Hotel
Pop Century has been getting numerous love over the past yr. The whole thing Pop Meals Courtroom opened a brand new espresso store and seating house, which is moderately beautiful. The lodge additionally gained a foyer refresh, which is extra of a combined bag, however does really feel contemporary. Identical is going for the pool bar and different not unusual spaces.
Then again, the true explanation why Pop Century tops this checklist is the year-long room refresh. Over the last yr via mid-February 2026, visitor rooms at Disney’s Pop Century Hotel are present process refurbishment as a part of a comfortable items cycle. We had been simply at Pop Century final month, and the challenge is winding down (right here’s our newest replace). For those who keep in early 2026, you will have 0 development have an effect on and be assured a brand new room.
That is “most effective” a comfortable items challenge, which means that updating furniture, together with however no longer restricted to wall coverings, floor, linens, decor, and a few furnishings. We’ve already noticed the brand new rooms, and so they glance incredible–a beautiful little plussing! See First Glance Picture Excursion of New Rooms at Disney’s Pop Century Hotel.
We extremely counsel Pop Century, going as far as to (spoiler alert) award it the number one slot on our aforementioned scores of all Walt Disney Global motels. Arguable to position a Price Hotel within the height slot, we all know, but it surely prices a fragment of the cost of Deluxe Inns.
We like Pop Century because of its mixture of bang-for-buck, meals courtroom selection, transportation, and total surroundings. On the Price Hotel tier, it’s very sturdy as in comparison to the All Stars, and provides considerably decrease costs than Artwork of Animation. Pop Century could also be a sentimental favourite that has most effective gotten higher because of its new rooms and the Skyliner.
Pop Century’s rooms had been in the past redone in 2017, and then the All Stars had been redone beginning in 2018. That is some other related attention if you happen to’re debating which Price Hotel to ebook in 2026. Pop Century can have brand-new rooms, while the All Stars can have rooms with 4-8 years of damage and tear. For those who do decide towards Pop Century for no matter explanation why, it’s value noting that All Big name Sports activities has significantly more moderen rooms than Song or Motion pictures.
Polynesian’s Island Tower
Island Tower on the Polynesian Village Hotel is the latest lodge enlargement at Walt Disney Global at 365 days outdated. It’s notable as considered one of just a couple entries in this checklist which are brand-new versus newly-reimagined, and the one one utterly purpose-built for its location.
Whilst refurbishments to stay issues contemporary are great, there’s additionally an obtrusive distinction between a brand new construct and a retrofit. We skilled this firsthand with contemporary back-to-back remains right through the Halloween and Christmas seasons. For the entire proceedings I’ve in regards to the Island Tower’s external, the lodging are unmatched and some of the best possible at Walt Disney Global.
The dangerous information is that paintings on the Polynesian isn’t completed. Via 2026, paintings is being accomplished at the lodge that comes with the reconfiguration of the entrance front roadway and bus house as a part of the re-routing and enlargement of Floridian Method. Thankfully, all lodge eating, swimming pools and facilities will stay to be had. We’ve stayed on the Poly since this paintings began, and located it to be minimally impactful–and that used to be with a “street view” room at Island Tower. Except one thing adjustments and the scope of labor expands in a large manner, we wouldn’t concern about this.
Island Tower is considered one of our height suggestions for the place to stick at Walt Disney Global in 2026. On height of being new, it’s additionally the perfect it’ll ever be to ebook as a result of this DVC lodge continues to be in lively gross sales. Which means there’s extra space stock than issues at any given second. (That’s a little within the weeds, but it surely’s a just right factor whether or not you’re a DVC member, paying out of pocket, or renting issues.)
Fresh’s Bay Lake Tower
For some other choice alongside the monorail loop, Bay Lake Tower simply wrapped up a top-to-bottom refurbishment this autumn. This challenge started over 365 days in the past and the room refurbishment simply completed. The result of the BLT room reimagining are marvelous. Actually, I’d argue that that is the most productive and largest ‘glow-up’ for a Walt Disney Global lodge shortly–most probably because the new rooms at Grand Floridian.
Bay Lake Tower used to be manner past due for a refurbishment, because the rooms were worse for put on for nearly a decade (we stayed in a room again in 2017 that used to be having a look tough–I will’t consider how a lot worse that appeared ~7 years later). The rooms at Bay Lake Tower had been poorly built within the first position and constructed simply sooner than the present ‘wave’ of cutting edge lodging that marry space-saving types with well-themed ones. On height of that, the studios also are small, particularly when contrasted with the Polynesian.
Clearly, the room refurbishment didn’t “repair” the dimensions factor, but it surely did mitigate it. House-saving options had been presented like pull-down settee beds and different artful options, opening up extra ground area and extending the quantity of garage. Prior to now claustrophobic rooms now really feel spacious through distinctive feature of using the similar sq. photos a lot better. After which there’s the manner, which appears to be like incredible, contemporary, and on-theme (absolute best for old skool Walt Disney Global enthusiasts).
Because of being the nearest lodge to Magic Kingdom and in any case having new rooms, Bay Lake Tower goes to be extremely aggressive in 2026. You’ll most probably have extra issue reserving BLT than the more moderen Island Tower. Accordingly, we’re going to offer an honorable point out to the Lawn Wing at Disney’s Fresh Hotel (lodge aspect). See Our Favourite Lodge at Walt Disney Global as Folks with a Infant for extra at the promoting issues of the Fresh.
There’s a minor to doubtlessly primary asterisk with this advice, which is the Fresh’s Thriller Building Undertaking Via 2027. Walt Disney Global nonetheless hasn’t printed what this allegedly-ongoing challenge is, but it surely used to be simply prolonged for some other yr. If that is the lengthy past due reimagining of the Grand Canyon Concourse–the place many of the lodge’s buying groceries and eating are positioned, in conjunction with the monorail station–that may be impactful. However a lot much less so that you could BLT and Lawn Wing visitors than the ones within the A-frame.
Castle Desert Campground (Large Asterisk)
Outdoor of Island Tower, the New DVC Cabins at Castle Desert Campground are the opposite latest (no longer reimagined) lodge rooms at Walt Disney Global. Those 350 new cabins changed the outdated cabins on the lodge, turning the lodge aspect of the campground right into a Disney Holiday Membership assets.
Those cabins are debatable amongst Walt Disney Global enthusiasts and DVC Participants, however we adore them. They’re for sure circumstances-specific, which is to mention that they are going to no longer be a just right are compatible for each and every birthday party. However they paintings truly nicely for our younger circle of relatives, and allow us to proportion a unmarried unit with the grandparents. That implies lodging with regards to the dimensions of a 1-bedroom suite (albeit with a worse structure), however at the cost of a regular room or studio (with a lot more area).
Whilst the brand new cabins are finished, something to notice is {that a} “number of development initiatives” is underway at Castle Desert aimed toward improving the visitor enjoy, together with proposed pool and strolling path upgrades. Building is now going down close to the Meadow Swimmin’ Pool house to increase this house, which has resulted within the transient closure of a pool, playground, and leisure amenities. That is anticipated to wrap up someday in mid-2026, however the date is to be made up our minds. None of that is truly a dealbreaker, although.
What’s a possible dealbreaker is the resumption of labor on Disney Lakeshore Hotel (previously Reflections), which is already vertical and 10 tales tall at its absolute best level! Building is already shifting inside of Lakeshore Hotel, but it surely’s nonetheless disruptive to the Agreement house. There’s no have an effect on from cabins or campsites, but it surely’s very noticeable nearer to the waterfront the place cranes tower over the Agreement to construct a tower that will even tower over the campground.
Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Hotel
Via Would possibly 2026, visitor rooms at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Hotel are present process a complete arduous items refurbishment. That’ll adopted through a identical challenge at Jambo Area from Would possibly 2026 via January 2027.
We coated what to anticipate from this development at period in Room Reimagining at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Hotel to 2027. What’s nonetheless unclear about this challenge comes to the lodge aspect of Animal Kingdom Hotel, or simply the Animal Kingdom Villas. The latter is the DVC aspect of the lodge, and what’s past due for a refurbishment. It’s our expectation that this is applicable simply to the villas, because the lodge rooms had been redone no longer that way back, and shouldn’t be due for some other replace till 2028 or 2029.
This would be the first arduous items refurbishment because the Animal Kingdom Villas opened between 2007 and 2009. Mix that with the moderately mild nature of previous comfortable items refreshes, and neither Kidani Village nor Jambo Area have noticed any primary room renovations in over 15 years. Nearer to twenty years by the point this challenge is done. Because of this, this will have to be an enormous overhaul that breathes new lifestyles into rooms which have been appearing their age for some time.
It’s additionally notable that Kidani Village and Jambo Area are separate structures. For those who keep at Kidani Village in June 2026 or later, you’re no longer going to have any development have an effect on. You could if you happen to wander over to close by Jambo Area, however our expectation is that challenge will probably be confined to visitor rooms and received’t be noticeable from not unusual spaces.
We don’t have sufficient room to incorporate the entire DVC motels that experience very good, recently-redone rooms and in addition don’t need to overrepresent DVC rooms in this checklist, however the Copper Creek Villas, Treehouse Villas, and Previous Key West also are recently in the course of room redos–or will probably be in 2026. As at all times, you’ll rating important financial savings when renting Disney Holiday Membership issues. For those who’re going to do DVC level condo, we extremely counsel reserving previous versus last-minute. You’ll save way more cash that manner, as showed reservations as normally all that’s to be had inside of ~5 months.
Port Orleans Riverside
Walt Disney Global is in the house stretch of room reimaginings at Port Orleans Riverside, the primary section of which final till past due February 2026. This affects the Magnolia Bend rooms, which can be most commonly the Royal Rooms. These types of are being transformed to common rooms, while others will probably be refreshed Royal Rooms.
The Royal Rooms had been lengthy past due for a refurbishment (one used to be meant to occur in Spring 2020 however were given cancelled because of COVID), even if we worry the replacements received’t be as thematically bold. However, the modernization will have to be very welcome–and French Quarter (see beneath) provides a preview of ways the brand new rooms might be laid out.
As soon as Magnolia Bend is completed in Iciness 2026, it’ll be time for Alligator Bayou to obtain its subsequent spherical of room redos via 2027. If the traditional challenge cadence is adopted, the traditional rooms in Alligator Bayou will even obtain a troublesome items refurbishment.
There’s no want to keep away from Port Orleans Riverside right through this time. We’d no longer hesitate to stick right here whilst Alligator Bayou is being redone. Simply you’ll want to request a room in Magnolia Bend!
Port Orleans French Quarter
Port Orleans French Quarter wrapped up a room refurbishment this yr, in a while sooner than the continued challenge at Riverside began. We stayed within the new rooms at Port Orleans French Quarter final Christmas and cherished the consequences.
Actually, it wasn’t simply the brand new rooms. We had been pleasantly stunned through the enhanced eating scene, transportation, and pool house. And POFQ at all times ratings issues for its compact structure. We now have a newfound appreciation for this now that we’re folks, but it surely’s one thing French Quarter enthusiasts have praised for years. The smaller footprint and unmarried bus prevent makes POFQ considerably extra walkable and approachable than its sister lodge, Port Orleans Riverside…or any Reasonable Hotel, for that subject.
If you wish to have the Reasonable Hotel that will get probably the most sure reader opinions, Port Orleans French Quarter is it. Truthfully, we most probably don’t discuss French Quarter sufficient on DTB, but it surely’s a fan-favorite for superb explanation why!
Grand Floridian
Walt Disney Global’s flagship lodge has debuted new rooms over the process the final couple of years as a part of a multi-phased lodge reimagining–see Grand New Rooms at Walt Disney Global’s Flagship Hotel for a glance inside of. Those reimagined rooms are an evening and day development over their predecessors, and make the Grand Floridian really feel sumptuous versus a mid-tier Marriott.
That isn’t new-news, although. The rationale Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel & Spa makes this checklist is as it simply wrapped up its primary development and foyer reimagining! The principle fruit of this challenge is the brand new “Birdcage Bar,” however there are a selection of how the Grand Floridian appears to be like and feels contemporary, and is as soon as once more worthy of its difference. See our Assessment: Walt Disney Global’s Flagship Lodge In the end Suits Its Standing & Sky-Prime Costs.
The Grand Floridian Tea Room will reopen in Spring 2026 after the reimagining is done. Additionally, we think the Grand Floridian Cafe to obtain a reimagining sooner or later within the first 1/2 of 2026, however that has but to be introduced.
Yacht Membership
Disney’s Yacht Membership Hotel overhauled its visitor rooms previous this yr, which is our primary foundation for recommending it in 2026. This used to be “most effective” a comfortable items refurbishment, but it surely took the subtle taste of the Yacht Membership rooms (that have been nice first of all!) and refreshed the furnishings, fixtures, and furniture whilst additionally including carpet and pops of colour. The result is truly great–see for your self in our Assessment: Subtle Redone Rooms at Walt Disney Global’s Maximum Refined Hotel
Along with that, Yacht and Seashore Membership were receiving phased refurbishments to the lodge advanced as a complete over the previous couple of years. Maximum particularly, Stormalong Bay gained a big, multi-month refresh and is now having a look nice. The port cochere additionally used to be redone, and the lodge is present process regimen external repairs via past due 2026.
This final level is for sure value taking into account sooner than reserving Yacht Membership in 2026. As mentioned at period in Yacht & Seashore Membership Refurbishments Prolonged to 2027, it’s simple sufficient to request a room clear of the development, because it’s happening in very remoted spaces. Even if most effective about ~10% of the lodge will probably be impacted at any given second, we’d nonetheless strongly counsel creating a room request.
On our most up-to-date keep at Yacht Membership, we by no means even spotted any development. Now a couple of fireplace alarms going off in the course of the evening…that is a distinct tale completely.
BoardWalk Inn
Talking of Crescent Lake, the multi-year reimagining challenge at BoardWalk has refreshed the loved turn-of-the-century prom and inside, added new eating choices, refreshed visitor rooms, and extra. This challenge is apparently over, with The Cake Bake Store and Blue Ribbon Corn Canines now open.
The eating place roster on the BoardWalk nonetheless leaves one thing to be desired, particularly with 3 vacancies at the different aspect of the prom. For those who plan on eating at your lodge, that on my own may well be explanation why to keep away from staying at BoardWalk. There’s no longer a powerful counter carrier possibility, and one 1/2 of the prom being closed does give off lifeless mall vibes.
We’re hoping this will probably be addressed quickly, as Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is some other lodge with a thriller challenge in 2026. Don’t concern an excessive amount of in regards to the visitor have an effect on of development. Be extra involved in regards to the visitor have an effect on of inadequate eating place choices.
So far as rooms move within the Crescent Lake Hotel House, the new rooms at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn are most commonly nicely accomplished. They aren’t absolute best, as they prioritize a sublime taste over allure and whimsy, however they’re nonetheless superb.
In the long run, there are numerous nice lodging choices for 2026 Walt Disney Global holidays. Many room refurbishment and reimagining initiatives wrapped up this yr, and extra will conclude sooner or later within the subsequent yr or so.
The excellent news is that once years of half-hearted and bland designs that supposedly “modernized” (however truly simply genericized) Walt Disney Global motels, Imagineering has had hit-after-hit at the room redesign and reimagining entrance. Much more just right information is that, in spite of worth will increase, the efficient prices of maximum motels and go back and forth dates are down year-over-year because of considerably higher reductions!
As at all times, we’d counsel soliciting for a FREE no legal responsibility quote from Be Our Visitor Holidays, an Approved Disney Holiday Planner and having them ebook for you. They may be able to give you customized suggestions according to your priorities and situations, in addition to help with the making plans procedure, and tracking reservations to retroactively practice new reductions if a deal is launched to avoid wasting you extra money.
Making plans a Walt Disney Global commute? Find out about resorts on our Walt Disney Global Accommodations Opinions web page. For the place to consume, learn our Walt Disney Global Eating place Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to shop for, learn our Guidelines for Saving Cash on Walt Disney Global Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular have a look at artful pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney Global Journey Guides will lend a hand. For complete recommendation, the most productive position to start out is our Walt Disney Global Go back and forth Making plans Information for the whole lot you wish to have to understand!
Your Ideas
Which resorts are your height choices for 2026 at Walt Disney Global? Any motels on our checklist that you’d or would no longer counsel? Every other motels we snubbed? Do you settle or disagree with our possible choices? Any questions we will be able to will let you resolution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas beneath within the feedback!
