One of our favorite hidden gem Walt Disney World table services restaurants is closing for a multi-month refurbishment that will likely reimagine its interiors and (maybe) introduce a new menu. Here’s the latest, followed by our commentary.
Walt Disney World has announced that the Turf Club Bar & Grill and Turf Club Lounge Saratoga Springs Resort will undergo a refurbishment running from mid-March through mid-September 2026. This is one of the top picks on our list of Underrated Table Service Restaurants at Walt Disney World for 2026, and our Saratoga Springs vs. Old Key West comparison called it criminally underrated.
Interestingly, Turf Club is joining Olivia’s Cafe at OKW as another fan-favorite hidden gem that’s being refreshed in 2026. It’s also another old school steakhouse going down for refurbishment, following what sounds like a similar multi-month project at Yachtsman Steakhouse and Crew’s Cup Lounge. All of these overhauls do not sound coincidental to us.
Even Disney agrees with our assessment! Walt Disney World’s website also calls Turf Club a “hidden gem,” one of only three restaurants to earn that distinction. (Alongside the aforementioned Olivia’s Cafe and Grand Floridian Cafe; I’d agree with all three, although I personally prefer underrated for Grand Floridian Cafe, since it’s not so hidden.)
According to Walt Disney World, Turf Club is an “intimate venue [that] recalls a romantic and bygone era.” Disney invites guests to “head on through to the restaurant, where dim lighting and wood-paneled walls create a sophisticated, gentlemanly ambience.” “Be transported to turn-of-the-century Upstate New York as you browse vintage equestrian memorabilia: photos of jockeys and their horses, antique riding gear and racing articles of yesteryear.”
All of that is accurate, I’d say. That’s about to change, as this six-month refurbishment marks the most significant attention Turf Club has received in years. Perhaps ever? And it’s likely to be a top to bottom project resulting in a significant restaurant reimagining.
Turf Club Refurbishment Timeline
Here’s how the phased closure breaks down:
- Early April through early August 2026: The Turf Club Lounge (bar) closes completely. The Turf Club Bar & Grill (restaurant) remains open, but with a pop-up bar setup and a modified menu.
- Early to mid-August 2026: The Turf Club patio closes. If you’re visiting during this window, you’ll be limited to indoor dining only.
- Mid-August through mid-September 2026: The Turf Club Bar & Grill (restaurant) closes completely. The Turf Club Lounge reopens during this period. This is the only time when the main restaurant will be completely unavailable.
- From Mid-September 2026: Restaurant reopens, meaning both refurbished or reimagined venues are again operational with whatever updates WDW has planned.
The staggered approach ensures that Saratoga Springs Resort guests always have a table service option, even if it’s not at full capacity.
Given that SSR is primarily a Disney Vacation Club resort with full kitchens in every room that is also within walking or boat distance of Disney Springs, the culinary epicenter of Walt Disney World, the impact on most guests should be minimal.
Still, it’s worth noting if you’re planning a stay at Saratoga Springs. Or if you were finally going to take us up on the recommendation of visiting for dinner at Turf Club.
What’s Changing at Turf Club?
As is typical with this type of project, Walt Disney World hasn’t actually announced what the refurbishment involves. No details about menu changes, decor updates, or concept adjustments. Just the above refurbishment schedule.
It might be routine maintenance, such as fixing HVAC systems, updating kitchen equipment, or that sort of behind-the-scenes work that guests don’t necessarily see but that keeps a restaurant running smoothly. The restaurant could reopen with the only changes being invisible to guests.
We highly doubt that’ll be the case. For one thing, the phased approach to taking the various dining rooms offline suggests they’re going to be impacted. For another thing, the Turf Club dining room makes Yachtsman Steakhouse like a fresh and modern concept.
When we last reviewed Turf Club Bar & Grill, I described it as transporting guests to a mid-1980s country club, complete with rich woods, green-and-blue plaid carpet with gold swirls, and stained glass panels. The words “retro” and “old school” were used to describe the interior design.
They were not, however, used disparagingly or even in a backhanded way. I love the look of the Turf Club Bar & Grill much in the same way that I love the Pizza Hut or Taco Bell styles of my youth. I mean that with the utmost sincerity and without even a tinge of sarcasm.
There is something intimate and cozy and calming about the aesthetic that you just don’t get in a lot of modern Walt Disney World designs (I don’t want to use the word “soulless” to describe those, but you’re welcome to do so). It’s not the pinnacle of themed design, but it’s inviting and comfortable–that can count for a lot.
There’s also no denying that Turf Club is stuck in a very specific, bygone era. And not a timeless one. The restaurant dates back to 2004, when Saratoga Springs Resort opened, and as far as I know, it’s never had a significant refurbishment.
Twenty-two years is a long time. If Disney were going to give any resort restaurant a makeover, Turf Club would be near the top of the list based purely on age. And although I find the current interior charming, there’s little denying that an update here is needed.
The question is whether they’ll maintain the equestrian theme or pivot to something else entirely. Saratoga Springs as a whole is horse racing-themed, meant to evoke turn-of-the-century upstate New York. Whereas Disney has removed a lot of themed design from elsewhere around property, they’ve gone in the exact opposite direction at SSR. Some of this is due to guest complaints about the resort not being sufficiently “Disney,” a criticism that I’d now argue is outdated.
Accordingly, I’m actually pretty bullish on a refurbishment of Turf Club Bar & Grill. Whereas I have trepidations about the changes coming to the restaurants at Yacht Club and Old Key West, my expectation is that this one is a net positive.
As for what’s likely to change, look no further than SSR as a whole. Expect Disney to retain the equestrian theme but give it a modern, elevated take. Think less “1980s country club” and more contemporary upscale steakhouse with nods to horse racing history, along with a few overt and obscure Disney character references. Updates the color palette, refreshes the finishes, modernizations the lighting, while maintaining what makes Turf Club unique.
Or maybe I’m totally off and they’ll turn it into another generic resort restaurant that could exist anywhere. Maybe I’m right on the racing part, but it’s actually going to be “Tow Mater’s Turf Club, A Disney-Pixar Cars Bar & Restaurant ~ DADGUM!” It wouldn’t be the first time in the last year that they’ve inserted Cars where it didn’t belong. Time will tell.
Turf Club’s Current & Future Menu
Before the refurbishment begins, Turf Club is serving straightforward American steakhouse fare. The menu leans heavily into premium cuts of meat, with a slow-roasted prime rib and char-grilled New York strip steak both clocking in at $39, and the menu as a whole having relatively reasonable prices by Walt Disney World standards.
When we reviewed Turf Club, we tried several entrées, and the standouts were decidedly meat-forward. The prime rib was juicy, flavorful, and well prepared; a solid “meat and potatoes” option. The pork chop was a massive, juicy cut.
The menu looks more or less the same today as it did then, and I’d hazard a guess that it was more or less the same then as in 2004. At Turf Club, time is a flat circle. (Except prices. Those have changed like clockwork.)
One potential change that I don’t recall is that multiple menu items feature produce from The Land Pavilion at EPCOT, including the wedge salad, Turf Club Burger, and more. Disney has been highlighting this connection more frequently on menus, and it’s a nice touch.
Walt Disney World typically uses multi-month refurbishment as an opportunity to reinvent menus, and I’d expect the same here to some extent. At the same time, this is a DVC resort and I would hazard a guess that a high percentage of Turf Club guests are repeat visitors or even regulars.
The guest profile is what it is, and there’s no transforming Turf Club into destination dining with a haute cuisine menu or whatever. Changing things too much may just alienate the bread & butter demo, and realizing this, Walt Disney World might opt for a “don’t fix what isn’t broken” mentality with the menu. Or perhaps even the dining room? Again, time will tell.
Ultimately, this refurbishment won’t impact the overwhelmingly majority of Walt Disney World guests for the exact reason mentioned above. Turf Club has never been a must-do dining destination. It’s not within walking distance of a park, it’s not on the monorail or Skyliner, and it’s not in a “destination” resort.
Unless you’re staying at Saratoga Springs or deliberately seeking out a quiet, off-the-beaten-path dinner option, you’ve probably never considered eating here. As we’ve written before, Turf Club is most likely to be one of the restaurants that even Walt Disney World diehards have never even heard of.
For DVC members who stay at Saratoga Springs regularly, this refurbishment is worth noting. Or for anyone who savors not-quite-old-school early aughts Walt Disney World and wants to experience the original interior before what’s likely to be transformative changes.
If you typically do a resort night dinner at Turf Club, you’ll need to adjust your plans depending on when you’re visiting. Early spring through mid-summer, you’ll have limited options but the restaurant will be open.
Mid-August through September 2026, you’ll need to go elsewhere. Walking to Disney Springs unlocks a world of options; maybe give STK a try for the exact opposite experience of Turf Club while still enjoying a steakhouse.
For everyone else, this is mostly just an interesting data point. It’s a signal that Walt Disney World is willing to invest in updating resort restaurants that aren’t high-profile money-makers. That’s good, and suggests that even overlooked spots like Turf Club aren’t being neglected.
I also want to reiterate that, regardless of my own nostalgia and sentimentality for the charmingly old school dining room, I’m optimistic about the overhaul. This refurbishment to Turf Club is welcome and arguably overdue.
My hope and expectation is that Disney strikes the right balance, updating the space to make it feel fresh and modern while enhancing the equestrian theme and “Disneyfying” the space just a bit.
At worst, we lose a dated-but-charming restaurant and get back something generic. At best, we get a refreshed Turf Club that introduces a new generation of guests to one of Walt Disney World’s better-kept secrets.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of Turf Club Bar & Grill at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort? Did you like the old school vibe of the interior? Or do you think it was too dated and mundane, like something you’d find in any random town? Optimistic or upset about this refurbishment? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!