Disney Lakeshore Lodge Under Construction
Disney Lakeshore Lodge (formerly Reflections) is a nature-inspired resort being built on the former River Country water park on Bay Lake. Located between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness at Walt Disney World, it’ll feature both hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club villas.
Originally announced in October 2018, this Lakeside/Lakeshore Lodge will “be a celebration of Walt Disney’s lifelong love and respect for nature” with more than 900 hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club villas. Reflections resort was slated to be the 16th Disney Vacation Club property, part of a significant expansion on the hotel side of Walt Disney World. It’ll now be the 19th DVC resort, and part of a new wave of significant expansion.
Disney Lakeshore Lodge is billed by the company as one of the “most unique resorts ever built” at Walt Disney World. Previously released concept art showcases a range of novel accommodations, including both treehouse suites and waterfront A-frame cabins. There is also expected to be a waterfront restaurant located “along the bayou of Bay Lake.”
Work quietly resumed on this project 18 months ago, and has moved at a really fast pace. The base structures have now been topped off at their maximum heights, and work is underway inside the buildings and around the grounds. In the photos below, you can see the pool, waterfront restaurant, boat dock, and outlying A-frame cabins all taking shape.
Active construction is visible from Bay Lake, Wilderness Lodge, and even the Settlement area of Fort Wilderness. It’s interesting to watch, even if you’re not necessarily excited about the finished product. There’s zero construction impact on guest rooms/campsites at Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness, but it’s very visible from the Settlement of the latter.
Below is a look at new aerial photos from Spring 2026 showcasing the latest progress on Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge, which continues to move at an incredibly fast pace ahead of its planned 2027 opening. As always, all aerial photos are courtesy of friend of the site bioreconstruct, who graciously provided the construction photos here…
Only a trio of new photos this month, but they reveal progress on several things:
- Bus stop shelters
- Roofing
- Boat dock
- A-frame cabins
- Waterfront restaurant
- Lazy river & feature pool
There’s still no movement on the treehouse villas originally intended for the Fort Wilderness side. It’s possible where those will be built is being used as a staging site, or that they’ve been cancelled.
If you want to see how much progress has been made in the last month, here are February photos:
Disney Lakeshore Lodge is going to be a 10-story resort with 900 rooms arranged in a “W” layout of its wings, with two main courtyards. What you see above is more or less the final footprint of the resort, which is very large. You’d have to go back to Art of Animation or Animal Kingdom Lodge for the last resort of this size.
By contrast, Wilderness Lodge has has a 7-story main building and 728 rooms in total. The largest resort in the Magic Kingdom area is currently Grand Floridian; it’s just over 1,000 rooms between the hotel and DVC wings. Lakeshore Lodge will be fairly close in size to the main resort–with more inventory than the Poly or Contemporary.
Relative to recent resorts, Disney’s Riviera Resort is 9-stories tall but with only 300 rooms. This will be one story taller and with a significantly larger footprint. It’s not necessarily triple the size of the Riviera, but it’s the largest new resort at Walt Disney World in a long time–with more room inventory than Riviera and Island Tower combined.
Walt Disney World hasn’t said much officially about Disney Lakeshore Lodge in the year-plus since announcing it was back in development. However, we know that the footprint is unchanged from the previous permits and site plans for Reflections.
Back at the 2019 D23 Expo, Parks Chairman Bob Chapek announced this restaurant would be “along the bayou of Bay Lake” have a Princess and the Frog theme. However, that was before Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and more additions of Princess and the Frog at Port Orleans, so another IP might be chosen.
During that D23, Disney also announced that there would be both A-frame cabins and elevated treehouses. As of Spring 2026, standalone unit construction consists entirely of the A-frames. However, there should be a second row of structures on the side closer to Clementine Beach (see below), and that should consist of 5 treehouses if Disney is recycling the Reflections plans completely.
Disney Lakeshore Lodge is projected to open in 2027. Given the current pace of the project, our expectation is that it opens in the first half of 2027. Quite honestly, it wouldn’t surprise us in the least if Disney moved this up to late 2026.
It probably depends on when it’s most strategically-advantageous to launch a new DVC resort from a sales perspective, so perhaps Island Tower sales are more outcome-determinative than construction progress.
Disney is utilizing the same efficient construction method for Lakeshore Lodge that likewise enabled Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Resort to be built expeditiously. Note that there are multiple connected buildings that form the main resort, and not all have been equally far along throughout the project.
Although Disney hasn’t said much about Lakeshore Lodge, the site plans and aerial photo confirm a lot. Both indicate that there will be a lazy river and feature pool, along with a waterfront restaurant in the courtyard closer to Fort Wilderness. The lower courtyard will hold the quiet pool and boat dock.
The Disney Lakeshore Lodge towers will, quite literally, tower over Pioneer Hall. For reference, Disney Lakeshore Lodge is much closer to Pioneer Hall than Gran Destino is to the (old) main lobby of Coronado Springs or even Island Tower is to the existing longhouses at the Polynesian.
No photos do this justice. Even after seeing construction plans illustrating just how close the two are, I was still taken aback when seeing this construction in person. It is right there, and the only way to fully convey that is by standing in the Settlement and seeing the tower taking shape.
Even though we can see it taking shape in plain view and know a lot thanks to permits and other public filings, the only thing Walt Disney World has revealed in the last year-plus is this: “The proposed Disney Lakeshore Lodge will be located within the same footprint of the previously announced Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge resort. Additional information will be released at a later time.”
That’s it. Walt Disney World has not shared new concept art, how Disney Lakeshore Lodge will differ from Reflections, or anything else. Again, Disney Lakeshore Lodge will be a 10-story mixed use property with a hotel wing and DVC wing, plus waterfront treehouses and A-frame cabins.
Disney Lakeshore Lodge will also offer a main feature pool and a leisure pool, with the former being the flagship amenity at the resort. The highlight of Disney Lakeshore Lodge’s pool complex will be a lazy river, making it only the third Walt Disney World hotel to offer one, joining the iconic Stormalong Bay at the Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.
Disney Lakeshore Lodge’s feature pool will also include a zero-entry design for easy access, water slides, and a splash pad for the children’s play area. Positioned near the lake and nestled behind the main hotel building, the pool area is expected to offer scenic waterfront views of Bay Lake.
Every new resort needs a marquee offering–a selling point. Island Tower has the Polynesian and monorail, Riviera Resort has the Skyliner. Disney Lakeshore Lodge will have an impressive pool. It’s not only a logical feature, but a great nod to the River Country water park (see below) that it replaces. I’m sure there will be many River Country nods and easter eggs for longtime Walt Disney World fans in the pool complex.
While the structures and layout are unlikely to differ from the previous plans, don’t be surprised if there are material changes to the appearance of Disney Lakeshore Lodge versus Reflections.
This is purely speculative, but with so much passage of time, different leadership both at Imagineering and Parks & Resorts, and shifting trends in hotel design, it seems inevitable that what we first saw in 2018 will change to some degree by the time it opens almost a decade later. Basically, anything aesthetic is likely to change, whereas the original site plans seem to be set in stone.
Our hope is that the interior is made to look more interesting, timeless, and ‘lodgy.’ What was previously shown is dated already, and looked fairly unambitious. But there’s no reason to believe the bigger picture plans for the exterior, layout, etc. have changed.
There’s another misconception among fans that the original Reflections plans were simply recycled for the Island Tower at the Polynesian. That is categorically false. I know they’re both bland and boring towers that appear relatively interchangeable, but they are distinct.
I’ll admit that warming to Disney Lakeshore Lodge, and suspect many skeptics will do the same once this pool complex and lazy river are officially announced. Part of this is that Disney already did site-prep, cleared tons of trees, and dumped millions of dollars into developing this parcel. It’s inevitable that they’d build on this land at some point down the road, and that it would be a tower. Might as well happen sooner rather than later so we can enjoy the offering.
We love both Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness, and now have a daughter who will be the perfect age for Walt Disney World–and enjoying these resorts–by the time Disney Lakeshore Lodge opens in 2027. I’m also really looking forward to getting the walking path connecting the resorts back.
Being able to stay at Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness and having access to all three will be nice, as will those early morning and sunset strolls. Maybe Lakeshore Lodge will have a stacked restaurants and amenities slate (like Riviera!), and we’ll be able to stay at the comparatively inexpensive Cabins at Fort Wilderness while enjoying a robust restaurant lineup. Even if the building is ugly and out-of-place amidst the frontier, and it certainly is, it also presents undeniable practical upsides and should boast formidable features.
In the intervening years since Disney Lakeshore Lodge was mothballed, a trio of new Disney Vacation Club projects in the Magic Kingdom resort area has come to life. This includes the new resort studios at Grand Floridian, which was a room conversion project. There’s also the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort; as the name suggests, that’s a brand-new tower, built between the Poly and Grand Floridian.
Finally, there’s the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort (pictured below). They’ve proven controversial among Disney fans, but we love the new DVC Cabins at Fort Wilderness. The biggest question mark–does Disney Lakeshore Lodge help or hinder sales of the Cabins at Fort Wilderness? The answer probably depends upon how Disney treats them. If they’re part of the same trust/condo association, sales of the Cabins at Fort Wilderness will improve.
The other reason it’s worth drawing attention to these projects is because there are a lot of them. There’s also the Villas at Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Riviera Resort, and Aulani in Hawaii. This is all significant because it means a ton of points being sold simultaneously, and numerous resorts competing with one another for the attention of buyers.
All of these new Disney Vacation Club resorts still in active sales explains why Walt Disney World hasn’t said much about Disney Lakeshore Lodge. They don’t want to take attention away from those, causing people to wait and see what happens with Lakeshore Lodge before buying DVC.
The only thing Disney has done is buried an announcement in a newsletter–no press release, concept art, or any fanfare. And the only reason they did that because speculation was rampant based on a multitude of construction permits, appearance of cranes on-site, and the resort starting to go vertical. It was an open secret, and would’ve been silly for Disney to pretend otherwise.
Radio silence isn’t Disney’s normal MO when it comes to new construction. If anything, they typically overshare and try too hard to generate hype. So this is very much a divergence from the norm. However, it’s very consistent with past precedent when it comes to Disney Vacation Club. I still remember when Bay Lake Tower was going vertical and plainly visible from the monorail…and DVC sales reps pretended it didn’t exist.
Nevertheless, our expectation is that Walt Disney World starts sharing more about Disney Lakeshore Lodge in 2026. With an opening likely in the first half of 2027, it’s likely that sales will start around mid-2026. This means that DVC should really start pulling back the curtain on Lakeshore Lodge in Spring 2026, generating excitement and buzz.
In the last few years, Disney Vacation Club hasn’t been afraid to have several properties for sale simultaneously. That didn’t used to be the case. Now, DVC is fine with a larger number of properties being available for sale, with the thought process that more variety equals greater consumer choice and a higher likelihood of selling memberships. (After all, they’re all going to sell out eventually…well, maybe minus Aulani and the Cabins at Fort Wilderness!)
Having more unsold DVC inventory at Walt Disney World isn’t particularly concerning because it serves as hotel inventory in the meantime that can be booked out at higher cash rates. There’s still a lot of Riviera and Island Tower at the Poly that haven’t been declared, and those rooms fetch $600+ per night on the hotel side.
Turning to my original commentary, I love Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness. I’m a Disney Vacation Club member. In theory, Disney Lakeshore Lodge seems perfectly tailored to some of my favorite things about Walt Disney World. I want to love the idea of the River Country parcel finally being redeveloped, instead of rotting in plain sight. I’m truly hopeful for the best here.
Unfortunately, like pretty much every Fort Wilderness fan, I’m very apprehensive about this Disney Vacation Club project (well, mixed-use, but presumably mostly DVC). Part of what makes Fort Wilderness special is that it’s been relatively undisturbed by time, and is one of the last bastions of “Vacation Kingdom of the World” era of WDW.
It’s almost remarkable how different Fort Wilderness feels from the rest of Walt Disney World—even its neighbor, Wilderness Lodge. It’s almost as if Walt Disney World leadership has forgotten about Fort Wilderness, and it hasn’t seen the same fiscal mandates, changes in emphasis, or character as every other resort over the last couple decades. In large part, it’s been doing its thing, more or less unchanged since the 1990s.
There’s a very legitimate concern, especially after seeing how the Copper Creek and Boulder Ridge projects at Wilderness Lodge unfolded, that any expansion at or around Fort Wilderness will destroy the primitive and secluded characteristics of the campground that give it so much appeal. After all, this is a campground with wilderness right in the name–the environment is the heart and soul of Fort Wilderness.
The development of Disney Lakeshore Lodge doesn’t necessarily have to destroy the tranquil and secluded atmosphere of Fort Wilderness, but that seems like a very distinct possibility. Disney’s recent approach to developing hotels adjacent to existing resorts doesn’t inspire much confidence, and if there’s a ham-fisted approach when clearing land or an overzealous mentality when it comes to the size or proximity of the resort to the campground, it will be incredibly detrimental to Fort Wilderness.
As for the design, only a couple pieces of concept art have been released, and they’re nothing special. I don’t want to rush to judgment here, as I think there is potential for this to end up being interesting once more is released, but right now it looks like a fairly generic hotel with some modern rustic flourishes.
On the plus side, Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG) is the lead designer for Disney Lakeshore Lodge, and they have a very good track record with Disney. They designed the original Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, along with Disney hotels in Tokyo, Paris, and Hong Kong.
If this were a decade or two ago, I might be more deferential to Disney with regard to this concept art. However, the last several years have shown that Walt Disney World is very hit or miss with resort development and redesigns, skewing towards boring designs. It seems the approach is to choose the most middle-of-the-road offerings as possible so as to not alienate those with bland tastes.
When you compare Walt Disney World resorts built before the mid-1990s to ones built or redesigned in the last few years, there’s generally a clear division. Contemporary projects are often interchangeable with real world Holiday Inns or other mid-tier chained brand hotels.
Look at the difference between BoardWalk Inn or Beach Club and the new Gran Destino Tower at Coronado or Disney’s Riviera Resort. Don’t get me wrong–I like both for the amenities they offer, luxuriousness, and room designs. However, the exteriors of both leave a lot to be desired, and neither are exactly exemplars of themed design. (Admittedly, they have both grown on me a lot, but I still wish they were more ornate or unique.)
One explanation is that Disney wants to make things as crowd-pleasing as possible so as to not alienate any potential customers. The thing about this approach is that when you try to appeal to everyone, you end up appealing to no one.
Another explanation is that Imagineering’s talents are spread too thin. I know some readers might only follow the projects at Walt Disney World, but every single property around the world has huge projects in various stages of development or construction.
In the past when less was occurring simultaneously, maybe some top-tier Imagineering talent who “got” Disney’s distinct approach to hotels worked on a resort project. Now? Maybe they’re mostly designers who view working for WDI as “just another job” no different than Best Western or IHG.
Along those same lines, with so many projects in development, it’s entirely possible–if not probable–that leadership in the Parks & Resorts division is trying to trim the budget from each one, cutting aspects or details viewed as superfluous.
The problem is that those leaders are not creatives, and their experience is often in consumer products or other division of the company. They have absolutely no insight into what details are actually superfluous, and what are necessary for reinforcing theme or creating a sense of immersion.
Ultimately, more concept art could be released that’s really good. The project could employ a deft hand when developing around Fort Wilderness in a way that doesn’t damage that landscape. (Disney, just think of how much you could pat yourselves on the back by utilizing eco-friendly and sustainable construction practices–it’d be worth it in the PR alone!) It could end up being really good–a true tribute to both Walt Disney’s love of nature, but the spirit of River Country, which was never coming back anyway.
I’m cautiously optimistic that’s what could end up happening, but I think it’s equally likely that we’ll get a generically modern and vaguely rustic design. It’s also more likely that instead of eco-friendly construction that preserves the natural beauty and wilderness of the area, we get excessive tree clearing for the construction, and an end product akin to Copper Creek and Boulder Ridge in terms of wide walkways and bare grounds.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you optimistic or pessimistic about Disney Lakeshore Lodge? What do you think of the potential of this and other new hotels at Walt Disney World? Any other questions or comments? Hearing your feedback is part of the fun, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
“Given the current pace of the project, our expectation is that it opens in the first half of 2027. Quite honestly, it wouldn’t surprise us in the least if Disney moved this up to late 2026. It probably depends on when it’s most strategically-advantageous to launch a new DVC resort from a sales perspective, so perhaps Island Tower sales are more outcome-determinative than construction progress.”
I would also suggest taxes and quarterly reports might play a factor as well. I’m not an accountant but am curious if that would have an impact on when it opens and when sales start. The resort looks massive. On a side note, a very cool water park/ pool area might cause me to overlook both price and style objections.
This may turn out to be a good use of the sadly neglected former River Country, but what happened to the Wilderness theme?! I don’t want to look out of my Wilderness lodge room and see an uninspired high rise! Surely a little more imagination could be used to make it blend in instead of stick out! You already tainted my other favorite, the Polynesian, now here goes the Wilderness Lodge. Maybe not. One can only hope ! And now you don’t want me to post this because it’s similar to my previous post! Sorry, I have ver strong feelings about this!
This may turn out to be a good use of the sadly neglected former River Country, but what happened to the Wilderness theme?! I don’t want to look out of my Wilderness lodge room and see an uninspired high rise! Surely a little more imagination could be used to make it blend in instead of stick out! You already tainted my other favorite, the Polynesian, now here goes the Wilderness Lodge. Maybe not one can only hope !
I’m really worried about the future of Fort Wilderness. This new resort is not just being built between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness, it’s being built within feet of Pioneer Hall. There is a good amount of distance to the Wilderness Lodge though. How can the Fort keep its wilderness with a 10 story building in the Settlement?!?!? I was a guest at Fort Wilderness just over a week ago and was shocked at how close the new building is. As a Fort camper for more than 40 years, this is the most concerned I have ever been about the campground’s future.
“How can the Fort keep its wilderness with a 10 story building in the Settlement?!?!?”
It can’t. At least, not at the Settlement.
I knew exactly where it was going to be built, but was still taken aback when I first saw the tower going vertical. It is right there. And it’s not even a full 10 stories tall yet. Even if they transplant some trees, there’s no minimizing or concealing it.
My best guess is that Lakeside Lodge is going to be to Fort Wilderness what Gran Destino is for Coronado Springs. At least the campground itself will be more isolated from the tower.
I posted on your cabins thread how much we loved them. The interior design is gorgeous and full of classic FW love. If they could translate this to this new lodge I will be very happy (however we are already owners at Boulder Ridge) . I am very hopefully for this new water complex and would it be available only to those at the new tower or also include the cabins. I am also hopeful as the new Wailulu is excellent. And a similar waterside sit down (as an alternative to Geyser Point) over looking the electric water pageant would be perfection on a warm summer night. There is so much potential here in design and function but I really hope they scrap any reference to Tiana and that god awful large statue of Pocohantas in the lobby on earlier concept art. We don’t need any more princess or IP. The setting and history speaks for itself.
After seeing the depressing and mediocre pool at the new Poly tower I was afraid the pool would be a canoe with Pocahoantas on top but these new leaks are promising.
A return of that beautiful walking trail would be a dream, ripping it out was a crime. Let’s hope for the best Tom
BAZINGA – cannot wait for this. I just hope the pool is full of River Country Easter Eggs and yes I am old enough to have gone to River Country several times.
I really think the designers have nailed the interior/usability of the newer DVC resorts, but yeah, the outsides are fugly. I really wish they’d get their act together and get more of a style than this weird mid century/Arts and Crafts/modern woodsy amalgam they’re pushing. I DO think the plussed-up pools and amazing interior rooms will be a big plus, but what will they do for transportation over there? Do you think they’ll reopen a walking path to Wilderness Lodge and add a bunch more boats? This resort is going to be HUGE, and a ton more buses doesn’t seem very tranquil and woodsy to me.
It actually doesn’t have to be a weird amalgamation! Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie style combines all of these features fairly well: https://flwright.org/explore/prairie-style
Disney’s Sequoia Lodge in Paris is a fairly good example of what this could be, at its best. Not saying Lakeside Lodge will be like that, but mid-century modern meets craftsman doesn’t necessarily have to be an awkward mashup. It could be good!
As for transportation, I’d expect this to be standalone, just like Riviera. It’ll presumably have its own boat dock and bus stop. It might share buses with WL or FW, but that’s a significant guest load given the respective room counts.
Haha, we stayed at the Cars-themed resort in Paris. Being form New Mexico originally, some much of the decor was corny as hell, with the Santa Fe-esque details and things like the volcano and aliens and such. Rooms were small but nice and warm in the cold French spring weather, and the Cars theming was fun and thorough. Wish we’d been able to tour the other resorts. At least one was under major renovation and closed, or just being built. Not sure, that was right at the beginning of the covid mania.
Hotel Santa Fe used to be much weirder. Here’s an interesting article about it: https://www.designingdisney.com/parks/disneyland-paris/disney-hotels/disneys-hotel-santa-f%C3%A9/designing-disneys-hotel-santa-fe/
FWIW, the first time we visited was pre-Cars, and I thought Hotel Santa Fe looked like a prison. I get that there was artistic intent behind it, but way too much missed the mark for me. And DLP’s notoriously bad maintenance didn’t help.
That was my thought when we dined at Wailulu and toured the new Poly tower rooms. The lobby, restaurant, bar and rooms are gorgeous, the outside looks cheap.
A lazy river and great pool complex should make this a VERY popular resort for families.
For all the great theming and location of the Poly, I fear the pool and amenities have become overwhelmed with the tower addition.
Not to mention walkability to both Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge. That’s huge for us.
As ugly as I think the exterior looks, I’m also willing to overlook that given the features and location. It’s also a given that the rooms will be excellent, and it’s just far enough from both WL and FW that hopefully it’ll have a restaurant roster like Riviera or Gran Destino, as opposed to Island Tower.
Yes… your daughter will quickly approach the age where this type of feature is huge.
We loved the Beach Club for Stormalong Bay when our kids were the age bracket of about 8 to 14… Old enough to use a pool complex with some independence, young enough to really love water slides and lazy rivers.
And Lakeshore Lodge should give parents that feeling of being a bit removed from the parks while still having good access. (Like Riviera and Wilderness Lodge).
I don’t need AKL or Poly level theming. I’ve grown very happy with Riviera’s more “subtle” approach.(for the record, outside of 3-4 resorts, I find theming quality exaggerated at most resorts. What’s the Contemporary’s great theme? Grand Floridian modeled after a famous California hotel? How many Disney tourists could even find Saratoga on a map?)
If Lakeshore Lodge can just give a modern rustic vibe, with Disney flourishes, I wouldn’t complain.
This is the first WDW resort without any discernible theme, yikes. It really does feel like a generic Holiday Inn.
I wouldn’t expect it to be any less-themed than Island Tower, Riviera Resort, or Gran Destino.
That’s not to praise any of those or excuse the approach here. Just to point out that this isn’t the “first” of its kind, for better or worse.
A large lazy river/swimming pool with views of Bay Lake, coupled with a Geyser Point-style restaurant, are certainly exciting selling points. Personally however, I’m hoping that Disney theming of interiors and unique architectural elements are incorporated into the exterior designing, because the lack of them in other recent DVC properties is… bumming me out?… un-fun?… lacking in Disney magic? I am failing to find the words to properly convey my disappointment in the designs.
Wait, so you don’t just LOVE boxy, unthemed exteriors?
Sadly, I wouldn’t expect this to be much different from what we’ve seen recently in that regard. The original concept art of the outside is probably pretty close to accurate. Maybe some minor exterior flourishes that differ, but it’s going to be a big-box tower.
All this “bayou” talk next to the word restaurant makes me think they have a Tiana’s restaurant in the plans. I guess we shall see. However, that would obviously have made more sense at POFQ. Maybe she has a chain by now?
It was announced as a restaurant inspired by Princess and the Frog. We originally covered that here: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/princess-frog-restaurant-a-frame-treehouse-suites-disney-world/
My suspicion is that the theme of the restaurant is one of the things that’s subject to change. Tiana’s Palace makes complete sense to be built somewhere, but probably not here–and it made a lot more sense before Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Now, that might be overkill on PatF. Who knows, though.
Tom,
With all of these new rooms, do you ever see Disney pulling back on some of the benefits currently available to off site guests? Perhaps catering to Disney resort guests only.
Hi Tom
Thank you for your insights
One thing – which you allude to – is the joining up of this new resort with Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness. For us this would hopefully mean bike and walking trails between the resorts will start again – we enjoyed this v much previously- here’s hoping
Just what WDW needs – more oversold numbrrs of Vacation Club contracts! Whopee!
I have to be honest, my excitement for this project is mostly based on the resort name no longer having a subtitle. Plus the fact that Disney is going to be using the land rather than letting it sit abandoned.
They could have simply expanded the campground. Put some more Cabins and RV sites on the water. and Planted so many mor trees. instead they leveled every thing. The backyard BBQ was a favorite for generations. but we know it’s all about the club and $$$ When will there be a major park expansion to accommodate all the new guests ? They built ugly towers ontop of the Polynesian. But the parks are over crowded.
Yep!
But in case you haven’t figured it out yet: Disney now cares about one thing and one thing only: It’s stock price.
A question I have is “how will guests get onto the island…bridge, ferry?”
Trebuchet
I visited WDW as a kid three times between 1992-1999…I’m gearing up for my fourth trip in 2025. Most of the recent developments just make me feel sad and have been putting a bit of a damper on my excitement. I‘ve been extensively reading/watching YouTube, and I really can’t believe how bland these newer hotel towers are (Gran Destino, Riviera, Polynesian, this Lakeside Lodge thing). I was lucky to stay at the Yacht Club and Port Orleans-French Quarter back in the day…that immersive theming is a Disney trademark and makes for such a magical experience. I wish Disney still felt such things were worthwhile.
I’m disappointed that my kids potentially won’t ever get to experience Tom Sawyer Island or MuppetVision 3D. Epcot and Hollywood Studios both seem adrift thematically with hodgepodges of IP. I don’t understand dedicating a big area of MK to Cars (one of the blandest Disney movies ever) or getting rid of Jim Henson’s last work for a Monsters Inc. land, of all things. (How about they just open a fifth Pixar-themed park instead of jamming that stuff in nonsensical places?) Even so many recent movies have been ho-hum, sequels, or cash-grabby live action remakes. My point is, it feels to me like Disney is flailing around in its quest to make a buck. A lot of things are unoriginal, uninspired, or just odd. I wish they would take some advice from The Lion King and remember who they are. It’d be really exciting to see a new impeccably themed resort or a totally original attraction not based on existing IP, and those things pay off in the long term.
So many excellent points. It feels like Disney has forgotten what “imagineering” is based on. Sadly, imagination seems to be in short supply with them these days.
There’s a time and a place for nostalgia. I get it.
But… I don’t understand all the dislike for things that none of us has yet experienced. For example, the rooms at the Polynesian Tower look incredible. And, the grounds seem richly detailed, the pool area looks great, and I love a new dining option at the Poly and on the monorail.
I’ll be the first to admit the exterior of the Riviera is totally meh, but the hotel experience itself is pretty fantastic. Gorgeous and functional rooms, great access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and lots of great dining options for a small resort. It’s not exceptional to me because of the grey exterior (it’s a lot better at night). But overall… it’s pretty great. And on the whole is a LOT more interesting and makes better use of the space than the lost village of CBR Barbados.
I *HAVE ZERO* understanding on the lament of Tom Sawyer’s Island, and I’ve been an MK diehard since I was 8 in 1990. Maybe I went on it then? I don’t remember. And I don’t care cause it’s wasted space. I also love Muppet Vision 3D, but it’s hard to argue that it was a walk-on almost all the time, and it’s not a draw for folks. Monsters Inc and the new Rockin will be.
Again, nostalgia is great. But as Billy Joel said, “the good old days weren’t always good and tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems”. So I think people need to chill, and get excited for what has extreme potential. Nothing’s going to make EVERYONE happy. And many are just afraid of change. Too bad.
If there’s nothing going to be at this spot otherwise, I’m glad to see the Lakeshore Lodge. My dream is that they make the pool reminiscent of River Country. Regardless, I love trying new things, and I’m not mad for more options.
I can go to any decent-sized city in the world and get a nicely appointed hotel room with good dining options. What is unique (and *somewhat* justifies the price of moderate and deluxe hotels) is the immersive theming. All of these towers can be perfectly nice inside, but they certainly don’t add to the novelty and atmosphere, which are a huge part of the charm of Disney World.
As for TSI, one person’s forgettable waste of space is another person’s powerful sense memory from childhood. With small kids of my own, I was certainly feeling nostalgic and wanting them to have that experience, and more practically, I was also looking forward to letting them run around when they inevitably get sick of waiting in lines at MK.
Things change – I’m not lamenting everything that’s different when compared to 90s WDW – but based on some of the more recent projects, it seems like Disney doesn’t have the same vision and imagination it once did. Vision and imagination are what makes Disney what it is! That’s what makes me feel kind of sad…and we’re all entitled to our own emotions.
EXACTLY! The exterior esthetics are horrible. No more GF-like themed architecture, now they’re maybe best called “The Disney Projects” because that’s what these newer venues remind me of. Just like the new attractions, the veneer is thin. Slap a couple of IP faces in the waiting area of another looping coaster and you have a brand-new “themed” attraction. Imagination and education are not necessary components. Welcome to 6 Flags at Disney World! Tom, you hit it right in one of your last tomes: Disney exists to make money, only they used to hide that intention much better. It was much more subtle and when you were in the parks it never seemed to be their primary purpose. Now it’s blatant: Pack ’em in and shake ’em down! You wanna see the Mouse, it’s gonna cost ya! Bah!
I for one am okay with muppets 3D closing. It was very dated technology and cool when it first opened but hard to watch in later years. Plus Disney did nothing great with the muppets unfortunately. Carsland has great reviews and honestly I never liked the riverboat or Tom Sawyer island. Nothing really great there. The Riviera may look
Bland on the outside but it is fabulous to stay there. I have been several times as a DVC owner and the villas are
Gorgeous with the wood floors and full size washer dryers and huge balcony off the master bedroom firework viewing is incredible on one side of the resort along with great pics of spaceship earth light show. The pools are gorgeous. I
Love the adult pool. People lounging all day in the gardens. Kids people is great too . Quick service has some great options unlike other resorts and you get your food delivered by staff with real china plates silverware and glasses. Lovely. One of the best perks is walking to the skylines for two parks. Can’t be beat. I am good with all the new stuff
Coming. Bring it on!
Hi, Tom, unfortunately, DVC is beyond our budget. Will there be rooms for us unworthy folk who’d like to spend a night or two at the new resort, or will it just be DVC? Thanks!!
Like Tom said, it is probably going to be a mixed resort but it will be a Deluxe Resort so paying for a room whether it is a regular room or a DVC Villa is going to be expensive. Your most economical option will likely be to rent DVC points to stay in one of the DVC rooms.
Beth,
You can rent points from several reputable sources and stay in the DVC resorts cheaper than many hotels. Try it! We did it one time and bought DVC on the resale market. Worth every penny!
I can sum up my feelings about this update in one word – YES!!!!!
Whole-heartedly agree!
It would have been a better idea to simply leave the area mostly wooded and expand the Fort wilderness campsites . and put a few villas over the water like at the lodge. The idea of paying respect to Walt and his conservationism by building this massive resort is nonsensical . Its chased away the deer and all of the wildlife that was living in the Area . How is that conservation? The Bay Lake and Seven seas lagoon are being overbuilt and the charm is disappearing. The new hotel next to the Polynesian has ruined the look of that Beautiful resort .