Disney World Announces Upgrades and Closures at Animal Kingdom Lodge Starting 2026

Walt Disney Worldis expanding its resort overhaul plans, officially adding extensive new refurbishment projects at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.

The updates—which impact both Kidani Villageand Jambo House—include a multi-phase lobby transformation starting in August 2026, alongside an ongoing, multi-year room reimagining that stretches into early 2027.

As reported by Disney Tourist Blog , the newest update focuses on the lobby and surrounding common areas at Kidani Village. Beginning August 17, 2026, the section will undergo phased closures running through early November.

The closure schedule at Kidani Village includes several key dates for upcoming guests:

• August 17 – October 9, 2026:The main lobby and primary entrance will close. Guest check-in will temporarily relocate to the Palace Library.

• August 17 – August 28, 2026:Johari Treasures gift shop will be closed.

• September 28 – October 9, 2026:The north side lobby corridor will close, making the second-floor north elevators and outdoor terrace observation deck unavailable.

• October 26 – November 6, 2026:The south side lobby corridor will close, temporarily shutting down Community Hall, the Safari So Good Arcade, lobby restrooms, the laundry room, the Palace Library, and the outdoor terrace observation deck.

Related: 15 Free Things You Can Do at Walt Disney World Without Entering the Parks

What the Closures Mean for Your Stay

Theme park journalist Tom Bricker of Disney Tourist Blog noted that while Disney frequently updates hotel lobbies to replace traditional check-in desks with mobileCast Member pods, the length and scope of the Kidani project—including shutting down primary entrances and corridors—suggests deeper work or potential infrastructure maintenance.

"It does seem notable that both the main lobby and the primary entrance will be closed… This suggests to me that it's a bigger project than what we've seen elsewhere, and potentially caused by an invisible infrastructure issue," he explained.

Bricker cautioned that scheduled finish dates can shift, though the target completion date of November 6 strategically lands right before the heavy Veterans Day holiday travel rush.

Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge B-Roll (0:30)

These common-area updates come on top of the resort's major "hard goods" room refurbishments—the first total gut-and-rebuild for the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) villas since the Animal Kingdom Villas opened between 2007 and 2009. The room updates wrap up at Kidani Village before transitioning to Jambo House, where work is slated to run through January 2027.

According to Disney Tourist Blog's assessment, the new room designs represent a major upgrade in functionality and aesthetics.

The redone accommodations feature modern additions like Inova pull-down beds, laminate flooring, USB/outlet charging hubs, and The Lion King artwork, while preserving the rich, authentic African textures that give the resort its signature feel.

"The team tasked with redesigns has hit its stride in stylish yet practical accommodations that are both well-themed and comfortable, befitting both Disney and their price points," said Bricker.

For travelers deciding between the two sections during the construction window, Bricker recommends booking Jambo House over Kidani Village through mid-November to avoid lobby-level noise and entrance disruptions. However, guests looking for brand-new, fully updated rooms may still prefer Kidani Village if main lobby amenities aren't a high priority for their stay.

Related: Disney Vacation Club Unveils Its Biggest Summer Perks for Members

This story was originally published by Parade on Jul 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.