Disney World is introducing an apartment-style living experience for millions of guests in 2027, ushering in a new era of getting even closer to your favorite place on earth.
A Quiet Construction Project Could Change Disney Vacations Forever
On a calm morning by Bay Lake, just a boat ride away from Magic Kingdom, something remarkable is taking shape—brick by brick, beam by beam. For now, it’s a construction site filled with cranes and freshly poured concrete. But if you look closer, Disney fans are beginning to realize what’s happening could redefine how visitors stay at the Most Magical Place on Earth.
For decades, Walt Disney World has continuously evolved—new parks, new attractions, new lands—but what’s emerging beside Fort Wilderness feels different. It’s not about thrill rides or intellectual properties. It’s about home.
Could this be the project that blurs the line between resort guest and permanent resident?
A Project Reborn
Disney has revived plans for a long-canceled resort, unveiling the return of Lakeshore Lodge, a new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) property that will rise on the shores of Bay Lake. Originally announced in 2018 as Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge, the project was placed on indefinite hold in 2020 after the pandemic reshaped Disney’s priorities. Yet in 2025, it’s come roaring back—reborn with a revised design and a stronger focus on nature-based storytelling.
Recently released aerial photos by @bioreconstruct, a trusted source for Orlando-area construction coverage, revealed a sprawling layout that includes not only a major pool complex but what appears to be a full lazy river—a rare find among Disney resorts.
Aerial photos of river and pool construction in a courtyard of Lakeshore Lodge.
Aerial photos of river and pool construction in a courtyard of Lakeshore Lodge. pic.twitter.com/MJJK81lFBA
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) December 2, 2025
If the concept art and construction footprints are any indication, Lakeshore Lodge will bring the comfort of home to the heart of the resort district like never before.
Aerial photo of dock and pool construction at Lakeshore Lodge. – @bioreconstruct on X
Aerial photo of dock and pool construction at Lakeshore Lodge. pic.twitter.com/9DeEHnzdoO
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) December 2, 2025
Nature Meets Nostalgia
Located near Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground on the site of the former River Country water park, the new hotel represents more than a new addition—it’s a resurrection. That defunct water park once embodied the wild, rustic Disney spirit of the 1970s. Now, decades later, that same spirit returns with a more modern sensibility.
Disney Lakeshore Lodge is projected to open in 2027. The new Disney Vacation Club property will include 430 vacation club units. – @BoardwalkTimes on X
Disney Lakeshore Lodge is projected to open in 2027.
The new Disney Vacation Club property will include 430 vacation club units. pic.twitter.com/taduX5NCcP
— Boardwalk Times (@BoardwalkTimes) December 9, 2025
The design language leans heavily into nature—timber beams, open water vistas, and hand-carved details said to honor Disney’s artistic roots. In one piece of concept art, the entrance sign reads, “The Wonders of Nature Are Endless,” accompanied by beloved forest characters from Bambi.
The Disney World “Apartment” Experience
With 430 planned DVC villas, Lakeshore Lodge will cater primarily to Disney Vacation Club members and longtime visitors looking for a home-like experience steps away from Magic Kingdom. These accommodations promise to be the most residential-style options Disney has ever built—essentially the closest anyone has come to living at Walt Disney World.
Every visual element, from cascading water features to serene walking trails, reinforces Disney’s shift toward luxury mixed with emotional branding—where staying at a resort becomes an act of belonging, not just booking.
When complete in 2027, Lakeshore Lodge will join a growing pattern of DVC investments, following the Riviera Resort and the expansion of the Polynesian Villas. The new direction suggests Disney is not simply adding more rooms—it’s adding more reasons for its most loyal fans to treat Walt Disney World as their second home.
The Magic in Motion
What’s next for Lakeshore Lodge remains under wraps. Disney has yet to confirm any dining experiences or unique entertainment, though early plans from the Reflections era included a Princess and the Frog-inspired restaurant. Rumors indicate a lakeside dining venue could still be part of the project, maintaining that sense of intimacy and storytelling that makes Disney resorts stand out.
If all goes according to schedule, construction will continue through 2027, marking one of the most serene yet meaningful expansions in recent Disney history. This isn’t a hotel chasing spectacle—it’s offering something rarer: the illusion of living inside the Disney dream.
Author
Another expensive Disney resort only for rich people. Is this going to be like the Star wars hotel that flopped? I’m annoyed by how expensive Disneyland and Disney world hotels are. I would like to see Disney company make a cheap affordable hotel that won’t turn away middle class families and also I want Disney company to actually donate money they made to homeless people on Florida and California streets. And pay their workers at Disney parks and film industry more money so they can afford to live in California and Florida apartments.