One of Walt Disney World‘s most iconic resort hotels has been undergoing a large refresh of its lobby, convention center, plus adding a new bar and refreshing an iconic lounge.
Disney World just released a close-up look at the finishing touches of this gorgeous lobby redesign, plus a reveal of the reopening period for its long-missed tea room experience. At Mickey Visit, we are constantly reporting on Disney news, including the Haunted Mansion bar opening next week and the Disneyland holiday food items.
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Years of Grand Floridian Refurbishments
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been undergoing refurbishments since 2021. The first stage of these refurbishments focused on refreshing DVC and standard guest rooms, with work completing in 2023 with Mary Poppins-inspired guest rooms. The Mary Poppins theme continued at the resort with the Cítricos restaurant reopening in 2021 with a similar inspired style and new menu.
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In early 2023, Narcoossee’s, the table service seafood restaurant, reopened with a new interior and menu. This was followed by a transformation of the iconic character dining at 1900 Park Fare, which reopened in 2024. The design of 1900 Park Fare was refreshed to incorporate Victorian and “carousel” theming with a mix-up to the character lineup to include more contemporary favorites like Mirabel and Princess Tiana.
The latest in this saga of resort refurbishments is the work taking place in the lobby and convention center, which started in early 2025. Along with that work, the Garden View Tea Room has remained closed since 2020.
Garden View Tea Reopening Period Announced
The Garden View Lounge has been closed since 2020, initially due to pandemic concerns, but then later impacted by the active refurbishments at the resort.
The good news is that Disney has announced that the Garden View Lounge will return in early 2026 with a refreshed look and new tea experience with “whimsical Disney touches” for guests of all ages.
New “The Perch” Bar Opening Soon
Part of the new lobby refreshments taking place was also the creation of a new bar inspired by the iconic lobby birdcage.
The Perch will open on November 10, 2025, at Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel & Spa. You can read more about this new lobby bar and its full menu here.
Disney Finishes Up Grand Floridian Lobby Details
Disney is now nearing completion on its updates to the Grand Floridian with bright and inviting enhancements to its iconic lobby.
This design inspiration is taken from the grandeur of the Victorian era. According to Disney, each design choice is a “love letter” to the resort’s Floridian roots and golden age of travel.
The lobby has received updated stained-glass skylights, refreshed chandeliers, and botanical-inspired furnishings.
A new impressionist-style mural can be found above the grand staircase and imagines what the Grand Floridian may have looked like during the turn of the century. The resort is framed by royal and sabal palms (Florida’s state tree!).
The new atrium carpet is inspired by the Victorian “Language of Flowers” and features the orange blossom (Florida’s state flower and a symbol of prosperity), palms, and moonstones (Florida’s state gemstone).
The carpet even features a few hidden Mickeys tucked inside the blossoms.
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The Grand Floridian Convention Center has also been refreshed and carries the same design from the lobby and guest rooms into this popular event space. Now that the lobby construction is finishing up, we are nearing the end of the major construction updates at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and the result is elegantly beautiful.
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