Why I’m Looking Forward to Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge

We don’t have many concrete details on Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge yet other than the fact that it is taking over the footprint that was originally created for Reflections and that the new DVC resort is set to open in 2027.  Most details are simply assumptions based on the original plans for Reflections.  However, Lakeshore Lodge is already taking shape with cranes clearly visible from Bay Lake.  I may not be interested in buying a contract at Lakeshore Lodge, but here’s why I’m happy that the resort is being added to the DVC portfolio.  

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Another Resort to Book at the 7-month Mark

With Lakeshore Lodge having the same footprint as Reflections, it will be a massive resort with 900 rooms planned!  To put that in perspective, that would make it smaller than Saratoga Springs, which is currently the largest DVC resort with more than 1,300 rooms, but larger than Old Key West, which has more than 750 rooms. 

With such a large room inventory, it’s likely that Lakeshore Lodge will be relatively easy to reserve at the 7-month booking window like Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, and Kidani Village.  Another plus is that among the larger DVC resorts, Lakeshore Lodge will be the first one that offers an alternative mode of transportation to a theme park since it will have a boat to the Magic Kingdom.  

A Brand New Resort

In the past few years, DVC has introduced the Big Pine Key building at the Grand Floridian, Villas at Disneyland Hotel, Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, and the Polynesian Island Tower.  However, we technically haven’t seen a completely new hotel since Riviera opened in 2019.  Lakeshore Lodge is neither a quick flip à la Big Pine Key nor an addition to an existing resort.  This represents an opportunity for new stories to be brought to life as well as new room types to be developed.  

The original concept art for Reflections had theming that incorporated characters from movies that do not get as much representation in the parks and resorts, such as Bambi, Brother Bear, The Fox and the Hound, and Pocahontas as well as unique room types like A-framed housing and treehouse suites.   Should all these elements remain true for the nature-inspired Lakeshore Lodge along with the rumored pool complex featuring a lazy river, the resort could turn out to be quite the gem. 

I also find it intriguing that the architecture firm Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG) was reported to be the lead designer for Reflections.  WATG may sound familiar to Disney fans since it had partnered with Disney Imagineering on several Disney resorts in the past, including the Grand Floridian, Aulani, Disneyland Hotel in Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel–all of which are beautiful resorts that have distinctive details and theming that are a stark contrast to the more recent modern towers that have been criticized for being bland and sterile.  If WATG is still part of the Lakeshore Lodge project, perhaps DVC Members can look forward to a grand lobby and the immersive theming that makes the older Disney resorts feel so unique.

More to Do Along Bay Lake

Many DVC Members enjoy rest days away from the theme parks, and resort hopping is a perfect way to spend this downtime.  With Bay Lake being home to Bay Lake Tower, the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, and soon Lakeshore Lodge, the Bay Lake boat crawl may be the new monorail crawl.  We don’t yet know if the plans for the Princess-and-the-Frog-themed lakeside restaurant will still come to fruition or not, but you’d have to imagine that a resort as large as Lakeshore Lodge will include more than one new dining option.

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How do you feel about Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge?  Do you think it will be a positive addition to the DVC resort lineup?