Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is not a cheap place to stay, and that matters to how guests react to news like this.
Kidani Village is a Deluxe Villa property. Guests booking it are paying Deluxe pricing, or they are burning Disney Vacation Club points they have been saving specifically for a stay here. Either way, this is not a resort anyone books casually.
And the reason people choose it is not just the room. Animal Kingdom Lodge is built around the traditional African kraal, with a horseshoe-curved design offering views of lush savannas where over 30 species of African wildlife roam freely. The lobby spaces, the observation decks, and the common areas are a genuine part of what you are paying for.
So when those spaces go behind curtains, it lands differently than a refurbishment at a Value resort would.
That is exactly what is happening now, and it runs for months.
What Is Closed Right Now at Disney
Walking through the resort, parts of the Kidani Village main lobby are closed off.
One entrance is blocked with a sign reading: “Pardon our pixie dust. This entrance is closed for refurbishment.” An arrow directs guests toward the main lobby and check-in.
Black curtains have gone up in the main lobby to cover construction work, with another sign in front reading: “Please pardon our pixie dust. This area is under refurbishment.”
Disney’s official notice states the work began August 17 and is expected to be completed in early November.
The Full Closure Schedule for This Disney Resort
This is being done in phases, which means the specific impact depends heavily on when you are staying.
August 17 through October 9
- The main lobby and primary entrance are closed
- Check-in moves to the Palace Library
August 17 through 28
- Johari Treasures is closed
September 28 through October 9
- The north side lobby corridor is closed
- North side lobby elevators on the second floor are unavailable
- Outdoor terrace observation deck is unavailable
October 26 through November 6
- The south side lobby corridor is closed
- Community Hall unavailable
- Safari So Good Arcade unavailable
- The laundry room unavailable
- The Palace Library unavailable
- Lobby restrooms unavailable
- Outdoor terrace observation deck unavailable
Why the South Lobby Phase Is the Rough One
Look at that October 26 through November 6 list again.
Community Hall, the arcade, the laundry room, the Palace Library, lobby restrooms, and the observation deck all go down at once. That is a substantial chunk of the resort’s shared amenities offline simultaneously.
The laundry room closure in particular affects families on longer stays, which describes a lot of DVC guests at a villa property. The Community Hall closure removes another amenity DVC members specifically use.
If you have a stay booked inside that window, this is worth planning around rather than discovering at check-in.
Where Johari Treasures Went
The gift shop has been temporarily relocated during the refurbishment.
Johari Treasures moved to the Palace Library, which is also where guests check in while the main lobby is closed.
Disney’s notice lists Johari Treasures as closed August 17 through 28, with reporting indicating it reopens August 29.
Worth noting the overlap problem here. The Palace Library serves as both check-in and the temporary shop location right now, but the Palace Library itself closes October 26 through November 6 during the south lobby phase.
Expect Noise at This Disney Resort
Disney’s notice includes a line guests should read carefully.
Guests may see or hear construction activity in the lobby area during daytime hours, including periods of more noticeable noise, until the work is complete.
That is Disney telling you plainly that this will be audible. At a resort where the atmosphere is a significant part of the value proposition, that is a real consideration.
Should You Change Your Disney Plans
For most guests, probably not, but it depends on your dates.
If you are staying between now and October 9, the main impact is a relocated check-in and construction curtains in the lobby. Annoying, not trip-altering.
If your stay falls September 28 through October 9, factor in the north elevators and observation deck being down.
If your stay falls October 26 through November 6, that is the phase worth actually reconsidering. Losing Community Hall, the laundry room, the arcade, the Palace Library, and lobby restrooms simultaneously is a meaningful reduction in what the resort offers.
The savanna views, animal programs, and pool areas are not affected by any of this, which is the core of why people book here.
Dates to Remember
The full project runs August 17 through early November 2026.
Three phases matter most: the ongoing main lobby closure through October 9, the north corridor closure September 28 through October 9, and the south corridor closure October 26 through November 6.
If you have a Kidani Village stay booked in that window, check your dates against the phase schedule before you arrive rather than after.
