When it comes to ALL of the hotels at the Walt Disney World resort, the ones in the Magic Kingdom area (especially those on the monorail loop) are among the most famous and most beloved!

Families have been staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge for decades, and they’ve come to know and love them as-is.

But, in case you missed it, Disney World is turning the BIG 5-0 this year! The Contemporary and Polynesian are also going to celebrate their 50th anniversaries, and the Grand Floridian isn’t too far behind — it’ll be turning 33 this year. In anticipation of this major milestone and because Disney World NEVER stops evolving, these deluxe resorts are getting some HUGE MAKEOVERS!

How are they changing? And how will these changes impact your travels to Disney World now and in the coming years? Let’s break down what’s going on at these three Magic Kingdom-area resorts!

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort opened alongside Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom on October 1st, 1971!

If you’ve walked through the Contemporary lately (or dined at Chef Mickey’s), you’ll notice that the rooms are lined with construction tarps.

That’s because the main guest rooms are getting makeovers! Construction started in April and is planned to wrap up in September, right before Disney World’s anniversary!

But the guest rooms aren’t the only thing at the Contemporary that will be changing. The Wave…of American Flavors will also be closed starting July 15th for “the summer” for an extended refurbishment!

Right now, you can grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner at The Wave, and we’re not sure what changes are coming here, but you know we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled! Details on the changes coming to The Contemporary rooms have not been shared at this time. We will share more as more information is released.

Read all about The Contemporary refurbishment here.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort also opened on October 1st, 1971, and before the closure in 2020, it was the home to some of the most BELOVED spots at Disney World, including Trader Sam’s and ‘Ohana.

Well, those restaurants have yet to reopen…in fact, the Polynesian is still closed! (Though the Disney Vacation Club rooms and some restaurants are available.) Why? Because this resort is undergoing a MASSIVE refurbishment, with a retheme to Moana in the guest rooms!

And we’ve already seen a sneak peek of these new rooms, which is a good thing because reservations are AVAILABLE for the resort’s reopening beginning in mid-July!

There are other touches of Moana already at the Polynesian, including new Cast Member costumes.

There are other HUGE changes, including the removal of the roof’s iconic beams, as well as changes to the hotel’s entryway and a redesigned monorail station.

SO MUCH is happening at the Poly, and once it fully reopens this summer, we can’t WAIT to see all the touches of Moana and more!

Read MORE about the Polynesian refurbishment here! 

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has seen some welcome changes in the last year, including the addition of a walkway to the Magic Kingdom!

And now, some BIG changes are coming to the rooms at the Grand Floridian. The Grand Floridian will be expanding the number of Disney Vacation Club rooms available, converting one building of traditional hotel rooms into DVC Villas.

Building 9, a.k.a. Big Pine Key, will turn into 200 Resort Studios, with an expected opening date next summer.

Disney World is constantly changing, even beyond the monorail loop and Magic Kingdom area, and the changes are only happening in bigger ways with more frequency as the resort nears its 50th anniversary! As construction starts, continues, and finishes, we’ll definitely keep you updated so you know how to plan your trip!

Everything CONFIRMED to Open in Disney World in 2021

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What is your favorite Magic Kingdom area resort? Let us know in the comments!

The post 3 of Disney World’s Most POPULAR Hotels Are CHANGING! first appeared on the disney food blog.