The lobby at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is about to go through a significant update. A brand new bar will be built inside the lobby while other changes are made to the lobby’s carpet and furniture. The construction means the resort’s Gingerbread House will not available during the 2025 holiday season.
The Grand Floridian Lobby Bar will be designed to resemble a classic birdcage, paying tribute to the birdcage that stood across from the lobby’s elevators for many years.
In addition to the new bar, the lobby’s overall appearance will be modernized. New carpet and furniture will aim to refresh the lobby without abandoning the charm that many Disney guests know and love.
Disney on the lobby’s changes:
As shown in the new rendering, the lobby will feature beautiful new carpeting with Victorian-inspired borders and scrollwork featuring hand-drawn florals inspired by turn-of-the-century botanical studies. Updated furnishings will blend rich finishes and brass accents with cozy, welcoming fabrics–plus a few playful touches inspired by Florida’s natural beauty and Victorian decorating trends.  
Disney Parks Blog
Honestly, we thought this update could have been a lot worse. The concept art appears to maintain a lot of what makes the Grand Floridian Resort look special, but we’ll reserve judgement until it’s complete. The new lobby bar might be seen as tacky to some, and we’re not going to argue that. However, Disney has made their ambitions clear (maximizing revenue in all guest spaces), so this addition isn’t a surprise.
We wonder how the lobby will feel during the busy holiday season when the famous Gingerbread House returns in 2026 – assuming it returns. Big crowds come to the Grand Floridian for the Gingerbread House, and the new bar looks like it takes up a good amount of space. Things might be a bit cramped.
What do you think of the lobby’s new design? Let us know in the comments below.
