Lakeshore Lodge size

[JasonMak2000]

There are elements of LL that are very intriguing to me and I may be tempted to add on there in the future. The sheer number of rooms however is the one thing that gives me real pause. My concern is largely around whether the dining and pools will be large enough to accommodate that many guests. Is there a resort currently that has around that many rooms for comparison? I've been to Saratoga Springs on a Saturday this past spring and went to 3 pools around midday and couldn't find an open lounge chair. I've been to Aulani with 3 pools, 2 hot tubs, a splash pad, lazy river and a BEACH, and struggled to find many open seats. Is anyone else concerned that Disney will underestimate the footprint needed for dining and amenities to accommodate that many people??

 

[disneylandtour]

There are elements of LL that are very intriguing to me and I may be tempted to add on there in the future. The sheer number of rooms however is the one thing that gives me real pause. My concern is largely around whether the dining and pools will be large enough to accommodate that many guests. Is there a resort currently that has around that many rooms for comparison? I've been to Saratoga Springs on a Saturday this past spring and went to 3 pools around midday and couldn't find an open lounge chair. I've been to Aulani with 3 pools, 2 hot tubs, a splash pad, lazy river and a BEACH, and struggled to find many open seats. Is anyone else concerned that Disney will underestimate the footprint needed for dining and amenities to accommodate that many people??

Clearly, no plot plans have been released. Aulani is not a good comparison, as the pools, reef, beach, etc., are the main daytime activity there. At WDW, the main daytime activity are the parks. But on hot days--particularly holiday weekends--when DVCers tend to avoid the parks--pools can be crowded. I floated by Lakeside in mid-May. It is massive. There are now two very large non-hotel A-Frame buildings down by the water, possibly for food and beverage (or a community house). There's a lot of open space around the main structure, which to me says, pool plus other activities, maybe a lazy river, maybe splash pads. The structure is very long, which also suggests that there could be more than one pool. There are so many rooms here, there has to be multiple restaurants, as Lakeside will be cut off from other easy options (except for boats--and at the moment, the blue flag cruisers to the Contemporary only run in the late afternoon and evening). So almost surely there's going to be an emphasis on multiple restaurants (my guess: one quick service, two table service, with one being mid range and one leaning toward signature, and one to two bars). Possibly, guests there will also have access to the two Fort Wilderness pools, one of which is not that far from Lakeside.

 

[Girlstar30]

I prefer smaller resorts, but i am curious as to how popular this will be considering it will be the 2nd restricted dvc resort at wdw (not counting cfw) and on a much larger scale. Will this take years and years to sell out? Won't availability be pretty open for someone to feel they need to purchase here?

 

[VGCgroupie]

Aulani and SSR aren't near theme parks maybe thats why. Sorry I couldn't resist taking a dig at SSR.

At Aulani that is part of the reason. At SSR im not sure. I think LL will be fine dining wise. Pool chair wise hopefully they have figured out that no chairs makes people mad and have an abundance of them

 

[tidefan]

Clearly, no plot plans have been released. Aulani is not a good comparison, as the pools, reef, beach, etc., are the main daytime activity there. At WDW, the main daytime activity are the parks. But on hot days--particularly holiday weekends--when DVCers tend to avoid the parks--pools can be crowded. I floated by Lakeside in mid-May. It is massive. There are now two very large non-hotel A-Frame buildings down by the water, possibly for food and beverage (or a community house). There's a lot of open space around the main structure, which to me says, pool plus other activities, maybe a lazy river, maybe splash pads. The structure is very long, which also suggests that there could be more than one pool. There are so many rooms here, there has to be multiple restaurants, as Lakeside will be cut off from other easy options (except for boats--and at the moment, the blue flag cruisers to the Contemporary only run in the late afternoon and evening). So almost surely there's going to be an emphasis on multiple restaurants (my guess: one quick service, two table service, with one being mid range and one leaning toward signature, and one to two bars). Possibly, guests there will also have access to the two Fort Wilderness pools, one of which is not that far from Lakeside.

I suspect that LL guests will not be allowed to use the Fort Wilderness pools. I also suspect that LL guests will not be permitted to take part in special Fort activities such as trick or treating where they restrict access to the Fort (as, how would LL guests set up their own site to hand out candy), however I do believe that those in the Cabins will.

This is why I think that the Cabins will not be rolled into LL.

 

[Girlstar30]

I suspect that LL guests will not be allowed to use the Fort Wilderness pools. I also suspect that LL guests will not be permitted to take part in special Fort activities such as trick or treating where they restrict access to the Fort (as, how would LL guests set up their own site to hand out candy), however I do believe that those in the Cabins will.

This is why I think that the Cabins will not be rolled into LL.

Is LL walking distance from the cabins?

 

[VGCgroupie]

Is LL walking distance from the cabins?

Yep and thats why many FT Wilderness fans are so upset. LL is like right there, it gave the FT no breathing room.

 

[Girlstar30]

Yep and thats why many FT Wilderness fans are so upset. LL is like right there, it gave the FT no breathing room.

I didnt realize it was so close!

 

[DebbieB]

When they originally announced Reflections, it was mixed use. They really haven’t specifically said for LL. I have a hard time believing DVC would want to sell points for 900 rooms.

 

[tidefan]

Is LL walking distance from the cabins?

Just a clarification, LL is not really walking distance from the Cabins, those are in the "front" area of Fort Wilderness. LL is, however, directly on top of the "Settlement" area (think Hoop-de-Doo, Trail's End, Crockett's Tavern, etc.) and the new A-frame cabins are taking away a good chunk of the old beach area at Fort Wilderness.

LL will be walkable, however, from many of the Campsite loops, especially, 100, 200, 400, and 700.

I also suspect that CFW stays will be eligible for Golf Cart rentals, but LL will not.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Just a clarification, LL is not really walking distance from the Cabins, those are in the "front" area of Fort Wilderness. LL is, however, directly on top of the "Settlement" area (think Hoop-de-Doo, Trail's End, Crockett's Tavern, etc.) and the new A-frame cabins are taking away a good chunk of the old beach area at Fort Wilderness.

LL will be walkable, however, from many of the Campsite loops, especially, 100, 200, 400, and 700.

I also suspect that CFW stays will be eligible for Golf Cart rentals, but LL will not.

Thanks for the clarification. I didnt go everywhere just toured a cabin and ate at the restaurant and I could've walked to LL easily. But I know Ft Wilderness is large

 

[Girlstar30]

Just a clarification, LL is not really walking distance from the Cabins, those are in the "front" area of Fort Wilderness. LL is, however, directly on top of the "Settlement" area (think Hoop-de-Doo, Trail's End, Crockett's Tavern, etc.) and the new A-frame cabins are taking away a good chunk of the old beach area at Fort Wilderness.

LL will be walkable, however, from many of the Campsite loops, especially, 100, 200, 400, and 700.

I also suspect that CFW stays will be eligible for Golf Cart rentals, but LL will not.

Thanks for the clarification, yes I just cant imagine up to 900 rooms taking over those golf carts, this has me thinking too that maybe they won't be rolled together, that would be a zoo

 

[disneylandtour]

Yep and thats why many FT Wilderness fans are so upset. LL is like right there, it gave the FT no breathing room.

You can literally throw a rock from Pioneer Hall and hit the Lakeside construction. It's that close.

 

[disneylandtour]

I also suspect that CFW stays will be eligible for Golf Cart rentals, but LL will not.

The DVC cabins are already eligible for golf carts.

 

[disneylandtour]

the new A-frame cabins are taking away a good chunk of the old beach area at Fort Wilderness.

I just saw those A-frames (from the blue flag boat), and they are really large, far larger than the CCV cabins. They look more the size of a community hall (think Reunion Station) or of an outdoor bar area (maybe Geyser Pt). Anyway, whatever their purpose, I'd be surprised if the ones I saw (one at the east end, one at the west end) turn out to be DVC cabins. But again, no plot plans have been released.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

It will be interesting to see how it turns out. We haven't been to CCV since last December when they were first starting to build.

 

[tidefan]

The DVC cabins are already eligible for golf carts.

Correct, and I suppose that LL will not be. I was referring to when LL opens, sorry (I wasn’t very clear…)

 

[juliebee]

I prefer smaller resorts, but i am curious as to how popular this will be considering it will be the 2nd restricted dvc resort at wdw (not counting cfw) and on a much larger scale. Will this take years and years to sell out? Won't availability be pretty open for someone to feel they need to purchase here?

Lakeshore Lodge is stated to have 900 rooms planned. Saratoga Springs has 1300 and Old Key West has 750. So Lakeshore won't be as large as your Saratoga. It will also be less spread out since it's more tower style.

 

[juliebee]

I just looked it up and it's going to be similar to Aulani it seems. Aulani has 832 rooms total.

 

[Girlstar30]

Lakeshore Lodge is stated to have 900 rooms planned. Saratoga Springs has 1300 and Old Key West has 750. So Lakeshore won't be as large as your Saratoga. It will also be less spread out since it's more tower style.

I am scared to visit my Saratoga