Pelican Hill renovation notice and how it affects stays
Pelican Hill is undergoing phased enhancements beginning November 2026 that will close the Coliseum and Bella Vista pool areas and pause some poolside dining; guests will still have access to the Villa Pool and Villa Clubhouse while work continues, with the Coliseum Pool targeting a late-February 2027 partial reopening and its restaurant expected to reopen in early Summer 2027. Bookings, weddings, and daily services continue but with temporary changes to pool access, food service windows, and guest flow — verify specifics with BookResorts or the resort before arrival.
In this guide
Scope and schedule of the renovation
The resort begins a transition in November 2026 that focuses operations more around the Villa Clubhouse while the Coliseum Pool and Pelican Grill undergo enhancements. The resort calls this a shift toward a more intimate, Villa Clubhouse–centered guest experience during the work.
Pelican Hill lists a target timeline: Coliseum Pool is targeted to reopen in late February 2027 with limited food service (midday hours) and the Coliseum restaurant is slated to reopen in early Summer 2027. Exact dates and scopes may change, so guests should check for updates close to their travel dates.
- Work begins: November 2026 (per resort notice).
- Coliseum Pool: targeted reopening late February 2027 with limited food service 12–5 p.m.
- Coliseum restaurant: target reopening early Summer 2027.
- Operations will concentrate on the Villa Clubhouse while work continues.
| Area | Status (as announced) |
|---|---|
| Coliseum Pool | Closed for enhancements; targeted limited reopening late Feb 2027 |
| Pelican Grill / Coliseum restaurant | Closed for enhancements; targeted reopening early Summer 2027 |
| Villa Pool & Villa Clubhouse | Open; serving resort guests with transport available from Main Estate |
How pool access and poolside dining will change
During the enhancement period, the Coliseum and Bella Vista pool areas will be closed to guest use; resort guidance says all guests may use the Villa Pool, with transport from the Main Estate available. Pool hours and cabana availability may be adjusted while work is underway.
The Coliseum Pool is planned to offer limited food service during its targeted late-February 2027 reopening window (service noted as midday). Expect some poolside restaurants or service windows to be reduced or relocated toward the Villa Clubhouse until full reopening.
- Villa Pool: open to all guests (transport provided from Main Estate).
- Coliseum Pool: targeted limited reopening late Feb 2027 (food service 12–5 p.m.).
- Cabanas and pool rules (like supervision requirements) still apply per resort policy; confirm availability in advance.
| Service | Temporary arrangement |
|---|---|
| Main pool swimming | Use Villa Pool (transport from Main Estate) |
| Coliseum pool food | Limited midday food service when partially reopened |
| Private cabanas | Availability subject to change — check resort cabana booking site |
What this means for Villa and Bungalow guests
Villa reservations (including Villa types such as Villa, 2 Bedrooms, Terrace; Villa, 3 Bedrooms, Ocean View; and Villa, 4 Bedrooms, Ocean View) continue to include Villa Clubhouse breakfast and Villa Pool access per existing policy. The resort is emphasizing the Villa Clubhouse as a central location during the enhancements.
Bungalow guests (for example Bungalow, Terrace, Ocean View; Premium Bungalow, Ocean View (Terrace); Bungalow, Garden View (Terrace)) should expect normal in-room amenities and terrace access, though some resort public areas near the Coliseum Pool could be affected by construction activity and altered guest circulation.
- Villa reservations: Villa Clubhouse breakfast remains included (7:00–10:30 a.m. per current policy).
- Villa Pool: available to Villa and Bungalow guests during renovations.
- Bungalow terraces and in-room services are not listed as closed; verify any temporary access changes before arrival.
| Room type | Likely effect |
|---|---|
| Bungalow, Terrace, Ocean View | Room amenities unchanged; shared pool/dining access shifted to Villa Pool/Clubhouse |
| Villa, 2 Bedrooms, Ocean View | Villa Clubhouse remains primary dining/pool hub; Villa Pool available |
| Premium Bungalow, Terrace, Ocean View | No room closures listed; expect altered public-area routing around Coliseum Pool work |
Events, weddings and meeting bookings
Pelican Hill’s event spaces (Mar Vista Event Lawn & Rotunda, Mar Vista Ballroom, Pacific Ballroom, and the resort's meeting rooms) remain listed in the resort inventory; the renovation notice centers on the Coliseum Pool and Pelican Grill and does not state a closure of major ballrooms or the rotunda.
If your booking involves a poolside reception, cabanas, or Coliseum Pool–adjacent spaces, discuss contingency plans with the resort or your BookResorts agent since some pool-adjacent services and food options will be limited or relocated during the enhancement period.
- Ballrooms and rotunda: not listed as closed in the renovation notice — confirm event-specific impacts directly with the resort.
- Poolside ceremonies/receptions should be reviewed with the events team; Coliseum Pool service will be limited until full reopening.
- Book well in advance for peak dates and verify any venue changes or sound/curfew restrictions related to construction.
| Event type | What to check with the resort |
|---|---|
| Indoor ballroom reception | Availability appears unchanged; confirm room assignment and setup needs |
| Poolside ceremony or reception | Possible relocation or reduced services while Coliseum/Bella Vista work continues |
| Wedding rehearsal & photos at rotunda | Rotunda use not listed as impacted, but confirm logistics and access |
Spa, fitness, kids' programs and other services
The Spa at Pelican Hill and fitness offerings are described separately from the pool/dining work. The spa remains open daily with hours and age restrictions in place (The Spa at Pelican Hill operates 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; spa services/facilities are for guests 18 and older). Fitness classes (Fresh Air Fitness) continue to be offered, often with age minimums.
Camp Pelican and other child-friendly programs are listed in the resort program set and are not described as paused. If you plan to use babysitting, Camp Pelican, spa, or fitness services, book in advance and reconfirm schedules since temporary shifts in resort operations can change class times or room assignments.
- Spa hours: 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; spa treatments scheduled from 8:45 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
- Spa age policy: spa services/facilities reserved for guests 18 and older; some kid-friendly salon or nail offerings exist (e.g., treatments for ages 12 and under when accompanied).
- Fitness classes: Fresh Air Fitness classes continue (typically age 16+ for participation).
- Children’s programs: Camp Pelican for ages 4–12 is listed as available; verify day-to-day scheduling.
| Service | Current guidance |
|---|---|
| Spa treatments | Spa open; book at least two weeks in advance for best availability |
| Fitness classes | Offered daily; age restrictions apply (check class-specific rules) |
| Camp Pelican / childcare | Available (ages 4–12); babysitting also offered by surcharge |
Practical tips for arrivals, transport and what to pack
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM and check-out is by 11:00 AM. The resort address is 22701 Pelican Hill Road S, Newport Beach, California 92657; BookResorts agents are available 24/7 at +1 (888) 605-1350 to confirm renovation details for your dates.
Pelican Hill provides complimentary resort services that remain useful during renovations: a beach shuttle to Crystal Cove (hourly), complimentary valet parking for Resort guests, and complimentary Wi‑Fi in guestrooms and public areas. If you rely on a particular pool or dining outlet, bring a backup plan (nearby beaches, restaurants, or scheduled activities) in case services are limited the day you arrive.
- Before travel: confirm pool/dining access and any temporary transport arrangements with BookResorts or the resort directly.
- On arrival: have a government-issued photo ID and the card used for booking; minimum check-in age is listed inconsistently across sources, so confirm whether the resort enforces 21 or 18 as a minimum on your stay.
- Pack for flexibility: bring beachwear for the Villa Pool or Crystal Cove trips, layers for coastal evenings, and any child supplies if using Camp Pelican or babysitting.
| Need | Advice |
|---|---|
| Pool access | Expect Villa Pool as main option; confirm cabana bookings |
| Dining reservations | Book ahead for Villa Clubhouse, Andrea, or Pelican Grill (Pelican Grill reopens later) |
| Event plans | Reconfirm venue and timing with resort events team |
