If you’ve been meaning to grab one more meal at Grand Floridian Cafe, your window is quickly closing.
Walt Disney World has officially set a closing date for the upcoming refurbishment of the Grand Floridian Cafe at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, giving guests a clearer timeline for when the popular restaurant will temporarily close and what dining changes to expect during the project.
The refurbishment is part of the larger ongoing transformation taking place throughout Disney’s flagship resort, which continues to undergo updates that are expected to last into early 2027.
July 19, 2026, appears to be the final day of normal operations for Grand Floridian Cafe before the refurbishment begins.
Beginning July 20, 2026, traditional breakfast and dinner reservations will disappear from the system, aligning with Disney’s previously announced refurbishment timeline.
Disney first announced that Grand Floridian Cafe would temporarily close from mid-July through October 2026 for what the company is describing as a “refresh.”
Brunch Is Moving to CĂtricos
While the restaurant itself will close, guests won’t completely lose access to one of the resort’s most popular meal offerings.
Disney has confirmed that brunch service will temporarily relocate to CĂtricos during the refurbishment period. The move will allow guests to continue enjoying many of the Grand Floridian Cafe’s breakfast and brunch offerings while work takes place downstairs.
The closure impacts both the restaurant’s regular brunch and dinner operations, making the temporary move to CĂtricos an important alternative for guests staying at the resort.
Part of the Grand Floridian’s Ongoing Transformation
The Grand Floridian Cafe project is just one piece of a much larger refurbishment effort currently underway at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Disney has stated that renovations will continue in select areas of the resort, including the covered entrance, through early 2027. During that time, guests may see or hear construction activity during daytime hours and may be directed along alternate walking paths around the resort.
Despite the closure, Disney says all other dining locations at the resort will remain available, including CĂtricos, Narcoossee’s, 1900 Park Fare, Gasparilla Island Grill, Enchanted Rose, and Victoria & Albert’s.
Expected to Reopen This Fall
At this time, Disney has only announced that the refurbishment will last through October 2026, meaning guests should expect Grand Floridian Cafe to remain closed for roughly three months.
Disney has not yet shared details about what changes guests can expect once the restaurant reopens, but the project will bring the dining location in line with the extensive updates that have already transformed much of the Grand Floridian in recent years.
If Grand Floridian Cafe is on your must-do list, you’ll want to secure a reservation before July 20.
Be sure to keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for more Walt Disney World dining news, Grand Floridian updates, refurbishment announcements, and the latest happenings from around the resort.
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