A family of four who wants to treat themselves to a six-night magical vacation at Disney World should spend anywhere from $5,100 to $11,000, depending on the tier they can afford, according to Endless Travels.
Many Disney fans even go into debt to afford such a trip and later confirm it was worth it, the LendingTree survey showed.
When someone is willing to go deep into the red, they expect everything on that vacation to run as smoothly as possible. Even families who can easily afford the splurge tier want the trip to be worth their time and money.
Sometimes, though, unexpected things happen as with any large operation. Rides can close temporarily for safety reasons, and even restaurants can abruptly shut their doors despite the reservation.
That’s what happened on September 6 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Steakhouse 71 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort suddenly closes. Melvyn Longhurst / Getty Images Steakhouse 71 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort suddenly closes
Guests with reservations for a meal at Steakhouse 71 unexpectedly faced closed doors on September 6 without prior notification.
Steakhouse 71 is an American dining restaurant in the Contemporary Resort, which opened during Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary in 2021. The popular restaurant replaced The Wave…of American Flavors and continued to act as an East Coast version of the permanently closed Steakhouse 55 at Disneyland Hotel, reports WDWNT.
Disney did not announce the September 6 closure in advance, but numerous guests reported on social media that their existing reservations were abruptly canceled, according to InsideTheMagic.
So far, Disney has not revealed the reason for the unexpected closure, but the official Steakhouse 71 page on the Walt Disney World website indicates the restaurant is scheduled to reopen on September 7.
Based on the calendar data, it appears that the abrupt closure is only temporary.
Unverified rumors circulate over why Steakhouse 71 closed
While the official reason for the sudden closure was not provided by the company, guests took to social media to share their experiences and speculations.
Facebook Margarita Lisa shared checking in on September 6, to learn it “was closed for maintenance.”
Across Reddit, however, rumors circulated that the shutdown was due to pest control issues, with one user claiming the restaurant knew for a while it had trouble with bedbugs, insects, and mold, arguing it is trying to resolve this kind of problem within a day.
A number of users argued that it makes no sense that Disney wouldn’t resolve the issue immediately as it is known for being very clean.
State inspection record does not substantiate bedbug claims
Public state inspection records from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) show that Steakhouse 71 met all state inspection standards during its audit on August 31, 2026, with zero high-priority violations.
The available inspection record does not substantiate the social-media claims. The August 31 inspection found no high-priority violations, although that inspection predates the September 6 closure and therefore cannot establish what prompted the shutdown.
There are several routine reasons why a restaurant might temporarily close, ranging from HVAC and plumbing failures to isolated mechanical maintenance, rather than an ongoing health crisis.
Related: Disney World quietly hikes key prices
Steakhouse 71 is widely acclaimed as the best budget steak option
While losing a reservation can cause frustration for travelers who had their itineraries meticulously planned out, Disney World offers several dining alternatives.
Moreover, in order to save more on your magical vacation Endless Travels advises eating two or three quick-service meals. Quick-service meals run $15-$20 per person; table-service sit-down meals run $35-$50 per person before tip, writes the outlet, citing Disney Food Blog data.
However, foodies looking forward to dining at Steakhouse 71 should be able to return soon, as Disney’s official calendar lists the restaurant as scheduled to reopen on September 7.
In 2022, Disney Tourist Blog ranked Steakhouse 71 as the best budget steak option in the report, offering cuts like Filet Mignon and Prime Rib at significantly lower price points than comparable options.
“Ultimately, we are huge fans of dinner at Steakhouse 71. While it’s not a Signature Steakhouse, it’s also not priced as one. Having 6 different quality cuts of meat all in the $30 price range is impressive and uncommon for a Walt Disney World restaurant, especially with the quality that a few of those offer.”
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This story was originally published by TheStreet on Sep 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Dining and Cooking