Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Walt Disney World is in the middle of one of its busiest periods of transformation in years. Magic Kingdom has said goodbye to the Rivers of America to make way for Piston Peak National Park, with Villains Land waiting in the wings. But some of the most significant progress is happening just across Bay Lake.
Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge, the resort originally announced as Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, is edging closer to opening, and Disney has now confirmed a major detail for anyone planning a stay.
Bookings Now Open for Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge
Reservations for Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge opened on October 8, 2026, giving guests their first chance to secure a room at the resort ahead of its July 1, 2027, debut.
The resort’s name has also been refined. After briefly being known as Disney Lakeshore Lodge, the project has adopted the possessive “Disney’s,” bringing it in line with the rest of Walt Disney World’s hotel lineup. A U.S. Patent and Trademark Office filing dated August 11, 2026, covered the name “DISNEY’S LAKESHORE LODGE.”
Lakeshore Lodge Added to Early Entry and Extended Evening Hours
The biggest news for future guests is that Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge has officially been added to Walt Disney World’s Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours benefits. Early Theme Park Entry allows guests staying at Disney resort hotels to enter any of the four theme parks 30 minutes before official opening each day.
Extended Evening Hours is a more exclusive perk. On select nights, guests at Deluxe Resorts and Disney Vacation Club Resorts can stay in a designated theme park for up to two hours after it closes to the general public. With smaller crowds, it’s one of the best opportunities to ride headliners with minimal waits.
Given the resort’s location on Bay Lake, the combination of proximity and after-hours access could make Lakeshore Lodge one of the most practical places to stay for Magic Kingdom fans.
Construction Continues on Bay Lake
Aerial photographs shared by theme park photographer Bioreconstruct on September 19, 2026, showed steady progress across the site, including work on The Wetlands and the Cypress Point pool areas, as well as surrounding landscaping.
What the Resort Will Offer
The 967-room resort will feature studios, villas, and one- and two-bedroom waterfront Lake Houses, with theming inspired by Walt Disney’s love of nature and films including Bambi, Pocahontas, and Brother Bear. The lobby will include a fiber-optic river and a blown-glass installation inspired by “Colors of the Wind.”
Dining will include Moonglade, Bay Lake Provisions, and Paint Out Point Bar & Grill, while Dandelion Terrace will offer views of Magic Kingdom’s fireworks. The Wetlands will feature a zero-entry pool with a spiral slide, the Daydream River lazy river, and children’s play areas.
What This Means for You
If you’re planning a summer 2027 trip or later, bookings are open now. With Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours confirmed, Lakeshore Lodge offers more time in the parks alongside close proximity to Magic Kingdom, so it’s worth booking early before availability tightens.
How do you feel about this new addition coming to the Walt Disney World Resort? Let us know in the comments down below!
