We finally know what it will look like to wake up inside Disney World’s newest resort, and Disney is giving guests a LOT of different ways to stay here.
Just one day after confirming that Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge will officially open on July 1, 2027, Disney has released our first detailed look inside the rooms coming to the new waterfront resort along Bay Lake.
And rather than designing one room style and simply changing the size, Disney is taking a much broader approach.
The resort’s 967 rooms will range from tiny two-person Duo Studios all the way up to three-bedroom Grand Villas sleeping 12, waterfront Lake Houses, traditional Resort Studios, and an elaborate Presidential Suite. Different room categories will also draw inspiration from different Disney animated films, including Encanto, Bambi, Fantasia, Pocahontas, and Brother Bear.
The common thread tying them together is nature.
Disney says the rooms will use natural materials, earthy colors, and artwork from Disney films that explore the outdoors. But based on this first look, the movie references generally appear to be incorporated through artwork, colors, textures, and architectural details rather than turning the rooms into heavily themed character spaces.
And some of these accommodations are unlike anything else currently available at a Walt Disney World hotel.
The Lake Houses Could Be the Standout
Let’s start with arguably the most interesting rooms Disney revealed: the Lake Houses. These will be freestanding A-frame accommodations positioned along the shores of Bay Lake, available in both one- and two-bedroom configurations.
The one-bedroom Lake Houses sleep up to five adults, while the two-bedroom versions accommodate as many as eight. Both include separate living and dining spaces, a full kitchen, washer and dryer, and a private porch facing the water.
But it’s the setting that really separates these from a normal Disney hotel room. Floor-to-ceiling windows dominate the A-frame design, creating expansive views toward Bay Lake and making the surrounding landscape part of the room itself.
Inside, the Lake Houses are inspired by Brother Bear.
Rather than covering everything with characters, Disney is drawing from the movie’s Alaskan setting and its themes of nature and discovery. Artwork throughout the accommodations references the film, while the primary bedroom includes a Northern Lights-inspired lighting feature that illuminates the room after dark.
These could ultimately become some of the most desirable (and potentially some of the most expensive) accommodations at Lakeshore Lodge, although Disney has not yet announced pricing.
For larger families who normally consider a cabin, bungalow, or multi-bedroom Disney Vacation Club villa, the combination of a freestanding building, full kitchen, multiple bathrooms, Bay Lake location, and private waterfront porch could make the Lake Houses particularly appealing.
‘Encanto’ Gets the Smallest Rooms
At the opposite end of the size spectrum are the Duo Studios, which sleep up to two adults. These rooms are inspired by Encanto and feature some of the brightest colors we’ve seen in the first-look images.
Disney says the rooms include a colorful butterfly mural, seating area, kitchenette, private balcony, and a queen-size pull-down bed. During the day, that bed can be stored away to free up additional floor space.
The bathroom is also divided so that the vanity sits separately from the water closet and shower.
That’s worth noting because Duo Studios are designed specifically around maximizing a relatively small footprint. They’re unlikely to be the best option for families, but couples or solo travelers who want access to the resort without paying for space they don’t need may find this category much more practical.
‘Bambi’ Takes Over the Studios and Villas
Bambi provides the inspiration for several of Lakeshore Lodge’s most traditional Disney Vacation Club accommodations. Deluxe Studios sleep up to four adults and include one queen bed plus a queen-size pull-down bed.
Disney is using warm natural materials and forest imagery throughout these rooms, including original Bambi concept artwork pulled from the Disney archives.
The Deluxe Studios also include a kitchenette with a wet bar, sofa seating, private balcony, and a spacious bathroom with dual sinks, walk-in shower, and a separately enclosed water closet.
That Bambi aesthetic continues into the one- and two-bedroom Villas. One-bedroom Villas sleep up to five adults, while two-bedroom Villas accommodate as many as nine. Both categories include full kitchens, dining areas, separate bedrooms, spacious living rooms, washers and dryers, and private patios or balconies. The bathrooms get more substantial here, too.
Disney says the Villas include a split bathroom with two vanities, a soaking tub, and walk-in shower, while the two-bedroom version adds a second bathroom with dual sinks and another walk-in shower.
For families planning a longer Walt Disney World vacation, that distinction matters. Moving from a Studio to a Villa isn’t simply buying more sleeping space…you’re gaining a full kitchen, laundry facilities, larger living spaces, and substantially more bathroom capacity.
‘Fantasia’ Is Reserved for the Biggest Villas
Need even more room? The three-bedroom Grand Villas will accommodate up to 12 adults and are inspired by Fantasia. Disney describes the design as celebrating the film’s artistry and the relationship between music and nature.
These are true multi-family accommodations, with three separate bedrooms, a full kitchen, dining room, large living room, private patio or balcony, and multiple bathrooms.
The primary suite includes its own bathroom with a separate soaking tub and walk-in shower, while the villa also includes another split bathroom and a half bathroom.
Based on Disney’s first concept imagery, the Grand Villas look considerably more residential than a typical hotel room, with large gathering spaces designed for groups to spend time together rather than simply having somewhere to sleep after leaving the parks.
Traditional Hotel Rooms Are Coming, Too
One potentially confusing thing about Lakeshore Lodge is that not every room is a Disney Vacation Club-style Villa. Disney is also building more traditional Resort Studios.
Those rooms are inspired by Pocahontas and come in two configurations: Resort Queen Rooms sleeping up to four adults and Resort King Rooms sleeping up to two. The Queen Rooms include two queen beds, while King Rooms include one king bed. Both offer a mini refrigerator and microwave, and select rooms will include balconies.
The Pocahontas influence appears through natural colors and imagery rather than overt character theming. Disney specifically calls out Grandmother Willow accent pillows, along with murals depicting the flowing river and iconic cliff landscapes from the movie.
Select Resort Studios will also be available with Club Level access.
Those guests can visit The Artist’s Nest, Lakeshore Lodge’s concierge lounge positioned above the treetops. Disney says the lounge will offer complimentary refreshments, concierge services, personalized vacation-planning assistance, and views that include Cinderella Castle and Magic Kingdom’s nighttime fireworks.
And then there’s the room for anyone looking to go considerably bigger.
The Hidden Willow Presidential Suite
The Hidden Willow Presidential Suite is the top-tier accommodation Disney has revealed for Lakeshore Lodge. Like the Resort Studios, the suite takes inspiration from Pocahontas.
It sleeps up to six adults across two separate bedrooms and includes two full bathrooms, a full kitchen, washer and dryer, separate living room, and access to The Artist’s Nest.
But the location may be its biggest selling point. Disney says the suite will offer peaceful Bay Lake views during the day and views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks at night, including from its balcony.
That combination puts the Hidden Willow Presidential Suite firmly into Lakeshore Lodge’s luxury category, although (as with the Lake Houses) we’re still waiting for Disney to reveal exactly what staying there will cost.
Which Lakeshore Lodge Room Makes Sense for You?
What stands out most from this first look is just how deliberately Disney appears to be targeting different types of trips within one resort.
A couple could choose a compact Encanto-inspired Duo Studio. A family of four could opt for a Bambi Deluxe Studio or Pocahontas Resort Studio. Larger families who want a kitchen and laundry could move into a one-or two-bedroom Villa. Multiple families traveling together could consider a 12-person Grand Villa.
And guests looking for something considerably more unique could stay in a Brother Bear-inspired Lake House directly along Bay Lake. That range matters because Lakeshore Lodge isn’t positioning itself as a resort built around one standard vacation experience.
It’s part traditional Disney hotel, part Disney Vacation Club resort, part waterfront retreat, and (with the Lake Houses and Presidential Suite) part luxury accommodation.
We still have some major unanswered questions, with pricing being the most obvious. But we won’t have to wait much longer before reservations begin.
Disney Vacation Club Members get the first opportunity to make early rental reservations on October 6, 2026, followed by Walt Disney World Annual Passholders on October 7. Reservations then open to all guests on October 8.
And you do not have to be a Disney Vacation Club Member to stay at Lakeshore Lodge. The resort officially opens July 1, 2027, along Bay Lake with water taxi transportation to Magic Kingdom and bus transportation to Disney’s other theme parks and Disney Springs.
After years of watching this project evolve, we’re finally moving beyond construction photos and concept art of the resort’s exterior. Now we know what it could actually look like to stay there.
Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope as we follow Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge toward its July 2027 opening, including pricing, reservations, construction updates, dining, transportation, and everything else revealed about Walt Disney World’s newest resort.
Leave a Reply