Walt Disney World has a number of development alerts for Modern Resort and Bay Lake Tower, together with a brand new one which extends the continued refurbishment by a full yr to July 2026. This covers the newest updates to the resort, plus our commentary about what we hope to see occur throughout this prolonged venture.
It’s odd how preferences and priorities change. Over the previous couple of years, Disney’s Modern Resort has grow to be one in all our most well-liked locations to remain at Walt Disney World–we mentioned the explanations for this in Our Favourite Resort for Disney World Journeys as Dad and mom with a Toddler. That covers the various promoting factors of the Modern and BLT, with probably the most notable being its proximity to Magic Kingdom.
We now keep on the Modern pretty steadily. That is regardless of severe misgivings with the resort, which has a variety of obvious weaknesses that I’d actually like to see corrected. That is all the cause why we’ve been watching the Bay Lake Tower room reimagining with baited breath–it seems unbelievable to date–and are eagerly awaiting extra updates on the prolonged development venture deliberate for the resort as a complete. Talking of which, Walt Disney World has simply prolonged that by a yr–let’s check out the outdated and present development bulletins…
Disney’s Modern Resort Development Alerts
September 2024 By way of Summer time 2025 (OLD) – Refurbishments will happen in choose areas of Disney’s Modern Resort—together with Bay Lake Tower and the Conference Heart. Please permit for further journey time. Visitors may additionally see and listen to development throughout their keep.
September 2024 By way of July 2026 (NEW/CURRENT) – Refurbishments will happen in choose areas of Disney’s Modern Resort—together with Bay Lake Tower. Please permit for further journey time. Visitors may additionally see and listen to development throughout their keep.
September 2024 to September 2025 (CURRENT) – Room refurbishment work will happen in Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Modern Resort. Throughout this time, Visitors will see and listen to development work all through Bay Lake Tower. Please permit further time for journey as alternate paths could also be utilized.
January 26, 2026 By way of Early Could 2026 (CURRENT) – The Bay Cove Pool, the water play space and the whirlpool spa at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Modern Resort will briefly be closed for upkeep. The Bay Lake Pool, the Cove Bar, the function pool, the water play space and the whirlpool spa at Disney’s Modern Resort will stay open for Visitors to get pleasure from.
The problem right here is determining what this new discover from Walt Disney World is even referencing. By strategy of elimination, we will rule out a couple of issues. The primary is a pool venture, since that’s listed individually and ends in Could 2026. In any other case, this is able to be the most definitely candidate for a resort-wide discover impacting each the resort aspect and DVC wing.
Second is the year-long Bay Lake Tower refurbishment, as that has its personal separate discover on the Disney Trip Membership web site. Beforehand, this involved widespread areas and the Skybridge connecting the A-frame to the tower, however that has been eliminated. With many flooring of Bay Lake Tower already reopened, it’s unlikely that this venture pertains to BLT.
There’s additionally the sensible actuality that Bay Lake Tower tasks sometimes don’t set off bulletins on the resort web page for Disney’s Modern Resort. This solely works in reverse. There aren’t any facilities in BLT for company of the resort aspect, whereas there are within the A-frame for DVC company.
It’s additionally extremely unlikely that it is a room refurbishment venture on the resort aspect of Disney’s Modern Resort. The ‘Incredibles Injection’ simply occurred in 2020-2021 in the principle constructing, and the next yr within the Backyard Wing. Regardless that these rooms have garnered blended critiques, it might be untimely for even a gentle items refurbishment. Not solely that, however a room refurbishment on the resort aspect doubtless wouldn’t set off an alert on the DVC web site for Bay Lake Tower.
Regardless that it’s not the Bay Cove Pool, it may very well be one thing alongside these strains–impacting the waterfront, strolling paths, or different widespread space facilities shared by BLT and the Contempo. The least attention-grabbing or thrilling clarification is infrastructure work that ends in a little bit of noise or visible blight within the car parking zone, however doesn’t quantity to a lot distinction within the visitor expertise or yield any tangible enchancment when it’s completed in 2026.
One other risk that I might see being doubtless is relocating the safety checkpoint. Everybody and their brother tries to park on the Modern, which might result in site visitors backups on World Drive. Shifting that station nearer to the resort constructing is the only repair for this. Disney can also be doing quite a lot of roadwork proper now, so it may very well be one thing extra bold.
Lastly, there’s the chance that that is lengthy overdue work to the Grand Canyon Concourse. Regardless that that is the A-frame atrium, it’s a typical space that’s house to eating places, retail and different shared facilities. It might completely set off an alert for each BLT and the Modern.
I actually hope that is what it’s. This weblog has been bemoaning the datedness and simply basic ugliness of the Grand Canyon Concourse for years. Lengthy earlier than the Incredibles Injection even started, and we’ve continued complaining about this because the foyer overhaul that’s been sorely wanted as Walt Disney World has introduced different tasks on the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, BoardWalk, and many others.
You may be skeptical that Walt Disney World would revisit the Modern after “ending” the overhaul again in Fall 2021. However did they actually end? That venture was slated to be completed in time for Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary, and ended up being a race in opposition to the clock.
Actually, it was not completed on time–we heard development employees in any respect hours in October 2021 struggling to finish the rooms (some even opened in unfinished type). The Backyard Wing was pushed off till the next yr, and new ending components saved showing within the foyer even after it was “completed.”
Not solely that, however this wouldn’t be the primary time Walt Disney World has hit pause on tasks on the resorts for extended intervals of time. Clearly, there’s Disney Lakeshore Lodge, however that’s type of a separate factor.
Extra notable is the Grand Floridian foyer, which is now being labored on lengthy after the remainder of the resort was completed. There was an nearly 18-month hole from the completion of the rooms to begin of labor on the foyer.
The Grand Canyon Concourse is simply embarrassing at this level. It’s simply the worst atrium among the many flagship Deluxe Resorts. There’s no excuse for Walt Disney World not redoing it again in 2020-2021 when occupancy was low they usually had the chance earlier than Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary.
Nothing higher encapsulates the visible hodgepodge of the Modern higher than the above photograph (excuse the scrims–they’re outdated pictures, however nonetheless utterly consultant of how the Grand Canyon Concourse presently seems).
On this shot, there are 5 totally different types of carpet and 4 various kinds of tiles–and that’s not counting the deliberate sample decisions across the buffet at Chef Mickey’s. All presumably put in throughout totally different tasks through the years.
If you happen to have been to face within the heart of the hallway above Grand Canyon Concourse, you can rely much more disparate types, as the assorted present retailers on the opposite aspect have their very own types, as does the middle of the atrium.
Add these to the totally different varieties within the hallways across the visitor rooms, and you’ve got a few dozen carpet patterns. I’m an enormous fan of patterns and textures, however not like this. Then there’s the Fantasia present store, which was simply plopped into the middle to extend income per sq. foot, and must go.
The eating places on the opposite aspect aren’t a lot better. Though we’re keen on the meals served at Contempo Cafe, the design of the restaurant is nothing particular–it seems drained and its solely redeeming qualities are the monorail and Mary Blair mural overhead. It’s an identical story with Chef Mickey’s; that’s the most iconic character eating expertise at Walt Disney World, however one that point has handed by.
The Grand Canyon Concourse seems drained, dated, and visually chaotic. It’s an unsightly patchwork of eras, with its fashion persevering with to age and litter regularly added. Satirically, it’s most likely the least modern resort at Walt Disney World, with little or no modernity in its fashion.
There is no such thing as a coherent aesthetic to the Grand Canyon Concourse. Its present “fashion” is the results of Disney’s Modern Resort having visible litter added over the many years, with an increasing number of stuff (PG time period) accumulating through the years with none overarching imaginative and prescient.
It’s truly a bit ironic that it’s known as the Grand Canyon Concourse, as a result of the layers of litter are very very similar to the sedimentary rock layers within the Grand Canyon. Besides ugly as a substitute of awe-inspiring. Minor element.
Many Walt Disney World followers view the Modern via the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia. I can’t think about being a first-timer with little data of or historical past with this resort, reserving it based mostly on the “Modern” identify and paying over $1,000 per evening to remain within the A-frame. To say I’d be most likely be dissatisfied can be a colossal understatement.
The excellent information is that the blueprint for an overhaul to the Grand Canyon Concourse already exists! Again forward of the fiftieth Anniversary, Walt Disney World redid the principle foyer and check-in space and it’s attractive.
The brand new-look looby takes a timeless mid-century trendy fashion and combines that with a group of contemporary artwork items, Mary Blair-inspired design, and historic, behind-the-scenes images of Disney’s Modern Resort in growth and underneath development. It wasn’t that bold of an overhaul–it was achieved fairly shortly–and but, it made a world of distinction.
The Modern’s new foyer seems distinctive. It emulates Disneyland Resort with a pitch-perfect mixture of nostalgia and glossy stylization. The Modern Resort’s foyer now has character. As an alternative of trying like a vaguely trendy design from the 2000s, it’s imbued with a pointy mid-century trendy fashion. It’s distinctly Disney and can age much better than chasing present tendencies.
This marriage of a timeless trendy aesthetic together with distinctly Disney artwork and decor makes for a successful mixture. That is the right rebuttal to the entire discuss how the Modern is a conceptually-flawed resort (a variation of the Tomorrowland drawback) that can’t be “fastened.” Sure, it could–and right here’s how!
I can’t say sufficient optimistic issues about what Disney did right here. I like the foyer as a lot as I dislike the Grand Canyon Concourse, and the previous is proof-positive that trendy Disney might redo the latter and hit it out of the park.
They have been standing on the precipice of greatness with the resort overhaul again in 2021, and I actually assume what prevented the Grand Canyon Concourse from being a part of that was an absence of time. Or maybe in-fighting about whether or not it must be one other Incredibles-injection or Disneyland Resort-inspired?
Finally, my honest hope is that the foyer was merely a trial run for grandiose plans for the Grand Canyon Concourse and that is what’s deliberate for development lasting via July 2026. It’s just about that, grounds enhancements or entrance infrastructure work. Whereas the latter most likely must occur, so too does a Grand Canyon Concourse overhaul.
Disney’s Modern Resort won’t ever overtake its monorail loop counterparts, as Grand Floridian is the flagship resort and Polynesian oozes allure and environment. However the Contempo might enhance tremendously and grow to be the sleeper fan-favorite with a redone Grand Canyon Concourse.
Disney’s Modern Resort already has distinctive structure and the monorail gliding via the atrium–if it turned a love letter to the Trip Kingdom of the World with a timeless mid-century trendy aesthetic, it might be a Walt Disney World fan-favorite–simply as is the case with Disneyland Resort in California!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about resorts on our Walt Disney World Resorts Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part you could know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the development alert via July 2026 at Disney’s Modern Resort? Any guesses as to what this thriller venture may very well be? Hopeful that the Grand Canyon Concourse will obtain an overhaul akin to the foyer? Or do you concern that it’ll get another in keeping with the Incredibles rooms? Have you ever stayed on the Modern in the previous couple of years? Do you assume the resort is dated and drained, or nonetheless has a up to date environment? Suppose the Grand Canyon Concourse wants an overhaul? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Different ideas or issues? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
Walt Disney World has a number of development alerts for Modern Resort and Bay Lake Tower, together with a brand new one which extends the continued refurbishment by a full yr to July 2026. This covers the newest updates to the resort, plus our commentary about what we hope to see occur throughout this prolonged venture.
It’s odd how preferences and priorities change. Over the previous couple of years, Disney’s Modern Resort has grow to be one in all our most well-liked locations to remain at Walt Disney World–we mentioned the explanations for this in Our Favourite Resort for Disney World Journeys as Dad and mom with a Toddler. That covers the various promoting factors of the Modern and BLT, with probably the most notable being its proximity to Magic Kingdom.
We now keep on the Modern pretty steadily. That is regardless of severe misgivings with the resort, which has a variety of obvious weaknesses that I’d actually like to see corrected. That is all the cause why we’ve been watching the Bay Lake Tower room reimagining with baited breath–it seems unbelievable to date–and are eagerly awaiting extra updates on the prolonged development venture deliberate for the resort as a complete. Talking of which, Walt Disney World has simply prolonged that by a yr–let’s check out the outdated and present development bulletins…
Disney’s Modern Resort Development Alerts
September 2024 By way of Summer time 2025 (OLD) – Refurbishments will happen in choose areas of Disney’s Modern Resort—together with Bay Lake Tower and the Conference Heart. Please permit for further journey time. Visitors may additionally see and listen to development throughout their keep.
September 2024 By way of July 2026 (NEW/CURRENT) – Refurbishments will happen in choose areas of Disney’s Modern Resort—together with Bay Lake Tower. Please permit for further journey time. Visitors may additionally see and listen to development throughout their keep.
September 2024 to September 2025 (CURRENT) – Room refurbishment work will happen in Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Modern Resort. Throughout this time, Visitors will see and listen to development work all through Bay Lake Tower. Please permit further time for journey as alternate paths could also be utilized.
January 26, 2026 By way of Early Could 2026 (CURRENT) – The Bay Cove Pool, the water play space and the whirlpool spa at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Modern Resort will briefly be closed for upkeep. The Bay Lake Pool, the Cove Bar, the function pool, the water play space and the whirlpool spa at Disney’s Modern Resort will stay open for Visitors to get pleasure from.
The problem right here is determining what this new discover from Walt Disney World is even referencing. By strategy of elimination, we will rule out a couple of issues. The primary is a pool venture, since that’s listed individually and ends in Could 2026. In any other case, this is able to be the most definitely candidate for a resort-wide discover impacting each the resort aspect and DVC wing.
Second is the year-long Bay Lake Tower refurbishment, as that has its personal separate discover on the Disney Trip Membership web site. Beforehand, this involved widespread areas and the Skybridge connecting the A-frame to the tower, however that has been eliminated. With many flooring of Bay Lake Tower already reopened, it’s unlikely that this venture pertains to BLT.
There’s additionally the sensible actuality that Bay Lake Tower tasks sometimes don’t set off bulletins on the resort web page for Disney’s Modern Resort. This solely works in reverse. There aren’t any facilities in BLT for company of the resort aspect, whereas there are within the A-frame for DVC company.
It’s additionally extremely unlikely that it is a room refurbishment venture on the resort aspect of Disney’s Modern Resort. The ‘Incredibles Injection’ simply occurred in 2020-2021 in the principle constructing, and the next yr within the Backyard Wing. Regardless that these rooms have garnered blended critiques, it might be untimely for even a gentle items refurbishment. Not solely that, however a room refurbishment on the resort aspect doubtless wouldn’t set off an alert on the DVC web site for Bay Lake Tower.
Regardless that it’s not the Bay Cove Pool, it may very well be one thing alongside these strains–impacting the waterfront, strolling paths, or different widespread space facilities shared by BLT and the Contempo. The least attention-grabbing or thrilling clarification is infrastructure work that ends in a little bit of noise or visible blight within the car parking zone, however doesn’t quantity to a lot distinction within the visitor expertise or yield any tangible enchancment when it’s completed in 2026.
One other risk that I might see being doubtless is relocating the safety checkpoint. Everybody and their brother tries to park on the Modern, which might result in site visitors backups on World Drive. Shifting that station nearer to the resort constructing is the only repair for this. Disney can also be doing quite a lot of roadwork proper now, so it may very well be one thing extra bold.
Lastly, there’s the chance that that is lengthy overdue work to the Grand Canyon Concourse. Regardless that that is the A-frame atrium, it’s a typical space that’s house to eating places, retail and different shared facilities. It might completely set off an alert for each BLT and the Modern.
I actually hope that is what it’s. This weblog has been bemoaning the datedness and simply basic ugliness of the Grand Canyon Concourse for years. Lengthy earlier than the Incredibles Injection even started, and we’ve continued complaining about this because the foyer overhaul that’s been sorely wanted as Walt Disney World has introduced different tasks on the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, BoardWalk, and many others.
You may be skeptical that Walt Disney World would revisit the Modern after “ending” the overhaul again in Fall 2021. However did they actually end? That venture was slated to be completed in time for Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary, and ended up being a race in opposition to the clock.
Actually, it was not completed on time–we heard development employees in any respect hours in October 2021 struggling to finish the rooms (some even opened in unfinished type). The Backyard Wing was pushed off till the next yr, and new ending components saved showing within the foyer even after it was “completed.”
Not solely that, however this wouldn’t be the primary time Walt Disney World has hit pause on tasks on the resorts for extended intervals of time. Clearly, there’s Disney Lakeshore Lodge, however that’s type of a separate factor.
Extra notable is the Grand Floridian foyer, which is now being labored on lengthy after the remainder of the resort was completed. There was an nearly 18-month hole from the completion of the rooms to begin of labor on the foyer.
The Grand Canyon Concourse is simply embarrassing at this level. It’s simply the worst atrium among the many flagship Deluxe Resorts. There’s no excuse for Walt Disney World not redoing it again in 2020-2021 when occupancy was low they usually had the chance earlier than Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary.
Nothing higher encapsulates the visible hodgepodge of the Modern higher than the above photograph (excuse the scrims–they’re outdated pictures, however nonetheless utterly consultant of how the Grand Canyon Concourse presently seems).
On this shot, there are 5 totally different types of carpet and 4 various kinds of tiles–and that’s not counting the deliberate sample decisions across the buffet at Chef Mickey’s. All presumably put in throughout totally different tasks through the years.
If you happen to have been to face within the heart of the hallway above Grand Canyon Concourse, you can rely much more disparate types, as the assorted present retailers on the opposite aspect have their very own types, as does the middle of the atrium.
Add these to the totally different varieties within the hallways across the visitor rooms, and you’ve got a few dozen carpet patterns. I’m an enormous fan of patterns and textures, however not like this. Then there’s the Fantasia present store, which was simply plopped into the middle to extend income per sq. foot, and must go.
The eating places on the opposite aspect aren’t a lot better. Though we’re keen on the meals served at Contempo Cafe, the design of the restaurant is nothing particular–it seems drained and its solely redeeming qualities are the monorail and Mary Blair mural overhead. It’s an identical story with Chef Mickey’s; that’s the most iconic character eating expertise at Walt Disney World, however one that point has handed by.
The Grand Canyon Concourse seems drained, dated, and visually chaotic. It’s an unsightly patchwork of eras, with its fashion persevering with to age and litter regularly added. Satirically, it’s most likely the least modern resort at Walt Disney World, with little or no modernity in its fashion.
There is no such thing as a coherent aesthetic to the Grand Canyon Concourse. Its present “fashion” is the results of Disney’s Modern Resort having visible litter added over the many years, with an increasing number of stuff (PG time period) accumulating through the years with none overarching imaginative and prescient.
It’s truly a bit ironic that it’s known as the Grand Canyon Concourse, as a result of the layers of litter are very very similar to the sedimentary rock layers within the Grand Canyon. Besides ugly as a substitute of awe-inspiring. Minor element.
Many Walt Disney World followers view the Modern via the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia. I can’t think about being a first-timer with little data of or historical past with this resort, reserving it based mostly on the “Modern” identify and paying over $1,000 per evening to remain within the A-frame. To say I’d be most likely be dissatisfied can be a colossal understatement.
The excellent information is that the blueprint for an overhaul to the Grand Canyon Concourse already exists! Again forward of the fiftieth Anniversary, Walt Disney World redid the principle foyer and check-in space and it’s attractive.
The brand new-look looby takes a timeless mid-century trendy fashion and combines that with a group of contemporary artwork items, Mary Blair-inspired design, and historic, behind-the-scenes images of Disney’s Modern Resort in growth and underneath development. It wasn’t that bold of an overhaul–it was achieved fairly shortly–and but, it made a world of distinction.
The Modern’s new foyer seems distinctive. It emulates Disneyland Resort with a pitch-perfect mixture of nostalgia and glossy stylization. The Modern Resort’s foyer now has character. As an alternative of trying like a vaguely trendy design from the 2000s, it’s imbued with a pointy mid-century trendy fashion. It’s distinctly Disney and can age much better than chasing present tendencies.
This marriage of a timeless trendy aesthetic together with distinctly Disney artwork and decor makes for a successful mixture. That is the right rebuttal to the entire discuss how the Modern is a conceptually-flawed resort (a variation of the Tomorrowland drawback) that can’t be “fastened.” Sure, it could–and right here’s how!
I can’t say sufficient optimistic issues about what Disney did right here. I like the foyer as a lot as I dislike the Grand Canyon Concourse, and the previous is proof-positive that trendy Disney might redo the latter and hit it out of the park.
They have been standing on the precipice of greatness with the resort overhaul again in 2021, and I actually assume what prevented the Grand Canyon Concourse from being a part of that was an absence of time. Or maybe in-fighting about whether or not it must be one other Incredibles-injection or Disneyland Resort-inspired?
Finally, my honest hope is that the foyer was merely a trial run for grandiose plans for the Grand Canyon Concourse and that is what’s deliberate for development lasting via July 2026. It’s just about that, grounds enhancements or entrance infrastructure work. Whereas the latter most likely must occur, so too does a Grand Canyon Concourse overhaul.
Disney’s Modern Resort won’t ever overtake its monorail loop counterparts, as Grand Floridian is the flagship resort and Polynesian oozes allure and environment. However the Contempo might enhance tremendously and grow to be the sleeper fan-favorite with a redone Grand Canyon Concourse.
Disney’s Modern Resort already has distinctive structure and the monorail gliding via the atrium–if it turned a love letter to the Trip Kingdom of the World with a timeless mid-century trendy aesthetic, it might be a Walt Disney World fan-favorite–simply as is the case with Disneyland Resort in California!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about resorts on our Walt Disney World Resorts Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part you could know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the development alert via July 2026 at Disney’s Modern Resort? Any guesses as to what this thriller venture may very well be? Hopeful that the Grand Canyon Concourse will obtain an overhaul akin to the foyer? Or do you concern that it’ll get another in keeping with the Incredibles rooms? Have you ever stayed on the Modern in the previous couple of years? Do you assume the resort is dated and drained, or nonetheless has a up to date environment? Suppose the Grand Canyon Concourse wants an overhaul? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Different ideas or issues? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
Walt Disney World has a number of development alerts for Modern Resort and Bay Lake Tower, together with a brand new one which extends the continued refurbishment by a full yr to July 2026. This covers the newest updates to the resort, plus our commentary about what we hope to see occur throughout this prolonged venture.
It’s odd how preferences and priorities change. Over the previous couple of years, Disney’s Modern Resort has grow to be one in all our most well-liked locations to remain at Walt Disney World–we mentioned the explanations for this in Our Favourite Resort for Disney World Journeys as Dad and mom with a Toddler. That covers the various promoting factors of the Modern and BLT, with probably the most notable being its proximity to Magic Kingdom.
We now keep on the Modern pretty steadily. That is regardless of severe misgivings with the resort, which has a variety of obvious weaknesses that I’d actually like to see corrected. That is all the cause why we’ve been watching the Bay Lake Tower room reimagining with baited breath–it seems unbelievable to date–and are eagerly awaiting extra updates on the prolonged development venture deliberate for the resort as a complete. Talking of which, Walt Disney World has simply prolonged that by a yr–let’s check out the outdated and present development bulletins…
Disney’s Modern Resort Development Alerts
September 2024 By way of Summer time 2025 (OLD) – Refurbishments will happen in choose areas of Disney’s Modern Resort—together with Bay Lake Tower and the Conference Heart. Please permit for further journey time. Visitors may additionally see and listen to development throughout their keep.
September 2024 By way of July 2026 (NEW/CURRENT) – Refurbishments will happen in choose areas of Disney’s Modern Resort—together with Bay Lake Tower. Please permit for further journey time. Visitors may additionally see and listen to development throughout their keep.
September 2024 to September 2025 (CURRENT) – Room refurbishment work will happen in Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Modern Resort. Throughout this time, Visitors will see and listen to development work all through Bay Lake Tower. Please permit further time for journey as alternate paths could also be utilized.
January 26, 2026 By way of Early Could 2026 (CURRENT) – The Bay Cove Pool, the water play space and the whirlpool spa at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Modern Resort will briefly be closed for upkeep. The Bay Lake Pool, the Cove Bar, the function pool, the water play space and the whirlpool spa at Disney’s Modern Resort will stay open for Visitors to get pleasure from.
The problem right here is determining what this new discover from Walt Disney World is even referencing. By strategy of elimination, we will rule out a couple of issues. The primary is a pool venture, since that’s listed individually and ends in Could 2026. In any other case, this is able to be the most definitely candidate for a resort-wide discover impacting each the resort aspect and DVC wing.
Second is the year-long Bay Lake Tower refurbishment, as that has its personal separate discover on the Disney Trip Membership web site. Beforehand, this involved widespread areas and the Skybridge connecting the A-frame to the tower, however that has been eliminated. With many flooring of Bay Lake Tower already reopened, it’s unlikely that this venture pertains to BLT.
There’s additionally the sensible actuality that Bay Lake Tower tasks sometimes don’t set off bulletins on the resort web page for Disney’s Modern Resort. This solely works in reverse. There aren’t any facilities in BLT for company of the resort aspect, whereas there are within the A-frame for DVC company.
It’s additionally extremely unlikely that it is a room refurbishment venture on the resort aspect of Disney’s Modern Resort. The ‘Incredibles Injection’ simply occurred in 2020-2021 in the principle constructing, and the next yr within the Backyard Wing. Regardless that these rooms have garnered blended critiques, it might be untimely for even a gentle items refurbishment. Not solely that, however a room refurbishment on the resort aspect doubtless wouldn’t set off an alert on the DVC web site for Bay Lake Tower.
Regardless that it’s not the Bay Cove Pool, it may very well be one thing alongside these strains–impacting the waterfront, strolling paths, or different widespread space facilities shared by BLT and the Contempo. The least attention-grabbing or thrilling clarification is infrastructure work that ends in a little bit of noise or visible blight within the car parking zone, however doesn’t quantity to a lot distinction within the visitor expertise or yield any tangible enchancment when it’s completed in 2026.
One other risk that I might see being doubtless is relocating the safety checkpoint. Everybody and their brother tries to park on the Modern, which might result in site visitors backups on World Drive. Shifting that station nearer to the resort constructing is the only repair for this. Disney can also be doing quite a lot of roadwork proper now, so it may very well be one thing extra bold.
Lastly, there’s the chance that that is lengthy overdue work to the Grand Canyon Concourse. Regardless that that is the A-frame atrium, it’s a typical space that’s house to eating places, retail and different shared facilities. It might completely set off an alert for each BLT and the Modern.
I actually hope that is what it’s. This weblog has been bemoaning the datedness and simply basic ugliness of the Grand Canyon Concourse for years. Lengthy earlier than the Incredibles Injection even started, and we’ve continued complaining about this because the foyer overhaul that’s been sorely wanted as Walt Disney World has introduced different tasks on the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, BoardWalk, and many others.
You may be skeptical that Walt Disney World would revisit the Modern after “ending” the overhaul again in Fall 2021. However did they actually end? That venture was slated to be completed in time for Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary, and ended up being a race in opposition to the clock.
Actually, it was not completed on time–we heard development employees in any respect hours in October 2021 struggling to finish the rooms (some even opened in unfinished type). The Backyard Wing was pushed off till the next yr, and new ending components saved showing within the foyer even after it was “completed.”
Not solely that, however this wouldn’t be the primary time Walt Disney World has hit pause on tasks on the resorts for extended intervals of time. Clearly, there’s Disney Lakeshore Lodge, however that’s type of a separate factor.
Extra notable is the Grand Floridian foyer, which is now being labored on lengthy after the remainder of the resort was completed. There was an nearly 18-month hole from the completion of the rooms to begin of labor on the foyer.
The Grand Canyon Concourse is simply embarrassing at this level. It’s simply the worst atrium among the many flagship Deluxe Resorts. There’s no excuse for Walt Disney World not redoing it again in 2020-2021 when occupancy was low they usually had the chance earlier than Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary.
Nothing higher encapsulates the visible hodgepodge of the Modern higher than the above photograph (excuse the scrims–they’re outdated pictures, however nonetheless utterly consultant of how the Grand Canyon Concourse presently seems).
On this shot, there are 5 totally different types of carpet and 4 various kinds of tiles–and that’s not counting the deliberate sample decisions across the buffet at Chef Mickey’s. All presumably put in throughout totally different tasks through the years.
If you happen to have been to face within the heart of the hallway above Grand Canyon Concourse, you can rely much more disparate types, as the assorted present retailers on the opposite aspect have their very own types, as does the middle of the atrium.
Add these to the totally different varieties within the hallways across the visitor rooms, and you’ve got a few dozen carpet patterns. I’m an enormous fan of patterns and textures, however not like this. Then there’s the Fantasia present store, which was simply plopped into the middle to extend income per sq. foot, and must go.
The eating places on the opposite aspect aren’t a lot better. Though we’re keen on the meals served at Contempo Cafe, the design of the restaurant is nothing particular–it seems drained and its solely redeeming qualities are the monorail and Mary Blair mural overhead. It’s an identical story with Chef Mickey’s; that’s the most iconic character eating expertise at Walt Disney World, however one that point has handed by.
The Grand Canyon Concourse seems drained, dated, and visually chaotic. It’s an unsightly patchwork of eras, with its fashion persevering with to age and litter regularly added. Satirically, it’s most likely the least modern resort at Walt Disney World, with little or no modernity in its fashion.
There is no such thing as a coherent aesthetic to the Grand Canyon Concourse. Its present “fashion” is the results of Disney’s Modern Resort having visible litter added over the many years, with an increasing number of stuff (PG time period) accumulating through the years with none overarching imaginative and prescient.
It’s truly a bit ironic that it’s known as the Grand Canyon Concourse, as a result of the layers of litter are very very similar to the sedimentary rock layers within the Grand Canyon. Besides ugly as a substitute of awe-inspiring. Minor element.
Many Walt Disney World followers view the Modern via the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia. I can’t think about being a first-timer with little data of or historical past with this resort, reserving it based mostly on the “Modern” identify and paying over $1,000 per evening to remain within the A-frame. To say I’d be most likely be dissatisfied can be a colossal understatement.
The excellent information is that the blueprint for an overhaul to the Grand Canyon Concourse already exists! Again forward of the fiftieth Anniversary, Walt Disney World redid the principle foyer and check-in space and it’s attractive.
The brand new-look looby takes a timeless mid-century trendy fashion and combines that with a group of contemporary artwork items, Mary Blair-inspired design, and historic, behind-the-scenes images of Disney’s Modern Resort in growth and underneath development. It wasn’t that bold of an overhaul–it was achieved fairly shortly–and but, it made a world of distinction.
The Modern’s new foyer seems distinctive. It emulates Disneyland Resort with a pitch-perfect mixture of nostalgia and glossy stylization. The Modern Resort’s foyer now has character. As an alternative of trying like a vaguely trendy design from the 2000s, it’s imbued with a pointy mid-century trendy fashion. It’s distinctly Disney and can age much better than chasing present tendencies.
This marriage of a timeless trendy aesthetic together with distinctly Disney artwork and decor makes for a successful mixture. That is the right rebuttal to the entire discuss how the Modern is a conceptually-flawed resort (a variation of the Tomorrowland drawback) that can’t be “fastened.” Sure, it could–and right here’s how!
I can’t say sufficient optimistic issues about what Disney did right here. I like the foyer as a lot as I dislike the Grand Canyon Concourse, and the previous is proof-positive that trendy Disney might redo the latter and hit it out of the park.
They have been standing on the precipice of greatness with the resort overhaul again in 2021, and I actually assume what prevented the Grand Canyon Concourse from being a part of that was an absence of time. Or maybe in-fighting about whether or not it must be one other Incredibles-injection or Disneyland Resort-inspired?
Finally, my honest hope is that the foyer was merely a trial run for grandiose plans for the Grand Canyon Concourse and that is what’s deliberate for development lasting via July 2026. It’s just about that, grounds enhancements or entrance infrastructure work. Whereas the latter most likely must occur, so too does a Grand Canyon Concourse overhaul.
Disney’s Modern Resort won’t ever overtake its monorail loop counterparts, as Grand Floridian is the flagship resort and Polynesian oozes allure and environment. However the Contempo might enhance tremendously and grow to be the sleeper fan-favorite with a redone Grand Canyon Concourse.
Disney’s Modern Resort already has distinctive structure and the monorail gliding via the atrium–if it turned a love letter to the Trip Kingdom of the World with a timeless mid-century trendy aesthetic, it might be a Walt Disney World fan-favorite–simply as is the case with Disneyland Resort in California!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about resorts on our Walt Disney World Resorts Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part you could know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the development alert via July 2026 at Disney’s Modern Resort? Any guesses as to what this thriller venture may very well be? Hopeful that the Grand Canyon Concourse will obtain an overhaul akin to the foyer? Or do you concern that it’ll get another in keeping with the Incredibles rooms? Have you ever stayed on the Modern in the previous couple of years? Do you assume the resort is dated and drained, or nonetheless has a up to date environment? Suppose the Grand Canyon Concourse wants an overhaul? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Different ideas or issues? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
Walt Disney World has a number of development alerts for Modern Resort and Bay Lake Tower, together with a brand new one which extends the continued refurbishment by a full yr to July 2026. This covers the newest updates to the resort, plus our commentary about what we hope to see occur throughout this prolonged venture.
It’s odd how preferences and priorities change. Over the previous couple of years, Disney’s Modern Resort has grow to be one in all our most well-liked locations to remain at Walt Disney World–we mentioned the explanations for this in Our Favourite Resort for Disney World Journeys as Dad and mom with a Toddler. That covers the various promoting factors of the Modern and BLT, with probably the most notable being its proximity to Magic Kingdom.
We now keep on the Modern pretty steadily. That is regardless of severe misgivings with the resort, which has a variety of obvious weaknesses that I’d actually like to see corrected. That is all the cause why we’ve been watching the Bay Lake Tower room reimagining with baited breath–it seems unbelievable to date–and are eagerly awaiting extra updates on the prolonged development venture deliberate for the resort as a complete. Talking of which, Walt Disney World has simply prolonged that by a yr–let’s check out the outdated and present development bulletins…
Disney’s Modern Resort Development Alerts
September 2024 By way of Summer time 2025 (OLD) – Refurbishments will happen in choose areas of Disney’s Modern Resort—together with Bay Lake Tower and the Conference Heart. Please permit for further journey time. Visitors may additionally see and listen to development throughout their keep.
September 2024 By way of July 2026 (NEW/CURRENT) – Refurbishments will happen in choose areas of Disney’s Modern Resort—together with Bay Lake Tower. Please permit for further journey time. Visitors may additionally see and listen to development throughout their keep.
September 2024 to September 2025 (CURRENT) – Room refurbishment work will happen in Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Modern Resort. Throughout this time, Visitors will see and listen to development work all through Bay Lake Tower. Please permit further time for journey as alternate paths could also be utilized.
January 26, 2026 By way of Early Could 2026 (CURRENT) – The Bay Cove Pool, the water play space and the whirlpool spa at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Modern Resort will briefly be closed for upkeep. The Bay Lake Pool, the Cove Bar, the function pool, the water play space and the whirlpool spa at Disney’s Modern Resort will stay open for Visitors to get pleasure from.
The problem right here is determining what this new discover from Walt Disney World is even referencing. By strategy of elimination, we will rule out a couple of issues. The primary is a pool venture, since that’s listed individually and ends in Could 2026. In any other case, this is able to be the most definitely candidate for a resort-wide discover impacting each the resort aspect and DVC wing.
Second is the year-long Bay Lake Tower refurbishment, as that has its personal separate discover on the Disney Trip Membership web site. Beforehand, this involved widespread areas and the Skybridge connecting the A-frame to the tower, however that has been eliminated. With many flooring of Bay Lake Tower already reopened, it’s unlikely that this venture pertains to BLT.
There’s additionally the sensible actuality that Bay Lake Tower tasks sometimes don’t set off bulletins on the resort web page for Disney’s Modern Resort. This solely works in reverse. There aren’t any facilities in BLT for company of the resort aspect, whereas there are within the A-frame for DVC company.
It’s additionally extremely unlikely that it is a room refurbishment venture on the resort aspect of Disney’s Modern Resort. The ‘Incredibles Injection’ simply occurred in 2020-2021 in the principle constructing, and the next yr within the Backyard Wing. Regardless that these rooms have garnered blended critiques, it might be untimely for even a gentle items refurbishment. Not solely that, however a room refurbishment on the resort aspect doubtless wouldn’t set off an alert on the DVC web site for Bay Lake Tower.
Regardless that it’s not the Bay Cove Pool, it may very well be one thing alongside these strains–impacting the waterfront, strolling paths, or different widespread space facilities shared by BLT and the Contempo. The least attention-grabbing or thrilling clarification is infrastructure work that ends in a little bit of noise or visible blight within the car parking zone, however doesn’t quantity to a lot distinction within the visitor expertise or yield any tangible enchancment when it’s completed in 2026.
One other risk that I might see being doubtless is relocating the safety checkpoint. Everybody and their brother tries to park on the Modern, which might result in site visitors backups on World Drive. Shifting that station nearer to the resort constructing is the only repair for this. Disney can also be doing quite a lot of roadwork proper now, so it may very well be one thing extra bold.
Lastly, there’s the chance that that is lengthy overdue work to the Grand Canyon Concourse. Regardless that that is the A-frame atrium, it’s a typical space that’s house to eating places, retail and different shared facilities. It might completely set off an alert for each BLT and the Modern.
I actually hope that is what it’s. This weblog has been bemoaning the datedness and simply basic ugliness of the Grand Canyon Concourse for years. Lengthy earlier than the Incredibles Injection even started, and we’ve continued complaining about this because the foyer overhaul that’s been sorely wanted as Walt Disney World has introduced different tasks on the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, BoardWalk, and many others.
You may be skeptical that Walt Disney World would revisit the Modern after “ending” the overhaul again in Fall 2021. However did they actually end? That venture was slated to be completed in time for Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary, and ended up being a race in opposition to the clock.
Actually, it was not completed on time–we heard development employees in any respect hours in October 2021 struggling to finish the rooms (some even opened in unfinished type). The Backyard Wing was pushed off till the next yr, and new ending components saved showing within the foyer even after it was “completed.”
Not solely that, however this wouldn’t be the primary time Walt Disney World has hit pause on tasks on the resorts for extended intervals of time. Clearly, there’s Disney Lakeshore Lodge, however that’s type of a separate factor.
Extra notable is the Grand Floridian foyer, which is now being labored on lengthy after the remainder of the resort was completed. There was an nearly 18-month hole from the completion of the rooms to begin of labor on the foyer.
The Grand Canyon Concourse is simply embarrassing at this level. It’s simply the worst atrium among the many flagship Deluxe Resorts. There’s no excuse for Walt Disney World not redoing it again in 2020-2021 when occupancy was low they usually had the chance earlier than Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary.
Nothing higher encapsulates the visible hodgepodge of the Modern higher than the above photograph (excuse the scrims–they’re outdated pictures, however nonetheless utterly consultant of how the Grand Canyon Concourse presently seems).
On this shot, there are 5 totally different types of carpet and 4 various kinds of tiles–and that’s not counting the deliberate sample decisions across the buffet at Chef Mickey’s. All presumably put in throughout totally different tasks through the years.
If you happen to have been to face within the heart of the hallway above Grand Canyon Concourse, you can rely much more disparate types, as the assorted present retailers on the opposite aspect have their very own types, as does the middle of the atrium.
Add these to the totally different varieties within the hallways across the visitor rooms, and you’ve got a few dozen carpet patterns. I’m an enormous fan of patterns and textures, however not like this. Then there’s the Fantasia present store, which was simply plopped into the middle to extend income per sq. foot, and must go.
The eating places on the opposite aspect aren’t a lot better. Though we’re keen on the meals served at Contempo Cafe, the design of the restaurant is nothing particular–it seems drained and its solely redeeming qualities are the monorail and Mary Blair mural overhead. It’s an identical story with Chef Mickey’s; that’s the most iconic character eating expertise at Walt Disney World, however one that point has handed by.
The Grand Canyon Concourse seems drained, dated, and visually chaotic. It’s an unsightly patchwork of eras, with its fashion persevering with to age and litter regularly added. Satirically, it’s most likely the least modern resort at Walt Disney World, with little or no modernity in its fashion.
There is no such thing as a coherent aesthetic to the Grand Canyon Concourse. Its present “fashion” is the results of Disney’s Modern Resort having visible litter added over the many years, with an increasing number of stuff (PG time period) accumulating through the years with none overarching imaginative and prescient.
It’s truly a bit ironic that it’s known as the Grand Canyon Concourse, as a result of the layers of litter are very very similar to the sedimentary rock layers within the Grand Canyon. Besides ugly as a substitute of awe-inspiring. Minor element.
Many Walt Disney World followers view the Modern via the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia. I can’t think about being a first-timer with little data of or historical past with this resort, reserving it based mostly on the “Modern” identify and paying over $1,000 per evening to remain within the A-frame. To say I’d be most likely be dissatisfied can be a colossal understatement.
The excellent information is that the blueprint for an overhaul to the Grand Canyon Concourse already exists! Again forward of the fiftieth Anniversary, Walt Disney World redid the principle foyer and check-in space and it’s attractive.
The brand new-look looby takes a timeless mid-century trendy fashion and combines that with a group of contemporary artwork items, Mary Blair-inspired design, and historic, behind-the-scenes images of Disney’s Modern Resort in growth and underneath development. It wasn’t that bold of an overhaul–it was achieved fairly shortly–and but, it made a world of distinction.
The Modern’s new foyer seems distinctive. It emulates Disneyland Resort with a pitch-perfect mixture of nostalgia and glossy stylization. The Modern Resort’s foyer now has character. As an alternative of trying like a vaguely trendy design from the 2000s, it’s imbued with a pointy mid-century trendy fashion. It’s distinctly Disney and can age much better than chasing present tendencies.
This marriage of a timeless trendy aesthetic together with distinctly Disney artwork and decor makes for a successful mixture. That is the right rebuttal to the entire discuss how the Modern is a conceptually-flawed resort (a variation of the Tomorrowland drawback) that can’t be “fastened.” Sure, it could–and right here’s how!
I can’t say sufficient optimistic issues about what Disney did right here. I like the foyer as a lot as I dislike the Grand Canyon Concourse, and the previous is proof-positive that trendy Disney might redo the latter and hit it out of the park.
They have been standing on the precipice of greatness with the resort overhaul again in 2021, and I actually assume what prevented the Grand Canyon Concourse from being a part of that was an absence of time. Or maybe in-fighting about whether or not it must be one other Incredibles-injection or Disneyland Resort-inspired?
Finally, my honest hope is that the foyer was merely a trial run for grandiose plans for the Grand Canyon Concourse and that is what’s deliberate for development lasting via July 2026. It’s just about that, grounds enhancements or entrance infrastructure work. Whereas the latter most likely must occur, so too does a Grand Canyon Concourse overhaul.
Disney’s Modern Resort won’t ever overtake its monorail loop counterparts, as Grand Floridian is the flagship resort and Polynesian oozes allure and environment. However the Contempo might enhance tremendously and grow to be the sleeper fan-favorite with a redone Grand Canyon Concourse.
Disney’s Modern Resort already has distinctive structure and the monorail gliding via the atrium–if it turned a love letter to the Trip Kingdom of the World with a timeless mid-century trendy aesthetic, it might be a Walt Disney World fan-favorite–simply as is the case with Disneyland Resort in California!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about resorts on our Walt Disney World Resorts Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part you could know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the development alert via July 2026 at Disney’s Modern Resort? Any guesses as to what this thriller venture may very well be? Hopeful that the Grand Canyon Concourse will obtain an overhaul akin to the foyer? Or do you concern that it’ll get another in keeping with the Incredibles rooms? Have you ever stayed on the Modern in the previous couple of years? Do you assume the resort is dated and drained, or nonetheless has a up to date environment? Suppose the Grand Canyon Concourse wants an overhaul? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Different ideas or issues? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
