Walt Disney World's next resort hotel is coming into focus. Disney's Lakeshore Lodge, set to open on the south shores of Bay Lake in summer 2027, is a nature-inspired retreat drawing on Walt Disney's own love of the outdoors and decades of Disney animated films — think Bambi, Pocahontas, and Brother Bear. Disney Parks Blog has launched an ongoing series called "Letters from Lakeshore" to share behind-the-scenes updates as construction progresses.
The lobby alone promises to be a showstopper. Floor-to-ceiling windows will look out over The Wetlands outdoor recreation area, while a fiberoptic river will run across the floor beneath a blown-glass "Colors of the Wind" sculpture made up of hundreds of suspended glass leaves — both inspired by Pocahontas. Custom tapestries, river-recovered cypress wood accents, and hand-crafted furnishings will round out the space.
Four distinct venues will handle dining and drinks. Moonglade is the sit-down lakefront restaurant, with seasonal and locally sourced dishes framed by cypress-tree views. Bay Lake Provisions is the all-day quick-service marketplace — complete with hidden woodland critters tucked into the décor. Paint Out Point Bar & Grill near the resort pool serves shareable bites alongside original plein-air paintings created by Walt Disney Imagineers inspired by Bay Lake. And Dandelion Terrace is an evening lounge with a two-story gallery of archival artwork from films like Fantasia and a prime sight line for Magic Kingdom fireworks over the water.
Outside, The Wetlands recreation area will center on Lakeshore Lagoon, a zero-entry pool with a spiral waterslide. Younger guests get their own spaces in Heron Shores (dry climbing and play) and Otter Springs (interactive water features), while the lazy Daydream River loops through the whole area for a more relaxed float. A separate leisure pool and whirlpool spa at Cypress Point offers another angle on the nightly fireworks show. Guests will also find educational signage about local flora and fauna along the paths — and a plaque honoring a historic Walt Disney World attraction that once occupied the same site.
Like all Disney World resort hotels, Lakeshore Lodge will include complimentary transportation across property and extended theme-park hours for guests. Updates are being posted periodically to the Disney Parks Blog's Letters from Lakeshore series as the summer 2027 opening approaches.
