Disney World’s new Lakeshore Lodge Resort Slated for Summer 2027 Opening

Disney World announced that Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge, the new waterfront retreat, is scheduled to welcome its first guests in Summer 2027.

The resort aims to bridge the gap between the serenity of the Florida wilderness and the whimsical artistry of Disney animation. Inspired by Walt Disney’s personal love for the outdoors, the lodge is designed to be a living tribute to nature-centric storytelling.

“Inspired by Walt Disney’s lifelong admiration for the great outdoors, this resort will offer our members and guests an opportunity to reconnect with nature,” said Bill Diercksen, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Disney Vacation Club.

Located on the shores of Bay Lake, the Lodge is designed to function as a “canvas of natural beauty.” The architecture relies heavily on massive floor-to-ceiling windows to frame the local landscape, ensuring that the Florida sunlight and native flora become a part of the interior ambiance.

The resort is on the site of the former River Country, the world’s first themed water park that opened on June 20, 1976, near Fort Wilderness and operated for 25 years before closing in November 2001.

The new resort, according to Disney, is pulling inspiration from

• Bambi: Evoking the deep, lush greenery of the forest.
• Pocahontas: Capturing the fluid movement of the “colors of the wind.”
• Brother Bear: Drawing from the rugged, majestic peaks of glacial landscapes.

The resort will feature 967 themed accommodations, meticulously crafted with earthy color palettes and natural materials. While the property will offer a variety of studios and multi-bedroom villas typical of the Disney Vacation Club portfolio, the standout feature is the introduction of Waterfront Lake Houses.

These exclusive one- and two-bedroom dwellings will be positioned directly along the water’s edge, similar to the ones located at Wilderness Lodge and the Polynesian.

These dwellings are detached from the main lodge and offer views of Bay Lake and the Magc Kingdom fireworks at night.