Disney has been steadily dropping details on Lakeshore Lodge, the newest hotel coming to Walt Disney World, over the last few months. News started with general specs on the resort, followed by information on the pool area. Last month brought news of the dining options at Lakeshore Lodge along with concept art of the hotel’s lobby. Now Disney World has announced an opening date, a look at the different room levels and reservation details. This post will share the news and we’ll sprinkle in our commentary where we see fit.

We’ll start with the opening date before getting to the rooms. Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge opens July 1, 2027 at Walt Disney World. This isn’t a huge surprise as a summer opening season was announced earlier this year. I thought Lakeshore Lodge might open a month or two before July but that wasn’t to be. There’s always a chance of a soft opening, depending on construction progress.

For those unaware, the hotel sits along Bay Lake, and is seen across the water from Wilderness Lodge. Different concept art (shown below) shows many room types will have views of the water, the Contemporary, and previous updates shared that there will be spots for Magic Kingdom firework viewing. Lakeshore Lodge also sits near Fort Wilderness and on the site of the old River Country.

First Booking Dates for Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge

• October 6: Disney Vacation Club members can make early rental reservations by contacting Member Services at (800) 800-9800.
• October 7: Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can make early rental reservations by contacting (407) 934-7639.
• October 8: All guests can make reservations online or by calling (407) 934-7639.

Note that these dates are for cash bookings only. DVC members will be able to reserve with points at a later date. I expect the rack rate for these opening dates to be through the roof so, if you are a DVC member, I’d recommend holding off booking and eventually use your points.

This sentence was also used in a Disney Vacation Club email that came today: “… eligible Members, stay tuned for more details about an exclusive Member “First Wave” Experience at Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge!” I’m hoping this means a chance to stay ahead of the opening date and it isn’t just an exclusive offer to add more points to your contract. We’ll have to wait and see on that one!

Lakeshore Lodge is called a DVC Resort but will have rooms available to book whether you’re a member or not. The hotel is massive and will not sell out anytime soon from contracts there.

A Sneak Peek at Lakeshore Lodge’s Rooms

With 967 designed rooms, Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge will offer a variety of ways to stay, from intimate duo studios and spacious villas to one-of-a-kind waterfront Lake Houses. Each room type will capture the beauty of nature as seen through the eyes of Disney artists and storytellers, with natural materials, earthy color palettes, and original artwork from classic Disney films set in the great outdoors.

Nature-Inspired Studios

Let’s take a look at the studios first. Like most of the recent WDW hotel additions, Lakeshore Lodge will feature both duo and deluxe studios. We’ll start with the duo offerings.

Duo studios will offer a colorful and cozy retreat for two inspired by the vibrant spirit of Disney Animation’s Encanto.

These rooms look fantastic! We’ve been impressed by Disney’s duo studios, specifically at Disneyland Hotel. They generally use their small footprint well and still keep an air of luxury mixed with practicality.

I love the color and detailing shown above as this appears to strike a balance between modern and Disney-themed. At this point it feels as if these rooms have to tie-in Disney characters or IP in the artwork above the bed and the Encanto casita feels like a stretch when fitting in with Lakeshore Lodge’s theme.

On the other hand, I love the detailing above the couch and that still has an Encanto aesthetic to it. These look like the best duo studios yet!

Deluxe studios will bring the woodland charm of Disney Animation’s Bambi to life with warm natural materials, original concept artwork pulled from the archives, and comfortable living spaces designed for up to four guests.

These are very pretty, as well. Keep in mind that judging things based on concept art is never a great move. That said, hotel room concept art doesn’t usually differ too much from the final offering.

The wood paneling above the bed is gorgeous here, adding texture in a creative way. Similarly, I think the artwork and light fixtures are pretty without being too in your face.

If I have any worry about the room it’s that the white, modern look will take center stage over the themed design. That doesn’t strike me as a huge concern though.

One & Two-Bedroom Villas

Larger families can spread out in a one- or two-bedroom villa, sleeping up to five and nine guests. Fitting 9 guests into 2-bedrooms would be quite a feat but more power to those who try it!

Also rooted in the storytelling of Bambi, these spacious accommodations will feature soft earth tones, subtle forest motifs, and artwork reflecting the film’s natural landscapes.

With full kitchens, washers and dryers, private patios, and spacious living and dining areas, these villas will provide plenty of space to relax and recharge after a day at the Disney Parks.

This concept art is harder to get a read on than the smaller studios. Once again, the woodwork throughout the room appears to be a highlight. I love the wavy table, detailing on the murphy bed, and kitchen light fixture.

The rest of the space looks like a very modern hotel room which isn’t a bad thing but it’s difficult to glean any character from it. I think it’s pretty but am in more of a wait-and-see mode on this level of room.

Waterfront Lake Houses

New and exclusive to Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge, one- and two-bedroom Lake Houses will offer an up-close connection to nature with plenty of space to relax and unwind along the shores of Bay Lake. These unique freestanding retreats will feature dramatic A-frame architecture, expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, and beautiful waterfront views.

Sleeping up to five or eight guests, respectively, Lake Houses will feature a private porch overlooking the water, a full kitchen, and a washer and dryer. Throughout the interior, artwork will celebrate Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Brother Bear, with nods to the film’s Alaskan setting and themes of nature and discovery. Inside the primary bedroom, a striking Northern Lights-inspired lighting feature will cast a peaceful glow as night falls. 

These cabins look exceptional. I love the A-frames and and the interior design is hitting every single right note for me. The openness of the living spaces matched with the high ceilings has me ready to splurge immediately.

All of the artwork throughout the rooms is beautiful in concept, especially that mountain motif headboard. I’ve always liked looking at the lakeside rooms at Wilderness Lodge but have never seriously considered staying in them because of the price. These are a different story!

Three-Bedroom Grand Villas

Designed with multigenerational families in mind, three-bedroom grand villas will celebrate the artistry of Disney Animation’s Fantasia. Each grand villa will sleep up to 12 guests and feature multiple bathrooms, a full kitchen, a private patio with breathtaking Bay Lake views, and plenty of gathering spaces to celebrate any occasion.

I’ll never stay here, barring any lottery winnings or long lost rich relatives, but it looks gorgeous. I love the blending of Fantasia’s nature into the room, with the art and light fixtures adding some whimsy to an otherwise modern, beautiful space.

Elevated Resort Rooms and Suites

In addition to deluxe studios and villas, Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge will offer resort studios that sleep up to four guests and resort studio king rooms that sleep up to 2 guests. Drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of Disney Animation’s Pocahontas, these accommodations will feature earthy colors and artistic touches from the archives that bring the film’s sweeping landscapes to life.  

These are the more standard hotel rooms. With 967 rooms in Lakeshore Lodge, we expect there to be quite a few of this room type. I’m glad the wood paneling over the bed has extended to this space and the curved wall art is a cool idea, looking very pretty. I don’t like these as much as the DVC studios but I’m still intrigued.

Guests staying in select club level resort rooms will enjoy access to The Artist’s Nest, a concierge lounge perched above the treetops, offering personalized service, complimentary refreshments, and exclusive views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

Seeing how this is a DVC resort, we expect the club level to be available via points. Lakeshore Lodge will join Animal Kingdom Lodge as the only WDW hotel with that distinction. That said, we also expect these rooms to cost an astronomical amount of points to book. Stay tuned on that one!

For those looking for an elevated getaway, the Hidden Willow Presidential Suite will offer elegant accommodations with peaceful views of Bay Lake by day and spectacular views of Magic Kingdom Park fireworks by night. Sleeping up to six guests, this spacious suite will feature two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a washer and dryer, plus access to The Artist’s Nest.

Another beautiful looking space that I’ll never be able to afford. I might need to win the lottery twice in order to stay in this one!

After being lukewarm on the pool area artwork, Lakeshore Lodge has come back very strong with the last two updates. All of the room concept art looks beautiful and definitely has us intrigued. We’re getting more and more optimistic about Lakeshore Lodge and are looking forward to staying there 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!