Tracking the New Lakeshore Lodge "Letters from Lakeshore" updates

Can't wait for the Daydream River lazy river

Of further interest on this resort and the history of Disney's intent to have a lodge type hotel at or near that spot please see this article from World of Walt - https://worldofwalt.com/disneys-lakeshore-lodge-decades-in-the-making.html

In the interest of transparency I will state that I am the author of the article. I hope this does not constitute a violation of this forum's no self promotion policy and if it does I apologize and will not do it again. I just thought people who are interested in this resort might find it useful.

great article! I didnt realize that there was a plan to put a hotel there all along.

That's really interesting to know that the plans went back much further than Reflections!

Thanks, my favorite part of Disney historical trivia is the stuff that didn't happen. Resorts, attractions, whole theme parks, some of which were in advanced planning stages and maybe even had construction started.

Stuff like:

• Disney's America - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney%27s_America

• WestCOT - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WestCOT

• National Harbor Resort - https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/disney-nixes-national-harbor-project/2063239/

Even some of the initial resort ideas for Disney World like the Venetian Resort and Persian Resort.

Lakeshore Lodge is particularly fascinating because it is something that has had its starts and stops more than once since the early 1970s and is now finally happening.

I wanted WestCOT to happen so bad! Disney's America would have been pretty neat too , especially to see how they hande weather, its snows there ( but it does in Paris and Tokyo so theyve got that figured out) I'd have loved a Venetion resort too. Lakeshore makes so much sense though, beig right next to Fort Wilderness,etc

Here is another article from World of Walt - https://worldofwalt.com/disneys-lakeshore-lodge-its-not-as-big-as-you-think.html

I really enjoyed that article and it linking to other sources. Very well written, thank you!

Interesting article - https://blogmickey.com/2026/07/disney-vacation-club-quietly-renames-two-pools-at-lakeshore-lodge/

So Perspective Pond Pool is now going to be named Cypress Point Pool. That's a deep Easter Egg because the late 1970s concept for a lodge next to Fort Wilderness was going to be named the Cypress Point Lodge.

https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/lakeshore-lodge-disney-world-updates/

Incredible interior concept art and names for new restaurants and lounges in the latest Disney Parks blog!!

Great, thanks…

Well...I guess it's official. 😅

We've been telling you all for weeks that if everything we were seeing at Disney Lakeshore Lodge continued in the direction it was headed, it was going to be really hard for Amy and me not to want to own there.

After today's dining reveal and the latest concept art, we're sold.

Between the incredible lobby, the waterfront dining, The Wetlands, and everything else Disney has shared so far, Lakeshore Lodge is shaping up to be exactly the kind of Disney Vacation Club resort we love. It's the type of place where you could spend an entire vacation relaxing at the resort and never feel like you have to step inside a theme park.

So...we've officially taken the first step.

Our 50-point BoardWalk Villas contract is now on the market! 😳

I think Derek DeBoer had it listed about 15 minutes after we told him we were ready, so now the only question is...how long does a slightly famous used timeshare contract stay available? 😂

If you've been looking for a smaller BoardWalk contract, this might be your chance. I promise we treated this contract well!

👉 https://www.dvcresalemarket.com/listings/boardwalk/bwa3388/

Now let's hear your predictions...how long before it's under contract? Minutes? Hours? Days? Or do I somehow end up talking myself into keeping it? 🤣

Sorry dude, I have zero interest in buying points that will expire in 2042.

I will say that I am excited about this resort and I am hoping that since it will be DVC's second biggest resort (although normal size overall for a Deluxe Class Resort), getting a room at seven months will not be too hard.

I'm looking forward to it too.

Paul, I’m sure your BWV will be picked up by noon tomorrow:)

Not to be cynical, but let’s wait and see. I remember most people complaining about Poly tower when it was getting built and saying it didn’t look that great. And then it was finished and people quickly fell in love with it…especially Wailulu. The concept art did it no justice.

So who’s to say that the concept art for Lakeshore Lodge isn’t equally misrepresenting, only in the opposite direction? And the resort is SO massive that I am slightly skeptical DVC will be able to make it feel the way these concept art pictures feel.

But time will tell. I want to see it up close and personal first, especially with “full” occupancy. If it truly does live up to the concept art, that would be awesome!

The resort is not massive, it is a normal sized Deluxe Resort. At 957 total rooms it is in line with several other resorts in the same category:

Walt Disney World Hotels - Number of Rooms

• Grand Floridian Resort – over 1,000 total rooms and villas between the main hotel and two separate DVC buildings.

• Contemporary Resort – approximately 950 rooms and villas between the A-frame, the South Garden Wing, and DVC’s Bay Lake Tower.

• Boardwalk Inn and Boardwalk Villas – approximately 910 rooms and villas between the main inn and the DVC section of the resort.

• Beachclub Resort – approximately 865 rooms and villas between the main hotel and the DVC section of the resort.

• Polynesian Village Resort – approximately 860 rooms and villas between the main hotel, the DVC Tower, and the DVC Villas and Bungalows.

• Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House) – over 1,180 total rooms and villas between the main hotel and the DVC section of the resort.

• Disneyland Hotel – over 1,300 total rooms and villas between the three towers of the main hotel and the DVC tower.

• Grand Californian Resort – approximately 950 rooms and villas between the main hotel and the DVC section of the resort.

It's pending sale!

I knew it would be quick!

I think the location that surprised me the most on this was AKL with 1644 rooms between Jambo and Kidani. The fact that they share bus service, and its their only mode of transportation, it is surprising that they don't have bigger transportation issues. I can't think of a time that I had to wait for a second bus. On the flip side I've had significant waits when staying moderate or value.

And you will notice that the Wilderness Lodge (all rooms between the hotel and both DVCs) plus the Lakeside Lodge = 1652 rooms, only eight more than all of the Animal Kingdom Lodge in total. We should assume the Lakeside Lodge and the Wilderness Lodge will share a bus route.

In terms of the Moderate and Value resorts having bus issues. We probably shouldn't be surprised, some of those hotels are truly immense.

AKL has multiple bus bays, which helps a lot. Seems like the buses run pretty often and usually there are multiple buses at the stop. We never had a problem with bus service at AKV. However, at BoardWalk, it shares the bus with Yacht and Beach Club. There is only 1 bay at the bus stop. I have seen buses stacked up waiting for the lead bus to load scooters and wheel chairs. The line waiting to board can get pretty long. Thank goodness you can walk or take a boat to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

We just stayed in a 2 bedroom at CCR a month ago. We all agreed that we loved the hotel but weren't crazy about the transportation options. They were just too long regardless of mode. It took me 45 minutes to get to MK via the bus, and this was what the what the transportation board recommended. The transportation issue is what holds me back about seriously adding on here.

That would be interesting if the Wilderness and Lakeshore have to share a bus route. Is Wilderness Lodge sharing one with Fort Wilderness now? I could see Fort Wilderness and Lakeshore having to share a route, but I would have thought the Wilderness Lodge would have its own run.

We've stayed at BRV a lot because my parents bought there in 2001 and my wife and I recently inherited points from them. At times we've shared a bus loop with the Contemporary, at times we've shared a bus loop with the FW, and at times we've been on our own bus loop. I think it is something that they make regular adjustments to based on the ebb and flow of crowds.

The reason I think Lakeshore Lodge and the Wilderness Lodge will share a bus loop is because if you look at existing road infrastructure on Google Maps, the most likely way in and out for Lakeshore Lodge's buses is on Wilderness Road which goes right past the Wilderness Lodge connecting to Timberline Drive. In terms of total volume, as has been shown the number of total rooms between the two resorts is almost exactly the same as Kidani Village and Jambo House so that will not over stress the system, especially when you consider that these two resorts will have boat transportation to the MK whereas the Animal Kingdom Lodges only have bus transportation. The distances are also somewhat similar. The bus route between Kidani Village and Jambo House is 3500 feet, the likely bus route between Lakeshore Lodge and Wilderness Lodge is 5000 feet.

Granted things can change and there are other access roads in the area they could chose to utilize but right now as things currently appear the Wilderness Lodge/Lakeshore Lodge system appears very similar to the Jambo House/Kidani Village system so I see Disney following the same model.

Your reply actually proves my point. This resort is not small and, by your stats, it will be one of the largest WDW DVC resort (behind AKL and Grand Floridian). To my original point, I will reserve judgement until I see if the real thing provides all those "nature vibes" throughout the resort that are depicted in the concept art. IMO, it is a big ask to have that concept art "hold up" across resorts the size of Grand Floridian or AKL. It would be a much different situation at a resort the size of BCV or Boardwalk...those resorts feel so much more quaint and intimate. Also, the size of the resort isn't just limited to the amount of rooms. It consists of the amount of rooms AND the amount of overall space.

And from all reports (I haven't seen it myself yet), Lakeshore feels very intrusive and massive. Maybe that has to do with it being inserted into an area known for "wilderness", but people who have seen it report that it feels very imposing and has a very large scale feel to it. To your point, AKL and Grand Floridian also have that same "large scale" feel. When we visit AKL it has a very "wow, this is a big resort" feel to it. Same with Grand Floridian, which is really spread out.

I hope the Imagineers can pull off the vibes of that concept art across a resort the size of AKL and Grand Floridian. I'm not trying to "yuck your yum" or be a downer. It would be great to have this edition to the DVC family if it is indeed aligned with that concept art. All I am saying is that DVC has been known in the past to show concept art that doesn't exactly line up with the finished product.