Disney World is constantly changing and evolving, but recently, we’ve seen the company focus on fixing a growing issue with Disney resorts.
Island Tower
Walt Disney World’s hotels are facing a growing problem — too much demand. Even with more than 25 resorts across property, many guests are finding it increasingly difficult to book their preferred hotel or room. Here is what we see Disney doing to fix this issue.
In response, Disney has a plan to expand and reimagine its resort lineup to better meet guest needs. The company’s next phase of development includes both new builds and major refurbishments, all designed to add capacity while enhancing the guest experience.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Island Tower
In 2024, we saw the new Disney Vacation Club resort, the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, which added hundreds of villas along the Seven Seas Lagoon. This continues Disney’s trend of blending vacation-club accommodations with traditional resort amenities, offering flexibility for families who want larger rooms or extended stays. This follows Disney’s Riviera Resort, which opened in December 2019, and is also a DVC resort.
Disney’s Riviera Resort
In 2027, Disney World will open another brand-new hotel, Lakeshore Lodge. The resort is “inspired by the majesty of nature and its enduring influence on Disney artists.” The resort is found between Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. And this will follow a similar pattern, as it will be another Disney Vacation Club resort.
Check Here for a Closer Look at Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge
October 2025 construction of Lakeshore Lodge
To note, Disney has not added a value or moderate level resort since Disney’s Art of Animation Resort opened in 2012. This shows that Disney is committed to giving guests more Deluxe resorts to choose from, at least for the time being. It doesn’t mean Disney is leaving those hotel-style resorts in the dust, as they have been doing renovations to them. Disney’s Pop Century and Disney’s Port Orleans — French Quarter have both recently seen refurbishments to their lobbies.
Read More about Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter Remodel Here
French Quarter Lobby
Part of the surge in resort demand comes down to the perks that now accompany an on-site stay. Guests at all Disney World hotels receive Early Theme Park Entry, allowing a 30-minute head start before the general public, a major advantage for popular rides. Those staying at Deluxe and Deluxe villa resorts also get extended evening hours, giving them extra time in select parks after closing. On-site guests can make Lightning Lane ride selections up to seven days in advance of their check-in date, compared to a three-day option for other visitors. Combined with complimentary resort transportation, immersive theming, and proximity to the parks, these perks make Disney’s hotels a more convenient and value-packed choice, which is fueling higher occupancy and increasing competition for rooms across all resort tiers.
Early Entry at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
As new DVC resorts are built and classic resorts receive modern updates, Disney is working to balance guest demand with the high expectations that come with its name. For travelers, these projects mean more choices, refreshed spaces, and enhanced benefits that make staying at a Disney hotel worthwhile.
Lakeshore Lodge Concept Art
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To ne honest I don’t find the capacity at hotels the issue so much as the transportation. Having buses stop at, for instance, Poly then Floridian, creates a massive crush. It took four buses one morning just to get on. With the new hotel it would maybe be a good idea/time to expand the monorail system to include Wilderness Losge and the new hotel. And dedicate enough buses to each resort individually.
Does not look like any Lakeshore Lodge that I know of…
DVC after DVC, when will Disney give some of us who do not want the “staycation” style resort but instead a value that we can just sleep and shower at while spending our time in the parks. Even a moderate would be nice. The last non-deluxe/DVC resort was 2012. If I wanted a “staycation” resort I’ll go to a National Park or even a State Park at home, it’s way more affordable.
My true thought is the powers to be in Disney lost sight of what Walt wanted to do in an affordable time for everyone!
Agree with David – i was disappointed the new Polynesian hotel was a DVC, disappointed the new Wilderness lodge is a DVC – great to cater to DVC, but it prices out so many visitors to WDW (especially with Disney trying to cracking down on third-party DVC rentals).
The Polynesian is a wonderful resort but so many regular rooms have become DVC that it feels like we non-DVD fans are being squeezed out
Also, second floor balconies should be added to the reg rooms, as with DVX rooms. Upgrade ’em!
All those hotel rooms mean nothing if there is nowhere for the hotel patrons to go. Disney needs more theme parks to handle the overflow of hotel patrons.
Not to mention all the dollars being put out for these “staycations” resorts. When is Disney going to share even some of these monies to your under payed ”loyal” cast members?
I really wish the disney imagineering and hotel PLEASE THINK ABOUT HOW THE THEME the resorts l.
Just because you slap some random IP logo on a wall it’s not the way
I disagree they are working to solve any problems. Availability difficulties are due to Disney’s pursuit of high-dollar DVC resorts. They no longer consider building moderate/deluxe properties that are within reach of more people’s budget.
People are dumber than I thought if they continue to pay Disney’s outrageous hotel prices. We only stay at Disney when we get a huge discount or we trade our timeshare and literally can stay for a week for $600 at a DVC resort. I’m also eligible for shades of Green. However, the hotel rates are ridiculous and the benefits you get aren’t worth it. My suggestion the most people is don’t stand on Disney property unless you’re very wealthy. Even the value resorts are way way overpriced. I’ve stayed at three of the value resorts at Universal and they are far far better.
Need a new moderate and a new value resort…Just saying we would still spend money around WDW with the cash we don’t waste on the rooms. When we stay at a deluxe resort, we hang around it more and don’t have enough cash to spend at the restaurants and cool popcorn buckets..
I would like to see th hotls return to the original charm, themng and amazing perks we enjoyed while Michael Eusner was CEO. Since Iger took over everything has been geared to corporate tastes, geared to the upper crust of society instead of families as Walt intended. Walt would not be happy with what has been done.
They have the audacity to promote perks as being amazing now… that is a joke! They have shortened early entry from one hour to 40 minutes, taken away the complimentary fast passes, taken away the night time extra magic hours, taken away the free transportation to and from the airport, take away nostalgia from the parks, take away nightlife See a pattern here? Take, take, take..and the only thing they give are higher prices, hotels that look like anything you can get at Hilton for twice the price and did I mention higher prices? We used to have the highest tier of annual pass, stay on property several times a year, Disney was our main place to vacation. Duevto price increases and the lowering of quality for what you pay, we dropped down to Pixie Dust passes last year and didn’t even bother this year, which is also the plan for next year. We’ve found a place to go that actually listens to their paying customers, provides top notch attractions and seems to open something new every year. They also provide early entry for Annual pass holders and resort guests in a least one park every day, celebrates their annual pass holders for an entire month with major discounts and gifts and die kow tow to the board and share holders instead of those who are paying to be there.
Disney has lost its charm, warmth and identity. The mouse has slowly transformed into the rat. We need the mouse back!!
The one thing that I object to is in the quote above. “Disney has not added a value or moderate level resort since Disney’s Art of Animation Resort opened in 2012.”