Will Lakeshore Lodge Add or Detract from Fort Wilderness?

Now that it’s 2026, Lakeshore Lodge’s projected 2027 opening doesn’t seem as far away as it once did. If you’ve recently visited Fort Wilderness or even just taken a boat along Bay Lake, you can’t help but notice the Lakeshore Lodge construction site where River Country once stood and its proximity to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.  

Whether or not Lakeshore Lodge becomes part of the same DVC condo association as the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, Lakeshore Lodge is sure to transform the landscape. Here are some of the pros and cons of Lakeshore Lodge joining the Fort Wilderness neighborhood based on what we know so far about the upcoming DVC resort.

Pros

More Dining Options

As another resort along Bay Lake, Lakeshore Lodge brings more dining options to the area. Although nothing has officially been announced in terms of amenities at Lakeshore Lodge, it seems to be following the plans for Reflections (the DVC resort that was originally intended for the site that Lakeshore Lodge is being built upon). Assuming that trend continues, Lakeshore Lodge could be home to a new Princess-and-the-Frog-themed waterfront restaurant. We will also likely see a pool bar and/or quick-service location, like all other DVC resorts have.

These could be great additions to the dining scene for guests at Fort Wilderness or even Wilderness Lodge, which will only be a boat ride away.  

Potentially Shared Amenities and More

This pro is strictly conjecture for now. There has been speculation that Lakeshore Lodge may join the same DVC condo association as The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. If that were to happen, there are a few great benefits to those who stay or own points at Fort Wilderness:

• More Room Types to Book: Rather than only being able to book Cabins within the home resort window, owners at Fort Wilderness would be able to book all the room types at Lakeshore Lodge, which will include Deluxe Studios, One Bedroom Villas, Two Bedroom Villas, Three Bedroom Villas, A-frame Cabins, and Treehouses.
• More Amenities: The plans for Reflections also included a large pool complex with a lazy river, and it appears Lakeshore Lodge is bringing this idea to life. Should Fort Wilderness and Lakeshore Lodge be part of the same condo association, amenities such as this pool complex could be enjoyed by guests at both Lakeshore Lodge and the Cabins at Fort Wilderness.  
• Lower Annual Dues: Annual dues for Fort Wilderness are high in comparison to those at other DVC resorts. Fort Wilderness has the third highest dues among the DVC resorts, right behind Hilton Head and Vero Beach. If Lakeshore Lodge were to join the same condo association, there could be more DVC Members to help spread out the maintenance fees and potentially lower the dues. 

Lakeshore Lodge construction site with possible lazy river foundation (Photo Credit: bioreconstruct on X)

Want a closer look at the progress? Check out WDW News Today’s Lakeshore Lodge water construction tour on their YouTube channel.

Cons

Changes to the Ambiance

With Lakeshore Lodge being so close to Fort Wilderness, some guests are concerned that it will disrupt the peaceful and remote feeling of Fort Wilderness. Already guests can see that the main building of Lakeshore Lodge looms over Pioneer Hall, where Trail’s End, Crockett’s Tavern, and Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue are located.  

Along the lines of transforming the ambiance of Fort Wilderness, Lakeshore Lodge’s more modern architecture clashes with the rustic feel of Fort Wilderness and feels somewhat jarring or out of place. This is particularly notable since Disney in the past took great measures to preserve sight lines.   

Lakeshore Lodge construction visible over Pioneer Hall (Photo Credit: WDW News Today)

Bigger Crowds

Lakeshore Lodge is projected to have about 900 rooms. That’s a massive resort! To put that number into perspective, consider that Saratoga Springs is currently the largest DVC resort with more than 1,300 rooms, but they are spread out across 18 buildings plus individual treehouse villas. Lakeshore Lodge will have some individual treehouses and A-frame cabins, but on the whole, most of the rooms will be part of one large building.  

With such a large number of rooms available, there will be many more guests in the area, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Lakeshore Lodge guests would be interested in resort hopping to Fort Wilderness, contributing to larger crowds.  

A lot of these pros and cons are speculative for now, but either way it will be exciting to see what Lakeshore Lodge has in store when it opens in 2027.

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