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Disney World guests planning a stay at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa this summer may want to double-check their dining plans before arriving. Disney has now confirmed a lengthy refurbishment project at one of the resort’s most recognizable dining locations, and parts of the experience will remain unavailable for several months.
While refurbishment projects are nothing new at Walt Disney World, this one stretches across most of the 2026 spring and summer travel season. That timing could impact a large number of Disney Vacation Club members and resort guests who regularly visit Saratoga Springs for its quieter atmosphere and easy access to Disney Springs.
According to updated information, Disney revised the refurbishment schedule for The Turf Club Bar & Grill and The Turf Club Lounge, extending portions of the closure deeper into late September 2026.
Disney Revises Saratoga Springs Refurbishment Timeline
The Turf Club has long been one of the more underrated dining spots at Walt Disney World. Located directly along the golf course at Saratoga Springs Resort, the restaurant and lounge have built a loyal following among Disney fans looking for a quieter table-service experience away from the chaos of the parks.
Now, though, guests will need to prepare for several phases of closures throughout the refurbishment process.
Disney’s updated timeline confirms that The Turf Club Lounge closed in early May and will remain unavailable through late August. During that period, The Turf Club Bar & Grill will stay open, though guests should expect a modified menu along with a temporary pop-up bar setup instead of the normal lounge experience.
The disruption does not stop there.
Disney also confirmed that the restaurant’s patio area will close during part of August before the main restaurant itself shuts down from late August through late September. During that final phase, the lounge will reopen while the restaurant remains unavailable.
That means Saratoga Springs guests will continue seeing construction-related impacts at the resort for most of the summer season.
Summer Resort Guests Could Feel the Impact
Saratoga Springs is one of Disney’s largest resorts, and it remains especially popular with Disney Vacation Club members because of its villa options, golf course setting, and walkable access to Disney Springs.
For many repeat visitors, The Turf Club serves as a convenient sit-down restaurant after a long park day. Losing portions of that experience for multiple months could push more guests toward Disney Springs dining locations instead.
The closure timing also arrives during an already busy operational period at Walt Disney World. Summer 2026 has brought major attraction launches, seasonal entertainment offerings, and ongoing construction projects across several parks and resorts.
Because of that, even smaller resort refurbishments are drawing more attention from fans than they normally would.
Disney originally planned slightly different closure dates, but the newest update pushed portions of the project later into the year. The Lounge closure now starts later than initially announced, while the overall refurbishment extends into late September instead of ending earlier in the month.
Fans Hope Disney Preserves the Atmosphere
One interesting part of the reaction online has been how protective many Disney fans seem about The Turf Club itself.
Unlike some of Disney’s flashier restaurants, The Turf Club has always leaned more into a cozy atmosphere with quieter dining rooms and views overlooking the golf course. Because of that, several longtime visitors expressed concern online about Disney potentially changing too much during the refurbishment.
Some fans specifically mentioned worries about Disney modernizing the space too heavily or removing the restaurant’s relaxing atmosphere altogether. Others said they simply hope the updated version feels refreshed rather than completely reimagined.
That concern has become increasingly common whenever Disney refurbishes long-running restaurants or attractions. Guests have seen several projects over the past few years receive more modernized looks, and not every update has been universally loved by longtime fans.
At the same time, many guests understand why Disney continues refreshing resort dining locations. Saratoga Springs remains one of the busiest Disney Vacation Club resorts on property, and keeping dining locations updated is an important part of maintaining those guest experiences.
Disney World Continues Large-Scale Resort Refreshes
The Turf Club refurbishment is also part of a much larger trend happening across Walt Disney World resorts right now.
Disney has spent the last several years aggressively updating hotels, restaurants, pools, and public spaces throughout property. Some projects have been relatively minor, while others have completely transformed resorts from top to bottom.
In many cases, Disney schedules these projects carefully to avoid full resort closures. Instead, the company rotates partial shutdowns so hotels can continue operating while construction happens in phases.
That appears to be exactly what Disney is doing at Saratoga Springs.
Rather than closing both dining spaces simultaneously, Disney split the refurbishment into multiple stages. That approach allows at least part of The Turf Club experience to remain available for guests throughout most of the project.
Still, anyone visiting Saratoga Springs between now and late September will likely notice temporary operational changes.
Disney is encouraging guests with upcoming dining reservations or resort stays to monitor the updated refurbishment schedule carefully before traveling.
