Credit: Flickr/ Peter & Michelle S For years, Disney fans have watched the former River Country site sit largely untouched along the shores of Bay Lake. What was once home to Disney’s pioneering water park later became part of the planned Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge project before that concept was ultimately abandoned.
Now, Disney is moving forward with an entirely new vision.
The company has revealed major new details about Disney Lakeshore Lodge, a nature-inspired resort scheduled to open in summer 2027. While the project replaces what many longtime fans remember as one of Walt Disney World’s most historic recreation areas, Disney is leaning heavily into classic animated storytelling with large-scale inspiration drawn from Pocahontas (1995), Bambi (1942), and other beloved films.
The result will be one of the most unique recreation complexes Disney has built at a resort hotel in years.
Disney’s New Nature-Themed Resort Takes Shape
Located on Bay Lake near Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Disney Lakeshore Lodge is being designed as a waterfront retreat celebrating the beauty of nature through Disney storytelling.
According to Disney, the 967-room resort will feature everything from traditional guest rooms and studios to larger suites and waterfront Lake Houses. Floor-to-ceiling windows will allow guests to take in views of Bay Lake, local wildlife, and even Magic Kingdom fireworks.
The overall design pulls inspiration from Disney films that center around nature and the outdoors. Disney specifically cited Bambi, Pocahontas (1995), and Brother Bear (2003) as creative influences throughout the property.
But nowhere will those influences be more visible than in the resort’s sprawling outdoor recreation area.
Introducing the Wetlands 😎 This outdoor recreation area will immerse Lakeshore Lodge’s guests in the beauty of Bay Lake at @WaltDisneyWorld ☀️ https://t.co/MI6LheiYcs
✨ Heron Shores: Imaginative climbing features
✨ Otter Springs: Interactive water features
✨ Daydream River:… pic.twitter.com/MOrIFevndk— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) June 17, 2026
Pocahontas Becomes the Heart of The Wetlands
Disney has unveiled the first details of “The Wetlands,” a large recreation district located directly behind the resort’s main lobby.
The area will feature several family-focused attractions, but the biggest surprise may be how prominently Pocahontas(1995) is represented.
Disney says younger guests will encounter wet and dry play environments inspired by the film’s music and storytelling. The designs specifically draw from the famous song “Colors of the Wind,” including the lyric, “the heron and the otter are my friends.”
That inspiration has led to two major themed play areas.
Heron Shores will serve as an interactive playground featuring climbing structures and exploration elements designed to encourage imaginative play.
Nearby, Otter Springs will function as a splash zone filled with interactive water features where children can cool off while playing.
Rather than simply placing movie characters around the resort, Disney appears to be using the natural themes of Pocahontas (1995) to influence the overall environment. The result feels less like a character-based land and more like an outdoor space built around the film’s connection to nature.
For a movie that rarely receives significant representation inside Walt Disney World, the project marks one of the largest dedicated Pocahontas experiences currently planned anywhere on Disney property.
Bambi’s Influence Extends Throughout the Resort
While Pocahontas (1995) provides the most obvious recreation-area inspiration, Disney says Bambi (1942) will play an important role throughout the resort’s overall identity.
The company has described Disney Lakeshore Lodge as a celebration of nature through the eyes of Disney artists and storytellers. The forests, wildlife, and seasonal beauty associated with Bambi (1942) helped shape that vision.
Guests can expect subtle references integrated into the architecture, artwork, and atmosphere rather than overt themed attractions.
That approach mirrors what Disney has often done successfully at Wilderness Lodge, where storytelling exists through environmental design rather than large character installations.
For many fans, Bambi (1942) may prove to be a perfect fit. The film’s themes of conservation, growth, and appreciation for the natural world align closely with the resort’s lakeside setting.
More Than Just a Pool Area
The Wetlands is shaping up to be much more than a standard hotel pool complex.
At its center will be Lakeside Lagoon, the resort’s primary zero-entry feature pool. Disney says the pool will include a spiral waterslide and serve as the gathering place for families throughout the day.
Guests looking for something more relaxing can float along Daydream River, a lazy river attraction winding through the recreation area while offering views of the surrounding landscape.
On the opposite side of the resort, Perspective Pond will provide a quieter leisure pool experience complete with a whirlpool spa. Disney says the location was specifically selected to offer nighttime views of Magic Kingdom fireworks.
Scenic walking paths throughout The Wetlands will also include educational elements highlighting local plants and wildlife found around Bay Lake.
Disney even teased a special plaque honoring a historic attraction that once occupied the site, an apparent nod to River Country, which operated there for decades before permanently closing.
Replacing a Piece of Disney History
For longtime Walt Disney World fans, Disney Lakeshore Lodge represents a significant transformation of one of the resort’s most nostalgic locations.
The project effectively replaces the final remnants of the former River Country area, which remained visible for years after the water park’s closure.
While some fans may miss the history associated with the site, Disney appears committed to preserving its connection to nature while introducing a completely new experience for future generations.
Rather than recreating the past, the company is building something entirely different: a resort that blends waterfront recreation, Disney storytelling, and the natural beauty of Bay Lake.
And if the newly revealed plans are any indication, Pocahontas (1995) and Bambi (1942) will play a much larger role in that story than many Disney fans expected.
With construction continuing and a summer 2027 opening planned, Disney Lakeshore Lodge is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing projects currently underway at Walt Disney World.
