Walt Disney World is quietly steering at least $30 million into projects outside its theme parks, including a multimillion-dollar guest-room refresh at Animal Kingdom Lodge and new work along the BoardWalk where Jellyrolls once sat. The spending shows up in public filings and permit notices that together hint at a broader push to modernize resort inventory and boost dining and nightlife offerings. For Orlando visitors, that will mean upgraded rooms in some deluxe hotels and new BoardWalk experiences arriving in stages over the next year.
Records released this week by the district that governs Disney World put the off-park total at roughly $30 million and list a $24.4 million refresh at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, according to Orlando Business Journal. The same work appears in filings and meeting packets posted by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which maintains public records for projects on Disney property and catalogs line items and project descriptions.
Permit notices and a Notice of Commencement tied to the resort indicate phased room upgrades are already underway, with Kidani Village and Jambo House scheduled in staggered blocks through early 2027. AllEars tracked the filings, naming contractors and timelines and warning guests that some rooms will be taken offline during the work. Those public filings are among the clearest apples-to-apples numbers available for Disney’s non-park capital spending.
BoardWalk Shake-Up: Jellyrolls Out, Hurly-Burly In
Disney’s own blog outlined a set of BoardWalk additions: a new family-friendly daytime venue that converts to an adults-only lounge at night called Hurly-Burly, a Basin retail shop and an unnamed quick-service restaurant, with openings slated for late 2026, according to Disney Parks Blog. Local coverage notes the former Jellyrolls space has already been gutted as part of the work, and ResortsGal documented Jellyrolls final performance and the on-site demolition.
Those off-park outlays come as Disney leans on resorts, retail and dining to broaden revenue beyond headline attractions, and they proceed under the oversight of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which must sign off on many land-use filings after governance changes in recent years. The district’s own development agreement with Disney formalized a process for approvals and infrastructure work tied to resort projects, a setup described in Central Florida Tourism Oversight District materials and prior board packets.
For guests, the practical takeaway is straightforward: check resort refurbishment calendars before you book, since phased work can affect availability and daytime noise levels during multi-month refreshes. Reporters and investors alike will be watching future district filings, permit updates and Disney’s public scheduling for the next chapters of these projects.
