Disney shared the latest installment of Letters from Lakeshore on October 1, giving us our first look at Branch & Brush, a new lounge coming to Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge.
Located just beyond the resort’s main lobby, Branch & Brush will overlook Bay Lake and offer handcrafted cocktails in a space inspired by the changing seasons. Disney says the lounge will feature rich colors, natural textures, artwork, and a centerpiece chandelier that changes color to represent all four seasons.
Branch & Brush Looks Like a Place to Slow Down
This may not be the biggest Lakeshore Lodge reveal we’ve seen, but I actually think spaces like this are going to play a big role in how the resort feels once it opens.
The best Disney Vacation Club resorts give you reasons to spend time outside your room and away from the parks. A comfortable lounge with Bay Lake views feels like exactly the kind of place where you might stop for a drink before dinner or settle in after a long day at Magic Kingdom.
The seasonal design theme also fits naturally with what Disney has shown us so far from Lakeshore Lodge. Rather than leaning heavily into obvious Disney characters, the resort appears to be blending subtle Disney storytelling with nature-inspired spaces.
The Lobby Is Taking Shape, Too
Disney also shared more detail about the resort’s main lobby, which looks like it will set the tone from the moment guests arrive.
One of the lobby’s most defining features will be its expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, bringing the surrounding landscape directly into the space. Drawing inspiration from the music and storytelling of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Pocahontas, a shimmering fiberoptic river will illuminate the floor and flow around a custom bronze centerpiece designed by Walt Disney Imagineering.
It’s an interesting combination. Between the views outside and the more theatrical touches inside, Disney seems to be trying to make the lobby feel connected to nature without making it feel too understated.
Our Take on Branch & Brush and the Lakeshore Lodge Lobby
Paul is much more sold on the main lobby than Branch & Brush. He likes the natural light, elevated ceilings, and sense of scale, which remind him more of the grand lobby spaces at the Grand Floridian, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Wilderness Lodge than something like Riviera. He also sees the confirmation that the Pocahontas centerpiece from the old Reflections concept is still part of the plan as a fun connection to the resort’s earlier history. Branch & Brush, though, feels like the first potential miss to him. The views look great, but the name and overall theme feel a little forced, and the illuminated ceiling comes across as somewhat artificial in the concept art, though he’s reserving final judgment until seeing it in person.
I agree the lobby looks stunning, but disagree with Paul’s assessment of the lounge and especially love the heavy nature theme and emphasis on trees. The changing-color design is a big part of the appeal for me, and I already like the idea of seeing how the space feels in different seasons, particularly in the fall.
Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge is scheduled to open July 1, 2027, and we’ll continue following each new Letters from Lakeshore update as Disney reveals more.
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