The Disney Lakeshore Lodge pool, called the Wetlands, is an homage to the beauty and magic of nature. With multiple interactive play areas, a zero-entry pool, and a lazy river, the Lakeshore Lodge pool could very well dethrone Stormalong Bay as the best pool at Walt Disney World.

I’ve always been a fish. As a kid, my favorite part of a vacation was the swimming pool, and somehow, in my mid-30s, without kids, I still find myself drawn to a good pool on vacation. Thus, the swimming pool is one of my top considerations when choosing a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel (just after transportation convenience).

And that’s why I’m so excited for The Wetlands, the major outdoor recreation and swimming area at Disney Lakeshore Lodge, which opens next summer. It may be a touch too early to make this prediction, but I’m going all-in: I think the Disney Lakeshore Lodge pool looks even better than Stormalong Bay and may be the new top resort pool.

A Guide to The Wetlands Pool at Disney Lakeshore Lodge

Disney calls The Wetlands a “sweeping outdoor recreation area” at Disney Lakeshore Lodge, the newest Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, set to open summer 2027 on the shores of Bay Lake, next to Fort Wilderness. This massive pool area will certainly give Stormalong Bay a run for its money.

Drawing inspiration from Pocahontas, the recreation area will include both wet and dry areas for young kids to play, based on a line from “Colors of the Wind”: “the heron and the otter are my friends.” But don’t worry: There’s plenty for adults to love, too.

Heron Shores. Photo courtesy of Disney

Here’s what we know so far:

• Heron Shores: This dry play area, featuring massive heron sculptures in the artwork, includes “imaginative climbing features.” A bridge crossing a lazy river appears in the artwork.
• Otter Springs: This wet play area includes interactive water features, including tall structures that emulate cattails from Florida’s wetlands. These remind me so much of the tall blades of grass from the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: Movie Set Adventure that millennial kids grew up with at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (then Disney-MGM Studios).
• Daydream River: I love a good lazy river, and The Wetlands looks like it will deliver with the Daydream River, cutting through the various recreation areas.
• Lakeside Lagoon: And, of course, the recreation area wouldn’t be complete without the major feature pool. Lakeside Lagoon is zero-entry and comes with a spiral waterslide (Disney hasn’t yet released the specs for this slide, though).

Otter Springs. Photo courtesy of Disney

If this feels too active for you, you’ll also be able to relax at a leisure pool on the other side of the property, called the Perspective Pool, which also includes a whirlpool spa with views of Magic Kingdom’s fireworks.

What I Love about the Lakeshore Lodge Pool

Right now, we only have artist renderings of this new resort pool and some of Disney’s bluesky promises for what it will contain. But based on that, I think there’s a lot to love:

• Multiple play areas: Kids have multiple options, both wet and dry, to run out some energy, especially on resort days where the parks won’t wear them out.

• The lazy river: Lazy rivers are rare at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels. Stormalong Bay has one, as does the Four Seasons Resort Orlando. Having another option is a huge deal.
• The respect for nature: The design and theming of Lakeshore Lodge is built around a respect for Florida’s nature. This pool seems to celebrate it.

Aerial rendering of Disney Lakeshore Lodge with the pool. Photo courtesy of Disney

As of now, Disney Lakeshore Lodge is slated to open in summer 2027. Join our newsletter so you can get all the latest updates about Walt Disney World’s newest hotel.