Disney World guests have been left scrambling for reservations at one of its newest resorts.
Walt Disney World Resort operates more than 25 hotels across its property, ranging from budget-friendly options such as Disney's Pop Century Resort to Deluxe accommodations like Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. However, having so many options doesn't necessarily mean finding a room is easy.
Availability can be particularly limited around major holidays. Guests searching for rooms over Thanksgiving week, for example, have reported struggling to find accommodations, especially at discounted rates. Even some of Disney World's larger hotels, such as Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, aren't always available for guests' preferred dates.
Demand is also growing for Disney's newest accommodations. With several major resort expansions underway, some guests are already planning their 2027 Disney vacations — and one highly anticipated booking opportunity has just disappeared entirely.
Disney World Resort Sells Out in Roughly Two Hours
Disney's Lakeshore Lodge has already sold out of reservations for its exclusive pre-opening experience, despite the hotel not officially opening until July 2027.
The resort is offering eligible Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members the opportunity to stay at Lakeshore Lodge before the general public through a special “First Wave” experience, scheduled for June 24 through June 27, 2027.
Reservations opened at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday, November 7. By approximately noon, every available room had reportedly been booked, leaving unsuccessful applicants with only a waitlist.
However, the speed of the sellout wasn't the only problem.
Unlike standard Disney World hotel reservations, which can be made online, bookings for the First Wave experience were handled exclusively through Disney Vacation Club Member Services.
Some guests reported spending hours trying to get through, with the phone system repeatedly disconnecting callers rather than allowing them to wait for an available representative.
After over 400+ calls over 2 hours, looks like I missed out. The Disney Lakeshore Lodge First Wave is sold out according to the website. This experience was less than magical.
After over 400+ calls over 2 hours, looks like I missed out. The Disney Lakeshore Lodge First Wave is sold out according to the website. This experience was less than magical. pic.twitter.com/FC0hy2SRpq
— Rob Whiteside (@RobSWhiteside) November 7, 2026
Another shared a similar experience:
“300+ calls since the second lines opened, go through all the prompts, system says nobody is available and to try again later with no hold system and disconnects. Pretty awful experience.”
Disney had warned members ahead of November 7 that they might experience longer-than-usual wait times. However, that offered little consolation to those who couldn't secure reservations.
300+ calls since the second lines opened, go through all the prompts, system says nobody is available and to try again later with no hold system and disconnects. Pretty awful experience.
— ketchy311 (@Ketchy311) November 7, 2026
The exclusive package also came with several additional perks beyond accommodation. Guests were promised three-day Park Hopper tickets, dinner at Lakeshore Lodge's new Moonglade restaurant, breakfast at Pioneer Hall, and tickets to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (which also has exclusive festive performances for DVC members this December).
Disney also included a $200 dining promotional card for each guest aged three and older, plus commemorative merchandise and special insights into the resort's creation.
The experience wasn't available to every Disney Vacation Club owner. Only members eligible for Membership Extras could participate, with packages priced between 184 and 532 Reservation Points for the first two guests, depending on accommodation type.
Fortunately, missing out doesn't mean guests have lost their chance to visit Disney's Lakeshore Lodge altogether.
Disney's New Hotel Is Still Accepting Reservations for 2027
Disney's Lakeshore Lodge officially opens on July 1, 2027, with regular reservations already available for stays from that date onward. Guests who missed the First Wave can also contact Disney Vacation Club Member Services to request a place on its waitlist.
Located along Bay Lake near Magic Kingdom, the 967-room resort will offer accommodations ranging from compact studios to three-bedroom villas and standalone waterfront Lake Houses.
The property takes inspiration from Disney films including Bambi (1942), Pocahontas (1995), Brother Bear (2003), and Encanto (2021).
Each room category will feature different Disney references. The Lake Houses, for example, will include Brother Bear artwork, while the resort's Duo Studios will feature Encanto-inspired details.
Elsewhere, amenities will include a lazy river named Daydream River, swimming pools, a spiral waterslide, and multiple restaurants and lounges. Guests will also have complimentary water taxi transportation to Magic Kingdom.
Disney recently revealed more details about the resort's Branch & Brush lounge, which will feature Bay Lake views and a chandelier that changes colors to represent the four seasons.
The lobby will also feature a fiberoptic river inspired by Pocahontas, flowing around a custom bronze centerpiece beneath a suspended glass sculpture.
However, despite the apparent demand for rooms, not everyone is impressed by Disney's latest hotel.
Some fans have criticized the property's relatively understated exterior, arguing that it lacks the distinctive architecture of older Disney World resorts.
“I’m sure the Lakeshore Lodge will be nice in its own modern way, but the lack of theming on the outside of the building really is laughable,” wrote one X user.
Another complained on Reddit that the building “looks like every ‘luxury' apartment complex in Orlando.'”
Others were equally unimpressed.
“Jesus that looks boring. What happened to Disney making thinks like the contemporary, Floridian, Polynesian and yacht and beach.”
“Thanks, I hate it,” wrote another. “Give me traditional Disney theming any day. I’m not feeling the magic.”
Despite these complaints, the First Wave sellout suggests considerable interest in experiencing Disney World's newest hotel before its official debut.
Do you plan on staying at Lakeshore Lodge?
