Walt Disney World recently began an extensive exterior maintenance project at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The hotel will undergo significant updates over the next few years. If you have an upcoming vacation planned, you need to understand how this work might affect your stay. This article covers the project timeline, the specific areas under construction, and what guests can expect during their visit.
Refurbishment Timeline and Schedule
Started
March 23, 2026
Ends
Late 2027
Disney announced that the refurbishment work will continue through late 2027. The project officially started on March 23, 2026. Crews are working in phases to update the exterior of the building.
By scheduling the project in stages, the resort can remain open to guests. The current pace indicates that the entire exterior will be refreshed by the start of 2028. Phased schedules allow the hotel to limit the number of rooms taken out of service at any given time.
Areas Impacted by the Construction
The maintenance project covers several sections of the resort property. The current focus is the Main Tower. Construction crews recently installed scaffolding and temporary walls along the southwest side of the building.
Workers are removing exterior paneling and updating the balconies in this specific section. The overall multi-year project also includes planned work on the main atrium and Bay Lake Tower. During this initial phase at the Main Tower, the resort removed approximately 20 guest rooms from service to accommodate the scaffolding and equipment.
Guest Experience and Visual Impact
Staying at a hotel during a refurbishment requires some flexibility. Disney warned guests that the exterior work might impact room views from various locations around the property. You might also need to use alternate walking paths to navigate around the active construction zones.
Construction noise will occur during normal daytime hours. Fortunately, the interior of the hotel shows very little visual impact right now. You will not find construction walls blocking the inside corridors. You might simply notice construction personnel walking through the public areas from time to time.
Planning Your Future Visit
The exterior maintenance at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is a thorough process that will eventually refresh the appearance of the building. Knowing the timeline and the impacted areas helps you set the right expectations for your trip. You can still fully enjoy the dining, shopping, and monorail transportation options at the resort while the crews work outside. Keep these updates in mind as you book your future Walt Disney World vacations.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
