Walt Disney World isn’t just about theme parks. Recreational activities across the property’s 43 square miles include horseback riding, boating, and golfing, among other excursions.
One of Disney World’s four golf courses will close for several months later this year to receive significant updates. Keep reading to learn the estimated timeline, what’s changing, and which courses will remain open. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including Disney World menu changes and new hotel rooms inspired by The Princess and the Frog.
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Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course Refurbishment
Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course at Walt Disney World will be updated in 2026 to improve its playability and to be better equipped to handle Orlando’s rainy weather.
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Disney says the changes will include renovated greens, green-side bunker updates, chipping area updates, irrigation system upgrades, new bunker drainage systems, and teeing grounds enhancements.
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The refurbishment will begin in “late spring” 2026, with the course reopening in “early fall.” Disney didn’t announce specific dates. However, tee times for this particular course are only available through May 3, 2026, while all the other courses display as having ample reservations available after that.
Therefore, Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course’s refurbishment might begin on May 4, but Disney hasn’t officially announced that.
Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course is one of four golf courses at Disney World. The other three will remain open during the refurbishment: Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, and Disney’s Palm Golf Course. Note that the featured image with the Mickey Mouse golf cart is located at the Disney’s Palm Golf Course club house.
Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course is the only of the four courses to begin and end at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa near Disney Springs, winding its way along nearby areas adjacent to the Sassagoula River. The other three courses are attached to Shades of Green near Magic Kingdom.
Guests can also play miniature golf at Disney’s Fantasia Gardens and Fairways at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel and Disney’s Winter Summerland at Disney’s Blizzard Beach.
Changes Throughout Disney World
The top-to-bottom changes for Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course are among many similar large-scale updates Disney is making to existing experiences throughout the Disney World property.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin just reopened at Magic Kingdom after being closed since August 2025. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, also at Magic Kingdom, will reopen on May 3, having been closed since January 2025. Both attractions received significant enhancements.
EPCOT will introduce Soarin’ Across America on May 26 as a new version of its classic hang-glider simulator, this time venturing above the United States.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will debut a new version of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run featuring the Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22. Later in the summer, the park will welcome Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, having bid Aerosmith farewell earlier this year.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Rafiki’s Planet Watch will become Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station starting May 26, featuring the Disney World debut of the popular preschool character Bluey.
That’s not to mention the ongoing and upcoming refurbishments at Disney World hotels happening in 2026 and continuing in 2027.
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