PHOTOS: Construction Work Continues Splitting Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Prior to NBA Players Arrival

Kevin Lake

Grand Floridian Resort & Spa with Fences Separating NBA Players

PHOTOS: Construction Work Continues Splitting Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Prior to NBA Players Arrival

After several weeks of rumors and reports from basketball insiders, it was officially announced two days ago that the NBA would be resuming its 2019-2020 season at Walt Disney World. In those two shorts days, one of the three resorts expected to house NBA players and personnel, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is already seeing significant changes in order to create the so-called “bubble” for the teams.

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Grand Floridian NBA Preparations 6 28 20 4

Seemingly never-ending lengths of fencing have been added through – and we do mean through – the property, separating roughly one-third of the resort from the rest. This portion, closest to the Magic Kingdom on the north side of the property, houses the convention center.

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Grand Floridian NBA Preparations 6 28 20 7

The fence starts at the beach near the Alice in Wonderland-themed Splash Pad and then extends north along the main building of the resort, which houses restaurants like 1900 Park Fare, Citricos, and Victoria & Albert’s. It’s also home to the well-known Grand Floridian lobby and monorail station. Guests staying here should know in advance the Courtyard Pool is located on the NBA side of the resort.

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Grand Floridian NBA Preparations 6 28 20 9

The barrier continues on past the patio seating for Gasparilla Island Grill and then zigs over to cut off access to the service road loop which is nestled between the convention center and main structure.

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Guests attempting to walk from the main lobby to the convention center via the front of the resort will also be abruptly met by a fence. All fences have a blue covering added, presumably to provide a little bit of privacy to the guests on either side.

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Though the fence does little to provide any kind of privacy when viewed from the 2nd floor or higher, which may be an unavoidable aspect to resort guests and NBA players and their families cohabitating within the same resort.

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As we mentioned earlier, the fence begins at the beach, and that was meant literally. The fence truly begins at the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon, completely separating guests on either side.

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At the convention center, an unhitched trailer and truck belonging to a service company are parked in front. Supplies have begun being delivered for the conversion of the center into more usable space as it becomes part of a self-contained city of sorts.

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Grand Floridian NBA Preparations 6 28 20 14
Grand Floridian NBA Preparations 6 28 20 15

Close to Floridian Way, in what was formerly a parking lot, a semi-permanent structure has been erected. This structure may be a pre-entry facility where COVID-19 testing, among other pre-arrival checks, can be performed prior to allowing anyone into the convention center or living spaces.

What are your thoughts on these changes to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa? Would these developments impact your decision to stay at the resort during this unique time? Let us know in the comments.

Author

  • Kevin Lake

    Kevin is a native Floridian and has lived in the Orlando area his entire life. In addition to visiting Walt Disney World since childhood, he's been to 10 of the 12 Disney parks around the world. You can contact Kevin at KevinL@WDWNT.com.

9 thoughts on “PHOTOS: Construction Work Continues Splitting Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Prior to NBA Players Arrival”

  1. That’s horrible. I feel so bad for anyone staying here while this is going on. People spend a tremendous amount of money to be surrounded by beautiful grounds and luxury. Glaringly ugly blue fences reminding them that they are just the pitiful common folk and not the overly glorified athletes is a travesty. It’s an insult to the people who chose that resort for a time of relaxation with their families. I would never want to stay in a place where I was being treated like a second class citizen and where my access to the grounds and amenities I was paying for was cut off because of another group.
     
    Put them somewhere else.

  2. POR and FQ are closed right? Why are the players not there with complete privacy? This way the grounds and experiences of the “regular” guests at the Grand Floridian wouldn’t be ruined.

  3. Takes away from the beauty of the resort. Why not use resorts that are not allowing guests instead of setting up what looks like an internment camp. Heaven forbid the millionaires have to stay in anything but the best Disney has, no matter how much it takes away from the paying guests. The paying guests who are already losing a lot of the “magic” due to the restrictions.

    • While I agree that it’s ugly and I hope that guests with prior reservations and new reservations are being notified, I would imagine that the NBA is paying a substantial amount of money.

  4. This is absolutely ridiculous!! Insanity! All for basketball players! DUMB! Shame on Disney for putting them before their guests! Ruining the resort even if it is temporary! Who knows how long this invasion will be!

  5. Just terrible that they did this to the resort. “Normal” people pay a tremendous amount per night to stay at this iconic beautiful resort. Probably a once in a lifetime splurge…and they can’t get to a third of the resort??? Because of NBA players??? Disney should have erected their own “village” (like the Olympic Village) and keep them there. They have the land. Then everyone staying at the resorts can enjoy them and the spoiled rich players can live in their own “BUBBLE”!!! Stupid Disney..really stupid!!!

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