We love to ask questions on our Disney Food Blog Facebook page so we can hear from the real stars of the show — you!
©Disney
When Disney announces new projects and changes, it usually comes with a mix of opinions, no matter what the project is, and this is especially true when it comes to resort renovations and builds.
Yikes! When we polled our Facebook followers about the New DVC Resort, Lakeshore Lodge at Disney World, we were not expecting the answers we got.
Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge will be the newest hotel and will be right by the Magic Kingdom. It’s set to open sometime in 2027 in the former home of the River Country Water Park by Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.
©Disney
The resort is “inspired by the majesty of nature and its enduring influence on Disney artists.”
That’s what Disney has to say about it, but let’s hear what you have to say!
When asked about what part of the resort they were excited about, our Facebook followers didn’t pull back. Their number one response was “nothing.”
Construction for Lakeshore Lodge
Many Fort Wilderness fans are upset about losing part of the space to the new resort. They also think the new resort’s style is detracting from the aesthetics of Fort Wilderness and the surrounding areas.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
Fort Wilderness opened the same year as Disney World but only about a month and a half after, so it’s been the ideal example of what a Disney World resort is for many! However, the resort has been updating its cabins to a more modern style, which has also caused some unhappy guests.
New Fort Wilderness Cabins
More comments told us that you are not happy for another Disney Vacation Club resort! It seems like this has been Disney’s go-to recently, especially with the new Polynesian Island Tower for DVC.
Island Tower
While even non-Vacation Club members can stay at the resorts, they’re built to appeal to DVC members. Members often take on their vacations and park days differently from other guests, so they’re frustrated that they have another resort that wasn’t built with the “traditional” guest in mind. Many guests are also not in support of timeshare systems on Disney property.
You tell us, are you excited about the new Lakeshore Lodge? Make sure you leave a comment and follow Disney Food Blog to stay up to date on all things Disney.
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I feel like the new Disney DVC resorts are really lacking in theming on the outside. These contemporary style buildings will become more dated faster than something more themed and referencing the past (this new wilderness resort and the new dvc poly tower).
I know fans are split on this, right? Some like the more generic yet modern look, while others want more of that classic Imagineering magic like from the Poly or Animal Kingdom Lodge.
The issue is that too many DVC points and members are in circulation. It has made getting a reservation outside of your “home” resort almost impossible.
‘Nothing’ sums up my excitement about yet another run of the mill hotel built off of a computer program for DVC masses (I.e., Riviera) Sadly, I think long gone are the days of Disney themed hotels built by Imagineers who wanted to provide something different than a Hilton. We’ll keep staying at Port Orleans or Beach Club, until we get priced out of those too.
We are torn. In general terms, we absolutely think Disney has not been focusing enough on the full spectrum of Disney guests, especially guests who are looking for value. It’s disappointing to see the only focus be on the Deluxe/DVC level of development (and spending level) for hotels and other things (like LL Premier). For us, if we ever go DVC, it will be at the Fort Wilderness cabins. But that’s simply because we love staying at the Cabins so much. And what’s weird about the choice to make the cabins DVC is they do not fit the standard DVC model very well either. There’s no half or second bath, no washer/dryer, no table service (no good dining options at all in our minds other than HDD). The shopping is pretty basic and the pools are VERY basic. You don’t have access to amenities (liek pools) at any other resorts (unlike the other DVC properties which are often ‘companion’ properties to Deluxe resorts). If Lakeshore Lodge improves dining options for Fort Wilderness, then we’ll be happy to see it. (I’d love to have more shopping options also.) If it’s accessible via walking paths – or even betterm golf cart – by Fort Wilderness guests, then we’ll be happy with that particular development as well. We’d love to see some version of Mickey’s Backyard BBQ come back with Lakeshore Lodge (since that’s part of what we lost to get it), but that type of thing is rarely available at DVC resorts. It’s also nice to see some classics in the pictures – we’ll see if anything that Walt Disney actually was around for makes it into the final product.
I agree that there are too many DVCs being built and not enough non-DVC resorts. Also Fort Wilderness cabins were a moderate and now are DVC so that removes another non-DVC option.
I’m sure it will be nice…for DVC members. But for the rest of us, not so much. I once thought it would be fun to stay in one of the Fort Wilderness cabins. At least I did when they truly COULD be called a moderate. Now they still are classified as “moderate” by Disney, but as they are now DVC, just like every other DVC property the price is nowhere near “moderate” Sure, anyone can stay there (supposedly) but only if you can swing a “deluxe” price tag. I used to dream of staying at Wilderness Lodge too as it was comparable to Animal Kingdom Lodge and at a bit lower price point than the other deluxe resorts. But Disney put that dream out of reach by making so much of WL has become DVC and they raised the price of the remaining few rooms that a stay for me is likely out of the picture. I’m guessing this trend will continue and eventually expand to include what are now value resorts too. It’s just a matter of time.
This is looking to be another Holiday Inn/Hilton at Disney. The “cabins” were the start of the destruction of Fort Wilderness and this should complete it. Wilderness lodge will have sight lines of just another hotel on a lake.
Every Disney trip makes it easier to sell and not go back.
It also ruins the nice view for the Copper Creek Cabins that are on the water way. But hey, Disney World needs a lot more rooms so they can fill up those poor empty parks…
I am thrilled to no end about this new resort. I just might buy DVC points there on top of the ones I already own and/or will inherit. I could not be happier.
I have no problem with it as long as it doesn’t look like another Holiday Inn, like the Polynesian tower, and there are decent amenities.
I’ll be excited if it has “Lodge”theming….not Marriott theming. Disney needs to get back to its original type theming, where when you walk in, you are immersed in the Disney Bubble.
I want to feel like I’m staying in Disney World, not an “anywhere U.S.A. Marriott/Hilton”.
So disappointed in what I’ve seen so far at Polynesian Tower. Please don’t do that to the new hotel.
I’m surprised that DFB is so surprised – I’ve been reading nothing but hate for this project ever since it was (re)started. And I get it! It’s like Disney feels compelled not only to fill up (or destroy) every quiet spot, but you absolutely WILL pay for that river view if you want it.
I was excited about the new Lakeside Lodge UNTIL I read that it was a DVC Resort. Come on Disney, REALLY? What the heck! I wasn’t happy that they destroyed the ambiance of Fort Wildness with those ugly, modern cabins. Do they not know what “wilderness” means?? Now they have Lakeshore Lodge. It looks okay in the artist renderings, but we all know you can’t trust those renderings. Walt Disney World does not need another DVC Resort; however, it could use a regular resort for non-DVC people. Having said that, my daughter is a DVC member, and we’ve enjoyed many happy nights at a DVC Resort. They are beautiful, comfortable and have great theming. But the non-DVC resorts are like that, too. We’ve stayed at moderate and value resorts before she became a DVC member, and we stayed at deluxe resorts, too. I think the Disney people need to go back to school to learn word definitions or hire new people who can see life with less DVC Resorts. Just sayin’!
All these new Disney properties will soon be dated and labeled, “that was the style of the 2020s” The Contemporary and OG Polynesian were uniquely Disney designs and there should be more like those, not the cookie cutter ones they build now.
The handwriting has been on the wall for years. Disney is aiming to ( and succeeding) at killing/destroying/getting rid of the campground. Their in-your-face focus on MONEY has taken away just about Anything that ever lived up to the oft repeated WED quote about “ making a place for people to be together and have fun”- I paraphrase- but am sure that other (former????) Disney admirers would agree. Nothing is unique There anymore . The “ shops” are full of food or pins . The prices – I dare not go there – I’m all but priced out . One final thought abt the “ Lodge”…. My Disney stays began at the campground – I still visit occasionally (WDW)but I no longer can bear to go over to the campground – seeing it now breaks my heart.
I’m excited about the new Lakeside Resort. I know it will be beautiful , because Disney knows how to do it right!!! Love that it is DVC , just gives everyone more choices. People need to stop hating and know life is way too short to be complaining about everything. It’s all about perspective, think positive and life will be good. God Bless.
I feel that the WDW parks are getting severely over crowded. Yet another resort hotel will only add to this problem. Until Disney adds more park capacity, through new additions to existing parks or a fifth park, they shouldn’t build any new resorts.
Sadly for us guests, I’m sure Disney is more interested in building hotel space to bring in more guests not just before expanding or building new parks, but in order to help to fund expansions and new parks. I do not see them focusing on expanding park space prior to expanding hotel space – it doesn’t serve their financial agenda to do things that way around.
I think it will be great because there will be more restaurants available for people staying at Fort Wilderness as well as Wilderness Lodge. And I’m hoping that the paths between Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge will open now that there will be another Resort in the middle
Any new construction is the antitheses of wilderness!
Disney is pandering to the rich and those who can afford DVC points. We’d LOVE to have DVC but we can’t afford it (you know, the working class poor). We’d love to be be at the Poly or even Coronado Springs, but alas, money is an issue. Disney is running everyone off who isn’t a DVC member, giving them more perks like lounges in the parks, resorts and other boons because they want the money rather than being family-focused.
So sad that they removed the clementine beach to make way for the construction. Disney has a bad habit of removing any common area space that guests love to gather and create memories. I guess no more fireworks viewing here. Hated when they did the same thing to Wilderness lodge. Money over guest experience again 🙁
I’m trying to figure out if I can really afford a trip to walt disney world next year. And while i’m not a DVC Member, I can rent points for any of the resorts. I’ll be honest i’m a disney stockholder. When disney makes money it looks good for my stock. I too.I’m trying to see both sides of the dollar . I do agree that the disney vacation club has more than enough resorts. This should have been a non d v c resort. So how long did the former river country acreage?Sit and decay before they decided to do something with it? Look what happened to the star wars Cruise. It was a great idea. However the cost to the guest was way more than some people could afford. From what I have read that property will be turned into offices. I am planning a trip next year to either walt disney world disneyland or the cruise. After reading about all the changes to WDW, It sounds like Nothing but stress.
Ridiculous. They are only adding DVC rooms with the same amount of park space.
They are catering to high end customers at the expense of the others.
Not to mention, too many people use DVC as a business which makes it crowded all the time. It should be used how it was intended. One should not be able to buy a ton of points just to rent out.
And, yes, the traditional themeing that we loved and, let’s face it, was part of the magic, is disappearing.
I know Walt was a business man, but I don’t think he would approve.
At one time, WDW Guests were excited about a new WDW Resort project, and sadly that no longer seems to be the case. I am not sure where Bob Iger and team “lost” their connection with Guests, but it is very obvious that something is broken. At best, Disney is only firing on 4 cylinders, instead of 8, and that never used to happen. Now that I think about it, we were most happy and thrilled in modern times during the Michael Eisner years. Everything produced then just glowed with “Walt’s Vision”. Disney Cruise line, Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Lion King, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast; all under Michael Eisner. I hope that Disney’s new CEO can turn things around. Angry Guests at this level is unprecedented.
The Lakeshore Lodge has ruined the Settlement at Fort Wilderness. The campground was great because of being apart from everything now the new hotel is taking away the “Wilderness” part of the camping resort!