The Lakeshore Lodge First Wave will give eligible Disney Vacation Club Members an opportunity to experience Disney’s newest resort before it officially opens.
From June 24–27, 2027, qualifying DVC Members can spend three nights at Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge before the resort welcomes its first regular guests on July 1, 2027.
But this isn’t simply a chance to get into the resort a few days early.
Disney Vacation Club has created an entire Member-exclusive vacation package around the opening. The experience combines accommodations at Lakeshore Lodge with Walt Disney World theme park tickets, dining, Disney dining credits, exclusive Member activities and commemorative keepsakes.
So, how many points does it cost, who’s eligible, and is the Lakeshore Lodge First Wave worth using your DVC points?
Here’s what DVC Members need to know.
What Is the Lakeshore Lodge First Wave?
The Lakeshore Lodge First Wave is a special three-night Disney Vacation Club experience taking place immediately before the resort’s official opening.
Guests arrive on June 24, 2027, and depart on June 27, 2027, giving participating Members an opportunity to explore Lakeshore Lodge before its July 1 grand opening.
Instead of treating the early stay as a normal DVC reservation, Disney has bundled accommodations with several extras.
The package includes:
- Four days and three nights at Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge
- Three-day Walt Disney World Park Hopper tickets for each guest
- Dinner at Moonglade
- Breakfast at Pioneer Hall
- Dinner at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
- A $200 Disney Dining Promo Card for each guest age 3 and older
- Special information and experiences surrounding the creation of Lakeshore Lodge
- Commemorative keepsakes
- Additional Member-exclusive offerings to be announced
That’s important when evaluating the number of points required. You’re not simply exchanging points for three nights in a DVC villa.
You’re paying for a complete event package.
Who Is Eligible for the Lakeshore Lodge First Wave?
Not every Disney Vacation Club owner will be eligible to participate.
The Lakeshore Lodge First Wave is limited to DVC Members eligible for Membership Extras and Member Benefits. Eligible Members may reserve a maximum of two rooms per Membership.
If you’re interested in participating, we recommend confirming your eligibility with Disney Vacation Club before booking day.
When Does Lakeshore Lodge First Wave Booking Begin?
Mark your calendar for:
Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Reservations must be made through DVC Member Services at 800-800-9800.
This could be a popular event, so being prepared before you call may make the booking process easier.
Disney recommends having the following information available:
- DVC Membership number
- First, second and third accommodation choices
- Legal names of all guests
- Ages of all guests
- Any special needs or requests
- Telephone number
Because the First Wave is limited to one three-night event, certain accommodations could fill quickly.
How Many Points Does the Lakeshore Lodge First Wave Cost?
This is where the First Wave differs significantly from booking a typical DVC vacation.
The experience is part of the Disney Collection Exchange and is booked using Reservation Points rather than regular DVC Vacation Points. Reservation Points are created when eligible DVC Vacation Points are exchanged for use within the Disney Collection, making this a special option available to Members who qualify for eligible Membership Benefits.
These exchanges typically require significantly more points than a traditional DVC resort reservation—often two to three times as many. In this case, however, the higher point requirements also reflect the additional experiences and benefits included as part of the First Wave package.
The first two guests in each accommodation must be paid for entirely with Reservation Points. Additional guests can be paid for with Reservation Points or cash.
Full payment is required when the reservation is made.
Here are the Reservation Point requirements for the first two guests:
| Accommodation | Reservation Points |
|---|---|
| Duo Studio | 184 |
| Deluxe Studio – Resort View | 196 |
| Resort Studio – Preferred View | 198 |
| Deluxe Studio – Preferred View | 200 |
| Deluxe Studio – Premium View | 216 |
| 1-Bedroom Villa – Resort View | 248 |
| 1-Bedroom Villa – Preferred View | 260 |
| 1-Bedroom Villa – Premium View | 308 |
| 2-Bedroom Villa – Preferred View | 336 |
| 2-Bedroom Villa – Premium View | 420 |
| 1-Bedroom Lake House | 424 |
| 2-Bedroom Lake House | 524 |
| 3-Bedroom Grand Villa | 532 |
The prices shown above include double occupancy, meaning the first and second guests are included in the listed Reservation Point amount.
How Much Do Additional Guests Cost?
Beginning with the third person staying in the accommodation, Disney charges an additional amount per guest.
Guests age 10 and older:
68 Reservation Points or $1,349
Children ages 3–9:
50 Reservation Points or $999
While those amounts are substantial, remember that you’re not simply paying to add another person to the room.
Those guests are also participating in the overall First Wave package, including theme park admission, dining experiences, the Disney Dining Promo Card and other event benefits.
Reservation Points: One Detail You Need to Understand
Before booking the Lakeshore Lodge First Wave, Members should pay particular attention to how Reservation Points work.
When regular DVC Vacation Points are converted into Reservation Points for this experience, they cannot simply be converted back into regular Vacation Points if you change your mind.
Those points can no longer be used like regular Vacation Points for DVC resort accommodations.
That’s a significant consideration.
Members should have their travel party, accommodations, and points strategy figured out before making the reservation.
Which Lakeshore Lodge First Wave Rooms Look Like the Best Value?
Looking strictly at the point chart, a few accommodations immediately stand out.
Duo Studio – 184 Points
At 184 Reservation Points for two guests, the Duo Studio is the least expensive way to participate.
For a couple primarily interested in experiencing the resort and First Wave activities, this could be an attractive choice.
Deluxe Studio – Resort View – 196 Points
Here’s where things get interesting.
A Deluxe Studio with a Resort View requires 196 points—only 12 points more than the Duo Studio.
For some Members, spending another 12 points for the Deluxe Studio could be an easy decision.
1-Bedroom Villa – Resort View – 248 Points
Members wanting additional space can move into a 1-Bedroom Villa starting at 248 points.
That’s 64 points above the Duo Studio but provides a considerably different accommodation experience.
3-Bedroom Grand Villa – 532 Points
For larger groups, the Grand Villa deserves attention.
The 2-Bedroom Lake House costs 524 points, while the 3-Bedroom Grand Villa costs 532 points—a difference of only eight Reservation Points.
The Lake Houses may ultimately offer a unique waterfront experience that some Members consider worth the premium. But from a capacity standpoint, the Grand Villa is certainly worth considering.
What Makes This DVC Event Different?
Disney Vacation Club has offered Member-exclusive experiences for years, but the Lakeshore Lodge First Wave takes a different approach.
Instead of giving Members an early booking window for a normal resort stay, Disney is building a multi-day event around the opening of an entirely new Walt Disney World resort.
First Wave guests could be among the first Members to experience the rooms, grounds and restaurants at Lakeshore Lodge.
One highlight will be Moonglade, the resort’s new waterfront table-service restaurant. Dinner there is already included in the First Wave package.
For DVC Members who enjoy exclusive experiences such as Member Cruises and special events, being among the first guests at a brand-new Disney resort could be a major part of the appeal.
Is the Lakeshore Lodge First Wave Worth 184+ Points?
This may be the question that generates the most discussion among DVC Members.
At first glance, 184 points for three nights in a Duo Studio sounds expensive.
But comparing that number directly with a normal three-night DVC reservation doesn’t tell the entire story.
Two guests at the entry-level price also receive:
Three-day Park Hopper tickets + multiple dining experiences + $400 total in Disney Dining Promo Cards for two guests age 3+ + Member-exclusive programming + commemorative keepsakes.
And, of course, you’re paying for something that won’t be available during a normal DVC vacation:
The opportunity to stay at Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge before it officially opens.
For Members who already planned to purchase theme park tickets and spend money on dining, the package may be easier to justify.
However, Members who prefer to maximize the number of resort nights they receive from their DVC points may decide that waiting until Lakeshore Lodge begins accepting normal reservations makes more sense.
It really comes down to what you value most from your DVC Membership.
Our Take on Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge First Wave
Overall, we think this is a great idea by Disney Vacation Club. In many ways, the First Wave experience will serve as a soft opening, giving Cast Members an opportunity to welcome real guests while allowing the resort’s operations, dining, transportation, and overall guest experience to settle in before the official opening on July 1.
It will be exciting to get that first look at Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge in action—from the rooms and restaurants to the pools, grounds and transportation. And, as with any brand-new Disney resort, there are bound to be a few opening-week kinks to work through. The First Wave gives Disney an opportunity to fine-tune the experience before officially welcoming everyone on July 1, 2027.
Would you use your DVC points to experience the Lakeshore Lodge First Wave, or would you wait until the resort officially opens?
Written by: Jerry Sydow
When it comes to creating Disney magic and maximizing the value of a DVC Membership or a Disney vacation, Jerry is the expert families trust. With more than 25 years of experience at The Timeshare Store, Inc.®, Jerry has helped thousands of guests become DVC Members and secure unforgettable DVC rentals. Whether you’re exploring membership for the first time or searching for the perfect resort stay, Jerry and his team are here to make the process seamless, magical, and truly memorable.