The spa at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort is scheduled to close for 18 months beginning in September, 2011.
The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the closure will occur on September 19, 2011. Disney spokesman Bryan Malenius is quoted as saying that the closure is related to "an expansion project at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa."
Disney has not formally announced its expansion plans for the Grand Floridian. Permits filed with the county and other governing bodies suggest a new wing will be constructed between the current Grand Floridian facility and Disney's Wedding Pavilion.
The pattern of recent resort development throughout Walt Disney World suggests that the expansion will bring Disney Vacation Club villas to the resort. Disney has not added any Deluxe-class resort rooms to its property since the 2001 opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. Over that same timeframe Disney Vacation Clubs opened no fewer than five resort projects at Walt Disney World including villa expansions to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney's Beach Club Resort and Disney's Contemporary Resort.
Currently the only Deluxe-class Walt Disney World resorts which do not have a Vacation Club affiliation are the Grand Floridian, Disney's Polynesian Resort and Disney's Yacht Club Resort.
Source: Orlando Sentinel
