Currently, Disney is building its newest hotel near the Magic Kingdom, and from everything we know so far, the Lakeshore Lodge could be a game-changer!
Over the course of my 30 years of visiting Disney World, I’ve seen a lot of hotels open at the resort. From new Deluxe Tier complexes like Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Riviera Resort to the entire Value Tier lineup. During that time, there’s only been one resort opened in the Magic Kingdom Resort area: 1994’s Wilderness Lodge. However, that’s about to change with the scheduled 2027 opening of Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge.
The project that would become Lakeshore Lodge was first officially announced in 2018 as Reflections: A Lakeside Lodge, a nature-inspired resort to be built on the site of the long-shuttered River Country water park. However, the project was put on hold early on during the pandemic.
After several years of silence, work on the site resumed in late 2024, with Disney confirming in November of that year that the project was back on, and that the resort had been renamed Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge. According to Disney, the new version of the resort will be “inspired by the majesty of nature and its enduring influence on Disney artists.”
Since then, construction has been moving at a fever pace, and we’ve learned some information on the new hotel.
Confirmed
- Vicinity to the Magic Kingdom: The Lakeshore Lodge will join the small group of resorts located in the Magic Kingdom Resort area. While Disney has planned several hotels for the area over the years, the aforementioned Wilderness Lodge, as well as the Contemporary, Polynesian Village, and Fort Wilderness Campground (all opened in 1971), and the Grand Floridian (opened in 1988) are the only ones that have actually been built until now.
- This vicinity will provide guests at the Lakeshore Lodge with comparatively easy access to Disney World’s busiest park, likely through ferry and boat service across Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon.
- Fireworks Views: Speaking of closeness to the Magic Kingdom, the Lakeshore Lodge will also provide views of the park’s nightly fireworks spectacular.
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Deluxe Accommodations: The Lakeshore Lodge will be a Disney Vacation Club resort, with room accommodations in line with Disney’s Deluxe Tier hotels.
Heavily Rumored/Very Likely
- Early Entry/Extended Hours Perks: While not officially confirmed, it certainly seems like a foregone conclusion that the resort will offer the Early Entry perk available to all Disney hotel guests, and the Extended Hours perk available to guests at Deluxe Tier hotels.
- A Large Pool Complex: Rumors say that the Lakeshore Lodge will feature a large feature pool, allegedly including a full lazy river, which would be a nice tribute to the land’s former resident, Disney’s original water park River Country. We are eager to learn more about this.
- A Themed Restaurant: When the original Reflections version of the hotel was announced, a Princess & The Frog-themed bayou restaurant was announced as well. While it’s unclear if the theme will remain the same, rumors say that some form of a nature-themed bayou restaurant will be part of Lakeshore Lodge.
When Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge opens in 2027, the new hotel seems primed to transform the Magic Kingdom resort area forever. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on the property’s development.
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Are you planning on checking out Lakeshore Lodge when it opens? Let us know in the comments below.
I hope this new hotel will be full-service, unlike the new Polynesian Tower. By this, I mean valet parking, bellman service, a gift shop, multiple restaurants, one of which should allow for confirmed, Advance Reservations. The Polynesian Tower offers none of this, which makes it a Deluxe Resort “Lite.”