While the check-in area has reopened at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, more of the lobby’s center has been blocked off and crew members have started removing carpet.

Check-In Desks

The refurbished check-in area has new desks, replacing the single long counter that used to fill the space.

What was previously an extension of the check-in counter is now a lounge area. A former lounge area across from check-in reopened last month as the new Bell Services station. The walls in this space were re-done with new wallpaper and the tall windows got new curtains.

There’s a new couch, ottomans, and a short table and chairs for kids. The new carpeting here is blue with gold filigree.

The ottomans have green cushioned seats and watercolor-inspired exteriors. The furnishings give an idea of what other new furniture coming to the lobby may look like.

The check-in desks have dark brown wood finishes with gold bases. Subtle striped and sunburst designs are on the fronts.

This decorative panel featuring the resort’s GF logo was installed about a month ago. It has a wood grain finish with leafy filigree.

It hangs above a gold accent stripe and old-fashioned wood boxes built-into the walls. The new golden light fixtures were installed a few days ago.

Illuminated panels shine pink behind the desks. They feature dark Victorian-style patterns.

There are four desks, each with two computers, for a total of eight check-in stations. The tile flooring was also replaced.

Lobby Carpet

White curtains now block about half of the lobby’s central lounge area. They extend from the construction walls around the birdcage bar around the birdcage elevator across the lobby. The elevator is closed for now.

All of the carpet has been torn up from this blocked-off area. Crew members were working on cleaning the floor before new carpet can be installed. All of the planters remain in the area.

When we visited on Monday morning, large rolls of possibly the new carpet were staged behind the elevator. In the photo above, you can also see the edge of the old carpet where it was torn away.

Disney revealed the lobby would get new carpeting when they released concept art for the remodeled lobby. For comparison, below is a photo of the old carpet from July 2025, side by side with the concept art.

The concept art shows a green carpet with Victorian-inspired borders and scrollwork, and light-colored florals inspired by turn-of-the-century botanical studies.

Birdcage Bar

There’s more faux wood paneling on the birdcage bar. It now has a solid wood grain roof below the cage-style frame.

Additional wood grain elements have also been installed along the edge of the roof, creating a small decorative overhang. These don’t yet line the entire roof, leaving some framework exposed on one side.

The beginning of a counter has been installed on the front of the bar. This appears to be a long piece of plywood. It will be covered by paneling later.

The planters jutting out from the back of the bar have mostly been cleared out. It looks their interior walls were cleaned and sanded.

There is now dark wood paneling and red trim around all three sides of the bar. A few weeks ago, chevron tiling was installed on the floor but it is mostly covered by protective paneling while crew members work.

How do you feel about the changes to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort? Let us know in the comments.

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Shannen Ace