A Holiday Tradition is on Hold This Year at Disney’s Grand Floridian
Earlier this year, Disney announced that a major refurbishment would begin almost immediately on the Grand Floridian’s lobby. That was in April, and construction started as soon as the Easter holiday passed. As you likely know, the Grand Floridian is known for many things, including its traditional holiday displays. Unfortunately, the most popular of them all, the gingerbread house, will not be available as construction is expected to extend into the 2025 holiday season.
Here is a look at the concept art for the new lobby design that Disney shared a few months back. Most notably, you can see that the former Victorian birdcage has been removed. A new bar with familiar birdcage vibes will take its place.
Here is the official wording from the Walt Disney World website regarding the construction work taking place at the resort:
As part of the ongoing enhancements at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, phased updates to the lobby, convention center, and select areas will begin April 14. Portions of the lobby will close at times, and Guests may encounter changes to their path of travel. While construction will be noticeable during daytime hours, efforts will be made to minimize disruptions, and all pools, dining, and other amenities will remain available. As renovations continue at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the gingerbread display will not be available during the holiday season in 2025.
This is the second time in the last two years that the Grand Floridian’s lobby has been a construction zone. You may remember that the lobby was walled off for several months in 2023 while it was repainted. At the time, guests thought the entire lobby would be renovated. However, as soon as painting wrapped up, the walls came down, and no further work was done. Here is a photo from our archives of that work.
In anticipation of the project, we collected numerous photos of the lobby in the past several years. We’ll eventually try to put together a before-and-after article. In the meantime, we have the following photo post.
A Look at Disney’s Grand Floridian Lobby (Ahead of the 2025 Update)
For more on the resort, see our guide to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. If you’re concerned about refurbishments, we keep an updated list of resort refurbishments here.
Whether you’re new to the world of Disney or a seasoned pro in search of a new adventure, their goal is to help you plan a tailor-made experience like no other. Check with our travel partner, Firefly Travels, to begin planning.
Looking for more help planning your Disney World trip? Start with our Resorts Guide, then check out our Dining Guide, Transportation Guide, and Parks Overview. You’ll also find helpful resources for meeting characters and visiting the water parks.
In the Comments
Have you ever seen the Grand Floridian’s gingerbread house? Is this a holiday tradition? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
