Step through the front doors of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Central Florida seems to disappear. Towering log columns rise through an eight-story lobby. Totem poles stand watch over the guests below. A massive stone fireplace climbs toward the ceiling, its layers built to reflect the rock strata of the Grand Canyon.Credit: D23The resort opened on May 28, 1994, and it was designed by architect Peter Dominick. Its main inspiration was Yellowstone’s historic Old Faithful Inn, which dates back to 1904. That influence carries right outside to the shoreline of Bay Lake, where Fire Rock Geyser erupts every hour on the hour from 7:00am to 10:00pm.Over the years, the Lodge has grown. Boulder Ridge Villas came along in 2000, and Copper Creek Villas & Cabins, the newer Disney Vacation Club section of the resort, opened on July 17, 2017.For a lot of fans, this is the Disney hotel that feels most like a true getaway. Which is why every bit of news about its future gets plenty of attention. And Disney just shared a lot of it.Almost Out of the WoodsWilderness Lodge has been in some stage of refurbishment for more than two years now, and Disney has finally laid out what comes next. The new schedule covers both the deluxe hotel and Copper Creek Villas & Cabins, and it reaches all the way into 2028.First, the work guests can already see. The exterior refurbishment at Wilderness Lodge and Copper Creek began on August 5, 2024. Disney says it will continue through late 2026, the same end date the company posted last November.That timing also matches a construction permit filed for the resort in July 2024, which listed a December 2026 expiration date.If Disney sticks to that plan, the exterior work has less than two months left. Until then, guests should keep the same advisory in mind. As Disney puts it, “Guests may experience obstructed views in some areas and may see or hear construction during daytime hours.”Fresh Rooms Arrive in Summer 2027Credit: DisneyThe bigger news for anyone planning a future stay is what comes after the exterior work.From July 2027 through September 2027, guest rooms in the main Wilderness Lodge hotel will undergo refurbishment. Based on the timeframe, this looks like a soft goods refurbishment. That type of project usually involves a lighter touch, things like fabrics and finishes, and tends to take less time than a full overhaul.The villas have already had their turn. Copper Creek Villas & Cabins went through a refurbishment of its own from mid-May through September 2025, the first one for those rooms since they opened in 2017.The Main Pool Takes a Winter Break in 2028Next up is Copper Creek Springs Pool, the resort’s main pool and the home of its waterslide. Disney plans to refurbish it from January 2028 through spring 2028.That is a meaningful closure for families who love a pool day between park visits. Thankfully, the resort has a backup. Boulder Ridge Cove, Wilderness Lodge’s second pool, will still be available for guests staying in early 2028.Once the pool reopens, Wilderness Lodge will have refreshed its exteriors, villas, hotel rooms, and main pool all within a span of less than four years.Tracking the Lodge’s Makeover, Start to FinishWith so many phases, it helps to see everything in one place. Here is how the project has unfolded so far and what is still ahead.WhenWhat happened or is plannedJuly 2024A construction permit for the resort lists a December 2026 expiration dateAugust 5, 2024Exterior refurbishment begins at Wilderness Lodge and Copper CreekNovember 2024Disney announces a mid-May through September 2025 refurbishment for Copper Creek Villas & CabinsMay to September 2025Copper Creek villas and cabins are refurbishedNovember 2025Disney posts its first official end date for the exterior work: late 2026Late 2026Exterior refurbishment scheduled to wrap upJuly to September 2027Guest rooms in the main hotel are refurbishedJanuary to spring 2028Copper Creek Springs Pool is refurbishedAs with any Disney refurbishment, these dates can shift, so it is always smart to check the resort’s page before you book.Before You Book Your Next Stay by the GeyserCredit: DisneyIf you are planning a trip to Wilderness Lodge over the next couple of years, a little timing goes a long way.The Lodge Has Plenty of CompanyWilderness Lodge is far from the only Disney resort working through a long to-do list. In late October, Disney filed three new Notices of Commencement for general construction in the Old Port Royale area of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. The filings name Harisson Contracting Co. Inc. as the contractor and run into late 2027, but they don’t say what the work involves.That is worth watching, because Old Port Royale is the heart of Caribbean Beach. It holds the front desk, Centertown Market, Sebastian’s Bistro and the Banana Cabana pool bar. Its last big makeover wrapped up when the reimagined building reopened on October 8, 2018.Over at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, a separate permit covers general construction at Building 11, which houses rooms 1110 through 1124. Again, the filing doesn’t spell out the scope.Those permits join an already crowded calendar. Bay Lake Tower and select areas of Disney’s Contemporary Resort have phased work scheduled into late 2027. Guest rooms at Port Orleans Riverside are being refurbished through August 2027. At Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, the Luna Park Pool and Leaping Horse Libations are set to close from January 11 through April 2027.For guests comparing Bay Lake area resorts, the takeaway is simple. Wilderness Lodge’s exterior work is close to the finish line, while several other properties are just getting started.Visiting before the end of 2026? You may still notice some exterior work, though it should be close to finished. Booking for summer 2027? Expect refurbishment work in the main hotel’s guest rooms between July and September. Heading down in early 2028? Plan your pool days around Boulder Ridge Cove while Copper Creek Springs Pool is closed.The good news is that all of this work points toward a fresher Lodge on the other side. The towering lobby, the hourly geyser, and that cozy national park feeling are still the heart of the resort.Now we want to hear from you. Is Wilderness Lodge your favorite Disney resort, or have you been holding off on booking until the work is done? Tell us about your best stay, your favorite room view, or even your go-to order at Whispering Canyon Cafe in the comments.The post Notice: Closures Confirmed Through 2028 at Walt Disney World Resort appeared first on Inside the Magic.