Art of Animation Refurbishment Reportedly Set for 2027
Published September 4, 2026
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort at Walt Disney World is reportedly scheduled for a phased “hard goods” refurbishment beginning in mid-June 2027 and running through October 2028. The resort is expected to stay open throughout, with crews working one themed section at a time.
As of Friday, September 4, 2026, that timeline comes from reports published Friday, September 4, 2026, based on an executive media panel held earlier this year with Walt Disney Imagineering and Facility Asset Management leadership. Disney has not issued a public announcement of the dates.
A “hard goods” refurbishment means a deeper overhaul than a cosmetic refresh — furniture, fixtures and finishes rather than new bedspreads. The existing theming reportedly stays: Family Suites remain themed to The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo, and the standard rooms remain themed to The Little Mermaid.
Guests staying during the work should expect daytime construction noise and temporary path reroutes around whichever section is active. Disney reportedly schedules that work during daytime hours, when fewer guests are at the resort.
The approach mirrors the recently completed Pop Century refurbishment, where guest rooms, the lobby and common areas were redone while the resort stayed open to guests. Disney also reportedly shared concept art for an updated Little Mermaid room at the panel, described as retaining the detail level of the current rooms; that artwork has not been publicly released.
What we know
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort — phased “hard goods” refurbishment reportedly running mid-June 2027 through October 2028
- Resort reportedly remains open the entire time, with one themed section under work at a time
- Family Suite theming (The Lion King, Cars, Finding Nemo) and standard-room theming (The Little Mermaid) reportedly unchanged
- Impacts reported for guests: daytime maintenance noise and alternate walking routes near active sections
- Updated Little Mermaid room concept art shown to media but not publicly released
What’s not confirmed
Disney has not publicly announced these dates or a section-by-section order, so there is no confirmed schedule for which wing closes when. Nothing has been said about changes to the lobby, the Big Blue Pool, Landscape of Flavors, or the Skyliner station, and no room-rate impact or booking restriction has been announced.
What it means for your trip
If you are booking Art of Animation for summer 2027 through late 2028, assume some noise and detours are possible and pick your dates with that in mind — the resort is large, so your exposure depends on which section you land in. Book early and call to note a request if quiet matters; requests are never guaranteed, but they are recorded.
If your trip falls inside the window and you want a comparable value-tier stay, Pop Century sits directly across Hourglass Lake on the same Skyliner line and has already had its refresh. Art of Animation Family Suites remain the main draw for groups of five or six, and no equivalent exists at the other value resorts.
Nothing here changes anything for trips before mid-June 2027. If your dates are in the window and you want a specific room type that is currently sold out, SupaPark’s Drop Watch can flag a resort or dining cancellation the moment it frees up so you can grab it in My Disney Experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Art of Animation close during the refurbishment?
No — Disney is reportedly working one themed section at a time so the resort stays open and bookable throughout.
Are the room themes changing?
No. Reports indicate the Lion King, Cars, Finding Nemo and Little Mermaid themes all stay, with the rooms updated rather than re-themed.
Do existing 2027 reservations carry over?
Disney has not announced any changes to bookings during the work, and no rebooking or rate adjustment has been confirmed.
SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.