Disney Trip Membership has launched its timeline for room refurbishments, resort reimaginings, and different building tasks at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and past in 2024 & 2025. This useful resource supplies the scheduled dates and particulars for work on the Deluxe Villas, and what to anticipate from every overhaul. (Up to date April 27, 2024.)
Usually, resort refurbishment schedules are launched on the annual Condominium Affiliation Assembly. Throughout this, Disney Trip Membership executives current their plans for updating villa interiors over the following 2 years. There’s often a timeline shared as a part of the presentation that signifies every resort scheduled for updates, and the dimensions of the mission.
The previous few years have thrown a monkey wrench in these plans, with a number of resort refurbishments being delayed as a result of closure and its aftermath. Maybe on account of that, a timeline was not introduced throughout annual conferences for a few years. Luckily, a brand new timeline was unveiled for 2024-2025 on the Disney Trip Membership Condominium Affiliation Assembly held in mid-December. Right here’s what we realized throughout that and from subsequent updates by Walt Disney World…
First, a number of Disney Trip Membership resorts acquired a smaller scale refresh this 12 months and lots of extra of these are going to happen in 2025. For those who’re aware of our Walt Disney World Resort Development Tracker, you’ve in all probability seen this known as a tender items refurbishment. This sometimes means updating furnishings, together with however not restricted to wall coverings, flooring, linens, decor, and a few furnishings.
In recent times, the definition of a ‘tender items’ refurbishment has “advanced” and I imply that in a great way! (All too usually, utilizing air quotes round evolve in relation to Disney means a downgrade. Not on this case.) Each the Grand Floridian and Polynesian Villas acquired tender items refurbishments comparatively just lately that included set up of the brand new Inova pull-down couch mattress and sofa combo. This characteristic first debuted at Disney’s Riviera Resort, and was subsequently added to Saratoga Springs Resort throughout its full refurbishment.
Based mostly on what we noticed this 12 months, the resorts receiving tender items refurbishments going ahead ought to all proceed to have the Inova pull-down beds added. It is a colossal improve over the pull-out couches, and has been an enormous hit with Disney Trip Membership members. It has been one in all a number of useful enhancements which have actually improved the ‘high quality of life’ of DVC rooms–whereas Imagineering has additionally completed a strong job weaving themed design into the upgraded models.
There are additionally a handful of Disney Trip Membership resorts slated to obtain full refurbishments within the subsequent two years. Usually, it is a full gutting of the room, and leads to a wholly new villa inside. The footprint of the room often stays the identical, and its general sq. footage measurement all the time does.
Adjustments sometimes embrace new furnishings, cupboards, counter tops, home equipment, flooring, tiling, fixtures, and extra. Some objects may be reused from the prior rooms, particularly little particulars that members take pleasure in, however these are often thought of “new rooms” whereas tender items refurbishments lead to “reimagined rooms.”
Disney Trip Membership makes an attempt to schedule resorts to obtain a tender items refresh each 7 years and a full refurbishment each 14 years. Within the final a number of years (since round 2018, so even earlier than the closure), they’d began to fall behind this schedule. That drawback solely bought worse in 2020-2022, however it seems DVC is lastly turning the nook. Just about every little thing that was scheduled this 12 months truly bought accomplished, and roughly on schedule.
If you’re not a Disney Trip Membership member, this publish nonetheless may need relevance to you! For one factor, all of those lodging are bookable immediately from Walt Disney World or Disneyland by way of the “Deluxe Villa” tier, which is handled identical to a standard resort.
For one more factor, you should use our Ideas for Renting Disney Trip Membership Factors to step into the sneakers of a DVC member–and get monetary savings within the course of. (We strongly advocate the second route, as Deluxe Villas are often considerably overpriced, whereas renting DVC factors affords large financial savings–they’re mainly like polar opposites.)
We do common resort stays at each Walt Disney World and Disneyland, often emphasizing properties the place there are new issues, adjustments, or ongoing building to see how that harms, improves, or in any other case impacts the visitor expertise. For those who’ve but to e-book lodging to your trip in 2024 or 2025 and wish to be notified about the entire newest resort adjustments, join right here for our FREE Disney e-newsletter right here.
When reserving a Walt Disney World or Disneyland trip, we extremely advocate bearing in mind recently-completed and ongoing building tasks on the varied resorts, as these completely can influence the standard of your journey. (Talking of recently-completed, each Boulder Ridge at Wilderness Lodge and the Seaside Membership Villas have wrapped up refurbishments within the final 12 months and are trying wonderful!)
Reserving a resort with a closed pool or building noise and cranes proper outdoors your window is clearly going to be a worse expertise than a resort that simply completed its massive refurbishment and nonetheless has that recent feeling and ‘new resort’ scent.
Suffice to say, a lot is going on on the Disney Trip Membership building entrance on each coasts. Let’s check out the entire present and upcoming tasks which have the potential to influence visitors…
Now By Late 2024: Polynesian Village Resort Villas – Work is at the moment underway at Walt Disney World to construct a new DVC tower at Polynesian Village Resort, changing Spirit of Aloha Dinner Present, between the prevailing Polynesian longhouses and Wedding ceremony Pavilion, close to the Grand Floridian.
Work is shifting quick on this new tower adjoining to the prevailing Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The proposed Disney Trip Membership tower addition that’s being constructed at Polynesian Village Resort is at the moment slated to open in late 2024 at Walt Disney World, and it’ll nearly definitely meet that focus on date.
For those who’re staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (resort aspect) anytime between now and round September 2024, this building might influence you. Whereas we don’t know but when the resort will open, we’re fairly assured that the majority of seen and audible work will likely be completed by summer season, on the newest. After that, they’ll transfer to the within.
Within the meantime, we advocate requesting a room that’s not within the Aotearoa, Fiji, or Tuvalu longhouses. These buildings are adjoining to the development web site, and the one ones that must be impacted in any materials method.
Nevertheless, the Polynesian Villas are all on the opposite aspect of the resort, so the influence to anybody staying within the present Disney Trip Membership lodging on the Poly shouldn’t be impacted. (A bit ironic that these least impacted by DVC building are DVC visitors!) The DVC tower building will likely be seen from different places within the resort as soon as it goes vertical, however the influence ought to in any other case be minor.
Previous to this tower, work wrapped up on the Nice Ceremonial Home, porte-cochère, new monorail station, and gardens. Room refurbishments have been additionally a part of the Poly’s overhaul and people at the moment are completed. See our Evaluate, Images & Video: New Moana Rooms at Polynesian Village Resort for a tour and ideas on the adjustments from our most up-to-date resort keep. For those who’re trying on the DVC rooms, see our Evaluate, Images & Video: New Rooms at Polynesian Villas.
2024: BoardWalk Villas – Walt Disney World is within the midst of reimagining Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, with new rooms on the resort aspect and a bunch of different adjustments within the foyer and alongside the promenade.
The BoardWalk Villas are a part of this, and as a full refurbishment. Our expectation is that this wraps up someday within the first half of the 12 months, because it began final September and the primary rooms began to complete a pair months later. At the least the entire BoardWalk view rooms are completed and the rest of the room stock is both additionally accomplished or at the moment in progress. We’re not 100% certain the place issues presently stand, however it’s protected to anticipate this to be completed by Summer time 2024.
That is very a lot wanted, because the BoardWalk Villas have been the final rooms to be redone earlier than the present era of overhauls. It exhibits. The previous rooms (pictured above) are the worst of each worlds: devoid of theme and persona, in addition to progressive and space-saving options. They’ve massive ‘nondescript chained-brand resort from the early aughts’ vibes in consequence.
2024: Hilton Head & Vero Seaside – Sooner or later in 2024, each Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort and Disney’s Vero Seaside Resort will obtain tender items refurbishments. No different particulars or idea artwork have been supplied on the Rental Affiliation Assembly.
I’ve mixed these not as a result of they’re sister properties (they’re actually separated by states), however as a result of they’re past my space of experience. Our most up-to-date keep at both of those was 2018, whereas we’ve stayed at each different property on this listing within the final 2 years, and have already visited all of them in 2024.
2024-2025: Bay Lake Tower at Up to date Resort – Throughout final 12 months’s condominium affiliation assembly, DVC revealed that Bay Lake Tower is slated to obtain a full refurbishment in 2024 and 2025. They mentioned the mission would begin within the second half of 2024, would take roughly one-year, and be accomplished in 2025.
The VP of Resort Operations mentioned it’ll be a difficult mission, with renovations accomplished floor-by-floor, requiring a rerouting of utilities so that every one working flooring nonetheless obtain service. The design of the brand new rooms remains to be being evaluated and the mission will even entail a wifi infrastructure improve.
We lastly have an replace from DisneyWorld.com narrowing the scope of the mission together with dates: “From September 2024 to September 2025, room refurbishment work will happen in Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Up to date Resort. Throughout this time, Company will see and listen to building work all through Bay Lake Tower. Please enable additional time for journey as alternate paths could also be utilized.”
From our perspective, the BLT information is the one piece of combined information from the 2024-2025 timeline. On the one hand, it’s good to have this confirmed and eventually shifting ahead. However, we have been actually hoping it’d begin in mid-January and be completed by September 2024. So it’s beginning later and taking longer than anticipated.
Bay Lake Tower is overdue for a refurbishment, and the rooms have been worse for put on for at the very least 5 years now. The rooms at Bay Lake Tower have been poorly constructed within the first place and constructed simply earlier than the present ‘wave’ of progressive lodging that marry space-saving types with well-themed ones. The studios are additionally small by Disney Trip Membership requirements, particularly when contrasted with the Polynesian.
Consequently, BLT may gain advantage tremendously from getting the Riviera remedy. We actually stay up for returning to Bay Lake Tower as soon as that occurs…however received’t till it does! At this level, I suppose meaning banking and reserving a keep at BLT for Christmas 2025 or in 2026.
2025: Villas at Grand Californian – This one has been teased for some time and it’s lastly on the official calendar. The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa are trying actually drained and are a pointy distinction to the new rooms within the Villas at Disneyland Resort.
Hopefully the idea takes thematic and stylistic components of the new-look GCH rooms (perhaps with a splash of Boulder Ridge) and combines that with the brand new Inova pull-down beds. That will be an enormous win.
This was initially slated to occur final 12 months…then 2024…now 2025. Right here’s hoping this isn’t delayed once more. We love the Grand Californian and can keep within the previous rooms if it means not paying the resort’s pricing, however they’re undoubtedly displaying their age–identical to Boulder Ridge was.
2025: Animal Kingdom Villas (Kidani & Jambo Home) – Comparable story right here as with Grand Californian. Animal Kingdom Lodge accomplished an superior room reimagining a couple of years in the past that completely threaded the needle on kind and performance.
I do know on the time, the DVC rooms weren’t fairly able to obtain an replace. They’re now. I’m not a kind of folks, but when these are completed with the identical steadiness because the Jambo Home resort rooms, I’m effective with it.
2025: Copper Creek Villas at Wilderness Lodge – These are comparatively new rooms, so that is essentially a tender items refurbishment primarily based solely on timing. Actually, that’s completely effective with us–and we’re frankly to see Copper Creek make this listing!
Copper Creek opened simply earlier than the wave of Inova pull-down beds, so it’ll nearly definitely get that. Hopefully, Disney additionally corrects a few of the questionable design selections, which made it a little bit of a thematic hodgepodge. Copper Creek had flashes of excellence earlier than, and if this brings it on par with Boulder Ridge, it’ll be an enormous win.
2025: Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs Resort – Actually, I’m nervous about this one. We love the Treehouse Villas, and often dream about doing a return keep there for an enormous household reunion with the grandparents from either side of our household.
We actually love the quirky, rustic model of the Treehouses, and hope Disney doesn’t get too heavy-handed with modernizing these rooms. Whereas the brand new rooms at Saratoga Springs are a pleasant improve for that aspect of the resort, if that very same model is utilized to the Treehouses, it wouldn’t work. It’d be too bland and generically trendy. Right here’s hoping that Disney realizes this and appears to Wilderness Lodge for inspiration, as an alternative of Saratoga Springs.
For complete planning recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information or our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing it’s essential to know! For those who’re contemplating becoming a member of DVC, first remember to learn our Final Information to Disney Trip Membership. For those who nonetheless can’t resolve whether or not membership is best for you, “strive before you purchase” with the suggestions in Tips on how to Save BIG on Deluxe Disney Lodging Renting DVC Factors.
YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on the 2024-2025 room refurbishment timeline for Disney Trip Membership resorts? Have any current observations or experiences with resort building at Walt Disney World or Disneyland to share? The place are you planning to remain in 2024 or 2025? Any resorts you’re deliberately avoiding? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments of those resort refurbishment or reimagining tasks? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to suggestions about your experiences is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
