Theme Park Report
New signage along Walt Disney World roadways points to a September 10 opening for a new entrance to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, according to BlogMickey. Disney has not publicly announced the change or explained how the entrance will operate.
The reported opening follows roadway work tied to the World Drive North Phase III project. Plans filed in September 2025 and approved by the South Florida Water Management District in November 2025 called for extending the Grand Floridian’s main entrance roadway by approximately 200 feet to connect with a new roundabout.
The permitted plans also included converting the existing Floridian Way roadway into a one-lane, one-way exit route and constructing a new entrance to the Grand Floridian wedding pavilion south of its current location.
Guests currently reach the resort through new roundabouts along Floridian Way, which opened to traffic on August 10. That traffic shift moved vehicles onto newly built southbound lanes while temporary connector driveways remained in place at the entrances to the Grand Floridian, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort’s Island Tower, and the Grand Floridian wedding pavilion.
It remains unclear whether September 10 will mark the debut of the permanent extended entrance described in the approved permit or another interim stage of the roadway project. World Drive North Phase III is not expected to be fully completed until December 2027, meaning additional changes in the area are possible.
BlogMickey reported that construction and law enforcement activity remain present around the roadway and advised drivers approaching the resort to watch for new signage and proceed cautiously.
The entrance work is taking place alongside other changes at the resort. The Grand Floridian Cafe has been closed since July 20 for a refurbishment that Disney said would run through the end of October. Updated operating hours and dining reservation availability indicate that the cafe is expected to reopen November 2, although Disney has not separately confirmed that exact date.
During the cafe’s closure, brunch service has been offered at Citricos. Renovations to select areas of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, including its covered entrance, are expected to continue through early 2027.
