Walt Disney World is looking ahead to 2027 with the opening of a new land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and a new hotel near Magic Kingdom. Disney shared new information about the hotel property that may entice prospective guests to choose this for their overnight accommodations.
A mini water park inspired by Pocahontas will be part of Disney World’s new hotel, making it one of the most elaborate pool complexes of any Disney hotel. We have details on what to expect and new concept artwork, plus how it will reference a defunct Disney attraction. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including EPCOT’s new concert lineup and an overlooked restaurant that’s great for picky eaters.
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Expansive Pool Areas Revealed for Disney Lakeshore Lodge with Concept Art
Disney Lakeshore Lodge will open at Walt Disney World in summer 2027. The nature-inspired property will feature a large tower with hotel rooms, as well as individual lake houses along the shore of Bay Lake, just across the way from Magic Kingdom and directly adjacent to Disney’s Fort Wildneress Resort & Campground.
Aesthetic flourishes throughout Lakeshore Lodge will pay homage to nature-focused Disney films, including Bambi, Pocahontas, and Brother Bear.
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Lakeshore Lodge will be a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resort, but guests don’t have to be DVC members to book stays here. Like other DVC resorts, we anticipate Lakeshore Lodge being categorized in the “deluxe” tier of Disney World hotels.
Disney formally revealed The Wetlands, the name of Lakeshore Lodge’s pool area, and it’s among the most eclectic of any Disney World hotel. Collectively, all of its features are more akin to a mini water park than a hotel pool.
The star of The Wetlands might just be Daydream River, one of the only lazy rivers at a Disney World hotel.
Nearby are two kid-focused areas. Heron Shores is a playground featuring a bridge crossing over Daydream River, along with giant heron sculptures.
Otter Springs is a splash pad and kiddie pool with a slide going down a giant otter’s tail. Heron Shores and Otter Springs are named after lyrics from the song “Colors of the Wind” in Pocahontas, in which the titular character sings, “The heron and the otter are my friends.”
Lakeside Lagoon is the main pool of Lakeshore Lodge, with zero-entry and a slide nestled in a treehouse.
In the background of the Lakeside Lagoon concept art is a new dining location, for which Disney has yet to reveal details.
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Lakeshore Lodge will also have a quiet pool located away from the bustle of The Wetlands, as seen in construction photos captured in May 2026. Also note how close the Lakeshore Lodge accommodations are to Pioneer Hall, at bottom left in the photo above, home of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue dinner show at Fort Wilderness.
With all of these options, Lakeshore Lodge may easily place among our favorite Disney World hotel pool selections. The most comparable existing pool might be Stormalong Bay, shared by Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts.
It is fitting that the pools of Disney Lakeshore Lodge essentially amount to a mini water park, as this parcel of property was formerly home to River Country, Disney World’s first water park. It operated from 1976 to 2001, after which it sat abandoned for years and became the stuff of Disney mythology, wasting away in full view of guests using boat transportation nearby. Disney finally demolished the remnants of River Country as construction got underway for Lakeshore Lodge several years ago.
Disney says a plaque in The Wetlands will pay tribute to River Country.
New in 2027 at Disney World
In addition to the opening of Disney Lakeshore Lodge, 2027 will also see the grand opening of the new Tropical Americas land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Tropical Americas replaces DinoLand, U.S.A., which permanently closed earlier this year, with a new Encanto ride and a revamped version of the former DINOSAUR ride, now featuring Indiana Jones. See more details and construction progress on Tropical Americas here, as well as six other new lands Disney is building.
Also in 2027, crews will refurbish Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
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