Planning for your 2024 Disney World trip is no small feat!
Listen, we get it. When you’ve got so many things to consider like your dining reservations or navigating Genie+, it can start to feel overwhelming really quickly. That’s what we’re here for. The last thing we want is for you to arrive and be disappointed with your plans. So, let’s talk about your hotel and some of the reasons you might regret staying in certain Disney hotels in 2024.
1. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
First up, let’s talk about Disney’s BoardWalk. Being that it’s conveniently located between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it’s a pretty popular Deluxe resort with some impressive amenities. But, it’s currently in the middle of a few construction projects.
They are in the process of updating all the hotel rooms with new furniture and decor. These new rooms will feature artwork that contains images of Mickey, Minnie, and other Disney pals strolling through the BoardWalk.
On top of that, the lobby of the hotel is expected to get a refresh. We already saw some construction at the check-in desk, and the former Dundy’s Sundries shut down to make way for Carousel Coffee.
The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers will be coming to Disney’s BoardWalk in early 2024 (a delay from its initially announced opening of 2023), and will serve more than just cakes. The table service restaurant is expected to also have savory items, and in the afternoons guests can enjoy a spot of tea.
In the meantime, expect lots of construction sounds! If your trip is late in the year, all of these projects might not affect your stay — but keep them in mind when you’re planning!
2. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is Disney World’s premier Deluxe Resort, but unfortunately, this hotel is also undergoing some major construction at the moment.
Currently, many of the buildings at this resort are getting refurbishments.
Some of the rooms are being updated with new furniture and color schemes. We’ve already seen many of these updated rooms open up to guests.
Lots of the DVC rooms have been updated already with a Mary Poppins Returns theme.
Also, the lobby of the hotel is undergoing a refurbishment.
Furthermore, there are still parts of this resort that haven’t reopened since 2020. 1900 Park Fare previously offered buffet dining for breakfast and dinner — with characters — but it’s STILL closed.
The main point is that you will definitely be noticing all of the scaffolding, construction, and noises while you’re there.
3. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
In case you haven’t had enough construction news, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is also undergoing a major overhaul. Disney is currently in the process of expanding this resort to include more Disney Vacation Club villas, which will bring new recreation and dining options.
We’ve been following progress on the construction since the project began. We’ve seen a large portion of the building going up in the past few months. This is what the construction site looked like in July 2023. At the time, we noticed a lot more equipment on the site.
Well, we visited recently again and noticed that the building is being extended. It looks like it’s really coming together now!
A lot of the work being done now seems to be focused on individual parts of the building — in this case, it looks like they’re working on the rooms.
We’ve been seeing a lot of cranes on site, too, while the crews work on the DVC villas. Concept art we’ve seen previously suggest that the new structure will include a variety of villa sizes, including 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom villas.
It does look like more pieces of the wall are going up, too.
However, it’s not scheduled to finish until late 2024, so that’s a long time to deal with the construction!
4. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Disney Vacation Club has announced its plan to redesign the cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The proposal calls for more than 350 refreshed cabins to replace the existing cabins at the resort. Although the new cabins will be part of the Disney Vacation Club resort lineup, the proposed cabins will be open for reservations to all guests, including those who are not Disney Vacation Club Members.
So far, the concept art shows modern cabins “inspired by the resort’s idyllic setting, while also paying homage to the resort’s unique culture and heritage through the magic of Disney storytelling,” per Disney. The cabins will sleep up to six adults and feature a bedroom, bathroom, living room, full kitchen, and private patio. A select number of cabins will be dog-friendly.
As part of Disney’s Environmental Sustainability initiative, Disney stated that “the proposed cabins will be built with an eye toward the environment, utilizing the footprint of the existing cabins and taking advantage of more energy-efficient features.”
There will also be an updated pool and walking trail enhancements. And a new dining experience has already debuted at Trail’s End Restaurant, with Crockett’s Tavern being refurbished, as well. Currently, Disney expects the new Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort to open in 2024.
5. All-Star Resorts
Lastly, the collection of All-Star Resorts are Disney’s “budget” hotels. They could be a great option for you if you’re on the lookout to stay on property at a budget price tag. Keep in mind that you will be sacrificing some conveniences to stay here. First, you’re not going to be having a gourmet dining experience here as the food court is your only option and it’s nothing fancy.
You’ll also be looking at smaller rooms, fewer amenities, and a more crowded resort. These resorts are popular with big groups — so they can sometimes feel loud and very busy.
Also, the only transportation options here are Disney buses, which can be inconvenient on their own.
So across Disney World’s Resort Hotels, there are quite a few things to look out for when planning your vacation! A lot of construction is going on in 2024 that can have a big impact on your stay. Watch out for these inconveniences while you figure out what resort works best for you and your family.
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The post Why You’ll Regret Staying At These Disney World Hotels in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog.