2 Disney World Hotels We’re Getting Worried About

Disney World is full of magic, but it’s also full of surprises—some good, some not-so-great.

You can plan your dream trip, book your favorite resort, and still run into a few things that don’t go exactly as expected. That’s where we come in — keeping you in the know so you can plan ahead and avoid surprises that might throw off your stay. Right now, there are two Disney World hotels that are giving us just a little pause, and if you’re planning a trip soon, you might want to hear why.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The Grand Floridian is the crown jewel of Disney World resorts—the flagship hotel that screams luxury, Victorian elegance, and “I made it.” But at the moment, that sparkle has some construction dust on it.

Disney is in the middle of a major lobby refresh that’s expected to last all the way through November 2025. That means construction walls are up in the main lobby and surrounding areas, and if you’ve ever stepped foot in the Grand before, you know the lobby is the showpiece. This isn’t just a hallway or tucked-away section of the resort — it’s the heart of the whole experience.

Here’s what that means for guests: daytime visits can come with background noise, blocked-off walkways, and rerouted traffic inside the resort. Even though rooms, pools, and dining are still open, the disruption in the middle of the action is hard to ignore, especially if you’re paying premium rates to stay here.

And here’s the kicker: Disney has already confirmed that the iconic Grand Floridian Gingerbread House won’t be making an appearance in 2025 because of the lobby renovation. That’s a huge holiday tradition for many families, and it’s often one of the main reasons people book this hotel in November and December. Without it, the Christmas ambiance that normally makes the Grand the spot for holiday cheer feels a little less magical.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. The good news is that evenings tend to be quieter, since most of the construction happens during the day. So if you’re stopping by for a fancy dinner or cocktails, you might not notice much of a difference. But if you’re checking in with visions of grand Christmas photos, gingerbread magic, or lobby serenity, you may walk away feeling short-changed this year.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

Fort Wilderness is Disney World’s rustic retreat—the kind of place you book when you want to feel like you’ve stepped out of the chaos and into nature. It’s peaceful, it’s quiet, and it’s got that cozy, under-the-stars vibe that makes it completely different from anywhere else on Disney property. But that peacefulness is starting to feel a little shaky.

Construction has kicked back into gear on the Disney Lakeshore Lodge project (formerly known as Reflections), which is located right across the water from Fort Wilderness’s Settlement area. Cranes can be seen on the horizon, vertical construction going up, and a general sense that the quiet lakefront views aren’t quite so quiet anymore.

That’s not exactly the backdrop most people are hoping for when they book Fort Wilderness. Many choose this resort specifically to get away from the hustle and bustle, to hear crickets instead of construction, and to watch wildlife instead of scaffolding. And with heavy machinery and cranes moving around, that escape-from-it-all vibe is a little harder to capture.

On top of that, the large-scale building project has brought occasional tweaks to transportation routes and walkways around the area. So depending on when you visit, you could run into path detours, noise during the day, or less-than-idyllic views from some parts of the campground.

Now, most of Fort Wilderness’s beloved amenities are still in place. If you’re here for horseback riding, fishing, or Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, you’ll still find them. But if what you love most about Fort Wilderness is its serenity and seclusion, this construction project is worth factoring into your decision.

What This Means for Your Trip

Disney resorts are still magical places to stay, but sometimes the reality doesn’t match the glossy brochure photos. For the Grand Floridian, the issue is whether the centerpiece of the resort—the grand lobby—can live up to expectations during construction.

For Fort Wilderness, it’s whether the “peace and quiet” promise holds up when a big hotel project is in full swing across the water.

Neither of these situations makes the hotels un-stayable, but they are things to know before you book. If you’re flexible, you might want to hold off on these resorts until construction wraps or at least until the heaviest work is behind them. And if you do book, go in knowing what to expect—that way you’re less likely to feel caught off guard.

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

To stay up to date on the construction process and all Disney news and updates, make sure to stay tuned to AllEars.

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What do you think—would these issues stop you from booking either resort right now, or would you still go for it? Let us know in the comments!

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