Disney Vacation Club members hoping to be among the first guests to stay at Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge encountered a frustrating reservation process Saturday morning, November 7, as the resort’s exclusive First Wave preview experience sold out in just over two hours.
Reservations opened at 10 a.m. Eastern for the special three-night stay scheduled for June 24–27, 2027. By approximately 12:10 p.m., all available accommodations had reportedly been booked, leaving interested members with waitlist options.
The rapid sellout was not entirely unexpected given the limited availability and considerable anticipation surrounding Walt Disney World’s newest resort. However, numerous members reported difficulty reaching Disney Vacation Club Member Services, with some unable to enter a telephone queue at all.
The situation turned what was supposed to be an exciting opportunity into a frustrating morning for many longtime Disney Vacation Club owners.
Members Report Hundreds of Unsuccessful Calls
Unlike standard Walt Disney World resort reservations, the First Wave experience required eligible Disney Vacation Club members to book through Member Services.
Online reservations were not available for the special package.
When booking opened Saturday morning, members began reporting difficulties connecting with representatives.
Some callers encountered automated messages indicating that no agents were available before their calls were disconnected. Others reported repeatedly dialing the reservation number without successfully reaching a representative.
One member reported making more than 400 calls during the approximately two-hour booking window without securing a reservation.
Another described making more than 300 attempts, repeatedly navigating the automated telephone system only to be disconnected.
Other members reported remaining on hold for extended periods before their calls ended without reaching an agent.
These accounts come from individual members and have not been independently verified against Disney’s telephone records.
Nevertheless, the volume of similar reports suggests that the reservation system struggled to accommodate the demand.
Disney has not publicly provided figures showing how many members attempted to book, how many calls were received, or how many accommodations were available.
First Wave Experience Sells Out Shortly After Noon
By approximately 12:10 p.m., reports indicated that all First Wave accommodations had sold out.
Members who were unable to secure reservations were left with waitlist options.
The sellout represents a significant milestone for Lakeshore Lodge, which is scheduled to officially open July 1, 2027.
The First Wave experience provides a limited number of eligible Disney Vacation Club members with an opportunity to stay at the resort before its public opening.
The special package covers June 24 through June 27, giving participants three nights at the new property.
Unlike an ordinary resort reservation, First Wave includes several additional experiences.
Each guest age three or older receives a three-day Walt Disney World theme park ticket with the Park Hopper option.
The package also includes dinner at Moonglade, Lakeshore Lodge’s new table-service restaurant, breakfast at Pioneer Hall, and dinner at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.
Additional benefits include a $200 Disney Dining Promo Card for each guest age three or older, special programming about the resort’s development, and commemorative keepsakes.
Reservations were available using Disney Vacation Club Reservation Points, with requirements varying by accommodation category.
The published chart started at 184 points for a Duo Studio accommodating two guests.
A New Resort With a Long History
Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge is being constructed along Bay Lake between Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
The property occupies land formerly associated with Disney’s River Country water park, which opened in 1976 and permanently closed in 2001.
Disney previously announced plans for a resort called Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge at the location, but that project was suspended.
The site was subsequently revived as Lakeshore Lodge.
The new resort will feature 967 accommodations, including studios, villas, and waterfront Lake Houses.
Disney has also announced recreational amenities, dining locations, and water transportation to Magic Kingdom.
The July 1, 2027 opening will introduce a major new Disney Vacation Club property to Walt Disney World.
Regular Lakeshore Lodge Reservations Remain Available
The First Wave sellout does not mean Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge is completely booked.
Regular reservations for stays beginning with the resort’s July 1 opening became available in October.
Those bookings are separate from the limited member-exclusive preview package.
Guests interested in experiencing the resort after its official opening can continue checking Disney’s reservation system for available accommodations.
For Disney Vacation Club members who missed First Wave, the possibility of a waitlist opening remains, although Disney has not announced additional preview inventory.
The November 7 booking experience also raises questions about how Disney Vacation Club will handle similarly popular member-exclusive opportunities in the future.
The company has not announced changes to its reservation procedures.
For now, the immediate development is clear: the limited Lakeshore Lodge preview experience sold out in just over two hours, while numerous eligible members reported being unable to complete the telephone reservation process.