Lakeshore Lodge is a new Walt Disney World resort that is set to open in 2027. The nature inspired hotel will sit on the water near Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge, presumably a boat ride away from Magic Kingdom. Lakeshore Lodge will include DVC rooms as well as non-DVC options. In this post, we’ll share new details on the resort as well as our commentary.

Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge has had a long history even though it’s not even open. The new hotel resides where the beloved River Country used to be. My time with Walt Disney World doesn’t go back far enough to remember River Country, but it seems like my kind of place and I’ve enjoyed learning about it over the years.

Following the water park’s closure in 2001, the land sat vacant. In 2019, Bob Chapek (who has since vanished like River Country) announced Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge would be built on that land which sits close to Fort Wilderness. Of course, most things that were announced in 2019 didn’t come to be and the project was shelved during the pandemic. Concept art from Reflections is seen below.

In 2024, work began in earnest on that same resort although it sported a different name now – Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge. I like the name Lakeshore Lodge much better than Reflections, which sounds like a spa on a cruise ship. While work began and has evolved quickly, details have been kept quiet on the new hotel until this week. Here’s what Disney has to say about Lakeshore Lodge.

Projected to open at Walt Disney World Resort in summer 2027, Disney Lakeshore Lodge will celebrate the beauty and magic of nature as seen through the eyes of Disney artists and storytellers. Inspired by Walt Disney’s lifelong admiration for the great outdoors, the resort’s design will pay tribute to decades of animated stories rooted in nature, with subtle nods to classic films — from the lush forests of Bambi and the colorful winds of Pocahontas to the sweeping glacial landscapes of Brother Bear.

Nestled along the tranquil shores of Bay Lake, Disney Lakeshore Lodge will invite families to slow down, take in their surroundings, and create cherished memories together. Floor‑to‑ceiling windows will welcome natural sunlight and showcase views of the local flora and fauna, allowing the outdoors to flow seamlessly into the architecture, artwork, and ambiance.

With 967 thoughtfully designed rooms, this new addition to the Disney Resorts Collection will offer a variety of ways to stay, from cozy studios to spacious suites. Many rooms will offer peaceful views of Bay Lake by day and spectacular views of Magic Kingdom park fireworks by night.

The resort will also debut with new one- and two-bedroom Lake Houses along the waterfront, offering families an even closer connection to nature with ample space to relax and unwind.

In the months ahead, we’ll share more about the dining locations, recreational offerings, amenities, and distinctive design details that will bring the spirit of nature and the magic of Disney storytelling to life at Disney Lakeshore Lodge.

The video below shows the progress on the front of the hotel as well as a look inside before moving on to other WDW projects. It’s worth a watch!

Turning to commentary, it’s good to see Disney offer more details. We’ve been shocked at just how fast this building has gone up with each subsequent trip to WDW. It was only a matter of time before there were more details. With the opening still being a year away, they are slow playing some of those deets. Outside of what’s shared above we also know that Lakeshore Lodge will feature a lazy river in the pool area as well as a water slide (possibly more than one), zero entry pool and a splash area. This pool area should end up near the top of our Walt Disney World Pool Rankings.

Lakeshore Lodge will also include a waterfront restaurant. With nearly 1,000 rooms, there will definitely be more dining options than just that. It’s safe to assume the waterfront restaurant will be a table-service spot and I would bet that the lobby area will include another table-service spot as well as a counter-service restaurant.

Turning more to my own thoughts on Lakeshore Lodge, my overriding emotion is excitement. The pool area and location are very promising. Add in a few quality restaurants to that formula and we’ve got a stew going!

I’m also a fan of the nature concept and think that has produced some of the best Disney hotels in the world. Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge are the Walt Disney World examples and Grand Californian at Disneyland Resort is also beautiful. While it doesn’t appear that this will follow the lodge model per se, Disney has had plenty of success with nature inspired creations.

On the flip side, I still don’t love the aesthetic of the entrance concept art. In the video I linked above, they talked about adding murals and that could go a long way. There are certain parts of the concept art that look like a run-of-the-mill Springhill Suites to me. No shade at Springhill Suites (a fine hotel chain) but I want a little more from a Disney World design. There does appear to be enough texture and art that I think the style could work well enough.

The size of the resort is a bit of a surprise – this place is massive! Lakeshore Lodge has 967 rooms, among the most of any WDW deluxe resort which is where the hotel will land in designation. With a “W layout” and a split of DVC and non-DVC rooms, the building is going to house a lot of guests.

That probably explains the opening timeframe. Lakeshore Lodge is far along in the build and progress remains steady. It seemed feasible that opening could happen at this end of 2026 or beginning of 2027. Instead they’re going with summer, which could mean anytime from May to September in 2027. There’s some leeway there and it’s always within the realm of possibility that it opens earlier.

As Disney mentioned, there will be more updates about Lakeshore Lodge in the coming months. We’ll be sure to update with any new information and are really looking forward to staying here in 2027.

Are you excited for Lakeshore Lodge? Let us know your thoughts or any questions you might have in the comments below. Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Check out our Disney World Trip Planning Guide to help you out. Looking for Disney World discount tickets? You can find them here! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!